You must use a user name and password after the first week of class. Without these you will not be able to access the course materials. The format of your username and password are clearly posted on the main page of your course. If you still need assistance with your username and password please go to this page and read the instructions: http://www.bcconline.com/orient/password.htm,  to receive further assistance.

English composition and reading using descriptive, narrative, expository, argumentative, essay and research techniques. UC/CSU (CAN ENGL 2)

You must fill out this syllabus if you intend to take the course. Read through the following syllabus and follow all directions. You must also complete the student orientation requirements, which are located at http://www.bcconline.com/orient/  prior to starting the class materials. This area was created to help students move through the course website more effectively.

Write effectively in the following modes: description, narration, argumentation, process and exposition.

Understand and use effective English prose style, including such elements as paragraph types, sentence variety, emphasis, detail, and succinctness, as well as mold these elements into effective original essays.

Analyze prose models, make decisions about those models, and use stylistic elements of those models in their own writing.

Write an effective original college-level research paper.

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES:

1. Students will be able to read and analyze a college-level article or essay and compose an essay in response that goes beyond a standard five-paragraph essay. Assessment method:

A. Pre and post test

B. Writing assignments

2. Students will incorporate research into essays using MLA documentation style. Assessment method:

A. Essays including research

B. Exercises using MLA documentation style

English 50 with a C grade or better, or Assessment recommendation for English 1A.

See Required Materials section of syllabus.

Student must understand the intensity of a 9 week course and be prepared to keep up with the fast-paced schedule.

Please type the following in the box below:

I understand and am prepared for the demands of a 9 week course and meet all prerequisite requirements.

It is your responsibility to email the instructor if you have any problems or do not understand this syllabus.

It is your responsibility to confirm your enrollment either via the Internet at http://bcregweb.barstow.edu/  or by calling (760)252-2411 extension 7236 if you are having problems accessing the course material. After you have confirmed your enrollment go to http://www.bcconline.com/orient/  and read the password link. Following this procedure will ensure you are helped in the fastest manner possible.

By enrolling for this class, the assumption is that you possess the necessary skills to read at the college level, to enter and perform research on the internet, to email using proper email etiquette and to post to the discussions.

When emailing your instructor include your full name in the body of the email, or else you will not receive a reply and/or your assignment will not be graded. Send all email with the name of the course in the subject line. Email without an appropriate subject line will be deleted and will not be read. With the current high incidence of viruses and unsolicited email, I automatically delete all email without appropriate subject lines. You will not be notified if your email is unopened or deleted.

Example subject line: "ENGL1A".

Please allow up to 48 hours for response to any email. Forty-eight hours response time does not include Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and holidays. Always allow for 48 hours, excluding Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and holidays.

Email assignments will have a one week turnaround time for scoring, and you should not expect an answer to a successfully submitted and completed assignment before the end of the one week turnaround time period. This means you should always wait 7 days from the due date for response.

Important Note: Although it is convenient to quickly send an email to an instructor the moment you have a question or comment, please keep in mind that instructors have many students sending email to them. Send email in the same manner you use to make phone calls, office visits, or send letters. Carefully plan and write the messages you do send and use everyone's time wisely.

There is an instructor's message board at the top of the discussion page. Be sure to check this at least once a week for messages and clarifications. Do not post in the instructor's posting area. Should you have a concern with your class please email me your question. It is not appropriate for students to post their concerns in the instructor's posting area. Students who post in the instructor's posting area will receive a warning and their posting will be deleted unanswered. Students who ignore the warning and post again to the instructor's posting area will be dropped from the class.

At the conclusion of the class students may find out their grades by going on the Internet at https://www.barstow.edu.  I do not email or post student grades and will not respond to inquiries about grades at the conclusion of the course.

In the box below type:

I understand and agree to abide by the online learning procedures and guidelines written above.

You will not officially start this course until you complete the orientation sessions at http://www.bcconline.com/orient/.  No course work should be started or completed until after you have reviewed the orientation area. The orientation area will answer many frequently asked questions (FAQs) about online instruction and will also provide tutorials on common problems students encounter while participating in online courses. If you are experiencing technical difficulties and/or need to learn how to use courseware, you should first check the orientation area thoroughly and carefully to see if the answer to your technical question is there. If your technical question is not answered on the website you may then send an email to webmaster@bcconline.com  with your question.

If your question pertains to class materials you should email the instructor at The webmaster cannot answer course related questions, and your teacher does not answer technical questions. See email instructions and guidelines on the previous page.

Online classes are administered under the Distance Education division and as such there are no regular class meetings. Sometimes the terminology and/or the breadth of the class may seem daunting or overwhelming to you. If so, you may request a tutor for your class by emailing bctutorial@bcconline.com.  You can also use http://www.bcconline.com/orient/  for technical assistance.

