Course Description:

ACT standard score in English of 18 or above;
A score of 22 or above on the ASSET placement test in English composition; or
A grade of C or higher in English 100 or its equivalent.
Note: If in doubt, please contact your counselor immediately. Discovery of your lack of prerequisite later in the semester would result in your immediate, automatic, and wasteful withdrawal from this class.

I expect that you will have obtained all of the following by the second scheduled meeting of the class:

- Keys for Writers, 4th ed.  Ann Raimes. Houghton Mifflin, 2005.
- The Prentice Hall Reader, 8th ed. George Miller. Pearson Prentice Hall, 2007.
- 2 or 3 computer floppy disks (3 1/2") labeled with your first initial and last name and Eng101[section]:  memory sticks are also acceptable, but avoid CDs and ZIPs.
- Two pocket folders for submitting writing projects (in addition to another folder or binder in which to keep course notes and completed projects)
- Red pen or colored pencil  

Web-enhanced:........This course will use on-line features of Blackboard for course materials and activities.  Blackboard requires the same basic computer skills as using  word processing software, sending e-mail, and navigating the internet.  Please notify me as soon as possible if you have no access to the internet outside of class time of if you believe you need individual help in mastering the necessary computer skills. 

 For detailed information about the required general outcomes common to all sections of  English Composition I, consult the SVCC Course Outline.

Over the course of the semester, we will do a variety of writing projects that permit you to concentrate your focus on exploring and mastering particular aspects of the writing process: 

• Prewriting:........... In each writing project folder submitted, you will include a prewriting activity, which I will assess on how fully you demonstrated the various purposes of prewriting:  including exploring a topic, planning audience and purpose, and/or gathering details before drafting.
• Mapping:...............In each writing project folder submitted, you will include a map or outline, which I will assess on how effectively you organized your ideas before drafting.
• Revising:... ...........In each writing project folder submitted, you will include a marked-up "revised" draft (using the track changes feature in Microsoft Word™) showing changes you made to the support or organization of the writing after the initial draft, which I will assess based on how effectively you used the revision stage to improve the support for your main idea, including word choice.
• Editing...................In each writing project folder submitted, you will include a marked-up "edited" draft (using the track changes feature in Microsoft Word™)showing corrections, changes, and experiments related to sentence style and to the conventions of Standard American English, especially focusing on punctuation and sentence variety.
• Modes of Development.....In each writing project submitted, you will develop your essay to meet the needs of a specific prompt, requiring varying modes of development; assessment of these modes will vary, so check the rubric that I provide for each project for the specific elements.  For example, in an argumentative essay, you will be asked to demonstrate both inductive and deductive logic and to address a counterargument.  See the Semester Details for the sequence of projects.
• The Reading/Writing Connection:.......In a weekly Reading Journal, you will apply a variety of critical reading and thinking skills to the writing process.

By the end of the Semester, you will be expected to demonstrate mastery of the writing process:

In a final portfolio of two essays, you will demonstrate your ability to produce essays that have a clear purpose, are well supported, are effectively organized, are stylistically effective, and demonstrate Standard American English. 

There will be no exams in this course. The points earned for each assignment will result in approximately the following percentages:
Reading Journal/quizzes...........................about 25%
5-6 revised drafts..........................35-40%
Final portfolio of 2 published essays and participation in the final activity.....15%
Attendance/participation..................about 25%
Points earned will be curved around the average, with "0" in the mid to low "B" range. (Generally, at semester's end, more than 25 points above average is an "A"; 0-25 points above average, "B"; below average 30 points, "C"; and more than 30 points below average, "D.") The curve may be adjusted somewhat. Those of you who like to calculate your grade at any given moment may find this system frustrating. I will provide at least a midterm and pre-final status.

