Course Syllabus

Printer-friendly Word Document available here.

PLEASE NOTE that as of 3/6, this class has moved FULLY ONLINE.

Engl 072 #1011: Introductory College Reading and Writing 

Winter 2020

Class Information:		Instructor Information:
Meets:	M-Th 10:30-12:20 in R106A	Alexandra Ozanich (Please call me “Alex”)
	Fri 10:30-11:20 in D222	E-mail: aozanich@bellevuecollege.edu
	(Enter through Academic Success Center (D204)	Phone: 425-564-4349 (message)
	Fri 11:30-12:20 in R106A	Office: R230
NO CLASS	January 20, February 17, or March 17.	Office Hours: Mon/Wed 12:30-1:15 or by appt

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Course Description 

This course will focus on building reading, writing, and critical thinking skills in order to prepare you for English 092 or English 093. I am here to support and guide you through the process. Throughout the quarter, we will work to strengthen reading and writing skills by responding to short readings and writing summaries, reflection papers, and in-class and take home essays. We will also build vocabulary, learn editing strategies, and discuss and respond to the essays and articles that you will be reading at home. This class is LINKED to ENGL 080 (Reading Lab). 

Required Materials 

There are no textbooks for this course.  All course materials are on Canvas. 

• You will need something to take notes and complete in-class writings with.  This can be paper/pencil/pen or a tablet/computer.

• You will need regular access to a computer or tablet with internet access and a set of headphones.  You will be doing a lot of reading, listening and typing

• If you don’t have regular access to a computer: 

• • Use the Bellevue College Library: Library Hours 
  • Use the Bellevue College Computer Lab in N250:  N250 Hours 
  • Use computers at King County Libraries:  KCLS Locations and Hours 

Course Outcomes 

After completing this class, students should be able to: 

• Reading: Demonstrate improved reading speed and fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension 
• Writing: Demonstrate improved written content (accuracy, completeness, development), organization, and editing skills 
• Information Literacy: Demonstrate improved information literacy skills 

How Outcomes will be met 

In English 072, we will meet daily to discuss readings, practice reading, grammar and vocabulary skills and sometimes listen to guest speakers.  We will use the Writing Lab computer classroom to work on our essays and also to work on online activities.   You can expect 4 major writing assignments (papers/essays) in this class. 

In English 080, you will need to attend 22 units to get 1 credit and 44 units to get 2 credits.  This means you should plan on spending 2-4 hours EACH WEEK in the lab on your own.  Everyone in this class will be expected to finish 1 chapter of Townsend Press Vocabulary Plus each week in the Reading Lab.  You will also be expected to work in See Reader to increase your speed and comprehension.  You will learn about these programs during your orientation on the first Friday of class. 

Assignments and Course Design 

The course is divided into 4 unit modules. All assignments will be completed sequentially (in order) and turned in online via Canvas or in class, as instructed. Each unit will take approximately 2-3 weeks to complete.  Each unit contains a major reading assignment, a major writing assignment, several foundational reading, writing and grammar skill-building exercises and usually one or more quizzes. 

Each module contains these things: 

• Class notes and in-class activities/assignments 
• Homework assignments, including major reading/writing assignments 
• Example materials for writing assignment 

Grading 

Both ENGL 072 and ENGL 080 are graded Credit/No Credit.  You may repeat 072 up to 2 times (30 total credits)  in order to learn the skills required for English 092 or 093. 

Please note that you may receive “Credit” and still need to repeat—the “Credit” just acknowledges that you completed the work of the course.  It is to your advantage to work hard, do all the work on time, and get through this level as soon as possible so that you won’t have to go through the time and expense of repeating. Many of you may be starting at a point at which it will be difficult for you to be ready for English 092/093 in one quarter; however, with hard work, it is possible to advance several grade levels/years in your reading and writing skills in one quarter. 

Your work will receive comments, but not letter grades.  You will be able to see your “scores” so that you know what you did well and what you could improve upon.  However, you get credit if you turn the work in on time and attend classes.  I reserve the right to refuse credit to any student who misses more than twenty hours of class and/or fails to turn in more than 25% of the work on time and in proper form.  Late work should be turned in as soon as possible, but no later than any extended date specified by the instructor.  All extensions must be arranged at least 24 hours in advance of the due date.  If you are sick, or have an otherwise unpreventable absence, make sure to submit the homework online BEFORE the class begins at 10:30 on the day it is due.  If your work, attendance or conduct is unsatisfactory, you'll receive no credit (NC), which may prevent you from receiving financial aid next quarter. Please be advised, if you're an international student, an NC can cause problems with your visa status. 

In summary, the course is structured so that you do not have to worry about grades; rather, you need to make sure that you learn basic English skills and continue developing your “voice” as a writer.  We’ll go over the objectives of the course and requirements for moving up to 092/093 during the first week. 

