Course Syllabus

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Western New Mexico University

Syllabus for Composition and Rhetoric 102-73

Fall 2016
CRN 10123

last revision August 6, 2016

Professor: Jennifer Givhan

Phone: (714) 928-6562 *you may also text message me*

Email: jennabee_84@yahoo.com

Virtual Office Hours: Online/phone by appointment

*The best way to contact your instructor is through CANVAS messenger, the next best is through cell phone text message*

Course Catalog Description

Continuation of English 101; deals with longer papers, research; may include a brief introduction to literature. All students will take an exit exam, which will be scored by English faculty. Failure of the exam will lower the course grade one grade. Prerequisite: ENGL.101 with a grade of C or better. (NMCCN ENGL 1123) (Area 1). Western New Mexico 2008-2009 Catalog 308).

 

Required Texts

Lunsford, Andrea A. The St. Martin’s Handbook. 8th ed. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2011. ISBN: 978-0-312-64440-6.

(Online and attached PDF/Doc readings as assigned in Learning Modules).

 

Course Outcomes or Competencies

The following material is taken from the New Mexico Core Competencies Assessment 2007-2008: Area I Courses:

  1. Students will analyze and evaluate oral and written communication in terms of situation, audience, purpose, aesthetics, and diverse points of view. Students should: Understand, appreciate, and critically evaluate a variety of written and spoken messages in order to make informed decisions.
  2. Students will express a primary purpose in a compelling statement and order supporting points logically and convincingly. Students should: Organize their thinking to express their viewpoints clearly, concisely, and effectively.
  3. Students will use effective rhetorical strategies to persuade, inform, and engage. Students should: Select and use the best means to deliver a particular message to a particular audience. Rhetorical strategies include but are not limited to modes (such as narration, description, and persuasion), genres (essays, web pages, reports, proposals), media and technology (PowerPointTM, electronic writing), and graphics (charts, diagrams, formats).
  4. Students will employ writing and/or speaking processes such as planning, collaborating, organizing, composing, revising, and editing to create presentations using correct diction, syntax, grammar, and mechanics. Students should: Use standard processes for generating documents or oral presentations independently and in groups.
  5. Students will integrate research correctly and ethically from credible sources to support the primary purpose of a communication. Students should: Gather legitimate information to support ideas without plagiarizing, misinforming or distorting.
  6. Students will engage in reasoned civic discourse while recognizing the distinctions among opinions, facts, and inferences. Students should: Negotiate civilly with others to accomplish goals and to function as responsible citizens.

 

The following units will run concurrently throughout the semester:

 

Online bibliographical instruction, incorporating research, and avoiding plagiarism

Students will integrate research correctly and ethically from credible sources to support the primary purpose of a communication. Students should: Gather legitimate information to support ideas without plagiarizing, misinforming or distorting. (New Mexico Core Competencies Assessment 2007-2008: Area I Courses)

 

Dealing with written communication: Evaluating sources and developing logical arguments

Students will analyze and evaluate oral and written communication in terms of situation, audience, purpose, aesthetics, and diverse points of view. Students should: Understand, appreciate, and critically evaluate a variety of written and spoken messages in order to make informed decisions. (New Mexico Core Competencies Assessment 2007-2008: Area I Courses)

 

Composing Processes

Students will use effective rhetorical strategies to persuade, inform, and engage. Students should: Select and use the best means to deliver a particular message to a particular audience. Rhetorical strategies include but are not limited to modes (such as narration, description, and persuasion), genres (essays, web pages, reports, proposals), media and technology (PowerPointTM, electronic writing), and graphics (charts, diagrams, formats). (New Mexico Core Competencies Assessment 2007-2008: Area I Courses)

 

Argument

Students will engage in reasoned civic discourse while recognizing the distinctions among opinions, facts, and inferences. Students should: Negotiate civilly with others to accomplish goals and to function as responsible citizens. (New Mexico Core Competencies Assessment 2007-2008: Area I Courses)

 

Assignments

Students must write a minimum of 3,000 words (in addition to discussion) over the course three essays (this is not per essay). At least one of the essays will involve working with paired pro/con essays on a controversial subject.

 

*Each essay is not 3,000 words; rather, this is the minimum word count expected throughout the entire semester. Most essays will range between 4-7 pages, approximately.*

 

 

15%: Essay #1

20%: Essay #2

25%: Essay #3

20%: Weekly Discussions Boards (participation)

20%: Quizzes

Semester Portfolio (worth ONE LETTER, can change your semester grade by one whole letter)

 

 See List of Graded Assignments for more specific breakdown of assignments and points assigned.

