An Audio Message for Prospective Students
Please note: This sample syllabus is presented to give you an overview of what you will find in my actual Composition II online course (accessible only to officially enrolled students). The links to the related course materials have been disabled. Please e-mail me if you have any questions about the content or requirements of my course.
--Frederic Giacobazzi
Frederic Giacobazzi
Silverman, Jay et al. Rules of Thumb: A Guide for Writers. 7th ed.
Recommended:
A large-format dictionary of American English in its latest edition (e.g., Webster's New World Dictionary, The American Heritage Dictionary, or Oxford American Dictionary).
ENG-10400 Composition II Online is an Internet-based composition course which emphasizes writing analytical, critical, and
argumentative essays and practicing effective thinking skills. Students are encouraged to
develop a clear, logical, and forceful writing style. College research and library methods are
major components of the course, and students prepare formal, documented research essays.
ENG-10403
Composition II Online
Syllabus
Frederic Giacobazzi
Instructor Information
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Kirtland Community College
Office: 21 INS (On-campus office hours vary by semester; no summer on-campus hours)
Online Office Hours: See V. below
E-Mail: Please use myClassroom course e-mail for all course-related messages.
Giacobazzi's Home Page
KCC English Department
Exploring the Disciplines Interview: Technical Writing
Giacobazzi's Writer's Resources Page
Textbooks
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Axelrod, Rise B., and Charles R. Cooper. The St. Martin's Guide to Writing 8th ed.
Bedford/St. Martin's, 2008. SMG
Publisher's The St. Martin's Guide Companion Website
McGraw-Hill, 2008. RT
I. Focus of the Course
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II. Course Goals
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Why Take a Writing Course?
Effective Writing
To develop through structured practice expository writing which is clear, logical, vigorous, interesting, mechanically and grammatically correct, and suited to purpose and audience.
To be accomplished by: writing and revising a series of expository essays, along with shorter writing exercises, and developing effective techniques for analyzing and evaluating one's own and classmates' writing.
Attentive Reading
To develop and practice the habit of close and careful reading of written texts.
To be accomplished by: reading, analyzing, evaluating, and discussing a series of assigned professional and student writings, and reading, analyzing, and evaluating published research materials.
Critical Reasoning
To practice and develop higher order thinking skills.
To be accomplished by: developing an understanding of informal logic through critically analyzing, interpreting, and evaluating writing, popular persuasion, and information sources.
Communication
To practice effective communication skills.
To be accomplished by: conducting peer interviews and individual, small-group, and full-class discussions about writing, research, and other course-related topics.
Research
To develop effective information-gathering and college research skills.
To be accomplished by: conducting a significant college research project which requires developing library and online research techniques and procedures, effective bibliographic methods, and appropriate documentation skills.
Computer and Online Skills
To become independent and self-guided in the use of computer and network technology for writing and research.
To be accomplished by: practicing in every writing assignment the use of computers and computer networks for writing, information-gathering, and research.
Self-Awareness
To write and read as a means to better understand our lives and our own experience.
To be accomplished by: developing through the practice of writing and reading the habits and skills of clear thinking, analysis, and self-reflection.
| III. Major Assignments | Top |
Readings
Assigned readings must be read by the day listed in the course calendar. Read all assignments in The St. Martin's Guide to Writing (and become familiar with unassigned parts, too). In addition, make Rules of Thumb your first resort for help with questions about grammar and mechanics.
Shorter Writings
Around four essays of varying lengths (600-700 words)Regular written analyses of assigned professional readings.
Research Project
Research Essays (Two: 1@ 1250 words and 1@ 2000 words)Supporting research assignments (prospectus, annotated bibliography, research notes, sentence outline)
Information Literacy Unit
Information Literacy Modules (6 in CAR-10400). Comp II students are automatically enrolled in CAR-10400 Information Literacy and must complete the 6 online modules which make up that course by the designated due date.
Note: If you have already completed CAR-10400 you do not need to repeat it. Just contact Debra Shumaker and ask her to re-post your score.
Peer Evaluation
Regular Written Analysis and Evaluations of Classmates' Writings in Peer Groups| IV. Assignment Preparation | Top |
Essays
All essays and other formal assignments must be typed using a computer word processor (following the standard conventions of paper formatting) and submitted to the instructor, and to members of the student's peer-review group via the course Web site.
