General Information:

• English 100: Composition I

Davin K. Kubota (Mr. K. / Mr. Kubota)

OFFICE: Kalia Building : (734-9331) --this # has voicemail, so feel free to leave a message.  (In a pandemic context, please do not call this number) 

GoogleVoice: (714) 367-4861 (This is my preferred method of contact)  The number has text, voice, and other messaging capabilities, and you can access it 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

1st floor of Kalia Bldg | Materials can be dropped off in my office box in Kalia 101.   (If classes are in an in-person context)

Email: davink@hawaii.edu, davinkubota@gmail.com

Contact Methodology:

• Not that stuck? email

• Somewhat stuck? Google voice.  714.367.4861

• Super stuck? Office hours. (LAMA LIBRARY 2nd FLOOR, f2f) or (Zoom, online, if the course is conducted in an online context)

Office Hours: You should sign up for a Booking Slot via YouCanBookMe.com.  The site is accessible via my Office Hours Link.  

Prerequisites:

• Course Prerequisites

English Placement Examination or C or better in ENG 22; grade of CR+ from ESOL 94. See me if you have questions about these prerequisites or about the difficulty level of this course. If you have not MET the prerequisites for English 100, you may be asked to withdraw from the course, so it's in your best interest to double-check.  If you do not think you have been placed in the appropriate course level, you should also consult with me and a counselor rather than wasting fifteen weeks struggling through the course needlessly.   Particularly in the first or second week of school, it might be more appropriate to switch out to ESOL 94, ESL 100, or ENG 100S, depending on your learning pace and needs.  

MINIMUM REQUIREMENT:

To receive a passing grade of "C or better" in English 100, students will complete a minimum of 5000 words of finished prose, roughly equivalent to 20 typewritten pages that have been double-spaced. This generally suggests that if you have 5 assignments, each of the assignments should be 4 pages long.  You must also complete ALL of the major essays to pass the course. (the department's rule) Failure to complete any one of the major essays may result in a failure for the course.  At the end of the semester, another ENG 100 faculty will look at a portfolio of finished work to determine if the student is ready for the next sequence of classes, e.g. Writing-Intensive courses.  Their grade or suggested grade will not determine the bulk of the final course outcome, but will factor in at a 22 to 25 percent basis, to ensure more impartiality.  

Course Description:

ENG 100 students will develop strategies for effective college writing, with an emphasis on critical reading and thinking. This course includes instruction in the composing process and practice in various kinds of writing, including analysis, interpretation, and research writing from sources. By the end of the course, students will complete a minimum of 5000 words of finished prose, roughly equivalent to 20 typewritten pages.

How I perceive my class as specifically driving home set skills: I personally invest time on thesis statement construction, PIE structure, and MLA/APA quote dynamics.  Students who are more interested in reading comprehension, grammar instruction, or other dynamics might consider another ENG 100 section that fixates on those topics.  

COURSE COMPETENCIES:

UH Written Communications hallmarks: 

English 100 is a foundations course which fulfills the Written Communication Foundation Requirement for degrees at UH-Manoa and Kapi‘olani Community College. To satisfy the Written Communication Requirement, a course will:

1.  introduce students to different forms of college-level writing, including, but not limited to, academic discourse, and guide them in writing for different purposes and audiences;

2.  provide students with guided practice of writing processes–planning, drafting, critiquing, revising, and editing–making effective use of written and oral feedback from the faculty instructor and from peers;

3.  require at least 5000 words of finished prose–equivalent to approximately 20 typewritten pages;

4.  help students develop information literacy by teaching search strategies, critical evaluation of information and sources, and effective selection of information for specific purposes and audiences; teach appropriate ways to incorporate such information, acknowledge sources and provide citations;

5.  help students read texts and make use of a variety of sources in expressing their own ideas, perspectives, and/or opinions in writing.

KCC-Specific Competencies

By the end of the semester students should be able to:

Employ a writing process which includes gathering information and exploring ideas, developing and supporting a point of view or thesis, organizing, revising, editing, and proofreading.

Produce different forms of college-level writing, such as narrative, analytical, and persuasive essays, whose content, organization, diction, and style are effectively adapted to various writing situations, purposes, audiences, and subjects.

Analyze and evaluate the logic, evidence, and strategies of an argument (written and/or presented in a visual or digital medium).

Analyze and interpret a literary work (nonfiction, fiction, poetry, or drama) or other textual material.

