English 111-17N (Expository Writing)
Credit Hours: 3
Contact Hours: 3
Pre-requisite(s): RED 080 and ENG 090 or appropriate placement score
Classroom: CA, Room 102
Semester dates: 7 January – 10 May 2013
Meeting time: Mon & Wed (5:15 – 6:30)
Office hours: By appointment
Instructor: Matthew Herrmann
Office: Ragsdale, Room 113
Telephone: 910.938.6124
E-mail: herrmannm@cc.coastalcarolina.edu
Course description:
“This course is the required first course in a series of two designed to develop the ability to produce clear expository
prose. Emphasis is placed on the writing process including audience analysis, topic selection, thesis support and
development, editing, and revision. Upon completion, students should be able to produce unified, coherent, welldeveloped essays using standard written English. This course has been approved to satisfy the Comprehensive
Articulation Agreement general education core requirement in English composition.” (Coastal Carolina Community
College Catalog 2012 – 2013)
Purpose and objective(s):
Successful writing is both purposeful and audience-specific. College-level compositions further require students to
reflect carefully on reading and writing practices by employing effective strategies for generating ideas, gathering
information, organizing materials, drafting, revising, editing, as well as adopting standard academic conventions within
their own work.
English 111 will promote your facility with critical reading and writing by helping you to do the following:
 Discover significant questions to explore and address via in-class writing assignments such as active journaling
activities
 Identify the many different purposes of writing to include: writing to reflect, analyze, explain, and persuade
 Recognize how audience and purpose affect content, tone, and style
 Illustrate an understanding of both various rhetorical modes and strategies of invention when crafting essays
 Explain how and why we use genre to convey information, ideas, or experiences to our readers
 Demonstrate your awareness of organizational strategies and the ability to apply them in-text
 Distinguish and incorporate appropriate details from available media sources (e.g. print, on-line, non-text) through
secondary research or personal accounts while attributing these materials in accordance with prevailing academic
convention(s)
 Produce resources on what on constitutes violations of academic integrity, copyright infringement, or plagiarism
for future use throughout your academic career
 Express your ideas with clarity, effective syntax, and punctuation
 Develop further competence when using computer technology in the writing process
 Schedule and meet course deadlines
You will write extensively – often every class meeting – both formally (e.g. projects or other in-class assignments for
instructor review) and informally (e.g. daybook entries or “freewrite” exercises) during the semester. Therefore, expect to
share your work, as regular in-class participation fosters not only an intellectually stimulating environment, but also
encourages the ability to think critically about your writing process through collaborative exchanges.
The semester schedule, core goals, assignment guidelines, deadlines, texts, readings, miscellaneous policies, and project expectations remain subject to change at the
instructor’s discretion for any reasons, which is often to the benefit of students. Each week you may expect a discussion concerning any upcoming chapter selection(s),
necessary reading(s), and objective(s) to complete for credit.
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Assessment:
Your final grade for this course will consist of in-class attendance/participation; active journaling; peer review and inclass conference sessions; in addition to drafting and revising three projects for inclusion into a final portfolio assignment.
Please note: there will be no make-up assignments for any reason unless an extraordinary situation arises. The
instructor does not accept technical difficulties, various appointments, family difficulties, as well as other personal reasons
as grounds for not completing and/or submitting work on-time. Only the instructor will determine an extraordinary
situation on a case-by-case basis and whether to entertain late work – with the possibility of severe penalties – at his
discretion or if said situation warrants consideration of full credit.
Finish assignments early rather than at the last minute to avoid the potential of unforeseen problems arising, ask questions
for clarifications, ensure the internet connection is of good quality, and there is always a quiet environment to properly
focus. Moreover, please give the instructor two (2) weeks following submission of any assignment for the marking and
recording of grades.
A. Attendance/participation and conduct (100 points):
It is the expectation of this instructor that all students will extend a high level of courtesy towards their peers. Please be
respectful when someone is asking a question or sharing their writing. Likewise, refrain from interrupting another when
answering a question. Expect the instructor to call upon any student irrespective of whether or not one is raising their
hand. Completing other coursework, reading outside literature, answering the phone, text messaging, or using any other
media devices (e.g. headphones, earplugs, I Phones, I Pods) is not acceptable during class time.
Cellular phones should be on silent, if not completely off, and out of sight. Sunglasses should not be worn inside of the
classroom while hats, caps, or visors may not be worn during tests, quizzes, and exams. Sleeping and napping is also
unacceptable conduct, and any student with his or her eyes closed or head down that gives the appearance of either
behavior, will leave the classroom at the instructor’s request while receiving an absence for the day.
