Embedded Files
“My father used to say, ‘Don’t raise your voice, improve your argument.” Desmund Tutu
“Invariably, knowledge dictates life, liberty, and death, but those who have historically occupied the seats of power not only dictate what is defined as knowledge but also dictate what’s included, what’s excluded, and how it is filtered to society vis-à-vis America’s major institutions . . . particularly the educational system; ultimately, shaping the very essence of life.” Martin Guevara Urbina, Latino Access to Higher Education: Ethnic Realities and New Directions for the Twenty-first Century
Hello and welcome to English 103 (the second class of our 2022-2023 BIGE Learning Community)! I’m excited to see you all again and to continue our learning journey together. Please note: co-current enrollment in Personal Development 115, Career Planning (CRN# 41715), is strongly encouraged, but not required. The PD class is only one unit and will help you to explore your career goals.
Beyond Incarceration: Greater Education (B.I.G.E.) Club Motto: Through our action, service and collective presence, we are breaking down stereotypes connected to being formerly incarcerated.
Table of contents
Table of contents
After you've reviewed this syllabus, you can use the links below to jump directly to a section. Cool, eh?
https://www.prisonpolicy.org/reports/education.html
Come see me! In my office, there is coffee, tea, and snacks. I offer tutoring, mentoring, dazzling conversation, and all around support.
Student Help/Office Hours in C-108: M: 9:00AM to 11:00AM, W 9:00AM to 11:00AM: and T: 9:00 to 10:00AM (online) *If none of these times work for you, we can arrange one that suits your schedule*
Class Info
Class Info
Class Time: MW 12:45 PM 2:05 PM
Location: L-203
CRN#: 41637
Email: janae.dimick@hancockcollege.edu
Website: Canvas
Office Location: C-108
Text: 805-316-4264
Who Am I?
Who Am I?
About me
Hi, my name is Dr. Janae Dimick, but you can call me Janae or Dr. D. (whatever strikes your fancy). Fun facts about me: I have 7 siblings, 15 nieces/nephews, 15 grand-nieces/nephews, 4 pets (2 dogs and 2 cats), and 1 kid. I like coffee, vegan gummy bears, and watching bad reality TV shows. I love teaching English, but I know that students often don't like taking English courses or writing in general. It's ok, I get it; I will do what I can to make this class tolerable, and maybe even...enjoyable? Remember, writing is about progress, not perfection. It's my job to coach (not judge) you during this process.
Books?
Books?
Q: What do I need for this class?
A: Not much! We will provide the books to you. Just make sure you have access to a computer. A Google account will be helpful too.
Required Texts (provided to you online):
Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You: a Remix by Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi
An Ilustrated Book of Bad Arguments by Ali Almossaiw
Other Materials:
· Access to the Internet and Microsoft Word or Google Docs.
· Paper and pen for in-class activities
· Portable drive or online storage account
Communication?
Communication?
How can we connect to one another?
I prefer that you text me (805-316-4264), speak to me in person, or email me (I'm bad about checking my office phone). During the M-F work week, I typically respond to students’ emails within 24 hours. During the weekend, I tend to “unplug” a bit, so I may not respond until Monday morning if you email me then. I welcome you to communicate with me about anything that may be affecting your life (and, in turn, your academics). If you’re struggling in any of your classes or just want general academic advice, let me know, and I can try to help.
Embedded Peer Tutor:
Our peer tutor Chelsie Eggers, is a resource and a person of support during your journey through ENGL 103. She will be helping out in class and can also meet with you individually to tutor you in our reading and writing assignments. While you can expect meaningful feedback and clarification from her, it is not their job to “fix” or edit your papers. Rather, it is her job to help you develop the necessary skills to make these decisions yourself to empower you as a writer. She is also a student and may have experienced some of the challenges you might face this year. In this way, she is a role model and an ally. She is a great resource, so make sure to utilize her! You can reach her at: chelsie.eggers.ed@gmail.com or at (805) 242-6074
Homework?
Homework?
What About Attendance?