Find and evaluate information from a library, from the Internet, or from other sources; synthesize relevant findings in his/her own writing without plagiarizing.

Translations of the competencies:

1.  You shouldn't slack and write the paper via procrastinating.  The paper should be built up in mini-steps and then checked to ensure completeness and following directions.  

2.  By the end of the course, you know how to handle different genres of college-level writing, and you know what kinds of writing appear in them.  

3.  If you read an advertisement or a politician or news article, you should be able to see how they're trying to convince or manipulate you.  

4.  You should be able to read a short story, poem, and play and know how to find the theme and relevant literary structures.  

5.  You should be able to access high-level, academic resources and then, when you incorporate these into your essays, know how to avoid plagiarizing via an in-text citation or paraphrase.  

Texts and Materials, Tools:

-- TEXTBOOK purchases: (PLEASE NOTE.  If you are taking an online course, these texts are not mandated--they are just useful in terms of improving your sentence structure and writing).  The main website has a free ENG 100 textbook in epub and pdf format.  

The Art of Styling Sentences by Ann Longknife and K.D. Sullivan (recommended)

Pocket Style Manual by Diana Hacker (optional)

Grammar Girl's Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing (Quick & Dirty Tips) (online)

Mignon Fogarty (Author)

(The books above ought to be available on Amazon).   If you are genuinely interested in improving your sentence structure or grammar, they can be good purchases and not that expensive.  

For a face-to-face course:  

--Folder paper, preferably college-ruled, or a composition book.

--Pens, preferably blue or black ink. 

--A system-appropriate computer disk to save files (MacOS or IBM PC, based on your lab. Kalia 109 is a Mac Lab; Kalia 110 is a PC Lab). A thumb drive / USB Flash Drive is probably your best option. *When you work on elements in class, remember that you can always email papers to your personal email account such that your assignments will be waiting for you at home.

--An email account + access to the Internet via a current browser. You ought to use a hawaii.edu-based email.

The Kapi'olani Computer Labs are available for your use, but the schedule of open lab times may be limited. You will also need an active email account in case I may need to contact you or if you need to download materials / save and send your in-class writing;

--Manila folders (1) for your major assignments. 

--Copies of your essay's draft(s), several for your workshop group and one for me to look at.

Only one copy of the FINAL DRAFT is sufficient.

For an online course: 

A decent computer and one that has a decent Wi-Fi capability.  Wireless access.   Work in this class should not be done on one's phone.   If you have digital or WiFi access issues, please make contact with the library, since a limited number of laptop loans for the semester are available.  If you have WiFi infrastructure or WiFi access issues, please consider working from the school library if you feel safe, wear a mask, and are comfortable doing so, if the conditions of the pandemic apply.  

A composition book or blank sheets of paper and a pen, should the instructor ask you to do journaling or take notes on the lecture.  Alternatively, you might like to have an open GoogleDoc waiting for notes, a viable ScreenRecorder, or some sort of online journaling platform, perhaps a blog to take down notes.  

Your email, which you should access once or twice a week.  

Grading

MAJOR ASSIGNMENT (10 percent each)= 50 percent

EXTRA-CREDIT ESSAY 0 (+ rubric): COLLEGE LEVEL SHOW AND TELL | VISUAL ANALYSIS

ESSAY 1:  NARRATIVE ESSAY BASED ON NATIVE HAWAIIAN PROVERB OR FOR SCHOLARSHIP PURPOSES

ESSAY 2: RHETORICAL ANALYSIS OF SOCIAL MEDIA PIECE

ESSAY 2: RESEARCH CHALLENGE

ESSAY 3 (+rubric): RESEARCH PROJECT

ESSAY 4 (+rubric) (+ video overview): LITERARY ANALYSIS | PACKET

PORTFOLIO (PORTFOLIO ASSESSEMENT):  PORTFOLIO OVERVIEW

NOTE: All essays are supposed to showcase this competency:  synthesize relevant findings in his/her own writing without plagiarizing.

Translation: You quote content from reputable resources without plagiarizing stuff.  And, you know how to quote well.  

