Faculty Gold and Online Quality
Assurance at CCCOnline

Chapter 2 The Syllabus [ Table of Contents ]

The syllabus is your first formal interaction with your online students. As such accuracy and timeliness are critical factors. Post your syllabus before the first day of class and address key course components (including the curriculum content guide). CCCOnline requires a specific syllabus format with specific policies included on a standard basis.

Each semester you should confirm that your contact information remains current and that any dates noted in the syllabus have been changed to reflect the current term. CCCOnline requires faculty to provide students with both and email address and a phone number. If you do not wish to use your home or business phone we do have voice mail available for faculty use. Please let your program chair know if you will need that service.

A sample syllabus template is included below. Several CCCOnline student policies are included in the template. Please leave those policies in your section. They reflect our response to the most common issues with students.

Syllabus Template:

ENG 121 - English Composition I
Course Syllabus

Instructor Information | Course Information | Course Materials

Course Activities and Design | Grading and Evaluation | Course Policies

Instructor Information

Instructor: Instructor Name

Contact Information:

Email: (required)
Phone: (required)

Instructor Accessibility: (sample wording) Please do not hesitate to email me with any questions you may have. I can also be reached via telephone. If you leave a message for me to call you back, please name days and times best to call you , along with a phone number.

Email will be responded to as promptly as possible, usually within 24 hours from Monday-Friday. Weekend response times will be longer.

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Course Information

Course Title: English Composition I

Course Description: Emphasizes the planning, writing, and revising of compositions, including the development of critical and logical thinking skills. This course includes a minimum of five compositions that stress analytical, evaluative, and persuasive/argumentative writing.

Credit Hours: This course carries 3 semester credits. You can normally expect to put in 8-10 hours per week on this course.

Prerequisites: Minimum assessment score in English or competition of ENG 100/090 with a C or better.

Student Outcomes:

The competencies you will demonstrate in this course are as follows:

1. Plan, write, and revise multi-paragraph compositions that not only demonstrate competence in the following, but also function as an integrated whole: generating and exploring ideas; writing for a variety of purposes and audiences; and focusing and developing a thesis by exploring a variety of appropriate organizational strategies.
2. Practice critical/logical thinking and reading skills - such as evaluation, analysis, synthesis, and criticism - through written assignments that stress analytical, evaluative, and persuasive/argumentative writing.
3. Practice critical reading skills.
4. Use accurate grammar, mechanics, and spelling and will choose diction and usage appropriate to their writing purposes and audiences.
5. Demonstrate the ability to select and apply contemporary forms of technology to solve problems or compile information.

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Course Materials

Required Text:  Successful College Writing, 2nd edition, with
"Writing Guide" software on CD-ROM.
ISBN: 0-312-407-467
Author: McWhorter, Kathleen T.
Publisher: Bedford/St. Martins

Recommended Texts: Collegiate-Level Dictionary

Textbook Website: http://www.bedfordstmartins.com/composition/successfulwriting

Other Resources: See the course Resources page in the left-hand "Course Menu."

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Course Activities and Design

Unit and Chapter Assignments (see course Schedule or Calendar for due dates):

Unit 1 -- Chapters 1-3
Unit 2 -- Chapters 4-8
Unit 3 -- Chapter 9
Unit 4 -- Chapter 13
Unit 5 -- Chapter 10

Participation and Interaction:
This is not a self-paced course:  The weeks will go by very quickly. If you wait you will find it hard to catch up and difficult to make the due dates. But the class is very doable. You will be writing and interacting with me and with other students though your discussions and assignments, but even with all of that this course can easily be completed in the term's timeframe. Just keep with the schedule's timeline.

Participation in Discussions is Critical:
Participation in Discussions is a very important part of this class experience and cannot be made up after each week's discussion ends. Discussions are where we discuss the readings and benefit from each class member's contributions and questions. You'll find Discussion Assignments within each unit. Sometimes you will be asked to post to more than one topic in a given unit. You will be also expected to respond to your classmates' postings. You will be expected to offer helpful comments as you can.  You'll want to be sure you do so to receive all points for the week. Expect to post at least 3-5 times at a detailed level in each unit. You will have a rubric to help you understand expectations for Discussions. Remember, you will receive points which will count toward your final grade for participating in the Discussions, so of course, not participating will have a negative effect on your final course grade. 

