ENC 1101 - Faculty Website Index Valencia College

ENC 1101 - Fresh Composition I
CRN # 10933
Jennifer J. Snow, Professor
Valencia College
jsnow4@valenciacollege.edu
Fall 2011 (407) 516-0862
Online Format Virtual office hours: Monday + Wednesday 10:00 – 11:30
(via Lake Nona Campus)
(fastest responses to course messages sent at those times)
Required Materials:
- Writing Today, 2 nd Edition; eds. Pharr & Buscemi; ISBN 978-0-07-353322-3
- The Brief Wadsworth Handbook; eds. Kirszner & Mandell
- Regular access to the internet with frequent visits to:
Atlas email, Blackboard LMS, Valencia library databases, and the
course website at the following url: http://bit.ly/oF5SLb
- The ability to view flash and java script-reliant content, to open .pdf, and to open and edit .odt files
Description: Development of essay form, including documented essay; instruction and practice in expository writing.
Emphasis on clarity of central and support ideas, adequate development, logical organization, coherence, appropriate
citing of primary and/or secondary sources, and grammatical and mechanical accuracy. Gordon Rule course in which the
student is required to demonstrate college-level writing skills through multiple assignments. Minimum grade of “C” is required
if ENC 1101 is used to satisfy Gordon Rule and General Education Requirements.
Prerequisites: Score of 83 on writing component of CPT or equivalent score on other state-approved entry test or minimum
grade of C in ENC 0012 and ENC 0012L or ENC 0012C or EAP 1640 or ENS 1441; also, score of 83 on reading component of
CPT or equivalent score on other state-approved entry test or minimum grade of C in REA 0002 and REA 0002L or REA 0002C
or EAP 1620 or ENS 1421.
This course builds on a set of basic competencies: an understanding of and ability to apply the grammatical conventions of
Standard U.S.-American English; the knowledge of how to construct simple sentences and paragraphs; an understanding of
the basic structure of an essay; an ability to read at the high school level. This course teaches techniques of critical
reception and thinking, style, and rhetoric necessary for academic writing and college-level scholarship.
Major Outcomes: Upon completing this course, students will demonstrate the ability to -
1) write organized, focused, coherent, and substantially supported multi-paragraph essays;
2) apply conventional rhetorical forms to write on subjects related to academic courses and topics of current interest;
3) demonstrate the ability to apply higher-order thinking skills such as analysis, synthesis, and evaluation to collegelevel
reading, research, and writing assignments;
4) apply the major grammatical conventions of Standard U.S.-American English accurately to written
communications;
5) locate and extract information from sources, and accurately document primary and secondary sources.
There are 5 main competency areas that contribute to this course, and, while most are inextricably connected, each are
taken separately to accommodate measures designed to evaluate a student's progress in the course. For our purposes,
these areas can be summarized as: (1) critical reception and critical reflection; (2) critical writing and essay development;
(3) grammar, mechanics, and usage; (4) information literacy; and (5) logical coherence and organization in writing. Some
assignments measure only one of these areas, and others will measure several areas; rubrics for individual assignments
reflect the breakdown of points.
Distribution of Points: Photojournalism Essay Project 5 %
Content Analysis Essay Project 10 %
Argumentative Essay Project 15 %
Group Debate Project 15 % Grading Scale:
Manifesto Essay Project 5 % A 90-100
Final Exam* 10 % B 80-89
Midterm Exam 5 % C 70-79
Blogs/Discussions 15 % D 60-69
Journals/Homework 20 % F 0-68
*College Policy: “To receive credit for a course for which you are registered, you must take the final examination.”
Subject to Change: The syllabus is subject to change at my discretion. Notice of any changes will be given via email in Atlas.
Valencia College's Core Student Competencies: Valencia faculty has defined 4 interrelated competencies (Think, Value,
Communicate, and Act) that prepare students to succeed in the world community. The competencies are outlined in the
College Catalog. In this course, through lecture, discussion, group work, and other learning activities, you will further your
mastery of those core areas.
Computer-Based Learning Activity: To demonstrate competence with the basic use of computers this course is designed to
include a formal “computer-based” learning activity.

Late Work: No late work is accepted without my prior permission, which must be given before the original date the
assignment is due. I only make exceptions for reasons involving extenuating circumstances, not for reasons involving things
like neglect, procrastination, or poor communication and planning. When assignments are closed I can not re-open them.
