http://www.dmacc.edu
CAMPUS NAME: Urban Campus COURSE TITLE: Women Writers
COURSE NUMBER: LIT 190 SECTION NUMBER AND CRN: 20979 UAM
INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION
NAME: Shannon McGregor
INSTRUCTOR INTRODUCTION: I have taught composition and literature for more
than fifteen years in the community college system, and I thoroughly enjoy the
detailed interaction community college instructors are able to have with their
students. I pride myself on personalized learning and on offering thorough details in
evaluating assignments, and my students appreciate the added effort I take in
making sure they have answered questions. Students learn with a willing mind,
heart, body, spirit, and attitude. My experience is that those who ask for assistance
receive it and learn more than they expect.
EMAIL ADDRESS: sdmcgregor@dmacc.edu
PHONE NUMBER: (515) 697-7813
OFFICE LOCATION: Urban Campus, Building 1, Room 228
OFFICE HOURS: Monday-Friday 12:00-1:00 p.m.
COURSE WEBSITE: https://myweb.dmacc.edu/personal/sdmcgregor/instructor/lit190/
COURSE INFORMATION
SEMESTER/YEAR: Spring 2015
DATE SYLLABUS LAST REVISED: 11 January 2015
DAYS, TIME, AND LOCATION: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9:40-11:05 a.m., Betts 108
COURSE DESCRIPTION AND CREDITS: http://www.dmacc.edu/courses/crsrod.asp
Introduction to the study and appreciation of literature written by women. Examines major influential
works from a variety of historical, social and cultural contexts. Critical analysis is emphasized. (3
credits)
PREREQUISITES: None
COURSE COMPETENCIES: https://go.dmacc.edu/competencies
1. Analyze a wide range of literary works written by women
1. Interpret poetry, fiction, drama, and other literary forms
2. Evaluate poetry, fiction, drama, and other literary forms
3. Make connections between studied works
2. Demonstrate an understanding of a wide range of literary works written by women
1. Value a wide range of poetry, fiction, and drama
2. Practice reading critically a wide range of poetry, fiction, and drama
3. Develop an appreciation for the importance of women's literature in culture
1. Acknowledge the importance of poetry
2. Acknowledge the importance of fiction
3. Acknowledge the importance of drama
4. Acknowledge the importance of other literary forms
5. Acknowledge the cultural contributions of women
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COURSE COMPETENCIES CONT.
4. Differentiate between various critical approaches to literature such as Formalist (New
Criticism), Marxist, Feminist, Psychoanalytic, Deconstructionist, Reader Response, New
Historicist, Structuralist, Cultural Studies, and others
1. Distinguish the elements of one or more critical approaches
2. Discuss the significance of one or more critical approaches
COURSE OVERVIEW AND ITS FIT INTO THE CURRICULUM: Women Writers covers numerous female
authors’ works from the Middle Ages through present day. Some were well-known in their day, and
some were discovered and appreciated much later. Central to the course is a study of feminist and antifeminist movements and social conditions under which women worked, including the supporting and
stifling of women’s growth in reading, writing, and education, period by fathers, brothers, mothers,
sisters, governesses, husbands, children, society, and the women themselves. Women Writers meets
diversity requirements and connects to other classes, such as psychology, science, sociology, literature,
and the arts and humanities, making it a compliment to any liberal arts student’s plan of study.
TEXTBOOKS AND MATERIALS
REQUIRED TEXTBOOKS:
Gilbert, Sandra M., and Susan Gubar, eds. The Norton Anthology of
Literature by Women: The Traditions in English. 3rd ed.
Volumes 1-2. New York: Norton, 2007. Print.
Modern Language Association. MLA Handbook for Writers of
Research Papers. 7th ed. New York: Modern Language
Association, 2009. Print.
Additional resources for MLA Documentation Style include:
MLA Formatting and Style Guide. Purdue Online Writing Lab. Purdue University, 9 May 2012. Web. 28
October 2012. <http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/1/>.
“Urban Library MLA Style Guide.” Urban Campus Library. Des Moines Area Community College, 20
August 2014. Web. 11 November 2014. <https://go.dmacc.edu/urban/library/Documents
MLA%20August%202014.pdf>.
REQUIRED MATERIALS:
 Dr. Wheeler’s Literary Vocabulary, http://web.cn.edu/kwheeler/lit_terms.html
 Notebook or binder for notes
 Separate notebook or binder for journal entries
 USB flash drive on which students will save papers, PowerPoint presentations, and other
resources
 Dictionary
SOFTWARE APPLICATIONS: Students will regularly use Microsoft Word, Microsoft PowerPoint, Adobe
Reader (free download at http://www.adobe.com/downloads/), DMACC Webmail, Turnitin, and
programs and databases through DMACC Library Services to complete this class successfully. Students
have access to all of the software packages at any DMACC campus as well as through Office 365,
available through the Webmail link. Students are expected to plan time into their schedule to use the
computers on campus in the Academic Achievement Center, Library, or the general campus labs if they
do not have a computer or Internet access at home to type assignments or access library resources.
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Students must use the “Composition Tutorials” handout for the class as well as plan time to meet with
me or take a computer skills class through the college.
Because assignments and files for class are located on the instructor website and course and college
updates are sent electronically through email, students must regularly access both Turnitin and DMACC
Webmail (click the Webmail link from the DMACC home page). Students should send class-related
messages to sdmcgregor@dmacc.edu. Students will submit their assignments through Turnitin, which
checks for plagiarism.
SOFTWARE NOTICE: “All the software used in this class is copyrighted; therefore, it is not for
distribution, copying, or personal use. This software is the property of Des Moines Area Community
College.”
