Allegany College of Maryland Entrepreneurship 206 Web Syllabus

“The students are introduced to different modes of exposition, for example, description and narration. The brief essay is emphasized. Students are also instructed in the use of the library and basic research tools. A final essay and objective examinations are required.”

Prerequisites: English 90-96 or demonstrated proficiency in the mechanics of English.

Text: Student’s Book of College English, 10^th Edition, by David Skwire and Harvey S. Wiener Longman Publishers, ISBN: 0-321-27683-3

Course Outcomes:

· To write at an acceptable college level of competency;

· To write essays that are thoughtful, well organized, and grammatically correct;

· To know basic skills of generating ideas, organizing them, and presenting them in a conventional and effective fashion;

· To understand grammar as part of writing, not as a separate entity;

· Ability to use fundamental principles of writing and logic;

· To write clearly, coherently, and concisely;

· To demonstrate writing competency by composing a good essay under examination conditions.

Technical requirements for the course:

If you have never taken an online course before, this course will be different for you. Our primary means of communication will be through the Internet, therefore, you should be comfortable with using the Internet and email. You must have reliable Internet access (you must provide your own ISP), an email account, and a browser (Netscape 3.0 or higher or Internet Explorer 4.0 or higher). If using a modem, 28.8 bps or higher is strongly recommended. It’s important to understand that you will not learn how to use Internet in this class. You are expected to already have basic computer and Internet literacy skills. This includes the ability to work comfortably in a browser, send and receive email with attachments, use a search engine, and create and modify documents in MS Word. You will also need a Blackboard login and password.

You may also want to do the following:

Take the online quiz to see if distance learning is for you.
Take the online quiz to see if you have the technical skills to succeed at distance learning.

Please note: Technical difficulties do occur during a semester. However, technical difficulties do not excuse late or incomplete assignments.

Course Content

The course will consist of readings and exercises in the textbook and on web sites. Assignments will consist of quizzes, tests, and written assignments. Please see the “Course Calendar” under “Course Information” for a week-by-week list of what topics will be covered in the course and what assignments are due. The calendar is a “work in progress” and will be available on a monthly basis.

How the Course is Conducted

Welcome to the online version of Freshman English I. This introductory information is intended to help you to get started. Since there will be no face-to-face class lecture, it is imperative that you are conscientious, motivated, and self-disciplined. While the course is very flexible in terms of when you put in the time required for the course, you can expect to average about the same amount of time as a normal fact-to-face course – approximately nine (9) hours per week preparing for class and completing assignments. Note also that the course is NOT self-paced. Assignments are due by specific dates. In some cases you may work ahead, but assignments must be completed by the due date.

A list of all assignments and their due dates is included in the Course Calendar. I will NOT remind you when assignments are due. You are expected to refer to the calendar and to complete all assignments on time. If you have difficulty with the assignments or have any questions, please contact me and I will be happy to assist you. Students not completing the first assignment (week 1 on calendar) by the due date will be dropped from the class.

You will have opportunities to interact with other students enrolled in the course. Students are encouraged to communicate with other students in the course by email, by use of the discussion board or by phone. Interacting with other students in the course will enhance your learning experience.

Course Materials:

Textbook

Your primary resource is the textbook Student’s Book of College English. If you don't want to come to campus to pick up the book, you can order it from the Allegany College of Maryland bookstore and have it mailed to you (301-784-5348). A shipping fee will be applied. A secondary resource for the class is the CompSolutions web site (http://www.mycomplab.com/ ).You will be required to complete assignments at this site that will be graded. Familiarize yourself with this site as soon as possible.

Getting Started

You may start on the course as soon as you log in to Blackboard. Make sure you have sent me an email. Without your email address, I have no way of contacting you. This must be done no later than the end of the first week of class. If I have not received an email from you by the end of the first week of class, you will be dropped from the class. My email address is mmarafino@allegany.edu. Please be sure to send me the email from the account you will be using throughout the course.

Please include in the subject line “English Enrollment.”
In the body of the email include:

Your full name

Your e-mail address

Your preferred contact phone number

Your mailing address

Grading and Testing

Assessment for the course will consist of quizzes, tests, and written assignments, all completed and submitted online. You will not be required to come to the campus to complete any tests or assignments. You will have one week to take each test. Tests will measure your knowledge of punctuation, spelling, and the mechanics of English. You may take tests only once and will have a specified amount of time to complete the test. Numerous essays will be required throughout the semester. Students may submit rough drafts of all essays for review by the instructor. The class will conclude with a research paper. Completion of the research paper is mandatory. Students who do not complete a research paper will not pass the course.

Mid-term grades are not mailed to students unless the student receives a “D” or “F” grade. All grades will be posted on the Blackboard site, so students will always have the opportunity to review grades as soon as I have completed grading the assignments/exams. Assignments will be returned to you in your digital drop box.

The student’s final grade will be comprised of:

Essays	70%
Quizzes/ Tests	25%
Homework	5%

Grading Scale:

A	90-100%
B	80-89%
C	70-79%
D	60-69%
F	Less than 60%

Late Assignments

No late assignments will be accepted. Quizzes and tests will not be available online after the deadline. Any assignment that is not sent to me by the due date will receive a grade of zero unless there are extenuating circumstances that can be documented and are accepted by the instructor.

Ample time will be given to complete all assignments.

FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) Board

If you have a question or problem please check the FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) discussion board first. If the answer is not there (or the answer was not posted by me and you aren’t sure if it is correct), contact me by email at mmarafino@allegany.edu. I check email daily on weekdays. If the question is one that I think others may also have, I will post the question and answer to the FAQ Discussion Board.

