Writing and Grammar 3A
Fall Quarter 2018

 

Instructor Information

Instructor:         Nance Koike                                      

Email:               nkoike@bellevuecollege.edu          

Office:               R230 

Office Hours:     11:00 -11:45 and by appointment                                   

Required Materials

Texts:              Great Writing Great Paragraphs by Folse

                        Grammar for Great Writing A by Folse

Materials:       8 ½ X 11 college rule white paper

                        English – English dictionary – paper or electronic only

Course Overview

This class combines writing and grammar skills to help you express yourself clearly with few errors in academic-style written paragraphs. 

Course Outcomes

Grammar

• Use the passive voice
• Identify and use passive modals
• Review personal pronouns (I me my mine), and learn demonstrative and reflexive pronouns
• Write compound sentences with coordinating conjunctions and sentence connectors
• Write complex sentences with adverb clauses of time and cause
• Use the simple, progressive, and perfect tenses
• Recognize the perfect progressive tenses

Writing

• Use correct Level 3 grammar
• Use the writing process from brainstorming to final draft
• Write a variety of compositions as homework and in-class writings
• Develop thoughtful and relevant supporting details
• Organize paragraphs clearly and logically
• Use sentence variety in paragraphs
• Write correct sentences and avoid common sentence errors
• Proofread and edit written work
• Punctuate correctly

Cell Phone Policy

Cell phones should be put away during class and used during the break.

Grading

You must have both a class average of 75% or higher and pass the final in-class writing test to pass this class. Both the final and midterm writing tests will be read and given a pass/fail by other level 3 instructors. If you fail or miss the final test, your grade will be lowered by one letter grade. The final test will not be given early or late. In order to develop your grammar and writing skills, regular participation and attendance in class is expected.

Grading Scale 

Table 1: Percentages to Letter Grades
Grade Percentage	Letter Grade
100 - 96%	A (excellent)
95-93	A-
92-90	B+
89-87	B (good)
86-84	B-
83-81	C+
80-78	C (satisfactory)
77-75	C-
0-74	repeat class, good effort
0-74	repeat class, unsatisfactory effort

 

Assignments and Percentages

Your grade will be based on the following:

Table 2: Assignments & Point Values

Assignment Type	Point Value	Percentage of Grade
Take Home Paragraphs	various	25%
Timed Writing Paragraphs	various	40%
Grammar	various	25%
Homework	various	10%
Total		100%

Late Work Policy 

1. Assignments are due at the beginning of the class period on the due date.
2. Assignments can be up to 2 days late, but lose 10% for each late day.
3. Assignments can be mailed to my BC email address or Canvas email as a word document attachment before class on the due date without being late.

If you are absent, you should let your instructor know. Also, you will need to find out what you missed. This is your responsibility. The teacher will not automatically tell you what you missed. You should contact other classmates to get this information, or email the instructor and ask.

Only one make –up test will be allowed per person per quarter. Please discuss your absence with me when you miss class.

Attendance Policy

15 absences = F and can be dismissed from the program at the end of the quarter

12 absences = F (not passing)

10 or 11 absences = no higher than a D (not passing)

3 tardies of 5 minutes or more (per hour) = 1 absence

Missing 10 minutes or more of any hour of class = 1 absence (in a 2 hr. class = ½ absence)

Please note that coming back late from break can also be considered “tardy”.

Classroom Behavior and Class Expectations

• Keep cell phones turned off and off your desk. 
• Speak ONLY English in class.
• Show respect to your classmates and teachers.
• Ask me when you don’t understand something and make an appointment to see me if you are having difficulties with the material.
• Come to class every day and arrive on time. It is disruptive to the class to arrive late.
• Check CANVAS every evening for any announcements.
• Used books that can’t be completely cleaned are not useful to you in learning and should not be used. Please see me if your textbook has answers in it.
• If you are waiting for a book to arrive from an online order, you are still responsible for copying the pages needed for class from a classmate. 
• No eating is allowed during class. All drinks must be covered.
• Come to class with everything you need: paper, pencils, pens, erasers, dictionaries, etc.

 I hope you find our classroom a comfortable place to develop your English skills, make friends with your classmates and have fun!

Classroom Atmosphere/Student Conduct Responsibilities

“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 Vice President of Student Services for possible probation or suspension from Bellevue College.  Specific student rights, responsibilities and appeal procedures are listed in the Student Code of Conduct, available in the office of the Vice President of Student Services.”  The Student Code, Policy 2050, in its entirety is located at: http://www.bellevuecollege.edu/policies/id-2050/

 

Plagiarism and Cheating

Plagiarism is using someone else’s words or ideas as your own on assignments.  It is cheating and is not acceptable in American classes.

There are different kinds of cheating: plagiarism, “borrowing” a classmate’s homework (partially or wholly), using an essay or a presentation from a previous quarter, using “cheat notes,” and copying answers from classmates’ papers during tests. 

