Name:

Todd Campbell

 

Spring 2008

School:

Academic Affairs

Email Address:

tcampbell@ngcsu.edu

Department Name:

Learning Support

Office Location:

227 Barnes Hall

Course #: 

LANG 0099

Office Phone #:

706-864-1435

Course Title:

Developmental Language Arts

Office Hours:

MWF 9:05-10:00; T Th 3:55-5:20; by appt.

Semester Hours:

3 credit hours

Web Address

http://radar.ngcsu.edu/~tcampbell/index.htm


 

Prerequisites:  Admission to NGCSU; score below 70 on COMPASS Writing Placement Test

Corequisites: None

Course Description: “Required of students whose performance on placement tests indicates the need for at least one semester of remediation. This course offers instruction in reading, basic usage and grammar skills, and composition”(Handbook 98).

Course Objectives: Students will receive instruction preparing them for success in ENGL 1101 and other writing-intensive courses.  Students will learn to use various writing processes, proofreading techniques, research sources, appropriate rhetorical devices, and appropriate grammar and mechanical skills.

Methods of Instruction: Lecture, collaborative assignments, individual assignments.

Evaluation Methods: Within the first week or two, students will be given a diagnostic grammar test to assess their skills; the same test will be given at the end to measure their improvement over the course of the semester.  Students will also write a number of essays requiring exposition, analysis, and argumentation, some of which may be in the in-class essay genre to prepare students for first draft writing as evaluated by the Regents’ Essay Test.  In addition, students will take tests related to grammar and the assigned readings.  Class participation may also be graded.

 

Grade range:

 

A=90-100          B=80-89           C=70-79           F=0-69           WF=Withdrew Failing        IP=In Progress

 

A grade of IP(in progress) is assigned if required students have not achieved a minimum of a C average in the course or do not pass the exit examination; the grade of IP indicates students will be retained in the course without penalty of grade assignment.  Required students who have not successfully completed the course in the allotted three semesters receive a grade of F and are academically suspended for three (3) years.

Assignment weights:

 

Writing

Other

In-Class Essays:  15%

Papers:  27%

Drafts:  9%

Journal:  9%

Tests:  20%

Class Participation:  10%

Final Exam:  10%

 

In-Class Essays:  Typically, the entire class time will be given to writing an in-class essay, partly to prepare you for the exit essay but mainly to prepare you for ENGL 1101 in-class essays and the Regents Essay test.  In-Class essays will be written in blue or black ink on notebook paper.

 

Papers:  All papers are expected to be in proper MLA format (which will be discussed in class).  Out of class papers are expected to be free from grammatical and editing mistakes, so read back over your work to make sure.

 

Drafts:  Writing is a process which requires many stages.  You are required to write a formal draft for each paper turned in.  Drafts will consist of revisions of the in-class essays.

 

Journals:  Since one tenet of writing is “Thou shalt write before thou write,” students are expected to keep a journal in which they will record ideas, reflections on their writing, vocabulary lessons, and grammar progress.  Journals are a vital part of writing instruction in that they keep the writer in a writing frame of mind.  If students blog, they may use their blogs as a journal, setting up a specific folder or page for this class.  Journals will be turned in on the last day of every month and on the last day of the semester.

 

Tests:  Writing and grammar knowledge and practice will be tested periodically in the form of grammar quizzes and tests which will usually consist of some definitions, some sentences to correct, some sentences to write, and some longer written responses.  In some cases practice COMPASS tests will be substituted.

 

Class Participation:  We will do some writing or grammar exercises in class and sometimes as homework, all of which will count towards the class participation grade.

 

Final Exam:  The COMPASS English Test will be your final exam.

General Expectations:   “Students in LANG 0099 must achieve a minimum of a C on an end-of-semester, independently graded in-class essay.  Students will be limited to three (3) semesters to complete their learning support requirements” (Handbook 93-94).

 

Attendance Policy:  “Students required to enroll in learning support courses are not allowed more than four unexcused absences (LANG 0099, MATH 0099, & DSRD 0099) and will be dropped with a grade of WF when they exceed the allowed number of unexcused absences.  Excused absences are those for which students have documentation for illnesses and other medical matters and for official leaves of absence for university-sponsored activities” (Handbook 94).

 

Etiquette:  Students are expected to treat each other with respect, regardless of opinions, skin color, cultural background, or ability level.  This classroom is a place of comfort and safety, where we are all in the same boat rowing toward the same goal—writing proficiency.  The First Amendment applies to this classroom, but expressers are not free from consequences of offensive speech.  Please turn off your cell phones before class begins; any disruptions will be treated accordingly.

 

Resources:  The NGCSU Writing Center is in Dunlap Hall, room 111, and can handle any of your writing needs.  The tutors do not proofread or edit papers, but they will point out major errors or mistakes which occur often so you will know what areas you need to focus on in your writing.  Spring Hours will be posted when they have been determined.

