Mondays, 4:30-5:45
The student will master the writing process, including strategies for invention, organization, revision, and editing. The student will develop critical skills in reading, thinking and writing. Writing assignments will emphasize analysis and argument and the student will master research writing and documentation. All formal essays will require research. AAS: Communications elective. IAI: C1 900.
Appropriate assessment score or ENGL 1422 with a grade of C or better - Must be taken either prior to or at the same time as this course.
Course Alignment
General Education Outcomes are the knowledge, skills, abilities, attitudes, and behaviors that students are expected to develop as a result of their overall experiences with any aspect of the college, including courses, programs, and student services, both inside and outside of the classroom. The General Education Outcomes specifically learned in this course are:
- Communication
- Critical Thinking
- Responsibility
The general education program at KCC is designed to enable students to write, read and speak at a level reflecting college-level learning. The general education goals and objectives are designed to enable students to use reasoning and problem-solving skills, and to acquire skills in ethical reasoning. Students who complete the general education program will be able to examine complex topics and apply systematic processes to form conclusions.
Faculty Contact Information
upon request
Course Information
At the end of this course, students will be able to:
- Use invention, drafting, revising, and editing strategies to write academic papers
- Write claims that are appropriate for assignment requirements
- Effectively organize paragraphs to suit the rhetorical situation
- Support claims and generalizations with adequate and relevant details, examples, explanation, and evidence
- Analyze and evaluate the use of rhetorical appeals in a variety of nonfiction texts
- Apply the principles of rhetoric in student writing assignments
- Correctly integrate and document outside sources through signal phrases, parenthetical citations, and a works cited page
- Apply self- and peer- review strategies for revision and improvement
- Create and share a multimodal project
- Utilize standard grammar, spelling, and mechanics for clarity, tone, and style
- Rhetoric: Style, strategies, devices, tools, and appeals; relationship to audience
- Research: Credibility, integration, citation and documentation, research as inquiry, types of sources, role of research librarian
- Composition: Focus, coherence, development, grammar, spelling, and punctuation, introductions, body paragraphs, and conclusions
- Reading: Engagement with texts: annotation, outlining, vocabulary; critical analysis of texts including non-fiction, academic writing
- Criticality: Intellectual empathy, originality in thought, context of social and cultural contexts, diverse viewpoints
- Multimodality: Integration of visual, textual, and oral elements; methods of engaging audience; rhetorical awareness
No Textbook, Readings and presentations will be uploaded via Canvas
Methods of Evaluation
Students will complete 3 major writing assignments and a multimodal project. This will help hone skills of observing, reflecting, making and supporting claims, and finding research for evidence/support. Source material should not overwhelm the student’s own voice. Page lengths are mandatory minimums, meaning a 4+ page paper must be four full pages or even onto the fifth page when double-spaced; the works cited page does notcount toward the minimum length.
- Rhetorical Analysis Paper: 6+ sources, 4+ pages
- Argument Paper: 4-6 sources, 6+ pages
- Synthesis-based Annotated Bibliography: 6-8 sources, 5+ pages or at least 1,500 words
- A multimodal project (a student-created video presentation with slides and audio narration)
- Reading and discussion posts: These are completion based. To get all the points all questions are answered and reflect critical thinking/reading. If any ONE is left blank it’s a 0/10 for that reading
- Quizzes
RA Paper – 15%
Argument Paper –15%
Annotated Bib – 15%
Multimodal Project –15%
Weekly Readings –10%
Attendance: 10%
2 Quizzes over weekly readings, one at midterm another at finals—10% each
Course Writing Assignments for English I: ENGL 1613
Students will complete, at minimum, 3 major writing assignments and a multimodal project. This will help hone skills of observing, reflecting, making and supporting claims, and finding research for evidence/support. Source material should not overwhelm the student’s own voice.
- Rhetorical Analysis: 2-4 sources, 4+ pages
- Argument: 4-6 sources, 6+ pages
- Synthesis-based Annotated Bibliography: 6-8 sources, 5+ pages
- A multimodal project
Assignments may be given in any order.