MINOR ASSIGNMENTS (LABELED AS HW): 12.5 percent

PARTICIPATION AS GAUGED BY QUIZZES, JOURNALS, WORKSHEETS, SIGN-IN SHEET: 12.5 percent

PORTFOLIO ASSESSMENT: 25 percent

BONUS CONFERENCES: 1-5 percent each

USE OF STUDY HUB MENTORING and COUNSELING: 5 percent each

GRAND TOTALS: 100+ points TOTAL

Please remember: 

You must complete ALL MAJOR ESSAYS to pass this course; you cannot do two essays and neglect to do the others. Also, if you fail to turn in your end-of-semester portfolio, you lose 25 % of your grade and possibly jeopardize your ability to pass the course...

It is possible, in this class, to earn more than the allotted 100 percent out of a 100. In semesters past, I have had students who earned a 120% out of a 100; not only were their essays EXCELLENT, but they had EXCELLENT essay and participation grades. The record for most papers revised was 12 revisions on one paper. The student went on to win a 10,000 dollar scholarship based on the paper.

List of Penalties:

Occurrence

INFRACTION

Late assignment/paper: 10 percent reduction per one week, 20 percent after that.

Missing draft(s) (1st, 2nd, 3rd): loss of ability to revise paper; penalty of 10 percent per draft.

Plagiarism

You receive an "F" for the first infraction and I will discuss the occurrence with you; You "fail the class" for a second incidence of plagiarism such as the following: 

1.  failure to cite properly or use proper quoting rules, poor paraphrasing of the original source;

2.  buying or copying an essay or blog entry that exists online;

3.  employing an AI-type ghost writer where substantial amounts of the writing are crafted by an AI and then copied and pasted into initial and final drafts;

4.  submitting a friend's paper instead of your own;

5.  hiring a ghost-writer or friend or family member to write on your behalf;

6.  weakly rehashing an essay that you've submitted in another course, barely changing core elements in the older essay;

7.   generally relying on fraudulent or lazy acts or "sketchy" sources during the production of an essay;

8. exhibiting a 'good enough to pass' mentality around lazy paraphrasing instead of fostering growth mindset in terms of getting fresh and original content on the paper.  

In modern times, plagiarism also involves using and then copying and pasting content from an AI writing assistant, CourseHero file, or hiring / employing another writer such that your credibility would come into question.  In the workplace, this type of infraction would typically result in termination, so I question why anything less would be acceptable in a University setting.  

Read here about plagiarism and stay informed.

Lack of participation as gauged by the failure to complete feedback cards/Tardiness

-3 to -10 points as applied to daily Participation grade.

List of Bonuses:

Occurrence

Bonus

Attendance at a cultural, literary, artistic event, followed up by a 1-2 page summary/opinion of that event.

+10 HW points added to HW grade.

Submission of your work to a Tutor.com tutor or StudyHub tutor of your choice

+5 TW points added to each formal paper

Submission of work into a KCC-related publication.

+10-20 HW points added to HW grade.

Participation in Service-Learning Project.

+ point(s) varies (see me for details)

Individual, case by case written extra-credit assignments, usually about 2-3 pages in length.

+ point(s) varies (see me for details)

Revision of Papers

+ point(s) varies (depends on how well you revise, beyond just fixing grammar errors)

Optional Assignments

+ point(s) varies

Please keep in mind that bonus, extra-credit work will normally not improve a failing grade; extra-credit points are not worth as much as points garnered from the major assignments.

Statement on CHATGPT and other online writing aids:

To me, ChatGPT and other AI-enabled 'writers' will likely revolutionize much of society; as a 'brain' that is a facsimile of multiple resources and something that hybridizes and often synthesizes content, I personally find the platforms fascinating and also terrifying, since I feel that they can engender the capacity for ever-increased indolence in the human population.   That being said, in a writing course, your own "brain" is the one that is being represented.  Thus far, in my own personal encounters with ChatGPT, the current output of the device is glaringly devoid of specific examples, 'fact-searching' elements, earnest attempts to source information and give credit-where-credit is due.  I still feel that even when it becomes more and more advanced on the level of a PhD, I stand opposed to reliance and over-reliance on ceding up turf to this brain instead of the one inside of your cranium.  

Therefore, the following policies stand:

1.  I am okay with your use of such resources in the case of active brainstorming and outlining purposes.  As a resource and pre-writing tool, in terms of getting started, I find that the resource can be useful, often a sounding board for where you might want to take the project.  Consulting such resources to gain brainstorming or prewriting fodder for essays could be useful.  

