English 101: Composition and Critical Thinking

Section 20474 Online Class

Fall 2020

East Los Angeles College

 

Instructor: D. Sangha

Office Hours:  Zoom Chat Room: TBA

Email: sanghadk@elac.edu or sanghadk@faculty.laccd.edu

 I am looking forward to working with each of you this semester. I’ve taught this course several years, and I am always impressed by the quality work my students produce. I welcome you to contact me via email, Canvas chat room, or phone call at any time during our course if you have questions, comments, and/or concerns.

Course Materials

Times are hard and textbooks are expensive. Good news is I have uploaded all of your reading materials and handouts onto our Canvas page! This will certainly help save you money!

•  Patrice Cullors and Asha Bandele's When They Call You a Terrorist: I have uploaded a copy of this on Canvas.
• Other Readings are Handouts (Provided on Canvas)
• Notebook paper and/or a spiral notebook, highlighters, computer disk or thumb drive, and stapler
• Any dictionary of the English language

Catalogue’s Course Description

This is a college-level freshman composition course which focuses on expository writing and argumentation and requires the writing of a minimum of 6000 words in essays and a research paper. Students study a variety of texts written at the college level, including literature, that reflect current academic concerns relating to issues of language, ethnicity, class, gender, identity, psychology, and cultural studies. The course is intended for students who plan to transfer to a four-year college or university.

Instructor’s Welcome Message:

Welcome to English 101! The goal of this course is for you to become to a better reader, thinker, and writer. Specifically by the end of the semester, you will be able to summarize the main idea of a text, answer a prompt with a logical, focused response, and engage in the research process. The skills developed in this course will help you in other classes and in life. I hope you find this class engaging, informative, and intellectually challenging. Remember, I am here to help and answer any questions you might have. Looking forward to our collaborative work!

 Student Learning Outcomes:

English 101: By the end of the fall, students will be able to:

• Students conduct research in order to compose reasoned arguments with relevant support in accordance with the Modern Language

Association format.

• Students analyze and critique college-level texts, synthesizing information that is incorporated into an extended essay.

 

Core Capacities:                                                                          

Ethical Mind: By the end of the course, you will be able to empathize by relating to and understanding other’s experiences and decision-making, hence caring for people and the world beyond your immediate needs. 

 

Course Structure

 This course is conducted entirely online, which means you do not have to be on campus to complete any portion of it. You will participate in the course using the learning management system called CANVAS https://wvm.instructure.com/login/canvas.

 

To be successful in this class, you will need to login to Canvas on a daily basis for lectures, readings, assignments, discussion forums, and quizzes.

 

This course is online, but the expectations are still the same as a face to face class. You will spend at least 10 hours every week completing reading and writing assignments. Every week, at least two to three assignments are due, which include discussion posts, peer review assignments as well as formal essays. To help you manage this workload, you should use a calendar to track your responsibilities (class, work, and home).

COMPUTER REQUIREMENTS

 ACCESS

If you do not have access to a computer off campus, there are many computer labs on campus (i.e. Library, Writing Center, Learning Center) you can use to participate in the course. Most public libraries also have computers with internet access that you can use for free.

COMPUTER REQUIREMENTS

You will need to have an up-to-date browser, operating system and some additional software on your computer to take this class. Check this Distance Education page for hardware & software requirements. Some of the documents in this course will be available to you in PDF form. If you do not have Adobe Acrobat Reader software on your computer, you can download it by going to http://get.adobe.com/reader/.

 Course Communication

 ANNOUNCEMENTS

Announcements will be posted in CANVAS on a regular basis. They will appear on your CANVAS dashboard when you log in and/or will be sent to you directly through your preferred method of notification from CANVAS. Please make certain to check them regularly, as they will contain any important information about upcoming projects or class concerns.

 

EMAIL

In this course we will use the CONVERSATIONS feature on the help corner (located in the upper right hand navigation links) to send email for private messages. You can either check your messages in the CANVAS system or set your notifications to your preferred method of contact. Please check your messages regularly. When submitting messages, please do the following:

 

 Put a subject in the subject box that describes the email content with your name, week and message subject. For example: YOUR NAME WK2 ASSIGNMENT.

 Send email only to CONVERSATIONS and not my personal email account.

 Do not send messages asking general information about the class, please post those in the QUESTION FORUM.

