English 101 OFS, Fall 2015

 Instructor: Martha Silano

E-mail: msilano@bellevuecollege.edu (this is my campus email; use Canvas email to reach me regarding this course).

Phone: (425) 564-2078

Office location:         NO ON-CAMPUS OFFICE HOURS

Office Hours: I will hold office hours on Canvas from 12-1 pm each MONDAY throughout the quarter, beginning Sept 21, 2015.

Preferred mode of communication:  CANVAS E-MAIL. I check email at least once daily (MF), so expect to receive a response within 24 hours or less. Over the weekend I am less frequent with responses, but you can expect to hear from me by Sunday evening. 

Modality: This is a 100% ONLINE COURSE. However, you CANNOT successfully complete this course on a smart/cell phone. The class website is designed to work on a computer screen, and some past students have had challenges using smaller tablet screens. USE A COMPUTER. Failure to use the proper hardware and software may impact your grade; it is YOUR responsIbility to use the proper tools. You are also expected to have a designated back-up computer if your primary computer is lost, stolen, infected with a virus, or is otherwise un-usable. You will be asked to designate your back-up computer in a week 1 discussion thread. For Canvas-related technical assistance, please visit http://depts.bellevuecollege.edu/helpdesk/.

 

This course made me realize that writing isn’t just about words, sentences, or grammar. As Henry Miller points out, Writing, like life itself, is a voyage of discovery. ~ Marielle Louise Ong, Autumn 2014 English 101 Student

 

 

Course Information

Course Outcomes: http://www.bellevuecollege.edu/classes/All/ENGL%26/101

After completing this class, students should be able to:

• Demonstrate various invention practices: brainstorming, free writing; outlining, journaling
• Demonstrate ability to write in various modes: personal narrative, expository, analytical, descriptive, argument
• Demonstrate the phases of writing: draft, revision, final copy
• Explore sources of writing: reading, thinking, analyzing, discussion
• Create a thesis statement that suggests the focus of the paper; does not point out the obvious, and is written as a sentence.
• Develop and include enough details and examples to support the identified thesis and reinforce focus
• Demonstrate various patterns of organization and use the organization pattern that suits your identified purpose & audience.
• Illustrate the concept of Audience in your writing.
• Artfully combine Audience, Purpose, and Tone in compositions written in and outside of class
• Write in a vocabulary appropriate to your subject and identified audience.
• Begin and conclude a paper effectively.
• Show effective control of mechanics: paragraphing, punctuation, spelling.
• Differentiate between key ideas and supporting details in reading
• Locate the thesis statement in reading assignments
• Practice good group skills: how to give useful feedback, and how to make use of feedback you receive
• Develop self-assessment skills

 

SUSTAINABILITY OUTCOMES

• Become prepared to be a responsible citizen in a globally interconnected and diverse society;
• Obtain an increased understanding regarding:

                        The link between food and culture;

                        The negative consequences of industrialized, processed, and profit-motivated food production;

                   The relationship between food and health;

                   The benefits and drawbacks of local and alternative food systems

                   Local and world hunger;

                   Increased understanding of contemporary food movements such as locavorism, the slow food movement,             biofabrication, veganism, etc.;

                   Ethical arguments and conscious choices regarding what to eat.

 

FOOD SUSTAINABILITY THEME

This course focuses on the theme of sustainable food practices, that is, ones that could continue in perpetuity without damage to existing cultures, the environment, or to those people who live in proximity to or who work to grow, harvest, and distribute our food. Sustainability, having its root in sustain, also relates to the eating of food that sustains rather than causing illness or disease. When we label a practice sustainable, we are also considering the degree to which this practice preserves biodiversity, achieves its effects by taking small actions that lead to large impacts, and fosters healthy and just economies, along with taking into consideration the impact the practice will make on the local ecosystem.  Sustainability skills include intellectual openness, a sensitivity to cross-cultural perspectives, an ability to work collaboratively in groups, an ability to think laterally (connect the dots), an ability to reflect on how one’s personal choices affect sustainability, thinking critically and relying heavily on observation and empiricism, practicing civic responsibility, and reflecting on one’s knowledge, values, and commitment through a variety of media, including literary and artistic expression. As a student in a sustainability-themed course, you will be expected to consider the local as well as global impact of your personal food choices, including how far your food has traveled to get to your plate, and how it is grown, produced, processed, packaged, and disposed of. You will begin to see the connection between small changes in behavior and how they can result in positive change at the personal and global level.

 

How Outcomes Will be Met

 

This is a 100% online course; all course work—discussions, quizzes, journal entries, peer reviews, and the submission of all writing assignments, including essays—will be conducted online via our Canvas course website.

 If you run into problems with accessing Canvas, or require assistance, please consult the following websites: 

You must have access to a computer and a reliable Internet service provider to fully participate and succeed in this course. Due dates are firm. If your travel plans take you to distant/remote lands where Internet service is spotty or non-existent, please plan on turning in assignments prior to your departure.