Communications About Difficulties/Absences:
It is your responsibility to contact me in a timely manner if you become ill, or have scheduling or computer problems that would keep you from participating in Discussions for an entire week.

Keep a Copy of All Submissions:
Be sure to save copies of everything you send me -- email and assignments. Murphy's Law of the Computer seems to be -- what can go wrong, will. In fact, I'd advise making a back-up copy of everything on a second disk that you keep somewhere in a safe place.  I'd also advise keeping a copy of everything I send you as well. 

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Grading and Evaluation

Methods: Evaluation includes a combination of discussion participation, assignments, and other evaluation. Rubrics will be provided for Assignments and Discussions.

Grading Policies: Mark the unit due dates on your calendar for this class. You may submit assignments AHEAD of schedule. NO assignments are accepted past the due date. 

Summary of Grading:

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Course Policies

Mutual Respect in CCCOnline Communications: 

A very important aspect of online learning is respectful communication. The CCCOnline Learning Community is based on the value of mutually respectful communication. 

Upon enrolling in programs in CCCOnline, students assume responsibility for respectful communications with other students and with course instructors, including communications which do not disrupt the online environment. 

The CCCOnline Student Handbook includes a definition of disruptive communications and their consequences.  Please visit the CCCOnline.org website to view the handbook.

Disruptive Communications

Definition:
• communications which disrupt the learning environment 

• use of profanity and/or insulting or harassing remarks in email, discussions, chat or telephone communications. 

Consequences:
A student who participates in disruptive communications forfeits the right to further class participation and is subject to removal from all CCCOnline courses for the given term without reimbursement by CCCOnline. 

A student who is suspended more than once for disruptive communications forfeits the right to further enrollments at CCCOnline. 

Late Work:

NO assignments are accepted past the due date.

Incomplete Grades:

The "Incomplete" grade is a temporary grade, agreed upon by the instructor, indicating that the student has a satisfactory record of work completed but, for exceptional reasons, was unable to complete the final assignments. It is designed for students who, because of documented illness or circumstances beyond their control, are unable to complete their course work within the semester but have completed a majority of the course work ( 75-85% of the course assignments and tests ) in a satisfactory manner (C grade or better). The student is responsible for initiating the request for an "Incomplete" grade from the instructor.

If circumstances beyond your control at or near the end of the semester would prevent you from completing the course, consult your instructor immediately. The instructor will determine whether you have a reasonable chance of satisfactorily completing the remaining activities.

In requesting an "Incomplete" grade, the student should email the instructor the following information for evaluation:

1. Documentation of Circumstances: Evidence of completion of 75-85% of the semester course work at a C-level or higher.
2. Completion of a work plan (contract) that includes what and how assignments and tests will be submitted to complete the course.
1. The time period in which the work must be completed, not to exceed 15 weeks from the end of the CCCOnline semester.
2. The grade to be assigned if the work is not completed.
3. Both the instructor and the student must acknowledge this written email and keep a copy of the acknowledgment as documentation.

NOTE: You are encouraged to let the instructor know as soon as possible if you are having difficulties with any part of the course. However, Incomplete grades are granted at the discretion of the instructor and are not automatic. At no time will the "Incomplete" grade be used as entrance into another current or future course section for completion of the work. In the unlikely event that you and the instructor cannot reach some resolution on granting an Incomplete, please contact the Academic Dean .

Academic Integrity:

Plagiarism is the act of using words and/or ideas from another person or source without acknowledgment of debt to that person or source and is a serious academic crime. Students are expected to do their own work. Students are expected to follow the Academic/Plagiarism policies of their home institutions (available in your college catalogue).

Special Services:

If you have a learning or physical disability that will require special accommodation, please notify your instructor immediately upon enrollment. 

End of Semester: 

You will be able to access the class for one week after the end of the semester. However, the last day to turn in any work is the last day of the semester. The extra week of access is only to check your grades.

Notice of Non-Discrimination:

CCCOnline is an equal-opportunity educational institution and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic origin, religion, sex, or sexual orientation. Reasonable accommodations will be provided upon request for persons with disabilities. For more information, contact the Office of College Support Services at 1-800-801-5040 or the Student Services office of your home college.

Disclaimer:

Other than competencies, elements of this syllabus may be subject to adjustment.

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