The mission of the Alamogordo Branch of New Mexico State University, a comprehensive community college, is to:

1. provide quality education that includes academic, technical, vocational, developmental, and career oriented skills;
2. promote student competence, confidence, and success and provide personal enrichment programs through continued response to the cultural, intellectual, and economic needs of the community;
3. maintain active ties and continuity with the main campus;
4. afford equal opportunity for individuals who meet admission criteria to receive educational services within the community without regard to age, ancestry, color, disability, gender, national origin, race, religion, sexual orientation, or veteran status.

COURSE DESCRIPTION

CCDE 110N is a reading and writing workshop designed to develop the writing skills needed for success in English 111G, Rhetoric and Composition.  This course is designed to build student confidence in reading, writing, and critical thinking as students prepare for the kinds of writing necessary in college settings.  Class time will be used to introduce reading and writing exercises and to discuss ways to improve both reading and writing.  A variety of essay assignments, reading assignments, prewriting assignments, in-class writing exercises, collaborative learning activities, draft workshops, computer lab workshops, and writing center referrals are all designed to help students realize their potential as writers and college students.

Important notes: This course does not count toward graduation
                             You must pass this course with a grade of C or better to qualify for admission into ENGL 111G.
 

SPECIFIC COURSE OBJECTIVES

The objective of CCDE 110N is to prepare students for ENGL 111G.  This goal will be accomplished by helping students
• to write complete sentences, punctuated correctly
• to write well developed, well organized, unified paragraphs
• to combine paragraphs with appropriate transitions into a short paper with an introduction, body, and conclusion
• to understand and practice the writing process, including activities such as prewriting, drafting, peer critiquing, revising, proofreading, journaling, and researching
• to gain confidence in participating in class discussion
• to improve the ability to read and think critically
• to organize and present information clearly and effectively
• to become competent in grammar and usage
• to recognize and develop voice, logic, basic library skills, and the vocabulary appropriate for academic writing as will be expected in English 111G

OUTCOMES ASSESSMENT:  OBJECTIVES, STANDARDS, AND METHODS

Students need the ability to write short papers, in timed, academic settings, that satisfy an audience of college instructors.  Such an audience expects an introduction, a body that develops a main idea cleary and coherently, and a brief conclusion that draws the exposition or argument to a close.

Therefore, in this academic year the outcomes assessment project will focus on the third objective listed above:  to combine paragraphs with appropriate transitions into a short paper with an introduction, body, and conclusion.
The mid-term essay assignment, written in class under timed conditions, will serve as the measurement instrument.  Copies of the original student essays will be made.  These copies will be scored on a 1-6 scale, using primary trait analysis, for

• specific purpose in the introduction
• organization
• specificity of development in the body
• coherence through the use of transitions and other connecting devices
• a conclusion unified with the specific purpose in the introduction, as developed in the body

ASSIGNMENTS AND GRADING

I use a point system.  Remember that assignments turned in late, or with components of them turned in late, lose 10% of their total points.  Assignments may also receive an R grade, meaning the assignment needs to be revised within one week to make it acceptable.

Semester Point Totals and Semester Grades
100-90 = A;     89-80 = B;     79-70 = C;     69-60 = D;     Below 60 = F

ATTENDANCE POLICY

2.5 bonus points are possible for attendance.  However, since bonus points are possible for attendance, there are NO EXCUSED ABSENCES, except for authorized University functions, as provided for in the Student Handbook, and for documented medical emergencies in your immediate family.  Excused absences will receive neither bonus points nor penalty points. Absences and tardies will eventually cost you points, and therefore semester grades, thus:
 

+1 point for each class, up to 2.5;  excludes first class meeting, conference days, final exam

- 1point for each absence

-0.5 point for each tardy

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INSTRUCTOR CONTACT INFORMATION Ron McNeel Instructional Coordinator for English & Reading Professor of English Faculty Office Building #115 Office Hours:   Mondays & Wednesdays, 3:45-6:00   Tuesdays & Thursdays, 9-10:45 & 1-1:45   Other times by appointment phone and voice mail:  505.439.3742 email:  mcneel@nmsua.nmsu.edu website:  http://alamo.nmsu.edu/~rmcneel

