Houston Community College - Southwest
English 1301 Course Syllabus
Spring 2015 16-Week CRN 45609
Instructor: Professor Landers
Office Hours: before and immediately after class, by appointment
Class Hours: Tuesday/Thursday 9:30am – 11:00am
Email Address: matthew.landers@hccs.edu (Use proper punctuation, correct sentences, and
professionalism when emailing the instructor)
Learning Web page: http://learning.hccs.edu/faculty/matthew.landers
Texts and Materials:
The Writer’s Presence (7th edition – Donald McQuade & Robert Atwan)
Notebook or paper (for in-class writing), pens, pencils, highlighter, etc.
Access to Turnitin.com (ID and enrollment password will be provided)
Access to Learning Web
Grading Percentages:
10% Journal Entries
10% Quizzes
10% Major Essay #1: Personal Reflection/Narrative (550 word min.)
15% Major Essay #2: Human Identity/Expository (750 word min.)
20% Major Essay #3: Language/Expository (1000 word min.)
25% Major Essay #4: Technology & Media Culture/Argument (1250 word min.)
10% Final Exam (500 word min.)
Grading Scale/Criteria: A 90-100, B 80-89, C 70-79, D 60-69, F below 60
All assignments must be turned in and accepted in order to potentially pass English 1301. The
assignments can be found on the instructor’s Learning Web page. In class, work should be
written in a dark pen or pencil on college-ruled 8 1/2 x 11 inch paper. Out of class work must
conform to MLA standards for formatting and citation and be in Times New Roman 12-point
font. NO LATE WORK ACCEPTED! THIS POLICY APPLIES TO ALL
ASSIGNMENTS! If a student chooses not to appear in class, any work due for that day must
still be submitted on time to Turnitin.com such as journal entries and major essays. Also, any
missed work cannot be submitted at a later date, re-submitted, or made up in any way.
There will be no extra credit assignments given. You receive the grade you’ve earned. All due
dates for the assignments can be found on the course calendar. Absence is not an acceptable
excuse for failure to turn in work. Only emergencies will be left to the instructor’s discretion.
Assignments:
Quizzes are given at the beginning of class on the large display screen. If you arrive after the
quiz has been removed from the screen and/or if you are absent, you are not allowed to make-up
the quiz. The professor reserves the right to drop the lowest quiz grade when determining the
overall quiz grade at the end of the semester.
Instructions/prompts for all assignments such as major essays and journals can be found on the
instructor’s Learning Web page.
All journal entries must be submitted to Turnitin.com in order to receive full credit (grade of
100) for the overall journal grade at the end of the semester. Although Turnitin.com may not
display a point value or grade for each individual journal entry, each journal entry must still be
submitted in order to receive credit towards the overall journal grade. For every journal entry
not submitted by its due date, it will be a reduction of 5 points from the overall journal grade (i.e.
if a student does not submit one journal entry but submits all of the other entries during the
semester, the overall journal grade will be 95, two missing journal entries will be 90, etc.). In
addition, journal entries that do not meet the requirements listed in the journal guidelines (found
on the professor’s Learning Web page) will be considered unacceptable and count against the
overall journal grade. For all other assignments such as major essays, please refer to their
instructions regarding requirements.
Academic Honesty:
According to the Student Handbook for the Houston Community College System, scholastic
dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, cheating on a test, plagiarism, and collusion.
1. Cheating on a test includes:
 Copying from another student’s test paper and using materials not authorized by
the person giving the test.
 Collaborating with another student during a test without authority.
 Knowingly using, buying, selling, stealing, transporting, or soliciting in whole or
part the contents of an unadministered test.
 Bribing another person to obtain a test that is to be administered.
2. Plagiarism means the appropriation of another’s words or ideas and the unacknowledged
incorporation of that work in one’s own written work offered for credit.
3. Collusion means the unauthorized collaboration with another person in preparing written
work offered for credit.
According to the Student Handbook, “possible punishments for scholastic dishonesty may
include a grade of 0 or F for the particular assignment, failure in the course, and/or referral to the
college Dean of Student Services for disciplinary action up to and including expulsion. Students
have the right to appeal the decision” (18). Students are responsible for complying with the
concepts of scholastic honesty. If you have any questions concerning this issue or any major
assignment for this course, please contact me. In this class, you will complete your own,
original work. The consequence of dishonesty is a zero (0) for the assignment. If there are
two instances of academic dishonesty, the consequence will result in a 0 for the course.
This policy will be STRICTLY enforced. You will not be provided an opportunity to
resubmit the work. ALL source material (material outside of your own knowledge) MUST
be documented in compliance with MLA guidelines in all drafts of all assignments
submitted to the instructor. This includes Wikipedia and related websites. The professor
reserves the right to utilize Turnitin.com to evaluate assignments for potential plagiarism.
The professor additionally reserves the right to check all student work via other resources
available to the professor for evaluation regarding potential plagiarism.
Attendance: Attendance is necessary for success in the course and required of all students.
Students who have no record of attendance before the Census Date (the Official Day of Record)
will be automatically dropped from the course by the Registrar. Students who are dropped for
nonattendance will not be reinstated. Class policy states a student who is absent more than 6
hours of class (4 class sessions) may be administratively dropped. Three tardies will constitute
as 1 hour of absence. You have 10 minutes after the start time to be in class, otherwise it is a
tardy (for example, if the class starts at 9:30am and you arrive after 9:40am, you are
tardy). Students who intend to withdraw from a course must do so by the official last day to
drop (March 24th). Upon withdrawal from the class, you will receive a “W” for the course grade.
