ENGLISH 101: ENGLISH COMPOSITION
College of the Canyons, Spring 2015
Section 13809, TTH 8 a.m. - 9:20 a.m., MENH 334
PROF. MARY E. POWELL
OFFICE HOURS: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9:30-10:30 a.m., BONH 312
EMAIL: mary.powell@canyons.edu
INSTRUCTOR HOMEPAGE: http://www.canyons.edu/faculty/powellm
PREREQUISITE: Placement through COC’s official placement process, or successful completion of
ENGL 091, 094, 096, or ESL 100.
COURSE DESCRIPTION: Builds critical reading and expository writing skills through the analysis
and evaluation of college-level, non-fiction readings and the composition of well-organized, full-length
essays containing properly documented evidence.
STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES
1. Analyze and critically evaluate college-level, non-fiction texts for argument, structure, and
rhetorical strategies.
2. Compose persuasive, well-organized, grammatically correct full-length essays, synthesizing
properly documented and relevant research and other evidence to develop and support a unified
thesis.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
 analyze and critically evaluate written and other visual materials;
 organize expository essays in an effective manner (logically, chronologically, simple to
complex, least to most important, linearly);
 support generalizations by using evidence such as relevant detail, anecdotes, and wellintegrated quotations;
 explain and develop the link between the specific generalization and its specific supporting
evidence;
 narrow general topics to a scope appropriate to the assignment;
 create a thesis statement to structure the essay as a whole;
 write effective introductory and concluding paragraphs;
 use effective transitions within and between paragraphs to connect logically ideas;
 observe the conventions of standard written English while using a variety of sentence
structures;
 locate and critically evaluate appropriate source material;
 use relevant and appropriate citation format;
 use various strategies to generate and develop ideas;
 compose well-organized responses in timed-writing situations.
REQUIRED TEXT
Alfano, Christine L. and Alyssa J. O’Brien. Envision in Depth: Reading, Writing, and Researching
Arguments, 3rd ed. Boston: Pearson, 2104. Print. ISBN: 978-0-321-89996-5
OTHER REQUIRED MATERIALS
 Notebook or paper to take notes in class
English 101 Syllabus