HELP DESK AND BLACKBOARD HELP INFORMATION: Students must be knowledgeable about the use of
Blackboard. DMACC offers online, 24-hour, seven-day-per-week assistance through the Help Desk, and
they offer orientation sessions. To contact the Help Desk or learn about face-toface orientation sessions:
 Online http://go.dmacc.edu/helpdesk/ or from the DMACC homepage, click
to Tech Support/Help Desk
 Phone 515-965-7300 or 1-800-362-2127, ext. 7300
 Email helpdesk@dmacc.edu
 Online Learning Page https://go.dmacc.edu/online/ or click the “Login” link
at the top of the DMACC homepage and click “Access Online Courses”
GRADING CRITERIA
GRADING AND ASSIGNMENTS
The Grades tab in Turnitin keeps a total of students’ grades in this class, so students should always know
the grades they are earning throughout the class. Questions about grades (total grade or assignment
grades) are welcome within one week of returning the assignment, and students should come by my
office to show me the grade on the assignment or ask questions. I will accept questions via email, too,
but if the question requires more discussion, then the student will need to meet with me in my office.
Grading Scale
A
93-100%
A90-92%
B+
88-89%
B
83-87%
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BC+
C
C-
80-82%
78-79%
73-77%
70-72%
D+
D
DF
68-69%
63-67%
60-62%
59% or lower
Literary Analysis Essay Grading Rubric
Paper assignments are graded according to three primary elements of writing plus how evidence or
research is offered. All work must meet assignment requirements, practice formal rhetoric, and engage
the reader. The rubric used for each class assignment are similar to the one prepared below:
Total Score: __/100
Material






clear thesis statement that content develops
clear topic sentences and supporting details
o paragraphs developed to eight to ten or more
sentences
o quotes or paraphrasing used as support rather
than topic sentences/main ideas
o quotes limited to two lines or fewer
appropriate resources used and cited:
o author/work being studied is cited in the paper
and Works Cited page
o at least one book cited in the paper and Works
Cited
o and at least two journal articles from the library
cited in the paper and Works Cited
clear interest for the audience
length/word requirements adhered: 4 pages
accomplishes purpose of assignment/theory or
literary analysis term clear
Organization





appropriate introduction: author and work studied
clearly indicated
unified paragraphs with clear breaks
smooth transitions
logical order/progression
appropriate conclusion:
o mentions the author and work again
o clearly pulls together the ideas studied
o does not repeat the introduction
Style/Expression


clear and concise language (“Essay Cover Sheet”
adhered)
appropriate tone (informal versus formal levels, first
and second persons eliminated)
Correctness: See “Essay Cover Sheet” guidelines.



mechanics issues (capitalization, punctuation, and
spelling) do not interfere with meaning
grammar and usage issues do not interfere with
meaning
appropriate format (MLA style, mode, or design)
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B
C
D
F
8089%
7079%
6069%
059%
36-40
points
32-35
28-31
24-27
0-23
36-40
points
32-35
28-31
24-27
0-23
9-10
points
8 points
7 points
6 points
5
points
or
fewer
Grammar/
Spelling
issues: 0
9-10
points
23/page
45/page
6-7/
page
8+/
page
8 points
7 points
6 points
5
points
or
fewer
A
90-100%
TOTAL:
_____ /900 POINTS
Journal Entries
Midterm Journal,
_____/100 points
Final Journal,
_____/100 points
PRIMARY ASSIGNMENTS:
The primary assignments that contribute
to the final grade are described below.
Content: Before each class meeting, students must write a journal entry.
Some entries are prescribed in class on the assignment pages: Some are not
and will be assigned in class. Regardless of whether a specific topic is
presented in the assignment guides, students must have an entry for each
author based upon a new insight to literature, female writers, or the topic of
the reading for that class period. The author, work studied, and letter with
prompt assigned must be recorded at the top of the entry, and students must
write at least one half-page per writer. If students type the entries, then
they should be double-spaced and use Times New Roman, 12-point font.
Students must cite concepts from the work so that they can use the journal
for daily discussion in class and to study for the midterm and final exams.
 If the citation comes from the preface, the historical overview to each
time period, or the introduction to the piece, then students should cite the
editors/authors and page number (Gilbert and Gubar 493).
 If the work itself is used in the journal entry, then the author of the work
and page number should be cited (Shelley 498-9).
 If research is necessary for the entry, then the research should be copied
or printed and stapled to that entry, and the author and page or paragraph
should be cited in the journal entry when referenced.
Students who write quality entries and go beyond the requirements receive
the full 100 points at midterm and 100 points at the time of the final for their
journals. Students who do not write complete entries with citations and
thoughtful analysis do not receive the full 200 points. Students must turn in
the journals in class on the day of the exam before starting it. I do not
allow students to go home to get them and drop them off later in my office
or email them to me. Either the journal is turned in before the exam or it is
not.
Content: Students will write a literary analysis paper, which applies a
theory or literary analysis term to a literary work from the anthology. The
paper must be typed and consist of at least four double-spaced pages plus a
 Final Due Thursday, Works Cited page on the final page.
February 20
 Students should compose their paragraphs with clear topics sentences, a
few sentences about the topic sentence, and a quote or paraphrase with
 Revision Option
citation to support the point with each paragraph reaching eight or more
Due: Thursday,
sentences. The quotes or paraphrases should not begin or end paragraphs
April 2
but should support the ideas in the middle of the paragraph.
 Students must also use the “How to Format an MLA Style Paper"
Literary Analysis
tutorial (see the end of the syllabus) to set up the paper properly.
Paper, _____ /100
Students must also use the “Essay Cover Sheet” and abide by those
points
writing guidelines, or the paper will be given back to rewrite using it,
and the paper will be considered late.