 Do not submit your assignments by message.

 Make certain to check your messages frequently.

 

QUESTIONS

In online courses it is normal to have many questions about things that relate to the course, such as clarification about assignments, course materials, or assessments. Please post these in the QUESTION FORUM which you can access by clicking the DISCUSSIONS button in the course navigation links. This is an open forum, and you are encouraged to give answers and help each other. For each clear and comprehensive answer you give, you can receive 1 extra credit point for the course (up to 5 points maximum) that will be applied to your discussion forum points.

 

DISCUSSION FORUMS

Discussion Forums are a way for you to engage with each other about the course content. Each lesson module will have a question that links to a forum. You can also access each forum by clicking on the DISCUSSIONS button in the course navigation links. In order to get full credit for each discussion, you will need to post a thoughtful, well-written response of 200-350 words to the question and respond to one of your classmates’ answers. On the first module, I have posted the grading rubric I will use to grade your discussion forums. Please familiarize yourself with the rubric.

 

VIRTUAL OFFICE HOURS

Twice a week I will be available for virtual office hours – via Zoom. I will post the hours a soon as I can.

 

TURNAROUND/FEEDBACK

During the week (M-TH) I will check CONVERSATIONS and monitor the discussion board several times a day. If you have a concern and send me a message, you can expect a response within two days.

 

NETIQUETTE

When posting on the discussion boards and chat rooms it is important to understand how to interact with one another online, netiquette. You can read more about the rules of netiquette at http://www.albion.com/netiquette/index.html. After you browse the netiquette rules, feel free to take The Netiquette Quiz to test your comprehension.

 Course Participation Policy

 Participation is essential to your success in this class. In distance education courses you are required to participate just as if you were in a face-to-face course. This means that in order to get full credit for participation, you will have to login at least twice per week and complete your discussion assignments, lesson assignments and quizzes on a timely basis. Consistent failure to participate in class will result in being dropped from the course.

 Course Assignments

 IMPORTANT DATES

The due dates for your assignments can be found in the CALENDAR in the global navigation links at the top of your screen. Please review these. In addition, I will post reminders prior to the due dates in the ANNOUNCEMENTS.

 WEEKLY ASSIGNMENTS

Each week, all of the assignments will be open throughout the week giving you the opportunity to post assignments or submit your work at any given time during the week. Each module/week will unlock ONLY after you completed the required lectures and assignments from the previous module/week. However, all the assignments and forums close by Sunday at 11:59 pm. All assignments are due on the days and times that are given. Please be aware of the due dates for the final drafts for essays and research paper. Because the final drafts are linked with turnitin, you need to submit it before or on that day and time they are due, for if you are late even by a minute, the portal will close. Remember: This is only for Essays 1, 2, and research paper.. You will be need to complete the following:

 Read the weekly lesson. This will be available every Monday at morning PST until the following Monday at noon PST.

 Post in the weekly Discussion Forum by Friday at 11:59 pm PST, with a two-day grace period ending on Sunday at 11:59 pm PST.

 Respond to one other students’ posts in the Discussion Forum by Friday at 11:59 pm PST, with a two-day grace period ending on Sunday at 11:59 pm PST.

 Complete the lesson assignments in each course lesson by Friday, with a two-day grace period ending on Sunday at 11:59 pm PST.

 Take the weekly self-assessment quizzes by Friday at 11:59 pm PST, with a two-day grace period ending on Sunday at 11:59 pm PST.

 FORMAL ESSAYS

In addition to your weekly assignments, there will be essays. Each week, all of the essay assignments will be open throughout the week given you the opportunity to post your writing assignments at any given time during the week. All assignments are due on Sunday at 11:59 pm PST. Therefore, all the essay assignments will close by Sunday at 11:59 pm. No exceptions.

In addition to various assignments throughout the quarter, there will be a total of three formal essays: 

 one 3-4 page analytical essay

 one 4-6 page theoretical essay that will be revised through peer editing   

 one research paper of 6-10 pages that will be revised through mandatory peer review

Additional information about each project and other assignments can be found under the ASSIGNMENTS button in the course navigation links.