Technological problems at home, and poor planning based on a student’s reliance on connectivity and hardware hosted
off-campus, are not acceptable excuses for late work. If you are unable to complete your assignments on your own
computer and deliver them via Blackboard, I expect you to do so at one of the college's computer labs. Online = via
computer, not necessarily from home.
Extra Credit: Extra credit opportunities are provided throughout the semester, and total points for extra credit is limited to 5.
Make-Up Work: Points awarded during class and for group projects cannot be made up.
Attendance: Regular online engagement, meeting deadlines, and consistent participation are essential to your success in
this course. Missing 3 due dates in a row or failing to log in to the course over a 10-day period are grounds for an instructorinitiated
withdrawal.
Learning With Valencia Online: Valencia is a leader in the use of alternative delivery in instruction. Students should be
advised that any course may require use of a computer, computer labs, e-mail, the World Wide Web, or other digital
resources and support software, and these requirements are not necessarily in the course schedule. Online, hybrid/blended,
and some Web-enhanced/facilitated courses are delivered in a primarily text-based environment; therefore, reasonably
good reading and writing skills are critical to adequate course participation. Additionally, research has shown that students
who are highly self-directed and manage their time well are more likely to succeed using these delivery methods. Online
courses can be time intensive. Varying keyboard skill rates can impact the amount of time students spend completing
course work online. It is recommended that students carefully evaluate their readiness and abilities in these areas before
selecting distance learning courses. Resources to assist students in determining readiness for online courses may be found at
http://online.valenciacollege.edu.
Student Conduct: Professional behavior is expected. Review Valencia's Code of Conduct, and course rules of netiquette.
Academic Honesty: All forms of academic dishonesty are prohibited at Valencia. Academic honesty includes, but is not
limited to, plagiarism, cheating, furnishing false information, forgery, alteration or misuse of documents, misconduct during a
testing situation, and misuse of identification with intent to defraud or deceive. 6Hx28: 8-11 Policy Statement (copied below)
A. All forms of academic dishonesty are prohibited at Valencia Community College. Academic dishonesty includes, but is
not limited to, acts or attempted acts of plagiarism, cheating, furnishing false information, forgery, alteration or misuse of
documents, misconduct during a testing situation, facilitating academic dishonesty, and misuse of identification with intent
to defraud or deceive. B. All work submitted by students is expected to be the result of the students' individual thoughts,
research, and self-expression. Whenever a student uses ideas, wording, or organization from another source, the source
shall be appropriately acknowledged. C. Students shall take special notice that the assignment of course grades is the
responsibility of the students' individual professor.
Withdrawal Procedure: Per Valencia Policy 4-07 (Academic Progress, Course Attendance and Grades, and Withdrawals), a
student who withdraws from class before the established deadline for a particular term will receive a grade of “W.” A
student is not permitted to withdraw after the withdrawal deadline. A faculty member MAY withdraw a student up to the
beginning of the final exam period for violation of the class attendance policy. A student who is withdrawn by faculty for
violation of the class attendance policy will receive a grade of “W.” Any student who withdraws or is withdrawn from a class
during a third or subsequent attempt in the same course will be assigned a grade of “F.” For a complete policy and
procedure overview on Valencia Policy 4-07 go to: valenciacollege.edu/generalcounsel/policydetail.cfmRecordID=75.
Students With Disabilities: Valencia is committed to ensuring that all of its programs and services are accessible to students
with disabilities. The Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD) determines reasonable and appropriate accommodations for
qualified students with documented disabilities based upon the need and impact of the specific disability. Services may
include, but are not limited to, academic advising, assistance with classroom accommodations, assistance with course
registration, adaptive equipment, training with assistive technology, and referral to campus and community services for
students with disabilities. To inquire about support services, call 407-582-1222.
Learning Support Services: Valencia provides a variety of learning support centers for currently-enrolled students. All
students have the opportunity to utilize tutorial assistance, instructional software materials, and many other support
materials. In addition, computer labs are available for use in completing Valencia course work. There are several Wi-Fi
hotspot locations for students using their own laptops. For current information on the purposes and operating hours of the
learning support centers on each campus, you may obtain a listing from Valencia’s Web site: valenciacollege.edu/labs.
General Classwork Protocol:
- I am committed to the success of my students, so please do not hesitate to speak with me should you be having any issues

or need my assistance. I try my best to help ALL of my students succeed!