2. I AM NOT OKAY with your using ChatGPT or another AI site / writer to be a rationalization of 'the thing can write it better than I can, so why not use it" lazy tool such that you COPY and PASTE content from said platform, as if you wrote the content yourself; by definition, such an act still constitutes PLAGIARISM and violate the Student Conduct Code, and the more students get used to unethical behavior in college, it could routinize unethical behavior in their professional lives as well.  

As a result, in final drafts of content, plagiarism penalties would apply in the case of copied and pasted content found to exist in the essay; ChatGPTZero and other AI-detection sites will be cited in these cases, and, if necessitated, will be submitted to the Vice-Chancellor of Student Affairs to corroborate claims that the student has plagiarized.  

Course Policies:

Format: Work must be typed using GoogleDoc within Google Classroom that has the size of an 8.5"X11" paper. It must be formatted to proper MLA specifications; basically, these involve the following:

1. 1 inch margins (top, bottom, left, right); SAMPLE PAPER

2. a formatted heading with the following elements: name, name of instructor, class meeting times and days, date, assignment, draft number;

3. a centered title that is preceded and followed by two spaces (hit return twice after the heading and before the introductory paragraph);

4. on every subsequent page after the first, your name plus the page number.

Computing: I expect you to adhere to the Interim Policy for Responsible Computing and Network Access and the Critique Lab Policies set by the University of Hawai'i;

Readings: Some of the readings may be rather challenging; it is in your benefit to keep up with the reading assignments. It's preferable that you read carefully instead of quickly--using a pen to take notes usually constitutes a better study skill than does using a highlighter. YOU SHOULD not feel embarrassed to consult me about textual confusions and course questions--I enjoy discussing these quandaries with you, because I probably find them perplexing as well.

Being prepared in this class: Being prepared for class means that you are ready to discuss relevant selections from the texts assigned, participate in a manner that is both tactful, relevant, and beneficial to all group members, and ready to respond. I would really like for all of us to have a intellectually stimulating discussion rather than having us guess at what's going on in the material.

Course disruptions: In general, please adhere to the student conduct code on classroom behavior and please turn off cell phones, pagers, beepers, iPod's, PSP's, GBA's, and other devices as they constitute distractions. If you must have your cell phone on for specified medical reasons, please let me know beforehand. If you are in a lab environment, checking MySpace, using AIM, YahooChat, etc. does not constitute a legitimate use of the computer unless it is class-related.

Course disruptions due to behavior: If you have not done so already, please read the KCC STUDENT CONDUCT CODE. Essentially, if you make students or instructors uncomfortable with threatening or harassing commentary, please be advised that there are typically disciplinary consequences for such behaviors.  Outbursts on Zoom are considered inappropriate and may be muted; in worst-case scenarios, students may be dropped from the Zoom session.  

Deadlines: Assignments are due at the beginning of class on the day on which they appear in the schedule. Assignments get posted within GoogleClassroom.  You must complete all essays to receive a passing grade in this class. Grades for late assignments, including drafts, will be lowered by 1/3 letter grade (-3 points) for every school day past the due date but will be capped at a 20 percent penalty. I will be happy to discuss any questions you have about grades, but please take at least 24 hours to review my editorial comments before meeting with me about revising for a better grade;

Incompletes: I will ONLY give incompletes for the semester in cases of serious medical or family emergencies. As a general rule, I feel that incompletes adversely affect a student's performance in the semester to follow; after all, a student must complete the coursework for that semester as well as the previous one.

Withdrawals from the Course: 

It is the student's primary responsibility to initiate any or all actions relating to the student's registration status for this course. I DO NOT have the authority to WITHDRAW students from the class. During the semester, if you feel that you need to withdraw due to unforeseen circumstances, it is your responsibility to visit Ilima 101/2 (Maida Kamber Center) to initiate a change in registration (dropping the course). Students who have NOT made the necessary changes to their registration status and who are no longer attending this course may receive an "F" grade.

Attendance: 

You are expected to attend this class regularly and on time. If circumstances arise that make it difficult for you to come to class or to complete your assigned work, please inform me immediately. Don't wait until the end of the semester, when it will be harder to make accommodations. All in all, I prefer it that students attend class even if they are unable to do an assignment due on that day; it takes up my time and other students' time to explain what's been going on when you've missed class. Since your feedback cards or blog entries constitute a sizeable chunk of your grade, it's in your best interest to attend class regularly.  We have a 100 point participation gauge during EVERY class session, so rather obviously, if you skip a lot, you should expect to struggle in the course.  

