Course Syllabus
ENC 1101 Spring 2022
Professor: Christina Bisirri
Email: Canvas Messaging; use INBOX on the far left-side of the screen
Office Hours: by appointment: Monday thru Thursday: 10am-12pm; 2-3pm; all office hours are virtual and will be scheduled through Zoom Conferencing
Required Texts and Materials:
They Say/I Say with Readings, 5th edition
The Little Seagull Handbook, 4th edition
InQuisitive Digital Access Code ( for ENC 1101 Lab Component)
College-Level Dictionary
Flash Drive
Computer and Reliable Internet Access
NOTE: The textbooks and Inquisitive Digital Access Code for this course are REQUIRED,* and if you do not have the textbooks already, you should purchase/acquire the textbooks during the first week of the course in preparation for week two and the rest of the term. Students will have trouble successfully completing this course if they do not have the required textbooks.
You may purchase the textbooks in the college’s bookstore using this link.
Please be aware that there are PRINT and EBOOK options for textbooks for this course; it's up to you to select which publication medium will serve you best. You may use either the print versions of our texts or the ebook versions for your assignments this term. See the image below for help in selecting the correct textbooks for this course via the bookstore. In addition, you will see the "Course and Canvas Help" Module contains TWO links to help access your purchased ebooks.
*If you have any trouble acquiring the textbooks during the first week of the course, let me know right away. The college's library has copies of our textbooks on reserve that you can check out for use in the library, so you can keep up with the course readings and not fall behind. *
Course Description:
This is a course in the process of expository writing. Students will read essays and compose papers that are unified, organized, logically developed and supported, clearly stated, and well-focused. Research techniques are introduced and incorporated into at least one composition. Students must earn an average grade of 70% or higher on core assignments in addition to their overall course average in order to pass ENC 1101.
In addition, you will be asked to read, interpret, summarize and contribute to academic discourses. Focus will be on academic writing, but skills learned here can help with all undergraduate writing, including writing for psychology or history, writing science lab reports, and writing literary analyses.
Skills learned in this class are also applicable to professional writing including writing job applications, application/cover letters, resumes, grant proposals, reports, memos, directions for employees, a new business plan or justification for salary increase.
Skills are also applicable off the job including writing emails, texts, tweets, blogs, letters to the editor, letters to a congressman/woman, complaint letters, and scholarship applications.
Required Orientation Week ONE:
The first week of the course is meant to get you acquainted with the course workflow, policies, and requirements. Be sure to complete all assignments this first week of class to secure your seat in this course. Students who, for whatever reason, do not finish all tasks by the posted due date will be designated a "No-Show" and withdrawn from the course without notice. Please see the first course module for all the first week's assignments and due dates.
Technology and Online Course Information: Use of a desktop computer or laptop is required to successfully participate in, successfully submit assignments, and successfully complete this course. It is difficult to participate in this course and submit all the course requirements via a tablet or smartphone. Certain functions in Canvas do not work with mobile device access. You may use the Canvas app for messaging and quick reference, but please DO NOT use it to submit assignments or participate in the course.
If you do not have a laptop or desktop computer, the college's Academic Success Center and Library have computers that you can use for completing your work in this course. Also, if your laptop or computer breaks or crashes during the term, you are still required to turn in your work and participate in the course, so take advantage of the free computers we have on campus if this happens.
Internet Browser: Canvas works best on Google Chrome, so if you do have Chrome on your device, you can download the browser for free; be sure Chrome is set as your default browser. Check on this as soon as possible if not during the first day of course access.
Internet Access: Reliable Internet Access is also REQUIRED for this course. If you lose Internet access at home, you must figure out another way to complete assignments. Lack of Internet access is not a valid reason to skip or delay submission of your assignments.
Technical Issues with Canvas: It is a possibility that some issues with Canvas will arise. Unfortunately, these are issues I am unable to fix on my end. If you experience any technical difficulties with Canvas, contact the eLearning Department (407)708-2424 or the Canvas 24 hotline (855)981-8103. There is a "Help" link on the far left side of your screen that can connect you to Canvas help right away.
