Course Syllabus

To increase your knowledge of current issues, so that you can function more sensitively, intelligently and effectively in the world.

 

This class is a hybrid course. Because every student has a different schedule, there won't be any ZOOM meetings. We meet every Wednesday from 2-4 pm in Building 16 room 205. 

 

TECHNOLOGY REQUIREMENTS

You’ll need reliable access to a computer and internet service.

Library with computers will be available:

Library & Computer Lab Hours

The Learning Resource Center is open during Summer Break.
Monday-Thursday from 10am-2pm.

 https://www.cptc.edu/lrc

Library services: 253-589-5544
Email and Wi-Fi services: 253-589-5820
Online Learning services: 253-589-4534

NO REQUIRED TEXTBOOK

Recommended but NOT required

A Writer's Reference, by Diana Hacker and Nancy Sommers

Or any grammar reference book. (GOODWILL often has used books.)

OTHER REQUIREMENTS

You will also need:

• An email address.
• Reliable computer and internet access. 
• The ability to type reasonably well on a computer keyboard.
• Save everything. 

PRERQUISITES

Appropriate COMPASS/SLEP placement score or successful completion of Eng. 094.

HOW TO COMMUNICATE WITH ME

There are several methods you can use to get in touch with me.  Here they are, in order of my preference:

• Use Canvas email system
• Email my via my college email me at karen.irwin@cptc.edu

How soon will I get back to you?  I hope that day, or at least within 24 hours, but remember, I don't work on weekends.  

 

HOW TO SUBMIT YOUR WORK

You will submit all your work electronically.  Most often, you will use either:

• Canvas– this is for finished work, sent to me to be graded, or
• Canvas Discussion forum – this is an open forum, where anyone in the class can read and comment on your work.

 

If your work is:	Send it to:	In the form of:
A finished product being sent to me for a grade	Canvas	Word works best. Don't send a Rich Text Format (rtf) file
A piece which other students will read and respond to	Discussion forum	Canvas

 

 

 

Formatting: For essays, always double space, and use 12-point font. You don't need a heading because Canvas provides name and date.

WHAT THE COURSE IS LIKE, WHAT YOU WILL DO, HOW YOU WILL BE GRADED, AND THE BEST WAY TO GET A GOOD GRADE

COURSE DESCRIPTION: This course is designed to develop reading skills and writing proficiency necessary for success in college studies. Students learn how to analyze and complete various assignments while improving reading comprehension skills.  Grammar, sentence and paragraph development, and writing process will be strongly emphasized.  Electronic communication tools will be used. Critical reading and thinking is a large component.

COURSE RATIONALE: The purpose of the course is to provide the student with the communication skills necessary to compete in the job market and to gain the skills needed to successfully advance in their academic studies.

WHAT YOU WILL DO: 

In this course, you will:

• Write free writes
• Write formal essays that include thesis and research
• Read several essays and articles and analyze them in writing and through class discussions
• Work on reading comprehension skills
• Create an APA Reference Page

HOW YOU WILL BE EVALUATED: 

College level work of excellent quality:

95-100=A 90-94=A-

College level work of good quality: 87-89=B+ 84-86=B 80-83=B-

College level work of acceptable quality: 77-79=C+ 74-76=C 70-73=C-

Not college level work, or is unfinished: 67-69=D+ 64-66=D 60-63=D-

 

 

HOW TO GET A GOOD GRADE: The most effective way to get a good grade is to check Canvas daily and submit all work. Do not use AI or Chatgpt. I will recognize it and grade you accordingly. I will give written feedback on essays and on essay outlines or partial drafts submitted on time. If at any time you’d like additional feedback or have questions, please email me. Due to large numbers of students, grading essays often takes two weeks.

USING TECHNOLOGY: 

Access and equipment:To successfully complete this class, you must have reliable access to the Internet. If you experience problems with the computer you normally use or with your internet provider, you’ll need to use computers in the campus computer labs, public libraries, etc to complete your coursework. 

Skills you must have: Students in an online, hybrid or enhanced class must have the ability to:

• access and navigate websites
• download files
• send attachments
• save and upload files in word processing formats (.doc, or .docx) and
• copy and paste text from files on a computer to text boxes within a web browser

 

Netiquette Statement: Civility makes it possible for all of us to participate productively and to develop a supportive atmosphere for learning and for the exchange of ideas. Whether we meet in person or online, I expect communication that is appropriate to a college classroom, founded on courtesy and respect.