Regular in-class attendance is imperative in order to obtain full-credit for participation. Students must not exceed the
limit of absences equivalent to 12.5% of the total contact hours (6 classes in a 16-week course that meets 5 days a week
for 50-minutes, 4 classes in a 16-week course that meets twice a week for 75-minutes, 5 classes in an 8-week course that
meets 5 days a week, 4 classes in an 8-week course that meets 4 days a week, or 2 classes in an 8-week course that meets
two nights a week). More than this allowance of absences, or any combination thereof from late arrivals/leaving early,
results in an automatic administrative drop from the class. If this limit is exceeded prior to the official withdrawal date,
students are dropped and receive a grade of “W.” After this date, students receive a grade of “W” or “F” depending on the
student’s performance at the time of drop or withdrawal. Two (2) late arrivals/leaving early equal one absence regardless
of how late or early one leaves the classroom.
Those with “perfect” attendance will be rewarded at the end of term with three (3) “bonus” points added to their final
overall mark. If one is not present at the start of class (i.e. tardy), for any reason to include excusable absences, or leaves
early for the day, then, you will not receive these points.
A roster is available on-line via Campus Cruiser and serves as the official attendance record. Upon returning to class
following an absence, it is each student’s duty to contact a classmate for notes or Campus Cruiser for in-class
materials rather immediately e-mailing than the instructor. Please refer to the College’s official position on
attendance found within the Catalog for further information as the foregoing policies remain non-negotiable.
The semester schedule, core goals, assignment guidelines, deadlines, texts, readings, miscellaneous policies, and project expectations remain subject to change at the
instructor’s discretion for any reasons, which is often to the benefit of students. Each week you may expect a discussion concerning any upcoming chapter selection(s),
necessary reading(s), and objective(s) to complete for credit.
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B. Active journaling (20 points per collection):
Students are to bring a daybook (i.e. composition notebook) to each class period. Every meeting will begin by reflecting
or composing entries surrounding the themes of the reading for that day within the core text(s). The instructor will, then,
collect the journals on the project deadline date for completion and accuracy. This serves as an opportunity for students to
brainstorm, challenge, engage, or critique the literature and use their daybook as a resource for the semester assignments.
Thus the above points will be equally divided amongst the respective assignments below and, then, calculated into each
project’s overall mark.
C. Peer review (20 points per draft) and in-class conference sessions (20 points each session):
A draft paper – including appropriate academic references, word count, and a draft cover letter – is due on the dates
below. This accounts for an automatic twenty (20) points upon instructor review for completion. A student must present
a draft in “hardcopy” form.
E-mail attachments without previous instructor approval will not be awarded credit. No late submissions will be accepted.
Students who request to use the computer lab in-class to print the assignment will not earn credit as this must be
completed before class. One will also receive a zero (0), regardless of how much text you turn-in, if it fails to meet the
word count and/or other guidelines.
Peer review is a useful exercise while in-class conferences grant students valuable feedback from the instructor. Please
note: those who fail to participate within the in-class peer review sessions and/or fully complete reflective handouts
will forfeit these points. If one is not present on the peer review day they will receive a zero (0), or if a student does not
fully respond to the peer review handout worksheet, then, they will receive a zero. Each peer review workshop is twenty
(20) points.
Draft assignment due/peer review 1:
January 23
Draft assignment due/peer review 3: March 20
Draft assignment due/peer review 2:
February 18
Draft portfolio due/peer review 4: April 22
D. Major Assignments and submission guidelines (120 points per submission)
The primary focus of the class involves the planning, developing, and writing of a number of compositions thereby
preparing students for future college-level research. Lectures supplement explanations found in-text by offering
theoretical background and defining writing strategies and methods. Essays are composed as homework assignments, and
class time will be spent peer reviewing, editing, and discussing drafts. Assignments include introduction and conclusion
paragraphs, thesis development, outlines, creative essays, and analytical essays. Exercises in critical thinking, reading,
and, then, writing are also incorporated. Greater details will be provided vis-à-vis in-class exercises, project handouts,
assessment rubrics, as well as classroom discussions, which clarify major essay expectations and guidelines.