Instructor: Mary E. Powell
Page 2 of 9
Folder for handouts
USB flash drive, or web-based email account
OPTIONAL (RECOMMENDED) TEXT:
Hacker, Diane and Nancy Sommers. Rules for Writers. 7th ed. Boston: Bedford/St.Martin’s, 2011.
Print. ISBN: 978-0-312-64736-0
GRADING BREAKDOWN
There will be approximately 1000 points available for the course. Depending on the weight of the
quizzes and in-class work that you will be allowed to drop, your total points may be slightly higher or
lower than 1000 points:
Essay 1
Essay 2
Essay 3
Essay 4
Quizzes, In-class/Small-group work
Reading Journals
Presentation
Essay Prewriting/Outlines (4x15)
Rough Drafts (4x15)
Supplemental Learning Workshops
Annotated Bibliography
Final
100 points
125 points
150 points
175 points
120 points
70 points
40 points
60 points
60 points
50 points
20 points
30 points
1000 points
Grade Scale:
1000-900 points = A
899-800 points = B
799-700 points = C
699-600 points = D
599points = F
____
The best ways to succeed in the course are 1) completing all assignments successfully and on time, 2)
being aware of your current percentage by keeping track of your scores, and 3) seeking help early on if
you are struggling.
At the completion of the course, I will resolve borderline grades by considering the following
elements: attitude toward peers and the course, as well as the frequency and quality of in-class
participation.
ATTENDANCE
To pass this class, you need to arrive on time and attend consistently. I will take roll at the beginning
of class; if you come in after I have taken roll, you will be counted tardy and receive a half-absence.
Leaving early (even 5 minutes early) or exiting and reentering the classroom during class will also
result in a half-absence. Students with more than three total absences will be dropped from the
class. I will not inform you when you approach the maximum allowed absences, and I will not allow
additional absences once you exceed the limit. If you arrive to class unprepared and unable to
participate (no books, no draft on peer review day, etc.), you will be asked to leave and will be marked
absent. If you are tardy, I will not interrupt class to record your attendance; instead, you must inform
me at the end of class of your attendance or you will be marked absent. If you are absent, you are
responsible for obtaining handouts, assignments, etc. from the instructor or from a fellow student and
for turning in all work early.
English 101 Syllabus
Instructor: Mary E. Powell
Page 3 of 9
Keep in mind that quizzes and in-class work will be a daily part of the course. Any absence means you
cannot receive credit for any in-class work we may do that day. Likewise, students who are tardy or
who leave early will not receive credit for any in-class work they may miss.
PARTICIPATION
This class is based on active student participation in class discussions, small group work, and reading
and writing assignments. Be prepared to work in pairs and groups with a variety of assigned members
who will have different personalities, backgrounds, and experiences than your own. In order to be
successful in class, please come expecting to participate, and bring your texts and notebook (with
paper and pencils) with all of my handouts and all of your work to each class in an organized
notebook. Finally, remember that you are responsible for your own education.
DISCLAIMER
This course and its reading materials assume a mature academic audience. Since academic writing
often has its finger on the pulse of difficult issues and controversies, expect to have aspects of your
belief system and values challenged. If you anticipate being uncomfortable or significantly upset by
such issues, please reconsider whether this is the appropriate course for you. Respect for the instructor
and peers in the heat of intellectual debate is expected at all times. Repeated instances of disrespect to
anyone in our class will result in a referral to the Dean of Student Affairs and possible disciplinary
action.
CLASSROOM BEHAVIOR
Research shows that collaboration (working with others) increases learning for all students but, to be
successful, requires mutual respect and the cooperation of all students. As a result, I expect everyone
to behave in an adult and respectful manner both to the instructor and to classmates. Address your
instructor and your classmates courteously and respectfully both in and out of class (and via e-mail),
and be courteous and respectful of all opinions. To create a positive learning environment, the
following basic courtesies are expected of all students:
 Plan ahead: Eat and use the restroom before entering the classroom. It is very distracting to
have students enter and exit the classroom during class; if you do so, you will receive a tardy
(half-absence). Also, it is imperative that you arrive on time, as you receive a half-absence and
lose credit for whatever in-class work or quiz begins the class if you are tardy. If you leave
class early (even five minutes early), you will receive a half-absence. See the attendance policy
in this syllabus.
 Before entering the room, turn off your cell phone and other electronic devices. Place them
(and ear buds or headphones) in your bag where they must remain throughout the class. Cell
phone use, including texting in class, is prohibited. Do not even refer to your phone as a clock
or calculator while in class unless you are instructed to do so by your instructor. If you use
your phone in class for any reason, you will automatically lose credit for any in-class work
that day. If there is some emergency which requires you to have your phone on, please speak
with me before class.
 If you leave the classroom for any reason, you will receive a half-absence and lose credit for inclass work. If you have an emergency situation, speak to me before class.
English 101 Syllabus
Instructor: Mary E. Powell
Page 4 of 9
 Unregistered people are not permitted in the classroom.
 Behave with respect for your classmates and your instructor. Disrespectful behavior includes
placing feet on furniture, yawning out loud and other negative body language, entering and
exiting the class, texting, engaging in personal conversations, dominating class discussion,
showing disrespect for others’ opinions, failing to follow instructions or participate in in-class
activities, using profanity, displaying a general lack of cooperation, etc. Such behavior will not
be tolerated. Students who do anything deemed disrespectful or inappropriate will be asked to
leave and referred to the Dean of Student; their in-class assignment for the day will be
discounted.
Students enrolling at COC assume an obligation to abide by all college regulations. Please refer
to the “College of the Canyons Student Rights and Responsibilities” in the COC schedule of
classes for further information. Any student who does not follow basic principles of respect and
cooperation in the classroom will be referred to the Dean of Students for disciplinary action.
EMAIL
Please check your campus email regularly in order to receive important updates about this class and the
college. I will respond to your e-mails Monday through Friday within 24 hours. If I do not, assume
that your email did not go through, and send it to me again. I do not respond to e-mail on the
weekends or after 5 p.m. on weekdays, so please keep this in mind.
I will not accept any work by email. To receive credit, you must turn your work in during class or to
turnitin.com as required. When you do email me, please use your best writing and create a
professional email; the casual style of a text message is not appropriate. Please be courteous and clear,
include the course name in your subject line, and don’t forget to sign your email. Please only
communicate with me through your campus email.
GRADED WORK
Save your graded work, and keep it organized along with your notes and handouts in your notebook.
Be sure to review your graded work and instructor comments to see where you did well and what areas
still need improvement; try to avoid repeating the same errors in later assignments. Making
improvements from assignment to assignment based on your grades and instructor’s comments will
help your writing improve throughout the semester.
ESSAY/ASSIGNMENT REQUIREMENTS
Each essay in this course will have specific requirements explained on the assignment sheet. In
addition to the specific requirements of the assignment, each essay must meet the following
requirements:

