P a g e | 1

EAP1640C Syllabus*

ADVANCED COMPOSITION FOR NON-NATIVE

SPEAKERS OF ENGLISH

Course Information

Session: Spring 2020

Section: CRN 21798

Time: M/W, 10:00 - 10:15 a.m.

Location: Room 7-209

Professor: Milena Zaleckaite

Office: 3-249

Telephone: (407) 582-5655

E-mail: mzaleckaite@valenciacollege.edu

Office Hours:

M/W 1:00 – 2:00 p.m.

T/Th 11:30 – 2:00 p.m.

Virtual Office Hours:

Th 2:00 – 5:00 p.m.

Fr 2:00 – 4:00 p.m.

Required Materials

Final Draft 4 with Writing Skills Interactive (Online Workbook)

Black or blue ink pens, 11 x 8 ½ paper, & Blue Books

A folder to keep your assignments and handouts organized

My Teaching Philosophy

I don’t want you to be “bulimic learners” who study as much as

they need just to do well on a test and get good grades. Learning

should be less of a chore and more a way of living.

P a g e | 2

NOTE: All students must have their textbooks and access codes. Anyone

not planning to buy them needs to withdraw from the course.

Pre-requisite: Minimum grades of C in EAP 1540C and EAP 1560C, or EAP 1585C

Course Description/Objective:

Students develop the ability to use

writing-related technology and plan,

write, revise, and edit sentences,

paragraphs, and essays at the advanced

level. A departmental final exam is

required. Minimum grade of C required

for successful completion.

Competencies:

(1) narrow a broad topic, (2) select an appropriate

pre-writing technique, (3) develop a thesis, (4)

support the thesis, (5) construct an organizational

plan/pattern, (6) write an introductory paragraph, (7)

write body paragraph(s), (8) write a concluding

paragraph, (9) write the first draft of the essay, 10)

revise the essay, (11) edit for grammatical errors,

(12) edit for mechanical errors, (13) produce a final

multi-paragraph essay, (14) identify elements of

effective writing from reading selections in the

disciplines, (15)

perform other

academic writing

tasks.

Other Objectives: In addition to specific EAP objectives, the course will reinforce the

following competencies wholly or partially.

Valencia Competencies:

Valencia has defined four interrelated competencies that

prepare students to succeed in the world community:

Think Value Act Communicate

The college catalog outlines these competencies. The

activities in this course will further develop your mastery of

the four core competencies.

P a g e | 3

Attendance

Every student is expected to attend every class, be on time, and come prepared. In addition,

students arriving late to class or leaving early disrupt the learning process for everyone else in the

class; therefore, late arrivals (more than 10 minutes) and/or early departures will be documented. If

you are absent, you are responsible to find out what you missed in class.

You must be prepared for the next class meeting. Check Canvas and/or contact another student to

find out what information or material was covered in class first. Then you can follow up with me if

you have any specific questions or need clarification. Being absent is not an excuse to miss work.

No cell phones or electronic equipment will be allowed in class.

Classroom Conduct

This is a college classroom, and you and your classmates are here to develop college-level writing.

Therefore, workplace behavior is required: behaviors that hinder (block, interrupt) instruction

and/or create a negative classroom atmosphere will not be tolerated. If you are doing anything “to

impair, interfere with, or obstruct the orderly conduct, processes, and functions of the college,” you

may be referred to the Dean of Communications and/or the West Campus Provost.

Activities that are inconsistent with commonly acceptable classroom behavior and which are not

conducive to the learning experience, such as: excessive tardiness, speaking other languages,

leaving and returning during class, and early departure when not previously authorized.

P a g e | 4

Participation

Your active participation in each class is necessary in order to learn and improve as much as

possible. Participation includes paying attention, taking notes, actively engaging in class activities,

having a positive attitude, and not talking out of turn. This also means you must be polite and

respectful of everyone and be ready and able to share your ideas. You must not talk while others

are talking or behave in a rude or distracting manner in the classroom. Not having homework done,

disrupting class, putting one’s head down on the desk, speaking languages other than English, and

not taking part in class, group, or partner activities are examples of poor participation.

Exit and Entrance tickets will be used to evaluate your participation and understanding.

All cells phones must be turned off or put on silence. Searching the web, checking your social

media, or watching videos in the class will not be tolerated. After a warning, you will be asked to

leave the class. If you have an emergency, please step outside the class to take care of it.