One MLA-Style
Literary Analysis
Page 5 of 24

One direct quote per page is allowed, and the rest of the paper should
include the student’s original ideas or paraphrases with proper citations
of what is learned from that source. A direct quote must also be fewer
than two lines of quoted material: Block quotes are not allowed in the
paper. Sections 1.5, 1.7, 1.9, Chapter 2 (plagiarism), Chapter 5 (Works
Cited), and Chapter 6 (in-text citations) in the MLA Handbook for
Writers of Research Papers contain citation guidelines and answers.
Research Requirements: Students must cite
 the work being studied from the textbook,
 at least one additional book, and
 at least two journal articles from the library databases for each paper.
Research resources are found through the DMACC library. (See the
“Literary Resources and the DMACC Library” section at the end of the
syllabus.) Papers must show proper MLA-Style citations in the text and in
the Works Cited pages. Additionally, the MLA Handbook and the library’s
MLA citation handout (available in the library and the Academic
Achievement Center) are the sources for creating citations, and I not only
suggest students see me to work on their papers and citations but also go to
the Writing Lab.
Paper and Electronic Submissions: Students will upload the final paper into
Turnitin before class, and students must upload the paper with Works Cited
page in one file—not two files. To test the paper for plagiarism, students are
encouraged to upload drafts as many times as they wish prior to the due
date. If the student misses the Turnitin due date, then he or she is responsible
for sending me an electronic copy through DMACC email by the end of that
day: Students cannot upload the paper into Turnitin after the due date.
Papers that are not turned in within seven calendar days will be considered
late and not be accepted.
Revision Policy: Students may revise the Literary Analysis Paper by the
beginning of class on Thursday, April 2, emailing me the revised paper. If
the paper is improved beyond what I have suggested through comments in
Turnitin, the paper will receive an increase in grade as long as the paper was
not late and was not turned in to the Judicial Officer for plagiarism. If the
revision is worse than the original, then I will not lower the grade: The
original grade will stand.
Nineteenth Century or
Twentieth Century
Presentation with
Handouts and Works
Cited: _____ /100
points
Page 6 of 24
Content: Students will present a formal, 20-minute lecture focusing on the
author’s work.

Presenters must involve the class in analysis and other activities that tie
into the material, including identifying the literary terms and techniques
the work represents. The presentation should not focus on the writer’s
background but on studying and analyzing her work, hence little author
biographical information should be offered.




Ideas must be supported with evidence from textbook readings and
research.
Proper MLA format must be used to cite pictures, paraphrases, quotes, and
references.
Handouts and presentation materials must be typed, and PowerPoint must
be used to present part or all of the material. If students wish for me to
copy the handouts and Works Cited, then they must come to my office at
least twenty-four hours before the course presentation day to have me copy
the materials. Otherwise, students must have enough handouts and Works
Cited pages for all class members one their own.
Creativity, professionalism, accuracy, and clarity in presentation style and
materials earn the highest grades.
Research Requirements: Students must cite
 the work being studied from the textbook,
 at least one additional book,
 at least two journal articles from the library databases, and
 at least one reliable Internet source for the presentation.
The library and I have excellent audio-visual resources, so research the
multimedia section in the library and the “Literary Resources and the
DMACC Library” advice below. Presentations must show proper MLA
citations in the text and in the Works Cited pages. The MLA Handbook is the
source for creating citations, and I enjoy working with students in my office or
guiding them online to review the citations. Again, plagiarism will be handled
according to the Academic Misconduct/Plagiarism Policy below.
Presentation Day Requirements: Before class begins on the day of the
presentation, the presenter must hand me the printed PowerPoint and one copy
of the handouts and Works Cited page so that I can make notes during the
presentation. Because some images and writing does not appear well on the
PowerPoint printouts, therefore, the presentation should be printed in
grayscale: Click “File”>click “Print”> change “Full Page Slides” to “2
Slides”> change “Color” to “Grayscale”> click OK. Students who fail to
attend class on the date when scheduled to present will receive a zero for the
presentation. The reasons for rescheduling are the same as the rules for
absences.
Student’s Choice
Assignment
___/100 points
Overview of Options: Students may choose to write another literary analysis
paper, deliver their own creative work, build a Great Contributions to
Humanity Poster for the bulletin board in from of the AAC windows, or
complete a “Foundational Feminist Text” book report.
Students who choose the paper option use the same guidelines above with the
literary analysis papers and must submit the paper through the Student Choice
box in Turnitin by April 16.
Page 7 of 24
Students who choose to complete a creative work (poem, short story, song,
etc.) must submit it for grading as well as discuss it in class for ten minutes
before April 16.
Students who choose to complete a poster must select a female author and the
month (February, March, or early April) to present the display and deliver a
ten minute speech. The crucial question to this poster is, “What is the great
contribution to humanity—not just literature—that this woman has made?”
The display can consist of books, artifacts, posters, and any tangibles that fit
with the subject of the display and that fit into the display case (in front of the
AAC/Writing Lab window in Building 1). Or, you could create an electronic
display, instead in PowerPoint or Word, and I can place it on my website.
Books and reliable web sources must be used, and any material learned from
another source must be cited with the material and in a Works Cited page of
resources so that people know where you learned the information.
Additionally, a brief overview description of the display (3-5 sentences that
entice people view the display or read more about the author) must be emailed
to me during the presentation. I will offer the description in an email to the
faculty, staff, and students. Our site is located at
https://myweb.dmacc.edu/personal/sdmcgregor/instructor/humanity/.
Students who choose to complete a book report must choose a book from the
“Foundational Feminist Texts” list and write a three-page book report that
includes an introduction, summary of the book paragraph, and at least three
main points of analysis about concepts learned in the book. A Works Cited
page recording book reviewed as well as any other resources used should also
be included. Students who choose this option will submit the paper through the
Student Choice box in Turnitin and discuss it in class (ten minute discussion)
by April 16.
