English 1301
Composition I
Dual Credit online
English Instructor: Felicia Cain Dziadek, M.A.
Email:Felicia.Dziadek@tamucc.edu or Fdziadek@aol.com
fcdziadek@delmar.edu
Office: ONLINE
Office Hours: TBA
Virtual Hrs: Same as above & PRN
Off Phone:698-1234
The phone is available only during office hours, please if you need to contact me at other times use
email, twitter, fb or IM's.
Class webpage:http://feliciadz.pbworks.com
Class Twitter:https://twitter.com/MsDeezy37
fb: https://www.facebook.com/MsDeezy37
Any questions or comments please feel free to e-mail, IM or twitter me.
Google Hangouts: Fcdziadek
Skype = FeliciaCD
Note: If you need to reach me outside of office hours, please send me an e-mail. I check my e-mail
regularly, several times a day, so you will receive a prompt response.
Welcome to this writing community
Together we will elicit reasons to write. Our reading and discussion will help to generate an abundance
of expression or style as we work in groups and individually within this community.
Course Description
English 1301 is a writing course that focuses on principles, techniques, and processes of written
composition, textual analysis, and critical thinking. This course places emphasis on revision and on
audience, purpose, and occasion. Our readings and discussions will provide ideas for your writing. We
will think of ourselves as rhetors (eloquent speakers and writers) as we engage daily in the activities of
class discussion and writing.
Intensive study of and practice in writing processes, from intention and researching to drafting, revising,
and editing, both individually and collaboratively. Emphasis on effective rhetorical choices, including
audience, purpose, arrangement, and style. Focus on writing the academic essay as a vehicle for
learning, communicating, and critical analysis.
Course objectives
1. Understand and demonstrate writing and speaking processes through invention, organization,
drafting, revision, editing, and presentation.
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2. Understand the importance of specifying audience and purpose and to select appropriate
communication choices.
3. Understand and appropriately apply modes of expression in written communication.
4. Participate effectively in groups with emphasis on listening, critical and reflective thinking, and
responding.
5. Understand and apply basic principles of critical thinking, problem solving, and technical proficiency
in the development of exposition and argument.
6. Develop the ability to research and write a documented paper.
Student Leaner Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, students will:
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2.
3.
4.
5.
Demonstrate knowledge of individual and collaborative writing processes.
Develop ideas with appropriate support and attribution.
Write in a style appropriate to audience and purpose.
Read, reflect, and respond critically to a variety of texts.
Use Edited American English in academic essays.
Texts and Materials
*The Bedford Book of Genres a guide and reader.
* easy Writer 5th edition. By: Andrea Lunsford
EXPECTATIONS FROM STUDENTS
1. Students will have and maintain an operational computer (desktop or laptop) throughout the
course. All written assignments will be done using Microsoft WORD. Please be aware that IPADs and
other tablets do not support Microsoft WORD at this time, and are not considered appropriate
computer devices for this course. A student may use Google docs and submit their papers using that
platform.
2. Students will stay up-to-date on all assigned readings at all times.
3. Students will check into the course on a daily basis, to read course emails, review new postings, post
discussion postings, and review any newly posted course announcements.
4. Students will inform the instructor of any change in their status with regard to this course (illness,
inability to complete assignments, etc.) promptly.
5. Students will communicate using complete sentences, full written words,and will address one
another and the instructor with respect at all times. Proper communication etiquette will be used in
all communication in the course.
6. Adherence to college policies that pertain to student honesty are expected at all times.
7. Students, during the first two days of classes, will review Canvas courseware, and will email the
instructor when this has been done. Questions are encouraged until the student is comfortable with
the course Canvas shell.
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EXPECTATIONS FROM COURSE FACULTY
1. The instructor will maintain the Canvas course shell at all times unless a system dysfunction
prevents this activity. The instructor will keep the students informed of upcoming periods of Canvas
unavailability when known.
2. The instructor will review all course emails, postings, and questions from students within 24-48
hours. The instructor will comment on many of the student postings, but not necessarily all of them
individually.
3. The instructor will notify, in writing, any student whose course behavior or failure to comply with
course policies and scheduled requirements. Correction of problem areas will be suggested.
4. The instructor will treat all students fairly and equitably at all times.
DAILY PLANS AND CLASS schedule:
A detailed class schedule for this course will always be available online it will be available via canvas and
also supplemented on my pbworks page. http:www.feliciadz.pbworks.com . This is a provision that will
be available all semester. If you must miss a class you will be able to access what we did in class so you
may come prepared to the next class and not miss out on any daily grades or discussions. All due dates
for this course are listed on this site and you are able to access it 24/7.
