London: Where English Came From ALL QUESTIONS ANSWERED BELOW If you have questions about class not addressed on this page, please let me know.		Overview Objectives Grading Honors Attendance Policy Texts and Materials Other Policies Paper Format Calendar Now What?	SYLLABUS
This syllabus is your class contract. If this is your first time here, read the entire document. Later you may use the links above right to access specific sections. Also note that this website is independent of Canvas. Bookmark this page (or the home page linked above) to return to class. Do not rely on Canvas to access these pages. Finally, refresh any pages you visit to ensure the latest content.

Overview

Important: Make sure you are enrolled in one of the class sections noted in the upper left corner in MCC BLUE and that your payment has been processed. If you are purged for non-payment or through some other fault of your own, I will not reinstate you. No overrides. Also note that sections for each semester are combined on Canvas for webboard and gradebook, so you might appear under a different class number there from the one you registered under. Therefore, verify your class number with MCC Registration and not Canvas.

Class description
This class extends what you learned in ENG101. You will do research and use secondary sources to develop original pieces of academic writing. In addition to exercises related to specific concepts, there will be three major papers involving an unsolved mystery, and some small writing assignments too.

Prerequisites and expectations
You must have successfully completed ENG101 to take this class. You are therefore expected to know and to use standard edited American English for class. Prior knowledge of MLA (Modern Language Association) style is useful but not required since we will cover it in class. Being completely online, this class requires self-discipline: you are expected to turn work in on time, to keep up with readings, to ask questions when necessary, to check your email several times during each week, and to reply promptly when asked. You are also expected to exercise courtesy when dealing with me and with your peers.

Instructor information
My name is Jeremy Venema. You may call me either Jeremy or Professor. I first taught ENG102 in 1997 and have taught it online since 2001. I have a PhD from ASU, have worked as a corporate trainer, and also teach creative writing, screenwriting, literature, and technical writing. My office is EO8, and office hours will be posted (except for intersession). I urge you to email me if you want to meet, so that I may better accommodate your schedule. You may reach me by phone, 480-461-7604, but the best way to contact me is by email: jeremy.venema@mesacc.edu. I try to respond to most emails within 24 hours; however, I do not check messages on weekends. (Response time to assignments is addressed under Grading.)

Class delivery
This class is completely online: you can take it from anywhere in the world that has reliable Internet access. All class information is on one website, which exists independent of Canvas (so if Canvas is not working, you can still get to the class pages); the exception is answer keys to exercises, which will be posted only on Canvas. Due dates, instructions, and criteria for each assignment are provided on this website: explore it and become familiar with it. I might (or might not) provide additional advice or information via MCC email. I will also use MCC email to respond to assignments (except exercises, which you can check yourself using the posted answer keys), and you will use MCC email to submit assignments to me. I will post points to the Canvas gradebook; please check them. You may also use Canvas's discussion board to interact with peers, to discuss assignments, and to solicit peer comments on papers, but please do not post exercise answers.

The class is organized into four basic units that build on each other:

Specific assignments are listed and linked on both the Assignments page and the Calendar page.

Words of advice
This class is not hard, but it is challenging. The information is there, it's organized, but you need to digest and apply it. You also need to be able to learn from mistakes and keep challenging yourself to do better. Ask questions, accept constructive criticism, and stay in touch by checking email frequently. If you do these things, and have a positive attitude, a sense of humor, and a desire to learn, you should do well. Don't procrastinate, but do choose your topic with care. And remember that everyone can write, but good writing depends on thoughtful revision, and this is where everyone can improve as a writer.

Objectives

This class aims to make you a better, more confident academic writer. Specifically:

Each student should complete ENG102 able to do the following.

• Write for a variety of rhetorical situations: to evaluate, to classify, to persuade, etc.
• Organize writing coherently and logically for a specific purpose
• Use appropriate conventions in writing, including grammar, punctuation, and spelling
• Find, evaluate, and synthesize both print and online sources that represent different perspectives
• Integrate sources through summarizing, paraphrase, and quotation to develop and support your own ideas
• Identify and use an appropriate documentation style (MLA, in our case) to maintain academic integrity and to avoid plagiarism
• Use feedback (most notably from me) both to evaluate and to strive to improve your writing
• Assess your own writing abilities and areas for improvement
• Generate, format, and edit original pieces of writing, both large and small—a minimum of 4000 words total

These objectives relate to the official course competencies.

