Course Syllabus
English 101: College Reading and Composition 1
Your Friendly and Approachable Professor is Suzanne Floyd
This class takes place 100% online!
📧Professor Suzanne Floyd or Available via Canvas Forums
It's a beautiful day 🌞 Let's go to class!
I'm happy to meet you. Again, I am professor Suzanne Floyd
Come with me this way! → Our section of English 101 takes place 100% online in Canvas.
Hey! Here's the front door: Student Portal.
Oh no! the front door is offline!
Ah! A side door: ilearn.laccd.edu
Office Hours
I am available to you daily as needed, prior to 10p.
Office hours are in session whenever I am in the class.
Message me and if I am not immediately available we can set up a time.
Specific online office hours are 10a – 12p Monday – Thursday
📧Instructor Email
Office Location: Online, to be determined prior to meeting.
Student preference other than Facebook will be honored (Zoom, Chat, Assignment comments.)
You will need
✔️ Unfettered access to a computer or laptop. Smart phones and tablets may not provide sufficient formatting such as paragraphs, the lack of which carries a point penalty.
✔️ Reliable Internet access (and backup plan!)
✔️ MS Word: Students have access to Microsoft Word via LACCD Student Email accounts
Zero Cost Textbooks:
Required Reading, freely available online:
📚 Tao Te Ching by Lao-tzu pdf or Tao Te Ching by Lao-Tzu
📚 The Prince by Nicolo Machiavelli
📚 The Art of War by Sun Tzu
📚 Ten Steps for Writing Research Papers pdf
📚 The Elements of Style by William Strunk Jr.
📚 MLA Overview and Workshop
Our Shared Goals
To prepare you for writing assignments throughout college, English 101 provides a variety of writing opportunities. Some aspects of essay writing may be unfamiliar or forgotten. Assignments are designed to make you comfortable with asserting your research argument and then backing it up with college-level sources.
The big 4: We will work on four essays throughout the next 8 weeks along with supporting assignments and workshops. Each essay will be 3 to 5 pages in length following MLA format due by 11:30 pm PST on its due date. Essays will be graded by rubric and the rubric will be available to you with the assignment details. Some rubric items include content, logic, style, form, and proper use and documentation of outside sources and, of course, grammar and punctuation.
The little 4: Brief Honest Responses. BHR reflection assignments provide an opportunity for you to assess your writing process and share thoughts with me about the success of your strategies, or, what you could do next time to have more success. Be sure these assignments are organized into paragraphs, edited, and proofread, just like your essays.
Conversation assignments
Substantive contributions are expected. Building a learning community requires meaningful exchanges of ideas. Conversations take place during the dates they are open. Once they conclude there is no further opportunity to extend the conversation.
Late Work is problematic. If you are having an issue, talk to me. Please contact me prior to the due date. It is challenging to help you after the due date once the class has moved on. Contact me well in advance of the due date if you anticipate problems.
It should be a priority to focus on the details of every assignment and I will work hard to make sure those details are clear. Always ask for clarity if there is an aspect of any assignment that is obscure.
Kindness towards self and others. Behind every keyboard is a human. Let's support each other in our writing journeys.
Good advice: Always open and look at an assignment the moment it becomes available. Carefully read through the description. Ask for any necessary clarifications right away.
Compressed sessions require organization, motivation, persistence and commitment. Try not to stretch your limited time attempting to finish too many classes. English 101 is an important class to master as it is a prerequisite for many other classes. Success means you can move forward towards your education goals. Let's get you there.
Class participation takes the form of class Conversations or Discussions which are used for a variety of activities including informal chatting, deep analysis, interpretations and reactions to assigned texts, questions and answers, and clarification. It is always fine to post pictures of your cats in the informal discussions.
Attendance: While this class takes place entirely online, students do need to "show up" on time to participate in the Discussions. Submitting assignments by deadline counts as participation and attendance. It is reasonable to expect that students log in 5 to 7 times a week during this compressed session.
Come to class often! I will miss you if you don't.
Keep in mind that an 8-week class has the same requirements as a full semester class but must be completed in half the time. In many ways this intense focus works in your favor as writers. Plenty of practice without big gaps in between.
Response time: I make every effort to answer questions as they are posted and certainly by the end of the day.
Most assignments are graded as they are received. Essays take longer to return due to thoughtful review and commenting.
