Course Description and Theme 

Welcome to English 802! This course will introduce you to the challenges and pleasures of college-level reading and writing. Once you have completed English 802 with a C- or better, you will have completed one of the required foundational courses in the General Education program. These are our course goals and objectives:

• identify key arguments in published texts and the writing of your peers;
• create and defend arguments of your own through effective rhetorical strategies and synthesis of others’ ideas;
• use the conventions of academic discourse, including
  • coherent and logical organization
  • Standard English grammar and syntax
  • correct citation and evaluation of research sources;
• revise your writing through multiple drafts and reflect on your own writing process.
  
  Course Theme
  

  The theme of this class is public space and the public sphere, and many of our readings apply this theme within the context of higher education. We do not presume that you are experts on these topics, and we have chosen them because they are somewhat familiar and yet they are also academically complex. They are also interdisciplinary topics, and students from all majors should be able to find connections between their interests and the work of this course. In fact, we strongly encourage you to use your own perspectives and interests to develop research topics.

  In this class, there are no right or wrong answers or opinions in most cases. As we will discuss, academic discourse involves weighing evidence and presenting a strong, well-argued position, and you will get lots of practice doing so in English 802. When you complete this course, you will have strengthened your critical thinking, reading and writing skills and will have established a set of good practices and habits that should be useful throughout your college career and beyond.

     

GenEd

This course fulfills the GW requirement for GenEd. English 0802 is a prerequisite for IH0851/0852 (formerly Intellectual Heritage 1196 and 1297), any writing intensive courses, and any course in the College of Liberal Arts numbered 2000-4999. This course may not be taken for credit by students who have successfully completed English 0812, 0902, 1002, 1012, 1022, 1977, 1978, C050, C051, H090, or R050. This course may not be repeated for additional credits.
  

Course Learning Goals & Related Assessments

	Course Learning Goals	Corresponding Assessments to Measure Goal Achievement
1.	identify key arguments in published texts and the writing of your peers; .	Weekly readings; Short writing and video responses; Discussions; Peer Reviews
2.	create and defend arguments of your own through effective rhetorical strategies and synthesis of others’ ideas;	Paper #3; Paper #2; Short writing and video responses; Final Portfolio
3.	use the conventions of academic discourse, including coherent and logical organization Standard English grammar and syntax correct citation and evaluation of research sources;	#Paper #1; Paper #2; Paper #3; Paper #4; Final Portfolio; Short writing responses
4.	revise your writing through multiple drafts and reflect on your own writing process.	Paper #1; Paper #2; Paper #3; Paper #4; Final Portfolio

 

Course Materials

You will not need to purchase books for this course, and we will not require any fees or other expenses. All readings and videos will be posted on Canvas through the Charles Library course reserves.  

Using Canvas and your Temple email are required for this course. Please familiarize yourself with our Canvas course site so that you understand where and when readings are posted. Please note that readings will often be available if you want to read ahead, but if you read ahead, you won’t have the benefit of getting more context or trigger warnings in advance.s Please check the technology specifications for using Canvas from computers and networks off campus. You will be submitting work online through Canvas for this course, and you must have regular access to Microsoft Word which you can download for free through TU Portal (Microsoft Office 365) or use in any Temple computer lab. If you use Google Docs, you will need to learn how to convert your document into Word in order to submit your papers (it’s easy!). Feel free to consult Temple’s Information Technology Services for support: https://its.temple.edu/. Limited resources may be available for students who do not have the technology they need for class. Check the Dean of Students Support and Resources webpage for details.

 

Instructional Methods

This course is entirely online with no mandatory live sessions, but you are expected to follow all deadlines and stay on track with the course timeline. Assignments will always be due Wednesdays and Sundays.

All students enrolled in English 802, regardless of the course format, should plan to dedicate at least 8–10 hours per week to the class. Since our section does not include regular class meetings, you can expect a significant amount of independent work. Please ensure you have enough time available to fully commit to the course.

  

Course Communications

Email is the best way to reach me. I will aim to respond within 24 hours of your email Monday through Friday. If you write over the weekend, I will get back to you on Monday.  Assignments will always be graded within 1 week. 
   

Course Technology Requirements

You will need the following to participate fully in the course:

• A computer and/or tablet with high-speed Internet access. A smartphone alone will not be sufficient.

  Recommended Internet Speed: 8mbps download & 5mbps upload. You can test your connection at https://www.speedtest.net. Please note: Hard-wired connections are more consistent than Wi-Fi for Zoom sessions.

• A web-enabled video camera and microphone.