Grading

Points breakdown
Your final class grade is based on 750 points possible, broken down in detail on the Assignments page. Three major papers account for 60% of your grade, exercises for 20%, and some smaller writing assignments (introductory email, topic list, prospecti, and final) for the remaining 20%. Note that late work earns no credit. Points convert to grades in the standard way. In other words, 90% (675 points) or better earns an A, 80% (600 points) or better earns a B, and so on.

Extra credit?
You should strive to do your best on every assignment and to submit it on time, so that you hopefully will not need extra credit. Extra credit opportunities will be minimal. You may earn an extra 10 points on the first assignment (refer to the instructions), and there are another 5 points extra available as part of the Works Cited Exercise (WCX). You may also earn another 15 points extra by conducting an interview and using material from it in one of your last two papers (refer to the instructions for P2). All of these points amount to 4% of the total points possible, enough possibly to nudge your grade up but not to leap an entire letter. That said, extra credit is certainly worth considering.

Exercises and keys
I often update or change exercises, usually just prior to the start of class. So as long as you refresh any pages you visited before class officially began, you should be fine. But to be sure, I advise before starting an exercise that you refresh the page to ensure the latest version. If you send me answers to an older version, you might not get credit. Answer keys and explanations will be posted to the webboard shortly after each exercise is due. Each key will be taken down when the next is put up, so check them promptly. I do not respond to exercises because I expect you to check your work and to ask questions when needed. It is important that you learn from your mistakes since exercises cover concepts you need to apply successfully in the papers. If you have any questions either as you work on an exercise, or after you check the posted key, please ask.

Letter grades on papers
I tend to assign letter grades to the three major papers: A, B, C, D, F, possibly with + or - variations. An A translates to 95%, a B to 85%, a C to 75%, etc. An A+ would be 100%, an A- 90%; a B+ would be 90%, a B- 80%, etc. To determine points, translate the letter grade to its percentage and then multiply by the points possible, deducting points lost (hopefully none) for incorrect file format (-5) or incorrect file title (-5), covered in the directions. Letter grades allow me to give a succinct indication of your performance: A means excellent, B good, C fair or average, D deficient, and F failure. If you do not turn in a paper on time, you get 0 points, and all three major papers, plus the final, must be completed to pass the class. I will provide detailed comments with each grade, designed to help you improve on the next paper. I will not provide detailed comments on the last paper; however, I invite specific questions at any time during class on any paper, completed or in progress.

Instructions and grading criteria
Detailed instructions and grading criteria for specific assignments, including how to format and submit them, are linked on both the Assignments page and the Calendar page. Work that does not conform to these instructions risks losing credit.

Response time to assignments
Though I do not respond to exercises, I strive to grade them and post points within 24 hours of the due date. Responding to major papers with detailed comments takes longer: during spring and fall, I try to respond within two weeks; during summer and intersession, I shoot for one week or less. For all other assignments, expect me to respond roughly within 48 hours of the due date. While I encourage turning in work a bit early, it will not guarantee you a quicker response; rest assured, however, that I do consider topic lists on a first come first served basis.

Reviewing points
I will post points for each assignment, excluding the last two, to the Canvas gradebook. Review them as you go and let me know right away if you find a discrepancy; waiting to do so may result in my being unable to address the problem.

Final class grades
You may access these via MCC after the class ends. If you want to know your grade a bit early, email me the last week of class; when I have final grades calculated, I will get back to you with yours.

Notes about summer school
The summer school week runs from Monday to Thursday. During summer school, I rarely have anything due Thursday. I figure if I’m going to make something due on a Thursday, why not give everyone the weekend and make it due Monday instead? Hence, big papers tend to be due on Mondays (except the last one) and most assignments are due on Mondays, Tuesdays, or Wednesdays. Please allow me up to 48 hours for responses to questions by email. This excludes weekends, when I don’t check email. As a result, in some cases a question sent on a Thursday might not get a reply until the Monday after. However, I’m usually quicker and do my best to monitor messages regularly, and I expect you to do likewise. Finally, if you need quick help, I am not your only resource; you have each other via the discussion board in Canvas, where you can exchange ideas, make suggestions, and cheer each other on.

Honors

If you are enrolled for honors credit ...

You must write an honors paper that conforms to the guidelines below.
Failure to do so will result in a one-letter reduction to your final grade. The paper must involve your approved topic. You have flexibility in what type of paper to write. Students in the past have analyzed movies, books, or articles related to their topics, argued a different position to the one in their argument paper, or contrasted two opinions on the topic, but other options are possible. Your paper must be at least 1200 words in length and is due no later than the last paper (P3).