 

Grading Scale

A = 90-100%

B = 80-89%

C = 70-79%

D= 60-69%

F = 59% or below.

 

Semester Portfolio

*will comprise one letter of your final grade:

You will submit a portfolio of a sample of your semester’s work, and it will be run automatically through turnitin.com. The portfolio is worth ONE LETTER GRADE for all students (not a percentage, but a full letter grade, so that if you have an A but do not pass the portfolio, you will earn a B in the class--this is important because if you have a C in the class and earn a 0 on the portfolio, your grade will drop to a D, which means you do not pass the course).

Each student’s portfolio must include at least the following documents:

  • Introductory Self-Reflective Letter (most important aspect of portfolio).
  • At least 2 formal, graded essays (a total of 10-12 pages of graded work) from this course. These essays may not be revised for the portfolio. Students must submit the documents that received the final grade from the instructor.


Individual Student Portfolio Grading Process. See attached rubric for portfolio grading guidelines.

  1. For students going into the portfolio with a course grade of A (90-100%), B (80-89%), or F grade (59-0%):

The student’s instructor will grade these portfolios.

  1. For students earning a C (70-79%) or D (60-69%) at the time the portfolio is submitted:

Composition faculty will blindly grade the portfolio and determine whether the student passes the course. A failing score on the portfolio will result in course failure.

This means that if you have a C or D in the course, your instructor will not grade your portfolio; a panel of other English instructors at WNMU will grade it. 

This is important because it means that the department will grade your essay according to the department standards. In effect, this could result in a different grade than you may have expected (i.e., just because your instructor may have assigned a C grade for your essays does not mean that the English department faculty will, so you could potentially earn a "0" on the portfolio, which would drop your grade to a D, a failing grade). If you have any questions whatsoever about this process, please feel free to contact me, your instructor, and I will be glad to clarify.

Remember, to ensure your success and a passing grade, it would be best to keep your grade at a B or higher throughout the semester! I'm here to help, and you have a support system in place, so take advantage of that early and throughout the semester.

Students will receive detailed instruction on creating and submitting the portfolio later in the semester.

 

 

Participation

You are expected to log in regularly to class, read all posted material including announcements and emails, respond to your classmates and instructor in discussion board assignments, complete all work by the due dates, and communicate any problems or issues in a timely fashion to your instructor. Failure to participate regularly in class will affect your course grade.

 

Course Expectations and WNMU Policies for Students

 

Canvas Down Time and Inclement Weather:
Due to the possibility of Canvas down time or lack of connection due to inclement weather, it is important that you not wait until the last minute to finish assignments, postings, or assessments.

 

Posting Assignments and Discussions:
Students are responsible for posting all discussions on the Discussion Board and all assignments to the Assignments posting area.  If you are having difficulty with this, it is your responsibility to contact the instructor so that s/he can get you the assistance you need to learn how to do this.

 

Informed Consent:
Some individuals may choose to disclose personal information during class.  Therefore, it is important that all classmates agree not to discuss or write about what others have discussed in class.

 

Professionalism:
Students are learning professional skills and are expected to engage in class discussions, complete reading assignments, and meet deadlines as befits professional behavior.

 

Scholarly Writing:
Use clear college level writing with correct spelling and grammar for all assignments.  If you need help with your writing, consult a Smarthinking writing tutor:  http://www.wnmu.edu/univ/smarthinkins.shtml

 

Communications policy statement regarding official e-mail:
WNMUs policy requires that all official communication with the University, other than your in-class Canvas communications, be sent via Mustang Express.  Emails sent to you by various University departments related to your registration, financial account balance, changes in schedule, etc., will be sent to your wnmu.edu email address.  It is very important that you access your Mustang Express email periodically to check for correspondence from the University.  If you receive most of your email at a different address, you can forward your messages from Mustang Express to your personal address.  To forward your WNMU e-mail to a personal e-mail address:

  1. Log in to Mustang Express.
  2. From the My E-mail Inbox in the center of the screen, select the small E-mail hyperlink (beside the envelope icon).
  3. Select Options.
  4. Select Settings.
  5. Below Mail Forwarding at the bottom of the screen, type in your personal e-mail address.
  6. Select Save Settings.

