ONLINE ENGLISH 79
COURSE INFORMATION AND SYLLABUS

General Information:

This ONLINE SECTION of English 79 allows the students to fit the course work into their personal and professional schedule.

Online learning provides a high quality alternative to traditional classes. No distinction is made between the requirements and expectations of this class and the traditional English 79 course offered at San Joaquin Delta College. The contents and desired outcomes are virtually the same.

However, student success in any online course requires self-discipline and motivation. In addition, this course requires active participation through frequent online communication with the instructor and the other students in the class. The time frame for each assignment is set to help students complete the course on time.


Course Description:

English 79, a five-unit course, is designed to improve students'' writing skills. The emphasis in the course is on writing well developed paragraphs in an organized essay and reviewing grammar and usage. Successful completion with a grade of "C" or better fulfills the English requirement for the associate degree.

Course Objectives:

Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to do the following:

  1. Comprehend and summarize a college-level reading passage
  2. Compose a complete essay centered on a clear, limited thesis and supported and developed by an introduction, body, and conclusion
  3. Compose sentences in a variety of syntactical patterns free of errors except for the most minor ones in grammar and mechanics
  4. Employ abstract reasoning and specific illustrations or examples from appropriate sources to support and develop a thesis.

Specific Goals:

English 79 is designed to develop a student’s ability to do the following:

  1. Analyze a writing problem based on reading to determine the precise subject, identify the task to be done, develop a thesis, construct topic sentences for supporting paragraphs, and select an effective pattern of development
  2. Write an effective introductory paragraph
  3. Construct well developed supporting paragraphs
  4. Write an effective concluding paragraph
  5. Create effective titles
  6. Revise and edit for effectiveness and correctness.
  7. Learn to read critically.

Course Syllabus:

This course includes instructions in the following:

  1. Analysis of writing problems
  2. Prewriting techniques
  3. Writing the introduction
  4. Creating and organizing supporting paragraphs
  5. Writing the conclusion
  6. Devices of coherence
  7. Rewriting — editing and revising
  8. Effective sentences and sentence combining
  9. Grammar and usage
  10. Effective reading techniques

Class Procedures:

The class is set up so that there is a mixture of activities each week. The students are given a period of time in which to complete each assignment. Usually the students have a time window of 7 days to do each week''s activities.

By using the left menu bar, the student can gain access to the different activities after they are made available every Monday. Students should complete the given assignments within the specified time frame. Students should post assignments early each week and not procrastinate until the Sunday 11:00 p.m. deadline (Pacific Time).

Beginning with the second week of school, the Online Chatroom is scheduled for every Thursday, 6:00 — 7:00 p.m. Pacific Time. Student participation in the Chatroom is OPTIONAL.   It is used as a virtual forum for students to meet and share ideas.  In case questions are raised that need clarification, students can email the instructor directly.  The instructor usually answers email messages within 48 hours of receipt.

Student's Obligation:

In general, college students are advised to spend two hours out of class in preparation for every hour in class. When held on campus, this class requires 5 hours in class and 10 hours out of class each week for the semester. Therefore, students are advised to spend approximately fifteen hours each week on the work for this class. It is recommended that students log on to the course at least 3 times a week and turn in assignments before the Sunday 11:00 p.m. deadline.

Required Text:

Patterns for Success: Taking the Mystery Out of Writing Sentences, Book Four
by Rosaline L. Fung

Patterns for Success: Taking the Mystery Out of Basic Composition
by Rosaline L. Fung & Raymond F. Pike

Grading Policies:

English 79 is a competency-based course, which means that your course grade will be derived from the work you do throughout the semester and from the skill level you have achieved by the end of the semester. Your final course grade will be determined by the following:

Writing Assignments, Editing Tests, and Class Activities 40%
Mastery Essay / Portfolio 40%
Final Exam 20%

The Mastery Essay is an eighty-minute essay on a topic you have not previously seen. However, the topic is based on an assigned reading, which will be made available for purchase from the Delta Bookstore at mid-semester. The Mastery Essay is graded holistically by two other English instructors on a scale of 1 (F) to 5 (A).