Please behave as if you care about the content of the class and are here to learn, with respect for your instructor and your fellow students. To that end, please take a few minutes to read over and follow the guidelines for “netiquette” in online classes at this site:

http://www.online.uwc.edu/Technology/onlEtiquette.asp (Links to an external site.)

Disability Statement:If you require accommodation for a disability, you must register through the services for students with disabilities office at your college campus. Please see the following site for more information:

http://waol.org/studentservices/studentAccess.asp (Links to an external site.)

COLLEGE-WIDE CORE ABILITIES:

Core abilities are transferable skills that are essential to an individual’s success, regardless of occupation or community setting.  These skills:

• Complement specific occupational skills
• Broaden one’s ability to function outside a given occupation, and
• Connect occupation, personal, and community roles.

 

Communication: Students are prepared to read and interpret written information from remedial, academic and vocational text; they learn to apply different reading, writing and study strategies to enable them to become more effective communicators.   Information/Technological Literacy: Demonstrate the ability to research a topic with the use of the Internet and library resources. To use academic and professional journals to gather career related information and to produce written documentation.

Personal/Professional Responsibility: Students will take responsibility for their own learning with the use of classroom instruction, independent study, and self-paced computer assignments.     Critical Thinking/Problem Solving: Students learn to organize, comprehend, and evaluate information from the reading material in order to help solve problems in the text, problems with studying and retaining material, and problems with comprehension in the workplace.

 

LEARNING OBJECTIVES WITH CORE ABILITIES:

 

Learning Objectives:
Upon completion of this course:
Objective 1.  Students will be able to process classroom and textual information through application of study skills.
Objective 2.  Students will be able to use correct grammatical structure and to organize written material in order to communicate effectively.
Objective 3. Students will be able to access written information through a variety of sources including technology.
Objective 4. Students will understand the interdependence of reading and writing processes.

 

 

COURSE POLICIES 

Grace period:  Meeting deadlines is important in order to succeed in the workplace, but I understand that life happens. If you miss an assignment, just keep in touch with me. 

Prepare your work in advance.  Post your work on the assigned due date. If you absolutely cannot make the due date, let me know.

Plagiarism: Please cite your sources carefully and appropriately.  I really want to read your writing not someone else's or Chatgpt.  You are an original.

Plagiarism will result in a failing grade on the assignment and possible further disciplinary action.

 A statement of academic honesty defines plagiarism the following way:

“Plagiarism is presenting someone else’s words, ideas, or data as one’s own.  When a student submits work that includes the words, ideas, or data of others, the source of that information must be acknowledged through complete, accurate, and specific references and, if verbatim statements are included, through quotation marks as well.

In academically honest writing or speaking the student should acknowledge the source whenever:

• Another person’s actual words are quoted.
• Another person’s ideas, opinion, or theory is used, even if it is completely paraphrased in the student’s own words.
• Facts, statistics, or other illustrative materials are borrowed, unless the information is common knowledge.” 

 

Student concerns process:  Please talk with me first, but should you have a concern of any nature, you may follow the student concerns process as outlined in the current college catalogue. 

Student responsibilities: It is your responsibility to be familiar with policies and procedures as described in the current college catalogue.

 

 

To begin the class, click on the modules. Most of the class is already available, which means you can work ahead if you'd like. I do make some changes, so be sure to check the modules daily.

 

Remember that I am here to help you. I wish you all the best!

 

 

RESOURCES FOR STUDENTS

Academic support:  Tutoring center, building 15.

Crisis counseling: Advising and counseling offers short term counseling and referrals for students in crisis. Building 17.

Financial emergency support: The College Foundation sometimes can help with an emergency grant. Building 19.

Disability support services: Building 17.

Veterans office: Building 17

Library

The CPTC Library provides course-related materials in a variety of formats (books, DVDs, CDs), online databases, research help, study space for individuals and groups, and much more.

Tutoring Center

All CPTC students have access to free tutoring services at the Tutoring Center.  No appointment necessary!

Computer Lab

The LRC's computer lab provides access to PC and Mac computers, the Internet, course related websites and software, printing and scanning, and online Library resources.

Online Learning

CPTC's Online Learning department is here to help with Canvas and other online learning support needs.