ENGL-101 - English Composition - Jeremy Fannon
| Course: | English Composition |
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| Professor: | Jeremy Fannon |
| Email: | jeremy.fannon@canyons.edu |
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| Course Length: |
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Introduction
Welcome to my English 101 class! I am very excited to spend this semester with you. The information in this syllabus is designed to help you to be successful in my class. Please take the time to read the syllabus. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to send me an email or Canvas message. I will always do my best to communicate my expectations to you and make myself available to help you to be successful. COC has many resources on campus to help you with just about anything you are struggling with.
I got into teaching because I am passionate about getting to know each of my students so I can help them to become the best versions of themselves. I don't see myself as just an English teacher. I see myself as a life coach giving you the tools to be successful at this level. I am a much better teacher if I can connect with my students. This is a give and take relationship on both of our parts. I will post videos for just about every assignment. I will also post Weekly Overview videos. I recommend that you watch EVERY video I post. I often share information in the videos that I don't put in the written instructions. This is my way of connecting with you all.
Course Description
English 101 builds critical reading and expository writing skills through the analysis and evaluation of college level texts and the composition of well-organized, full-length essays containing properly documented evidence.
Student Learning Outcomes:
- Analyze and critically evaluate college-level texts for rhetorical and genre strategies.
- 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:
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- Analyze and critically evaluate written and visual texts for rhetorical strategies such as ethos, logos, and pathos, among others;
- Demonstrate responsibility for the reading process by applying active and critical reading strategies to analyze the meaning of texts;
- Analyze and critically evaluate a variety of college-level texts, including a book-length argument or a complete literary work;
- Demonstrate responsibility for the writing process and rhetorical context;
- Conduct research and critically evaluate appropriate source material(s);
- Create a thesis statement to structure the essay as a whole;
- Organize and structure essays in an effective manner;
- Support arguments by selecting, analyzing and synthesizing evidence such as relevant detail, anecdotes, and well-integrated summaries, paraphrases, and quotations;
- Implement the conventions of standard written English while using a variety of sentence structures
- Apply MLA style and citation format;
- Compose effective short essays in timed-writing situations;
- Reflect on reading and writing practices in order to improve work habits and skills
What to Expect in this Course
You can expect roughly 12 hours a week of reading and classwork in this class. Make sure that you block out time for this. If you do not, you will find it very difficult to be successful. I know you can do it if you are motivated, organized, and work hard.
Here is what you can expect. I will open a new module each week. You can expect many different types of assignments, from discussion boards, online quizzes and exams, close reading questions, and many other types. Each type of assignment will be explained thoroughly on each assignment page in the module. To be successful, each week you should do the following:
- You should look at the module for the week first thing Monday morning. The very first thing you should do is look at the Weekly Overview. On this page, I will lay out the week for you with all due dates and homework for the week. I will also tell you what reading assignments are due. You should also watch my weekly overview video as I will walk you through the week in greater detail
- Next, you should write down, or put in your phone, all of the assignments that are due. I like to use Post-it notes and put them right on the wall in front of my computer to remind me when things are due. Whatever tool helps you to remember, use it. Time management is the most important skill you can develop as a college student.
- Pace yourself, don’t wait until the last minute to do an assignment as this will make this class almost impossible to pass. I don’t assign a ton of work each week, but the work I assign will be rigorous and take some thought and effort to complete.
- Check the announcement board and your messages every day. Get into that habit. I will send frequent messages and post many announcements during the semester. If you only log in on Monday, and don’t check the site every day, you may miss time sensitive information.
- ALSO, I post a video on just about every assignment. It is SO important that you are watching my videos. I explain so many things in these videos that simple assignment instructions do not cover. You will ne be successful if you are not watching my videos.
Types of Assessments
We will have roughly 2,600 points: YOUR FINAL GRADE WILL BE DETERMINED THIS WAY:
Essays – One Diagnostic, and Four Out-of-Class Essays and Revisions: (50%)
Diagnostic Essay – 2 pages min. 100 points
Essay 1 (Rhetorical Analysis) 3 pages min. 200 points
Essay 2 (Multi-Sided Argument) 3 pages min. 200 points
Essay 3 (Literary Analysis/Argument) 4 Pages min. 300 points
Essay 4 (Ethical Argument) 5 pages min. 500 points
1300 points
Essays 2-4 will require research done outside of class. I will teach lessons in class to help you to find reliable research sources.
Every essay in this course will have specific requirements explained on an assignment sheet, but always keep in mind the following guidelines:
- Essays must meet the required minimum length and utilize MLA format to receive credit. A letter grade will be deducted for all essays that do not meet the minimum page requirement Please refer to online sources like OWL Purdue or seek guidance at the writing center lab for help with MLA formatting.
- Papers are due on the specified days in class. NOTE: I will accept late papers but there will be a minimum letter grade deduction if a paper is turned in late. The deduction may be more than a letter grade depending on how late you submit your paper.
- We will be peer reviewing rough drafts for all of the essays. The minimum length rough draft must be submitted to Canvas on the day that it is due, and the author must participate in peer review. We will peer edit all of our essays on Turnitin.com. I will record and post how to do this. The peer editing process is very important. The feedback you receive from your peers can really help you to improve your writing.
- Final drafts for this class MUST be submitted to Turnitin.com before the deadline! I will go over how to submit papers to Turnitin.com in a recording attached to our first essay assignment in Module 1.