All assignments (draft and final copies) must:
1. be typed or computer generated
2. 12-point Times New Roman
3. be double-spaced throughout the entire document with the exception of the upper left marginal corner (see below)
The semester schedule, core goals, assignment guidelines, deadlines, texts, readings, miscellaneous policies, and project expectations remain subject to change at the
instructor’s discretion for any reasons, which is often to the benefit of students. Each week you may expect a discussion concerning any upcoming chapter selection(s),
necessary reading(s), and objective(s) to complete for credit.
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4. have in the upper left marginal corner
 a STAPLE
 student’s name
 course section number
 instructor’s name
 submission date
5. have an original title (centered .5” below date with double-space)
6. both 1” margins top and bottom, and 1.5” on each side
7. photocopies or print-outs of all attributions and sources found within the assignment
8. follow all individual assignment criterion found in the project sheet
The order for final instructor review of assignments will be as follows:
1.
2.
3.
4.
cover letter
final draft
peer review draft
peer review feedback and/or handout(s)
Failure to submit any of the foregoing assignment components on the project due date in-class will result in a reduction of
30% per calendar day. E-mail attachments will not be accepted without prior consent from the instructor, and penalized
until a he is in receipt of a hardcopy. After the second day, it will be recorded as a zero (0). The essay will also be late if
you need to leave the room in order to print out the assignment. Furthermore, if you do not turn-in any of the major
essay assignments, or receive a zero (0) because components of the assignment were missing, it will result in a
failing grade for the entire semester despite satisfactory marks on all other coursework.
Assignment due 1: January 30
Assignment due 3: March 27
Assignment due 2: February 25
Final portfolio due: May 6
E. Research scavenger hunt, in-class worksheets, and homework (180 points available)
Students will complete a Learning Resources Center orientation and scavenger hunt, various in-class exercises, in addition
homework from time-to-time. This may require students to collect materials for instructor review. Further instructions
will be given once these projects are assigned.
F. Marking scale
The marking scale for this course is found below. Numerical grades will be used through a point system for each major
assignment so students will always have an indication of what their grade is throughout the term. Rubrics for grading
with are passed out with project results that explain why a certain mark was given for an assignment. Schedule a
conference with me as soon as possible if a grade concerns you or feedback needs clarification. Do not wait until the end
of term to raise questions.
This instructor also does not “round-up” or increase grades in order to ensure fairness amongst the class (e.g. 92.5% to
93%). Only the very minimum requirements or expectations set forth is “average.” Work demonstrating extraordinary
understanding while exceeding these guidelines is “excellent.” The student is accountable for meeting all course
deadlines, and failure to meet these obligations will result in severe penalties or a zero (0). One always “earns” their final
grade.
The semester schedule, core goals, assignment guidelines, deadlines, texts, readings, miscellaneous policies, and project expectations remain subject to change at the
instructor’s discretion for any reasons, which is often to the benefit of students. Each week you may expect a discussion concerning any upcoming chapter selection(s),
necessary reading(s), and objective(s) to complete for credit.
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Coastal Carolina Community Marking Scale
English 111 Final Points Scale
A = 93 – 100 Excellent
B = 85 – 92
Good
C = 77 – 84
Average
D = 70 – 76
Below Average
F = 0 – 69
Unsatisfactory
W = Withdrawal from course
I = Incomplete
A = 930 – 1000 points
B = 850 – 929 points
C = 770 – 849 points
D = 700 – 769 points
F = 0 – 699 points
Excellent
Good
Average
Below Average
Unsatisfactory
For example: a 93 % on the Coastal Carolina Community College Marking Scale is equivalent to 930 points, and thus
your final grade would be an “A” although if you were to earn 929 points, then, your final grade would be a “B.”
Plagiarism and academic integrity:
You must reference all material including paraphrasing an author’s original idea. Failure to do so is plagiarism, and
punishment for this offense is severe. Please see Coastal Carolina Community College’s official statement on academic
dishonesty in the catalog at: http://www.coastalcarolina.edu/catalog/Catalog.pdf
Please do not hesitate to contact the instructor at any time with any questions regarding how to properly cite a document
while we will discuss in-class matters surrounding this issue, and how to avoid academic misconduct by properly
attributing sources. This instructor does not accept any excuses, and will follow-up with appropriate administrators if he
suspects plagiarism. If I become aware of any intentional attempt to plagiarize (e.g. knowingly submitting someone else’s
work as your own, downloading a paper from the internet, etc.), you will be given an “F” for the course and a report will
be filed with the appropriate campus administrator(s). Be sure to see me if you have any questions about plagiarism
before you turn-in an assignment.
