Succesful Students

	Top 5 Behaviors of Successful Students “Don’t fear failure. Not failure, but low aim is the crime. In great attempts it is glorious to fail.”       –Bruce Lee
5 Studying and employing provided handouts 4 Preparing for and engaging in class discussions 3 Learning from failure 2 Embracing instructor feedback on assignments 1 Following directions on assignments and syllabus

Eng 102 Syllabus Table of Contents

Printable Syllabus (PDF) Click icon to download

Instructor	Books	Grading Scale
Requirements	Criteria	Attendance
Etiquette	Responses	Communication
Success	College Resources	Plagiarism

Eng 102 Grade Scale

Vincent Freeman	A 90-100% Can independently research subjects and form cohesive, documented arguments.
Richard Hanshaw	B 80-89% Argues well and does okay at research, missing fine skills.
Robert Dean	C 70-79% Can perform basic research to learn about subjects, but struggles with arguments.
Reginald Barclay	D 60-69% Struggles with applying concepts of argumentation and research.
Mildred Montag	F < 60% Understands some basic concepts of argument and research; cannot perform them.

Etiquette & Learning Statement

Learning Statement "There is no greater education than one that is self-driven." --Neil DeGrasse Tyson

This class is an open forum for questions and diverse viewpoints on class topics. But you can only take advantage of this if you engage.

• Ask questions.
• Voice your opinion.
• Listen to other views.
• Open your mind.

	Etiquette & Responsibilities
“The journey is part of the experience—an expression of the seriousness of one's intent.One doesn't take the A train to Mecca.”   –Anthony Bourdain http://goo.gl/vELjzL Comport yourselves as professionals.      • Know policies and follow directions.      •Be fully prepared to learn and discuss.      •Take actions that help yourself and others learn.
Students acting unprofessionally are a distraction      • Distracting students will be asked to leave for the day           • Students will be marked as absent

Determining this behavior is at my sole discretion.

Students are empowered to:

• seek answers int he syllabus & policies
• Students will be notified of changes.
• understand handbook policies http://goo.gl/22EukJ
• learn on their own. Seek help when you need it.
• take action. Make results, not excuses.

Communications

Communications http://goo.gl/MtnNme
Time is a scarce commodity.
Make the most of our time.

• Seek policy answers instead of asking and waiting.
• I will not respond to direct policy questions answered by the syllabus, FAQ, website, etc.
• Be as specific & detailed as possible with messages.
• Emails aren't Tweets. There are no character limits.
• I can only check & respond to email 1 hour/day (M-F).
• Use Appt. Form to make appointments
• http://goo.gl/rlMggn

Assignment Policy

All students have the same time and opportunity.
Policies are designed for fairness to everyone:

Assignments must use provided Word template.

• Do not change template format (font, spacing, etc.).
• Submit typed assignments through blog.

Proper filenames ensure receipt of assignments.

• I cannot open or grade certain file types.
• Assignments are returned by email. Check it daily!

If none returned, I never received it.

• Contact me within 48hrs if submitted assignment

Responses due before class time.

• No late responses. Ever.
• No makeups, no revisions. Do better on the next.

Essays due 11:59pm on day listed.

• Extend essay due date with Extension Bank
• 2 days + 1 day/ S response http://bit.ly/13AvT0E

Responses

	Responses
	15 (12 for 1/wk class) Short essay responses assigned on specific readings throughout semester. Response Grades:  (S)uperior = B+ and above (P)ass = C- to B  (F)ail.  Argue an idea. Do NOT summarize. Response Codes: Passed out randomly DURING class. Code goes in filename. Missed Code: Use a Mulligan.  Duplicate Code: Response not graded. Response grade based on number passed. A (30pts) = 3 S + 6 P  B (26.5 pts) = 9 P  C (22.5pts) = 6 P  F = < 6 P (.5/F, 1/P, 1.25/S, max 10pts.) Extra Credit for >3 S and >9 P.
	More About Responses

Plagiarism

	"Plagiarism includes, but is not limited to, the use of paraphrase or direct quotation of the published or unpublished work of another person without full and clear acknowledgment. It also includes the unacknowledged use of materials prepared by another person or agency engaged in the selling of term papers or other academic materials."
	Sisyphus  https://goo.gl/cmAFC5

Penalties

• A grade of 0 on the assignment.
• Intentional plagiarism will result in failing the course and alerting the Dean.

Attendance

• Late or absent? Consult syllabus & classmates for missed materials (NOT response codes).
• Scan ID badges to register attendance.
  • Class starts exactly on time.
  • 1 minute late = late
  • 3 lates = 1 absence
  • 10+ min. late = absent.
• Every absence after 3rd (for 3/wk class) or 2^{nd (}for 1/wk class) = -5% final grade.

Withdrawal Policy

• Can drop without signature until 7^th week. https://goo.gl/WDzjMD
• No withdrawals after 7^th week except documented family/medical emergencies.
• Students NOT withdrawn for absences.

Eng 102 Books & Materials

Books &	Materials
Fahrenheit 451 Pocket Style Manual 5th, 6th, or 7th ed. Cengage Guide to Research MS Word (required) Internet Access	by Ray Bradbury by Diana Hacker (required) by Miller-Cochran (optional) (Free for students!)
Textbook List on Amazon

“There's no greater education than one that is self-driven.” –Neil Degrasse Tyson

Common Technology topics for research

These are common topics I've seen successfully used in the past for research papers, and are quite acceptable to do research papers on. Your research paper is not to present both sides of the argument as there are not just two sides. Your job is to find a new argument, to add something new to the discussion and take the research in a new direction.

Some topics are inherently more difficult than others. Remember that the technology must be the focus, and to avoid evaluative language (ie: best, worst, etc.).

Technology and health
Prosthetics, implants, bionics
Genetic engineering

Video Games as addictive
Video Games as educational
Video Games and violence


Education using technology
Dependence on technology
Technology decreasing intelligence

New energy sources
"Green" Technology
Nuclear Power
Environment and technology



Police technologies
Military technologies
Spy technologies

Electronic banking

     The following topics, reluctantly, I am disallowing for the research paper. These topics are banned because there really is no new argument.

Cellular Phones
Text messaging
Facebook