BOOKS & MATERIALS •  Mangelsdorf, Kate, and Evelyn Posey. Choices: A Basic Writing Guide with Readings. 2nd ed. St. Martin’s: Boston, 2000. •  Hacker, Diana.  A Pocket Style Manual. 3rd ed.  St. Martin’s: Boston, 2000. • Computer lab account • Floppy disks, 2 or 3 • Dictionary • three-ring binder, with loose-leaf notebook paper • spiral notebook, with pockets, for journaling • 3-4 file folders • 3" x 5" index cards • pens and pencils

The following course schedule is subject to change.  Minor changes may be announced in class.  Major changes will come as additions to the syllabus.  Keep any such additions.  Also, assignment sheets will provide details concerning the assignments.  Be sure to keep the assignment sheets.  Take the assignment sheets with you when you seek help in the Writing Center.

Reading assignments are to be completed before the class day they are scheduled for discussion.
 

Weeks 1 & 2

Weeks 5 & 6

Weeks 7 & 8

Weeks 11 & 12

Weeks 13 & 14

Weeks 15 & 16

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Academic Honesty and Academic Misconduct

Students must produce their own work and will be held responsible for furnishing proof of writing process (all the sources and preliminary work, such as notes, rough drafts, etc., that were used in preparing the assignment).  If you plagiarize (present someone else’s ideas as your own) a paper or cheat on a test, you will receive a zero on the assignment and will be urged to drop the course.  These actions indicate to me that a student does not wish to learn.

Students should refer to the student handbook for a detailed discussion of appropriate conduct in academic situations.  The instructor expects students in this course will treat fellow students and the instructor with dignity and respect.  If students are disrespectful of our classroom practices–intellectual discussions, peer reviews of essays-in-progress, computer laboratory workshops, etc.–the offending students will be urged to drop the course.  These actions would indicate to me that a student does not wish to be here, in college, at this time.  Continual disrespect or disruption will result in disciplinary action taken by the university.

Students submitting work from other courses (taken simultaneously) must have written permission from the other instructor.  Papers written during other semesters are not acceptable in CCDE 110N.
 

Late Assignments

In a workshop environment, late exercises, drafts, and papers affect our ability to proceed in the class.  Students need to have drafts for in-class editing sessions and final drafts in on time.

Any assignment turned in after its final due date, or any of its milestone dates–such as an in class peer review session–loses 10% of its points, regardless of whether an absence is excused or not: Late is Late.  However, do note that late assignments are accepted up to the last date for late work listed in the syllabus, with no increase in penalty.  So, turn it in eventually, with proof of process: brainstorming notes, peer review worksheets, pre-final drafts.

Submission and Saving of Work

Formal papers should be word-processed.  Computers are available in the Science Center, the Writing Center, the Library, and the Pro-Tech building.  Formal papers should have 1 inch margins and be double-spaced.  Further instructions on manuscript form will be provided.

Journals should be kept in a spiral bound notebook with pockets.  Do not keep notes from other classes in this notebook.  A journal handout will provide complete instructions on keeping the journal.

Save all of your work and arrange it chronologically in a three-ring, loose-leaf binder, and in your journal notebook.  Don’t throw away anything until the class is over and you have received your final grade in the course.

UNIVERSITY POLICIES

Students should expect minor changes to these university policies early in the semester.

Reasonable Accommodations for Disabilities

If you have or believe you have a disability, you may wish to self-identify.  You can do so by providing documentation to the Counselor for Special Populations, Jim Payne (439-3727).  Appropriate accommodations may then be provided for you.

If you have a condition which may affect your ability to exit safely from the premises in an emergency or that may cause an emergency during class, you are encouraged to discuss this in confidence with the instructor and/or the Counselor for Special Populations.  If you have general questions about the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), call the ADA Coordinator, Doris Lynch, at 439-3717.

Emergencies

If someone in your family needs to contact you in an emergency, use the following telephone numbers: Daytime: 439-3700 Evening: 439-3751 or 439-3736
The person trying to contact you should be able to identify the class you are in (e.g., CCDE 110N, Mondays and Wednesdays at 1:00 PM).

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