Length and Source Requirements: Any essay or journal that fails to meet the minimum word
count or page length requirement or the minimum sources requirement for that assignment will
receive no higher than a 60% (depending on the essay’s quality and failure to meet other
criteria, the grade may be even lower) and will not receive comments.
English 101 Syllabus

Instructor: Mary E. Powell
Page 5 of 9
Proper Formatting: All papers must be properly formatted. We will follow MLA guidelines
for formatting in this class. Basic formatting required for all papers and typed assignments
includes:
 12-point Times New Roman font
 1” margins
 Page numbering that includes a running header with student’s last name and page
number
 Double-spacing throughout
 Proper paragraph spacing and indentation. There shouldn’t be any extra spaces between
paragraphs.
 A properly formatted Heading, Title, and Works Cited page
 How to set fonts, margins, and spacing will be covered in class, so you are responsible
for demonstrating your knowledge of that information on your journals and essays.
Any paper with any incorrect general formatting (font, margins, page numbering, spacing, etc.)
will automatically receive a 5 % deduction. An incorrectly formatted Works Cited page will
receive an additional 5 % deduction.

Following Directions: Every assignment will have specific instructions. You are required to
follow all directions (written and spoken) for every assignment. Any assignment that fails to
follow instructions will receive a 5 % deduction.

Peer Review: All rough drafts will go through a round of peer review.

Proper Submission: All papers must be properly submitted in order to receive credit. In order
to be graded, all rough drafts and final drafts must be uploaded by the due date and time given
on the assignment sheet to turnitin.com, an online tool that helps students to learn about
responsible citation and teachers to detect plagiarism. (Rough drafts must be submitted both to
turnitin.com and as a hard copy on peer review day). I will be grading your final drafts through
turnitin.com’s grading system. Any essay not submitted to turnitin.com cannot and will not be
graded; it will receive a zero. A late submission is any time after the assigned posting date
(even 5 minutes) and will result in a 5% deduction. An additional 5% deduction will be taken
for each additional day that the essay is late. Essays more than 5 days late to turnitin.com will
receive a zero.

Late Work: Deadlines are final. Each assignment is due on the date that it appears on
the course schedule at the beginning of class or at the posting time listed on the
assignment sheet. If you need to be absent the day an assignment is due because of a
documented emergency, you can arrange with me to submit documentation as well as the
work you missed. However, any work emailed to me or left in my mailbox without
prior explanation and permission will not receive credit. Late work will not be accepted
outside of extraordinary, documented circumstances. If accepted at the instructor’s
discretion, late assignments may receive a 5% deduction from the total possible points for
each day that they are late. Late essays may not be graded until the next essay-grading
period and will not receive comments or suggestions. Late work policies are enforced or
negotiated at the instructor’s discretion.
English 101 Syllabus