Liberal Arts & Sciences
Dean, Jennifer Huggins; 815-802-8484; R310; jhuggins@kcc.edu; Division Office- W102; 815-802-8700
Student Support Hours: I encourage all of my students to reach out to me when they have questions, concerns, or a desire for additional support in my classes. Email communication is best, but if situations require, we may schedule a time usually after regular class time on Mondays to discuss any issues you may have
Failure Policy: Students are required to complete and submit the four major writing assignments listed above. If you do not complete any one of these assignments, you will automatically fail the course.
Technology: All assignments must be submitted in their appropriate place in Canvas. Lost or accidently deleted files will not be an acceptable excuse for not submitting work. Be sure back up your work. Students are expected to have sufficient technological skills to complete the requirements of the course, which include using Canvas features, formatting and typing written work, submitting files to Canvas, emailing, using presentation tech (like Google Slides or PowerPoint), recording a video using VidGrid or similar tech tool, etc. For this online course, students must also have access to a computer with the internet on a regular basis. Facing technical problems? Contact KCC’s ITS Helpdesk at 815.802.8900 or helpdesk@kcc.edu.
Cheating: Cheating can take many forms in a classroom: copying or using another student’s work, using your own work from another class without my prior permission (i.e., not writing original work for this class), adjusting format to make papers appear longer, working in groups on individual assignments (whether openly or in secret), sharing or stealing answers for tests or assignments, etc. No form of cheating is acceptable. If you cheat on a test or assignment, according to the professor’s judgment, you will receive a 0% on the first offense. You will be removed from the course with an F for a second offense.
Artificial Intelligence: Because this is a writing class, using AI, like Chat GPT, to write your papers is considered cheating. I need to evaluate your writing and critical thinking skills. Also, avoid using it as a grammar/style check, as it will get flagged. We have both plagiarism and AI detectors as part of the submission boxes, so please don't take any chances.
Plagiarism: Plagiarism is defined in section 17.2.b of the KCC Code of Conduct: “Representing the words or ideas of another as one’s own. Plagiarism includes claiming credit for assignments completed by someone else.” All instances of plagiarism on any assignment for this course deemed intentional by the instructor may lead to the immediate failure of the course with no opportunity for the student to withdraw. Any instance of plagiarism will be reported to the dean of student development. If the student has a second instance of plagiarism reported to the dean of student development, the student may be suspended from the institution. Plagiarism includes but is not limited to:
- submitting someone else’s paper
- using published material, including materials published online, without proper attribution
- paraphrasing or quoting someone without attributing the quote in your paper (that is, without providing an in-text citation) even if the source is included on the works cited page
- working with someone (without my permission) to write your paper & submitting it as your own
If you are in doubt, ask me or a tutor in the KCC Writing Studio. Follow MLA style citation guidelines when using sources in this class.
Minimum Requirements: Be aware that papers that fail to meet minimum requirements (i.e., minimum word count or full page length, number and types of sources, paper type, or paper subject determined by the instructor), will receive a failing score. Thus, a paper that is too short, missing the correct number and type of sources, or off-topic assignment-wise will fail with a 0. You are in college—partial work does not always receive partial credit. Also note that works cited pages do not count toward minimum length requirements and block quotes (quotes of four lines of text or longer) may not be used in papers for this class. Finally, simply meeting the minimum length and source requirements does not guarantee a passing grade.
Required Document Format: All papers submitted for this course must be typed with 1-inch margins in Times New Roman 12-point font (you may have to make changes in Word's default page setup). They must also adhere to 2016 8th edition MLA (Modern Language Association) style guidelines where specified. Any differences will be noticed. Failure to adhere to these requirements may result in point deductions or even failure (0%) on an assignment if the problem persists.
Revisions: The student may choose to revise their 3 papers. Revisions must be done the week after they are handed back, regardless of your attendance. You can revise for up to an 85/100 on the paper.
Communication: The best way to know what to do for class is to consult the syllabus, course calendar, and our Canvas course. If you have a question about what's due, consult the calendar and our Canvas course first. If neither the instruction materials nor your classmates can answer your questions, then you may email me, preferably within Canvas (if you email me at jpecora@kcc.edu, then you should use your KCC student email address; other email addresses may be auto-filtered & I won’t even see them). I will communicate important course-related info via Canvas email or Canvas announcements. Check your email often—at least once every 2 days. I will typically respond to emails within 24 hours, though sometimes it may be longer. Students may also request an appointment for a Canvas Conference or Zoom.
