ENGL 1101: Rhetoric and Composition I
Course Syllabus
Georgia Perimeter, Alpharetta
Instructor: Rob Jenkins
E-mail: robin.jenkins@gpc.edu
Office: 2210
Office hours: MW 7:30 – 8:00
MW 1:45 – 2:15
Tues. 11:00 – 1:00
Prerequisites: Exit or exemption from Developmental Studies English, Reading, and ESL
requirements
Course Description: This course focuses on skills required for effective writing in a variety of
contexts, with emphasis on exposition, analysis, and argumentation, and also includes
introductory use of a variety of research skills. Some sections of this course are taught with
computer assistance in classrooms equipped with personal computers. Keyboarding experience
will be useful but is not required. (Actually, it kind of is.)
Course Overview: The purpose of this course is to prepare students to write successfully for
college and beyond. Students who complete the course will write a total of six graded essays—
five of approximately 500 words each and one documented essay of about 750 words. Although
much of the work that goes into those essays will be done in class—and at least one will be
written fully in class—students should expect to spend a reasonable amount of time writing
outside of class, as well. There will also be regular reading assignments, frequent class
discussions, and occasional lectures dealing with various points of writing, including form, style,
grammar, usage, and mechanics.
Course Policies (Departmental):
PROVISION FOR LATE WORK AND MAKE-UP EXAMS: Work is expected to be submitted
on time. Each instructor will provide students with a policy regarding late work. When
absolutely necessary, arrangements for late work and make-up exams should be made on an
individual basis with the instructor.
WRITING LAB: Instructional Support Services provides academic help for day and evening
students and serves as a convenient means of getting additional writing instruction. Instructors
may assign lab work for those students who need or desire extra help.
AID FOR THE DISABLED: If you are a student who is disabled as defined under the Americans
with Disabilities Act and require assistance or support services, please seek assistance through
the Center of Disabilities Services. A CDS counselor will coordinate those services.
CHEATING/ PLAGIARISM POLICY: Cheating includes any attempt to defraud, deceive, or
mislead a professor in arriving at an honest grade assessment. Plagiarism is a form of
cheating that occurs when students present as their own the ideas, language, or work of
others. Giving unauthorized help to other students also constitutes cheating.
Unless specifically authorized by the professor, the following are examples of cheating or
plagiarism, although this list is certainly not exhaustive:
1. Cheating on a test or quiz includes
 Looking at or copying from other students’ work.
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 Allowing other students to look at or copy your work.
 Exchanging information with other students.
 Speaking or whispering (students may speak to professors at any time).
 Opening a textbook or notebook.
 Looking at notes.
2. Cheating on writing assignments, homework or other out-of-class assignments includes
 Copying work or answers from other students.
 Copying ideas or text from printed sources and from computer or other electronic sources
without proper documentation.
 Having someone else do the assignments.
 Allowing other students to “borrow” work and present it as their own.
3. Cheating on late work or tests includes
 Providing false information or documents in order to be allowed to make up a missed
test, quiz, or homework.
When source materials are used in the writing of papers, students must document the use of these
sources by following the documentation style stipulated by their professor. Students who
require clarification of any of the above concepts must consult with their professor.
Cheating of any kind may result in penalties ranging from a grade of F or 0 on the assignment to
a course grade of F. Professors also may refer cases to the College Court for assignment of
additional penalties that may include suspension or expulsion from Georgia Perimeter College.
Such cases may be brought before the College Court regardless of whether or not the accused
admits guilt when initially charged.
The accused should know that, at the sentencing phase, the Court may consider any previous
record of cheating in determining the severity of the penalty. The Georgia Perimeter College
Student Handbook section on “Academic Dishonesty” outlines the steps of due process in such
cases.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY POLICY: No person shall, on the grounds of race, color, sex, religion,
creed, national origin, age or disability, be excluded from employment or participation in, be
denied the benefits of, or otherwise be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity
conducted by Georgia Perimeter College.
AFFIRMATIVE ACTION POLICY: Georgia Perimeter College adheres to affirmative action
policies designed to promote diversity and equal opportunity for all faculty and students.