Students receive oral and written feedback on written work.  The purpose of the feedback is to allow students to build on their strengths and focus their studies on the areas they are weakest in.  Read and reflect upon the feedback you are given.  You should apply corrections/suggestions moving forward. Students will be informed at mid-quarter of the current quarter if they need to improve their performance and make a plan for success. 

Save all of your work. This will enable me to review your performance regularly and to give you more meaningful feedback. Keep every single piece of writing that you do for this class carefully organized in a folder or binder.   

Final Exam 

There is an exit test during the final week of class, but there is no final exam for this class.  You can meet with me on the last day individually for a final conference. 

Instructor’s Expectations 

On a college campus, everyone deserves the opportunity to study and learn in a safe environment and to be treated with courtesy and respect. Therefore, any conduct that prevents the instructor from teaching, and/or prevents students from learning is prohibited. If you do not behave in a way that is appropriate for maintaining a learning environment, I will ask you to leave the class. 

1. Please arrive on time every day with the appropriate materials and stay for the entire class. Late arrivals or early departures are disruptive to the class and to your classmates. If you can’t arrive on time, (within 3-5 minutes), sit near the door so that disruption is kept to a minimum, and quietly and quickly get the appropriate materials out. 
2. Please turn off all cell phones and other noisemakers. We get more student complaints about phones than about anything else. If you have an emergency and need to be available by phone, please arrange a special accommodation in advance. 
3. Please avoid text-messaging, surfing the net, listening to music, etc., as they are all signs that you are not giving the class your full attention. Others are trying to concentrate, and someone playing with toys is a disruption. Students who wear headphones in the classroom without permission will be asked to leave. 
4. Talking, passing notes, or other grade-school behaviors send very bad signals to your classmates and should not occur in my classroom. 
5. Please be courteous to those asking questions. What may seem a trivial question to you may be the one small point that keeps someone else from understanding the whole picture. 
6. Review the Arts and Humanities sheet on student expectations (linked below). This document is a part of my syllabus. 
7. Students may not sleep in class. If you are not feeling well or are too tired to give our class your full attention, please stay home. 
8. Late arrival, unauthorized breaks, or early departures are counted as partial absences. 
9. If disruptive behavior occurs, I will ask you to stop it. Second offenses will be reported to the Dean of Students, who may take further action that can lead to your permanent removal from the classroom. 

Attendance policy: I will take attendance twice during each class; students who are not present when I take attendance may be counted absent. The BC Arts & Humanities Division’s policy regarding absence says that any student missing more than twenty percent of total class time for a course may receive an “F” grade for the course. This class meets 5 days a week for a total of 53 meetings, so any student missing 10 or more class meetings may receive No Credit. 

I understand that students frequently have good personal and professional reasons for missing class. However, from the perspective of our English 072 learning community, the English Department, Bellevue College, the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities, the Council for Higher Education Accreditation and the U.S. Department of Education, your absence means you have not participated in the required quantity of classroom instruction to demonstrate the course outcomes. It is unethical, unprofessional, and unfair for an instructor to pass a student who has not attended 80% of class meetings. 

Instructor absence: If I am sick or cannot come to work because of an emergency, a note will be posted on the classroom door with instructions. I will also send you a message through Canvas if possible. 

Plagiarism: I am always willing to discuss these questions if you ask them in a timely manner. Plagiarism, or academic dishonesty, is the act of using another writer’s words or ideas as your own. According to the BC Arts & Humanities website, plagiarism: …may take many forms, including, but not limited to, using a paper written by someone else, using printed sources word-for-word without proper documentation, and paraphrasing or summarizing the ideas of others without acknowledging the source. Plagiarism can also occur when non-written ideas are taken without documentation--using someone else’s design or performance idea, for example. In short, plagiarism is passing off someone else’s ideas, words, or images as your own; it amounts to intellectual theft--whether or not it was your intention to steal. Bellevue College instructors have access to commercial plagiarism detection software, so please be advised that any work you submit may be tested for plagiarism. 

Workload: You can expect to spend 1-2 hours outside of class for every hour spent in class. 

Values conflicts: College students are sometimes required to read books, view films, or study art work that may be offensive to them. These materials are still “required” materials. If you choose not to read, watch, or study the required materials, your class performance may suffer because you will not be able to fully participate in course discussions. Please discuss any issues you have with the assigned course materials. I will not change the materials, but I am happy to explain why I have chosen them and why I think they are valuable. 

Tutoring and study skills development: Please do not hesitate to call on me during office hours or make an appointment to see me if there is anything about the course you wish to discuss or need assistance with. It is my job to be here for you but it is also always a pleasure to get to know you and work with you to form and meet your academic goals. I hope you will seek me out prior to seeking other assistance. However, if you feel you would benefit from ongoing tutoring or other academic assistance for this or any class at Bellevue College, please contact the Academic Success Center located in Building D – 204. Phone: 425.564.2200.  I look forward to a great quarter and welcome your feedback at any time!!! 