You must also post a prospectus for your paper to the webboard.
It should set out, in an organized fashion, your plan for your honors paper: what you will do, why you will do it, and how you will do it. You must also read and comment thoughtfully on the prospecti of your honors peers. To ensure the best feedback, plan on posting a prospectus by the midpoint of the semester and no later than the due date for the argument prospectus (AP). Be sure to check back for your peers' prospecti, so that you can reply to them all.

You must get my approval on your paper idea.
Do this as soon as possible and certainly before posting a prospectus.

Attendance Policy

Even online, attendance counts: You are expected to submit assignments on time and to respond promptly to emails expecting a response. Check email often. Due dates are in the calendar. Please read the following carefully.

• A Timely Start Is Essential …
  If I have received no email from you by noon the first Friday (Wednesday for Summer andTuesday for Intersession), I may withdraw you as never attended, and you won’t be reinstated. Any email sent to me should clearly identify your name and class. If you register after class begins, you have 24 hours to contact me via email or you may be withdrawn. (Note: Late work will not be accepted for credit.) Once withdrawn, you may or may not be entitled to a refund; ask Registration. If you want to be guaranteed a refund, be sure to withdraw yourself during the prescribed drop/add period (for which you do not need my permission).
  
  
• In General …
  If you miss two consecutive due dates, I may withdraw you for lack of attendance. The same is true if you fail to respond to my email requests repeatedly. If you do miss a due date and wish to stay in class, email me at once and let me know, but it will be at my discretion. Once withdrawn, you will not be reinstated.
  
  
• If You Do Wish to Be Withdrawn …
  Email me a request. If you simply stop attending, you could end up with a grade of F instead of a W. I generally grant withdrawal requests, though I may refuse; I consider requests individually.

Texts and Materials

There is no required textbook because I have written 26 short online lectures covering most of what you need to know (free of charge!).

PSSST! Bookmark the link above for future reference: It will come in handy.

Individual assignment instructions tell you when to read which lectures. You will need to learn MLA style, so I recommend purchasing the MLA Style Manual; however, many websites present basic MLA style, including Purdue's OWL. Please note that some MLA rules have changed as of 2009, so if you learned MLA in the past or using an older textbook, you will likely need to relearn some things.

Required:

• Microsoft Word (or some equivalent that allows you to save, open, and edit files using a .doc file extension)
  • If you have a recent version of Word that produces .docx files, you might need to save as Word 97-03.
• Internet access, the faster the better
• MCC email account (required for class email)
  • If you don't have one, set one up here. (Click on Google Apps and you can set up an account if you don't already have one. Your MCC/Maricopa email account should end in @maricopa.edu.)
• Access to Canvas

Optional:

• MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers, for using MLA style (available through the campus bookstore)
• Ellsworth and Higgins' English Simplified, for reviewing grammar (also available through the campus bookstore)

Support:

• Bookstore
• Writing Center
• Technology Support Services

Finally, if you encounter any links on this website that no longer work, please let me know.

Other Policies

If the attendance policy is "commandment 1" of this class, these are the other nine.

2. LATE OR INCOMPLETE WORK WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED FOR CREDIT.
   To be accepted, assignments must be time-stamped by MCC email no later than 11:59 PM (AZ time) on the date due. No extensions, no excuses. If you have a dire emergency that renders you late, let me know right away (preferably prior to the due date) and I might consider an exception. However, it is up to you to make sure your work gets to me on time. Therefore, do not procrastinate; do make sure you send work to the right email address and in the requested format; do save your original emails as proof; do check email often, especially right after a due date in case there are any problems with your assignment; do strive to turn work in a bit early. If you enroll late and miss the first assignments, that is the price of arriving late. Please, no whining.
   
   
3. COMPLETION OF ALL THREE MAJOR PAPERS AND THE FINAL IS REQUIRED TO PASS.
   Papers and the final must meet minimum requirements, including length (minimum word count), to be complete. I am the ultimate arbiter of completeness. Note that I will not accept any paper from a student whose topic I have not approved. Also, I will not accept P2 or P3 without approved prospecti (CP and AP). If you are ever in doubt about your approval status, ask.
   
   
4. PLAGIARISM IS GROUNDS FOR FAILURE.
   Plagiarism is the use of others' ideas or words without attribution. It can be intentional or unintentional but either way is not acceptable. If caught plagiarizing, you risk failing the assignment and the class, as well as other penalties administered by MCC. If you are not sure if something constitutes plagiarism, ask prior to turning it in.
   
