English 1302 PRN / section 022 / synonym 16590
Fall 2014 / 16 week-semester
Instructor: Skrabanek
This course begins on August 25 and ends at 5 pm Saturday, December 13.
Do not submit work for grading before August 25 or after 5 pm December 13.
You may take quizzes in Blackboard as soon as you can log in.
IMPORTANT!
This course is self-paced only in the sense that students can submit coursework early, if possible. Late submissions are frowned upon and penalized.
The due date and time specified indicate when your work should be submitted to me using the Submissions links in Blackboard. In the following Schedule, days means consecutive days, including weekends and holidays (unless otherwise indicated). In addition, these conditions will apply:
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Assignments are due on the date and time stated in the following Schedule.
- If you submit an assignment after the due date, the assignment is considered a late assignment submission.
- Any student who has three or more late assignment submissions will not be eligible for a grade higher than C or an Incomplete.
- Any assignment submission that is more than 7 days late may not be graded. The end of that 7-day period is called a late submission deadline.
- If you miss one late submission deadline, you will be advised to withdraw from the course. If you miss two late submission deadlines, I will withdraw you from the course without notice. If the withdrawal date has already passed, then you will receive a failing grade in the course.
- Any required assignment revision should be submitted as soon as possible. A revision not submitted within 7 days of my return of the graded assignment will be considered as a late assignment submission. Any revision that is not submitted within 14 days of my return of the graded assignment may not be graded, and you may be dropped from the course for lack of progress. See details about late assignment submissions above. In addition, I will not grade following assignments until preceding assignments are accepted.
- These penalties do not apply to the quizzes. However, quizzes are a required part of the course, and each Reading Quiz is available only for a limited time.
These conditions will also apply:
- Assignments are graded in sequential order, so they should be submitted in sequential order.
- VERY IMPORTANT: No new assignment submissions or revisions will be accepted or graded during the last four days of the course, December 10-13. Only exams will be graded during the last four days of the course. Also, during the last four days of the course, you may submit only one item, an exam. This policy overrides any other late submission guidelines.
- Students who do not score a cumulative 40 points on the Reading Quizzes will not be eligible to write the C exam and will be dropped from the course.
- The C exam may be written at any ACC Testing Center as soon as you receive your C Exam testing permit from me. You will receive your C exam permit with the return of your accepted Assignment 8 file. You have the option to use computer-based online C exam testing using Blackboard. You can type your exam on a Testing Center computer and I can retrieve the exam in Blackboard. This process shortens the feedback period. Computer-based C exam testing is available at the eight major ACC campuses and some of the outlying testing centers. You need to check with your chosen testing center to be sure it offers English 1302 online testing through Blackboard. If you handwrite the exam, then beginning December 8, you must handwrite the exam at the Rio Grande Testing Center to be certain it reaches me before the grading deadline.
- IMPORTANT: You should write your first attempt at the C exam no later than Tuesday, December 9, so that you have time to retest if necessary. If you wait until after that date, you will not have the opportunity to rewrite the C exam if necessary. If you wait until the last four days to write your C exam, and your exam attempt is not acceptable, your final grade will be D. Do not expect leniency in grading if you wait until the last minute to write the C exam.
- If you satisfactorily complete the six required assignments and do not write an acceptable C exam, your final grade will be D. If you do not have time to write the C exam during the semester, you may qualify for an Incomplete. To qualify for an Incomplete, you must have fewer than three late assignment submissions and you must have completed at least five of the required assignments and the required quizzes satisfactorily. You must also have scored at least 40 points on the Reading Quizzes.
- You may not submit the B exam until after you have submitted the C exam. You may not submit the A exam until your C exam has been accepted and you have submitted the B exam.
- All work is due no later than 5 pm Saturday, December 13. Work submitted after this time will not be graded.
Quizzes
You must complete an Orientation Quiz; you must score 7 or better on the Orientation Quiz to continue in the course. You may retake the Orientation Quiz if necessary.
You must also take a series of Reading Quizzes.
- To qualify to write the C exam, students must score a cumulative 40 points on the six Reading Quizzes.
- To qualify to write the B and A exams, students must score a cumulative 45 points on the six Reading Quizzes.
- You may not retake any Reading Quiz.
- Reading Quizzes are located under the Quizzes button in the left sidebar in Blackboard.
In addition, the Reading Quizzes are posted for a limited amount of time. They are available from the first day of the course, but the quizzes are no longer available after the due date of the assignment they apply to. For example, the Assignment 3 analysis is due at 11:45 pm September 24. The Reading Quiz on the Assignment 3 feature story will not be available after 11:45 pm September 24.
Obviously, if you fail to take more than two reading quizzes by the due time, you cannot continue in the course because you cannot score the cumulative 40 points required to qualify to write the C exam.
The Reading Quizzes are listed under the corresponding assignment due dates below. In short, these assignments have Reading Quizzes: Assignments 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8.
