I need someone to take over my online English class it is until 5/22

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Metropolitan Community College

Class Syllabus – Spring

2

01

9

-20

CLASS IDENTIFICATION

TITLE:            Introduction to Literature

PREFIX/SECTION:

        ENGL 2

4

5

0-WA

CREDIT HOURS:                 4.5

CLASS BEGINS/ENDS:     March

7

-May 22, 2020

NO CLASS DAYS: n/a

LAST DATE TO DROP THIS CLASS WITH NO TUITION CHARGE: March 20, 2020

LAST DATE TO WITHDRAW WITH NO GRADE: May

8

, 2020

CLASS LOCATION: Online @ Blackboard– 

https://blackboard.mccneb.edu/

CONTACT INFORMATION

INSTRUCTOR NAME: Marni Valerio

OFFICE LOCATION: SOC Connector Building 233

OFFICE TELEPHONE: 531-

6

22-47

11

OFFICE HOURS: By appointment

EMAIL ADDRESS:

mmvalerio@mccneb.edu

Students enrolled in online and hybrid classes are required to check and use MCC Email (

https://outlook.com/mccneb.edu

) for all official course correspondence. See also STUDENT EMAIL REQUIREMENTS.

ACADEMIC AREA: Humanities and Arts

ACADEMIC DEAN’S OFFICE TELEPHONE: 531-622-1329 (Please Note: Any questions or concerns regarding this course should first be directed to the instructor.)

COURSE INFORMATION

COURSE DESCRIPTION: Students explore the genres, elements, and themes of literature by critically reading, discussing, and responding in writing to a culturally diverse selection of works. Fiction, poetry and drama are emphasized. Students learn to appreciate literature as essential to understanding self and society.

COURSE PREREQUISITES: Level I English (ENGL

10

10 or ENGL 1220)

MINIMUM TECHNICAL SKILLS:

The online student must have the ability to:

· use MCC Email with attachments

· save files to and retrieve from a local drive

· save files in commonly used word-processing program formats

· copy and paste

· identify and use a compatible web browser

· identify and install necessary updates

· install and use course-specific software programs

COURSE OBJECTIVES

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to (1) analyze rhetorical elements in works of literature, (2) contextualize works of literature biographically, socially, culturally, philosophically, and historically, (3) examine multiple perspectives in and among works of literature, (4) discover universal themes in works of literature, (5) explore their own perspectives on universal themes in works of literature, and (6) appreciate works of literature.

REQUIRED Text:
Literature: An Introduction to Fiction, Poetry, Drama and Writing. Kennedy and Gioia. Compact 8th edition. The textbook can be purchased at the South Omaha Campus or through http://www.bkstr.com/metroccsouthomahastore/home  (ISBN: 9781323633311). 

*However, students will not be given extensions on assignments if they choose to order their textbook from a source other than MCC’s bookstore because of late shipping dates, wrong editions, out of stock problems, etc.

COMPUTER REQUIREMENTS:
The computer you use for MCC online courses must be able to run one of the Blackboard-compatible web browsers listed on the Browser Support Page:  

https://www.mccneb.edu/Current-Students/Student-Tools/Help-Desk/Browser-Support.aspx

.

SOFTWARE/FILE SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS:
Metropolitan Community College uses Microsoft products as part of its standard software and encourages students to use their free access to Microsoft Office 365 applications at https://outlook.com/mccneb.edu. You may save word-processed documents for file attachments in Microsoft Word or x format. If your software does not allow either of these, then save files in Rich Text Format (.rtf).

Note: It is the responsibility of the student to submit files in a readable format to receive feedback and grades on assignments. If you submit files incorrectly or forget to attach your assignments to your submissions, you will receive a zero for the assignment and may not have an opportunity to resubmit it.

CLASS STRUCTURE:
You should plan to log on at least three times a week to ensure comprehension of the course objectives and requirements, to participate in all learning activities, and to submit work on time. The course includes weekly reading and weekly rotating activities such as reading quizzes, online discussions, and short responses to literature. There are three analytical essay assignments (2-4 pages, double-spaced each), and one assessment essay, interspersed throughout the course; in the weeks that essays are due, there is no other homework assigned.

