Course Syllabus

English&101: English Composition 1

Fall 2020| Five Credits, Online| Section LC2 1911

Instructor Contact Information 

Instructor:  Mary Fox (she, her, hers) Please call me Mary or Ms. Fox, whichever is most comfortable for you
Email: mfox@tacomacc.edu
Zoom Student Hours:  Monday through Thursday 9:45-11 AM and 4-5 PM -- Use this link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/6334009625

Course Details

First day of quarter: Sept. 21, 2020

Last day of quarter: Dec. 10, 2020

Final Exam: There is no final exam in our English&101 class.

Hello!

Welcome to English&101! I’m very much looking forward to our class and the chance to get to know you a bit this quarter. Please call me Mary or Ms. Fox, whichever is most comfortable for you.

This class is a Learning Community with Political Science&202 (American Government) taught by Professor Steve Sandweiss. That means that the research, reading, writing, and discussing that you do in our writing class will be related to what you are learning in political science about our system of government, social movements, and the 2020 presidential election. Steve and I are pretty different in the way we teach, but in both classes, we’ll be especially interested in exploring how social movements, such as Black Lives Matter, impact public policy. Guest speakers in our class will include local activists who will challenge and enrich your understanding of topics covered in political science. Though we know this is an overwhelming and difficult time, Steve and I hope that our Learning Community offers an opportunity to learn about and discuss the things that are swirling around us.

Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

TCC’s Strategic Plan affirms the college’s commitment to equitable and anti-racist practices. Our Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Value Statement reads: “We recognize historic inequities and empower our community to challenge and overcome systemic barriers to create a campus and society where all people can be their authentic selves and are welcomed, heard, known, represented, and successful.” I am proud of this statement and promise to work with you and my colleagues to uphold it.

Chosen Names and Pronouns

Everyone has the right to be addressed by the name and pronouns that correspond to their gender identity. Class rosters don't list gender or pronouns, so you may be asked to indicate the pronouns you use so that I don't make assumptions based on your name and/or appearance/self-presentation. However, you are not obligated to share your pronouns. If you use a chosen name, please let me know. Chosen names and pronouns are to be respected at all times in the classroom. Mistakes in addressing one another may happen, so I encourage an environment of seriousness and openness to correction and learning. 

Student Resources

This is an overwhelming time in so many ways. During this quarter, you may encounter a real-life need that impacts your work in class. Any student who has difficulty affording groceries, accessing enough food to eat every day, or lacks a safe and stable place to live is urged to contact Jennifer Fountain, the TCC Dean of Retention and Student Success, jfountain@tacomacc.edu, 253-566-5159. TCC has many campus and community resources that can assist with student needs. You may also notify me if you are comfortable doing so. This will enable me to share other resources that I may be aware of.

Frequently called TCC numbers:

Financial Aid   253.566.5080

Enrollment Services  253.566.5325

Canvas Help Line  253.566.5176

Mental Health Resources:

Help for Coping with Stress During Infectious Disease Outbreak: 1-877-726-4727

Pierce County Crisis Line 1-800-576-7764

WA State Domestic Violence Helpline 1-800-562-6025

Class Information

English&101 1911. Our class is fully online. The week’s readings, videos, and assignments will available by Sunday evening, and you will usually be able to work ahead if you like. Students are not required to be in class on specific days and times.

This is the description of English&101 in the TCC College Catalog: “The study and application of the principles of college writing. Students read, analyze, and write expository, descriptive, and argumentative essays, as well as learn to develop ideas fully, organize them effectively, and express them clearly. ENGL 101 readings focus on the essay. This course may not be taken S/U.” 

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Contact & Communication Plan

The best way to communicate with me is through email or Canvas messaging. I check both several times a day and you'll usually receive a response that same day, unless there are unexpected circumstances. Feel free to set Canvas so that it sends you a message when I make a comment on your work. It can be easy to feel disconnected in an online class, so I hope we use all tools possible to stay engaged. To set Canvas so that it sends you a message when you receive comments, go to Canvas>Account>Notifications>Course Activities>Submission Comments. Click on the check mark for immediate notification to your email or text, depending on what you prefer. You may also want to take a look at other possible notifications and see what you would like to receive.