No-Show Policy

Because of Valencia College’s Start Right policy, students must attend the first week of classes or

be counted as a ‘No Show.’ A student cannot start class the second week. A student who does not

attend the first two class meetings will be marked “No-Show” and will be officially

withdrawn from the class during the No-Show Reporting Period from January 14-23. There

will be no exceptions (unless due to emergency with official written documentation). If you are

withdrawn as a “no show,” you will be financially responsible for the class and a ‘W’ will appear

on your transcript for the course. In order to get a refund for the course, students must withdraw from the class in Atlas by the Drop/Refund Deadline on Monday, January 13, at 11:59 pm.

After that date, refunds will not be issued.

Assignments

You cannot participate fully if you do not come to class prepared. When work is due, it is due

first thing at the start of class or submitted online by the due date. It is your responsibility to

complete all required assignments. You must come to class with your assignments completed so

that you are prepared to participate.

All assignments must be completed on size 11 x 8 ½ paper, follow proper MLA format, be labeled

properly (name, EAP1640 M/W 10:00-11:15, essay number, Prof. Zaleckaite, and date), and be

stapled in the upper-left-hand corner.

Students will be required to keep a well-organized writing portfolio as a system to organize writing

assignments and to demonstrate progress and proficiency.

P a g e | 5

In-Class Writings and Grammar Quizzes: You must be in class on any in class writing day. If

you miss an in class writing, you must contact the instructor to arrange a time to make up the

writing before the next class meeting. If you do not contact the instructor before the next class

meeting, you will not be allowed to make up the writing and will earn a zero. Missed in-class essay

are done in the Testing Center in building 11 room 142.

Reflection Journals: Reflection papers are personal and subjective, so you do not need to do extra

research to complete these assignments. This type of writing is based on your experience, cultural

background, and individuality, so there is no wrong or right answer, just your thoughts. However,

they must still maintain an academic tone and be cohesively organized. Besides improving your

writing skills and expanding your vocabulary, reflection papers encourage you to dig deeper and

look for a bigger picture of an issue. It allows you slow down and think. Finally, I get to know you

better not just as a student but also as an individual.

Mechanics: You can start working on these assignments early if you want, and I highly suggest

going to the Writing Center before you turn in your final drafts. There will be no rewrites. All

reflection journals must be typed and submitted online. Use Times New Roman, 12, double space,

1-2 pages.

Required Lab Assignments: Weekly lab is required in all EAP courses. If you encounter any

problems with the functioning of your online lab, it is your responsibility to bring this to my

attention immediately. Do not wait 1-2 hours before it is due. No late lab assignments will be

accepted because you will have 1-2 weeks to complete them. In addition, you will have 2

attempts to complete each online assignment.

Online Discussions: Online discussions give you a voice, especially if you are normally quiet in a

classroom environment and need more time to compile your thoughts. These discussions will also

empower you to view and respond to your peers in a safe and respectful environment. Finally, you

get another opportunity to work on your grammar and punctuation.

Departmental Midterm/Final Examinations: Both the midterm and final are departmental

exams. If you plagiarize during your exams, you will earn a 0 and have no chance to retake them.

Late Work

Late work can be submitted up to one week after the due date. 5 points will be deducted from

your final grade for every missed day. No late work will be accepted more than one week after

the assignment due date. Online Discussions and Lab assignments, as mentioned previously,

cannot be submitted late.

Important Note: There are no extra credit assignments.

P a g e | 6

The Writing Center

Writing Center ((5-155) Phone: 407-582-5454) is an appointment-based resource. At the Writing

Center, consultants help students at any point of the writing/learning process. The qualified staff

will go over English language assignments with students from all disciplines and courses, college

wide, helping with grammar assignments; pronunciation; understanding main ideas and other

reading skills; organizing and developing a speech; constructing paragraphs, essays, or research

papers; and scholarship essays. The Writing Center consultant will not edit or proofread the paper.

The student should make attempts at revising and editing on his or her own before coming to the

Writing Center.

Academic Honesty

You must complete all assignments yourself without help

from another person or other sources, like magazines,

books, or the internet, unless I state otherwise. Cheating is

copying from another student or allowing another student

to copy from you. Plagiarism is taking someone else’s

ideas or words and turning it in as your own work.