Midterm Exam and
Final Exam
Midterm Exam,
_____ /150 points
Final Exam,
_____ /150 points
Participation,
_____ /100 points
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Students must be present for the midterm and final exams on the date they are
given. If a student is not present, then the reasons for rescheduling are the
same as the rules for absences. Students are responsible for bringing that proof
when requesting the rescheduling of the exam. In the cases of a college or
military event, I must receive confirmation from a coach, college official, or
supervising officer, and the student must take the exam prior to leaving for the
event. Students who have an emergency must plan the exam time with me and
take the exam through the Testing Center within one week of the original
exam date.
Attendance will be taken each day. A student must attend the whole class
period (arriving late and leaving early equals not present), participate in
activities, and sign the sign-in sheet each day to be counted present. Students
who miss more than four classes rarely pass the class because they have
missed too much content. Regular participation grades may be taken in the
form of quizzes, journal checks, notes checks, lead-up assignment checks, and
daily participation in discussion, so students who wish to pass the class will
attend regularly to learn from evaluating materials and participating in class.
CLASSROOM CONDUCT: https://go.dmacc.edu/handbook
PARTICIPATION, ATTENDANCE, ATTENTION, AND TIMELINESS: While DMACC
does not provide a formal attendance policy for students, it seems apparent that
students who do not attend will not pass the class. Our discussions will be
intriguing enough that I expect anyone who chooses to take this course would look
forward to listening to and participating in the discussions about the works we will
study and would miss no more than two classes. Students who miss more than four
classes rarely pass the class because they have missed too many points and too
much content; therefore, they do not accumulate enough points or knowledge
about the works to pass the class.
Attendance will be taken each day. Students must read assignments prior to class,
attend the whole class period (late and leaving early equals absent), participate in discussion and other
activities, and sign the sign-in sheet each day to be counted present. Four participation points are
available each day except the first class meeting (2), research day (2), midterm (0), and final (0): Half of
the points are awarded for the quiz/journal check and half for attending the entire class period. During
the first five minutes of class, I will either offer a quiz or check journal entries. Students who have handwritten notes from the reading or journal entries may use them during quizzes. Notes from other sources
and textbooks cannot sit out on desks, be open, or be used during the quiz, and students using
unapproved resources will receive a zero for the quiz and may be turned in for an Academic Integrity
violation. For the journal checks, I will mark whether students have completed them or not. Students
who arrive after I have delivered the quiz or checked journals will receive zero points for the
quiz/journal check. Students who miss class will receive a zero for the day.
When students enter the room, they need to prepare themselves for class. Arriving on time for class is
crucial, and students who are more than five minutes late need not attend or will be told they are too late
to participate. Students who miss any part of class must make sure that they contact me outside of class
so that they can receive the full assignment instructions rather than interrupting class time to ask. Being
prepared for class by having assignments ready to go upon entering the classroom as well as opening the
texts and handouts to the appropriate pages is important to be able to navigate time in the classroom
effectively.
INTERPERSONAL INTERACTIONS WITH STUDENTS: Students must participate, discuss, listen, and
comment thoughtfully, actively, and respectfully in class activities and explore others’ opinions with an
open mind. Disagreeing with class members is natural, but putting down another person’s argument is
disrespectful and makes other students not want to come to class, so
agreeing that the idea is something that is worthy of exploration to learn
about disagreements is far more appropriate than insulting the person
and his or her idea. We will discuss difficult issues in class on occasion,
and respecting the ideas, feelings, and lifestyle of others in important not
only on a classroom order level but also on a basic human decency level.
PERSONAL ISSUES: Students who have personal issues—surgery, child care issues, trouble writing or
focusing on school work, etc.—should discuss those issues with me in my office hours and not wait until
an assignment is due. I am here for all of my students, and I understand students have jobs, children,
elderly parents, and other personal needs. Inevitably, a life emergency happens, and students who are on
target in class will be able to weather those issues more effectively.
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Part of life is learning how to balance responsibilities, and learning how to master the content of the
course as well as balance life is part of becoming an adult and learning how to be a student. A wise
woman who went by the name Mom said her idea of being prepared was “having a backup babysitter for
the backup babysitter,” and I have applied that throughout my life and career. I share that concept with
you now.
 What are your backup plans for your life’s situations: sick children, parents
who need health care, bosses who needed a report yesterday, and your own
sanity needs?
 Do you have someone who can take the children for two hours while you
wrap up an exam or paper?
 Are you able to stay late or go in early at work to take a few hours off work
for class-related needs when you need them?
 What will you do if your computer contracts a virus or you cannot access
class? (Using DMACC’s computers or the local library’s computers is a
quick, easy solution. If you are not near a DMACC campus, where is the
nearest college or university? You should have access to public computers
in the library.)
You are responsible for your education, and you must make the adjustments to ensure you earn a degree.
If you are struggling, then please email me when the issue begins, and I will help you plan. But,
understand, I cannot and will not move due dates or assignments for daily life issues, as that would not
be fair to students who are participating regularly and in timely fashion. If you have additional
counseling needs, I can guide you to counselors on campus who can help, and they also have access to
counseling professionals outside of the campus, too.