Special Flu Policies and Procedures: In compliance with Centers for Disease Control
recommendations, students should NOT attend class or any public gatherings while ill with
influenza. Students with flu symptoms should not come to campus and should remain at home
during recovery. The illness and self-isolation period will usually be about a week. It is very
important that individuals avoid spreading the flu to others. Students will be given a reasonable
opportunity to make up missed work. Students with the flu do not need to provide a physician's
certification of illness. However, ill students should inform their instructor by submitting the
GPC Illness Notification Form as soon as possible that they are absent because of the flu or flulike symptoms: http://www.gpc.edu/absence. Students who are absent because of illness will
have a reasonable opportunity to make up missed work. Generally, it is inappropriate to
substitute for the missed assignment the weighting of a semester's work that does not include the
missed assignment or exam. Completion of all assignments and exams assures the greatest
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chance for students to develop content mastery and to achieve the best overall course average.
The opportunity to complete all assignments and exams supports the college's desire to enable
students to make responsible situational decisions, including the decision to avoid spreading a
contagious virus to other students, staff, and faculty, without endangering their academic work.
The most effective strategies for avoiding the flu are hand-washing along with cough and cold
etiquette procedures. In the event that this course is no longer able to meet face-to-face for a
period of time because of a wide-spread health emergency, students should continue to stay
current with our schedule as posted in this syllabus. During this time, students will only be
responsible for the material in the textbook (or posted on iCollege) and not for any additional
material that would only have been presented in class. If we have an exam scheduled during this
period of time when face-to-face meetings are suspended, the exam will be postponed until after
classes resume. Information about the status of assignments and other course work due during
this period will be addressed on the course iCollege site and by way of GPC email. This same
notification system will also be used to announce any changes to the currently expected course of
action. For additional resources, go to http://www.gpc.edu/library/index.htm.
Course Policies (Instructor’s):
ATTENDANCE: I will not withdraw you from the course for any reason, nor will I fail you
solely because of absences. If you wish to withdraw from the course, you must officially
withdraw yourself by submitting the appropriate documents to the Office of Enrollment and
Registration (you can do this online).
However, you are responsible for all reading assignments and all material covered in class,
whether you are present or not. You should not expect me to go back over material that you
missed due to absence, although I may be willing to help you catch up if I believe that
circumstances warrant. Regardless, I recommend that you form a network with other students in
the class to share e-mail addresses and other contact information and help each other out in case
one is absent. Remember that each class meeting is the equivalent of one week.
LATE/MAKE-UP WORK: I generally accept essays submitted after the due date; however, I
reserve the right to deduct up to 10 points per day, up to 50 points total. I also reserve the right
not to accept essays that are more than three class meetings late.
RETURN OF ASSIGNMENTS: I will do my best to return graded essays within two class
meetings, when they are submitted on time.
PARTICIPATION GRADES: There are two types of participation grades: rough drafts of essays
and in-class quizzes over your assigned reading. Each is worth 100 points, or 10% of your grade.
In order to receive credit, you must be physically present in class when the drafts are due or the
quizzes are given. You may not make up participation grades.
GRADES: Your final grade will be determined as follows:
Documented essay 20%
Final exam
20%
Participation
20%
Other essays
40%
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June 15
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June 17
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June 22
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June 29
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July 1
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July 15
Topics and Activities
Course introduction
The Writing Process
Discussion: Narration and
description
Invention activities
Rough drafts due
Editing workshop
Essay #1 Due (Personal
Narrative)
Discussion: Cause and effect
Invention activities
Grammar review
Reading assignments
“The Liberal Arts ARE Workforce Development”
Rough drafts due
Editing workshop
Essay #2 Due (Cause and
Effect)
Discussion: Process and
examples
Rough drafts
Editing workshop
Essay #3 Due (Process)
Discussion: Comparison
Rough drafts
Editing workshop
Essay #4 Due (Comparison)
Discussion: Argumentation
“I Want a Wife,”
“Gimme Sumo That Christmas Spirit” (posted)
“How Our Skins Got Their Color,”
“Behind the Formaldehyde Curtain,”
“7 Fast Fixes for Your Credit Score,”
“Black Men and Public Space,”
First draft of Essay 5 due
Discussion: Research
Discussion: MLA-style
documentation
Second draft of Essay 5 due
Review for final exam
Final Exam
Final draft of Essay 5 due
Excerpt from In Cold Blood
“Shooting an Elephant”
“Everyday Use”
“Accordions, Frogs, and the 5 Paragraph Theme”
“Cushioning the Blow”
“Who Killed Benny Paret?”
Purdue OWL
“Consumer Reports Rates Family Sedans”
“Kobe, LeBron: Who’s Better?”
“Thoughts on the Present State of American
Affairs”
“An Enlightening Trip to the Countryside,”
“Zen and the Art of Community College Bashing,”
Sample MLA research paper
Cite Your Sources (GPC Library)