CM107COLLEGE COMPOSITION I

Unit 1 SeminarJosef Vice Professor

Welcome!

I am excited! Take a virtual

seat! It’s going to be

fun! Terms go quickly! Let’s get started!

Agenda

Contact Information Syllabus & Grading Policies Late Policy Seminars Discussions Assignments Importance of Writing Well Q&A

My Contact Information

Email: jvice@kaplan.edu Instant Messenger

AIM: wystan2 Virtual Office in course room Office Hours by appointment only,

but if you have a question, you can meet me on AIM if you need help.

JOURNEY OF THE HERO/WRITING Everyday man/woman Called to action Experiences new and

unexpected and often scary events that CHALLENGE the person

May sometimes NOT SUCCEED AT A PERFECT LEVEL BUT LEARNS FROM THE EXPERIENCE

Aided by helpers Growth, development, and new

awareness of self Uses knowledge and skills to

help others REVIEW JOSEPH CAMPBELL

VIDEO IN ANNOUNCEMENTS

Hmm, EXACTLY THE SAME

Don’t be scared of the challenge; Confusion and fear are natural and they happen RIGHT BEFORE YOU LEARN SOMETHING

Syllabus & Grading Policies

Course Outcomes Compose original

materials in Standard American English.

Use appropriate documentation as required.

Illustrate the steps in the writing process.

Apply course knowledge of communication to a chosen profession.

To achieve these: Read the syllabus. Read it again. Print it out. Read it again.

Syllabus & Grading Policies

REQUIRED Software Microsoft Word

2003, 2007, or 2010 Adobe Acrobat Reader Instant Messenger

Syllabus & Grading Policies

Discussion grades posted by Sunday (usually earlier) Early posting of discussion messages is not

allowed without prior permission from me. Assignment grades posted by Sunday (5

days after due date) Early posting of assignments is encouraged. But, assignments are not graded early.

Rubrics for everything! These are posted in Doc Sharing

Syllabus & Grading Policies

Seminars 10 points each x 9

= 90 points Discussions

50 points each x 9 = 450 points

Assignments1. Unit 3 project-

100 points2. Unit 6 project-150

points3. Unit 9 (Final)

project-210 point

Late Policy

Up to one week late = 10% deduction One to two weeks late = 20% deduction Two to three weeks late = 30% deduction More than three weeks late =

ZERO POINTS EARNED In other words, no work is accepted after 21

days. I do not make exceptions to this

Kaplan/syllabus rule.

Seminars

Seminars every week Virtual community

Be respectful Participate actively Create relationships

Lessons focus on topics that help you do well

Worth 10 points each

Seminars

You may participate in seminar through either of the options listed on the seminar page for a unit.

Please note you are enrolled in a course that offers flexible seminars.

There will be TWO seminars offered each week, and you can choose to attend the seminar that best fits your schedule.

If you cannot attend, complete seminar Option 2

The planned seminar days and times are:

1. Wednesday 8-9 pm eastern time

2. Thursday 8-9 pm eastern time

Discussions

Try to make first post by Saturday

Three posts total (minimum)

Try to post on 3 different days

High quality posts Add value to the

conversation!

Discussions

Quality = 40% Participation =

30% Clarity and

Organization = 20%

Professionalism = 10%

DISCUSSION POSTS

STRONG, QUALITY POSTS

1. Are well developed2. Are specific3. Refer to unit

reading/video material

4. Are edited5. Are thoughtful and

raise issues

INEFFECTIVE POSTS1. Are undeveloped,

vague and unclear2. Offer little specific

information or details3. Do not refer to the

unit read/video material

4. Are not edited5. Do not advance

discussion

Discussions

Posts must be made during the unit to count

Initial posts (answer to posted question) 150 words or more Two good paragraphs

Follow-up posts 75-100 words or more One good paragraph MUST go beyond repeating or just praising. Must

CONTRIBUTE to the discussion and encourage FURTHER discussion.

Paragraphs Four to seven sentences

This is a writing class, so don’t be afraid to write!

EXAMPLE Discussion Board 1 Joseph campbell is right,we have to let go of

some things that may hinder our ability to do something inspirational or to better our lives or someone else.The hard part is to change and be open to experience something new.At some point for those that want to do better,must be willing to make a sacrafice in order to achive their goals.

Little reference to reading, no specific information, poorly developed and not

edited

EXAMPLE Discussion Board 2

Hello Professor & Class-mates,. I am scheduled to graduate around March of 2012 with a bachelor's degree in Healthcare Administration. I also have an Associates of arts and sciences degree. I was originally a nursing student who was attending our Community College for six years after retiring from the Navy, but I was disabled in a car accident and am in a wheelchair now. I relate my disabilities to the video we watched by Mr. Joseph Campbell, I had to shed my skin and grow a new one that is better suited to my changed life. I think that Campbell’s ideas can relate to both the younger students and older ones taking English composition at Kaplan. I originally took English Comp I, II, and III, but that as over five years ago and in my final year here at Kaplan, the powers that be determined that I was required to take Composition I again-- although II and III are fine. I wanted to convey that writing and communication is very important in Healthcare and in all sectors and aspects of the industry. I think that medical mistakes (particularly in writing and conveying one's intentions improperly) keep the cost of healthcare high for protecting both the patient and the healthcare worker. I hope to one day work and become self sufficient again. I was once very confident, especially after I retired from the navy. I wanted to graduate from college and start to make some money for once in my life. I hope that everyone understood what I got from the Campbell perspective was that we have more than two skins (a young person who shed their youthful skin to try on the many different adult skins that leads to their prospective professions and visions of adulthood). We have skins of varying dimensions that we shed for other varying reasons as well. The skins are a coping mechanism to help us survive in life and there are times in our lives when we may need help from our friends with shedding our hides. The human skin becomes harder to shed the older get; we develop a thick skin from the many experiences in our life. I worry now about changing in my life to survive and take care of myself as a disabled person in today’s society and the implications that safety-nets that help me survive today are no longer in fashion and could be gone tomorrow. Mary