Title IX: Students sometimes choose to share private information with their professors. We appreciate your trust! Nonetheless, students need to be aware that KCC faculty and certain staff are required to report any incidents of sexual harassment and/or violence that we may hear about. Specifically, we will contact KCC’s Title IX Coordinator, the Dean of Student Development and Services. Please don’t feel like you can’t reach out but be aware of our requirement to report. If you want to speak with someone who is not required to report, please know that you are very welcome to call the county’s confidential sexual assault hotline (no referral is necessary, and your anonymity is guaranteed unless you choose to share your name): 815-932-3322 (Kankakee) or 815-432-0420 (Iroquois).
Absences: In this course, attendance is measured by meaningful participation both online and in our weekly class meetings on campus. Students who miss more than 3 classes may be withdrawn from the class, regardless of any impact on financial aid. Additionally, attendance is 10% of your grade. Every week you are here you get points. Each week you are not, you lose points. Class only meets once a week, so your attendance is expected. You are allotted one excused absence before you lose points for attendance.
Late Work: Weekly reading assignments are due the Sunday night before class at 10 PM. I will not grade these late. Papers are due by 10PM on the assigned due date. If these are submitted late, they will be deducted an automatic 20%. Multimodal presentations cannot be made late, since they are during finals week.
Week One: 1/12-1/16
- Review of Syllabus
- MLA documentation and Purdue Owl
- Signal Phrases and Creating Claims
- Discuss RA Paper
Week Two: 1/19 NO CLASS
Week Three: 1/26-1/30
- Rhetorical Situation
- TedTalk Yasmin Abdel Magied
- Ethos Pathos Logos
Week Four: 2/2--2/6
- “Why Gender Balance Can’t Wait”
- “A Study Used Sensors...” “Multiple Demands”
- “How Gender Bias Corrupts...”
Week Five: 2/9-2/13
- “Why Diversity Programs Fail”
- “On Views of Race and Equality”
- “History Class and Fictions”
- “Despite Gains...”
Week Six: 2/16- 2/20 NO CLASS
- Peer Review RA Paper
- RA Paper due 2/18 by midnight
Week Seven: 2/23-2/27
- “Annoying Ways...”
- “What is Academic Writing”
- “Back Packs and Briefcases”
- Complete Quiz 1 by 2/26 at midnight
Week Eight: 3/2-3/7
- Discuss Annotated Works Cited and Argument Paper
- Online KCC library, selecting topics begin research and annotated BIB
- Evaluating Resources
Week Nine: 3/19-3/13- Spring Break
Week Ten: 3/16-3/20:
- “How to Read Like a Writer”
- “Peer Review Praise”
Week Eleven: 3/23-3/27
- “10 ways to think about writing”
- Annotated Bib Due 3/26 by midnight
Week Twelve: 3/30-4/3
- “Weaving Personal Experience”
Week Thirteen: 4/6-4/10
- “Reflective Writing”
Week Fourteen: 4/13-4/17:
- Peer Review in Class
- Argument Paper Due 4/16 by midnight
Week Fifteen: 4/20-4/24
- “Social Media and Writing”
- Assign Multimodal Presentation
Week Sixteen: 4/28-5/2
- “Storytelling and Narration ‘Who I Am’ Story”
Week Seventeen: 5/4-5/8
- Quiz 2 –possibly in class or on canvas by Friday 5/9--will discuss week prior, if quiz online then this week work solely in class on multimodal presentations
Week Eighteen: 5/11-5/15: Finals Week
- Multimodal Presentations
College Policies, Resources and Supports
For information related to the Student Code of Conduct Policy, Withdrawal Policy, Email Policy, and Non- Attendance/Non-Participation Policy, please review the college’s Code of Campus Affairs and Regulations webpage, which can be found at catalog.kcc.edu under the Academic Regulations & Conduct Guide.
KCC offers various academic and personal resources for all students. Many services are offered virtually, as well as in person. Please visit Student Resources - Kankakee Community College to access student resources services such as:
- Clubs and organizations
- Counseling and referral services
- Office of disability services
- Student complaint policy
- Transfer services
- Tutoring services, etc.
The materials on this course are only for the use of students enrolled in this course for purposes associated with this course. Further information regarding KCC's copyright policy is available at https://kcc.libguides.com/copyright.
|Course syllabus/calendar is subject to change.