English 1A

English Composition
Online Class
Instructor:

Jacqueline Mantz Rodriguez

Email: [email protected]
Phone: 909-241-5093
You may contact me via email, text, or phone call during the hours of 7 am to 7 pm. I
am available every day of the week unless otherwise specified. If you leave me a
message I will get back to you within 24 hours. This is an online class so students
who need a more personal touch are welcome to discuss specific issues in Google
Hangout at times to be determined by appointment.

COURSE DESCRIPTION
English 1A is a course designed to give students the tools required for effective
communication in their scholarly careers at the community college level and leading
upward and onward to university and graduate school. English 1A is designed to help
students hone not only their writing skills but their abilities to participate in academia by
introducing them into the arts of critical thinking, reading, reflection, and discussion.
English 1A is an introductory writing course focusing on the the personal "voice" and
personal experience and the more formal demands of writing at the university in terms
of expository and argumentative writing.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
I could give you a list of objectives in bulleted form but the main course objective is for
students to learn how to become critical thinkers and writers at a level that is
appropriate for a college level class. This means that the final drafts of writing you turn
in will be grammatically correct and free from error. As a writer, you will learn to edit
and revise your writing; composing coherent multiple paragraph thesis-driven essays
using logical evidence that is cited appropriately will become a way of life for you in this

class. You will go through the writing process including prewriting, composing, revising,
and editing. You will be reading and applying your critical thinking skills to numerous
published articles, short stories, and novels for the purpose of scholarly writing and
discussion. Additionally, I want every student to become aware of the power of their
individual ideas when linked to other individual and/or societal ideas. Connecting our
own stories and ideas to others is what makes us human.
LEARNING OUTCOMES
Think, read, and write critically with a focus on the tone, audience, and purpose
using a variety of references.
Effectively evaluate sources (online or in print) for credibility and cite using MLA format.
Use credible and scholarly sources in your writing by summarizing, paraphrasing, and
direct quoting in MLA format.
Use sources legally following all copyright rules and avoid plagiarism. \
Write essays, narratives, and research papers that demonstrate an effective use of the
argumentative, expository, and persuasive forms of writing.
Work through the writing process (research, drafting ,editing, and revision) to create
polished pieces of writing that are error free and use the appropriate register and tone
for the audience.
Exhibit college level writing mechanics, organization, development, and coherence
throughout all in class essays.

POLICIES
All work is due by the date assigned on the class syllabus unless other
arrangements are made with the instructor before the assignment due date. Note:
I want every student to be successful in this class so if there are serious issues that
arise, I will do my best to work with you and be flexible. However, this is a college level
class and I expect assignments to be turned in on time. Resubmissions for work not
obtaining a satisfactory grade is allowed as long as the original assignment is turned in
on time. Assignments must be submitted via the online portal in the appropriate section.
Additional accommodations will be given under IDEA for students who submit to
the college documentation of their disability.
ADA COMPLIANT DESIGN
Students with disabilities are greatly encouraged to meet with the teacher individually.
Accommodations will be provided to all students submitting documentation of a
disability. For all students, all lectures posted on the web portal contain closed
captioning. Additionally, the textbook is available in an audio and braille version.
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY

Students are expected at all times to conduct themselves with academic integrity.
Plagiarism, cheating, and disruption of students activities online or in class will be
grounds for an F in the course and disciplinary action. This includes non-citation of
internet sources. Students are expected to be ethical and respectful toward the
instructor and one another in all class discussions, group work, voice threads,
and discussion board conversations.
Norms:
Keep all discussions on topic and appropriate for an academic environment.
Use appropriate language.
Do not write in all caps as this can be construed as screaming in the online
environment.
When disagreeing use respectful language and acknowledge everyone is entitled to
their opinions.
Edit and revise for spelling and grammar errors before posting on the discussion board.
TEXTBOOK & COURSE MATERIALS
On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King
This is both a textbook and a memoir of one of our most famous and prolific writers in
American Literature. You can buy this book on Amazon.
King, S. (2000). On writing. Simon and Schuster.
TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS

Computer that can access the online portal.

Accounts (free) for VoiceThread, Animoto, and Google Docs
Current web browser with appropriate plugins:

Quicktime Player for Mac or Windows

Windows Media Player

Flash Player

Adobe PDF Reader

Note: All assignments will need to submitted via Google Documents unless otherwise
stated.

GRADE BREAKDOWN
Essays:
Presentation:
In Class Essays:
Journal Blog:
Participation:

ASSIGNMENTS

50%
10%
15% (Cannot be made up or revised)
15%
10% (Includes all online discussions and assignments)

There will be three essays and one presentation in the course accounting for 60% of the grade
for this class. All essays will be able to be resubmitted once for full credit after a meeting with
the professor via a voicethread or Google Hangout session. Reading the textbook is mandatory
as your journal is a set of writing assignments designed to help you reflect on Stephen Kings
ideas on writing and your own journey with writing in this class. Please read all course
materials, participate actively and appropriately in discussion boards and voicethread
conversations as this is considered your attendance.
Narrative Essay:
100 points
Persuasive Essay:
100 points
Research Paper:
100 points
Presentation
100 points (counts as your final)
2 in class essays
100 points each
10 journals
15 points each
10 Socratic Discussions
10 points each
Note: This is a theoretical syllabus of a class I have never taught.