Successful Students 

1. Understand the course syllabus 
2. Attend scheduled classes and manage their study time 
3. Come to class prepared to listen and to actively participate 
4. Always bring their texts, paper, pen or pencil, course folder, and homework 
5. Keep all their work and keep it organized 
6. Use course resources more than is required for the course 
7. Recognize that reading and writing are skills that take time to develop. With time and practice, they can become stronger readers and writers 
8. Understand they will share their ideas and writing with other students and talk and write for an audience 
9. Figure out what help they need during the quarter and ask their instructors and/or their academic advisors for help 
10. Communicate with their instructors as soon as they have a problem 
11. Are kind to their classmates and instructor 
12. Maintain a positive attitude even when the course is challenging 

Student Concerns 

If you have concerns about any part of this class, I encourage you to talk with me. If for any reason you don’t feel comfortable talking to me, the next step would be to speak with the Program Chair, Sean Allen (R230D). If Sean is unable to help, you may contact the Dean of Arts and Humanities. 

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. 

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. Affirmation of Inclusion 

Reasons of Faith and Conscience 

Reasonable Accommodations for Reasons of Faith and Conscience: Students who will be absent from course activities due to reasons of faith or conscience may seek reasonable accommodations so that grades are not impacted. Such requests must be made within the first two weeks of the course to the office of the Associate Vice President of Student Affairs (see Bellevue College Policy 2950). In the event you feel you are being discriminated against based on faith or conscience, you may refer to the procedures outlined in the college’s Discrimination, Harassment and Retaliation Policy 1440P. 

Annual Notice Non-Discrimination 

Bellevue College does not discriminate on the basis of race or ethnicity; creed; color; national origin; sex; marital status; sexual orientation; age; religion; genetic information; the presence of any sensory, mental, or physical disability; or veteran status in educational programs and activities which it operates. Bellevue College is prohibited from discriminating in such a manner by college policy and by state and federal law. All college personnel and persons, vendors, and organizations with whom the college does business are required to comply with applicable federal and state statutes and regulations designed to promote affirmative action and equal opportunity. 

Reports of gender and sex-based based discrimination, sexual misconduct, or retaliation by a student should be raised with the Title IX office (see 1440P2 for contact information). In cases where the impacted party is a student and the responding party is a college employee, the Title IX coordinator will direct the matter to the Office of Human Resources (HR). All other reports, including all reports where the impacted party is an employee, should be raised with the HR. If a report is against personnel in the Title IX office or HR, it should be submitted to the president’s office for referral to an alternate designee. Equal Opportunity 

Confidentiality and Mandatory Reporting 

As an instructor, one of my responsibilities is to help create a safe learning environment on our campus. It is my goal that you feel able to share information related to your life experiences in classroom discussions, in your written work, and in our one-on-one meetings. I will seek to keep information you share private to the greatest extent possible. However, I am required to share with the Title IX Coordinator any and all information regarding sexual assault and other forms of sexual misconduct (e.g. relationship violence, stalking) that may have occurred on campus or that impacts someone on campus. Students may speak to someone confidentially by contacting the BC Counseling Center at (425) 564-2212. The Title IX Office can be contacted at 425-564-2641 and more information can be found at Title IX. If you have any concerns, you may report to: Report Concerns. 

Division Statements 

Please see the Arts & Humanities Division Student Information page for links to expectations for students in all courses in the division, including this one. 

Student Conduct Code and Academic Integrity 

Any act of academic dishonesty, including cheating, plagiarism (using the ideas or words of another as one’s own without crediting the source), and fabrication, and inappropriate/disruptive classroom behavior are violations of the Student Conduct Code of Bellevue College. Examples of disruptive behavior include, but are not limited to, repeatedly talking out of turn, arriving late or leaving early without a valid reason, allowing cell phones to ring, and inappropriate behavior toward the instructor or classmates. The instructor can refer any violation of the Student Conduct Code to the Manager of Student Conduct for investigation. Specific student rights, responsibilities, and appeal procedures are listed in the Student Conduct Code at: Student Code 

Important Links  

See "Important Links” page online for more information about the E-mail and MyBC, Public Safety, the Academic Calendar, the Academic Success Center, and more. 

Disability Resource Center (DRC) 

The Disability Resource Center serves students with disabilities. Common disabilities include physical, neurological (e.g. Autism, ADD/ADHD), 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 in your classes, programs, activities, and any other 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. 

The DRC office is located in building B Room 132. You can contact the DRC by stopping by the office at B132, calling our front desk phone number (425) 564-2498, emailing drc@bellevuecollege.edu. Deaf students can reach us by calling TTY: (425) 564-6189, or by Skype (account name DRCatBC). For more information about the services we offer, including our Initial Access Application, visit our website at Disability Resource Center. 

Service Animals are allowed in this classroom. Emotional Support Animals need to be approved through the DRC. All other animals will be asked to leave. If you believe you need your animal with you, please connect with the DRC and refrain from bringing your animal until a decision has been made. 

Academic Calendar 

You can find important dates, including deadlines for dropping classes and days on which there are no classes here.  Please note that there is NO CLASS on January 20, February 17, or March 17.