English Composition II
Welcome to English 1302!
CRN 32952 TTH 9:30 – 11:00 Rm 604
Contact Information:
Instructor Dr. Natalia Noland
Email Natalia.noland@hccs.edu. This is the best way to contact me.
Office Hours: TTH 11:00- 12:30 or by appointment
Learning Web: http://learning.hccs.edu/faculty/natalia.noland
Prerequisites: Completion of English 1301 or the equivalent
Course Description: English 1302 studies the purposes, strategies, and techniques of
written argument. As such, this course is designed to move students into a discourse
that emphasizes interpreting and reading rhetorically, engages in rigorous intellectual
inquiry, and requires persuasive construction and effective presentation of written
materials.
This course stresses the HCC CORE Competencies of reading, writing, speaking,
listening, critical thinking, and computer literacy.
Learning Outcomes:
• Apply basic principles of rhetorical analysis.
• Write essays that classify, explain, and evaluate rhetorical and literary strategies
employed in argument, persuasion, and various forms of literature.
• Identify, differentiate, integrate, and synthesize research materials into
argumentative and/or analytical essays.
• Employ appropriate documentation style and format across the spectrum of in-class
and out-of-class written discourse.
• Demonstrate library literacy.
Learning Objectives:
• Apply the basic principles of critical thinking—evaluation, analysis, and synthesis—
in written essays that inform and persuade.
• Distinguish fact from opinion in others’ writings and evaluate whether they prove
their points and/or whether they can be appropriately used as sources in documented
papers.
• Research and write documented paper(s) using proper MLA style.
• Locate and evaluate library books, journals, magazines, and/or data-bases to
discover information on a topic or issue.
• Expand the scope, confidence, and creativity of written expression.
Learning Resources: There are many texts and resources available for you that
include relevant information for this course. Aside from the required texts listed
below, you should gather information from different resources, including the library,
the Internet, and tutors to enhance your knowledge in this area.
Required texts:
• Global Issues, Local Arguments: Readings for Writing. Ed. June Johnson
• The New McGraw-Hill Handbook. Eds. Elaine P. Maimon, Janice H. Peritz, and
Kathleen Blake Yancey - online
Recommended texts:
 Current edition of English 1302 Study Guide
 College Level Dictionary
Materials:
• Folders
• Notebook with perforated edges
Instructional Methods: To fulfill my personal goal of making you the best writer
and thinker I can in 16 weeks, you will experience a variety of instructional methods.
Although you will often be involved in collaborative activities—discussion, group
work, peer reviews, and projects—I will give you very specific guidance as to how to
write analyses and arguments. Also, models of exemplary student writing on every
assignment will be available for your review.
In addition to analysis and argument, to become more fluid and confident writers, you
will also experiment in different styles of writing, including creative assignments and
reflections. On such experimental work, you will not be graded on content so much as
on effort and completion.
Assignments & Assessments:
Essay #1: Connections (5 pages)
Analyze Rhetorical Strategies and Relationships Between Two
Texts - 20%
Midterm Exam: Annotation
Write Condensed Evaluation of a Text -15%
Essay #2: Annotated Bibliography & Bibliographic Analysis Essay
(10-12 pages)
Evaluate and Synthesize Multiple Texts - 25%
Final Exam: Argumentative Writing
Persuade an Audience Using Knowledge Gained from Research - 10%
Participation/In-Class Writing/Quizzes/Reading Responses - 15%
PLP - 15%
Important: In accordance with the English Department guidelines, all students must
average a C or higher (70-100) on the Midterm and Final in-class writing assignments
in order to receive at least a C in the course. If the average of in-class writing is a D
(60 - 69), the student must receive a D in the course. If the average of in-class writing
is an F (0-59), the student must receive an F in the class.
HCC Grading Scale:
A = 100 – 90
B = 89 – 80
C = 79 – 70
D = 69 – 60
F = 59 and below
• All typed assignments (including reading responses and first drafts): Every
assignment must have 1 inch margins on all sides, be double-spaced, and be typed in
12 point Times New Roman font. The exception to this is in-class writings, including
exams.
• In-class Writing: This is an in-class written response to a prompt designed to
facilitate a greater development of ideas between essays and class discussions to
cumulate as you consider your next essay.
Some prompts will be based upon reading assignments; thus it is advised that you do
all of the assigned readings and think about them before the class period during which
they will be discussed. Other prompts will be more creative in nature in order to break
up the monotony of responding to readings.
Through these in-class writings, you will experiment with voice and language and
pursue analysis through creative rather than academic means.
• Participation: Class participation is worth 15% of your grade, but these points are
not free. Each student is expected to participate, since it is through the discussions
that you will develop your interpretations of texts, offer considerate and thoughtful
analysis, compare your ideas with those of your peers, and determine solutions to
problems involving reading and writing. Student participation will be constructive.
Rude, offensive or disrespectful comments or behavior, if encountered, will be dealt
with quickly. Along with counting toward your essay grades, peer review sessions
count toward participation.
Course Policies:
• Professionalism: While workshop courses tend to be informal (and hopefully fun), I
do expect that everyone will behave in an appropriate manner. For strong
professionalism grades, you will regularly attend class, willingly participate in all
facets of the classroom, and demonstrate sincere effort to improve your own writing
and that of your peers through peer review, revision, and conferences.
Talking to your classmates outside the context of discussion is rude and will not be
tolerated. Likewise, reading outside materials (newspapers, magazines, texts for other
classes), playing games on your cell phone, or other non-class related activities are
not allowed, and you will be penalized percentage points for doing so. If you have
other things to do that you feel take priority over paying attention in class, you should
do them elsewhere. One percentage point may be deducted from your final grade for
any cell phone/pager interruptions and/or missed conferences.