- The course consists of several content areas of varying difficulty and length, organized into weeks to fit the temporal
structure of our semester. Each week, I'll provide a list of tasks (usually things to read or watch) and a set of deliverables
(such as journal activities or weblog discussions).
- Delivering your Weekly Content Area Work: All tasks and deliverables assigned (including initial discussion postings) are due
to be submitted on or before 11:59pm on Sundays. Follow-up and responses to initial discussion postings for all content areas
assigned for the week at hand are due to be submitted on or before 11:59pm on Tuesdays. Essay and debate projects are
scheduled separately and due dates don't occur inside these areas.
- The most current version of the schedule appears in a dedicated calendar page in Blackboard, and updates are
maintained there. It is the responsibility of the student to obtain new and updated schedules, and they should be checked
on a weekly basis (I do, however, post an announcement in Blackboard when changes to the calendar are made).
-Any special rubrics and special requirements for assignments will be provided in the handout for each (on my web site).
- I post assignments as soon as is practical, and provide sufficient time to answer questions about requirements, or to
brainstorm and supply ideas or suggestions. Read the assignment handouts thoroughly and carefully. Spend some time to
interpret the task at hand, developing ideas, noting areas you are not clear about or would like additional direction in. Do
not email me with “I don't understand what we are supposed to do.” Understand that the handouts are already written with
this very question in mind. From you, then, I need semi-articulated statements or questions that 1) reflect that you have read
the correct handout, and that 2) give me something to work from specific to your ideas, interests, or concerns. If you're
unsure if you are proceeding in a manner that satisfies the requirements but have no specific questions, or if you just need
confirmation that you are on the right track, put the assignment into your own words, and send this to me.
-I can’t accept work via email. See assignment instructions for any special submission requirements.
- Journal and blog feedback is given on a weekly basis, and only as necessary.
-To receive credit, the content of your blog/discussion or journal posts must appear as text posted to your weblog page,
and not uploaded as an attachment unless otherwise indicated in the post-specific instructions.
- In most cases, course projects are graded within 1 week from due date. I communicate the grade in the feedback area. If
you can’t understand my feedback for any reason, or if would like a detailed or more elaborate explanation, see me and
I’ll be happy to clarify. If there are any specific areas of your work you’d like suggestions on, or any issues you’d like me to
address in my feedback notes, be sure to indicate by noting such requests on a separate cover page.
- I maintain my grade book locally in Excel, but I provide detailed grade ledgers for everyone at 3 points in the semester.
You can also maintain records of your grades and calculate the averages pretty easily on your own.
-Safe Assign detects plagiarism, and all work done for this course is subject to Safe Assign validation. All content submitted
for a grade must be the original work of the individual students or writing teams that are handing it in.
-Essays need to be typed. In-text citations, works cited entries, and page formatting must conform to MLA specs.
- I allow students to rewrite essays awarded a “C” grade or lower. Rewrites must be submitted within a week after receiving
the initial grade. Rewrites typically do not suffer an automatic grade reduction. Automatic reductions occur when the
major instructions are not addressed by the work submitted, or in certain cases involving citation errors (otherwise,
plagiarism automatically results in a 0 grade). If a rewritten essay will receive an automatic penalty, I will indicate this in my
feedback so you'll know this prior to working at it again.
- Over the course of the semester we will frequently have large and small group discussions. All students are expected to
substantially engage in such discussions. It is important that decorum is maintained, and that we remain sensitive to, and
respectful of, the words and opinions of others.
- Debates are semester-long group projects with several components. The audience participates rigorously in debates, and
ultimately determines the “winning side”.
Participant Informed Consent Form: A research study is being conducted to assess college level writing in ENC1101, English
Composition I and ENC 1102, English Composition II. Student work will be collected at random from students enrolled in this
course each academic term. Your instructor may be asked to submit a paper that you have written during the course of
the semester. Your identification will be removed from the work so as to preserve your anonymity and confidentiality. The
work will then be holistically scored using a rubric. Those results will be used to improve instruction. You will not be asked to
do anything outside of your normal class assignments. There are no identifiable risks to you. The records of this study will be
kept private. In any sort of report we might publish, we will not include any information that will make it possible to identify
you. Research records will be stored securely and only researchers will have access to the records. All information is subject
to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) of 1974, which is designed to protect the privacy of educational
records. Your participation in this study is totally voluntary and you may withdraw at any time without negative
consequences. To withdraw at any time during the study, simply ask your instructor not to submit any of your work.