Online-In-Class Participation
To earn daily, in-class writing points, you must be participate in all class activities, and complete each
assignment. Not signing into the course regularly and participating in class work may result in the loss of
points. Failure to submit numerous assignments could result in being dropped from the course.
Grade Distribution/Types of Essays & Assignments
Photo Essay = 50 points
Education Literacy Autobiography Essay = 100 points
Research 101 = 100 points
Persuasive argument = 100 points
Discussions/Journals/participation,
Writing, drafts & Revisions, daily work = 350 points
Oral Presentation for Paper Four = 100 points
Mid-Term/Final (reflection) = 100 points
English lab (conferences & group meetings) = 100 points
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-----------------------------------------------------------Total points possible 1000
FIGURING YOUR GRADE
During the semester you can check your grades by keeping all writing assignments and project
handouts. To calculate your grade before the end of the semester, total the number of points you have
earned thus far and divide by the total number of points possible. Then, multiply by 100. This is the
easiest system to figure grades; it is not complicated to do, so please do not come and ask me to figure
your grades for you.
Due Dates for Essays
Module /Paper 1 = Sept 12, 2014
Module/Paper 2 = October 10, 2014
Module/Paper 3 = November 3, 2014
Module/Paper 4 = December, 1, 2014
If a student has completed a module before the allotted time, they can ask for permission from the
instructor to start on the next module. The goal in regulating the time frame is to keep students focused
on the course and to foster an online writing community.
Types of Essay Writing this semester
Paper 1 = Photo Essay
Paper 2 = Education Literacy Autobiography
Paper 3 = Research 101 (Ann bibs, Research proposal and MLA project)
Paper 4 = A Proposal for Change (Persuasive Argument)
Course Theme: Our Cultural Kaleidoscope: The shaping of our identity and our beliefs
“Where I am from will tell you who I am. Place is something that shapes and defines
me, something I am born into, something I inherit, something I enter.”
-Janis Haswell
Simplified Course Outline
You will need to follow each Module as outlined in the order that they appear. You will need to
complete
Module 1 Introduction into course and Photo Essay

Syllabus Agreement, Breaking the Norm and Create Wiki/Canvas page (The majority of this module
can be finished very quickly.)
Module 2 Education Autobiography
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
Invention, Readings, video lectures, instructional videos, discussions, blogs, journal writing, Prewriting, drafting, revising, editing and publishing
Module 3 Research 101

choose a research topic, test the scope of it, discussions, blogs, video lecture, instructional videos
about annotated bibs, source reviews and MLA assignment. Quiz, draft, revise and Final publishing
of ann bib, source review and MLA assignment.
Module 4. Persuasive Argument & Multimedia presentation

Invention, Readings, video lectures over persuasive argument, discussions, blogs, video lecture,
Video presentation, pre-writing, drafting, revising and publishing.
Modules 1, 2 and 4 Will contain Essays and Module 3 is made up of three smaller research assignments
turned in as one project.
Each module has a set time in which you are to complete the assignments within. Please look at the top
of each module to make note of the time frame in which you need to complete each module. Once the
allotted time for a module has expired you will not be able to go back into that module to complete the
work. Please manage your time. Each module (excluding M1) is on average 4 weeks of work. You need
to schedule your time according and make sure you stay on task and focused. It is highly recommended
students check in on a daily bases and set regular times to do course work for online courses.
TIME MANAGEMENT
Managing your time for this course is essential. This is not a self-paced course. You will have 16 weeks
to complete this course in its entirety. So you will need to manage your time like a precious jewel. This
course has the same content of a regular 16 week course, BUT you will do the same work online and
independently. So this demands you keep focused on the end goal, which is to complete this course with
success. It is my suggestion you visit the class daily as it is vital to keep connected with your peers and
your instructor. This course will have a group on Facebook, and it is highly recommended you join as this
aids tremendously to the online discourse community. There are due dates for specific assignments in
each module, so the student must manage their time in order to participate fully and thus earn full
credit for assignments.
How to proceed in this course
This course is going to require you to follow the assignments in the order that they are set up. If you
jump around you are not going to get the full benefit of the course. The course is designed to build on
concepts and ideas so we can attain a larger understanding of rhetoric and argument. When in doubt
just follow the course section by section.
