PRINCE GEORGE

To facilitate email communication with me, please include the following code: NM231 in either the subject or the first line of any emails to me during the spring 2006 semester. (The code stops legitimate email messages from being evaluated wrongly as SPAM—but does not allow emails that contain a virus or illegal attachment into our network.)

COURSE DESCRIPTION: A writing course designed for students who have progressed beyond the development level but who need more writing practice before entering English 101. The course focuses on expository essays and paragraphs and provides direct instruction in major rules of grammar, punctuation, and sentence rhetoric. This course will not fulfill the English requirements for transfer or graduation. Prerequisites: a satisfactory score on the placement test or a P1 grade in DVE 001 or placement by essay at the time of placement testing.

COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES: Upon successful completion of this course, a student will be able to:

(1.) Write, using Standard English, well-developed paragraphs of at least 150 words and essays of at least 500 words that have unified, restricted, and precise thesis statements; clear topic sentences that support the thesis; adequate development of the topic sentences in paragraphs; and a variety of sentence patterns or lengths.

(2.) Write prose with essential meaning unimpaired by grammatical errors, including fragments, run-ons (comma splices and fused sentences), faulty subject-verb agreement, and incorrect verb forms.

(3.) Use a handbook/dictionary to correct marked errors of grammar, punctuation, mechanics, usage, and spelling.

GRADING CRITERIA GRADING PERCENTAGES: Many factors determine your final grade. I will observe these percentages:

And while your official grade report does not reflect "shaded" grades, the grading scale does. My grading scale is as follows:

DUE DATES: Written assignments are due on the assigned date, at the beginning of class. If for any reason you cannot turn an assignment in to me on time, make other arrangements no later than the due date. Late essays will be lowered one letter grade per class each class period over the assigned due date. You must turn in all written assignments to receive a passing final grade. Submit all written assignments, even if they fail due to missing a due date. An "F" counts more than a "zero." I would rather assign a failing grade than a place holder.

PAPER FORMATS: All formal written assignments should be typed or word-processor printed. Use 8 ½ by 11" white paper. Your margins should be one and one-half inches on left and right sides and one inch on top and bottom. At the top left of the first page, list your name (last, first), assignment (paper) number, and the date; Do not use a title page of any kind (save a tree), nor any form of binder. Please double-space your texts on one side of the page only (in other words, do not print on the back of the page, too). If you discover errors after printing your final copy, hand correct the errors in blue or black ink. If you find more than five errors per page-or that extensive corrections are needed-correct and reprint the paper. Staple all work together in the upper left-hand corner before coming to class.

DISABILITY SUPPORT SERVICES

Students requesting academic accommodations are required to contact the Disability Support Services Office (M-1042) or call (301) 322-0838 (voice) or (301) 322-0122 (TTY) to establish eligibility for services and accommodations. Students with documented disabilities should discuss the matter privately with their instructors at the beginning of the semester and provide a copy of their Student/Faculty Accommodation Form.

The Prince George's Community College Code of Conduct defines the rights and responsibilities of students and establishes a system of procedures for dealing with students charged with violations of the code and other rules and regulations of the college. A student enrolling in the college assumes an obligation to conduct himself/herself in a manner compatible with the college's function as an educational institution. Refer to the 2005-2006 Student Handbook, beginning on page 41, for a complete explanation of the code of conduct, including the Code of Academic Integrity and the procedure for dealing with disruptive student behavior.

The college is an institution of higher learning that holds academic integrity as its highest principle. In the pursuit of knowledge, the college community expects that all students, faculty, and staff will share responsibility for adhering to the values of honesty and unquestionable integrity. To support a community committed to academic achievement and scholarship, the Code of Academic Integrity advances the principle of honest representation in the work that is produced by students seeking to engage fully in the learning process. The complete text of the Code of Academic Integrity is in the 2005-2006 Student Handbook (pages 42-45) and posted on the college's website.

CLASSROOM POLICIES Attendance means that you physically*/** come to class, complete all required assignments, and participate. I expect you to attend every class session. This course requires that skills build upon one another; accordingly, your success depends upon class activities. However, if for whatever reason you cannot come to class, you have three (3) excused absences. Use them at your discretion. I do not need to know why you were absent unless you exceed the (3) excused absences. On days when I ask you to bring a rough draft, an absence will count twice. If you accumulate more than three absences, see me at once. If any student misses a total of 25% of class meetings throughout the semester, that student will fail, per departmental policy. Weather Policy: The college provides the media with information pertaining to weather. Please use the radio or television station most convenient for you to check delayed opening and/or cancellation schedules. If the college is open, regardless of the weather, then we will officially have class. If the college opens late-later than our class time, meaning that our class does not meet-then we will reschedule that class. The college has reserved dates for make-up classes.

**************Coming to class late is an absence. If you are not seated and ready to learn by the time I finish taking attendance, then you are absent.**************

*Prior permission is required to use a tape recorder and you must be present to use it.

DISRUPTIVE BEHAVIOR STATEMENT: Disruptive behavior is any behavior that prevents learning. Disruptive behavior includes but is not limited to arriving late for class, leaving class early, leaving class and coming back, disruptive talking-either to another student or on a cell phone-cell phone ringers (all cell phones should be turned off unless your job involves saving lives), pager noise(s), music (earphones or not), and, in general, any sound or behavior that prevents someone from learning. Physical violence will not be tolerated. The college has a prepared, detailed statement concerning disruptive behavior. If further clarification is required, please see me.

PLAGIARISM: Broadly defined, plagiarism is the use of someone else's writing or ideas or work as if it were one's own. Plagiarism occurs sometimes in researched writing when the student uses sources without adequate documentation, and sometimes when a student puts his or her name on another person's writing (this includes test answers) and submits it as original work. Either one is dishonest scholarship and unacceptable at this college. This is my personal statement on plagiarism. Below is a copy of the plagiarism statement used by Prince George's Community College:

PLAGIARISM is using someone else's work (for instance, information from a book, a magazine, a newspaper, or another student's essay) without giving credit to the original source. Credit to the source must be given in either the text of your paper or in a footnote or endnote.

2. Extensive borrowing of words and phrases from a source without using quotation marks and without identifying the sources.

4. Using other's ideas or information (including graphics, statistics, observations, or research data and findings) without giving credit to the source in the text of your paper in a footnote or endnote.

Your instructor may wish to refine the above definition of plagiarism or add to it. Use the space below to record any refinements or additions.

Be advised that plagiarism is dishonest and carries severe academic penalties, which can include suspension from the college. In cases of plagiarism, an instructor may take such action as he or she sees fit, including giving a failing grade for the assignment and reporting the incident to the Office of the Vice President for Student Services for disciplinary action.

When the College announces a delayed opening, all classes with at least 45 minutes of class time remaining at the time of the opening will be held. For example, in the event of a 10 a.m. opening, a 9:30-10:45 a.m. class will be held. This procedure applies to all credit classes.

The Library provides a range of library and media services. Refer to the web site for hours and more information about the services.

Student Development Services has various programs that provide students with mentoring, advising, and individual counseling. Call or check the website for more information.

The Tutoring Center can help you in many courses with free one-on-one or group tutoring.

The Writing Center offers one-on-one tutoring for all students who are working on a writing assignment in any course.