STUDENT EMAIL REQUIREMENTS: Email sent from a Blackboard course is delivered to both the sender and recipient’s MCC Email account at

https://portal.microsoftonline.com

. No email is stored in Blackboard. Students enrolled in online and hybrid classes are required to check and use MCC Email for all official course correspondence. New email sent from Blackboard will include the course number, section, and title in the subject line. Students should include the same information in the subject line when responding or composing new email from the MCC Email inbox. Also, please understand that grade information is only shared through MCC email, not external email systems.

RESPONSE TIME:
Your instructor will respond within 48 hours, Monday through Friday, to student emails concerning course content, learning activities, and private matters appropriate for discussion within the teacher-student relationship. Posting of feedback and grades for major assignments is addressed under Assessment of Student Work section.

COURSE PHILOSOPHY:
Like any learning experience, a student will get out of this course whatever he or she puts into it.  Thinking, reading, and writing about literature is a challenging (and often frustrating) process, but if a student is enthusiastic and commits him or herself to the coursework, the goals stated in the course objectives are attainable.  As the instructor, I will do everything I can to facilitate in the thinking, reading, writing, and learning process; however, I am not here to do the work for students.  Students are expected to do their own work to the best of their ability.  A student’s final grade in this course is a representation of his or her level of ability in regard to the course objectives and is based on the quality of work displayed throughout the quarter.

ASSESSMENT OF STUDENT WORK

TYPES OF ASSESSMENTS/ASSIGNMENTS:

Assessment
: You are assessed on your comprehension and application of the course objectives and requirements.  To better ensure that the course objectives are being met and to build stronger skills in evaluation and analysis, you should complete assigned readings from the course textbook, log on at least three times a week, and participate in all Learning Activities.

Feedback to Students:
Throughout the quarter, the instructor will provide students timely feedback on assignments and performance, including a midterm report or other communication that addresses progress in the class and gives suggestions for improvement. To check grades, students should log into Blackboard and click on the My Grades link in the left-hand course menu, scroll to find your graded activity then click on the blue bubble icon to the left of the grade to see the instructor’s comments.

Students in this class will receive a midterm grade in My Way, so they may see how they are progressing in the course. The midterm grade will be available by week 6 (Module 6) of the course.

Grading Policy:
You are graded on the timeliness and the thoroughness of assigned work; this includes meeting the required content length. To earn the highest points, you must put forth superior effort, exhibit excellent writing, submit timely and proficient work, and demonstrate excellent and continuous participation. Points are updated in Blackboard regularly throughout the course, so students may keep track of their grades. Point totals will be kept for one calendar year after the course ends. Grading turn-around is typically 10-12 days.

Total Course Points:

* The English Department is assessing the success of our literature curriculum. As part of this assessment, we are asking all students taking a literature course to complete a writing assignment near the end of the course. The writing samples will have any identifying information (name, section, course) removed and will be used by a committee of faculty in their assessment of the program. The English Department thanks you for participating.

Grading Scale

(Your total earned points divided by the offered points of 925 will determine your grade in the course):

90-100%= A

80-89%= B

70-79%= C

60-69%= D

59% or lower= F

Evaluation Criteria for

Essay

s (English Department Grading Standards):

The A grade: The excellent essay engages readers through a confident voice. The thesis is original and supported with relevant facts, details, and examples. The essay is unified, coherent, and developed as a result of well placed support and sound organization. The student demonstrates a masterful use of MLA citation format and responsibly and smoothly integrates textual references into his/ her paper. Errors in punctuation, diction, or spelling are few and inconsequential.

The B grade: The better than average essay is similar to the excellent essay; however, it may lack in the area of adequate support or in the area of style. The student demonstrates good skills in using MLA citation format and responsibly and smoothly integrates textual references into his/ her paper, but may have a few errors. The essay is nearly free of punctuation, diction, and spelling errors. Reading is not affected by the minor errors.

The C grade: The average essay will rarely engage readers because of its weak thesis, often times offering a general belief not worthy of an essay topic. The essay provides broad support points that relate to the thesis but are without specific facts, details, and examples. The student demonstrates fair skills in using MLA citation format, but shows struggle with responsibly and smoothly integrating textual references into his/ her paper and may have more than a few errors. The essay has some errors in punctuation, grammar, diction, and spelling, which slow down the reader.