• Access to Temple University’s Canvas site and email server.

• Microsoft Office. A free copy is available to you at https://its.temple.edu/office-365

This course requires the use of Canvas, including access to materials and assignment submission. Some videos posted via Canvas will require the use of speakers. The instructor may utilize web-conferencing tools to deliver synchronous material. In order to participate in synchronous sessions (should they exist), you should have a computer, a webcam, headphones, and a microphone.

This course requires the use of Microsoft Office (i.e., Word, Excel, PowerPoint). To access these materials, please log in to TUportal and look for the Microsoft Download link under TUapplications within the My Portal tab.

Students should check their Temple email daily for course updates. 

All students are required to comply with  Temple University’s Computer and Network Security Policies.

Limited resources are available for students who do not have the technology they need for class. Students with educational technology needs, including no computer or camera or insufficient Wi-Fi access, should submit a Student Technology Assistance Application in TUPortal and linked from the Dean of Students Support and Resources webpage. The university will endeavor to meet needs, such as with a long-term loan of a laptop or Wifi device, a refurbished computer, or subsidized internet access. The Affordable Connectivity Program is available to purchase discounted internet services and devices for qualified individuals. 

On-campus computer labs are available for student use. Here is a list of all of these labs: https://its.temple.edu/computer-labs.

Note that technology resources are available for students, including laptop and battery share. Some software is available for free download on the ITS Academic Support page. Other specialty software may be available for remote access through ITS.

Statement on the Use of Generative AI in this Course  

Generative AI such as ChatGPT are exciting new tools that you may find useful in this class. As such, I have not banned them outright, and we may even use them occasionally in class activities. But AI cannot replace real human thinking and writing, and you should never use AI generated writing in place of your own work. Even in its most updated forms, AI has been known to reproduce biases, generate fake research sources, provide ideas within incorrect contexts, and spread disinformation and other harmful ideas. Human writing is the purpose of English 802, and we expect to see your genuine, human writing throughout the semester and in your final portfolios.

Generative AI tools are permitted in this course for the following activities:

• brainstorming and refining your ideas;
• coming up with a variety of prompts for library research;
• drafting outlines;
• suggesting alternate perspectives or adjacent ideas;
• organizing your thoughts.

If you use AI in any form, you must acknowledge having done so in writing on anything you submit for this course. This site gives directions for citing AI in your papers, and if you use it for weekly coursework or other assignments, you must include a note at the end explaining how you used AI and why it was useful. Also, you are responsible for the information you submit based on an AI query (for instance, that it does not violate intellectual property laws or contain misinformation or unethical content).

Generative AI tools are not permitted in this course for the following activities:

• To complete assignments or other writing that requires self-reflection or personal experience.
• To generate full sentences or paragraphs that you incorporate into your own writing without acknowledgement.
• To do group work unless I have specifically directed you to do so.
• To peer review a classmate’s draft.
• To generate full drafts or revisions (even if the revision is on your own, original draft).

If you are found to have used AI without acknowledgement on a small assignment, the penalty will range from an Incomplete on the assignment to an F for the course depending on the severity of the situation. If you are found to have used AI without acknowledgement on a draft submitted for peer review or my feedback, you will have one week to revise and resubmit or you will receive an F for the course. If you are found to have used AI without acknowledgement in your final portfolio, the penalty will be an F for the course.

     

Grading Scale

A Range	B Range	C Range	D Range	F Range
A  93 - 100	B+ 87 - 89.49	C+ 77 - 79.49	D+ 67 - 69.49	F 0 - 59
A- 90 - 92.49	B  83 - 86	C  73 - 76	D  63 - 66
	B- 80 - 82.49	C- 70 - 72.49	D- 60 - 62.49

 

 

Assignment Descriptions

1. Read and annotate our assigned readings.

All of our assignments—including large papers—will be focused on the assigned readings. You must do the reading in order to pass the class. When you read, take notes in the margins and/or keep a list of thoughts and ideas. Sometimes, you may need to read a paragraph or a section more than once before it makes sense, and this is completely normal when reading dense academic publications or other types of long readings. I recommend that you talk to friends and family about our readings, too. I dislike giving reading quizzes, but I absolutely reserve the right to assign these if it appears that people are not doing the reading and/or are not thinking critically about the readings.  