• Attendance: Because this class utilizes a workshop format with considerable
amounts of discussions and in-class writing assignments, your presence is essential.
You are expected to be present everyday this class meets, but to accommodate
accidents, illnesses, and emergencies, I allow a number of absences without penalty.
Students are expected to arrive in class on time to be counted present. If tardiness or
leaving class early occurs, I may also deduct points from your final participation
grade.
In accordance with HCC Policy, students who have missed more than 12.5%, or six
hours, of class (excused or unexcused) may be dropped or given an F for excessive
absence at the instructor’s discretion. However, at my discretion, I allow for students
to remain in the class for one additional absence, but the final grade will be penalized.
If students stop attending class, it is their responsibility to formally withdraw from the
course.
Up to 4 absences - no automatic grade reduction
5 absences - a final grade reduction of 10%
Note: Please reserve these 4 absences for illnesses and emergencies.
• Withdrawals: If you feel that you cannot complete this course, you will need to
withdraw from the course prior to the final date for withdrawal. Before you withdraw
from the course, please take the time to meet with me to discuss why you feel it is
necessary to do so. I may be able to provide you with suggestions to enable you to
complete the course.
If you wish to withdraw, obtain the withdrawal form from Student Services and
submit it in the registration office or see me about withdrawing you. However, before
you withdraw from any class, please consider the following carefully: The State of
Texas imposes penalties on students who drop courses excessively. For example, if
you take the same course more than two times, you have to pay extra tuition. In 2007,
the Texas Legislature passed a law limiting new students (those starting college in
Fall 2007) to no more than six total course withdrawals throughout their academic
career in obtaining a baccalaureate degree. There may be future penalties imposed.
In consideration of the above law, I will not give a “W” as a grade option unless you
have submitted the withdrawal form yourself before the deadline for withdrawal. I
will only submit the grade earned by adding up your grades to date. Other instructors
may have different rules concerning giving a "W" grade. Please read the syllabus for
each of your classes to be informed of the rules.
Last Day for Student or Administrative Withdrawals: April 1, 2013 at 4:30 pm
• Late Policy: Any major essay turned in after the class period for which it was due
will be reduced by 10% of the total points possible for the assignment each day it is
late, including weekends, holidays and breaks.
In cases of emergency, a student may email a final draft to me, but if the email is
received after the class period for which it was due, it will incur late penalties. If a
student emails me a draft on time, he/she must still submit the final folder (including
all drafts and required material) by the next class period. If he/she does not, then 10%
will be deducted each day until I receive a completed folder.
This policy excludes reading responses and brief writing exercises, both of which may
not be accepted after the class period for which they are due. Essays turned in over
one week late will not receive credit.
• Missing Work: You must complete all drafts and all final copies of the major
assignments to pass the course, whether or not the individual assignment counts for
credit due to late penalties.
• Plagiarism and Collusion: As defined in the Student Handbook, plagiarism,
cheating, and collusion are considered as academic dishonesty. Plagiarism is “the
appropriation of another’s work and the unacknowledged incorporation of that work
in one’s own written work offered for credit,” and collusion is “the unauthorized
collaboration with another person in preparing written work for credit. Plagiarism will
be dealt with according to its type and severity: faulty citation of sources will be
treated as a matter for teaching and revision; willful and knowing academic
dishonesty will be dealt with according to College policy and can result in failure of
the assignment or the course, and/or recommendation for suspension or expulsion
from the College.”
Academic Support Services:
• Free tutoring is available at the Writing Centers at the Katy campus (Room 321,
which is across from the 3rd floor Library) and the Spring Branch campus (South Hall,
Room 703).
Please look for posted hours or call 713.718.5841 for Katy and 713.718.5889 for
Spring Branch
• Online tutoring is also available at the following links:
Online: via askonline- see link for more information http://swc2.hccs.edu/e-tutor/
Online: via Smarthinking- see link for more information
http://www.smarthinking.com/
Online: via Purdue University- see link for more information
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/
A recommendation from me to seek tutoring is a clear and urgent signal that you have
some remedial work to do on grammar, usage, or general essay development. Please
use these resources.
• Special Needs: Any student with a documented disability (e.g. physical, learning,
psychiatric, vision, hearing, etc.) who needs to arrange reasonable accommodations
must contact the Disability Services Office at the respective college at the beginning
of each semester. Faculty is authorized to provide only the accommodations requested
by the Disability Support Services Office. For questions, please contact Donna Price
at 713.718.5165 or the Disability Counselor at your college. To visit the ADA Web
site, please visit www.hccs.edu then click Future students, scroll down the page and
click on the words Disability Information.
Northwest ADA Counselor – Mahnaz Kolaini – 713.718.5422
• Student Services: Student Services provides master’s and doctoral-level counseling
for the Northwest College student body. Counselors are available at each campus to
assist students in creating class schedules, evaluating college transcripts, and
completing degree/certificate plans.
Student Services regular business hours are the same at both campuses.
8 a.m. – 7 p.m. M – Th
8 a.m. – 1 p.m. F – Sat
Student Services Phone Numbers:
Katy Campus: 713.718.5751
Spring Branch Campus: 713.718.5669
Additional Information:
http://northwest.hccs.edu/northwest/campus-services
Early Alert: HCC has instituted an Early Alert process by which your professor will
“alert” you through counselors of concerns that you might fail a class because of
excessive absences and/or poor academic performance.
EGLS3 -- Evaluation for Greater Learning Student Survey System
At Houston Community College, professors believe that thoughtful student feedback is
necessary to improve teaching and learning. During a designated time, you will be asked
to answer a short online survey of research-based questions related to instruction. The
anonymous results of the survey will be made available to your professors and division
chairs for continual improvement of instruction. Look for the survey as part of the
Houston Community College Student System online near the end of the term.