In the box below type:

I understand I can request a tutor from bctutorial@bcconline.com,  and that I may use the http://www.bcconline.com/orient/  website for technical assistance.

Read each assignment carefully and submit work as required. Various assignments will be posted online, submitted online or sent by email. All papers must be submitted using the interactive forms provided with each lesson. Any work at all sent in an incorrect format will not be accepted or graded. Correct and complete submission is part of the assignment. Multiple submissions of work are not acceptable. The first submission will always be scored and additional submissions will be deleted unopened.

In the box below type:

I understand that work must be submitted as instructed and will be rejected ungraded if submitted in any other format.

There will be online "discussion" sessions throughout the course. All work and participation in these discussions is required and must be conducted within the time frame stated. No postings to the discussion group after deadlines will be scored. Students must check the board several times a week to read new posts by other students and the instructor. Students should not edit their profile in the discussion group.

In the box below type:

I understand that inappropriate or late postings to online discussions will receive no grade.

For the final exam you will have to find a proctor approved by the instructor--for example, a librarian or education officer, and an approved testing site, such as a library or an education center, to take the exam. Send the instructor the name, location and fax number of the proctor. The computer labs at Barstow College will be proctoring your exam if you come to campus. Proctors for this course must have access to a working fax number, and proctor information must be received by the end of the third week of class.

In the box below type:

I understand that it is my responsibility to find a proctor, to have the proctor approved by the instructor before the 4th week of class, and to arrange for a means of contact between my instructor and the proctor.

Grades will be calculated as follows:

Essays
Research Paper
Short Responses/Exercises
Discussion Questions
Final Exam

Breakdown:

• Six small essays worth 20 points each for a total of 120 points.
• One large final essay worth 100 points.
• Nine discussions, worth 10 points each for 90 points.
• Final exam worth 40 points.

Total: 350 points

Total Points Earned Divided By Total Points Possible Equals Percent

90-100% A
80-89% B
70-79% C
60-69% D
0-59% F

In the box below type:

I understand and agree to abide by the grading scale written above.

The thesis statement or topic sentence is clear and well-defined. The introductory paragraph of the essay is excellent.

Body paragraphs and supporting sentences show logical development and clear relationships. Body paragraphs contain topic sentences. Transitions are used effectively. Ideas are illustrated with specific examples.

The conclusion paragraph or concluding sentence signals the end of the essay or paragraph by summarizing points or ideas.

The writer follows all of the specific requirements for the assignment.

The written piece shows a superior writing style and originality in presenting ideas.

The writing contains no writing errors or few writing errors that detract from the content.

The thesis statement or topic sentence is obvious, but may need development. The introductory paragraph of the essay is above average.

Body paragraphs or supporting sentences show good development and relationships. Body paragraphs contain topic sentences and supporting details. Transitions are used. Ideas are illustrated with examples.

The conclusion or concluding sentence signals the end of the essay or paragraph. The concluding paragraph summarizes the major points of the essay.

The writer follows the requirements of the assignment.

The written piece shows an above average writing style.

The writing may contain a few errors that detract from the content.

The thesis sentence or topic sentence is apparent, but may be vague or too general. The introductory paragraph of the essay may need some improvement.

Body paragraphs or supporting sentences may show loose development or lack sufficient examples. Body paragraphs may contain undeveloped topic sentences. Transitions could be used more effectively.

The conclusion or concluding sentence may lack a signal of the end of the essay or paragraph. The conclusion may lack a summary of major points.

The writer follows most of the requirements for the assignment.

The written piece shows an average writing style, but lack of original thought.

Writing errors may detract from the content.

The thesis sentence or topic sentence is unclear or undeveloped. The introductory paragraph of the essay may be in need of improvement..

Body paragraphs or supporting sentences may lack development. Examples are not used to support ideas. Body paragraphs may lack topic sentences. Transitions are not used effectively.

Conclusion or concluding sentence may be lacking.

The writer may not have followed the requirements of the assignment.

The written piece may show below average writing style.

Writing errors detract from the content.

The thesis or topic sentence is ineffective or lacking. The introductory paragraph of the essay is in need of major improvement.

Body paragraphs or supporting sentences are undeveloped or incoherent. Information is not presented in a logical manner. Transitions and topic sentences may be undeveloped or lacking. Ideas lack development.

The conclusion or concluding sentence may be lacking.

The writer does not follow the requirements of the assignments.

The piece shows an immature writing style.

Serious writing errors detract from the content.

Please type the following in the box below:

In box below, type: I understand the above grading policy and agree to its terms.