I know you are eager to see the results of your hard work and I am eager for you to know. Please understand that I am grading as fast as I can.
You are all writers
You are a writer! Throughout the course consider your role as a writer. Fellow students are your audience. When an assignment is submitted, consider it as ready for publication! Keep your audience in mind as you write, try not to explain aspects that are common knowledge.
Communication
Changing habits now will make it easier when you communicate professionally. So much correspondence is electronic; proper grammar and punctuation make it seamless to read and removes ambiguity. To be taken seriously as a writer use properly spelled words and capitalize I.
Communication part 2:
If you feel nervous about messaging me, please write me a message!
I would love to hear from all of you to quell any anxiety about feeling like there is no one to answer your questions or that you are all alone in the class.
Believe: You are not alone! I will respond as soon as I am able, usually within hours and definitely within 1 day. Unless otherwise posted I am also available to you on weekends.
The Path
Online Student Services
Library Services
📗 Research Databases: More sources than you have ever dreamed of!
📙Research Guides
📕24/7 Ask a Librarian
📒Online Writing Lab
📘Online Academic Counselors
Accommodations
Office of Disabled Student Programs and Services (DSP&S)
Online classes accommodate a variety of learners. Videos are closed captioned and transcripts can be provided on request. The entire site and this syllabus are ADA compliant -- but, if there is anything that is tripping you up, please alert me to it.
West Los Angeles College recognizes and welcomes its responsibility to provide an equal educational opportunity to all disabled individuals. The Office of Disabled Students Programs and Services (DSP&S) provides support services for all verified disabled students pursuing a college education. DSP&S students may qualify for: priority registration, registration assistance, special parking permits, sign language interpreters and assistive technology.
The first step for students with disabilities is to fill out this form. To contact the Disabled Student Programs & Services (DSPS) [located in SSB 320] call 310-287-4420 or email dsps@wlac.edu.
The accommodation of extra time for tests and quizzes will not be an issue for students of English 101 as there are no timed tasks in the course. I look forward to working with you towards your success.
Technical Details
No worries, you don't need to be!
Canvas is user-friendly. I think you will like it!
So long as your gear is up-to-date, you should be good to go.
If you are working with an older machine, or if you have not done browser updates in awhile, you may need to make some adjustments. Details: https://community.canvaslms.com/docs/DOC-107
🔒I will never have access to passwords so I am unable to help with login issues.
- Navigating your way successfully through the course pages.
- Properly submitting assignments and surveys.
- Posting correctly to discussion forums.
- Reading feedback via assignment rubrics, the text of your assignments, or in the general assignment comments.
Good links to know -- and bookmark
🛠 Canvas Technical Requirements
ℹ️ New Student Information
👩🏽💻 Online Student Help Desk
📩 If I cannot help directly, I can put you in contact with those who can.
Contact me or the Distance Learning office for assistance.
☎️ 310.287.4305
Office Hours:
Monday through Thursday: 8:30am to 6:00pm
Friday: 9:00am to 1:00pm
Closed Saturday + Sunday
Online: WLAC.edu/online
On campus: Heldman Learning Resource Center (HLRC) 4th Floor, Room 4A [May temporarily relocate due to construction.]
⭐️Campus Sheriff’s Office (Emergency Preparedness)
A Likely List of AssignmentsThe main course assignments are listed here.. Adjustments may be made.
Stay on track!
Login to the course regularly, daily is best, to view your Canvas calendar.
And always double check the Course Summary:
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Grading scheme900 - 1000 A 800 - 899 B 700 - 799 C 600 - 699 D 0 - 599 F Student Learning OutcomesAt the end of the course, the successful student will be able to argue a point and support it in writing using extensive outside sources. Upon exit the successful English 101 student will be able to: Differentiate a topic from a thesis. Show support for thesis. Evaluate sources for research. Demonstrate reading and writing proficiency in English grammar, syntax, and mechanics. Read and annotate complex, argumentative texts. Identify and write for a specific audience. Identify and use rhetorical strategies. Express sophisticated ideas with elegant style, including specific vocabulary and variety in sentence structure. 
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Student Samples
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Student ConductAccording to CA Education code 43101 , disruption of classes or college activities is prohibited and will not be tolerated. (While this is not really applicable to our online environment, inappropriate Discussion postings may be deemed disruptive and deleted.)