This attendance policy, compared to other courses, is not rather harsh.  The way I truly feel about attendance is this: "A classroom gains benefits when all of the classmates are present and presenting a variety of perspectives.  If you skip, you are denying your classmates to hear your unique voice."  

You will NOT be allowed to make revisions on essays that are late or missing; CHRONIC ABSENTEEISM almost always affects your essay grade, so please TALK TO ME, if you're having trouble keeping up in the class. Some studies indicate that students' grades are typically affected after their sixth absence; after your sixth absence, therefore, you may be contacted by me so that I can ascertain how to assist you better.

If you are enrolled in an online section that does not have a face-to-face component, e.g., meeting on Zoom, then it is up to you to attend any synchronous sessions that may get offered.  For students who need extra assistance or more structure and direction, attendance in these synchronous sessions are highly recommended and will be given incentivization rather than punitive action.  In other words, you will receive a bonus instead of a penalty.  

Revisions

Rewriting plays a central role in this class. If you are not satisfied with the grade that I give you for a major assignment--and only major assignments,-- I will allow you to revise that assignment, two times, provided that 1) you meet with me for a mandatory consultation on how to improve that paper; 2) your attendance and punctuality are your strong suits. 3) the paper is turned in on time; I will give you the HIGHER of the two grades, rather than averaging them together, so it is to your benefit to take advantage of my revision policy.

You will have a chance to meet with me after writing your first essay, so that you 1) feel comfortable with talking with me; 2) become more aware of how instructors make comments / grade assignments; 3) get to know me better. This meeting is highly recommended and is worth an additional 1 percent towards your grade.

Scholastic Dishonesty

The University of Hawai'i regulations strictly forbid plagiarism and collusion. 

1.  Submitting someone else's work as your own, 

2. arranging for someone else to do your writing for you (ghost-writing), 

3. incorrectly paraphrasing, 

4. directly plagiarizing as your own, 

5. improperly citing online or paper-based textual resources, or 

6. purchasing or copying existing papers will earn you a failing grade for the assignment and may result in a failing grade in the class. Please review your current system-wide guidelines regarding plagiarism and ask about any issues that you do not understand. In addition, I expect you to adhere to UH's Interim Policy for Responsible Computing and Network Access and the Critique Lab Policies.

7. Using sites like CourseHero or other online paper mills;

8.  Inappropriately re-using previously-written course content for other courses.  

9.  Copy and pasting content from ChatGPT or other machine learning sites without citation or attribution, overreliance on said sites without individual critical thinking or crafting.  

If you would like to see examples of direct, mosaic, individual, and inadvertent plagiarism, please direct your attention to the link: 

https://sites.google.com/hawaii.edu/generativeaiexamplesofplagiar/home

LINK TO CONDUCT CODE: 

http://studentaffairs.manoa.hawaii.edu/policies/conduct_code/index.php#IV

Please prevent plagiarism issues by going to my entire site about the topic: HERE

Student Conduct*

Please refer to the K.C.C. General Catalog and be familiar with the Student Conduct Code. Copies of this Student Conduct Code are also available at the Office of the Dean of Student Services. Disruptive Behavior as defined by KCC will not be tolerated. I also feel that cell phones constitute a disruption to the course, so please ensure that your cell phones are turned off prior to entering the classroom. Food and drink are not allowed near computers, so please consume them prior to class if you have class in a lab environment.

PROCEDURES REGARDING CONDUCT: LINK

RESOURCES: LINK

Professionalism

Being professional in the college environment means being responsible for your education. Tardiness and chronic absenteeism are not signs of professionalism; after all, if you were consistently tardy or absent from work, your employment would be terminated. Please keep in mind that poor attendance and punctuality affect your performance in this class. I reserve the right NOT to allow you to revise work if you are consistently absent and/or tardy to this class. I feel that your BEING in class and BEHAVING in a professional manner will ultimately assist you in being a better writer; hence, your attendance and punctuality seem logical, if not crucial.