• Use class time: Be in your seat and ready to start at the announced start time of the class. You will receive 3 attendance points every class session that you attend (starting the 2nd week). Any late arrival (after the stretch) or early departure (before I dismiss class) will result in the loss of one attendance point.  I reserve the write to pay "overtime" points to those who are fully engaged in work periods provided at the end of scheduled class time.
• Notify me of any absences--whether expected or unexpected-- to receive 1 attendance point. You may leave a voice mail, written, or email message but I must receive it within 24 hours (before OR after) the absence. I do not need to know why you are absent, nor do you need to apologize for missing class. Your priorities are your business. I do, however, want you to develop the "real world" employment habit of giving notice. DAny 3 consecutive incidents of being absent without notice will result in an automatic F for the course (pending your timely withdrawal).
• Attend class: You don't earn points when you miss class. You will receive 1 point if you notify me of the absence; absence without notice is 0 points for the class. This may impact your grade, depending on the average attendance. I will give you a warning of your peril if you have 5 absences.  DYour 7th absence, regardless of reason, results in an "F" for the course.
• Make up your work promptly: Be responsible for making up missed assignments. In the case of any absence, you have until the end of the next class period to get caught up--unless I approve some other arrangement IN WRITING. After the grace period, missed work will be treated as late (see "Submission of Assignments").

This course is structured to allow students some flexibility to complete the required essays. When deadlines are given, they are absolute. Any submissions that are a single class session late will be penalized by being capped at "meets standards" points. Any assignments later than 1 class session will receive 0 points, unless some arrangement is made in advance. See the schedule for specific deadline dates. I reserve the right to move deadlines back as necessary. DAny two 0's on essays (including not submitted or plagiarized), will result in an automatic "F" for the course, pending your timely withdrawal.  For purposes of this provision, any four 0's on reading journals will equal one 0 on an essay.

If you stop coming to class, you have not withdrawn and will receive an "F" for the course. (Some students may be dropped at mid-term in compliance with financial aid rules.) Forms to properly withdraw from the course are available from the office of Admissions and Records. Withdrawal from the class is YOUR RESPONSIBILITY. The last day for you to drop without my permission is listed in Semester Details. After that date, you need my approval, which I will gladly give if you are passing at the time of the request.  DIf you stop coming, but your name is still on the class roster at the end of the semester because you did not formally withdraw, you will receive an "F" for the course. 

All work you submit must be your own. In English 101 in particular, academic dishonesty also robs YOU of an opportunity to add to basic writing skills that you must have to succeed in other classes and in your eventual employment. Some authorities say that as much as 85% of your success may depend on your ability to communicate, so it is important that you make the most of this opportunity to become the best writer you can. Behavior which qualifies as academic dishonesty is described completely in the SVCC Code of Student Conduct. For our purposes, it includes cheating and plagiarism, as well as alteration or use of another student’s work. The penalty for academic dishonesty may include, but is not limited to, any of the following: "0" on that assignment (generally applied to a single offense); Dfailure of the course (generally applied to any second offense); referral to college academic discipline system for further action (in combination with theft or other serious code violations).

Assessment Statement:

Sauk Valley Community College is an institution dedicated to continuous instructional improvement. As part of our assessment efforts, it is necessary for us to collect and analyze course-level data. Data drawn from students’ work for the purposes of institutional assessment will be collected and posted in aggregate, and will not identify individual students. Your continued support in our on-going effort to provide quality instructional services at SVCC is appreciated.

If you have a disability or suspect that you have one and want to request a classroom accommodation, it is your responsibility to inform me. Reasonable accommodations will be sought after verification from the Student Needs Coordinator’s Office.

Privacy Statement:

 The College policy on student records complies with the “Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act.” This Act is designed to protect the privacy of education records, to establish the rights of students to inspect and review their education records, and to provide guidelines for correction of incorrect or misleading data through formal and informal hearings.   A copy of the Act or questions concerning the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act may be referred to the Dean of Student Services, Ext. 271.

Please remember that you have set aside this time to improve your writing skills with my assistance. The computers are a tool we will use to help accomplish that task. Please be courteous and restrict your personal use of the Internet to before and after class. Those sending personal emails, chatting, browsing, or otherwise distracting themselves or class members from full attention to the work of the course may lose one or both of their attendance/ participation points for that class day.

I do not have specific rules regarding use of cell phones, headphones, talking during work periods, etc. As long as the class is able to act courteously toward me and classmates on these issues, we will do without restrictions. I reserve the right to impose penalties for uncorrected disruptive behavior, up to and including dropping the student from the course, or to make a general class rule, should the need arise.

Any request for an exception to a course requirement will be considered if you request it BEFORE you have tripped a penalty. Be prepared to provide documentation to prove the need for any such request.