Contacting Me

If you need to speak to me by phone please call my office number at by calling the nearest ACM number. You can reach either of my offices from any of the main numbers at the head of this syllabus. My extension at the Somerset office is 6113 and my extension at the Everett office is 6210. This semester I am at the Everett campus Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays and at the Somerset campus Tuesdays and Thursdays. Please leave a voicemail message but if you find it difficult to reach me, we can arrange a phone meeting at a mutually convenient time.
You may contact me by email at mmarafino@allegany.edu.

Blackboard

This course will be conducted using Blackboard software. You do not need to purchase software to use Blackboard, however, you will need a login and password to access it. By now you should have received a letter that specifies your login and password. After receiving your Blackboard username and password, you should immediately log in to your Blackboard account and orient yourself with Blackboard. Blackboard is the tool for delivering this course. You should review the student manual by logging into Blackboard, clicking on the "Tools" button and then clicking on "Manual.” You should also print a copy of the "Student Blackboard Handout" in the "Course Documents" section.

You should be able to perform the following functions in blackboard by the end of the first week of class:

Log into your Blackboard account (remember to log out when finished!)
Find and read announcements
Find and read course assignments
Find and read course documents
Send email
Find the discussion board
Find the digital drop box
Find the grades area

E-Mail Policy

Always use the following guidelines when sending e-mail to me.

In the subject area, enter “English” and clearly identify the topic of your e-mail:

Example:    English – Question about …
                   English – Comments about….
                   English – Homework Assignment ….

I receive a great deal of email. It will help me identify your email if you put the word “English” in your subject line. I check my email continually during weekdays. I usually check email on weekends but it is possible that I may not be available on weekends so plan accordingly. Do not wait until the day an assignment is due to email questions to me. I will respond to your email as soon as I read it if possible. If the response is lengthy, I will respond as soon as possible.

Submission of Assignments as Electronic Files

Unless otherwise stated, all assignments that are submitted to me must be in the format of a Microsoft Word document file. Documents submitted in any other format will not be accepted.

Files must be submitted using the link provided in the “Assignments” section unless otherwise indicated. In the event that Blackboard is not working (for example, the Blackboard server goes down) and the due date is looming, you should submit the file as an email attachment along with a note describing the problem. If both Blackboard and email are down, send a fax to me at (814) 445-8132 indicating that you are experiencing a problem and supply a brief explanation of the problem. If your assignment is short (5 pages or less), you may also fax the assignment to me at that time. If you fax an assignment, an electronic copy must follow as soon as possible. You may leave a voicemail message for me at any time at the above numbers.

Rules of Conduct for Participation in the Discussion Board

Students are encouraged to communicate with each other using the Discussion Board feature of Blackboard. Just because you cannot physically be in the same room as your classmates doesn’t mean you can’t communicate with them! The Discussion Board is provided so that students can get to know each other and discuss topics that are related to the course content. It can be a valuable source of information and support. However, please note that all messages are “public,” i.e. available for everyone in the class to view. When posting messages on the Discussion Board please keep comments on a positive note and avoid “flaming” (verbally attacking someone else). Please provide feedback to other students in a kind and constructive manner. Also be careful about posting personal information about yourself that you would not normally provide to an acquaintance.

	Student Conduct and Plagiarism		As a reminder, the college has a policy on academic dishonesty. You are expected to abide by the policy as defined in the college catalog. Plagiarism is passing off someone else’s work or idea as your own. Academic Dishonesty also includes failure on your part to keep your current and past assignments out of the hands of other students who may misinterpret their origins. It is suggested that you keep a record and/or rough draft of written work until you have received your final grade.
Accommodating Disabilities		Any student in this course who has a disability that may prevent him or her from fully demonstrating his or her abilities should contact me personally as soon as possible so I can discuss accommodations necessary to ensure full participation and facilitate your educational opportunity.
Final Note		As the semester proceeds, please tell me what is working, what is not working, and what else you think I could do to help you be successful in this course. Thanks, and I hope you will enjoy Freshman English I!

Online Student Study Guidelines

1. Make a study schedule and stick to it! Maintain self-discipline and avoid procrastinating--don't "put it off" or wait until the last minute to do your work.

2. Create a private space where you can study so that you're not distracted or interrupted frequently.

3. Get the support of your colleagues, friends, and family. While they go off and have fun, you may have to study.

4. Understand assignments and write them down or print the Course Calendar to avoid forgetting something.

5. Buy the required text and READ IT!! You CANNOT be successful in this course without reading and studying from the textbook.

6. Be able to communicate through writing, as this is the primary vehicle you'll be using to "talk" with your classmates and professors.

7. Participate! Think before you contribute your ideas, comments, and perspectives on the subject you are studying and read what your classmates have to say. Be respectful of differing opinions as there is rarely only one way to do anything. Give positive feedback freely and negative feedback with kindness.

8. Be open-minded about sharing life, work, and educational experiences as part of the learning experience. When you're online with your classmates, be open and friendly. You'll discover you'll know more about your online classmates than you ever knew about your face-to-face classmates.

9. Communicate effectively with instructors. Be willing to ask questions and "speak up" if you're having a problem. Remember, instructors can't see you or read your mind!

10. Try to apply everything you learn as you learn it, or if you can't apply it, try "teaching" it to someone else. These techniques will help you remember the information more easily.

11. CELEBRATE when you complete a course! You've worked hard and you deserve a chance to relax and be proud!

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