General Information
Office: 215 Liberal Arts Building
Phone: 272-4569 or 1-800-829-4436
Email: mnielsen@em.daltonstate.edu
Office Hours: Monday - Friday 8:00-8:30 a.m.
Writing Lab Hours: Monday - Friday 9:30-11:30;
Monday and Wednesday 5:30-6:00 p.m.
Other Hours: To be announced
Drop Date: March 25, 2001
Course Description
As explained in the college Catalog, the Developmental Studies (DS) program is designed to give students the opportunity to master fundamental principles before moving on to the more complex freshman composition sequence. The emphasis of the program is placed both on grammar competence and fundamentals of written formal communication.
Students enter the course by placement on basis of (1) SAT or ACT scores and COMPASS scores; (2) by the English 1101 drop-back policy which allows students having difficulty in English 1101 to drop that course and pick up English 0098 any time until the end of the fourth week of the semester. (3) Some students do audit.
A student is allowed a maximum of twelve semester hours or three semesters in DS before suspension. Enrollment in a course does not count as an attempt, however, if the student withdraws prior to mid-semester. Attempts are cumulative within the University System; during the third semester in a DS class, students are notified that they must exit or face suspension from school. Students who have not exited a DS area after three semesters are suspended for three academic years.
Required Materials
· Scarry, Sandra, and John Scarry. The Writer's Workplace
with Readings. 3rd edition. Forth Worth: Harcourt Brace College
Publishers, 1999.
· A college dictionary, The American Heritage Dictionary,
3rd ed., hardbound or paperbound, is particularly recommended.
· Harbrace freshman theme folders (bring both of
these with you on the second day of class)
· Harbrace freshman theme paper
· blue or black ink pens
· a green ink pen
· a No. 2 lead pencil
Student Learning Outcomes
The DS program as represented by English 0098 provides up to three semesters of intensive instruction in grammar and writing from the most basic level to English 1101 entry level competence. The primary goals of this study are the following:
1. Students will demonstrate an understanding of basic English grammar and mechanics.
2. Students will produce a critical essay that demonstrates a grasp of theses and the ordered, logical support of a thesis.
3. Students will be able to write a timed, single-draft essay that meets Division criteria for coherence, organization, development, and mechanical correctness.
Course Objective
Students who enroll in ENGL 00098 are expected to
1. to reach a minimum competency of 70% on in-class exercises,
five essays which should be 300 words or longer, revisions,
corrections, and tests;
2. to prepare for passing the Exit Essay Test (as determined by
Humanities Division evaluation-and the essay is required to be
a minimum of 300 words);
3. to pass the Developmental Studies Exit Examination (either
the COMPASS or CPE, whichever is determined by the director
of developmental studies).
Assessment Goals
1. Students should be able to progress in grammar and writing competency, either in one developmental English course (4 hours) or over a period of three developmental courses (12 hours), from the most basic level to English 1101 entry level.
2. Students should achieve a master level of 70% or greater in in-class grammatical exercises and essays before being allowed to attempt the Divisional Exit Essay and the state Developmental Studies Exit Examination.
3. Students should be able to combine cohesive, well-developed paragraphs into an acceptable essay that is free of major grammatical errors and should be able to pass the end-of-term essay.
4. To exit Developmental Studies English, the student must pass English 0098, including the end-of-term essay and must pass the state Developmental Studies Exit Examination.
Class Activities
The Student will participate in such learning activities as the following:
1. Grammar instruction by a variety of methods;
2. Grammar exercises in the text workbook;
3. Grammar drill work;
4. Grammar quizzes or tests;
5. Fundamental sentence structure and paragraph exercises;
6. Basic essay writing skill exercises including reading and interpreting
essay topics; construction of thesis sentences; outlining;
introduction, conclusion, and body paragraph structure; and five
paragraph essay composition
Evaluation
Once a student is in the English DS program, the student must meet three criteria to exit.
First, the student must satisfy the stated course requirements with an average of 70%. Sixty percent of the student's average comes from the five in-class essays; the final 40% comes from the average of all other assignments and class activities of the semester.