Communication Policy
Communication in this course is vital. IF we are not communicating, then you (the student) will not be
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successful in the course. It is your responsibility as a student to read all material, watch all instructional
videos and complete all assignments in the order in which they appear. This will ensure your
understanding of the information in a timely manner. IF you are having issues with a certain assignment,
it is imperative you contact the instructor. Communication is key in your success. The student in an
online course needs to be self-motivated and responsible. Many of the assignments will require you to
communicate with your peers through discussion and blog threads, so you NEED to be mindful of these
assignments and make sure you are living up to your responsibilities as a student. Please don't let your
peers down, it is your responsibility to communicate with your group and if you fail to do that you
put your team at a disadvantage. Communication is paramount, so get used to emailing, blogging,
creating discussion threads and writing. It is also your responsibility to check your Blackboard messages
and/or email (that is recorded on SAIL) to ensure you are abreast on all communications sent from your
instructor.
Technology Policy
This course will heavily rely on the use of technology. You will be required to submit writing assignments
on google docs and/or Canvas through email, and sometimes (rarely) you will need to print a hard copy
and bring it to class. It is part of our effort to be more environmentally conscious and responsible. That
being said, “my printer is out of ink” or “I don’t have internet” is no excuse for you to not submit your
work on time. Early in the course, we will go over the printing and internet options on campus.
E-PORTFOLIOS:
The word portfolio comes from the Latin word meaning “to carry a sheet of leaf of paper” Artist,
photographers, designers, and inventors carry portfolios with examples of their work to show the range
and level of their talents. The English 1301 portfolio is designed to encourage your growth and to
demonstrate your achievement as a writer.
We will an e-portfolio to collect the writing, research, and thinking you do this semester. Your Portfolio
will be electronic. I will not accept anything hard copy. Canvas has an e-portfolio and it is your
responsibility to make sure you have the link to your portfolio.
It is very important that you keep up with all the writing you do for this class, including all the final
papers, rough drafts, in-class writing, peer reviews, and group work. You will organize your material to
allow a reader easy access and to highlight the primary components of the course. A major portion of
your final grade will be based on how your portfolio demonstrated both your performances and your
improvements during the semester. To do this, you are required not only to show your reader what you
have done, but offer reflective self-assessments of you work. You will have endless cyber space to
reflect on your wiki page.
GRADES
For the paper will be as follows: D—your command of writing conventions and surface features does not
fulfill college level standards and you have failed to meet the requirements of the assignment. You will
have to re-write this paper. C—your command of writing conventions and surface features is competent
for college level standards and you have adequately met the requirements of the assignment. B—you
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command of writing conventions and surface features is above average for college level standards and
you have displayed thoughtful analysis and care in meeting the requirements of the assignment. A—
your command of writing conventions and surface features is superior. You write with confidence and
your analysis and quality of performance is excellent.
Note: On the days when a draft is due a peer reviews will be done during class time. A grade will be
logged into the grade book. All drafts must be typed and posted onto your wiki page.
Journal Responses
Journal responses are an opportunity to express, your feelings, and insights as you make connections
between various kinds of information. Journal entries are designed to involve you in an imaginative,
thoughtful, personal writing process which will enhance your critical thinking skills and help you apply
what you have learned to other aspects of your college career. Journal responses are not research
papers, not formal essays, not exams, not statements of Great Truths, and will not be evaluated for
grammar, spelling, or other formal structural features. They do, however, give you an opportunity to:



Demonstrate that you've read the assigned material and thought about it.
Make the material personally meaningful to you, by exploring your own experiences, interests, and
feelings which relate to the material.
Ask questions, identify difficult concepts, and reflect on your own values.
Because journal responses are directly related to daily reading assignments and classroom discussion,
late responses will not be accepted and, obviously, will earn no credit.
Evaluation:
Evaluation will be based primarily on your progress as a writer, and involves the criteria of focus,
audience awareness, development, organization, style, and mechanical acceptability. Generally, the
grade range is between C and A, with a C representing average but satisfactory development of the
above criteria, a B representing above average development, and an A representing superior
development. Because this is a course focusing on process, you will have many opportunities to revise
your work and develop as a competent writer who is involved in critical thinking and cultural critique.
Such development requires effort and an understanding of your own writing process. Work which
represents below average development will receive a D. D work suggests that a writer is not involved in
his or her writing and is unaware of the contexts, formats, and stylistic choices which affect that writing.
The instructor reserves the right to change the evaluation and due dates of the projects.