 

WNMU policy on email passwords:
WNMU requires that passwords for access to all of protected software, programs, and applications be robust, including complexity in the number of characters required, the combination of characters required, and the frequency in which passwords are required to be changed.  Minimum complexity includes:

  • Passwords shall contain at least six (6) characters
  • Passwords shall contain at least one capital (upper case) letter, and at least one numeral.
  • Passwords shall be changed at least every 90 days

 

Academic Integrity:
Each student shall observe standards of honesty and integrity in academic work as defined in the WNMU catalog, 2011-2012, p. 61.  Violations of academic integrity include any behavior that misrepresents or falsifies a student’s knowledge, skills or ability with the goal of unjustified or illegitimate evaluation or gain.

 

Generally violations of academic integrity include cheating and plagiarism. Refer to the WNMU catalog, p. 61, for definitions. Penalties for infractions are as follows:

 

For Plagiarism:  Intentional or unintentional representation of another’s work as one’s own without proper acknowledgement of the original author or creator of the work:

 

Penalties at instructor's discretion, made on a case by case basis. Penalties may include a warning, a Grade of 0 for assignment, and/or Dismissal from the class with grade of F.

 

For Cheating:  Using or attempting to use unauthorized materials and unauthorized collaboration with others, copying the work of another or any action that presents the work of others to misrepresent the student’s knowledge:

 

Penalties at instructor's discretion, made on a case by case basis. Penalties may include a warning, a Grade of 0 for assignment, and/or Dismissal from the class with grade of F.

 

Integrated Use of Technology:
You will be using Canvas to post discussions, post assignments, and take all quizzes and exams. You will need to learn how to attach documents if you don’t already know how to do this.

 

Disability Support Services: 

Services for students with disabilities are provided through the Student Health Center’s Disability Support Services office. Some examples of the assistance provided are audio materials for the blind or dyslexic, note takers, readers, audio recorders, and special tutors. In order to qualify for these services, documentation must be provided by certified health care professionals. Disability Support Services information and forms are available by calling 575.538.6400 or emailing dss@wnmu.edu. The Disability Support Services office serves as Western New Mexico University's liaison for students with disabilities. 

 

 

 

 

 

Need Help?

  • Post your question to the Discussion Board in your online course.
  • Send a question via Canvas email to your instructor (if you have a course material-related question, especially)
  • For 24/7 Canvas Help call:  888.332.6994 (if it's a technical issue/error)
  • Contact the WNMU Help Desk at helpdesk@wnmu.edu or 575.574.4357.
  • Register for IPS 010, Canvas Orientation.  This is a short, free, non-credit introduction to Canvas, no textbook is required.  Once you complete the orientation activities, you can re-enter the course at any time during the semester to get additional help from the instructor as needed.
  • Consult Student Online Resources at http://learn.wnmu.edu/support/resstu.shtml for an online readiness assessment, Technical Requirements, Canvas tutorials and Canvas Student Guide.

 

Course Access:
Access to online course materials will be available to students between the start and end dates listed in the class schedule.

 

Copyright:

The materials found in this course are only for the use of students enrolled in this course for purposes associated with this course and may not be retained by students in any electronic form or further disseminated or distributed to anyone not enrolled in this course.

 

Course conduct

Please behave politely and professionally; if you are rude or disruptive, I will give one warning, and if negative behavior persists, I will drop you from the class.

 

CODE OF CIVILITY

 

In order to promote a positive, professional atmosphere among students, faculty and staff, the following Code of Civility has been developed:

Respect: Treat all students, faculty, staff and property with respect and in a courteous and professional manner. This includes all communications, whether verbal or written. Let your actions reflect pride in yourself, your university, and your profession.

Kindness: A kind word and gentle voice go a long way. Refrain from using profanity, insulting slang remarks, or making disparaging comments. Consider another person’s feelings.

Be nice.

Truth: Exhibit honesty and integrity in your dealings with fellow students, faculty and staff members. Don’t lie, don’t cheat, and don’t steal.

Responsibility: Take responsibility for your actions. This includes gracefully accepting the consequences of your behavior.

Cooperation: Exhibit a cooperative manner when dealing with students, faculty and staff so we may all work towards our common goals and mission.

Acceptance: Accept differences in others, as they accept differences in you. This includes diversity in opinions, beliefs and ideas and everything else that makes us unique individuals.

Professionalism: Always conduct yourself in a manner that will bring pride to your profession, to Western New Mexico University, and, most importantly, to yourself.

 

THE INSTRUCTOR RETAINS THE RIGHT TO MODIFY THIS SYLLABUS AS NEEDED TO MEET SATISFY THE GOALS OF THE CLASS.

 

Course Summary:

Date Details Due