2. Complete all weekly coursework as announced in class or assigned on Canvas.

Weekly coursework consists of small assignments and activities that we do on Canvas. They consist of discussions, small writing assignments, and presentation responses. I reserve the right to also factor pop quizzes into this if I feel that we need to start implementing them.  Weekly coursework is essential for learning, and it will be graded as Complete (full credit) or Incomplete (no credit). Together, these activities will be worth 20% of your final grade. In general, I will give you a grade of Complete if you’ve met the basic requirements outlined by the assignment, and if you do not follow directions or submit your work on time, you will get a grade of Incomplete. A full policy about late weekly coursework is included below.

3. Write and revise four substantial papers through multiple drafts.

You will write four papers and submit them to me for feedback and guidance. Then, you will revise these drafts into final versions due in a final portfolio at the end of the semester. I will give you feedback for Papers 1, 2 and 3, and this feedback will be formative and intended to help you revise. You will not receive a binding grade on these drafts because I want you to revise them as many times as possible before the final portfolio.  

My feedback will also give you an idea of where your grade might stand on a draft if it were submitted in the final portfolio as is and without any revision, and it will give you a baseline of your progress. It is relatively normal for students to receive feedback that indicates a draft is not yet passing in its current condition, and I do not want you to be discouraged by this. It simply means you have work to do, and because draft grades are not binding, there is no penalty for having a draft that is not yet passing. If you ever feel discouraged, talk to me, and I can help you plan for revision and feel hopeful about making improvement in your writing.  

I give feedback on each draft only once if it is submitted on time, but we can talk about your drafts and revisions as many times as you wish if you bring them to me to discuss during conferences and office hours. Keep in mind that you may also bring your papers to the Writing Center at any stage in the writing process, and I encourage everyone to visit the Writing Center on a regular basis for this and other classes. More information about this is included below.

4. Meet with me for individual conferences outside of class.

We will meet for conferences on Zoom to discuss your progress in all papers, and I will offer you an optional conference at the end of the semester in case you need it. Dates, times, and modes for our conferences will be mutually arranged. I will let you know in class what you need to prepare for each conference, and if you arrive without it, I reserve the right to cancel our conference and give you an absence. If you fail to show up at a scheduled conference, I might deduct points from your final grade. If I can reschedule a missed conference, I will, but even if we meet for a rescheduled conference, the initial absence will still apply.

5. Reflect on your writing process and your progress towards our course goals. Evidence shows that self-reflection enhances learning and improves outcomes, and I will assign many opportunities for you to reflect on your work in this course. Short reflections will also be used in Paper 4 and will be important in our assessment of your final portfolio.

6. Submit a well-revised final portfolio at the end of the semester. Your final portfolio will consist of four papers that you have revised multiple times. The grade on your final portfolio( 60%) and the grade on the quality of your revisions (10%) are the majority of your final grade in the course. A rubric for final portfolios is included below, as is a detailed explanation of my grading process.

When you revise, you should do so as thoroughly as possible, which means addressing the issues noted in my feedback on your drafts and going above and beyond to address all of the ideas and suggestions that we discuss throughout the semester. For instance, our class readings serve as models of good writing to emulate and use as inspiration. Your weekly coursework, our in-class activities and my mini-lectures and explanations will give you ideas and plenty of practice for successful college writing. Individual conferences and peer review workshops will allow you to reflect on your progress and grow as a reader, writer, and thinker. Final portfolios in which revisions only “fix” simple errors or address only things mentioned in my feedback are unlikely to result in grades of A or B for revision in your final grade, and a lack of serious revision will prevent final portfolio grades from being in the A range altogether.

  

Course Minimum Grade

Although D- is a passing grade, a minimum grade of C- is required in General Education courses and, in many programs, courses required by the major.

For more information, please see Temple University's Academic Policies on Grades and Grading.

    

General Policies

All Temple University Academic Policies will be upheld.

The General Education Policies and Requirements details program expectations.

   

Attendance and Your Health

Students must attend and participate in classes according to their instructors’ requirements to achieve course learning goals. If you feel unwell or are under quarantine or in isolation because you have tested positive for the coronavirus, you should not come to campus or attend in-person classes or activities.

It is the student’s responsibility to contact their instructors to create a plan for participation and engagement in the course as soon as they can do so and to make a plan to complete all assignments in a timely fashion when illness delays their completion.

 

Incomplete

A student will be eligible for a grade of “Incomplete” only if the student: 1) has completed at least 51% of the work at a passing level, 2) is unable to complete the work for a serious reason beyond their control, and 3) files a signed agreement with the instructor outlining the work to be completed and the time frame in which that work will be completed. The student is responsible for initiating this process and all incomplete forms must be sent to the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs prior to the start of study days in that semester.  

Please refer to the following for further details: Temple University’s Incomplete Policy. (Policy #02.10.13). 