Plagiarism is presenting the work of another as your own and is a crime punishable by failure in the class, expulsion from the college, and legal action. It is the student's responsibility to learn how to give proper credit for materials taken from other sources.

All work submitted is subject to a plagiarism search. All work must be original compositions written for this course. Any occurrence of plagiarism for any reason will result in automatic failure of the assignment and possible automatic failure in the course. Plagiarized work may not be resubmitted.

Please type the following in the box below:

I understand the policy on plagiarism, its consequences and agree to abide by it.

Prompt completion and submittal of all assignments is vital to the learning process and required. Late assignments will affect a student's grade. Late work (no matter the cause of lateness) may not be accepted at all at the discretion of the instructor. In some situations, late work will be accepted (at the discretion of the instructor) with late penalty deductions.

Please type the following in the box below:

I understand that all of my assignments, discussion group postings, papers, quizzes and tests must be turned in on time and the failure to do so may result in late penalties deductions or refusal of acceptance by instructor.

Instructors have the authority to establish standards for class participation. It is each student's responsibility to meet these requirements or the instructor may lower the grade or drop him/her from the course.

If the student misses more than 10% of all class assignments for any reason, he or she may be dropped by the instructor. Remember, it is the student's responsibility to drop a class, not the instructor's. If the student does not drop, but remains on class roll, a grade of F may result.

It is suggested that each student on campus or online employ effective time management skills and protect the time schedule necessary to do well in this course. You may find it helpful to construct a "master" time schedule for the forthcoming semester (include study periods) and share it with your family and friends so that they will know in advance of the semester what to expected of you. There are no make-ups. Be sure to schedule the final in your personal scheduler. Do not plan to move, get married, go on vacation or any other such activity during this class unless you are a great time manager. Only hospital emergencies or TDY (for military) which are documented and/or verifiable will allow you to make up work. The final is a substantial portion of your grade.

In the box below type:

I understand the standards for participation and agree to abide by them.

The standard length for essays is 500 words and 2000 words for the research paper. To receive credit for the course, all major essays and the research paper must be successfully completed and submitted on time. All papers should be in MLA format. Papers that do not meet the minimum word requirement will receive an automatic "D" (60) score.

Written reports, presentations, quizzes and class exercises will be executed with proper grammar in accordance with standards expected at Barstow College. Points will be deducted for incorrect spelling and improper grammar.

In the box below type:

I understand the standards for written work and agree to abide by them.

Major assignments are due on the designated dates listed on the front page of this course and will not be accepted after the date listed for the assignment.

Dates are subject to change, but any changes will be given at least a week in advance. In addition, you may have short writing assignments, quizzes and discussion questions.

Please type the following in the box below:

I understand the major assignment and test due dates and agree to turn them all in by the designated dates listed on the front page of this course and I understand assignments will not be accepted after the date listed for the assignment.

Taking the final examination on time is mandatory. No late finals will be accepted.

You will have to find an approved proctor--for example, a military educational officer, a clergy member, a librarian or an educational official--and an approved testing site, such as a military educational center, a church, a library or a school, to take the exam. Your proctor and testing site must be approved by the instructor before the 4th week of class.

Read and use the information on the websites listed below about electronic research. Each site has excellent information you can use to evaluate all your sources.

Websites:

http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/TeachingLib/Guides/Internet/Evaluate.html 

http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/TeachingLib/Guides/Evaluation.html 

IMPORTANT: Additional information not listed below and further instructions are posted on the course website for each week of the course. You are responsible for accessing these areas (with your assigned username and password) and submitting work by due dates listed on front page of course.

• Introduction Discussion due

• Discussion Due Sunday, midnight.
• Narrative paper, 500 words, due Sunday, midnight.

• Discussion Due Sunday, midnight.
• Descriptive paper, 500 words, due Sunday, midnight.

• Discussion Due Sunday, midnight.
• Definition paper, 500 words, due Sunday, midnight. Two sources required for this paper. Please see MLA info in the instructor's announcements area to learn how to cite sources.

• Discussion Due Sunday, midnight.
• Classification paper, 500 words, due Sunday, midnight. Two sources required for this paper. Please see MLA info in the instructor's announcements area to learn how to cite sources.

• Discussion Due Sunday, midnight.
• Argument paper, 500 words, due Sunday, midnight. Two sources required for this paper. Please see MLA info in the instructor's announcements area to learn how to cite sources.

• Discussion Due Sunday, midnight.
• Literary analysis paper, 500 words, due Sunday, midnight. Two sources required for this paper. Please see MLA info in the instructor's announcements area to learn how to cite sources.

• Discussion due Sunday, midnight.
• Work on final research paper, 2,000 words; 5-10 sources, MLA format, due next week.

• Discussion due by end of course.
• Final paper due by end of course
• Final exam due by end of course.