Professionalism in the context of an online Zoom session:  

1.  Make sure your first and last name gets used.  

2.  Be clothed so that you don't nude-bomb the camera.  

3.  Say your first and last name to answer a question to receive extra participation points.  

4.  Mute your audio unless you decide to speak up.  

5.  You may keep your camera off if you'd like unless I ask you to show your face.  

6.  Inappropriate screensavers, chats, or other offensive content should be avoided.  

7.  Avoid eating during class and try to possess good posture.  

8. Take notes.  I will not be recording any Zoom session due to privacy and federally-protected FERPA concerns.  

Extra Help

I have dedicated several hours during each week and EACH weekday towards helping you. Many college students feel that it is awkward or unnecessary to seek help from an instructor, especially at the university level. Nevertheless, speaking from my own experience, directly consulting the instructor on the instructor's expectations on certain assignments, or simply "talking story" with the teacher has been invaluable towards my education. If you have the attitude, "Seeing da teachah is nutting fo' be shame about," then I think you have a good attitude towards getting the BEST out of your education. I am available during office hours or by appointment to answer any questions you may have regarding the course work. Please try to see me when you are having difficulties rather than "suffering in silence."

Extra Credit

I typically give extra credit points to those students who attend school-sponsored events, such as a lecture, performance, or concert. Please keep in mind that extra credit will not have a significant impact on a failing grade. To receive such extra credit, a one to two page write up of the event, including a summary and an opinion of the event must be submitted. Students, as a whole, do not enjoy publishing their work. They are "shame" about their work, thinking that it isn't good enough, or that it constitutes an embarrassing expose about their lives. I encourage student publication and rewards students 'just for trying.' If you simply apply to have your work published, I will reward you with extra credit for each of your papers. It goes without saying that you should do your best to work with me and others to ensure that your paper is ready for publication; as such, I encourage you to see me for help on how to revise your essays.

Special Student Services:

DISABILITY SUPPORT SERVICES.  

If you are a student with a documented disability and have not voluntarily disclosed the nature of your disability so that we may coordinate the accommodations you need, you are invited to contact the Disability Support Services Office (DSSO) in 'Ilima 107, ph. (808)734-9552, or email kapdss@hawaii.edu for assistance.

For students whose primary disability is Deaf or hard of hearing, contact the Kapi'olani Community College Deaf Center: Jan Fried at jfried@hawaii.edu,   (808)734-9891/ (808)447-3141(VP) 

Please note: Due to the COVID-19 health and safety requirements, ZOOM or phone appointments will replace face-to-face meetings until further notice. You will need to contact Kapi'olani CC's DSSO or Deaf Center to request accommodations in a Kapi'olani CC course even if you are receiving services at another UH campus's disability support program.

LGBTIQ Student Support:

While I am trained to be an LGBTIQ Safe Zone ally, I can primarily assist students who are experiencing LGBTIQ-related issues on campus on a referral basis. UH Manoa has more resources, as indicated by the link; still, I would like you to feel supported and included in the course. If you have questions and concerns regarding this matter, feel free to speak with me in private.

TITLE IX in Education:

TITLE IX. Kapi'olani Community College is committed to providing a learning and working environment that promotes personal integrity, civility and mutual respect, and is free of all forms of sex discrimination and gender-based violence, including sexual assault, sexual harassment, gender-based harassment, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking.  If you or someone you know is experiencing any of these, Kapi'olani CC has staff and resources on campus to support and assist you.  

If you wish to remain ANONYMOUS, speak with someone CONFIDENTIALLY, or would like to receive information and support in a CONFIDENTIAL setting:

Brooke Conway

Student Affairs Counselor

‘Iliahi 117

Phone: (808) 734-9554

bconway@hawaii.edu

Cathy Wehrman

Student Affairs Counselor

‘Iliahi 201

Phone: (808) 734-9504

cwehrman@hawaii.edu

If you wish to REPORT an incident of sex discrimination or gender-based violence including sexual assault, sexual harassment, gender-based harassment, domestic violence, dating violence or stalking as well as receive information and support:

Devon Ishii Peterson, JD

Title IX Coordinator | Interim Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs

Devon Ishii Peterson

Office ʻIliahi 116

Phone: (808) 734-9542

E-mail: devon@hawaii.edu

Darsh Dave

Deputy Title IX Coordinator for Employees

‘Ilima 208

Phone: (808) 734-9574

darsh@hawaii.edu

Brandon Chun

Deputy Title IX Coordinator for Students

‘Iliahi 113

Phone: (808) 734-9553

btchun@hawaii.edu

STUDENTS IN MY CLASS:  

As a member of Kapi'olani CC faculty, I am expected to immediately report any incident of sex discrimination or gender-based violence to the campus Title IX Coordinator; this also includes content that you write about in the course.  Although the Title IX Coordinator and I cannot guarantee confidentiality, you will still have options about how your case will be handled.  My goal is to make sure you are aware of the range of options available to you and have access to the resources and support you need.  

