OCEAN COUNTY COLLEGE
Professor’s Syllabus
Professor Randy B. Monroe
English 151—English I
Catalog Description: In ENGL 151 students compose and revise expository essays totaling 3500 words,
minimum. Through a series of primarily text-based assignments, the course reinforces and stresses the
further development of critical reading and thinking, the writing process, and information literacy.
Prerequisite: placement test score or successful completion of required developmental courses with a
grade of "C" or higher.
Semester: Spring 2011
Office Location: Room 218 W. Kable Russell Building
Phone: 732 255-0400 ext. 2204
E-Mail: rmonroe@ocean.edu or randy_monroe@occ.mailcruiser.com
Office Hours: 9:30-10:45 MTh; 1:00-1:50 TF
To arrange a meeting with your instructor in addition to the regularly scheduled office hours, please
contact your instructor directly or contact the Department of English. Phone 732-255-0375. E-Mail:
mquattrock@ocean.edu.
Required Texts : Remix: Reading and Composing Culture, 2nd Edition, Bedford/St. Martin's
Rules for Writers, 6th Edition, Diana Hacker, Bedford/St. Martin's
General Education Goals:
Goal 1a—To use critical and logical methods of thinking
Goal 1c—To demonstrate skills in inductive, deductive, and analogous reasoning
Goal 2—To develop the ability to communicate effectively through reading, listening, speaking
writing.
Goal 3—To develop the ability to solve problems by collecting, organizing, and evaluating
information.
Goal 4—To develop the ability and moral sensitivity needed to make informed judgments
concerning ethical issues.
Goal 13—To foster the curiosity, creativity, and desire to become autonomous learners for life.
Student Learning Objectives: In English 151, students will achieve the following course learning
objectives:
Identify and focus an appropriate essay topic Conduct research honestly and skillfully
Develop assertions with supporting detail
Use accurate MLA documentation
Page Two
Learning Objectives (Cont.)
Build coherent paragraphs
Create a functional essay structure
Respond critically to source readings
Synthesize information from source readings
Observe grammatical conventions
Speak purposefully and articulately
Listen actively and sensitively
Course Standards:
1. Due dates for papers are somewhat flexible, but from time to time I will set a final date for various
assignments. No papers will be accepted after that date, and incomplete work will receive a zero
grade. At my option, D and F papers may be rewritten.
2. Missed quizzes/tests must be made up within the following three classes (outside of class time, if
necessary. Certain specified classroom activities may not be made up.
3. Papers may be handwritten on standard white notebook paper. Word processing is encouraged,
however, and is mandatory on the research paper. All papers handed in should be identified with
your name, the date, and some identification of the assignment. Typed work is double-spaced.
4. No student may withdraw after 60% of the course is complete without receiving a letter grade
(based upon work completed at time of withdrawal).
5. Class participation is expected and may take the form of group activities, individual board work,
general class discussions. This participation will count for a minimum of 5% of the final grade.
Attendance Policy: Regular attendance is required. Anyone missing more than four (4) classes for any
reason other than verified college activities will be withdrawn from the course (W grade prior to cut-off
date; letter grade, including F, thereafter). Please note that other than the exception noted above,
there are no excused absences.
Grading Scale: A=90-100; B+=88-89; B=80-88; C+=78-79; C=70-79; D=60-69; F=59 or below.
Course Outline: There are five major components, or units, in the course. Out of the seven chapters in
Remix, I will choose four (I do not always choose the same four). For each chapter, we will read several
selections and discuss them as necessary. Each selection has a suggested writing topic from which I will
choose or adapt the topic for the unit essay. The fifth unit of the course is the research paper. Everyone
will write an argumentative essay on the same topic and using the same sources. Concurrent with this
unit will be a detailed consideration of argumentation/persuasion, research skills, and MLA
documentation style.
Plagiarism Policy: Plagiarism is the use of another writer’s words or ideas without disclosure of the
source, or failure to adequately change the original language of a source. Failure to disclose sources, or
to present another’s words as one’s own, may result in a charge of plagiarism and subsequent failure for
Page Three
Plagiarism Policy (cont.)
a given assignment (zero grade). See the current student handbook-planner, Time Well Spent, for an
explanation of Plagiarism Policy #5180.
Classroom Behavior/Civility: Appropriate classroom behavior is expected. This goes beyond simply not
being disruptive and refers also to the fact that time allotted for work will be spent doing that work. If I
feel you are not behaving appropriately, you will be asked to leave and an absence will be recorded.
You will not be readmitted to class until I am satisfied that a resolution to the problem has been
reached. Repeated tardiness is unacceptable and will be equated to absences on a 3 to 1 basis. Cell
phones, laptops, and other electronic devices may not be used except with my explicit permission.
Evaluation of Student Performance(Grading):
I use numerical, rather than letter, grades on assignments, in the form of a fraction, such as 85/100,
9/10, etc. This shows both grade and relative weight of the assignment. Zero scores are assigned for
incomplete or plagiarized assignments.
Four formal compositions: 50%
Research Essay: 20%
Journal Writing: 15%
Homework/Participation: 1 5%
If I choose to give quizzes, they will be included in the Homework/Participation portion of the grade.
Campus Resources and Services: Tutoring is available in the Writing Center for writing assignments is all
subject areas, not just English, and also in the Mathematic Tutoring Center. Tutoring information for all
other subjects can be found on the Tutoring page on the college website. In addition, Study Strategy
Seminars are scheduled each week and are posted on the college website under “Academics.” More
information on college services can be found by using the A-Z index on the college website.
Statement of Accommodation: If there is any student in this class who has special needs because of
learning disabilities or other kinds of disabilities, please feel free to discuss this with me or a staff
member in the Center for Academic Excellence.
Disclaimer: Individual faculty members may make reasonable changes to this course outline exclusive of
course requirements, course calendar, and grading procedures. All individuals should not assume that
anything received, sent, or stored in this course or in any course is private. Students’ written work,
assignments, and test results may be used anonymously for college assessment purposes. Course
content, support materials, and communications (including chats, discussions, emails, and any other
forms of communication) may be used for quality assurance purposes by authorized college
administrators. Important Note: Ocean Cruiser is the official email communication for students at OCC
(firstname_lastname@occ.mailcruiser.com). Ocean Cruiser may also be used for posting class materials
to be used by students. Failure to pay for this course may result in your being dropped for nonpayment.