ENC 1102 Course Guide

Prof. Hofer

Office: J 215     Phone: 462-4201         Email: rhofer@ircc.cc.fl.us

Texts               Arp, Perrine’s Literature, 8th ed.

Hacker, The Bedford Handbook, 5th ed. (or Troyka, Simon & Schuster           Handbook for Writers, 6^th ed.)                             

A “desk” dictionary, (see Hacker, p. 499)

Purpose           ENC 1102 is designed to improve your critical reading, thinking, and                             writing.  In this course you will study literature to see how it works,

                        how it is important, and how it both reflects and refines the full diversity

                        of human experience.  You will also write a series of papers, including a                                     research paper, to strengthen your critical skills.

Attendance     IRCC policy is that “Regular class attendance by all students is required” (Faculty Handbook).  In this course “regular class attendance” means missing no more than six hours of class.  Absences will usually be excused if you notify me in advance that you will miss class, and they may                                  be excused if you explain them to me when you return to class.  Unexcused absences beyond six hours will cause your final grade to be lowered at the rate of three points for each hour missed.  Lateness affects your grade according to the same policy as absence, except that each lateness counts as half an absence.  If you come into class late—after I have called roll—be sure to tell me after class that you were not absent.

Learning         Learning both requires and strengthens concentration, so please be sure

Environment   to turn off cell phones and beepers, and avoid any behavior that detracts from others’ attention to our classroom work.  To support that work, add your voice, enriched by enthusiasm and respect, to our discussions.

Writing            As a Gordon Rule course, ENC 1102 requires six thousand words of

Assignments   written work. To reach this total will write a series of short papers (1500                       words total), a research paper (2000 words), and an essay-format final                        exam (500 words); you will also keep a journal (see below).  You must              submit all of the work to pass the course.  Late work will lose one letter                         grade for each class it is late unless, before the due date, you arrange with                      me for an extension.

Journals          This course requires a reading journal in which you make entries totaling                                    2000 words for the term.  Each entry should respond to one of the works

                        on the syllabus or one covered in class; typical responses will consider a                                    work’s devices, its themes, its relevance, or its quality.                         

Grades            The shorter writing assignments count for 30% of your final grade, the research paper for 40%, the journal for 10%, and the final exam for 20%.  Letter grades follow this scale:

                        A = 100%, A- = 93%, B+ = 89%, B = 86%, B- = 83%, C+ = 79%,

                        C = 76%, C- = 73%, D+ = 69%, D = 66%, D- = 63%, F = 59% or lower