  

Withdrawal from the Course

If a student wishes to withdraw from a course, it is the student’s responsibility to meet the deadline for the last day to withdraw from the current semester.

See Temple University's Academic Calendar for withdrawing deadlines and consult the University policy on Withdrawals (Policy # 02.10.14). 

  

Statement on Academic Rights & Responsibilities

Freedom to teach and freedom to learn are inseparable facets of academic freedom. The University has a policy on Student and Faculty Academic Rights and Responsibilities (Policy #03.70.02).

   

Academic Honesty

According to the University Student Code of Conduct, students must not commit, attempt to commit, aid, encourage, facilitate, or solicit the commission of academic dishonesty and impropriety including plagiarism, academic cheating, and selling lecture notes or other information provided by an instructor without the instructor’s authorization. Violations may result in failing the assignment and/or failing the course, and/or other sanctions as enumerated in the University Code of Conduct.

 

 

Netiquette and Class Conduct Expectations

It is important to foster a respectful and productive learning environment that includes all students in our diverse community of learners. Our differences, some of which are outlined in the University's nondiscrimination statement, will add richness to this learning experience. Therefore, all opinions and experiences, no matter how different or controversial they may be perceived, must be respected in the tolerant spirit of academic discourse.

Treat your classmates and instructor with respect in all communication, class activities, and meetings. You are encouraged to comment, question, or critique an idea, but you are not to attack an individual. Please consider that sarcasm, humor, and slang can be misconstrued in online interactions and generate unintended disruptions. Profanity should be avoided as should the use of all capital letters when composing responses in discussion threads, which can be construed as “shouting” online. Remember to be careful with your own and others' privacy. In general, have your behavior mirror how you would like to be treated by others.

For more information, please visit https://diversity.temple.edu/.

 

Disability Disclosure Statement

Any student who has a need for accommodation based on the impact of a documented disability should contact Disability Resources and Services (DRS), Ritter Annex 100, (215) 204-1280 or 215-204-1786 (TTY) or drs@temple.edu, to make arrangements.  If you have a DRS accommodation letter to share with me, or you would like to discuss your accommodations, please contact the instructor as soon as practical. I will work with you and with DRS to coordinate reasonable accommodations for all students with documented disabilities. Accommodations are not retroactive. All discussions related to your accommodations will be confidential.
 
Information regarding accessibility for additional technologies is provided below: 

• Canvas
• Zoom
• VoiceThread
• ProctorU
• Proctorio
• GoogleDrive
• Outlook
• Sharepoint
  
  

Technical Support 

For a listing of technical support services available to Temple University students, see the Tech Support page.

Live Chat or Request Help:  tuhelp.temple.edu.

Phone: 215-204-8000

Email:  help@temple.edu

Website: its.temple.edu

Location: The TECH Center, Room 106

Academic and Support Services

Temple University provides a variety of services to support you throughout your studies. Please take a moment to view these by visiting the Academic Support Services page.

The following academic support services are available to students:

• Student Success Center
• University Libraries
• Undergraduate Research Support
• Career Center
• Tuttleman Counseling Services
• Disability Resources and Services

  
If you are experiencing food insecurity or financial struggles, Temple provides resources and support. Notably, theTemple University Cherry Pantry and the Temple University Emergency Student Aid Program are in operation as well as a variety of resources from the Division of Student Affairs. 

      

Continuity of Instruction in the Event of Emergency

Students are to register for the TUAlert System to be made aware of University closures due to weather or other emergency situations and follow all additional university-wide emergency instructions. Students can register for this system on the Campus Safety Services website. Students registered for the class will be alerted to any alternate testing procedures and submission of assignment requirements from the instructor via email.

Please note that online classes are generally not affected by campus closures.  

  

Privacy Policy

Please see the links below to become familiar with the privacy policies for each of the following: 

• Temple University
• Canvas Instructure
• Zoom

    

Course Schedule

Key Dates:

Include the first and last day of classes, the last day to add/drop, the last day to withdraw, days off, breaks, wellness days, etc. See https://registrar.temple.edu/academic-calendar

The following dates are for the Fall 2024 16-week semester. For a 7-week semester, please refer to: https://registrar.temple.edu/academic-calendar/2024-2025-academic-calendar

Monday, January 13th: First day of classes

Monday, January 20: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (no classes held)

Monday, January 27: Last day to add or dropLinks to an external site. a Full Term 16-week (1) course

Monday, March 3 - Sunday, March 9: Spring Break (no classes held)

Monday, April 28: Last day to withdrawLinks to an external site., Last day of classes

 

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