Distance Learning Course Interaction Plan for English 101

Instructor: Michael S. Walker

HCC Office: Donahue 366

Office Hours: By Appointment

Email: mwalker@hcc.mass.edu

Office: (413) 552-3513 (Messages only)

Optional Chat Hours: Wednesdays 9:00 to 10:00 P.M.

Type of Distance Learning:

This kind of distance education is characterized by an emphasis on "learning on demand" or "as-needed communication" between students and faculty from multiple locations at times convenient to participants.  Note, however, that assignments are posted weekly and weekly submissions are mandatory.  Late submissions will be refused.  

Course Description:

English 101 covers the ability to communicate with others, to think critically, and to comprehend research papers on current events. Emphasis in this course is on formal expository writing, the techniques of online library research, and the mechanics of MLA research paper format.  Frequent short essays and one longer research paper are assigned amounting to a total of approximately three thousand words.  Students will study and become familiar with many chapters of Quick & Dirty.  Frequent online punctuation and grammar exercises are used to measure student understanding of these chapters.   Clear, concise, and correct written English is paramount.  

Required Textbook & Materials:     

• Access to advanced word processing software compatible with Microsoft Word 2007
• Reliable backup medium (floppy disk, CD-RW, flash drive)
• Fred Cooksey's Quick & Dirty, A Compact Guide to Reading, Writing, and Research.  (Available only at the HCC Bookstore) 

To order online at the Holyoke Community College Bookstore, go to: http://www.ehccbookstore.com/home.aspxl   

This is my first experience using this new textbook, so you will have the experience of learning along with the professor, which is always more fun.  Luckily, the professor who wrote the book, Fred Cooksey, is an English Professor at HCC.  If we have any questions, we can ask the author!

Course Objectives:

Students will learn to produce college research papers by writing a 1500 word research paper and by mastering the following skills:

• proper punctuation, spelling, grammar, and word choice;
• sentence structure;
• headers, titles, introductory sentences, and concluding sentences;
• paragraph structure;
• Modern Language Association (MLA) inline citations and works cited entries, as explained in Quick & Dirty.

Methods of Instruction: Online – Distance Learning

Students are required to engage in the following interaction(s) for successful completion of this course:

• On time submission of all essays and a research paper.
• On time submission of quizzes on readings
• On time completion of all assigned online exercises at the 90% level

It is expected that students will know how to write, save, submit, and retrieve Microsoft Word files as assignments in WebCT.  In addition, students should have easy access to the Internet for at least two hours per week to complete online exercises and tests.  Students who do not have access to high-end word processing software may purchase (or download) the software.  Low end word processing software, like WordPad, Notepad, or Microsoft Write are unacceptable substitutes.  Computers in HCC’s Computer Labs have Microsoft Word installed.  

Evaluation of Student’s Progress:

• Essays:                       30%
• Research Paper:           50%
• Exercises and Quizzes: 20%

Communications

Private email, public “discussions”, and a weekly chat room session are our major form of communications.  Please check for messages every weekday.  Weekly chat room sessions are held on Wednesday 9:00 to 10:00 P.M.  Your attendance at these sessions is optional.

The best way to contact me is by sending a private email through our course website.  I will check my email every weekday and occasionally over the weekend.  Leaving messages on my office telephone is the least effective way to contact me.  In case of an emergency, call my home telephone (413-357-2150).  In-person meetings and telephone interactions are not necessary but are allowable when a situation requires them.  Please contact me by email if you think I can help. 

Academic Integrity

It is expected that all of the work that you submit is your own work, not the work of others.  You are encouraged to seek feedback on your written assignments by talking with a consultant at the HCC Writing Center or by submitting your papers to e-Tutoring before submitting them to me.  You are also encouraged to use A Writer’s Reference in any test or writing task.  

 

Academic integrity is expected of all students. Any dishonesty in the performance of course work, such as plagiarism or cheating in other forms, will be reported. In the event the student is charged with some form of dishonesty, the Student Discipline Policy will be followed.  The full text of the Academic Integrity Policy and the additional Online Policy can be found at http://webtide.hccdl.org  under Star 3

 

Withdrawal  

Sometimes it is necessary for a student to withdraw from an online course.  If that should become necessary, please complete the withdrawal form found at http://webtide.hccdl.orgunder Star 3.