Please submit all essays to the instructor and peer group members in either Microsoft Word (.doc) or Rich Text (.rtf) format. If you use a word processor other than Microsoft Word to write your essays (such as Microsoft Works, Wordperfect, etc.), then be sure to save and submit them in Rich Text (.rtf) format. Files in Rich Text format generally can be opened and read in any standard word processor, and most word processors can save files in this format. To do this, select "Save As" and choose "rich text" from the file formats menu of your word processor.
Note: When sending files to the instructor via the course Web site, always give them a name which clearly identifies the writer and the assignment (e.g., "Joan Smith's Essay #2" or "John Jones' Research Notes").
Discussion Board Postings
Discussion Board postings (reader responses, peer evaluations, etc.) must not be in the form of file attachments but must be immediately visible to users when they click threads on the discussion board. Create your postings by typing or pasting them into the message thread window.
E-mails
Follow these guidelines when sending e-mails to the instructor and classmates:
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1. Use only your Angel myClassroom e-mail account when sending class-related e-mails!
2. Give each e-mail a clear subject heading related to its content.
3. Always "sign" your e-mail at the end with your name.
| V. Online Office Hours | Top |
The instructor will be available during most weeks of the course in an online office hour via the chat function in the course Web site. See the weekly assignment calendars for the dates and times of these scheduled office hours. Note: Attendance at these office hours is not mandatory.
| VI. Grades | Top |
Essays
Essays will be evaluated according to the grading criteria listed in Essay Grading Criteria and graded using a point system.
Research Project
Research Project assignments (prospectus, annotated bibliography, formal research notes, formal sentence outline, medium-length paper draft, and final paper draft) are each graded using a point system.
Information Literacy Unit
The Information Literacy Unit is graded using a point system. It consists of six (6) online modules which students complete in the CAR-104 course.
Reader Responses, Peer Evaluations, E-mail Assignments, Virtual Chats
The quality of these assignments will be rated individually and graded using a point system.
Final Grades
Final grades will be determined by totaling the points earned on all course assignments. Individual assignments are graded using a point system, as follows:
| Assignment(s) | Total Points | |
| Essays (4) | 80 pts. | |
| Research Project | 80 pts.* | |
| Information Literacy Modules (6) | 50 pts. | |
| E-mail Assignments (2) | 10 pts. | |
| Reader Responses (5) | 25 pts. | |
| Peer Evaluations (5) | 29 pts. | |
| TOTAL = | 274 pts. | (may vary in some semesters) |
| Bonus Participation** | 15 pts. |
* The 80 research project points are allocated as follows: Prospectus (7), Annotated Bibliography (7), Research Notes (8), Outline (8), Medium Draft (25), Final Draft (25)
** Bonus participation points may be awarded over and above the designated course total. Bonus points are given only at the discretion of the instructor for clear evidence of participation beyond what is called for in the requirements of activities and assignments -- such as attending online office hours; multiple responses to other students' posts in the discussion forums especially detailed and helpful Peer Evaluations; useful and encouraging replies to other students' e-mails, and so on.
| VII. Kirtland Writing Center | Top |
All students living near, or attending classes on, the Kirtland Community College campus who would like extra help with their writing are encouraged to visit the Kirtland Writing Center (in the Administration Bldg.) during any of its hours of operation (walk-ins are always welcome!). In addition, all online students who need writing help are encouraged to use Kirtland's HOWL (Helpful Online Writing Lab), which provides help via e-mail. Some Comp. II Online students with significant mechanical or grammatical writing problems may be formally assigned to seek help through the Writing Center. They will be permitted to continue in ENG 104, but with the condition that they complete specific individualized work in the Writing Center during the semester.
| VIII. Due Dates, "Attendance," Participation | Top |
Due Dates and Late Assignments
Be aware of all due dates listed in the weekly assignment calendars (and check them regularly for changes). All assignments are due on or before the due date designated in the calendar. An assignment submitted to the instructor or peer-review group after the due date is a late assignment. In general, a first late assignment will be accepted and graded down; a second late assignment will not be accepted.Note: An assignment more than two weeks late will not be accepted!