The Portfolio is a cumulative folder that contains your work done throughout the semester.

A point system is set to a standard grading scale of

Passing English 79 with a grade of "C" or better is contingent on the student receiving a score of "3" or higher on the holistically graded Mastery Essay.

Grading Scale:


The following breakdown of points allocated will help you understand the grading scale used in this course. The grade samples that are given in Week 3 FAQs are for reference only.

WEEK 1


Quiz on Lecture -- 50 points possible
Test in Editing -- 10 points possible
Diagnostic Writing Exam -- 10 points possible


WEEK 2

Document Sharing -- 10 points possible
Journals -- 10 points possible
Peer Reviews -- 10 points possible
Test in Editing -- 50 points possible
Quiz on Lecture -- 50 points possible
Threaded Discussion -- 50 points total
• 30 points -- 3 topic sentences (10 points each)
• 10 points -- A strong sentence...
• 10 points -- An unclear sentence...

WEEK 3

Journal -- 10 points possible
Writing Assignment -- 50 points possible
Quiz on Lecture -- 50 points possible
Quiz on FAQs -- 50 points possible

WEEK 4

Document Sharing -- 20 points total
• 10 points for uploading your essay
• 10 points for uploading 2 other students' essays
2 Peer Reviews -- 20 points possible (10 points each)
Test in Editing -- 50 points possible
Quiz on Lecture -- 50 points possible
Threaded Discussion -- 50 points total
• 30 points -- 3 topic sentences (10 points each)
• 10 points -- A strong sentence...
• 10 points -- An unclear sentence...

WEEK 5

Journal -- 10 points possible
Writing Assignment -- 50 points possible
Writing Assignment (Polished) -- 100 points possible
Quiz on Lecture -- 50 points possible

WEEK 6

Test in Editing -- 50 points possible
Quiz on Lecture -- 50 points possible
Document Sharing -- 10 points possible
Threaded Discussion -- 50 points possible
• 30 points -- 3 topic sentences (10 points each)
• 10 points -- A strong sentence...
• 10 points -- An unclear sentence...
2 Peer Reviews -- 20 points possible (10 points each)

WEEK 7

Journal -- 10 points possible
Quiz on Lecture -- 50 points possible
Writing Assignment -- 50 points possible
Writing Assignment (Polished) -- 100 points possible
Threaded Discussion -- 50 points possible
• 30 points -- 3 topic sentences (10 points each)
• 10 points -- A strong sentence...
• 10 points -- An unclear sentence...

Week 8

Quiz on Lecture -- 50 points possible
Writing Assignment – Study Groups -- 50 points possible
Journal -- 10 points possible
2 Peer Reviews on Excluding Students -- 20 points possible (10 points each)
Document Sharing (Upload own Study Group Essay) -- 10 points possible
Threaded Discussion -- 60 points possible 

  • 30 points -- 3 topic sentences (10 points each)
  • 20 points -- 2 response sentences
  • 10 points -- Revised version (Extra Credit)

    Week 9

    Editing Test -- 50 points possible
    Writing Assignment – Polished - Excluding Students -- 100 points possible
    Document Sharing -- 10 points possible
    2 Peer Review on Study Groups -- 20 points possible
    Threaded Discussion -- 60 points possible
  • 30 points -- 3 topic sentences (10 points each)
  • 20 points -- 2 response sentences
  • 10 points -- Revised version (Extra Credit)

    Week 10:

    Writing Assignment – Wise Consumers -- 50 points possible
    Writing Assignment – Polished – Study Groups -- 100 points possible
    Journal -- 10 points possible
    Threaded Discussion -- 60 points possible
  • 30 points -- 3 topic sentences (10 points each)
  • 20 points -- 2 response sentences
  • 10 points -- Revised version (Extra Credit)