Instructor: Mary E. Powell
Page 6 of 9
Saved/Graded Work: All essays are to be typed and saved to a secure place (even more than
one) before submission. Save copies of all drafts and final essays, as it will be your
responsibility to reproduce work should you—or I—lose or misplace it. You may be
required to re-submit some of your graded work, and missing components will receive grade
deductions. Essays will be graded on turnitin.com. Be sure to “pick up” your essay and review
your grade and my comments by visiting the website once I notify you that essay grades have
been posted.
ACADEMIC DISHONESTY
All cases of plagiarism will be referred to the Dean of Student Affairs and will result in an automatic
zero on the assignment. Using any fragment of print or online materials without proper quotation
and/or citation falls under this category. Direct quotes (exact wording) from sources must be properly
quoted and cited. Indirect quotes, or paraphrased material, must be in your own words and the syntax,
or sentence structure, must also differ from that of the source you are using, as well as be correctly
cited. All knowledge that is not common knowledge must be attributed to a readily available source.
An example of general or common knowledge would be that the President of the United States is
Barak Obama. An example of specific knowledge that is not common, and that would therefore need
attribution, is that Obama’s estimated net worth is $7 million. When in doubt, always cite.
We will be reviewing the basics of citation and documentation of sources in this course. Therefore,
you will be responsible for correctly citing and documenting all of your sources in your writing,
whether you are directly quoting or paraphrasing them.
For a full description of how to avoid allegations of academic misconduct, please see the COC student
handbook. For information on what constitutes grounds for disciplinary action, see the COC Schedule
of Classes. COC’s Academic Senate statement on plagiarism appears on the last page of this syllabus.
CAMPUS RESOURCES AND WRITING ASSISTANCE
The Learning Center is an important and useful resource that provides English, Math, and Computer
tutoring along with computers and printing. English tutors can help with paper revisions and questions
in general. There are English, Math, and Computer tutors on duty during the center’s hours. The TLC
also has computers you can use for writing assignments. Please note that the TLC will not proofread
or ‘fix’ your essay, but will help you brainstorm and/or revise, as well as help answer any focused
questions you have about your drafts. Working with a TLC tutor does not guarantee a specific grade
on your work. You can access the center’s web site at:
http://www.canyons.edu/Offices/TLC/Pages/default.aspx.
In addition, the TLC offers a series of skills building workshops (called Supplemental Learning
workshops) to promote student success in courses throughout the college. As part of the requirements
for this class, you will attend five Supplemental Learning workshops this semester, each worth 10
points. I will specify the required workshops and the dates by which they should be completed on the
assignment sheet for this requirement. Check in at the TLC, and you will be directed to the workshop
location. If you cannot attend the workshop at the time it is held, you may complete the independent,
self-paced Guided Learning Activity with the help of a tutor. Every workshop has an accompanying
GLA which can be completed at the TLC during GLA hours. (Note: No workshops or GLAs will be
offered the first and last weeks of the semester.)
See the Skills4Sucess webpage for more info: www.canyons.edu/S4S
English 101 Syllabus
Instructor: Mary E. Powell
Page 7 of 9
ACCOMMODATIONS FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES
Our institution values diversity and inclusion; we are committed to a climate of mutual respect and full
participation. Our goal is to create learning environments that are usable, equitable, inclusive and
welcoming. If there are aspects of the instruction or design of this course that result in barriers to your
inclusion or accurate assessment or achievement, please notify the instructor as soon as possible. I
welcome feedback that will assist me in improving the usability and experience for all students.
Disabled students are also welcome to contact the Disabled Students Program and Services office to
discuss a range of options to removing barriers in the course, including accommodations. Their office
is located in Seco Hall, Room 103 (661-362-3341).
*For other resources and more information, see COC’s Student Services webpage:
www.canyons.edu/Offices/StudentServices
COURSE BLACKBOARD SITE
The syllabus, schedule, and other relevant materials for this course will be available on our course
Blackboard site at bb.canyons.edu. Some assignments may be posted exclusively to the Blackboard
site. Be sure to access and print any assigned readings and bring them to class if required.
Username:
your 7 digit student ID #
Password:
student
DROPPING THE CLASS
Remember that success comes by working hard long after our initial enthusiasm passes, so I encourage
you to finish this class and stick with your academic goals. I want you to succeed academically, so
please e-mail me or visit me during my office hours if I can be of any assistance. If you do need to
drop the class, check the deadline in your schedule of classes. I do not sign petitions from failing
students for late withdrawals.
IMPORTANT NOTE
By remaining enrolled in this class, you agree to be bound by the policies and requirements of this
course as described above. If you disagree with those policies and requirements, please drop this class