Cheating and plagiarism will not be tolerated. Any

instance of cheating or plagiarism will result in a zero on

the assignment. If a student cheats or plagiarizes twice

during the semester, that student will receive an ‘F’ in the

course. For more information about Valencia Colleges’ policies on Academic Dishonesty, go to

http://valenciacollege.edu/generalcounsel/policies.cfm, Volume 8: Students

Course Communication & Announcements

I will be using Canvas tools and your Valencia e-mail to communicate with you outside of class

time. You are responsible for keeping up with your Valencia e-mail and your Canvas course

homepage. It is your responsibility to know how to access Canvas and to check your e-mail, class

announcements, and course content files for information! If you encounter ANY trouble using

Canvas or ATLAS, let me know during or after class! You must use your Valencia email to

contact me. I will not respond to any emails sent from an address that is not a Valencia email

address.

P a g e | 7

E-mail Etiquette

Here are some general rules to guide you when composing e-mail messages:

Fill in the subject line with words or phrases that accurately reflect the topic of the message, e.g.,

“Subject: 1640 Homework for Tuesday, August 31.”

Address the recipient by name to add a personal touch to your letter, for example, “Hello, Prof.

Zaleckaite,” “Good morning, Ms. Zaleckaite”

Do not use all caps: e-mail messages written in all caps represents yelling. Yelling is inappropriate in

a classroom situation.

Do NOT use texting abbreviations, such as TTYL, LOL, BTW.

Edit your message for grammatical and mechanical. E-mail is relatively informal, but poorly

edited messages cause confusion.

Sign your e-mail by including your full name, and the class you are in, e.g., Samuel Jones,

EAP 1640, MW 5:30 p.m. Remember to keep e-mails professional, so do not write personal

attacks, which can be interpreted as “bullying” behavior.

Withdrawal

Please notify your instructor of your withdrawal.

Withdrawal Deadline for ‘W’ grade is Fri, March 20, at 11:59

P.M.

Students with

Special Needs

Students with special needs that may affect their progress in this course

should notify the instructor as early in the semester as possible.

P a g e | 8

You must complete all assignments yourself without help from another

person or other sources, like magazines, books, or the internet, unless I state

otherwise. Cheating is copying from another student or allowing another

student to copy from you. Plagiarism is taking someone else’s ideas or

words and turning it in as your own work. Cheating and plagiarism will not

be tolerated. Any instance of cheating or plagiarism will result in a zero on

the assignment. If a student cheats or plagiarizes twice during the semester,

that student will receive an ‘F’ in the course. For more information about

Valencia Colleges’ policies on Academic Dishonesty, go to

http://valenciacollege.edu/generalcounsel/policies.cfm, Volume 8: Students

Security

Statement

Our security officers are here around the clock to ensure the safety and

security of the campus community. It’s important to remain alert and aware

of your surroundings, especially during the early morning or evening hours.

Remember that you can always call security for an escort if you feel

uncomfortable walking alone on campus. White security phones can also be

found in many of our buildings; simply pick up the phone and security will

answer. Finally, report any suspicious persons to West Campus Security at

407-582-1000, 407-582-1030 (after-hours number) or by using the yellow

emergency call boxes located on light poles in the parking lots and along

walkways.

BayCare Behavioral Health’s Student Assistance Program

Valencia is committed to making sure all our students have a rewarding and successful college experience.

To that purpose, Valencia students can get immediate help that may assist them with psychological issues

dealing with stress, anxiety, depression, adjustment difficulties, substance abuse, time management as well

as relationship problems dealing with school, home or work.

Students have 24 hour unlimited access to the BayCare

Behavioral Health’s confidential student assistance program

phone counseling services by calling (800) 878-5470. Three

free confidential face-to-face counseling sessions are also

available to students.

P a g e | 9

Important Dates

Writing Midterm Exam Wednesday, February 26, 2020

Writing Final Exam Monday, April 20, 2020

No Classes (College Closed):

Martin Luther King Jr. Day Monday, January 20, 2020

Spring Break Monday, March 9 – Sunday, March 15, 2020

Learning Day Friday, February 14, 2020

Evaluation and Grading Scale

Grades that satisfy the EAP course requirement:

A 90-100%

B 80-89%

C 70-79%

Grades that do NOT satisfy the EAP course requirement:

D 60-69%

F 0-59%

Determination of final course grade: Entrance/Exit Tickets & Online Discussions 5%

In-Class Essays/Quizzes 20%

Essays Written at Home 15%

Lab Assignments 10%

Reflection Journals 10%

Midterm Exam 15%

Final Exam 25%

“C” is the minimum

passing and

advancement grade for

each course.

Syllabus Changes/Disclaimer: The course outline and

syllabus are subject to change as needed; changes will be

announced in class in a timely manner, when necessary.

Your continued participation in this course after the drop-

add deadline period constitutes an agreement with and an

acceptance of this syllabus.