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is literally stealing someone else's work, whether that person is a fellow student, an author,
or a scholar. It is considered sound academic practice to use the work of others -- as long as you credit
their work. Please remember that it is very simple to give the original author credit by using quotation
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marks and/or a citation. If you are unsure of how to do this, please refer to your on-line handbook, or
ask someone who does know. The University/College defines plagiarism as "the presentation of the
work of another as one’s own work" (see section on Academic Honesty in the University Catalog/ DMC
Standards of Student Conduct). Plagiarism is a serious academic offense and will be taken very seriously
Late Work
If there is a crisis that prevents you from meeting a deadline or signing into class, you can request an
extension to turn the work in late without a penalty. The approval of an extension is entirely at my
discretion and will depend on the reason for your absence, your record of completion of work, and
attendance. All extensions must be confirmed by email.
Retention Services at Del Mar
The Del Mar College Retention Services Department is designed to assist students who are experiencing
challenges in such areas as: * Financial Hardships * Low Midterm Grades * Life Events * Thoughts of
dropping out
Retention Case Managers offer direct assistance and support to students experiencing barriers such as
financial challenges, personal issues and academic difficulties that affect their ability to successfully
function as a student at Del Mar College. Through a collaborative partnership with the Del Mar College
faculty and staff, our team offers a variety of direct intervention services including retention
interventions, career and educational planning, and referrals to campus and community
resource information to assist students in reaching their academic goals.
For more information or to make an appointment, please contact one of the Retention Case Managers
below:
EAST Campus
Rene Cantu, MS, LPC
Retention Case Manager
Harvin Student Center, Room 217
(361) 698-1285
Rcantu58@delmar.edu
WEST Campus
Melissa Rollins-Banuelos, MS, LPC
Retention Case Manager
Health Science Building #2, RM 242
(361) 698-1861 or (361) 698-1292
Mbanuelos2@delmar.edu
Six Course Drop Policy:
With the passage of Senate Bill 1231 in the 2007 Legislative session, students entering college for the
first time beginning with or after the Fall 2007 semester, are not permitted to drop more than six
courses, including any course a transfer student has dropped at another public institution of higher
education in Texas. There are exceptions to this policy if the student can show good cause for dropping
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a course(s) at Del Mar College. For further information, please contact the Office of Admissions
and Registrar.
Drop Date for all 16 week courses at DMC
Nov 24 Last Day to drop a class for the Fall Semester (16 week course)
Tutoring
Free tutoring is available in the Stone English Learning Center. The Stone Writing Center’s
NEW Location is the 4th Floor, White Library. In addition, you may seek tutoring through the Student
Development Office in the Harvin Center, Rm. 235, 698-1279. (Please feel free to come to me for help. I
welcome students to by during my office hours or make an appt. with me to get help.
Disability Accommodations
Students requesting disability accommodations or information, please contact the Office of Special
Services, 188 Harvin Center 698-1298. Please inform me as soon as possible if you have documented
special needs. If the Office of Special Services has documented that you have special needs, please make
sure I have that information at the beginning of the semester.
Student Conduct
All students should clearly understand that the classroom is a save environment for all I strongly believe
in a respectful classroom environment and will not tolerate behaviors that interfere with my teaching
and with the learning of the other students in the class. Discrimination and harassment in any form will
NOT be tolerated. Among the types of misconduct which the Del Mar Catalog states may result in review
by an appropriate College office are the following:
(1) Academic cheating and plagiarism of any kind.
(2) Physical or verbal abuse of another person in the College community. Any verbal threat or abuse or
physical action against any College employee and/or student is considered sufficient ground for
suspension from the College, subject to disciplinary hearing.
(3) Disorderly conduct that inhibits or interferes with the educational responsibility of the College
community.
(4) Incorrigible or persistently irresponsible behavior. **Cell phones and pagers must be turned on
vibrate or silent before entering the classroom. **
**Please see "Standards of Student Conduct" in the college catalog.
What Do I Do if I Have a Complaint?
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Occasionally, a student may have concerns about the direction of the class or about a grade he or she
has received. If you have questions or complaints, please take advantage of the opportunity to discuss
them with me privately. If there are issues that you feel are not satisfactorily resolved after meeting
with me, you are encouraged to consult confidentially with the English department chair, Alan Clark,
361-698-1234.
Important Dates for Fall Semester 2014
Aug 25 Classes begin for Fall Semester 2014
Sept 1 Labor Day Holiday
Oct 15 Deadline to Apply for Graduation for Fall Semester 2014
Nov 24 Last Day to drop a class for the Fall Semester (16 week course)
Nov 27-29 Thanksgiving Holiday
Dec 3 last day of Class for Fall Semester (16 week course)
Dec 4-10 Final Exams for Fall Semester 2014
Dec 12 Fall Semester Graduation
*The instructor retains the right to change/modify this syllabus at any time.
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