   
5. ROUGH DRAFTS AND REWRITES ARE ENCOURAGED BUT NOT ACCEPTED.
   That is, I encourage you to revise and rewrite your papers (which implies going through various drafts) before turning in final versions. However, I do not accept rough drafts, nor do I accept rewrites (with rare exceptions). If you want me to review your paper with you prior to turning it in, make a thirty-minute appointment to meet with me several days prior to the due date. Alternatively, you may submit a paragraph to me for detailed feedback several days prior to the due date, then apply my comments to your entire paper. Additionally, I am happy to answer any questions about your papers as long as you do not wait until the last minute to ask. Regarding rewrites, do your best the first time around. Each paper is worth more than the one before it because I expect you to get better as you go. If you are not happy with your grade on P1, don't worry; do review my comments, ask questions if necessary, and learn from your mistakes so that you do better on P2. The same goes for your grade on P2. By the time we get to P3, there will be no time for rewrites anyway. In rare cases, I may allow you to rewrite P1 or P2 if it is incomplete, but only for substantially reduced credit. Otherwise, I do not accept rewrites. To sum up: do your best the first time, don't wait till the last minute, ask questions and learn from your mistakes, and strive to improve from paper to paper.
   
   
6. KEEP COPIES.
   You should not only keep copies of your work but also save sent emails when submitting work. If I cannot locate your assignment, you should be able to forward the original email to prove you sent it on time. I am not responsible for late or missing work.
   
   
7. GRADES WILL BE DISCUSSED ONLY WITH THE STUDENT.
   Not with relatives, friends, parents, spouses, roommates, pets, etc.
   
   
8. YOU MUST USE MCC EMAIL.
   MCC email is free, easy to use, and accessible anywhere; email sent from other accounts might not reach me on time or at all, and if it does reach me, I am unlikely to acknowledge it. (If you have a problem with your MCC email account, you may use another account temporarily, but explain the situation and be sure to get your MCC account working again right away.) MCC email is also how I send information to the class and to individual students. Know your mailbox limits and do not exceed them or you might miss messages. It is up to you to ensure that your MCC email is working properly. Feel free to request reply receipts when emailing; better yet, you can cc yourself to make sure your message comes across as intended. Please keep email class related and always note in your subject line: your name (first and last), your class name (e.g., ENG102), and either the name of your assignment or the purpose of your message. Here's an example: Dawn Smith_ENG102_GSX. Avoid ALL CAPS in the body of your email, and separate paragraphs by spacing between them (as I have done between each of these policies). Also, screen your computer regularly for worms and viruses to prevent spreading them; MCC offers tools and support. Finally, note that whatever you send me may be excerpted or otherwise used for the benefit of instructing future students.
   
   
9. USE THE WEBBOARD RESPONSIBLY.
   You may access the webboard through this portal (and I advise bookmarking the page). A tutorial may also be of use. I encourage you to use the webboard to meet and interact with peers and to ask questions, but exercise politeness and respect and also keep discussion related to class. Also, it is fine to discuss exercises, but please never post answers for others to copy.
   
   
10. YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL COLLEGE POLICIES IN THE MCC STUDENT HANDBOOK and the COLLEGE CATALOG.

Finally, three important notifications:

• If you have or think you have a disability, including a learning disability, please make an appointment with an advisor at Disability Resources (480-461-7447) as soon as possible. They can assist you with appropriate accommodations for you in your classes.
  
  
• Mesa Community College is committed to the success of all our students. Numerous campus support services are available throughout your academic journey to assist you in achieving your educational goals. MCC has adopted an Early Alert Referral System (EARS) as part of a student success initiative to aid students in their educational pursuits. Faculty and Staff participate by alerting and referring students to campus services for added support. Students may receive a follow up call from various campus services as a result of being referred to EARS. Students are encouraged to participate, but these services are optional. Early Alert Web Page with Campus Resource Information can be located at: http://www.mesacc.edu/students/ears.
  
  
• You are responsible for the information in this syllabus. I will alert you of any changes to it.

Paper Format

The following requirements apply only to the three major papers (and the honors paper).

When you submit a major paper, follow these guidelines to maximize readability and to avoid losing points.

Be sure to format consistently throughout your paper. Let me know if you have questions. For further reference, consult the sample papers online (linked to specific paper assignment instructions).

Calendar

For your convenience (so you can easily print it out and return to view it), the calendar appears on a separate page, but it is considered part of this syllabus. Please review it. I will alert you of any changes to it.

Now What?

You've read the syllabus and reviewed the calendar. So now what?

• Bookmark and print out the Assignments and Calendar pages for future reference.
• Obtain the required materials noted above.
• Set up or clean out your MCC email account and make sure it works.
• Read the guidelines for topics and start brainstorming.
• Start the first assignment.

Let me know if you have any questions. Welcome to class!