 

In addition, computer labs are available on campus for any typing or research which you might have to use.  Locations are in the Stewart Library, Student Center, Dunlap Hall basement, Health and Natural Sciences Building, and sometimes Newton Oakes allows student access to a computer lab.  Hours are available on NGCSU’s ITT homepage.

 

*Extracurricular Activities:  You are in college, which means you are responsible for your own learning.  If you have any questions, I expect you to ask them—stupid questions do not exist.  This semester some published writers will visit our campus and talk about their work.  You should attend at least one of these readings, primarily to experience other writers, to join the community of literacy around you, and to discover that writing is not a mystical art but is a craft that anyone can learn and do well.

Course Content:

 

Date

Topic of Discussion

Assignment Due

1/8

Class Intro/Self-Assessment/Diagnostic In-Class Essay

Diagnostic In-Class Essay

1/10

Writing Discussion/Diagnostic Grammar Test

Diagnostic Grammar Test

1/15

Sentences:  Parts of Speech, Usage, Punctuation, Structure

T&N 175-218, 238-265, 341-362

1/17

Sentences:  Boundaries, Modifiers, Parallelism, Diction

T&N 104-122, 139-160, 446-461

1/22

Sentence Check

Test 1

1/24

Paragraph:  General, Organization, Development, Unity

T&N 40-55, 71-89/ Journal 1 due

1/29

Paragraph:  Types--Intros, Body, Conclusion; Outside sources

T&N 303-310, 384-388,

1/31

Paragraph Check and COMPASS Practice

Test 2

2/5

Essays:  Formatting, Processes, Purpose, Audience, Context

T&N 14-39, 279-302, 383

2/7

Essays:  Narrative 

T&N 489-502/Journal 2 due

2/12

Essays:  In-Class Writing

IC1 due

2/14

Essays:  Drafting and Revision

T&N 311-324

2/19

Essays:  Peer Review

Draft 1 due

2/21

Essays:  Logical organization, Exposition, Analysis, and Research

T&N 503-530, 544-596, 615-620

2/26

 

Paper 1 due

2/28

Essays:  TBA

 

3/4

Essays:  In-Class Writing

IC2 due

3/6

Essays:  Drafting and Revision

T&N 311-324/Journal 3 due

3/11

Essays:  Peer Review

Draft 2 due

3/13

Essays:  Emotions, Argument, and Persuasion

T&N 597-612

3/25

 

Paper 2 due

3/27

Essays:  In-Class Writing

IC3 due

4/1

Essays:  Drafting and Revision

T&N 311-324

4/3

Essays:  Peer Review

Draft 3 due

4/8

Review of Essay Writing and Technique

 

4/10

 

Paper 3 Due

4/15

Exit In-Class Essay

 

4/17

Compass Review

 

4/22

Final Exam--COMPASS English Test from 7:05-8:30 p. m.

 

 

 

Knowledge Base:

Required texts: Troyka, Lynn Quitman and Jerrold Nudelman.  Steps in Composition, 8th ed.  Upper Saddle River, NJ:  Pearson-Prentice Hall, 2004.  ISBN:  0-13-110069-6.

A good dictionary.

Academic Integrity Policy:

-          Honor Code: “On my honor, I will not lie, cheat, steal, plagiarize, evade the truth, or tolerate those who do.”

-          Suspected violations of the Academic Integrity policy should be referred by students to the instructor. If the instructor concludes that a violation of the Academic Integrity policy has occurred, the instructor will either (1) penalize the student and file an incident report with the Academic Integrity Council or (2) refer the matter directly to the Academic Integrity Council. If an incident report is filed by the instructor, the instructor will review the completed report with the student and will request that the student sign the report as an indication that the student is aware of the contents of the report

Accommodation for Students with Disabilities: North Georgia College & State University (NGCSU) is committed to the full inclusion of individuals with disabilities and to the principle of individual rights and responsibilities. To that end, the policies and procedures of NGCSU reasonably ensure that a person with a disability is not, on the basis of that disability, denied full and equal access to and the enjoyment of academic programs and co-curricular activities or otherwise is subjected to discrimination in such programs and activities.

 

The policies for access by individuals with disabilities at NGCSU are designed to ensure full compliance with all pertinent federal and state legislation, specifically to include Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990.

 

To receive disability accommodations, the student should contact the Coordinator of Disability Resources, Office of Academic Support Programs, Room 122 Barnes Hall. Approval of reasonable accommodations will be made on a case-by-case basis.

 

Additional Content the instructor may wish to include:  Urgent notice: Under the University System of Georgia semester policy, academic assistance students are recommended for suspension for a period of three years if they do not complete all their academic assistance requirements in three (3) semesters. The Division of Learning Support Services strictly adheres to this policy.

 

***NOTE:  I reserve the right to make changes to this syllabus as necessary.***