Course Syllabus
LS 101: Introduction to Research
[insert date] | [insert credit details] | [insert section number]
Instructor:
Office:
Email:
Virtual Office Hour:
Phone:
Course Overview
Welcome to LS 101! I am excited to be your instructor for this class. During this quarter, we will explore several strategies you can use when performing research. This course will prepare you with research strategies to use in English 101, as well as in other college courses requiring library research. In fact, the benefits of taking LS 101 extend beyond your time here at TCC. Together we will practice strategies for finding and evaluating information to decide whether it’s appropriate to use in an academic setting, and then work towards incorporating information into your research papers. You can expect to learn some librarian “tricks of the trade” that will come in handy for academic assignments, but also for research in your personal life.
- First day of quarter:
- Last day of quarter:
- Final exam: There is no final exam for this class; your final reflection essay will substitute for a final exam.
- Catalog description: Meet course-related research needs by learning to identify, find, evaluate, incorporate, and cite appropriate sources using a range of research tools.
Contact Information and Communication
The best method to contact me is by email. My email address listed above is my primary email which you are free to use, though the internal email feature within Canvas is likely what you will find most convenient. If you email me on a non-holiday weekday (M-F), I will respond to you within 24 hours. If you email me during the weekend or on a holiday, I will respond to you on the next day that the campus is open.
I have a virtual office hour on [insert office hour info]. During this time, I will be online monitoring my emails (both the Canvas email, as well as my email listed above). I will promptly reply to any emails sent during this hour, so we can treat it like a “chat” if that works best for you.
You can also make an appointment with me to meet via e-mail if the office hour does not work for you.
Textbooks and Supplemental Materials
There are no books to buy for this course. All reading materials (or video or listening materials) will come free from the Web and can be accessed through your Canvas page. You will be turning in all your assignments through Canvas, so there is no need to print them. You might spend up to $10 for printouts, if you choose to print out the lectures, assignments or other materials for your own reference.
Technology
Since this is an online course, you are required to have access to a computer with the Internet and have the ability to watch videos on the Internet. You will also need a word processing application, such as Microsoft Word or Open Document. Be aware that some programs that create file extensions, such as a .txt or .rtf files, are not compatible with Canvas and cannot be used for this course. To submit work in Canvas, you must save your work as a .doc or .docx or .odt file. This is easy enough to do if you have Word or Open Document. If you would like your own copy of the programs in Office 365, please ask. As a student, you have 5 free downloads of this program.
Learning Outcomes
[insert applicable degree, program, and course learning outcomes]
Learning Mastery
All of the learning activities in this course are dedicated to helping you achieve the course learning outcomes listed above. The particular outcomes that each module in this course will help you to achieve will be indicated at the beginning of each lecture/within each assignment description. In addition, each assignment rubric (which shows you how I will be evaluating the assignment) contains the relevant outcome/s that that particular assignment is helping you to achieve. Monitoring how you are performing on these outcomes will help you understand how your information literacy skills are developing: where you are excelling, where you are meeting expectations, and where you might still need a little work. If you click on “Grades” on the left-hand side in our Canvas course and then click on the “Learning Mastery” tab, you can monitor your progress on all of the course learning outcomes; if you feel like you need additional help with any outcome, please don’t hesitate to contact me!
Class Participation
Since this is an online class, you will engage in a combination of lectures, readings, and videos online within Canvas modules. The work will be turned in online, via Canvas. Each week we will begin a new module, so this is not a self-paced class; there are weekly deadlines and your participation in the online classroom is expected.
Expectations
What I expect of you:
- To turn in all assignments on time (Worksheets due in Canvas on Sundays)
- To engage with the assignments thoughtfully and thoroughly
- To avoid using any kind of text-speak! You need to write in full, complete sentences.
- To check in on this classroom at least twice weekly (preferably more often!)
- To carefully read instructor comments and feedback on assignments
- To read all class announcements
- To plan to spend about 3-5 hours per week outside of class working on class work
- To notify me of any problems or concerns you have. Frequent communication is a must!
- To keep in touch with me. Let me know (over email, by phone, or in person) ahead of time if you’re having trouble or if life is getting in the way of your ability to complete assignments on time.
What you can expect of me:
- To respond to your email messages within 24 hours (Monday – Friday)
- To post any weekly assignment updates when modules open every Monday, so that you’ll have time to complete them by Sunday of the following week
- To provide feedback on your assignments by the end of the following week from when you turn then in. For example, if your assignment is due Sunday night, and you turn it in on time, I pledge to give you feedback by the next Sunday. Late work may take longer to grade.