Second, the student must receive S ratings (passing) from two of the three raters of the Divisional Exit Essay Exam given during the last week of the semester in order to pass the course and be eligible to attempt the COMPASS. If the student fails the essay, he/she may be permitted a retest if the student's average is 80% or above. Notice that the score to permit a retest is higher than the score that allows the student to take the essay the first time. The instructor will read all essay exams and be available to explain to students why the essays passed or failed.
Third, the student must pass the Developmental Studies Exit Examination which is administered by the head of DS and/or the instructor at the end of the semester. Students who fail the COMPASS or CPE (whichever is given) may be allowed a retest with a class average of 80%. Notice that the score to permit a retest is higher than the score that allows the student to take the test the first time.
The student who fails to meet the course content requirement (an average of 70 or above) will receive a grade of IP or F for the semester and will continue in the DS program the next semester of enrollment.
The student who meets the course requirements but who fails the Essay Exam will receive a grade of D and will continue in the program the next semester of enrollment. The student who meets the course content requirement and who passes the Exit Essay will receive a grade based on performance (C = 70-79, B = 80-89, A = 90-100) and may attempt the Developmental Studies Exit Examination. A separate grade on the Developmental Studies Exit Examination is given by the DS head. If the student fails COMPASS, the grade stands, but the student must continue in the DS program the next semester. If the student passes the Developmental Studies Exit Examination, the student is eligible to enter English 1101.
In order to receive a grade for the course, each student must have all graded exercises, test, and papers--originals and revisions--placed in the permanent folder that will be retained by the Division for six months and then shredded.
Grading Standards and Percentages
At the beginning of the semester, essays that contain five or more Type I errors will not pass. According to Humanities Division Policy, after midterm (March 2 for this semester), any essay containing three or more Type I errors or an accumulation of Type II errors automatically receives an F.
At the beginning of the semester, essays that contain ten or more Type II errors will not pass. By mid-term, any essay with an accumulation of Type II errors will fail. Throughout the semester, any essay with a proliferation of Type III errors will not pass.
In-class Essays: 60%
Practice CPEs: 10%
Homework, Class Participation: 10%
Grammar Quizzes: 20%
Grading Scale and Summar of the Evaluation Process
A = 90 - 100%
B = 80 - 89%
C = 70 - 79%
D = 60 - 69%
F = Below 60
It takes a 70 average or above to write the Exit Essay.
It takes an 80 average or above to be eligible for either retest.
The D grade means an average of 70 or above but a failure on the
essay exam.
The IP grade means any average less than 70 but the student tried.
The F grade made any average less than 70 but the student did
not try and did not make
progress.
The W and WF grades remain the same. A W does not count as an
attempt in
Developmental Studies English. A WF does count as an attempt in
Developmental Studies English.
Attendance Policy
The Division of Humanities Attendance Policy will be supplied as a separate document. It should be noted, however, that a student who withdraws from a DS course must also withdraw from ALL credit classes since the student may not be enrolled in credit classes if he/she is required to take a DS course. All drop slips for DS courses must clear through the Developmental Studies Office. Each student will sign a policy sheet, which is at the end of the syllabus and which stays in the student's folder.
1. Attendance in class is one of the best ways to ensure that you are successful in this I consider attendance vitally important.
2. The accepted number of absences for this class, which meets 5 times a week, is 6 (or one full week and a day of class). If you miss 7, you will receive an F, unless you exercise your right to withdraw from the course with a W if you do so before drop deadline or receive a WF if you withdraw after the drop deadline. There are no excused absences other than the allowed 6, so use these wisely.
3. If you are at the absence limit and a real emergency arises, contact me before the class meeting that you must miss that will put you over the absence limit. If I do not hear from you, I will assume that you have missed for an unexcused absence and you will receive an F for your course grade. If you get in touch with me before class and have a valid emergency, one exception may be made that can allow you the possibility of completing the course.
4. Come to class on time and remain the full time. Each tardy or early departure will count as 1/3 of an absence, counting toward your total of 6 allowed absences. If you do come in late, be sure that I have you on the class roll. Check with me after class. If I do not mark you present, then you are considered officially absent, for my roll book is the official attendance record.
