1. Writing for Proficiency with Georgie Ziff
Welcome to English 3000
Writing for Proficiency with Georgie Ziff

2. What is English 3000?
English 3000 is a course to help you meet the University Writing Skills Requirement.
You must submit a Final Course Portfolio to the Testing Office the last week of the quarter that consists of your writing work from the class.
Who needs this class? Students who took the Writing Skills Test and scored 6 or below or students who
choose to take this class as an alternative to the WST
A Scoring Rubric is available in
Blackboard in the course.

3. The required textbook:
Reading Critically, Writing Well - 11th edition 
by Axelrod, Cooper and Warriner. ISBN: Print ISBN: 
The book is available in both hard copy and e-book editions at the campus bookstore and online. 
* To buy the book directly from the publisher,
go to this link.

4. Weekly Assignments – Weekly Folder
You will read an article, read a power point, and watch a video about writing topics, and then write three paragraphs answering the following questions :
1)What is the article/video/Powerpoint about?
2) Rhetorically, which media was more effective in terms of audience and purpose? What strategies did the writer/creator/filmmaker use to reach the specific audience?
3) How will this information influence your understanding of academic writing?
Weekly assignments are due by Friday 5 pm to receive 5 points; 3 pts the 2nd week, then 1 pt - after that the assignment link is unavailable and late work is not accepted.
NO work is accepted after the 9th week.
Write your responses in the dialog box:
DO NOT use any type of file attachments
for assignment responses; attachments
are only for essays

5. The Discussion Board
To break the ice and get to know your classmates, you will participate in the weekly Discussion Boards about:
a self-introduction (ungraded)
being an online student
your writing process
your academic habits
readings in the textbook  
NOTE: you must post to EACH Board forum by Wed. midnight, and then respond to TWO classmates by Friday 5pm to get the full 6 points of credit – then it closes.
Late posts DO NOT receive credit.

6. Essay Information You will write THREE essays in the course:
Position Essay – multi-draft essay: 1st for instructor feedback, 2nd for tutor feedback (NOT submitted to the course) and final draft submitted to Turnitin.com
Compare Contrast Essay- multi-draft essay: 1st for instructor feedback, 2nd for tutor feedback (NOT submitted to the course) and final draft submitted to Turnitin.com
Introduction to the Portfolio Reflective Essay – this single draft essay does not receive comments.
* NOTE: ALL essays are required to pass the course; late essays are NOT accepted.

7. Essay Draft Due Dates & Policy
All essays MUST be submitted in a timely manner.
The assignment link will be available ONLY for the weeks they are due.
LATE essays are NOT accepted. 
First drafts receive instructor comments.
Second drafts revised from the first draft with tutor comments are not submitted to the course but saved for the Portfolio.
Final drafts are submitted to Turnitin.com
All essays are required components of the Final Portfolio, and are necessary to receive course credit.

8. Timed Essay Notes
You will have one hour and fifty minutes to write a complete thesis- driven essay in response to a prompt.
SAVE your timed essay document like this: 
Your Name Timed Essay One (or Two or Three).
 Timed Essay One is taken during the 1st week of classes.
 Timed Essay Two is taken during the 5th week through Proctor U.
Timed Essay Three is taken during the 9th week .
ALL Timed Essays must be submitted through Blackboard;
ed tests are NOT accepted.
LATE Essays are NOT accepted! They MUST be taken the assigned week. If they are not taken, you will be ineligible to continue
in the course or submit the Portfolio. NO Exceptions.
Only Certified copies of your test must be in your Portfolio;
they will be available in My Grades in feedback.
If you experience computer problems, you may be
required to take a new test.

9. Now about the Portfolio…
The Portfolio evaluation will result in one of three assessments: 
Clear Competence (CC): You have fulfilled the University Writing Skills Requirement, and no additional writing courses are needed.
Developing Competence (DC): You may move on to a second-tier writing course, e.g. ENGL to fulfill the University Writing Skills requirement.
Limited Competence (LC): You must retake English 3000 with a different instructor to create an entirely new Portfolio for evaluation.
It is possible to receive credit for ENGL 3000 and NOT receive a Developing or Clear Competence score on the portfolio.
A complete Portfolio is required for course credit.
Evaluations are final and cannot be appealed.

10. Your Portfolio Must Contain:
Cover sheet with your name, Net ID, teacher's name, course/section number, date, quarter/year. 
Table of contents: lists the individual items in the
portfolio, in this order. *This is important!
Questionnaire: This will be provided in the course
and will include your identification information.
Reflective introduction essay & Turnitin PDF Similarity
Report. This essay introduces the portfolio and
argues for passing the Writing Skills requirement. 
Position Essay - 3 drafts + assignment sheet and
Turnitin PDF Similarity Report: 10% or less
Three Timed Essays - certified copies , earliest first
Compare/Contrast Essay-3 drafts + assignment sheet, &Turnitin PDF Similarity Report: 10% or less similarity

11. Portfolio Checking
You must submit your Portfolio by pm Monday of the Week Ten so it can be reviewed for content. Once approved, it is due to Testing Office no later than Thursday noon. Late submissions ARE NOT accepted.
Submit your Portfolio Zip file to the assignment link in Week Ten when it is when it is COMPLETE and files are numbered correctly.
If you need to correct/add/fix documents in your Portfolio, you must resubmit your Portfolio when your tasks have ALL been accomplished.
Remember, you cannot get credit for the class unless you submit your Portfolio.
The class is OVER on Thursday of Week Ten. s received after the last Thursday will not receive a response.

12. Contact Information
In keeping with the CSUEB policy, all communication between instructor and students should be within Blackboard; either in the Q&A Discussion Board thread or s sent from within Blackboard.
s sent from Blackboard will receive a response within 48 hours.
Please include the SECTION NUMBER of your course (02, 03, 04, 05, 06 or whatever)
s received after 5 pm will be responded to the next day; those received after 5 pm Friday will be responded to on Monday.
Before ing, be sure to read ALL the Orientation materials, FAQs, syllabus and the Schedule folders.
The class is OVER on the last Thursday when the Portfolios are due to the Testing Office.
s will not be responded to after the last Thursday of Week Ten. Period.

13. Computer Problems?
Contact the Blackboard Service Desk Phone Support for help.
The Service Desk is available at   from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM.  A dedicated team of student assistants and staff will do their best to help with IT issues.
If the issue is more complicated a ticket will be opened and assigned to the appropriate IT teams. A ticket can also be opened directly at: servicedesk.
Additional help is available at the Learning Commons:

14. TO DO List:
Read the ALL of the Orientation Materials and FAQs in Blackboard, and look through the Schedule and Menu Bar folders
Download and print out the Schedule
Buy or rent the textbook on campus or online.
Submit work for the first week (due 5 pm Friday):
Post to the Discussion Board and introduce yourself to the class.
Take the Syllabus Quiz – required to continue in the course.