Welcome to ENC 1102: Argument and Persuasion

“This isn't an argument”
“Yes it is”
“No it isn't. It's just a contradiction”
“No it isn't”
“It is”
“It is not”

Adelaide Mitchell
Office: EN 225, Phone #201-8724
Office Hours: 
Mon. 12:30- 4:30, Tues. 1:20-3:20, Wed. 12:30-2:30, Thurs. 1:20-3:20 
and by appointment on Fridays
E-mail: Mitchela@tcc.fl.edu (Careful, no double “L”) 
I will respond to e-mails within 24 hours Monday through Friday
Fall 2009, CRN 71773, EN 239, MWF 10:10-11:00

WELCOME:
Welcome to the study of argument and persuasion!  This course offers insight into the art of persuasion, also known as rhetoric, in both written and visual texts.  In this course you will be building on the English language and composition skills you’ve acquired in 1101 to engage in a deeper understanding of academic texts. You will be amazed at how present rhetoric and persuasion are in our daily lives, and this class will help you build a toolkit of skills for dissecting and analyzing persuasive texts as well as building your own. 

I am here to guide, encourage and assist you, but remember: I cannot learn the material or acquire the thinking skills for you.   A passing grade requires a diligent effort on your part.  That being said, I hope you come to me with any problems, questions or help that you may need.  I anticipate a fun learning experience for both of us!

CATALOG DESCRIPTION:
 ENC 1102 Argument and Persuasion (3) FA SP SU.  Prerequisite: a C or better in ENC 1101.  This course incorporates the process of expository and persuasive writing that the student learned in ENC 1101.  The major elements of the course are inductive and deductive reasoning, evidence, audience, style, and fallacies.  Lecture 3 hours.  Substantial writing component (6,000 words minimum).  Fulfills state writing requirement.  Includes a research paper.

TEXTS/MATERIALS:
1)Barnet, Sylvan, and Hugo Bedau. Critical Thinking, Reading, and Writing. 6th ed. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2008. (Required)
ISBN: 9780312459871
2)Kirszner, Laurie G., and Stephen R. Mandell, eds. The Pocket Wadsworth Handbook. 3rd ed. Boston: Thomson, 2006. (Suggested)
ISBN: 9781428229785
3)One plain spiral notebook. (Required)
4) Graff, Gerald and Cathy E. Birkenstein. They Say/I Say: The Basic Moves of Argument Writing. (Optional)

BLACKBOARD:
This Web-assisted (WA) course utilizes Blackboard for handouts, discussion, assignments and grades.  The use of this website is a key part of this class and directly impacts your involvement in the course, and subsequently your grade.  If you do not have access to a computer and/or the Internet in your home, please note the hours of the open-access computers on campus.

LEARNING OUTCOMES:
Here is what you should expect to accomplish in ENC 1102 this semester:
-	Understand the structure of argument and how to create an argument
-	Analyze and Evaluate the persuasive appeals of different types of evidence
-	Understand the basic principles of inductive and deductive reasoning that develop higher order and critical thinking skills
-	Identify logical fallacies and understand how they weaken arguments and can mislead  audiences
-	Find and evaluate information from the library, the Internet, and the community in order to construct an academic argument
-	Understand and honor different points of view, even when defending an opposing position (Rogerian)
-	Write essays that create a claim and develop an argument that establishes credibility with an academic audience

COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
Here is how you will accomplish these outcomes in ENC 1102 this semester:

2 TIMED IN-CLASS ESSAYS: (10%)

3 OUT-OF-CLASS ESSAYS: There are three major writing projects in this course: a Position Paper, a Visual Argument, and a Rogerian Argument. With the exception of the Rogerian paper, you will be incorporating research as support for your essays. Detailed instructions will be provided prior to each project. (55%)

SMALL ASSIGNMENTS AND IN-CLASS WORK: Homework assignments, quizzes, group work, freewrites, in-class activities and your grammar log are included in this category.  These shorter assignments will be worth anywhere from 5 to 25 points, and may not be made up if missed. (15%)

CLASS PARTICIPATION/ATTENDANCE: Students are expected to actively participate in this course.  Active participation requires coming to class on time and prepared (text in hand), paying attention, being respectful of classmates and being involved in classroom activities. (20%)
	OUTSIDE SUPPORT: Part of the participation grade is allotted to one short 15-20 minute conference in my office, to be scheduled.