Active participation is mandatory. At a minimum, expect to be active on our course site (posting answers and comments in discussions, conducting peer reviews, etc.) at least one hour each weekday (M-F). Also, plan on spending an adequate amount of time to brainstorm, draft, revise, and proofread FIVE (5) essays.

Please remember to back up your hard drive on a weekly basis; save all your work for this course in several places, including hard drive, flash drive, memory stick, and/or by emailing drafts of your draft and final assignments to yourself. Designate a backup computer just in case your primary computer is lost, stolen, or infected with a virus.

 

 

ESSAYS

Our focus will be on critically reading assigned texts and videos that will provide the content for FIVE essays that explore and address our course theme, food sustainability. Assignment guidelines and an accompanying video lecture will be provided for each essay. When possible, supporting materials, such as sample student models and relevant links to helpful websites/articles, will also be provided. Each essay is worth 100 points (500 points total).

Option to Revise: You will have the option of revising one (1) your essays after I have graded them. Revisions are due Monday of Week 10. I will grade the revised essay and then average it with the grade you initially received on the paper. This averaged grade will be your final grade for the essay. LATE PAPERS, along with the final essay, cannot be revised.

 

ADDITIONAL ASSIGNMENTS

In addition to the five required essays, you will be responsible for participating in/completing the following: five peer review sessions (25 points each/125 pts total), weekly online discussions (20 points per week/200 points total), weekly journal entries (120 points total), three quizzes (50 points), and a course evaluation (5 points), to total 1,000 possible points. 

GRADING:

Five (5) essays	500
Five (5) Peer Review workshops	125
Weekly online discussion posts	210
Weekly private journal entries	90
Three (3) quizzes	50
Final assessment journal assignment	20
Course Evaluation	5
TOTAL	1,000 POINTS

 

 

More about BC grading policies may be found at: http://www.bellevuecollege.edu/policies/id-3000/  

FINAL GRADING SCALE (BASED ON 1,000 POINTS):

Letter Grade	Number Grade	# of Points
A	4.0-3.8	1000-930
A-	3.7-3.4	929-890
B+	3.3-3.1	889-860
B	3.0-2.8	859-820
B-	2.7-2.4	819-790
C+	2.3-2.1	789-760
C	2.0-1.8	759-730
C-	1.7-1.4	729-690
D+	1.3-1.1	689-660
D	1.0	659-650
F		649 & below

 

LATE POLICIES: All due dates are firm. If you become ill or are suddenly called away from your normal course work/participation routine, please contact me immediately so that we may arrange for an extension. For essay assignments: if you do not contact me prior to the due date, you will have up to three (3) days to submit your essay late. Each day 10 points will automatically be deducted from your essay grade. After three days, your grade becomes a zero and cannot be made-up or revised. Journal entries, peer reviews, and discussion posts may not receive credit without prior approval; please be prepared to receive a zero grade on assignments handed in after the final cut-off period.

Please calendar and set your alarms for all due dates! 

The Bellevue College Grading Policy is located on page 10 of the Course Catalog and also on the web at:

http://www.bellevuecollege.edu/policies/id-3000/

 

Required TEXTBOOKS

Available at the BC Bookstore and online at http://bcc.collegestoreonline.com (Links to an external site.).

THE HUNGRY EAR: POEMS OF FOOD AND DRINK. YOUNG, KEVIN, EDITOR. BLOOMSBURY BOOKS. 2012.

THE LITTLE , BROWN HANDBOOK, 12TH ED. FOWLER & AARON. PEARSON. 2012.

Instructor’s Expectations:

 

• Log onto Canvas a minimum of five times per weekto read and reply to discussion posts, comment on posted replies, and/or in that week’s grammar exercises or peer review.
• Post your assignments and responses on time. Late discussion posts will receive a zero; late papers will be marked down 10 points each day they are late up until three (3) days past the due date; after three days the missed paper will receive a zero grade.
• Treat your instructor and your peers with respect. Rude, inconsiderate, or disrespectful behavior will not be tolerated. The offending student or students will be referred to the Dean of Student Services for possible probation, suspension, or expulsion. I do not expect it to occur, but just covering all bases by letting you know BC instructors have the right to remove a student from a class who interferes with instructor effectiveness and/or student learning.
• Obtain and maintain access to the Internet, including having a back-up computer with ISP available and in mind should yours crash, break, get stolen. Computers are available to enrolled students on the BC campus, in the BC Library Media Center, as well as area public libraries.
  