Violations of academic integrity include, but are not limited to, the following actions: plagiarism, working together on an assignment outside of course discussions, or allowing another individual to assume one’s identity for the purpose of enhancing one’s grade. |
Work that disappears
No one wants to spend hard earned writing time only to see it disappear into the ether due to a wireless glitch, power outage, sunspots, earthquakes.
Take steps now to ensure your work is backed up somewhere other than your computer. USB drives are great if you can keep track of them but they are easy to lose and sometimes malfunction. Google Drive, Apple's iCloud and the cloud storage you get through your LACCD.EDU email account are all reasonable options.
Consider an external hard drive. If your computer's space is jammed with songs, photos, movies, and TV shows it not only compromises performance, it can tax your drive to the point of failure. Keep space-hungry files on your external hard drive while allotting a section of it to automatic back-ups.
On a local level, when you are preparing work to contribute to the Discussions draft your work first in your word processor and then copy+paste into the text box. Save the local file in case there is a wi-fi hiccup and you work doesn't post properly. Same with Assignments.
You are all brilliant!
California Community College class sizes are usually smaller and taught by professors rather than graduate students. Also, many professors who teach at the university teach their same classes at community college.
I applaud your wisdom in being here where your quality education is thorough and cost effective.
Average current in-state tuition cost per year:
👨🏾🎓UC system
$11.2,000 (source)
👨🏾🎓CA State University
$5.500 (source)
👨🏾🎓CA Community College*
$1.200 (source)
A sampling of private school costs in California
Successful online students
➡️have a sincere desire to learn.
➡️have awareness of time and deadlines.
➡️have realistic expectations for their ability to complete assignments with their best efforts.
➡️participate regularly in their online classes.
➡️respond to classmates even when it isn’t required or assigned.
➡️help their online classmates.
➡️log into class each day to check for new material.
➡️check for new messages on a daily basis.
➡️Adhere to deadlines.
➡️understand online etiquette LINK
➡️understand that each name has a human behind it.
➡️have goals.
➡️are able to connect the material in their courses to future academic or career goals.
➡️understand that technical glitches are inevitable and plan ahead to avoid problems.
➡️know where to go for help with technical problems.
➡️complete assignments early.
➡️have good time-management skills
➡️are self-motivated.
➡️are not easily discouraged or frustrated.
➡️ 🎡 Have fun! 🎢
In summary, here is the Who, What, When, Where, How, Why:
👤Who:
🙋🏽🙋🏾♂️You: You are the reason I am here. I have gratitude for the ability to connect with you on a one-to-one basis. This is done through the Canvas messaging system, my comments on your assignments, and your optional replies to my comments on your work.
👭👩👧👫👨👦👬Your classmates: We have 8-weeks to form a learning community where no one feels alone and everyone is comfortable contributing to discussions and asking questions. Our goals are aligned, we all want to succeed--me in clearly imparting information, you in finding success in every assignment. Let's all help each other!
👩🏫Me: Professor Suzanne Floyd, a writer who teaches writing, a full-time online educator since 1999. There is more about me in the upcoming pages.
↗️What:
English 101 College Reading and Composition 1
A 3 credit course transferable to both the UC and CSU.
Section(s): 00000 + 0000
English 101 is a college-level freshman composition course that 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.
📅When:
This shortened 8-week session features all the work of a full semester class packed into half the time.
Class begins: _______ Last Day:________________
🏘Where:
English 101 online takes place completely on the internet. There are no on-campus meetings. Office hours are available on demand, message me to meet in Chat or another online location of your preference (other than Facebook). This class is asynchronous: there are no set times that students must be in front of their screens.
💻How:
Students will write four research-based essays, 3 to 5 pages in length following MLA format due by 11:30 pm PST on assigned due date. Essays will be graded according to rubrics you will see for each assignment. Rubric items include but are not limited to: focusing on content, logic, style, form, organization, illustrative examples and proper use and documentation of outside sources.
💬Substantive Discussion postings and responses about essay topics and writing process.
💡Self Reflections about writing preparation and process, and growth as a writer.
ℹ️Why:
To empower students by emphasizing the importance of clear and appropriate communication in writing; not to neutralize identity but to provide agency by being easily understood. To experience the discovery process through the revision process in fine tuning ideas and expression of thoughts resulting in clear and significant levels of improvement and confidence in written communication.
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Course Summary:
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