Please feel free to contact Roberta Brown (407-582-3421) or Kurt Ewen (407-582-3413) or if you have any questions about the
study. Or, for other questions, contact the Chair of Valencia’s Institutional Review Board at irb@valenciacollege.edu.I am at
least 18 years of age and not requesting exclusion from the study constitutes my informed consent. You will be given a
copy of this information to keep for your records.

General/Expository Writing Rubrics (category view):
Organization
3- ideas are well-organized and discussion is logically coherent; actual (not merely rhetorical) transitions work to link
elements of the discussion that aren’t “intuitively” linked.
2- semi-organized ideas; generally stays on-topic; reader is rarely required to speculate on relationships between ideas
presented.
1 – lacking organization of ideas; lacking logical coherence; veers off-topic; connections are not made clear.
Development:
3 – complete response; sustained, close engagement with ideas/concepts of the course; substantial, and specific
treatment of subject (through evidence, explanation, or illustration); precision and accuracy in word choice.
2 – substantial response; medium engagement with ideas/concepts of the course; moderate specifics offered; word choice
is generally accurate, and reader is rarely required to interpret meaning.
1- short response; little engagement with ideas/concepts of the course; few specifics given; language is imprecise/unclear
Grammar/Mechanics:
3 – Total or near-absence of grammatical or mechanical errors.
2 – reader is infrequently distracted by errors; few, and moderate errors in grammar or mechanics.
1 – frequent, distracting errors in grammar or mechanics of writing.
Critical Writing (applies to discussions as well):
Holistic Critical Thinking Scoring Rubric – HCTSR, developed by Facione and Facione.
3. - Accurately interprets evidence, statements, graphics, questions, etc.
- Identifies the most important arguments (reasons and claims) pro and con.
- Thoughtfully analyzes and evaluates major alternative points of view.
- Draws warranted, judicious, non-fallacious conclusions.
- Justifies key results and procedures, explains assumptions and reasons.
- Fair-mindedly follows where evidence and reasons lead.
2. - Accurately interprets evidence, statements, graphics, questions, etc.
- Identifies relevant arguments (reasons and claims) pro and con.
- Offers analysis and evaluations of obvious alternative points of view.
- Draws warranted, non-fallacious conclusions.
- Justifies some results or procedures, explains reasons.
- Fair-mindedly follows where evidence and reasons lead.
1. - Offers biased interpretations of evidence, statements, graphics, questions, info., or others' points of view.
- Fails to identify or hastily dismisses strong, relevant counter-arguments.
- Ignores or superficially evaluates obvious alternative points of view.
- Draws unwarranted or fallacious conclusions.
- Argues using fallacious or irrelevant reasons, and unwarranted claims.
- Does not justify results or procedures, nor explain reasons.
- Regardless of the evidence or reasons, maintains or defends views based on self-interest or preconceptions.
- Exhibits close-mindedness or hostility to reason.

ENC 1101
Lk. Nona - Online
Wk #: Wk Ending: Items Due From You: Wk #:
1 09/04/11 All Week 1 Deliverables Due 1
2 09/11/11 All Week 2 Deliverables Due 2
Pre-Debate Questions Due
3 09/18/11 All Week 3 Deliverables Due 3
Photojournalism Essay Due
4 09/25/11 All Week 4 Deliverables Due 4
Content Analysis Pre-Project Questions due
5 10/02/11 All Week 5 Deliverables Due 5
Manifesto Essay Due
6 10/09/11 All Week 6 Deliverables Due 6
Content Analysis Pre-Research Questions due
7 10/16/11 All Week 7 Deliverables Due 7
1 st Constructive Group Debates Due
8 10/23/11 All Week 8 Deliverables Due 8
2 nd Constructive Group Debates Due
9 10/30/11 All Week 9 Deliverables Due 9
1 st Rebuttal Group Debates Due
10 11/06/11 All Week 10 Deliverables Due 10
2 nd Rebuttal Group Debates Due
11 11/13/11 All Week 11 Deliverables Due 11
12 11/20/11 All Week 12 Deliverables Due 12
Argumentative Essay Rough Draft Due
13 11/27/11 break 13
14 12/04/11 All Week 14 Deliverables Due 14
Content Analysis Essay Project Due
15 12/11/11 All Week 15 Deliverables Due 15
Argumentative Essay Due
Final Exam Due at 11:59pm on 12/15