- To be available for one-on-one meetings (online via chat or email) about coursework
- To make announcements via Canvas about any changes in the schedule or assignments
- To offer clarity! I will try very hard to be clear in my instructions and expectations, but I expect you to be responsible for your work and contribution to this class.
Graded Coursework
While the actual assignment due dates are outlined in Canvas, listed below are the kinds of assignments you will complete in this class.
- Weekly Worksheets: You will have 1-2 worksheets to turn in via Canvas each week. These assignments are very practical in nature and are generally 2-5 pages long. They allow you to put into practice the topics and skills covered in the lectures each week. While each person’s abilities vary, on average these worksheets may take twenty minutes to an hour to complete after viewing/reading the lectures. They require that you download a document, access the databases through the Library page on the TCC Portal, and then upload them back into Canvas. These are usually worth up to 20 points each, if turned in on time. Late work is accepted up until one week after the due date for partial credit - see late work policy below.
- Quizzes: There will be a few quizzes (true or false and/or multiple choice and fill in the blank questions) over the course of this quarter. These quizzes will test the skills and knowledge you have gained during the quarter and give you an opportunity to display what you have learned, while also showing where you need to improve. All quiz content will be similar to questions from weekly assignments. Completing them should take no more than 15-30 minutes. These are usually worth 10 - 20 points each, if taken on time. Late work is accepted up until one week after the due date for partial credit - see late work policy below.
- Participation: Your participation really revolves around your demonstrated effort in the class. This means that you participate and engage with your classmates in online discussions. It also means that you communicate with me and are active and in Canvas multiple times each week. I fully expect you to have and to ask questions. Hearing your "voice" is what I am looking for, so while you don't need to be an extroverted social butterfly in this class, I do expect you to communicate thoughtfully in class.
- Final Assignment – Final Reflection Essay: You will write a short 2-3 page reflection essay. In this essay, you will reflect on what you learned in the class by answering specific questions and demonstrating your ability to incorporate citations into body paragraphs. The final essay will be worth 45 points. The due date is outlined in the final Module. Late work, for any reason, is not accepted for the final. It is imperative that you plan ahead and leave time to complete it before it is due.
- Extra Credit: There will be a few occasions for you to earn extra credit points this quarter. However, all the extra credit points available add up to just one or two weekly assignments, so the best way to get a good grade in this class is simply to complete those worksheets on time so you’re eligible for the full points.
Late Work
In an ideal world, everything gets turned in by the due date. But I know our worlds are not ideal, so I will accept late work for partial credit, up until a week after its due date.
Part of learning how to be a good student, and a good employee, is being able to plan ahead and meet deadlines, so I will enforce penalties for late work by deducting points.
If you have a real-life emergency, such as a family trouble, serious illness or accident, contact me as soon as possible and I will help you set up a plan for turning in your assignments that also allows time to adjust to unforeseeable, difficult life circumstances.
In an emergency situation, school is often the last thing you’re thinking about (which is understandable), but you are responsible not only for completing the work in a timely manner but also for being communicative with me. So if you have an emergency and need a short extension, you must contact me before the assignment is due. I want you to succeed, and I am pretty flexible. However, I also have deadlines, so you must make communication with me a priority and keep me informed if you want me to work with you to create solutions that work for us both.
For assignments where late work is accepted (see “Graded Course Work” above), I will automatically deduct 15% off your grade for the first day your work is late, and 25% off your grade after one day, until a week from the due date. Anything not submitted within a week of the due date will get a permanent zero.
Again, and this is firm, there will be no late acceptance for the final assignment, so it is important that you plan ahead and leave yourself enough time for the reflection essay. You'll have through the Wednesday of finals we to finish your final assignment. Not completing the final assignment (worth 45 points) can be the difference between a passing and failing grade.
Finally, I will grade assignments in the days following the due date. Once an assignment has been graded, you cannot then redo and resubmit it again for a higher grade.
Technology Forgiveness Policy
There are times when our computers crash; our internet providers cut us off; our documents go missing, or we don’t have up-to-date plugins. If something like this prevents you from turning in an assignment on time, please let me know right away. I’ll probably give you the full points the first time, but I’ll also expect you to fix the problem and/or find an alternate place to do your work in the future, as reliable computer/internet access is a requirement for this online course.
Acceptable Behavior
As a student at [insert college/university name], you have agreed to abide by the student code of conduct. [Insert name and link to your college/university's student code of conduct or handbook.]
In our online classroom setting, it is expected that you will conduct yourself in a respectful manner. Balancing your time as a student with the rest of your life (work, family, etc.), can be very trying. It is easy to get frustrated, especially in an online environment, but I want to emphasize the importance of respecting diversity and being pro-active and responsible for yourself, your words, and your actions. 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.