Consider reviewing the elearning website for more information regarding system requirements and for help for technical issues: http://www.seminolestate.edu/elearning/
Please NOTE: This class does not require Zoom meetings or synchronous access requirements. There will be several “opportunities” for synchronous sessions, including library instruction, throughout the term. So, if you are able to make these LIVE events, please do so, but if your schedule does not permit you attending any LIVE sessions, all synchronous meetings will be recorded and sent to the class within 24 hours of the LIVE event. Check course announcements for those links.
Core Assignments: Core assignments are designated assignments throughout the term that weigh heavily on your overall course grade and also require that students must pass these core assignments with an average of 70% or better in order to pass ENC 1101.
The following are not exact assignments, for explanation of the details of course assignment will be included in the course module's section. This term, be prepared to complete the following core assignments in addition to your other course work:
- At least two timed writings that demonstrate students’ abilities with
a. Extemporaneous thinking
b. Basic structures of writing organization
c. Written communication in standard English composition and grammar - At least two revised essays, 2-3 pages that employ the writing process; style and topic to be determined by the instructor
- A Library Research project on a subject to be determined that demonstrates research skills that include:
a. Differentiating sources from a variety of platforms
b. Determining source credibility
c. Note taking
d. Drafting
e. Producing a Work Cited page with a 5-entry minimum
f. Using MLA style to document source material
g. Editing and proofreading - Satisfactory completion of the ENC 1101 Inquisitive Lab: Seminole State's English Department requires that all ENC 1101 students complete the Inquisitive Lab and take an exam on academic integrity and MLA documentation, especially as it applies to documenting all of your work. The lab is administered online and through Canvas. An access code is required to complete the InQuizitive portion of the ENC 1101 Lab (see course required materials above). The lab will open during the second week of the term; there will be staggered due dates, and the lab closes for the term on Sunday, November 28th at 11:59pm (all remaining work must be completed by the lab's closing date; the lab will not reopen for any student who has missed the deadline).
Grading and Evaluation:
Assignments will be graded holistically, a single number grade will reflect the evaluation of both content and writing according to the following scale: A: Superior Work 90-100 B: Above Average Work 80-89 C: Average Work 70-79 D:Below Average Work 60-69 F: Failing Work 59-below.
Grading Percentages:
10% Discussion Posts
20% Core, Revised Essays*
30% Documented Research Project *
10% Drafts & Revisions
10% Timed Essays*
10% ENC 1101 Lab *
10% Quizzes
*Denotes Core Assignments: You must complete and average 70 or higher on these assignments in order to pass ENC 1101. Please review the “Modules” Section of Canvas for explanation of individual assignments.
Note: Canvas allows students to view grades. Keep in mind, however, that the grade you see at any given time is not indicative of your final course grade. For example, if in Week 4 of the course you see a total grade of 75%, that can be misleading because the there are still so many outstanding assignments that are heavily weighted (see above).
Weekly Course Organization & Navigation: Please note that all your Canvas courses may not look the same or operate in the same way. Different professors have set up their courses differently, so it is important to review the set up of THIS course, including due dates and course schedule as well as course navigation.
Each week of the semester will open on Monday at 12am and close the following Monday at 11:59pm. This is not a self-paced course, which means that you may not go ahead to future weeks of the course. The course progresses week to week in order to prepare you for lessons, concepts, and assignments that are due later in the semester. It will be difficult to complete assignments in week 10, for example, if you have not completed weeks 1-9 first.
There will be various due dates during each week, yet most assignments (quizzes, discussions & writing assignments) will need to be completed by either Thursday by 11:59pm or Monday by 11:59pm. Please see the course calendar and weekly modules for specific due dates for specific assignments. Keep in mind that not ALL assignments are due at the end of the week.
Navigation: ONLY enter the course through the home page and click into the Weekly Module. Do not access assignments through Canvas' To-Do list or Calendar and skip everything else— that is a recipe for confusion and stress. Only the Weekly Module Page contains all lectures, information, and links to assignments.
Students must complete tasks in the order in which they appear in the Weekly Module and make sure to click on all hyperlinks. Read everything you see. Take notes to help you retain information. Students who skimp on reading lectures or textbook assignments experience difficulty, confusion, and risk a poor grade.