    Week 11:

    Midterm -- 100 points possible
    2 Peer Reviews on Wise Consumers -- 20 points possible
    Journal -- 10 points possible
    Document Sharing – Upload Wise Consumers -- 10 points possible
    Threaded Discussion -- 60 points possible
  • 30 points -- 3 topic sentences (10 points each)
  • 20 points -- 2 response sentences
  • 10 points -- Revised version (Extra Credit)

    Week 12

    Assignment for the Portfolio -- 510 points possible
  • 250 points -- 5 Essay Builders (50 points each)
  • 260 points -- All other assigned work (10 points each)
    Week 12 Practice Mastery Essay -- 100 points possible
    Writing Assignment – Polished – Wise Consumers -- 100 points possible
    Journal -- 10 points possible
    Self Review on Week 11 Midterm Exam -- 10 points possible
    Threaded Discussion -- 60 points possible
  • 30 points -- 3 topic sentences (10 points each)
  • 20 points -- 2 response sentences
  • 10 points -- Revised version (Extra Credit)

    Week 13:

    Week 13 Practice Mastery Essay -- 100 points possible
    Journal -- 10 points
    Self Review on Wk 12 Mastery Essay -- 10 points possible
    Threaded Discussion -- 60 points possible
  • 30 points -- 3 topic sentences (10 points each)
  • 20 points -- 2 response sentences
  • 10 points -- Revised version (Extra Credit)

    Week 14:

    Week 14 Practice Mastery Essay -- 100 points possible
    Journal -- 10 points possible
    Self Review on Week 13 Mastery Essay -- 10 points possible
    Threaded Discussion -- 60 points possible
  • 30 points -- 3 topic sentences (10 points each)
  • 20 points -- 2 response sentences
  • 10 points -- Revised version (Extra Credit)

    Week 15:

    Self Review on Week 14 Practice Mastery Essay -- 10 points possible
    Week 14 Practice Mastery Essay (Polished) -- 100 points possible
    Threaded Discussion -- 60 points possible

  • 30 points -- 3 topic sentences (10 points each)
  • 20 points -- 2 response sentences
  • 10 points -- Revised version (Extra Credit)

    Week 16:

    Mastery Exam -- 100 points possible
    Journal -- 10 points possible
    Threaded Discussion -- 60 points possible
  • 30 points -- 3 topic sentences (10 points each)
  • 20 points -- 2 response sentences
  • 10 points -- Revised version (Extra Credit)

    Week 17:

    Self Review on the Mastery Exam -- 10 points possible
    Threaded Discussion (OPTIONAL)

    Week 18:

    Final Exam -- 100 points

    • Drop Policy:

    This section explains the college Policy 5150: Absence from Class.   Please read the policy listed below.

    Policy 5150:  Absence from Class

    A. Any student who fails to attend any class session during the first three sessions of the class at the beginning of a term may be dropped from that class unless the student has advised and obtained an absence approval from the faculty member....

    B. A faculty member shall mandatorily drop a student from a class when the student’s absences, prior to the end of the fourth week of the semester, exceed two weeks of class time (i.e., 2 x the number of times the class meets per week throughout the semester). After the fourth week, the faculty member may dismiss a student from class when at any time during the semester the students’ absences for any reason reach three times the number of times the class meets per week prior to the last day of the fourteenth week of the semester. No drops will be allowed from a credit class after the last day of the fourteenth week of the semester; a grade must be issued.

    With an online course, the completed assignments submitted by the students also serve as attendence records.  Therefore, it is very important that you submit ALL your assignments as scheduled throughout the semester if you do not wish to be dropped from the online ENG 79. 

    Scripted by Rosaline L. Fung
    To be used with
    Patterns for Success: Taking the Mystery Out of Basic Composition
    Copyright©1997 by Rosaline L. Fung