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Learning Outcomes

Degree Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of the TCC Associates Degree, you will be able to:

1. Core of Knowledge (COK): Demonstrate a basic knowledge of each of the distribution areas (Written Communication, Humanities, Quantitative Skills, Natural Sciences and Social Sciences) or, as applicable, specific professional/technical content, and program-level content and apply this knowledge to academic endeavors.
2. Communication (COM): Listen, speak, read, and write effectively and use nonverbal and technological means to make connections between self and others.
3. Critical Thinking & Problem Solving (CRT): Compare, analyze and evaluate information and ideas to solve problems.
4. Information & Information Technology (IIT): Locate, evaluate, retrieve and ethically use relevant and current information of appropriate authority for academic or, as applicable, specific professional/ technical applications.
5. Intercultural Collaboration & Diversity (ICD): Demonstrate successful application of an interdependent, diverse, and multicultural worldview through collaborative engagement.
6. Responsibility & Ethics (RES): Demonstrate an understanding of what constitutes responsible and ethical behavior toward individuals, the community, and the environment.

Course Learning Outcomes             

Upon successful completion of English&101, you will be able to:

1. Craft, develop, and support a clear thesis; organize essays logically. 
2. Use writing strategies appropriate to audience, purpose and occasion. 
3. Use expository essays to express original ideas.
4. Read critically. 
5. Conduct research as needed, use authoritative resources, and follow documentation rules.
6. Use standard grammar and academic writing conventions.
7. Use a writing process of pre-writing, drafting and revision. 
8. Use academically accepted collaboration to improve writing and understanding.
9. Take responsibility for own learning and ethical behavior in academic coursework.

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Textbooks & Supplemental Materials

Students are not required to buy a textbook for this class. Instead, we will use free Open Educational Resources, other readings and videos, and the wonderful TCC library. However, you will have a textbook for Political Science&202.

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Technology

Since this is an online course, you will need regular access to technology and the internet. Some assignments can be completed on your phone but others will be easier if done from a desktop, laptop, or tablet. If you need support using technology or learning how to use Canvas, please check Canvas resources and tutorials or email support@tacomacc.edu. I know that many students are sharing computers and other technology with others, so when you face technology challenges, please let me know so that we can make a plan. I am 100% committed to making this work for you.

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Class Norms

We will work together to create guiding principles for our work together. I'll post them here when we have completed that work!

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Graded Coursework

Students demonstrate what they know and what they’ve learned in different ways, and I am very interested in research that questions and critiques traditional grading practices. In our class, we’ll have regular discussion posts, quizzes, and informal and formal writing assignments to 1) help you to show what you’ve learned and what you are confused about and to 2) help me understand places where individual students and the class as a whole are confident in their learning and places where we may need to review things.

For many assignments, including discussion posts and short weekly writing, you will earn full credit grade by completing the assignment requirements, and I will not judge every little aspect of your writing. I will offer plenty of specific feedback intended to encourage you to grow as a writer and expand your thinking. Final letter grades will be based on 1) weekly discussion posts, quizzes, and writing (about 50 percent of your grade) 2) a research project (about 25 percent) and 3) participation (about 25 percent).

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Late Work       

I accept late work for partial credit. The details will be explained on individual assignments.

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Acceptable Behavior

I expect all of us to treat each other with kindness, dignity, and respect. Balancing our time as students and teachers with the rest of our lives can be very challenging, especially now, with so many things pulling at us from all directions. It is easy to get frustrated, especially in an online environment, but I want to emphasize the importance of respecting diversity, being open to learning about each other, and being pro-active and responsible for yourself, your words, and your actions. I promise to do the same. My primary goal is to support you as you take responsibility for your education, so please communicate and do so with kindness. The general idea of "treat others the way you want to be treated" along with our outlined code of conduct, is something I take very seriously and will be very explicit about throughout the quarter.

The TCC Code of Conduct can be found on the TCC website (http://www.tacomacc.edu/abouttcc/policies/codeofstudentconduct)

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Classroom Concerns

If you have concerns about our class, please talk with me so that I can understand them and we can move forward. If we are unable to do this, your next step is to talk with the department co-chair, Steve Johns, sjohns@tacomacc.edu. Sometimes, it’s helpful to have someone from outside of class help us to understand each other’s perspective and solve problems!

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Access and Accommodations

Your access in the learning environment is important to me. If you have already established disability accommodations with the Access Services office, please communicate your approved accommodations to me at your earliest convenience so we can discuss your needs in this course. You can request that Access Services email your Letter of Accommodation to me, or you can provide me with printed copies.

If you have a disability or health condition that may benefit from accommodations to ensure access and support success in this course—and have not yet established services, please contact Access Services at (253) 460-4437 or access@tacomacc.edu.

Access Services offers resources and coordinates reasonable accommodations for students with disabilities and/or temporary health conditions. Services are established through an interactive process that begins with an intake appointment. Access Services is located in Building 7.