5. Students who sleep in class or who put their heads on the desk are counted as absent.
Materials for Class
When you come to class every day, please bring your textbook, your dictionary, your Harbrace folder, theme paper, your pens, your journal, and your No. 2 pencil.
In-Class Writings
1. For some of the early in-class essays, you will be given the topic ahead of time and you will be able to prepare an out-of-class outline from which to write; however, YOU WILL/MUST WRITE THE ESSAY IN CLASS. If you bring in an essay written out of class, I will not accept it, and you may not use it to write your in-class essay. BRING ONLY AN OUTLINE--ONE PAGE/ONE SIDE ONLY ON THEME PAPER. I will check these before class, and if you write more or jam your essay onto one sheet, I will take it and you will then have to work from scratch. The idea here is to write the essay in class using only your outline.
2. Bring enough Harbrace theme paper to write the essay. You will be skipping lines.
3. You may also bring liquid paper, if you use it, a blue or black ink pen, and a dictionary.
4. In your essays you should
· not write on the back of sheets--and use INK, not
pencil
· skip lines
· maintain a right margin of 1 inch
· maintain a left margin of 1 1/2 inch
· write legibly (You may print if you have been told that
you have difficult handwriting)
· number the pages in the upper right corner
· place your outline on top
5. Outlines and essays will include the following:
· title--be creative; make your title accurately reflect
your essay's content and spark your reader's interest from the
star;
· thesis sentence;
· organization appropriate to the assigned topic;
· introductory or organizational paragraph to begin the
essay;
· three or more supporting paragraphs with topic sentences,
primary, and secondary development;
· transitions linking all parts of the essay;
· a concluding or summarizing paragraph.
Homework
1. Homework will be assigned during class; if you miss a class, contact me so that you can have your homework ready to turn in on time.
2. Homework is due on the date due by the beginning
of the class period.
3. Some homework assignments must be completed in the Writing
Lab. Because you will be given at least 5 days to complete
a Writing Lab assignment, there is NO grace period for late lab
assignments. If you do not complete the assignment,
you will receive a 0.
4. Fifteen points are deducted for each day a homework assignment is late-even if you have missed a class.
5. At the end of the term, I will drop the lowest homework grade from your average.
6. The rule-of-thumb for college study is to read and study a minimum of 2 hours outside of class for each hour in class. Since you are spending 5 hours a week in class, you should expect to do 10 horus of study outside of class for ENGL 0098.
Make-up Work
1. Students who miss a grammar quiz must make-up that quiz on
their first day back to class. It is your responsibility to make
these arrangements with me that day.
2. Students who miss an in-class writing assignment must make arrangements to write the essay the first class day that they are back in class. If you miss an in-class writing, see me immediately to make arrangements that will allow you to write it at school during my office or Writing Lab hours.
3. Practice CPE tests cannot be made up. I will drop the two lowest scores on the CPE practices. If you miss a practice, that will be one of the scores that are dropped.
Revisions
Essays and paragraphs must be revised to improve your understanding of the writing process. Revised essays should either be typed double spaced OR written in green ink on new theme paper, making corrections and changes based on my comments on the graded essay to make the essay a better piece of writing and a whole new essay--what is known as a revision. Staple the revised essay to the front of the original essay. If you do not do the correction and/or if you simply re-copy the essay with only your revisions plugged in to your original words without any revisions made to content, form, wording, sentence structure, etc., you will not receive any extra credit for a revision. Your essay score will be an average between your first score and your revised score; for example, if you make a 70 on the first draft and then a 90 on the revised draft, your score will be an 80. All revisions MUST be completed with 4 days of the date that essays are returned to the class as a whole--even if you are absent the day I return essays. The last three in-class essays cannot be revised for extra points. However, I will drop the two lowest essay scores if you write all of the in-class essays.
Error Types
You will be given a copy of the list of Error Types as determined by the Division of Humanities. We will use this list extensively this semester, so keep it in a handy place.
Workforce Development
Statement
“If a student receiving aid
administered by the DSC Workforce Development Department drops this class or
completely withdraws from the College, the Add-Drop/Withdrawal form must be
taken to the Workforce Development Office first. The office is located in the Technical Education Building,
Room 140, and the hours are 9:00 a.m.-12:15 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.,
Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday, and 8:30 a.m. - 12:00 noon on Friday.