Attendance (and participation) in this class is required. Being in class, arriving on time, and avoiding leaving early will you help you succeed in this course (arriving to class late or leaving early is considered a "tardy." 3 tardies equals an absence). Per the Grading Contract, students can only miss up to 2 classes before it starts to impact their grade. Per Hancock's policy, I may drop students if they miss more than 3 classes (which I don't want to do). If you know you’re going to miss class because of a planned school activity or a military/legal obligation, this may not be counted as an absence. Please let me know as soon as possible if this is the case, so we can make arrangements. If you have a documented illness, please let me know. Please note that since all of our assignments are turned in online, I still expect you to turn in assignments even if they’re due on the day of your absence. This will help you to keep up in the class, so that when you do return, it won’t be difficult to catch up.
Zoom?
This class is not offered in a Zoom or "Room and Zoom" modality. If you are unable to attend class, please check in with our peer mentor.
What kind of assignments will we be doing?
Essays/Formal Writing Assignments:
During the course of the semester, you will write a total of 4 formal writing assignments/essays. We’ll be working on all of these extensively in class, and you will be supported every step of the way by your peers, the peer tutor, the Writing Center, and me.
Packback Discussion Boards: We will be using Packback Discussion Boards to engage with readings and concepts from class. For this assignment, students will post a thoughtful question on Mondays and also respond to at least two of their peers' questions by the end of that week (by the following Sunday). In order to pass this class, students must have an overall 70% grade on the Discussion Boards.
4 Writing Center Tutorials: During the draft process for both essays, students are expected to go to the Writing Center and review their draft with a tutor. Students will have a virtual option for this via Zoom.
Participation:
While physical attendance is important for your success, class participation is also crucial. Participation means being mentally present, being prepared to discuss our readings, engaging in class discussions, respecting your peers by not talking over them or having side discussions, and supporting fellow students. Please note: cell phone use is not permitted in this class (unless we are using them for an activity). Please put your phone in your backpack, so it doesn't distract you. I have noticed that students who are confused about what is due are usually the ones who are distracted by their phones. Also, make sure to remove any headphones or earbuds while we're in our class session.
Late Work?
Late Work?
Q: What's the late work policy?
A: Per the Grading Contract, late work is defined as any work that is turned in after the deadline/due date but within 48 hours (for example, if something is due on Tuesday, Oct. 12th at 11:59 PM, and you turned it in Oct. 14th at 11:30PM, this assignment is considered complete but “late”). Ignored work is work that is simply never turned in. All this stated, it’s best to avoid late or ignored work as this will impact your grade. Plus, completing your work by the deadline means that you are prepared and able to participate in class with your peers. Completing all work will not only boost your grade, but it’ll help you learn, which the goal of this course. If you find yourself unable to turn in your work within the 48-hour window in which it was due, please reach out to me, so we can arrange a way for you to turn in this work. Unless an arrangement is made between a student and me, only partial credit will be given for late work, and no credit will be given for ignored work.
Grades?
Grades?
This semester, we'll be using contract grading. Please check out this linked document about why I've chosen this for the class. Essentially, what this means is students' final grades will be based on the amount of work they turn in. I hate assigning a letter grade to student work and prefer to simply give feedback as a way to help students improve their writing. In return, I expect you to review all the feedback I've given you and apply it to your future assignments after that. If you're unclear about something I've written or said to you, ask me to clarify--I don't mind.
Please note for homework and essays to be given a "complete" grade, they must meet the page minimum and other assignment requirements. If the work does not meet the requirements, it may only receive partial or even no credit. If you have any questions about an assignment, let me know. I'm here for you.
Contract Breakdown
If you want an "A," turn in ALL of your formal writing assignments, submit at least 90% of all other work, and have no more than 2 absences.
If you want an "B," turn in ALL of your formal writing assignments, submit at least 80% of all other work, and have no more than 3 absences.
If you want an "C," turn in ALL of your formal writing assignments, submit at least 70% of all other work, and have no more than 3 absences.
"D's" and "F's": I want all of my students to pass this class. Let's work together to address issues that may keep you from earning at least a C. All that stated, if students forget to submit one or more formal writing assignment/essay(s), turn in less than 70% of all of their work, and have more than 4 absences, it is unlikely that they will pass.