Examples of plagiarism are:

Copying from a Web page, book or article

Buying papers

Copying from another student

Using a friend’s paper from a previous quarter

If you plagiarize: 

First time: your teacher will work with you so that you understand what not to do

Second time:  Fail the assignment

Third time:  Fail the class and be reported to the Associate Dean of Student Services.  Possibly be asked to leave the school

This link provides a good, short summary of how to avoid plagiarism:

http://www.indiana.edu/~wts/pamphlets/plagiarism.shtml

Religious Holidays

The Arts & Humanities Division recognizes students’ diverse religious beliefs. Students who expect to miss classes, examinations, or any other assignments as a consequence of their religious observance should be provided with a reasonable alternative to complete their academic responsibilities. It is the student's obligation to provide faculty with reasonable notice of the dates of religious holidays on which they will be absent, preferably at the beginning of the quarter. Students who are absent on days of examinations or class assignments should be offered an opportunity to make up the work without penalty (if they have previously arranged to be absent), unless it can be demonstrated that a makeup opportunity would constitute an unreasonable burden on a member of the faculty. Should disagreement arise over what constitutes an unreasonable burden or any element of this policy, parties involved should consult the department chair or A&H Dean.

Student Concerns

Should you have concerns about any part of the class, please come to me with them.  If for any reason you don’t feel comfortable coming to me, the usual next step would be to speak with the ELI Department Chair, Ivan Breen (ibreen@bellevuecollege.edu).  You can also refer concerns to the Arts and Humanities Division Dean, Maggie Harada (maggie.harada@bellevuecollege.edu) or the Assistant Dean, Scott Bessho (scott.bessho@bellevuecollege.edu) in the Arts and Humanities division office (R230).   An additional resource for concerns you find aren’t being addressed by faculty or administration is the Ombuds Office

http://www.bellevuecollege.edu/ombuds/default.html

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. For more information, go to: http://www.bellevuecollege.edu/policies/id-4000/

 (Links to an external site.)

College Anti-Discrimination Statement (Title IX)

Bellevue College does not discriminate on the basis of race or ethnicity; color; creed; national origin; sex; marital status; sexual orientation; age; religion; genetic information; the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability; gender identity or veteran status in educational programs and activities which it operates. For further information and contacts, please consult College Anti-Discrimination Statements

 (Links to an external site.)

Help with CANVAS

Please click on the link below for help with CANVAS for students.

http://depts.bellevuecollege.edu/helpdesk/students/canvas/

 (Links to an external site.)

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: Create Email

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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 Technology Help Desk

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Disability Resource Center (DRC)

The Disability Resource Center serves students with disabilities.  A disability includes any physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities.  Common disabilities include physical, neurological (e.g. Autism, ADD), and mental health (e.g. depression, anxiety).  If you are a student who has a disability or if you think you may need accommodations in order to have equal access to programs, activities, and services, please contact the DRC.

If you require assistance in an emergency, please meet with your individual instructors to develop a safety plan for while in class and contact the DRC to develop a safety plan for while you are elsewhere on campus.

If you are a student with a documented autism spectrum disorder, there is an additional access program available to you.  Contact Autism Spectrum Navigators (ASN). Email and phone number is on the web page.  ASN is located in the Library Media Center in D125.

The DRC office is located in building B Room 132.  You can contact the DRC by stopping by B132, calling our desk at 425-564-2498, emailing drc@bellevuecollege.edu, and Deaf students can reach us by Skype (account name DRCatBC).  For more information about the services we offer, including our Initial Access Application, visit our website at www.bellevuecollege.edu/drc.

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—2400).  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 RAVE Alert Registration

 (Links to an external site.)

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 three 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.

3) In an emergency, call 911 first, then Public Safety.

Please do not hesitate to call Public Safety if you have safety questions or concerns at any time. You may also visit the Public Safety web page for answers to your questions.

 (Links to an external site.)  

Accessibility

The online elements of this course are designed to be welcoming to, accessible to, and usable by everyone, including students who are English-language learners, have a variety of learning styles, have disabilities, or are new to online learning. Be sure to let me know immediately if you encounter a required element or resource in the course that is not accessible to you. Also, let me know of changes I can make to the course so that it is more welcoming to, accessible to, or usable by students who take this course in the future.

Additional Information

All students should be aware of the many tutorial services provided by the Academic Success Center.  If you need free tutorial help, please visit them in D204.

If you feel threatened or see something that may indicate trouble, please report it right away at Report Concerns.  We all need to help keep our campus safe for everyone.

A&H Student Procedures & Expectations

http://s.bellevuecollege.edu/wp/sites/59/2013/11/STUDENT-PROCEDURES-AND-EXPECT_march22_2016-1.pdf