English 155 Syllabus

English 155 Communications I

Instructor: Deanna Dixon
Office: Fulp Hall 102 (Pendleton Campus)
Office Hours: TBA
Email: ddixon2@tctc.edu
Blog: deannadixonsenglish155.blogspot.com

Attendance Policy
The English Department believes that attendance at and punctuality to all classes are vital parts of the learning experience. If you exceed the allowable number of absences (for any reason), you may be withdrawn from the class. If you come to class after your instructor has called the roll, you must ask the instructor at the end of THAT class to change your absence to a tardy; otherwise, the absence will remain on record. Three (3) tardies equal one (1) absence and will be counted as part of the total number of absences allowed during the term. If you are late 15 minutes or more, you will be counted absent.

Deadline Policy for Written Assignments
Your instructor will accept one (1) late assignment (EXCEPT the research project which MUST be submitted on time). The one (1) late written assignment must be accompanied by approved documentation detailing the reason(s) for the lateness. You MUST also submit the late assignment within 48 hours of the original due date and time. There will be no exceptions to this policy.

Deadline Policy for Oral Presentations
Due to VERY limited time constraints, you may NOT make up a speech unless you submit an approved written excuse on the day you return to class after missing an assignment. Providing such an excuse is the ONLY way a speech that is not delivered on the day it is scheduled can be make up. Any make-up speeches must be delivered at a time scheduled by the instructor.

Evaluation Strategies and Criteria
Your grade will be determined as follows:
Blog entries, daily assignments, grammar quizzes 10%
Grammar test 5%
Information Literacy Workshops 5%
Process Analysis Essay 10%
Compare/Contrast Essay 10%
Cause/Effect Essay 10%
In class revision of one essay 10%
Process Analysis Speech 10%
Informative Speech 10%
Team Presentation 20%
TOTAL 100%

Blogs
You will be required to create and maintain a blog for this course. To set up your blog, go to www.blogger.com and click on the CREATE A BLOG tab. If you're confused about what a blog entails and how to get started go here: http://www.blogger.com/tour_start.g . If you have any problems, first check the website. They have many helpful tutorials. If that doesn't work, email me. Make sure to write down the web address of your blog (www.nameofyourblog.blogspot) so that you can submit it to me in class by the beginning of Week 2. Blog posts will be due every week by Sunday at midnight. The topics for the posts will be announced in class/and or posted on the class blog (http://www.deannadixonsenglish101.blogspot.com/). Also at the class blog, you will find copies of handouts, assignment sheets, and links to helpful resources. Use the blog as a tool to help you succeed in this class!

The Writing Center
The Writing Center is located in Oconee Hall, Room 202, on the Pendleton campus and in Room 117 on the Anderson campus. The Writing Center provides one-on-one tutoring, computer-aided instruction, and other improvement aids on all areas of written communication. Your instructor may require you to work in the Writing Center, or you may go on your own for help; you do NOT have to be enrolled in an English course to utilize the Writing Center’s services.While the Writing Center tutors will not write nor proof your papers for you, they will teach you to proof for yourself, tutor you on various writing skills, and provide suggestions for competing specialized writing tasks such as resumes and reaction papers.

Please see pages 23 and 24 of A Guide to English and Speech Courses at TCTC for description of Cultural Diversity Team Project and Presentation.