STUDY TIPS AND EXPECTATIONS: To perform successfully in this class, students must keep a positive
attitude toward completing the next goal or assignment, finish homework, study the assigned readings,
review notes, ask questions, and meet all requirements for the final paper. Students are expected to
devote at least three hours of study time for each contact hour, and students should expect to spend at
least twelve hours per week reading and writing for this class. When students miss class, they must take
responsibility to record notes from a classmate and work with the instructor regarding assignments prior
to the next class meeting, and emailing or calling the instructor to discuss assignments is the
professional way to continue in class. Students who attend regularly, keep up with assignments, and ask
specific and direct questions about assignments inside of and outside of class are able to complete the
class successfully with a passing grade. Students who fall behind, do not meet requirements, and do not
seek help outside of the classroom typically withdraw or fail the class. Students should seek extra help
(in the instructor’s office, in the Academic Achievement Center, and through peer tutoring) as soon as
possible if they feel that they are falling behind on the course material. Typically, sending an assignment
to the instructor as a DMACC email attachment is all it takes to receive the guidance necessary to
refocus and continue working toward a strong paper, presentation, or exam.
If a student finds the reading or writing load overwhelming or when a student has a problem with an
assignment, he or she should not hesitate to express those concerns in my office, through DMACC
email, or on the phone when the overwhelm sets in at least one workday
prior to the assignment due date. In the email or during the discussion,
the student should reference where he or she has looked for the answers
in the textbooks or other resources. Students who do not describe well,
especially in email, often receive more questions as opposed to answers.
Everyone is responsible for communicating well and describing needs,
and I will help all students as much as I can based upon their willingness
to try during the class and to communicate well.
Page 10 of 24
I strongly encourage students to see me in my office or to visit the Writing Lab in Building 1 and submit
papers through SMARTHINKING to receive additional feedback during the writing process. I expect that
students will ask for help in the early stages of this class. A student must simply ask to receive guidance,
and sending a sentence with citation and Works Cited entry or the whole paper to me through email is
perfectly acceptable to help me help you through writing, understand the readings, or complete a citation
well. Students are also welcome to schedule time to talk with me for guidance, bringing the paper and
resources on the visit.
MISSED EXAMS: A student who has an emergency may reschedule after the exam date, but the exam
must be taken within a week of the original exam. Students who miss an exam or a test or are not
rescheduling within the week will earn a zero.
LATE ASSIGNMENTS: Lead-up assignments cannot be turned in late for a grade: The assignment grade
will be a zero. Assignments are due at the beginning of class on the date due. If a student does not turn
in an assignment until after coming to class, then the assignment is considered late and will receive a
zero. If a student misses a class for any reason, the student must upload the assignment into the
appropriate Turnitin box in Blackboard prior to the beginning of the class period. Students are
responsible for reviewing the schedule for the next assignment and seeking help before the next class
period.
Final papers, or final drafts, may be submitted late must be turned in as an attachment via email within
seven calendar days and prior to the class start time, and the penalty is that the paper will lose ten points
from the final grade. Papers that are submitted beyond the seven days will not be accepted and will
receive the grade of a zero. The last module’s essay and the Closing Essay cannot be turned in late: They
are due on the due date because of the grading limitations that happen at the end of the term.
EXTRA CREDIT: Extra credit will be offered only as it becomes available and the instructor offers it for
academic-enrichment purposes. Students must not ask for extra credit opportunities.
FOOD AND DRINK POLICY: In congruence with college policies, food, or drink are not allowed in
classrooms. Students should place unused food or drinks in their bags and not use them during class.
Students who do bring food and drink to class will be told to put the food or drink away or to leave the
class.
SOCIAL NETWORKING/CELLULAR PHONE USE STATEMENT:
https://go.dmacc.edu/handbook/polprocedures/Pages/cellphone.aspx
Social networking on computers, cell phones, or other devices during class is unacceptable. Students
must turn off and put away cell phones and other electronic devices when entering the classroom and
must only visit Internet sites appropriate for the classroom environment. Students who leave on/leave
class to talk on cell phones and visit inappropriate sites will be dismissed from the class for that day, and
if inappropriate content is an issue, further college policies will be followed. Cell phones must only be
kept on in case of an emergency, such as a family member being hospitalized or severely ill. Other uses
are considered a distraction.
WEATHER POLICY: “Individual circumstances such as health, childcare, rural roads, distance from the
College, etc. can vary greatly among students and staff. It is always DMACC’s goal to provide safe
learning conditions, as well as provide the opportunity for students to attend classes when the vast
majority is able to safely attend. The final decision to come to College can only be made by the
individual student based on their specific extenuating circumstances that may make it unsafe for them to
travel. During adverse weather, DMACC faculty is considerate of students who are unable to attend
classes due to unique extenuating circumstances. It is the responsibility of each faculty member to notify
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their students (in addition to their dean or provost) thr[ough] some predetermined means if they must
postpone or cancel a specific class due to weather or illness.”
CLASS CANCELLATION PROCEDURE: Students will be informed of instructor absence via email during
the early morning hours if the class is cancelled. Students who are unable to attend class due to weather
issues or when the college is not closed due to weather or other extenuating circumstances must submit
assignments via Turnitin box prior to the start of the class period if an assignment is due that day.
ACADEMIC DISHONESTY/PLAGIARISM:
https://go.dmacc.edu/handbook/polprocedures/Pages/academicmisconduct.aspx
Academic integrity, based on the values of honesty, trust, fairness, respect, and responsibility, is a
fundamental principle of scholarship at DMACC. DMACC’s Academic Misconduct Policy (ES 4670)
prohibits: plagiarism (using another person’s writing or copying any work without proper citation),
falsification, unauthorized collaboration during a test or on an
assignment, or substitution for another student to take an exam, course or
test. If you are to benefit from this class and be properly evaluated for
your contributions, it is important for students to be familiar with and
follow DMACC’s Academic Misconduct policy. Students are
encouraged to review DMACC’s Academic Misconduct Policy on-line
at the link above and in the DMACC Student Handbook. Work that
violates these values is incompatible with the goals of this class and will
not be tolerated.