Reading Assignments: There will be assigned reading each week. Specific reading assignments can be found on the Semester Reading and Assignment Calendar and in the Course Overview for each new week. All textbook readings are located in either They Say/I Say or the Little Seagull Handbook, unless otherwise stated. Both of these books are required for the course. Unfortunately, older editions of these texts are obsolete, so you may NOT use older editions of either of the required textbooks. The information in these texts CANNOT be found online. The textbooks are the authoritative sources for all your learning this semester, so be sure to acquire textbooks during the first week of the course. In emergencies, the college’s library has copies of the two texts that you may borrow and use in the library only. If you’re having trouble getting your textbooks during the first week of the course, you may access the readings via the library’s reserve copies. All textbook readings work in conjunction with the lesson content located in Canvas Modules; the course lesson modules are not a replacement for the textbooks, nor are they the sole information for the course, the textbook readings and the course lesson content go hand-in-hand. In deciding to purchase the textbook or not, please note that students will have more success in this course if they purchase the required textbooks.
Quizzes: Reading assignments are listed on the course calendar, and quizzes on the readings and course content are due several times during the week. Quizzes will typically become available on Mondays at 12am and will be due either Thursday by 11:59pm or Monday by 11:59pm. Most quizzes are multiple choice, but please note that quiz format may change as the semester progresses.
Early in the semester, students will have multiple attempts at completing quizzes before each due date. Yet, as the semester progresses, students will be allowed only ONE attempt per quiz by the due date. Please be sure to review the directions for each quiz you attempt. [Note: You cannot "save" and then return to a quiz to continue--once you click "start"]. Quizzes cannot be made up if you miss the deadline.
Time to complete quizzes will vary. At the end of the semester, I will drop ONE of your lowest quiz grades, so ONE missed quiz or ONE low grade will not drastically affect your overall quiz average.
Discussions: Discussion forums are a place to discuss the readings/course topics with your fellow classmates. All students will be prompted with a discussion question and will be required to answer the question according to specific directions (please see specific discussion posts for full directions).
After students complete their initial post, they will be required to continue the discussion by responding to the post of at least one other member of the class. Once the deadline has passed, the discussion forum will be closed for comments, and if you haven’t posted, you will NOT receive credit for the discussion. It is important that you review the directions for each of the discussions as we proceed through the semester; directions and grading rubrics for discussions may change as the course proceeds and as we build on earlier lessons.
Initial Replies to the Discussions will be due on Thursdays by 11:59pm and Your Reply to other students will be due on Mondays by 11:59pm.
Discussion forums are a required component to the course, and contribute to your participation in this course. At the end of the semester, I will drop ONE of your lowest discussion grades. So, ONE missed discussion or ONE low grade will not drastically affect your overall discussion post average.
Core Writing Assignments:
Writing tasks are important elements of this course. You might think of a Writing Assignment as something like a take-home writing assignment in a traditional college class. You're expected to reflect on the assignment, work on your idea through a number of drafts, and present your conclusions in clear, accurate, prose. You will see due dates for drafts and final copies of all core writing assignments via the “Semester Reading and Assignment Calendar” link on the course's home page and on the explanation of the individual assignment.
Each revised, core writing assignment will be submitted in stages, depending on the details of the assignment. Essays may require you to turn in thesis statement, outlines, drafts or other your overall course grade, so missing a draft or not submitting a portion of the essay in the process may lead to a lower grade in the course as well as a lower than intended grade on the essay's final copy.
Students are required to turn their work in on time. Thesis Statements, Outlines, Drafts, and other portions of the writing process assigned ahead of a final copy of an essay will not be accepted late, since the turn around process and your timely revisions are scheduled and timed according to the deadline for the final copy of an essay. Submitting a draft late will consequently lead to submitting a final copy late.
If there is a deadline discrepancy, as a result of an emergency, with a core essay's final copy, you must clear this with me first. DO NOT just skip a deadline. Students who clear final deadline discrepancies with me will have an opportunity to submit the core paper, yet the final grade on the assignment be deducted 5 points for each day that elapses after a paper’s original due date, even if you cleared a late submission with me first. Late papers will not be accepted once 5 days have passed after the paper’s original due date. Be cautious of turning essays in late because an “A” paper can quickly become an “F” if too many days have elapsed since the original due date and the essay's actual submission. In addition, submitting late core essays should be a rare occurrence, not the norm.