The D grade: The below average essay is similar to the average essay; however, it may not have followed assignment specifics or it may not have provided relevant or adequate support in the majority of the essay. Generally, the essay is not coherent and may confuse the readers more than enlighten. The student is lacking skills in proper MLA citation format and clearly struggles with where and when to responsibly and smoothly integrate textual references into his/ her paper; this is indicated with several prominent errors and/or an absence of citation. The punctuation, grammar, diction, and spelling errors hinder the reading of the essay.

The F grade: The failed essay usually does not address the assignment specifics or is held together with poorly developed thoughts, an incoherent structure, and a vague argument. The student has few to no skills in proper MLA citation format and clearly does not know how to responsibly and smoothly integrate textual references into his/ her paper; typically, the paper has a complete absence of textual support/ citations. The punctuation, grammar, diction, and spelling errors are severe.

LATE AND MAKE-UP ASSIGNMENT POLICIES:
All Learning Activities open on Mondays at 12:00am and are due on the following Sundays by 11:55pm (*note: initial posts for discussions should be posted by Friday after each module opens; this will enable a healthy discussion to develop. Posting initial posts after Friday will cost you points on your discussion grade). Each module is one week long (except for Module 1, which is open slightly longer because of the Saturday, March 7 start); therefore, submission of each learning activity is only possible during the set time frame that the module is available. No make-up work or late work is accepted in this course.

INSTRUCTOR’S EXPECTATIONS OF STUDENTS

ATTENDANCE/PARTICIPATION POLICY:
Your success in this online course is met by regularly logging on to the course, communicating your questions or concerns to the instructor, participating in all Learning Activities, and submitting all work on time.  Furthermore, when logging on, you must actively engage in the course—respond to classmates or instructor, post early to discussions, ask questions, post essays properly and in a timely manner to drop boxes, and write substantive, thoughtful responses.

LATE REGISTRATION RESPONSIBILITIES: If you register late, keep in mind that you are responsible for attendance and missed class assignments.

OUTSIDE CLASSWORK: Students should understand that college courses require two hours of outside coursework per week for every credit hour in which you are enrolled. Therefore, for this course, alone, please expect to do nine hours of outside coursework per week.

ATTENDANCE/PARTIPICATION REPORTING: To confirm each student’s eligibility to remain registered for the class, the instructor will officially report attendance/participation on or before the Census Date. Students in this section of
Introduction to Literature
must participate in the Module 1 discussion board and submit the Module 1 assignment by

March 15
. The instructor will withdraw students, on this date, if participation is not met.

STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES:

Please communicate with your instructor, preferably through MCC email, about any absences, attendance and participation status, and academic progress in this course. The instructor’s contact information is listed at the beginning of this document. 

See also the additional responsibilities and expectations under COLLEGE SYLLABUS POLICIES AND INFORMATION FOR STUDENTS below. 

COLLEGE SYLLABUS POLICIES AND INFORMATION FOR STUDENTS

Please visit the College Syllabus Policies and Information for Students page at https://myway.mccneb.edu/depts/Syllabus to learn about the policies and resources below. Students are responsible for understanding and following the policies.

CLASS AND INSTRUCTIONAL POLICIES

· COMMUNICATION EXPECTATIONS

· ACADEMIC HONESTY STATEMENT

· TURNITIN

· OUTCOMES ASSESSMENT OF STUDENT LEARNING

· USE OF STUDENT WORK

· RECORDING IN THE CLASSROOM

· STUDENT WITHDRAWAL

LEARNING SUPPORT AND STUDENT SERVICES

· NEW STUDENT ORIENTATION

· ACADEMIC SUPPORT CENTERS

· ACCOMMODATIONS FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES AND STUDENTS WHO ARE PREGNANT

· NONDISCRIMINATION AND EQUAL OPPORTUNITY STATEMENT

INSTRUCTOR’S POLICY ON ACADEMIC HONESTY:  The instructor for this course uses Turn-it-in.com; this is a software program that helps identify plagiarism in student writing. Plagiarism will not be tolerated in this course. If you plagiarize (use someone else’s work as your own by cutting and pasting from sources, hand in a paper you or someone else has already turned in to another class, purchase papers from the Internet, etc.) you may fail the assignment or possibly the course (depending on the severity of the situation). In cases of plagiarism, the instructor will complete and submit an Academic Misconduct Incident form, which will be placed in your permanent academic record. 