Accommodations for Religion/Conscience

Reasonable Accommodations for Religion/Conscience: Students who will be absent from class activities due to reasons of faith or conscience may seek reasonable accommodations so that grades are not impacted. Requests must be made within the first two weeks of the quarter and should follow the procedures listed in the Leave for Faith & Conscience policy website.

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Library

We'll use the TCC throughout the quarter to learn helpful research strategies for college work, to find credible information on the topics we're exploring, and to better understand how to use information ethically and carefully in college papers and projects. Due to COVID restrictions this quarter, the library will be open only to check out and return library items. We will not be able to use library computers or study rooms until further notice. Please feel free to explore the library's website and learn about all of the resources offered for students: https://tacomacc.libguides.com/TCCLibrary

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Writing and Tutoring Center

TCC's Writing and Tutoring Center (WTC) offers free tutoring and support for many of the classes you will take at TCC. This quarter, the WTC will be offering a variety of ways for you to get help with your writing, from submitting papers for feedback to attending Zoom tutoring sessions.  The WTC is one of TCC's hidden gems: The tutors are a great support system for so many students, many of whom reach out to the WTC for help getting started with an assignment all they way through writing and polishing their papers.

I think this is the link to connect you to the WTC: https://tacomacc.instructure.com/courses/1937964

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Safety

We care about the safety of our campus and community and all of us are needed in order to create a safe and secure learning environment. Please review the full list of safety resources available to you, which are listed on our TCC Ready website. Additionally, please watch this brief video to familiarize yourself with our general safety practices. Please program the Public Safety number into your cell phone (253-566-5111) or 5111 from any campus phone (If this number is inoperable due to an emergency, dial 253-495-4146) and sign up for TCC Alerts! to receive emergency notifications to your cell phone.

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College Closure and Class Cancellation

Although classes are online, should the TCC campus close for weather or other extenuating circumstance, you should not come to campus. Information about school closures, partial or total, will be available at 253-566-5000 (a recorded message will give the caller up-to-date information on closures) or on the TCC home page by 6:15 a.m. www.tacomacc.edu (a message will be placed there only if the college will be closed).

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Academic Honesty

At TCC, we strive to create mutually-respectful relationships between students, faculty, and staff. English&101 is intended to offer practice in learning how to use and create information in ways that are appropriate for various audiences and situations. We’ll learn what “plagiarism” means and how to avoid it. The Writing and Tutoring Center and the Library staff are always happy to help students learn more about plagiarism and academic honesty. In our class, work that is a clear product of intentional cheating will given a 0 (zero) score. The complete Administrative Procedure for Academic Dishonesty is available on the TCC website.

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Grading

Students demonstrate what they know and what they’ve learned in different ways, and I am very interested in research that questions and critiques traditional grading practices. In our class, we’ll have regular discussion posts, quizzes, and informal and formal writing assignments to help you to show what you’ve learned and to help me understand places where individual students and the class as a whole are confident in their learning and places where we may need to review things. Final letter grades will be based on 1) weekly discussion posts, quizzes, and writing (about 50 percent of your grade) 2) a research project (about 25 percent) and 3) participation (about 25 percent).

Assignments will be submitted through Canvas, and I’ll post grades as soon as assignments are graded. For many assignments, including discussion posts and short weekly writing, you will earn full credit grade by completing the assignment requirements, and I will not judge every little aspect of your writing. I will offer plenty of specific feedback intended to encourage you to grow as a writer and expand your thinking.

You'll have about 650 points possible:

• 11 discussion points worth 10 points each (110 points total) 
• 10 quizzes worth 5-10 points each (50-75 points)
• 11 weekly writing exercises worth 15 points each (165  points)
• Research project worth 150 points
• Participation worth 150 points

I accept late work for partial credit, and we’ll talk more about this in our class. There will be extra credit opportunities during the second half of the quarter. Your final letter grade for the class will calculated using these percentages:

Table 2: Grading

Grade	Percent
A	93 to 100%
A-	90 to 92%
B+	87 to 89%
B	83 to 86%
B-	80 to 82%
C+	77 to 79%
C	73 to 76%
C-	70 to 72%
D+	67 to 69%
D	65 to 66%
E	64% and below

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Course Calendar

You will see a course calendar below this syllabus window. It changes as I make changes to the Modules; however, I go by what is published in the Modules, so please use the Modules as your course calendar. Check Announcements each time you log in to see any messages about our calendar or other items.

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