immediately. Make sure that you read and understand all of the contents of this syllabus and refer
back to it throughout the semester.
IMPORTANT DATES
Lincoln Holiday
Washington Holiday
Add/Drop without “W”/Refund Deadline
Spring Break
Drop with a “W” Deadline
Memorial Day Holiday
Last Day of Semester
Graduation
February 13 (Friday)
February 16 (Monday)
February 22 (Sunday)
April 5-12
May 8 (Friday)
May 25 (Monday)
June 4 (Thursday)
June 5 (Friday)
Good luck, and have a great semester!
English 101 Syllabus
Instructor: Mary E. Powell
Page 8 of 9
ASSIGNMENT DESCRIPTIONS
Quizzes, In-class, Group Work
This category, worth 12% of your grade, includes coming to class on time prepared with the
appropriate materials, as well as demonstrating a spirit of collaboration in designated course activities
and discussions. Every day that you attend class you are eligible to earn points for specific activities,
but attendance alone does not guarantee them. If you are late, leave early, or distract others, for
example, you will not be eligible for the full points for that day.
Reading Journals
This category, worth 7% of your grade, fosters the important connection between reading and writing.
You will practice putting the ideas of other writers into your own words and then offering your own
analysis of the pertinent ideas, both key skills in academic and ‘real world’ writing situations.
Supplemental Learning Workshops
Worth 5% of your grade, these workshops strengthen the skills taught in this class and will increase the
likelihood of your success. More specific materials will be distributed in class.
Presentation
Worth 4% of your grade, this assignment requires you to give a short presentation of your research to
the class and facilitate meaningful class discussion of the topic and its connection to the course.
Prewriting/Outlining
Worth 6% of your grade, this category includes a prewriting activity and outline for each of the essay
assignments. Persuasive, academic writing does not materialize out of thin air. The prewriting will
help you get your preliminary thoughts and potential topics on paper. In addition, an outline makes
writing your rough draft more efficient and decreases the likelihood of procrastination.
Rough Drafts
Worth 6% of your grade, writing a rough draft for each essay and getting feedback from me and some
of your peers allows you to understand how an audience responds to your ideas and to make changes to
improve the persuasiveness of your argument and the overall quality of your final draft.
Essays
Worth 55% of your grade, the four essays assigned for the course allow you to practice and improve
the skills necessary to persuade a specific audience of a reasonable and well-supported argument.
Being able to do so will benefit your future academic and ‘real world’ writing tasks.
Annotated Bibliography
This assignment, worth 2% of your grade, will help you learn to effectively select and evaluate sources
to support your arguments.
Final Exam
The final exam, worth 3% of your grade, will be a self-reflection on the progress you have made in
academic reading and writing over the course of the semester.
English 101 Syllabus
Instructor: Mary E. Powell
Page 9 of 9
COC Statement and Policy on Academic Integrity and Plagiarism
Approved by Academic Senate in May, 2010
Statement on Academic Integrity at College of the Canyons
Students are expected to do their own work as assigned. At College of the Canyons, we believe that
academic integrity and honesty are some of the most important qualities college students need to
develop and maintain. To facilitate a culture of academic integrity, College of the Canyons has defined
plagiarism and academic dishonesty. Due process procedures have been established when plagiarism
or academic dishonesty is suspected.
At COC, we define plagiarism as follows: Plagiarism is the submission of someone else’s work or
ideas as one’s own, without adequate attribution. When a student submits work for a class assignment
that includes the words, ideas or data of others, without acknowledging the source of the information
through complete, accurate, and specific references, plagiarism is involved. This may include dual
submissions of a similar work for credit for more than one class, without the current instructor’s
knowledge and approval.
To be specific, below are some of the situations that will be considered plagiarism at COC:

Use information from any source, online or in print, in one’s own writing without
acknowledging the source in the content and in the reference page of the assignment;

Simply list the sources in the reference page, without parenthetical citations in the body
of the essay;

Take more than one printed line of words consecutively from the source without
putting quotation marks around them, even though the student has put the author’s name
in the parentheses or in the reference page;

Turn in work done for other classes, regardless how big or small the assignment may
be, without the current instructor’s approval—this is considered “self-plagiarism,”
which is a form of academic dishonesty; or,

Turn in work by another student, even by accident.
In addition, COC has strict rules against using electronic devices during exams without the instructor’s
approval. To be specific, absolutely no cell phones or any electronic devices can be on the desk or in
sight during test or exam without the instructor’s approval. The presence of electronic devices in sight
during exams may be considered as intention to cheat and will be processed as a form of academic
dishonesty.
Cases of alleged academic dishonesty, such as plagiarism or cheating, will be referred to the Dean of
Student Services for investigation. See your syllabus for course specific policies, rules, and guidelines
on plagiarism and academic dishonesty.