Classroom Concerns
If you have questions or concerns at any time about this class or about me, please talk to me directly about your concerns, so we can work through any issues together. If we are unable to resolve your concerns together, you are encouraged to talk next with the director, Candice Watkins. She can assist with information about additional steps, if needed.
Accommodations for Disabilities
Due to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), all classes are exclusively offered online this quarter. [Insert your college/university name] is committed to ensuring access for students with disabilities in the online environment. If you have already established approved disability accommodations with the Access Services office, please remember to request that your Accommodation Letter is sent to me by email. If you have a disability or health condition and have not yet established services, please contact the Access Services office at [insert Access or Disability Services contact info] or by visiting their web page [insert applicable web page or site].
How to Succeed in this Class
Some students like to work on everything just a few hours before everything is due. While that might be okay for you in other classes, I strongly advise you to spend time in this course during the week. This course is set up in such a way that you should be viewing the lectures beginning on Monday and continue reading until you are able to complete the assignment that will be due the following Sunday. However, if all of this is left until 10pm Sunday night -- and everything is due at 11:59pm -- you will not have enough time to ask me any questions you may have and receive a response from me at that late hour. Please make every effort to do the readings during the week and to complete the assignments on time.
Plan ahead! It will not only reduce stress, but it will help you to get more from this class and our time together. And again, if you need help, please do not wait until you are falling behind to contact me. Discuss your situation with me as soon as possible. I will be happy to help you figure out a plan that works if that is possible.
Furthermore, the Academic Calendar has a list of dates for dropping the course. It is your responsibility to seek help and communicate your needs and make use of the resources available.
Library
[Insert name of your college/university library] Library offers access to a range of research materials including books, e-books, DVDs/CDs, and subscription databases that carry thousands of publications covering a wide range of disciplines. The faculty librarians offer research support for all students, of all levels of research experience. Library faculty are available during all hours the Library is open. Find one at the Reference Desk or call [insert your library's contact info].
Writing and Tutoring Center
[Insert your college/university name] Writing and Tutoring Center, located on [insert applicable info], offers you one-on-one help with your writing. Tutors are available to discuss your work, help you to think about your writing process, suggest revising strategies, and discuss ways to approach an assignment. All services are free. Making an appointment is recommended. Contact the Center at [insert applicable contact info].
Student Resources
As a student at [insert your college/university name], there are many resources available to you for assistance in many areas of your life. Feel free to ask me more about any of these services:
- [Insert info about tutoring]
- [insert info about your library]
- [Insert info about your technical support for students]
- [Insert info about your student counseling services]
- [Insert info about disability accommodations]
- [Insert any additional info about Student Services available at your college/university]
College Closure and Class Cancellation
Should the campus close for weather or other extenuating circumstance, you should not come to campus. Generally, the expectation is that you will turn in work the next time your classes meet. (However, you are still expected to turn in work on time for this class online!) If any face-to-face class is cancelled, an email is sent if time allows, and a note is posted on the classroom door. Information about school closures, partial or total, will be available at [insert emergency alert info applicable for your college/university].
Academic Dishonesty
[Insert academic dishonesty statement from your college/university]
Considering the nature of LS 101, in that it is intended to give you practice using and creating information in a safe, low pressure environment, forms of plagiarism will be dealt with initially as an opportunity for individual or group instruction as appropriate. Continued or deliberate plagiarism may result in a 0 (zero) score given to that work.
Work that is a clear product of cheating, such as copying from a fellow student, will be given a 0 (zero) score. Deliberate, repeated plagiarism and cheating will result in a referral to [insert policies about academic dishonesty applicable to your college/university].
Grading
As this is an online class, your work will be submitted and graded in Canvas. Another important thing to note is drop and withdrawal dates. If for some reason you need to drop the class, you have a couple of options for doing so. You can always check the Academic Calendar for a list of items and appointed due dates.
- [insert link to your college/university's Academic Calendar]
Additionally, it is important to know that I don’t give out incompletes in this course. If you are behind in the course and don’t have enough points in the class, you can withdraw by the dates provided by the college (there are regular withdrawals or medical withdrawals), or you will receive a low or failing grade.
Below, you will see the grading scale I will use to grade your work in this course. As outlined in the table below, the majority of the points will come from the weekly worksheets. Staying on top of your work and planning ahead to submit work before the deadline is ultimately how you can succeed in this class.
Grading Breakdown (might fluctuate slightly):
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Caveats
This syllabus and schedule are subject to change in the event of extenuating circumstances. If you are absent from class, it is your responsibility to check for announcements made while you were absent.
Course Summary:
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