RESPONSES TO CLASSMATES Hello Rodney,  I agree that we tend to

allow things or obstacles to hinder us. I have also made excuse for not accomplishing many things in my life.  But, I think that we also tend to play with stuff until we’re ready to give it up.  All in all, once we decide to go a different path and grow from our life lesson that small self-sacrifice makes it worth it. 

Does this really advance the discussion?

Response example

I agree strongly Rodney! We must almost always sacrifice something to achieve another, but if u sacrifice the right thing then you just follow with your journey.

VS You are right that immaturity and inexperience can keep us from becoming better

writers, Rodney. The way I shed most of my immaturity is when I was working at a plastics factory. I saw that there were only 9 or 10 management positions and about 100 employees and I realized that I didn't want to be working at that factory till the day that I retired like some. Then i had an epiphany that I need to go to school so I can get the job to get a career in what I want to do and make the money to really take of myself. So I left the factory and started school and now I work a full time job and go to school at the same time which is not uncommon. The shedding the skin process was taking the step to enroll into college, which was a scary step, but it has worked. I still fall back on some of old bad habits but that never lasts very long because I have a job or school to always snap me back.  You as a writer can gain this experience by practicing your writing in a journal, for example, or reading newspaper articles to get more experience with writing, and soon you will see a change.

Discussions

50 points each 45% of the total grade (450 points) Failure to participate =

55% for class Assumes you score 100% on everything else!

Assignments

Unit 3 (100 points) This assignment asks you to do 4 things: Provide a definition of courage and what it

means in your own words to cross the threshold.

Identify an historical figure who is an example of courage. Explain how he or she embodies your definition of courage. Use specific examples and details to illustrate your point. HISTORICAL DOES NOT MEAN FAMOUS. DO NOT USE RESEARCH.

Identify what thresholds he or she had to cross. Explain how this person overcame adversity with specific examples and details to illustrate your point.

Finally, in one sentence, summarize the main idea of your response.

Assignments

Unit 6 (150 points) You will create a script of a conversation between two

people—a dialogue. This will be like writing a scene for a movie or television show. Have fun! Use characters from your favorite movies, television shows, and books if you like. You may also simply make up your characters.

In your script, you’ll be describing through your two characters a social problem. One of the characters is part of the problem—the cause—and the other is part of a solution, the “cure” that would help you and your world. Some examples of social problems include world poverty and hunger, intolerance of differences among people, and a list that could go on and on.

Assignments

Unit 9 (Final Project, 150 points) The final project for this course asks you to write an ESSAY in which

you imagine a scenario where you are a mentor to someone else. You can choose the person you will mentor. You can be a professional mentor, such as in the workplace or in a career situation like being an exercise and nutrition specialist who is helping someone who has health issues.

Define the threshold you think the person needs to cross. This can be stated in terms of a goal that you think the person can achieve, and explain why reaching this goal is important to him or her. How will it benefit him or her? Explain the significance of reaching this goal.

Create an extended definition for the goal or “cure” you think is necessary for this person. For instance, if you are offering exercise and nutritional advice, offer an extended definition for health or wellness or even nutrition APA Format

SUCCESS IN THE COURSE

Complete work on time Follow instructions. Use the rubric and

SAMPLE PROJECTS to help PLAN, DRAFT, REVISE, EDIT ASK FOR HELP Be involved Use resources available to you, including

the wonderful WRITING CENTER WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE for success?

APA Format

Title Page Running Head Title of Paper Author’s Name Course Number,

Section, and Name Date of Submission

Sample Title Page in doc sharing

Body 1” margins (all) 12-point Times New

Roman font Double-spaced with

no extra space between paragraphs

Left-aligned text (do not right- or full-justify)

References (ANY time you use ANY source in ANY way

A Note About Plagiarism

Write in your own words. Provide suggestions to your

classmates, but don’t do any work for them.

Don’t share answers to exams or quizzes.

Don’t use work you’ve submitted in other classes.

If you use a source, don’t copyfrom it. Paraphrase is better. BUT if you do paraphrase, CITE IT. This goes for papers AND Discussion Board.

On Writing Well

Why do you think we need to write well? How does writing well benefit

Us? Our peers? Our superiors? Our subordinates?

What are your expectations for this class?

AND NOW, THE HERO

What is Joseph Campbell’s connection to this course?

What does Writing have to do with this theme?

How can YOU see the course as a journey of self discovery and quest?

How is writing HEROIC? What can writing DO?

Q&A

What questions do you have?