Go to End-of-Semester Details
These links take you to important course information:
Course Guidelines
Handy Links Page
C Exam Tips
B Exam
A Exam
Important Dates
August 25: Classes begin
September 1: Labor Day holiday -- College closed
September 15: Last day to request 70% refund (You must withdraw yourself at an ACC Admissions & Records office and complete a form for the refund.)
September 22: Last day to request 25% refund (Same process as above)
November 20: Last day to withdraw
November 27-30: Thanksgiving holiday -- College closed
December 13: Course ends (All work due by 5 pm.)
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To Make a Grade of C
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To Make a Grade of B
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To Make a Grade of A
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Satisfactorily complete Assignments 1, 2, 3, 4
Satisfactorily complete one of these assignments: Assignments 5, 6, 7
Satisfactorily complete Assignment 8
Complete the Orientation Quiz with a score of 7 or better.
Score a cumulative 40 points on the six Reading Quizzes. See the section on Quizzes above.
Satisfactorily complete C Exam
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Satisfactorily complete Assignments 1, 2, 3, 4
Satisfactorily complete one of these assignments: Assignments 5, 6, 7
Satisfactorily complete Assignment 8
Complete the Orientation Quiz with a score of 7 or better.
Score a cumulative 45 points on the six Reading Quizzes. See the section on Quizzes above.
Satisfactorily complete C Exam
Satisfactorily complete B Exam
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Satisfactorily complete Assignments 1, 2, 3, 4
Satisfactorily complete one of these assignments: Assignments 5, 6, 7
Satisfactorily complete Assignment 8
Complete the Orientation Quiz with a score of 7 or better.
Score a cumulative 45 points on the six Reading Quizzes. See the section on Quizzes above.
Satisfactorily complete C Exam
Satisfactorily complete B Exam
Satisfactorily complete A Exam
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The grade requirements above assume you adhere to the late submissions guidelines.
Assignment and Quiz Due Dates
WORK DUE by 11:45 pm Wednesday, September 3
Submit Assignment 1. (See Assignment 1 Lecture for requirements.)
All students must write Assignment 1.
Complete Orientation Quiz.
(Quizzes are located under the Quizzes button in Blackboard. To progress in the course, you must score 7 or better on the Orientation Quiz. You may retake the Orientation Quiz if necessary.)
WORK DUE by 11:45 pm Sunday, September 14
Submit Assignment 2. (See Assignment 2 Lecture for requirements.)
All students must write Assignment 2.
WORK DUE by 11:45 pm Wednesday, September 24
Submit Assignment 3. (See Assignment 3 Lecture for requirements.)
All students must write Assignment 3.
Complete Reading Quiz 1 on "The Man Who Was Almost a Man" by the due date just above.
(Quizzes are located under the Quizzes button in Blackboard. To qualify to write the C exam, you must score a cumulative 40 points on the six Reading Quizzes. To qualify to write the B and A exams, you must score a cumulative 45 points on the six Reading Quizzes. You may not retake any Reading Quiz. In addition, Reading Quiz 1 will not be available after the Assignment 3 due date stated above.)
WORK DUE by 11:45 pm Sunday, October 5
Submit Assignment 4. (See Assignment 4 Lecture for requirements.)
All students must write Assignment 4.
Complete Reading Quiz 2 on "The Necklace" by the due date just above.
(Quizzes are located under the Quizzes button in Blackboard. To qualify to write the C exam, you must score a cumulative 40 points on the six Reading Quizzes. To qualify to write the B and A exams, you must score a cumulative 45 points on the six Reading Quizzes. You may not retake any Reading Quiz. In addition, Reading Quiz 2 will not be available after the Assignment 4 due date stated above.)
WORK DUE by 11:45 pm Sunday, October 19
Submit Assignment 5. (See Assignment 5 Lecture for requirements.)
Students are required to write only one of the following assignments: 5, 6, or 7. Though you might not write this analysis, you are still required to read the information in this lecture. You will use this information to write your Assignment 8 analysis and the C exam.
Complete Reading Quiz 3 on "Guests of the Nation" by the due date just above.
(Quizzes are located under the Quizzes button in Blackboard. To qualify to write the C exam, you must score a cumulative 40 points on the six Reading Quizzes. To qualify to write the B and A exams, you must score a cumulative 45 points on the six Reading Quizzes. You may not retake any Reading Quiz. In addition, Reading Quiz 3 will not be available after the Assignment 5 due date stated above.)
WORK DUE by 11:45 pm Sunday, October 26
Submit Assignment 6. (See Assignment 6 Lecture for requirements.)
Students are required to write only one of the following assignments: 5, 6, or 7. Though you might not write this analysis, you are still required to read the information in this lecture. You will use this information to write your Assignment 8 analysis and the C exam.
Complete Reading Quiz 4 on "The Catbird Seat" by the due date just above.