I cannot accept essays that you simply did not turn in without first clearing the deadline discrepancy with me first.
If you fail to turn in a core or non-core writing assignment, discussion or quiz, you will receive a 0 for that assignment. If you fail to submit a core assignment (or any composition that composes a significant part of the 6,000 word requirement for ENC 1101), you will also receive a zero for that assignment. Remember, that if you do not have a passing average of 70 or above on your core assignments, you may not pass ENC 1101.
**Please note that I will not accept any late work or outstanding work at the end of the semester.** All work has specific deadlines, and students must follow those deadlines in order to complete the course successfully.
Instructor Feedback: I will carefully review your work and provide useful feedback. However, my grading load is heavy—and that takes time. I try to return grades and commentary within a two-week time frame, depending on the assignment and time of year. In all cases, I respectfully ask for your patience when it comes to my evaluating your work. I will begin grading most assignments after the due date has passed, so if you do not see a grade in Canvas, it means that your work has not yet been graded.
Your grade average/course total in Canvas will not always “show,” nor will Canvas provide an accurate picture of your potential final grade at any given time. (Look again at the weighted assignments above.) A student might have mastered 80% of the assignments in September or October, but has yet to complete the research project assignments that account for 30 % of the final grade, so the grade in the Canvas gradebook is not an accurate final grade until all assignments are completed for the entire semester. Please keep in mind that at the end of the semester, I do not accept past assignments in order to "raise" your grade. All assignments have due dates throughout the term and all assignments are du on-time, so I do not accept past assignments if you missed them or skipped them earlier in the term.
COVID 19 UPDATE: Although this is an online course, you are required to contact Disability Support Services if you test positive for COVID 19 at anytime during the term; it is required that you follow the COVID 19 Protocol as assigned by the college in order to receive any accommodations if necessary.
It is also imperative that you reach out to me right away, so I am aware of the situation (please contact your other professors also). Please note that I am unable to provide any necessary accommodations for you, unless you go through Disability Support Services first.
Withdrawal & Attendance Policy: If, for any reason, you determine that you will not be able to complete this course successfully, go to Seminole State’s registration and complete the required withdrawal form before the official withdrawal date (3/21/2022). Students must withdraw themselves from this course; I am unable to withdraw students from this course for any reason. If you miss the withdrawal date, you will remain on the class's roster and will receive a final grade in this course.
Even though this is a virtual environment, participation is mandatory. Each assignment this term has a specific due date and counts as your participation in this course. Once a due date has passed, you will receive a grade on the assignment. Missed assignments will receive a ZERO, and although I am not taking attendance per-se, multiple zeroes in this course will result in a failing final grade this term. Be sure to seek the support you need from me, from the Academic Success Center, and or your advisor anytime during the course. Also, see the statement on COVID 19 accommodations above.
Contacting the Instructor: I am present, and I participate in the course on a daily basis. Often sending me a Canvas message is the easiest and fastest way to get in touch with me. If you need to reach me for any reason, please send me a Canvas message using the Canvas "Inbox" messaging function (far-left side of the screen). Please keep in mind that if you message me after 5pm, Monday-Thursday, I am not online, so I will return your message the next day. Please allow me at least 24 hours to respond to your message (oftentimes, my responses are much quicker than this)
If you message me after 5pm on Fridays, it may take me until the following Monday to respond. Take advantage of the class's Virtual Cafe "Q&A" Discussion Board for pressing questions; often other students can answer your questions as well!
I am also available for conferences about your work in this course. In Canvas, we can meet via the Zoom link located on the toolbar on the left-side of the screen. Zoom provides a private, virtual space where we can see and hear each other. Please message me requesting an appointment at least 24 hours before your requested meeting. If we schedule an appointment, I will send you information regarding the steps to log into the virtual session. Please see my office hours at the top of the syllabus. These are the days and times I will be available to schedule a conference with you.