Communication with the instructor, office hours, and adverse weather:
All correspondence to the student from the instructor will take place via their on-campus e-mail account and formal
institutional announcements. Never expect class to be cancelled under any circumstance unless you receive an e-mail
from either me or a campus official(s) that expressly states we will not meet. Expect foreseeable schedule modifications,
assignment clarifications, or additional handouts to be sent directly to your on-campus e-mail address. Check your e-mail
at least several times during the week while it the sole responsibility of the student to be familiar with these applications.
E-mail is the fastest mode of communication to reach the instructor rather than telephoning the department. Do not use
the Blackboard messaging system to contact the instructor, but rather campus e-mail in order to ask or clarify any
questions concerning the course. Please expect to receive a response within forty-eight (48) during the standard work
week (i.e. Monday – Friday) following any e-mail communication, or immediately on Monday following a weekend (i.e.
Saturday – Sunday) unless it is holiday/break.
The instructor holds office hours at the time(s) above; however, it is always best to schedule an appointment with him in
advance to ensure he is available, and not holding a conference with another student or participating in an on-campus
meeting away from the department.
In case of adverse weather, or another campus emergency, critical information will be posted on the official college
website. During a pandemic or catastrophic event, and after all face-to-face instruction has been suspended,
communication for our class will take place through campus e-mail and Blackboard. In the event of such an emergency,
check your campus e-mail account for instructions from me and other campus administrators.
The semester schedule, core goals, assignment guidelines, deadlines, texts, readings, miscellaneous policies, and project expectations remain subject to change at the
instructor’s discretion for any reasons, which is often to the benefit of students. Each week you may expect a discussion concerning any upcoming chapter selection(s),
necessary reading(s), and objective(s) to complete for credit.
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Disabilities and request for services:
Coastal Carolina Community College seeks to fully comply with the American with Disabilities Act (ADA) and section
504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Students requesting accommodations based on a disability must be register with
ADA coordinator Emily Ellis. Telephone: 910.938.6331. E-mail: ellisE@coastalcarolina.edu
Writing Lab Assistance
The Academic Studies Center in the Continuing Education Building (Room 200) has English consultants available both
during the day and the evenings. I encourage you to make use of any writing assistance while the consultants in the
Writing Lab will work with you at any stage of the drafting process.
Other course costs
You will be required to make photocopies or print-outs of both any materials and resources used in major
assignments, as well as purchase a composition notebook. A student must also highlight all attributions
including direct quotes, paraphrases, and/or summaries using different colors. Failure to submit said resources
will result in severe penalties if not a zero (0). It is recommended all other supplemental course material be
kept in a three ring binder.
Texts
1. Cooley, Thomas, ed. Back to the Lake. 2nd edition. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 2009. Print.
2. Bullock, Richard, and Francine Weinberg. The Norton Field Guide to Writing. 2nd Edition. New York: W.W.
Norton & Company, 2009. Print.
3. Any composition notebook (further details and example provided during our first class meeting)
*I strongly recommend the use of a dictionary and a thesaurus in conjunction with this course.
The semester schedule, core goals, assignment guidelines, deadlines, texts, readings, miscellaneous policies, and project expectations remain subject to change at the
instructor’s discretion for any reasons, which is often to the benefit of students. Each week you may expect a discussion concerning any upcoming chapter selection(s),
necessary reading(s), and objective(s) to complete for credit.
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Student Contract (30 points)
By signing below, the student acknowledges to the foregoing literature detailing
course expectations and objectives (as found within the course syllabus);
assignment guidelines and marking scale; set examination and project deadlines;
acceptable forms of classroom behavior; attendance standards; policies on
plagiarism and academic integrity; the importance of regularly checking their oncampus e-mail account through for course updates and materials or assignment
modifications; as well as all other applicable regulations available for review within
the CCCC Catalog. I am also aware my instructor is available at any time to answer
any questions pertaining to these matters by either scheduling an appointment, via
e-mail, or during in-class discussions.
Print name:_____________________________________________________
Signature:______________________________________________________
Date:__________________________________________________________
Class:_________________________________________
The semester schedule, core goals, assignment guidelines, deadlines, texts, readings, miscellaneous policies, and project expectations remain subject to change at the
instructor’s discretion for any reasons, which is often to the benefit of students. Each week you may expect a discussion concerning any upcoming chapter selection(s),
necessary reading(s), and objective(s) to complete for credit.
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