GRADES:
2 Timed In-Class Essays					100 points (50 each)= 10%
3 out-of-class essays, 2 of which include research		500 points (125-175-200) = 50%
Small Assignments and Exercises, in and out of class	200 points = 20%
Participation/Attendance/Outside support			200 points = 20%

Total								1000 points = 100%

You will be assessed by the standard letter grade basis: 100-90=A, 89-80= B and so on.
TCC’s Grading Guidelines are as follows:
A as “Consistently superior scores” 
B as “above average scores” 
C as “satisfactory scores” 
D as “below average scores” 
F as “level of achievement does not measure up to competency required in the course”

THE FINE PRINT ON GRADES: All work is due the day it is due.  No homework assignments will be accepted late, nor can the in-class essays be retaken.  I will accept the 3 larger papers for partial credit up to one week after the due date.  However, essays must be turned in on the due date in order to earn full credit; for each day past the due date, I will be deducting 10% of the total possible points.  For example, if you turn in a paper worth 100 points 2 days late, the most points you could possibly earn would be 80.  TCC policy states that students must submit all three out-of-class essays in order to pass ENC 1102, even if no credit is given for missing the due date.  Students must earn a final average grade of “C” or higher

COURSE POLICIES:

ATTENDANCE: Regular attendance is mandatory in a discussion-heavy course such as this one. Students are allowed 4 absences free of penalty; missing more than the allotted 4 will result in a lowered participation grade with each subsequent missed class.  That being said, students do not have to provide excuses or documentation for these 4 absences.  If you exceed 4 absences, the only exception to penalization is if you follow TCC’s institutional attendance policy, as stated in the Catalog:
	“The faculty member must receive prior notification of absences of jury duty, court mandated appearances, college sponsored activities approved by the President, or religious holidays”
	INCLEMENT WEATHER: Information concerning inclement weather can be found on the TCC website (www.tcc.fl.edu) and on local TV and radio stations.  The President determines whether classes are cancelled due to inclement weather.

PLAGIARISM: Plagiarism is the act of stealing the words and/or ideas of another without giving credit to (citing) the appropriate source.  Committing plagiarism in this or any class will significantly harm your grade and will compromise your status at TCC.  Remember: if you can find it online, so can I! TCC does utilize Turnitin.com, a software system that validates the originality of student writing. If you are unsure of how to correctly cite your source material, or need any assistance in this area, feel free to contact me; don’t risk suspension or expulsion by plagiarizing.  

RESPECT: Courtesy to your fellow students is expected at all times.  I expect our class to be a safe place where we can give voice to our thoughts and ideas, as well as encounter new ideas, welcome new points of view, and challenge our preconceptions in an intellectually thoughtful and respectful manner.  Failure to be respectful will result in a lower participation grade and/or dismissal from the class meeting.

TEXTING: All iPhones, Blackberries, Crackberries, or any noisemaking devices that distract you, me and your fellow students, are to be turned off before the beginning of class and must remain off.  I am warning you now: offenders will have points deducted from their participation grade.

SPECIAL NEEDS: If you require academic accommodations, please see me within the first two weeks of the course with appropriate documentation.  Disability Support Services are available on campus on the first floor of the Student Union Building, Room 178, or by phone (850) 201-8430.

ONE FINAL NOTE: A syllabus is meant to be stern, because it is filled with rules and regulations, but I don’t consider myself a stern or inflexible person.  I haven’t forgotten what it is like to be a student and feel the pressure of balancing studies with outside life.  I hope you do come to me with any issues that arise, as I want you to succeed to the utmost of your ability inside and outside of my class.