TECHNOLOGY SUPPORT

· If you have difficulty connecting to the Internet, call your Internet provider.

·  If you need help connecting to the course from the Blackboard login page, refer to “Getting Started Online” at 

https://www.mccneb.edu/Online

.

·  If you are unable to solve the problem, email 

BlackboardSupport@mccneb.edu

 or call 531-622-2834.

For assistance with student email, passwords, and most other MCC technology, contact the Help Desk at 531-622-2900 or 

mcchelpdesk@mccneb.edu

.

TECHNOLOGY RESOURCES: 

By using the information technology systems at MCC (including the computer systems and phones), you acknowledge and consent to the conditions of use as set forth in the Metropolitan Community College Procedures Memorandum on Acceptable Use of Information Technology and Resources. It is your responsibility as a student to be familiar with these procedures. The full text of the Procedures Memorandum may be found at the following website:

https://www.mccneb.edu/getattachment/About-MCC-Nebraska/About-MCC/Procedures/X-15_Technology_Resources_Use .aspx

SCHEDULE OF ASSIGNMENTS

NOTICE: This syllabus sets forth a tentative schedule of class topics, learning activities, and expected learning outcomes. However, the instructor reserves the right to modify this schedule to enhance learning for students. Any modifications will not substantially change the intent or objectives of this course and will conform to the policies and guidelines of Metropolitan Community College.

Submission Dates and Learning Activities

All work must be submitted during the set time frame as shown below, to the appropriate discussion boards (initial posts by Fridays) and drop boxes, without exceptions. (*submissions are not accepted after 11:55pm on due dates listed)

COURSE SPECIFICS

· Please become familiar with the Blackboard platform— familiarize yourself with the course syllabus, announcements, calendar, and lessons tabs to ensure you understand course policies and deadlines.

· All quizzes have the same format. Each quiz has 15 multiple-choice questions over the assigned reading and has a 60-minute time limit. Each quiz is worth 30 points. I recommend starting your quiz no later than 10:00 p.m. on its due date, as Blackboard will deny you access to the quiz if you go beyond the 11:55 p.m. time frame,
even if you are in the middle of taking the quiz.
Plus, things can go wrong with technology and performance is typically better when the test-taker is not “under the gun”.

· Use MLA format headings for the three course essays and the Syllabus Statement and attach the to the drop box, as assigned. The Syllabus Statement for Module One and the three MLA formatted essays are the only activities you will submit as file attachments. They must be sent in , x, or .rtf file format, as these are the only options available through the College. Responses and discussions do not require attachments.

· Be certain you understand the format requirements and also how to attach a document.
Be sure to confirm your work is attached before submitting it.

· For all four essays, I will post extensive feedback about your paper; be sure to access and view this feedback to avoid repeating errors in subsequent essay submissions.

· Points for each module are recorded and can be found by clicking on “My Grades” in the main menu (shown on the left hand of the course)

·      Learning Activities in the Discussion area offer opportunities to expand your understanding of the works read and to challenge your ideas, perceptions, and assumptions; please take advantage of these opportunities. Do not spend time regurgitating obvious facts related to the literary works studied. Post questions that wonder about the literature BEYOND the text; avoid writing quiz-like questions that have easily found answers in the text. We want to dig into the readings beyond the superficial layer. In addition, when answering your classmates’ questions, I suggest interacting with a variety of your classmates to build on your own understanding of the literary works.

·      Use the following Revising and Editing Checklists, along with our textbook and the course content, to ensure successful essays.

Revising and Editing

The successful essay is a culmination of a series of drafts. Habits, capacities, and practices of writers differ widely; putting forth effort, however, is essential for all writers.

Revising Checklist

Purpose: Does the essay do what the assignment asks for?  Is the purpose evident?