For more information regarding sex discrimination and gender-based violence and the University’s Title IX resources and the University’s Policy, Interim EP 1.204, visit:  http://www.hawaii.edu/titleix. 

FYE information:

If you are a first or second semester student at KCC and have questions about campus resources, or need help adjusting to college, contact the First-Year Experience (FYE) program at kapstart@hawaii.edu or call 734-9245.

UH Policy on email communication

The electronic communications policy adopted in December 2005 establishes the University of Hawai'i Internet service (@hawaii.edu) as an official medium for communication among students, faculty, and staff. Every member of the system has a hawaii.edu address, and the associated username and password provide access to essential Web announcements and email. You are hereby informed of the need to regularly log in to UH email and Web services for announcements and personal mail. Failing to do so will mean missing critical information from academic and program advisors, instructors, registration and business office staff, classmates, student organizations, and others.

I typically send an end-of-week reminder email, so the expectation is that you at least check your email ONCE A WEEK.  

FINAL THOUGHTS:

Every semester, I have a different final thought that I like to add to the end of my syllabus. This year, my final thought is, "No mo' nutting fo' be shame about." Every human being makes mistakes, in writing, relationships, on the job, whatever struggle it is you have in life. It is my sincere hope that you write, earnestly, from the heart, not being ashamed about who you are or how you write. It will be both your job and mine, as well as your fellow classmates' job to work towards improving your writing, but I'd rather that you did your best, feeling proud of who you are as a person rather than having you cower behind a sense of fear or shame about your writing. Fear is your own worst enemy in this class, especially the fear of making a mistake in the eyes of your peers. Writing proceeds from the lessons learned from the mistakes you make.

Note: This syllabus is subject to revision and there might be mistakes and discrepancies—oh well.

* (SUPPLEMENTAL) 

STUDENT CONDUCT.  The Office of the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs assists students, faculty and staff with the conduct code and policy enforcement at Kapi‘olani CC and its sponsored activities. Our goal is to foster a supportive environment where you are accountable for your behavior and its impact on your educational community.  

The Student Conduct Code outlines behavior that conflicts with our community standards and can be found at:  www.kapiolani.hawaii.edu/regulations-policies-and-data/student-conduct-code/ 

My expectation is that you understand and abide by these agreements as a student in this course, including refraining from:  cheating, plagiarism, forgery of documents, providing false information, and other acts of dishonesty. Both in person and online behavior that threatens or endangers the health or safety of any person, or disrupts teaching and learning, may result in a disciplinary process and sanctions.  As a reminder, smoking of any kind, including electronic smoking and vaping devices, is prohibited on campus property.

[Students and Cell-Phones]:  

You can leave your cell-phone on in-class and politely take the call if it is an emergency situation.  If you are caught texting or talking openly, you might be asked to leave the classroom.  You may type on a laptop to take notes, but not to surf the Internet.    

[Students and "Being Stuck":  If you are not so stuck, send off a quick text.  If you are somewhat stuck, email me.  If you are really stuck, see me during my Office Hours.] 

Students that have a concern about violations of the Student Conduct Code may contact the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs at (808) 734-9522 or email kapvcsa@hawaii.edu. You may also report an incident at http://bit.ly/kapcc_reporting. Although your contact information is requested, you may select to remain anonymous.  

STUDENT WELL-BEING.   If you find yourself struggling with your mental, emotional or physical health this semester, please feel free to approach me.  My goal as your instructor is for you to be successful in this class and at Kapi‘olani Community College.  

Ilima 104 Maida Kamber Center offers free counseling that ranges from career, transfer, and personal counseling services.  

Kapi’olani CC provides a number of free resources to all enrolled students, including The Ka’au Program. For confidential counseling, linkage and referral to appropriate services, email kapmhw@hawaii.edu or call (808)734-9585.  

You may also find the Crisis Text Line to be helpful.  At any hour of the day, text the word “Aloha” to 741741. You will receive a reply within 60 seconds.  

If you feel unsafe on campus, call our 24-hour security at (808) 734-9900.  If it’s an emergency - Call 911.