Quizzes and Exams – (15%) - 400 Points
- We will take reading quizzes that make up roughly 15% of your grade. These quizzes are open note quizzes so you should take thorough reading notes.
- These quizzes can be submitted late, but there will be a 20% deduction for all quizzes submitted late.
- We will also take a timed essay Midterm Exam and a short answer Final Exam.
Coursework – (35%) - 850 points
Each week I will assign work that will make up roughly 35% of your grade. These assignments will be explained in the module each week.
Attendance
Attendance for this class is the work that you submit each week. It is essential that you keep up with the work. If you fall too far behind, I may drop you from the class. Even though the class is 100% online, and we do not meet in person, there are still deadlines for you to meet. It is up to you to manage your time to make sure that you are completing all reading, and each assignment by the due date. Remember that I am always here to help you with anything you need. I check my messages and emails several times a day. I can also meet with you in Zoom every day after 11am.
Textbook Information
- Required - Writing Arguments: A Rhetoric with Readings. 10th Ramage, John D, John C. Bean, and June Johnson. ISBN: 9780321906731 (I will provide an online copy of this text for you)
- Required – A Long Way Gone by Ishmael Beah ISBN: 9780374531263 (PLEASE ORDER THIS BY WEEK 9) (This can be ordered on Amazon, and many other sites)
Other Relevant Course Information
COLLEGE BEHAVIOR AND ONLINE ETIQUETTE:
Students are expected to complete all reading and assignments each week. I will do my part to create a curriculum that is challenging, yet manageable. It is your job to log in each week to make sure that you are accessing this curriculum. You should make sure that you plan time each week for this class. I am here for you whenever you need me, but to be successful in college, students are expected to work as hard as they can and make a commitment to complete all assignments and reading.
Online Etiquette: Please be mindful that you are in a class with 29 other human beings. Everyone comes from different backgrounds with their own beliefs and ideologies. It is not your job to agree with everything that your classmates post in our class. It is your job, however, to be respectful. Please make sure that you are making appropriate comments on your peer's posts.
Academic Honesty:
A big part of being in college is to learn how to think critically and behave maturely, responsibly, and respectfully. Part of this learning process involves academic honesty when presenting your work to your instructor. Hence, plagiarism is absolutely NOT tolerated under any circumstances. See “How to Avoid Cheating and Plagiarism” under the Student Services webpage and the specific course policy as stated below. Please note that all of our essays are submitted to Turnitin.com. This website checks for plagiarism. Please turn in your own work and there will not be any issues. I will not give you credit for a plagiarized assignment. I will also not give you credit for any assignment that is created by AI software.
College is not easy. You need to work hard and submit original work for your classes. Please contact me if you are ever struggling. I am here to help.
Additional Resources
Canvas
This course can be accessed on the first day of class via Canvas at https://coc.instructure.com. Log into Canvas using your CanyonsID single sign-on:
- CanyonsID Username is your COC student email address (Ex: username@my.canyons.edu)
- CanyonsID Password is your COC student email password
Please visit the Get to Know Your Online Classroom page for help logging into Canvas and for tips on using Canvas and Zoom. Canvas Chat Support is also available 24/7 for any Canvas related issues.
Online Education
Check out the Online Education website for more information on a variety of topics that can help you be a successful online student such as: exam proctoring, learning styles, computer skills, and tips for student success. If this is your first online course, feel free to take our online learning readiness assessment to assess your skills.
The Learning Center (TLC)
The TLC provides FREE online tutoring resources to COC students!
Academic Accommodation Center (AAC)
College of the Canyons AAC provides educational services and access for eligible students with documented disabilities who intend to pursue coursework at COC. A variety of programs and services are available which afford eligible students with disabilities the opportunity to participate fully in all aspects of the college programs and activities through appropriate and reasonable accommodations. For more information on their services visit the Academic Accomodation Center website.
Online Counseling
The Counseling Department offers appointments online. You can schedule an appointment by visiting the Online Counseling website. Counselors can help you map out a plan to reach your educational goals as well as advise you on course selection and registration.
Management of Stress and Mental Health
Often the pressure on our students is very strong, involving academic commitments, relationships, outside jobs and family pressure to name a few. The staff and faculty of College of the Canyons are here to see you succeed academically and care about your emotional and physical health. You can learn more about the broad range of confidential student services, including counseling and mental health services available on campus by visiting the Student Health & Wellness Center in the Student Services Building (across from the bookstore). The phone number is 661-362-3259 that you can call 24/7. You can also e mail for an appointment at StudentHealthCenter@canyons.edu. At the Canyon Country Campus the Health Center will be in the new Student Services Building.
Also, the National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline number is now 988. All students at COC are encouraged to enter that phone number in their cells. You can call it when you, or someone you know, is having thoughts of suicide or is in severe distress.
You can also now use the Crisis Text Line: Just text "Courage" to 741741. Someone will get back to you immediately. Its free, 24/7, and confidential.
Veterans Resource Center
The College of the Canyons Veterans Resource Center is a department within the Student Services Division at the college, created to help veterans and veteran dependents with applying to College of the Canyons, enrolling in classes, and requesting VA Education or Vocational Benefits. For more information please visit the Veterans Resource Center website, email veterans@canyons.edu or phone (661) 362-3469.
Library
The Library provides live online and in-person research help, access to a full range of e-resources and physical materials that support the curriculum, individual and group study areas, and much more!
Last updated: 06/06/2024 Sub#: 814