The phone number is 272-2635.”
Drop/Withdrawal Statement
“The last day to drop this class without penalty is October 30, 2002. You will be assigned a grade of W. After this date, withdrawal without penalty is permitted only in cases of extreme hardship as determined by the vice president for academic affairs; otherwise a grade of WF will be issued. Students who wish to drop this class or withdraw from all classes should go to the Enrollment Services Office in Westcott Hall to complete the necessary form. Students who fail to complete the official drop/withdrawal procedure will receive the grade of F. Withdrawal from class is a student responsibility. Before dropping any class, the college strongly advises that students meet with their academic advisor and their instructor to discuss the impact of a withdrawal on graduation plans. The college also strongly advises students who are receiving any type of financial aid to visit the Financial Aid Office in the Pope Student Center to discuss the impact a withdrawal may have on their financial aid status. The grade of W counts as hours attempted for the purposes of financial aid.
Plagiarism/Cheating
Plagiarism is defined as follows: "The student who uses the words or ideas or brainpower of someone else without giving proper credit is guilty of plagiarism. No matter whether it is deliberate or not, plagiarism is dishonest; in effect, it is stealing . . . ." Unintentional plagiarism may not be as serious as intentional plagiarism, but both kinds must be avoided. The penalty for demonstrable plagiarism in this course is an F for the course. Anyone caught cheating will be subject to disciplinary measures detailed in the Catalog and Student Handbook.
Class Participation
Class participation will count as much as 5% of your final grade this term. This is one area--along with your revisions-over which you have complete control.
Disruptive Behavior
This is a college classroom, and I assume that you all are
adults; therefore, any disruptive
behavior will result in the student's being asked to leave. Please
see the statement on student comportment in the college Catalog.
Obviously, disruptive behavior will hurt your class participation
grade.
Cell Phones/Beepers/Watch Alarms
Cell phones/beepers/watch alarms are to be turned off or put on "vibrate" (in you have that feature) when you walk into the classroom so that class will not be disrupted. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES is someone to answer a cell phone in class.
Grading Criteria for End-of-Term Essays
A Passing Essay
1. Includes a thesis sentence that relates directly to one
of the assigned topics;
2. In the introduction, clearly names the subtopics to be discussed
in the essay;
3. Is organized to include paragraphs of development which relate
clearly to the above-mentioned subtopics;
4. Has each developmental paragraph made up of specific examples
or details supporting that subtopic;
5. Includes everyday words used clearly; however, the sentence
structure might not be as varied as in an English 1101 essay;
6. Displays an appropriate, consistent point of view;
7. May contain as many as two Type I errors, some Type II and
Type III errors if the reader deems content and organization to
be good enough for the student to function at the beginning of
an English 1101 class;
8. Contains a minimum of 300 words.
A Failing Essay
1. Lacks a clear thesis or fails to relate to an assigned topic;
2. Lacks a list of subtopics in the introduction;
3. Has developmental paragraphs that are not related to the subtopics
named in the introduction so that the reader cannot discern the
writer's plan;
4. Contains three Type I errors;
5. Contains numerous Type II and Type III errors;
6. Uses ordinary, everyday words inaccurately;
7. Uses all simple, brief, or rambling sentences;
8. Shifts its point of view often;
9. Contains an abundance of misspelled words;
10. Had developmental paragraphs that are not finished, or the
developmental paragraphs are so brief that the reader cannot make
a judgment of the writer's ability.
Name: _____________________________
ENGL 0098
Spring Semester 2001
Dr. Mary Nielsen
I have received and read this syllabus and have had the chance to ask questions about anything I did not understand. I do understand the syllabus and agree to provide by its provisions.
I particularly understand that I must have a 70 average to take the end-of-term essay, that only when I have passed the end-of-term essay will I be allowed to take the end-of-term grammar test (either COMPASS or CPE), and that an essay or grammar retest requires an 80 average.
Signature: __________________________________
Date: ______________________________________