Organization: Is the essay organized with a clear introduction, body, and conclusion? Have you provided at least one full paragraph for each main point? Are there clear transitions between ideas to ensure fluency and coherency?

Development: Does the essay meet the page length requirement? Is the thesis clear and concise? Is the thesis stated in one sentence at the end of the introduction? Do all points directly relate to the thesis? Have you provided a sufficient amount of textual evidence to support the thesis? Is the evidence smoothly integrated into your own prose— is each and every quotation or paraphrase connected to the paper and attributed to its original author? *this is a gentle reminder that your paper should not have “floating quotes” in it; all quotes should be smoothly introduced and integrated in your paper

Language: Is the language clear and free from confusing slang, wordiness, and jargon? Is the language appropriate in tone?

Audience: Will the intended audience understand the essay? Will the essay interest the intended audience?

Voice: Is the paper written in proper third person, subject-focused academic voice? (Avoid first person narration in academic essays.)

Editing Checklist

Clarity: Is sentence structure used correctly, clearly and effectively? Are the sentences varied and easily understood?

Correctness: Is the essay free from errors in punctuation, grammar, diction, and spelling that may hinder the reader’s comprehension? (Use the spell and grammar checkers cautiously. A good dictionary is a necessity for any writer.)

Appearance: Have you followed the MLA format? Is the layout of the assignment professional? Are your citations correctly MLA formatted and properly incorporated into your paper?

If you answer “no” to any of the questions listed, in either checklist, return to your draft and continue editing to ensure a successful essay.

2020 (19/SP) Spring Quarter Important Dates

Classes begin for 11-week/first 5-week sessions Mar 7 Sa

Census Date* for first 5-week session Mar 13 F

Census Date* for 11-week session Mar 20 F

Deadline for students to drop a class with no charge** varies by class. See Refund Policy

Deadline for students to withdraw from a class with no grade** varies by class

Classes end for first 5-week session Apr 10 F

Spring Break/College closed ……………………………………………………………………..Apr 11-12 Sa-Su

Spring grades for first 5-week session due by 7:00 a.m. Apr 13 M

Classes begin for second 5-week session Apr 18 Sa

Census Date* date for second 5-week session Apr 24 F

Winter quarter “I” incomplete grades are due May 1 F

Classes end for 11-week/second 5-week sessions May 22 F

Spring grades for 11-week/second 5-week sessions due by 7:00 a.m. May 26 T

Current Student (more than 50 hours) Summer 2020 (20/SS) Registration begins……. Mar 18 W

Current Student (fewer than 50 hours) Summer 2020 (20/SS) Registration begins Mar 20 F
General Registration Summer 2020 (20/SS) Registration begins Mar 24 T

*Census Date: To confirm each student’s eligibility to remain registered for the class, the instructor will officially report attendance/participation on or before the Census Date.

**Student Drops and Withdrawals: To view the last date to drop a class with no charge or the last date to withdraw from a class with no grade, go to the Class Schedule at

https://catalog.mccneb.edu/Pages/Home.aspx

. Find the course section and click on the Important Dates link. Dates for each course section are automatically calculated based on the start and end dates and/or the number of class meetings.

REFUND POLICY for Credit Courses

A student is responsible for dropping a course if unable to attend. Non-attendance or non-payment does not relieve a student from the obligation to pay. An official schedule change that reduces or terminates a student’s credit load may entitle the student to a refund.

The last date to drop a class

with no charge is listed in the Important Dates link for each class in the credit Class Schedule. Through 11:59 p.m. of the listed date, there is no charge for the dropped class. After this date, the student is charged 100% for the dropped class. Additional information on tuition and refund policies is available at

https://www.mccneb.edu/Prospective-Students/Tuition-Financial-Assistance/Tuition.aspx

.
Instructions on how to find the last date to drop a class with no charge is located at

https://www.mccneb.edu/Prospective-Students/Tuition-Financial-Assistance/Tuition/Last-Date-To-Drop-with-No-Charge-Instructions.aspx

Note: Schedule changes may have implications for students on Financial Aid. Prior to any schedule changes, check with the Financial Aid Office at 531-622-2330.