  

Affirmation of Inclusion

Bellevue College is committed to maintaining an environment in which every member of the campus community feels welcome to participate in the life of the college, free from harassment and discrimination. We value our different backgrounds at Bellevue College, and students, faculty, staff members, and administrators are to treat one another with dignity and respect. http://bellevuecollege.edu/about/goals/inclusion.asp

 

 

English Department Website: http://www.bellevuecollege.edu/English

 

Information about Bellevue College's copyright guidelines can be found at: http://www.bellevuecollege.edu/policies/id-3600/

 

A good resource for Plagiarism is the Writing Lab: https://www.bellevuecollege.edu/asc/writing/essays-guides/documents/plagiarism.pdf

 

 

Student Code of Conduct and Academic Integrity

Cheating, stealing, and plagiarizing (using the ideas or words of another as one’s own without crediting the source) and inappropriate/disruptive classroom behavior are violations of the Student Code of Conduct at Bellevue College.  Examples of unacceptable behavior include, but are not limited to, talking out of turn, arriving late or leaving early without a valid reason, allowing cell phones/pagers to ring, and inappropriate behavior toward the instructor or classmates.  The instructor can refer any violation of the Student Code of Conduct to the Dean of Student Success for investigation.  Specific student rights, responsibilities, and appeal procedures are listed in the Student Code of Conduct at: http://www.bellevuecollege.edu/policies/id-2050/

Important Links:
Bellevue College E-mail and access to MyBC

All students registered for classes at Bellevue College are entitled to a network and e-mail account. Your student network account can be used to access your student e-mail, log in to computers in labs and classrooms, connect to the BC wireless network and log in to MyBC. To create your account, go to: https://www.bellevuecollege.edu/netid/.

 

BC offers a wide variety of computer and learning labs to enhance learning and student success. Find current campus locations for all student labs by visiting the http://depts.bellevuecollege.edu/helpdesk/students/

 

Disability Resource Center (DRC)

The Disability Resource Center serves students with a wide array of learning challenges and disabilities. If you are a student who has a disability or learning challenge for which you have documentation or have seen someone for treatment and if you feel you may need accommodations in order to be successful in college, please contact us as soon as possible. 

 

If you are a person who requires assistance in case of an emergency situation, such as a fire, earthquake, etc, please meet with your individual instructors to develop a safety plan within the first week of the quarter.

 

If you are a student with a documented autism spectrum disorder, there is an additional access program available to you. Contact asn@bellevuecollege.edu or 425.564.2764. ASN is located in the Library Media Center in D125.  www.bellevuecollege.edu/autismspectrumnavigators/

 

The DRC office is located in B132 or you can call our reception desk at 425.564.2498. Deaf students can reach us by video phone at 425-440-2025 or by TTY at 425-564-4110. Please visit our website for application information into our program and other helpful links at www.bellevuecollege.edu/drc

 

YOUR INSTRUCTOR

I have been teaching college English for over twenty years. Teaching all these years has helped in the experience category, but I am eager to receive your input on how to make my courses more worthwhile, user-friendly, etc. Please do not hesitate to make suggestions for how to improve this course. I also (always) welcome your emails. Also, I'm here to clear up uncertainties, provide further examples, etc. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask!

 

YOUR CLASSMATES

 Your most reliable resource. REALLY. Five times this quarter they will be the ones who get your rough draft essay ready for final submission. You owe it to them to be punctual and thorough with your discussion posts, and to post rough drafts and peer reviews in a timely manner. Everyone knows who the 12th Man is. Be a 12th Man to each of your classmates this quarter, and watch the touchdowns add up.

 

ACADEMIC SUCCESS CENTER - WRITING LAB – D204

 Individual tutoring is available at the Academic Success Center if you receive a C grade or lower at any time during the quarter. Please email me if you have any questions about the support available on campus or if at any time you feel confused or unsure about my expectations or the course material.

 

Public Safety and Emergencies

Public Safety is located in the K building and can be reached at 425-564-2400 (easy to remember because it’s the only office on campus open 24 hours a day—24/7).  Among other things, Public Safety serves as our Parking Permits, Lost and Found, and Emergency Notification center.  Please ensure you are signed up to receive alerts through our campus alerting system by registering at http://www.bellevuecollege.edu/alerts/?ref=footer

 

If you work late and are uneasy about going to your car, Public Safety will escort you to your vehicle. To coordinate this, please phone ahead and let Public Safety know when and where you will need an escort.

 

Please familiarize yourself with the emergency postings by the door of every classroom and know where to go in the event of an evacuation.  Your instructor will be asked if anyone might still be in the building, so check in before you do anything else.  Emergency responders will search for anyone unaccounted for.

 

If a major emergency occurs, please follow these two rules:

1) Take directions from those in charge of the response -We all need to be working together.

2) Do not get in your car and leave campus (unless directed to) - Doing so will clog streets and prevent emergency vehicles from entering the scene.  Instead, follow directions from those in charge.

 

Please do not hesitate to call Public Safety if you feel safety questions or concerns at any time.

 

Final Exam Schedule

http://www.bellevuecollege.edu/courses/exams/

Please note: there is no final examination scheduled for this course.

 

Academic Calendar

The Bellevue College Academic Calendar is separated into two calendars. They provide information about holidays, closures and important enrollment dates such as the finals schedule.

• Enrollment Calendar - http://www.bellevuecollege.edu/enrollment/deadlines/ . On this calendar you will find admissions and registration dates and important dates for withdrawing and receiving tuition refunds.
• College Calendar - http://www.bellevuecollege.edu/enrollment/holidays/ This calendar gives you the year at a glance and includes college holidays, scheduled closures, quarter end and start dates, and final exam dates.

 

 

Have a great quarter!