Being responsive is a requirement of this course. If I send you a message requiring a response and you don’t respond in a timely manner, that’s a problem. According to the College Student Code of Conduct, a student who chooses to ignore instructor requests for communication is at risk of failing the course.
Log-in to the class every day to check what's happening. Logging in frequently is the best way to stay connected and to succeed in ENC 1101. Canvas allows instructors to view how much time a student is spending inside the course as well, so know that the instructor knows how much time you've spent in the course, daily, weekly, and monthly.
Student Email Office 365
All official e-mail from the College is sent to your Seminole State Office 365 student e-mail address. When contacting the college, students should use their student email accounts to ensure that communication is delivered to the appropriate party. Be sure to check your account regularly for information important to your academic and financial records. To access your student email account, visit www.seminolestate.edu/student-email/for instructions.*** All of our class's communication will take place within Canvas.***
Microsoft Word
All essays, drafts and final copies, must be turned in using Microsoft Word. Students have free-access to Microsoft, and the application can be downloaded through the Office 365 link on the left-side of the Canvas screen. Be sure to download this application as soon as possible. I will not accept any essays in other file types besides, .doc, .docx, or .rtf.
As members of the Seminole State College community, students are expected to be honest in all of their academic coursework and activities. Academic dishonesty, such as cheating of any kind on examinations, course assignments or projects, plagiarism, misrepresentation and the unauthorized possession of examinations or other course-related materials, is prohibited.
Plagiarism is unacceptable in the college community. Academic work that is submitted by students is assumed to be the result of their own thought, research, or self-expression. When students borrow ideas, wording or organization from another source, they are expected to acknowledge that fact in an appropriate manner. Plagiarism is the deliberate use and appropriation of another's work without identifying the source and trying to pass-off such work as the student's own. Any student who fails to give full credit for ideas or materials taken from another has plagiarized.
Students who share their work for the purpose of cheating on class assignments or tests are subject to the same penalties as the student who commits the act of cheating.
When cheating or plagiarism has occurred, instructors may take academic action that ranges from denial of credit for the assignment or a grade of "F" on a specific assignment, examination or project, to the assignment of a grade of "F" for the course. Students may also be subject to further sanctions imposed by the judicial officer, such as disciplinary probation, suspension, or dismissal from the College.
*Note on Multiple Submissions* A student MAY NOT submit a paper in ENC 1101 that was previously submitted in another class or for a previous ENC 1101 class. All papers this semester must be original.
Academic Success Center:
It is highly recommended that you take advantage of the writing support available to you either on-campus via the Academic Success. The Academic Success Center is available for face-to-face tutoring at all campus locations.
Accommodations:
Seminole State College abides by Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which stipulates that no student shall be denied the benefits of an education 'solely by reason of a handicap.' Disabilities covered by law include, but are not limited to psychiatric impairments, learning disabilities and hearing, sight or mobility impairments. If you have a disability that may have some impact on your work in this class and for which you may require accommodations you must contact the Disability Support Services Office (DSS) to facilitate the accommodation process.
*Note* A student may enroll in a college credit course only twice at normal tuition rates. If a student must enroll in a college credit class a third time, he or she will be charged full cost of instruction at out-of-state rates. All appeals must be initiated through the office of enrollment services.
Emergency Information:
In case of emergency conditions (such as tropical storms, hurricanes, power outages, etc.), verify the college is open and classes are being held by calling 407.708.2290 or 407.708.4722. The Seminole State homepage will also feature updated announcements (www.seminolestate.edu).
Seminole State College also offers enrolled students a mobile app called LifeLine Response. The app allows the College to send email alerts and push notifications about potentially dangerous situations on campus and supplements emergency communications that are already in place. Students can also use the app for their own safety when traveling outside of the College. Students can download the app through the Google Play Store and the Apple Play Store; register using their Seminole State email address. For more information, visit www.seminolestate.edu/lifeline.
FERPA Statement:
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) affords students certain rights with respect to their education records. Students have the right to have some control over the disclosure of information from the records. It is Seminole State Colleges policy to comply with the requirements of FERPA and to prevent improper disclosure of personally identifiable information from the records. For more details on FERPA, please refer to the FERPA information on the Seminole State website.