(Quizzes are located under the Quizzes button in Blackboard. To qualify to write the C exam, you must score a cumulative 40 points on the six Reading Quizzes. To qualify to write the B and A exams, you must score a cumulative 45 points on the six Reading Quizzes. You may not retake any Reading Quiz. In addition, Reading Quiz 4 will not be available after the Assignment 6 due date stated above.)
WORK DUE by 11:45 pm Sunday, November 2
Submit Assignment 7. (See Assignment 7 Lecture for requirements.)
Students are required to write only one of the following assignments: 5, 6, or 7. Though you might not write this analysis, you are still required to read the information in this lecture. You will use this information to write your Assignment 8 analysis and the C exam.
Complete Reading Quiz 5 on "The Cask of Amontillado" by the due date just above.
(Quizzes are located under the Quizzes button in Blackboard. To qualify to write the C exam, you must score a cumulative 40 points on the six Reading Quizzes. To qualify to write the B and A exams, you must score a cumulative 45 points on the six Reading Quizzes. You may not retake any Reading Quiz. In addition, Reading Quiz 5 will not be available after the Assignment 7 due date stated above.)
WORK DUE by 11:45 pm Sunday, November 9
Submit Assignment 8. (See Assignment 8 Lecture for requirements.)
All students must write Assignment 8.
Complete Reading Quiz 6 on "The Storm" by the due date just above.
(Quizzes are located under the Quizzes button in Blackboard. To qualify to write the C exam, you must score a cumulative 40 points on the six Reading Quizzes. To qualify to write the B and A exams, you must score a cumulative 45 points on the six Reading Quizzes. You may not retake any Reading Quiz. In addition, Reading Quiz 6 will not be available after the Assignment 8 due date stated above.)
November 20: Last day to withdraw
Students are responsible for submitting work when due and according to the conditions stated at the top of this Schedule. If you fail to meet these conditions and fall behind in the course, please withdraw yourself or request that I do so. If you wish for me to complete the withdrawal process for you, you must notify me by Email or Blackboard Messages no later than 5 pm November 17. Otherwise, you are responsible for withdrawing yourself.
End-of-Semester Details / Exams
- As soon as you have qualified to write the C exam, I will issue you a C exam permit. This permit will be included with the return of your accepted Assignment 8.
- The C exam must be written in an ACC Testing Center, by special arrangement at an ACC Office for Students with Disabilities, or at a pre-approved alternate facility. Arrangements for testing in facilities other than an ACC Testing Center must be made in advance (before the semester begins) and must be approved by me.
- All English 1302 students are required to write the C exam in an ACC Testing Center or an approved alternate facility. My Distance Learning English composition students (for example, you) are eligible to type their C exam in Blackboard on a computer in several ACC testing centers instead of handwriting it. This program is called online testing, but it must be done in an ACC Testing Center, not over the Internet. The advantage is that I can retrieve your C exam in Blackboard, grade it, and send you the results more quickly. Also, you may type the C exam until the semester ends at 5 pm on the last day of the semester, instead of having to handwrite the exam at the Rio Grande Testing Center during the last week.
- I highly recommend that you complete your first attempt at the C exam as early as possible. If you wait until the last four days of the semester to write your C exam, you will not be able to rewrite the exam, if necessary. If your C exam attempt is not successful and you do not rewrite, your final grade in the course will be D. If you have qualified to write the C exam and do not write a C exam, your final grade in the course will be D.
- Beginning December 8, if you handwrite the C exam, it MUST be handwritten at the Rio Grande Testing Center (unless previous arrangements have been made and approved by me). Otherwise, you have until 5 pm Saturday, December 13, to type the C exam at one of the ACC testing centers offering English 1302 online testing.
- All work is due no later than 5 pm Saturday, December 13. Work submitted after this time will not be graded.
C Exam
The C exam must be typed or written in an ACC Testing Center or an approved alternate facility. The C exam will be similar to Assignment 8. Read about online computer testing and some tips for completing the C exam at this link.
B Exam
The B exam emphasizes the detailed analysis and evaluation of an assigned short story. To qualify to write the B exam, you must complete the C exam satisfactorily and score a cumulative 45 points points on the six Reading Quizzes. The B exam is a "take-home" exam; it is not written in the Testing Center. You may not submit your B exam until you have written the C exam. You must have your C exam accepted before I will grade your B exam.
Click here to be taken to the B exam requirements.
A Exam
The A exam emphasizes the analysis of figurative language in an assigned short story. The A exam also requires the use of secondary sources and MLA documentation. To qualify to write the A exam, you must complete the C exam and B exam satisfactorily and score a cumulative 45 points points on the six Reading Quizzes. The A exam is a "take-home" exam; it is not written in the Testing Center. You may not submit your A exam until you have submitted the B exam. You must have your C exam and B exam accepted before I will grade your A exam.
Click here to be taken to the A exam requirements.