"Attendance"
Although you can't and won't attend class meetings on the Kirtland campus, all of your class "attendance" must happen online. The "proof" of your attendance will be your prompt and on-time participation in all course activities and assignments; a record of poor or marginal participation will lower a final grade substantially more than 20%.Participation
Passivity and writing courses don't mix; passivity and an online writing course is almost a contradiction in terms! Your active participation in this course is not only expected; it is vital to the success of this course and the experience of every student in it. Your timely interactions with the instructor and your fellow students; your participation in all assignments and activities--both individual and group; your questions, comments, and reactions; are expected. You must participate fully as a writer, a reader, a helper, a critic, and a reviewer of other students' writing.
| IX. Academic Honesty | Top |
A few words about academic honesty: All members of the Kirtland community share the responsibility for maintaining standards of academic honesty. This principle is a cornerstone of the development and acquisition of knowledge, and a condition of continued membership in the college community. Academic dishonesty, like other forms of dishonesty, is misrepresentation with intent to deceive or without regard to the source or the accuracy of statements or findings. Academic dishonesty, in whatever form, is ultimately destructive of the values of the college; it is, furthermore, unfair and discouraging to the majority of students who pursue their studies honestly.
In English courses, particularly, a cardinal principle of honesty must always be observed:
Students must never plagiarize. That is, they must never submit the work of another person as if it were their own. In practical terms, this means:
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1. Students must never submit a paper written by another person.
2. Students must never incorporate the ideas of others into their own writing--whether quoted, paraphrased, or summarized--without properly documenting them.
KCC's Official Statement on Ethical Conduct
This instructor requires the highest level of honesty, integrity and professionalism from everyone all the time. Any infraction will be dealt with in a strict manner the first time. No excuses will be accepted, no second chances given. It is expected that all students have read the student policy and procedure handbook and understand it. Student rights, responsibilities and regulations are also published in the college catalog.Simply stated, DO YOUR OWN WORK. If you choose to help another student, it is your responsibility to provide real help. Do not just give them answers or show them your work or loan them your work. This would constitute academic dishonesty.
If for some reason you have a question or due to special circumstances are unsure of the right thing to do, it is your responsibility to contact your instructor and ask before you act.
Ethical Conduct, Kirtland Community College, 2000
| X. Web Resources | Top |
The course materials for Composition II Online contain occasional links to relevant and useful World-Wide Web resources. Here are just a few to remember:
Publisher's The St. Martin's Guide Companion Website
KCC Writers Resources Page Kirtland H.O.W.L. KCC Library Home KCC Library Catalog (Books, Videos, etc.) Periodical Indexes Study Guides KCC English Department | XI. Honors Option | Top |
If you are a member of the Kirtland Honors Program, you may elect to take ENG-104 with an Honors Option, which means that you may earn three honors credits, instead of regular credits, for this course if you complete the work of a special "honors track." This will consist of one extra contact hour per week in the form of additional assignments and individual or small-group sessions with the instructor and other honors-option students. Note: If you are not already registered for this option but would like to, you must do so during the first week of the course. Please contact the honors office immediately for further details.
| Financial Aid, ADA, Title IX Statements | Top |
Financial Aid Statement
ADA Statement
Title IX Statement
Failure to submit coursework to instructor, to attend scheduled class/meeting sessions, or failure to take required quizzes/exams may delay disbursement of financial aid. Refer to the syllabus for each class you are taking for detailed course requirements.
If you need course adaptations or accommodations because of a disability, if you have medical information to share, or if you need special arrangements in the event the building must be evacuated, please e-mail me as soon as possible. You must also see Betty Ehinger, Special Populations Coordinator, in room 212 of the ADM Center; ext. 252. Betty coordinates services for students with disabilities and will assist you in obtaining verification of your disability, if necessary.
Kirtland Community College is an equal opportunity institution, encourages diversity, and does not discriminate against race, color, religion, national origin or ancestry, age, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, disability, or other protected category under Michigan and federal law. Compliance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a priority of the college. Dale Shantz, Director of Human Resources, is the ADA Compliance Officer and 504 Coordinator.
| Disclaimer | Top |
Please note: All pages related to this course are dynamic documents. They are constantly subject to updates. Any printed copies may be out-of-date. Always check the online versions regularly for definitive information.
Please send your comments and suggestions to Fred Giacobazzi by myClassroom course e-mail.
Have a question about the course? Send Fred a myClassroom course e-mail..
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