As with any paper, students must make sure that their examples and logic are different from their peers,
meaning it would be quite easy to copy the examples or reasons other students in the class have offered
from discussion or peer review. I expect in college classes that students understand such an act is
cheating, and each student’s answer must not contain similar examples and logic as others are writing.
 The consequences in this class range in a reduction in the Material and Correctness scores for the
paper for a minor instance (one source, one instance of faulty paraphrasing, or one quotation mark
omission for direct quotes) or a zero for the assignment for major instances (more than one source,
multiple instances of faulty paraphrasing, or quotation marks omitted for direct quotes).
 Regarding assignments that are copied from any source or where students are using their classmates’
answers to form their answers, students will receive a zero.
 If a student in this class copies a portion from any source, omits more than two sources, buys a paper
and submits it as his or her own, or submits a paper previously used in another class, then the
consequence is the student will receive an automatic zero for the assignment.
Any instance will be submitted to the college on the Discipline Report Form. In the case of students
copying from one another, both students will receive a zero for the portions copied or the whole
assignment, but the Disciplinary Conference or College Judicial Hearing Board will determine if either
or both students should receive further disciplinary actions. Students have the right to appeal and may do
so by following the procedures described in the Academic Misconduct policy. The offense of plagiarism
does not follow students to other institutions but does stay in the student’s record at Des Moines Area
Community College.
When problems occur or if confused about integrating a source into the paper, the
best path is for the student to talk with the instructor about managing and
understanding assignments. It makes me happy and excited to see students earnestly
wanting to learn about writing. No student should hesitate in contacting me for
assistance.
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DMACC INFORMATION
ADD/DROP DATES: https://go.dmacc.edu/registration/pages/add_drop.aspx
REFUND POLICY: https://go.dmacc.edu/registration/Pages/refund.aspx
MIDTERM AND FINAL DATES: http://go.dmacc.edu/students/Pages/academiccalendar.aspx
DAYS TO REGISTER FOR NEXT TERM: https://go.dmacc.edu/admissions/pages/applyonlinefull.aspx
SUPPORT SERVICES
ACADEMIC AND EDUCATIONAL ADVISING: https://go.dmacc.edu/advising
ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT CENTER:
https://go.dmacc.edu/students/Pages/academic_achievement_center.aspx
Urban Campus AAC: Building 1, Room 204, 515-248-7204, 1-800-362-2127
Hours: Monday-Thursday, 8:30 a.m.-7:00 p.m.; Friday, 8:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
The Writing Lab and Language Arts Labs would be helpful for students in this class.
SMARTHINKING: https://go.dmacc.edu/smarthinking/
Services for online tutoring are available through SMARTHINKING, which the college provides to
students. Using it and the Academic Achievement Center are strongly suggested for this and other
courses. Students can sign up for SMARTHINKING at the link provided above.
ADMISSIONS AND REGISTRATION: https://go.dmacc.edu/registration
CAREER SERVICES: https://go.dmacc.edu/careercenter
CAREER COUNSELING: https://go.dmacc.edu/prospectivestudents/Pages/careercounseling.aspx
FINANCIAL AID: https://go.dmacc.edu/fin_aid
COMPUTER LABS: https://go.dmacc.edu/helpdesk/Pages/computerlabs.aspx
Urban Campus Labs
 Building 1, Room 218: Monday-Thursday, 8:00 a.m.-9:30 p.m.; Friday, 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m.;
Saturday, 8:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
 Library, Building 1, Room 122, Computers and laptops are available for student use during
library hours, which are listed below.
LIBRARY: https://go.dmacc.edu/library
Urban Campus Library: Building 1, Room 122
Hours: Monday–Thursday, 7:30 a.m.–8:30 p.m.; Friday 7:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.,
Saturday, 9:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
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SERVICES FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES: https://go.dmacc.edu/student_services/disabilities
TUTORING: https://go.dmacc.edu/handbook/servstudents/Pages/tutoring.aspx
SYLLABUS ADDENDUM
To access additional information related to DMACC policies and procedures that impact the
classroom (i.e. use of technology, weather-related cancellations, classroom conduct, etc.), the
DMACC student handbook, registration information (including add/drop dates and refund dates),
student service information (including counseling and advising), the DMACC academic calendar,
and campus-specific resources (i.e. Academic Achievement Center, library, computer, labs, etc.), go
to https://go.dmacc.edu/handbook.
If you do not have access to a computer and need a printed version of any of the information
described above, contact your instructor.
DISCLAIMER: “This syllabus is representative of materials that will be covered in this class; it is not a
contract between the student and the institution. It is subject to change without notice. Any potential
exceptions to stated policies and requirements will be addressed on an individual basis, and only for
reasons that meet specific requirements. If you have any problems related to this class, please feel free to
discuss them with me.”
NONDISCRIMINATION POLICY: Des Moines Area Community College shall not engage in or allow
discrimination covered by law. This includes harassment based on race, color, national origin, creed,
religion, sex (including pregnancy and marital status), sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability
and genetic information. Veteran status in educational programs, activities, employment practices or
admission procedures is also included to the extent covered by law. Individuals who believe they have
been discriminated against may file a complaint through the College Discrimination Complaint
Procedure. Complaint forms may be obtained from the DMACC Web site, the Counselors/Advisors,
Judicial Officer, Human Resources Department, the campus Provost’s Offices, and Academic Deans’
Offices.
Employees and applicants who wish additional information or assistance may contact the EEO/AA
Officer, Human Resources, Bldg. 1 on Ankeny Campus, 515-964-6301or refer to HR Procedures 3000,
3005, 3010, 3015, and 3020 at http://go.dmacc.edu/hr/pages/hrpp.aspx.
Program Development/Academic Support Services Director, is the official Student Accommodation
Officer/Section 504/ADA Coordinator for DMACC. The ADA Coordinator’s office is located in Bldg.