GRADING CRITERIA

 

Writing Assignments	%
Participation (Discussion Forums)	20
Weekly Quizzes	10
Assignments	50
Midterm	10
Final	10
Total	100 %

 

LETTER GRADE PERCENTAGE

A 90-100%

B 80-89 %

C 70-79 %

D 60-69%

F 59% and below

 

RUBRICS

In order to understand what is expected of you for each assignment, please check out the RUBRIC – a table that details the requirements of each assignment and the benchmarks for success. Attached to each ASSIGNMENT, you will find the grading criteria. You can also access the Essay Grading Rubric under Module 0. Under Module 0, I’ve posted the rubrics I will use for essays and discussion forums.

 GRADES

You can view your grades using the GRADES button in the course navigation links. Please check your grades regularly to make certain that I have received all your assignments. If you have a question about a grade, email me through CONVERSATIONS. Please do not post your personal concerns in a discussion forum.

Other Course Policies

 LATE WORK

Late work will not be accepted. Assignments will not be available after the deadline. If you have an extenuating circumstance, please contact me by private message before the assignment is due to make alternate arrangements, and perhaps, to provide you with an extension.

 DROP

All distance education courses currently follow the East Los Angeles College Community College District Policy for

Attendance, Class Drops and Auditing courses. In order to avoid getting an F for the course, it is your responsibility to officially withdraw from the class prior to the deadline.

If you do not complete the course CHECK-IN ACTIVITY by the first Wednesday (11:59 PM PST) after this class begins, you will be dropped from class for non-attendance.

Students who do not participate in class, that is, who consistently do not complete assignments, quizzes, respond to forums or turn in other work will be dropped from the class for non-participation.

 ACADEMIC HONESTY/STUDENT CONDUCT

As a student at ELAC, you are expected to follow the College’s guidelines for Academic Honesty/Student

Conduct found in the ELAC’s Handbook. This means that you should not:

 Cheat.

 Plagiarize, that is, use another person’s words or ideas as your own without proper documentation.

 Collaborate with others unless specifically requested in an assignment or discussion.

 Let another student login to your CANVAS account.

Failure to follow this policy will result in disciplinary action which can affect your academic standing in the

College. If you have any questions or doubts about plagiarism PLEASE seek help.

Special Needs

 Online courses are required to meet ADA accessibility guidelines. This means that all aspects of the online learning experience are accessible. Please let me know if you have adaptive software and hardware to assist you with taking this course or if you have any specific needs I should be aware of. The Disabled Students Programs and Services Department is available to assist you during this course. I have uploaded int he welcome letter the link to the office.

 Additional Resources

 TECH SUPPORT

If you need technical assistance at any time during the orientation or to report a problem you can contact ELAC’s 24/7 Technical Support Center at http://www.elac.edu/Academics/Online-Classes/Distance-Education-Home

ONLINE TUTORING 

In this course, you will have access to online tutoring to aid you with the writing process. To take advantage of this opportunity, you will need to make an appointment. You can sign up using the student portal. Go to: https://elactutoring.org/portal/student/students/registration/. 

Select "Make a tutoring appointment" and then click "Reading/Writing Center Online Tutoring." 

You can also sign up at http://elacreadingwritingcenter.org/ and click on "Sign in" at the top right, which will take you to the tutoring portal.

You can also get in-person help on-campus at the Learning Assistance Center or Writing Center. Tutors at the center are trained to help students with CANVAS and its tools. Here is the contact information from the Writing Center: (323) 415-4147. Writing Center Email: helpdesk@elacwritingcenter.org

It is also helpful if you let me know what kinds of technical difficulties you encounter, so I can continue to improve the course.

 ADDITIONAL STUDENT RESOURCES

There are many services on campus to help you achieve success in your courses. Check out this Student

Services Link: http://www.elac.edu/Student-Services  for information on library services, computer lab hours and research help.

 DISTANCE EDUCATION WEBSITE

The Distance Education Department has resources to help you with your online learning experience.

Check out their website at http://www.elac.edu/Academics/Online-Classes/Distance-Education-Home

ACADEMIC SERVICES

If you need disability-related accommodations, please notify a Disability Specialist from our disabled Students Program & Services office at (323) 265-8787 or see their website:  http://www.elac.edu/Student-Services/DSP-S  

 

If you need to speak to a counselor, please call the Counseling office at 323.265.8751 or see their website: http://www.elac.edu/Student-Services/Academic-Counseling.