What are we going to learn?
What are we going to learn?
Course Description
Designed to fulfill the critical thinking requirement of the Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum. Students will develop critical thinking and reading skills, focusing upon induction, deduction, logical fallacies and close textual analysis. Emphasizes skills application through writing a sequence of argumentative essays.
Student Learning Outcomes: AKA What We'll Learn By the End of Class
1. ENGL103 SLO1 - Write argumentative essays using strategies of reasoning and techniques of rhetoric.
2. ENGL103 SLO2 - Identify flawed thinking and evaluate credibility of arguments.
Course Objectives: AKA What Our Course Goals Are
1. distinguish between fact and judgment, and belief from knowledge.
2. analyze, synthesize, criticize, and advocate ideas.
3. identify values and assumptions, explicit and implicit, in their own writing and in the writing of others.
4. identify the premises and conclusions of arguments.
5. recognize common logical errors and fallacies of language in their own writing and in the writing of others.
6. use elementary inductive and deductive processes.
7. write a sequence of strong argumentative essays utilizing strategies appropriate to audience and purpose.
Sick Policy?
Sick Policy?
Illnesses:
We are lucky enough to be living through a historical time because of the COVID-19 pandemic. While I always want my students to be present in class, please do not attend if you are sick. If I see that you have signs of illness, I will kindly ask you to leave campus or to wear a mask. If you have a positive COVID test, please let me know as soon as possible and do not attend class. If you have a documented illness or injury that will force you to miss class for more than a week, please let me know, so we can work together to maintain your standing in the course.
Masks ?:
Per Hancock and SB County mandates, wearing masks is not required, but it is strongly recommended. This may change to being required, so keep an eye out for any college emails that discuss this issue.
Cool Campus Resources
Cool Campus Resources
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
I understand that it takes time to learn how to integrate sources and give credit to other writers. We will be working on this skill during the semester, but you should be aware that Hancock College considers the following bullet points plagiarism. Plagiarism can result in you receiving a F on your assignment and have other, more serious, consequences. If you’re not sure if something is plagiarized (for any subject), ask me. I will help you figure it out!
Please understand that AHC considers that the following are considered cheating/plagiarism.
· Using another’s language in your text without citing it.
· Using another’s ideas in your text without citing them.
· Using another’s exact words and citing the author, but failing to put quote marks around the words.
· Using all or a portion of a friend’s, or family member’s, essay.
· Using work from a previous class as if it were done for this class.
· Getting “too much” help from a parent, tutor, friend, boy or girl friend. (You are getting too much help when someone else puts language and/or ideas in your and he/she is not cited.)
Students with disabilities and learning differences
Students with disabilities and learning differences
Sometimes, asking for help is the bravest thing you can do. In the B.I.G.E. LC, you don’t have to do this alone. If you have a physical or emotional condition, either permanent or temporary, which you believe makes it difficult for you to participate in and/or complete the requirements of this course in the time and manner prescribed, please let me know. Adaptation of methods, materials, or testing can be made, but you do need documentation by the Learning Assistance Program (LAP). If you think that you have a condition that is affecting your work, please reach out to LAP (Building A, Room A304 or 805-922-6966 EXT: 3274). I will go with you if you need support—just let me know!
Academic Freedom
Academic Freedom
Democracy depends on the free exchange of ideas. Academic freedom is a fundamental part of maintaining a free society. This means that faculty members are free to, and obliged to, “discuss and pursue the faculty member’s subject with candor, integrity, and objectivity even when the subject requires consideration of topics which may be politically, socially, or scientifically controversial”(Faculty Resource Guide 47). At the same time, there is a need to be academically responsible. Faculty must not violate college policies or procedures. Nor should faculty present him or herself as a spokesperson for the institution. Faculty must respect the rights of others to express their opinions and present material as announced to students and which meets curriculum requirements.
YouTube Channel
YouTube Channel
I have my own YouTube channel that discusses college success strategies. I know, it's a bit cringy, but it does talk about how to succeed in college, so check it out.
Dr. D's channel focuses on college success content as well as writing tips.
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