6-10E on the Ankeny Campus and may be contacted by voice at 515-964-6857. The ADA Coordinator
is responsible for ensuring that the college complies with federal regulations that guarantee qualified
students with disabilities equal access to all programs and services. Any student, faculty, or staff
member may contact the ADA Coordinator’s office for clarification of federal regulations, appeal of a
grievance, or resolution of a disability-related problem.
ACCOMMODATIONS/SERVICES FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES:
https://go.dmacc.edu/student_services/disabilities
The Program Development/Academic Support Services Director is the official Student Accommodation
Officer/Section 504/ADA Coordinator for DMACC. The ADA Coordinator’s Office is located in
Bldg. 6-10E on the Ankeny Campus and may be contacted by voice (515-964-6857). The ADA
Page 14 of 24
Coordinator is responsible for ensuring that the college complies with federal regulations that guarantee
qualified students with disabilities equal access to all programs and services. Any student, faculty, or
staff member may contact the ADA Coordinator’s office for clarification of federal regulations, appeal
of a grievance, or resolution of a disability-related problem.
POLICIES AND PROCEDURES INTRODUCTION: https://go.dmacc.edu/handbook/polprocedures
REFUND POLICY: http://go.dmacc.edu/registration/Pages/refund.aspx
CLERY CRIME REPORT: https://go.dmacc.edu/handbook/polprocedures/Pages/cleryact.aspx
SAFETY PAGE: https://go.dmacc.edu/safety/Pages/welcome.aspx
SEXUAL HARASSMENT POLICY:
https://go.dmacc.edu/handbook/polprocedures/Pages/nondiscrimpolicy.aspx
SOFTWARE NOTICE: “All the software used in this class is copyrighted; therefore, it is not for
The assignment due dates and journal assignments are listed in the assignment guides posted
online and handed out in class. Please use them to plan your reading schedule.
5/5: The final exam will be held Tuesday, May 5, from 9:40-11:40 a.m. in Betts 108. Please bring a
pencil, your journal entries, and a calm spirit, and you will do fine on the exam.
distribution, copying, or personal use. This software is the property of Des Moines Area Community
College.”
TECHNOLOGY USAGE: https://go.dmacc.edu/handbook/polprocedures/Pages/technologyusage.aspx
STUDENT HANDBOOK: https://go.dmacc.edu/handbook
STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES AND RIGHTS:
https://go.dmacc.edu/handbook/polprocedures/Pages/rightsandrespon.aspx
GRIEVANCE PROCEDURES: https://go.dmacc.edu/student_services/pages/policies_procedures.aspx
DMACC CONSUMER INFORMATION: https://go.dmacc.edu/consumerinfo
Page 15 of 24
How to Format Modern Language Association (MLA) Style Papers
The tutorial is designed for Microsoft Word 2013, but the process should be similar for other
versions. Complete this tutorial for all assignments in this class.
1. Open Microsoft Word prior to typing the content.
2. Double-space the paper by clicking the Home tab. Place your cursor over the Paragraph properties
arrow and click it.
Figure 1: Page Layout and Paragraph
In the Line Spacing drop-down box, click Double, and while there, change the After in the Spacing
from 10 pt to 0 pt, and click the OK button.
Figure 2: Spacing and Line Spacing
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3. Next, the margins must be set to one inch on all four
sides. Click Page Layout menu and click the
dropdown arrow below or beside Margins. Select
Normal from the list, which should be the 1”
margin option.
Figure 3: Changing the Margins
3. To set the font, click the Home menu. Select Times
New Roman in the Font style box and 12 in the
Font Size drop-down box.
Figure 4: Changing the Font Type
and Size
4. MLA Style papers do not require a title page, so a student may begin typing the paper immediately.
The student's name, instructor's name, course and section number, and day month and year
are placed in the upper left-hand corner of the page. Enter down a space and type a title for the
paper. Remember that
titles should directly
Figure 5: Required Paper Identification Information
represent the
information described
in the paper. Center the
title by clicking the
Center button, enter
down a space, click the
Align Left button to
begin the body content
of the paper, and press
the Tab button on the
keyboard for the first
indent of the paper.
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5. The header must be added. Click the Insert menu, click the Page Number drop-down box, and
select the number that appears in the upper right-hand corner of the page.
Figure 6: Header Page Numbering
Click the Home menu, select (or highlight) the new number 1, and change the font to Times New
Roman, 12-point font. Click in front of (to the left of) the page number, type your last name, and hit
the space bar one time. All of these steps place your information and the page number on the correct
pages. When you are finished, click back to the Header & Footer Tools Design tab and click the
Close Header and Footer button.
Figure 7: Add Information and Change Font
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6. If writing a research paper, complete this step. If not, then move on to the final step of saving.
Create a Works Cited page by clicking into the
paper below the last line of typing. Click the
Insert menu, and then click Page Break.
Figure 8: Inserting a Page Break
Type Works Cited at the top of the new page and center it, using the Home menu to change the
alignment. Enter down a space, and left align the cursor.
Figure 9: Works Cited Centered on the Last Page
7. On the Paragraph section, click the Special dropdown box, and click Hanging to create a hanging
indent for all Works Cited entries. Type and format
the Works Cited entries as directed in the MLA
handbook.
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Figure 10: Hanging Indent
8. You may save the paper, and for the sake of opening the file on Works, Word, Word Perfect, or
another word processing program, you should save the file in Rich Text Format (.rtf). Click the File
menu in the upper, left-hand corner of the screen. Click Save As, then click the Browse button.
Figure 11: Save in Other Formats
If you have not inserted your flash drive, do so now. On the left side, find the flash drive (likely E:/
drive) and click on it. From the Save as Type dropdown, select Rich Text Format (*.rtf), and name
the file according to your name and the title or type of paper
(smcgregor_paper01_HowtoWriteaDescriptiveTitle.rtf). Click the Save button when finished.
Figure 12: Saving in Rich Text Format
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Setting Formal Language: Spell and Grammar Checks
College instructors expect you to write like a professional, as they see you as a college student and a
scholar. Teachers expect that you know not to use first and second persons in writing samples no matter
the formality or informality of the assignment unless otherwise instructed. They expect that you will
write using your best language, vocabulary, spelling, and grammar. One tool that helps you write well
is the Spell and Grammar Check function in Word and other software programs. Using the proper
spelling and grammar checks can help you improve your skills and sound like the intelligent person you
want to be. Word does not always give the correct answer during the spelling and grammar check, so a
wise student would open a spelling or grammar book and use it while completing grammar and style
checks.
NOTE: If you are using a computer at home, the settings on this tutorial only need to be set
once, most likely. If you are using a Des Moines Area
Community College computer, then you will need to set these
properties each time you begin Microsoft Word.
To set the formal spell check properties,
1. Click the File tab at the upper-left-hand corner of the screen.
2. Click Options.
3. The Word Options box opens, look to the “When correcting
spelling and grammar in Word” area at the bottom to make the
changes below.
a. Check the following boxes:
 “Check spelling as you type”
 “Mark grammar errors as you type”
 “Frequently confused words”
 “Check grammar with spelling”
 “Show readability statistics” (reveals how
many words, sentences, paragraphs and grade
level at which you are writing)
b. Change the Writing Style option from Grammar
Only to Grammar & Style.
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4. Next, click the Settings box next to the
Grammar & Style drop-down box, and the
Grammar Settings window opens.
a. Set “Comma required before the last list
item” to “always” (a list of items, such as
milk, butter, and eggs—note that the
comma is placed before the word “and”).
If you are a business or journalism major,
then the last comma in the series is not
necessary, so select “never” or “don’t
check”
b. Set “Punctuation required with quotes” to
“inside”
(When punctuating with quotation marks,
a student should check the MLA, APA, or
other style manual to see where the
comma or period is placed. The mechanics chapter of Hacker and Sommers the punctuation
section of the APA or MLA manuals will help you determine which is right. Most
punctuation belongs “inside” of the quotation marks but not always. You can revise and
ignore when appropriate, but at least the program reminds you to think about it.)
c. Set “Spaces required between sentences” to “1”
d. Check all of the boxes available in the Grammar and Style sections, including “Use of first
person.”
5. Click the “OK” button for both the Grammar Settings and Word Options box, and you should be
able to run a spell and grammar check. If you cannot, then click the spell check button again.
When the spell and grammar check finished, Word displays a Readability Statistics box. As
previously stated, the writer read the report to see how many words are contained in the document, an
average of how many sentences per paragraph appear, and the readability score, or how easy and at what
grade level the writing can be read. The more complex the sentences are and the more varied the
language is, the higher the grade level the writer will earn. The writer should consider for what level of
reader the material be appropriate. If the essay is written for a college-level course, then the FleschKincaid Grade Level should be as near 12 or higher as possible. If not, the writer should return to the
material and combine sentences or improve the vocabulary used in the paper to make it sound more
professional.
As a writer experiments with the tool, he or she usually finds that his or her writing skills improve if
the writer pays attention to what the tool indicates. This tool cannot fix all writing flaws and will not
catch everything, such as second person; however, it can help a new writer identify errors and improve
writing skills.
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Student Guide: Accessing Turnitin
When you first access Turnitin, you will need to do so from your DMACC email account.
1. Go to the DMACC home page (https://go.dmacc.edu),
2. click Webmail, and
3. find the email from the Turnitin Help Desk.
The instructions in that email offer you your username (DMACC email address) and password
(temporary—you will change it when you log on the first time). It will also provide a link into
Turnitin. Follow it, log on, complete the information page that appears, and you will have reset your
password to something you can remember. Please record your username and password below:
Username:
____________________@dmacc.edu
Password: ______________________________
1. After the initial login, you will go straight to Turnitin (http://www.turnitin.com/), enter your
username and revised password and click into class.
Figure 1: Log onto Turnitin
If you cannot access Turnitin, then you need to check that you are typing
your email correctly.
If you have the username and password correct, then you need to have
the password reset, so click the “Retrieve password” link and follow the
instructions.
2. Click on the link to the class. At the top of the screen, you will see a link
to “My Grades,” which updates throughout the term. Below that, you
will see the major assignments for the class. To the right of the paper
assignment, you will see the “Submit” button, which you can click to
upload a paper.
Figure 2: Assignment Submit Area
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3. The next screen offers boxes to aid in uploading the
paper, and in the “Submission Title” blank, enter the title
of the paper.
Figure 3: Submit the File
4. Then, click the “Browse” button and search for the flash
drive, computer drive, or cloud where the file is saved.
Click the “Upload” button when finished.
5. On the next screen, Turnitin requests that you confirm
the file is the correct one. If it is, then click the
“Confirm” button. It refreshes on more time and shows
on more preview. Click the “Return to assignment list”
button.
Figure 4: Portfolio
6. When finished, you can click back to the portfolio and make sure the file has uploaded. The “View”
button to the right of the assignment will open, and the originality report will appear after a few
minutes. If it does not, then speak with your instructor, and he or she will need to resubmit it for you.
7. Additionally, clicking on the Originality button (to assess for plagiarism) or the GradeMark (to
review the grade).
When the paper is graded, click the GradeMark button in the lower right-hand corner of the page of
the screen to review the rubric—click the Rubric button
—and comments in the paper.
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