The State of Texas has begun to impose penalties on students who drop courses excessively. For
example, if you repeat the same course more than twice, you have to pay extra tuition. Beginning
in the Fall of 2007, the Texas Legislature passed a law limiting first time entering students to no
more than six total course withdrawals throughout their academic career in obtaining a certificate
or baccalaureate degree. There may be future penalties imposed. Students are encouraged to
review the HCC 6 Drop Policy. Please contact HCC if you require any assistance such as
tutoring, child care, or financial aid to stay in class and improve class performance.
International Students
If you are an international student, receiving a “W” in a course may affect the status of your
student visa. Once a “W” is given for the course, it will not be changed to an “F.” Please contact
the International Student Office at 713-718-8520 if you have any questions about your visa status
and any other transfer issues.
Meningitis Immunization Requirement: Texas Senator Bill 1107 passed in May 2011, requires
that new HCC students and former HCC students returning after an absence of at least one Fall
or Spring semester who are under the age of 30 are required to present a physician –signed
certificate showing they have been vaccinated against bacterial meningitis. Beginning with
Spring registration, November 7, students will have to satisfy this requirement prior to
enrollment. For more information and a list of exemptions please go to
http://www.hccs.edu/hccs/admissions-registration-center/new-student-general-admissionssteps/submit-meningitis-documentation.
Severe Weather: During severe weather conditions, monitor major local channels for updates on
school closings. You can also check for closing information at HCC’s home page. (That’s what I
will be doing if the weather is particularly bad.)
Mission Statement of the English Department
The purpose of the English Department is to provide courses that transfer to four-year colleges;
introduce students to literature from diverse traditions; prepare students to write clear,
communicative, well-organized, and detailed prose; and develop students’ reading, writing, and
analytical skills.
English 1301 Course Description
English 1301 is a course devoted to improving the student's writing and critical reading. The
course involves writing essays for a variety of purposes from personal to academic, including the
introduction to argumentation, critical analysis, and the use of sources. English 1301 is a core
curriculum course.
Course Purpose
English 1301 is designed to help students write multi-paragraph expository, analytical, and
argumentative essays that have the following qualities:
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clarity in purpose and expression,
appropriate and sensible organization,
sound content, including applications of concepts from and references to assigned readings,
completeness in development,
unity and coherence,
appropriate strategies of development,
sensitivity to audience
effective choice of words and sentence patterns,
grammatical and mechanical correctness, and
appropriate MLA citation format.
Educational Outcomes for English 1301: By the time students have completed English 1301,
they will
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understand writing as a connected and interactive process which includes planning, shaping,
drafting, revising, editing, and proofreading;
apply writing process to out-of-class writing;
apply writing process as appropriate to in-class, impromptu writing situations, thus showing
an ability to communicate effectively in a variety of writing situations (such as essay exams
and standardized writing tests like the TASP);
apply suggestions from evaluated compositions to other writing projects;
understand and apply basic principles of critical thinking in analyzing reading selections, in
developing expository essays, and writing argumentative essays;
apply concepts from and use references to assigned readings in developing essays;
analyze elements of purpose, audience, tone, style, and writing strategy in essays by
professional writers
complete short writing assignments, journal entries, reading quizzes, and other activities to
strengthen basic thinking and writing skills
understand and appropriately apply various methods of development in writing assignments;
avoid faulty reasoning in all writing assignments;
fulfill the writing requirements of the course, writing at least 6,000 words during the
semester.
Core Objectives
Given the rapid evolution of necessary knowledge and skills and the need to take into account
global, national, state, and local cultures, the core curriculum must ensure that students will
develop the essential knowledge and skills they need to be successful in college, in a career, in
their communities, and in life. Through the Texas Core Curriculum, students will gain a
foundation of knowledge of human cultures and the physical and natural world, develop
principles of personal and social responsibility for living in a diverse world, and advance
intellectual and practical skills that are essential for all learning.
Students enrolled in this core curriculum course will complete a research project or case study
designed to cultivate the following core objectives:
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Critical Thinking Skills—to include creative thinking, innovation, inquiry, and analysis,
evaluation and synthesis of information
Communication Skills—to include effective development, interpretation and expression of
ideas through written, oral and visual communication
Personal Responsibility—to include the ability to connect choices, actions, and consequences
to ethical decision-making
Teamwork (Comp I, Comp II, and TW)—to include the ability to consider different points of
view and to work effectively with others to support a shared purpose or goal
Social Responsibility (Lit Only)—to include intercultural competency, knowledge of civic
responsibility, and the ability to engage effectively in regional, national, and global
communities
Student proficiency in Communication Skills will be assessed as a formal written out-of-class
essay, which is at least 3 pages long and which includes an oral presentation component as well
as a visual component. Student proficiency in Critical Thinking will be assessed by a formal
out-of-class essay assignment. Personal, Social Responsibility, and Teamwork will be assessed
as part of long unit or major essay assignment, which will include assigned reading responses,
pre-writing activities, multiple drafts, and group activities (such as peer review or group
presentations). Student project grades will account for at least 5% of the final course grade.
English Program Student Learning Outcomes
(Composition, Literature, Creative Writing, and Technical Writing)
 Write in appropriate genres using varied rhetorical strategies.
 Write in appropriate genres to explain and evaluate rhetorical and/or literary strategies
employed in argument, persuasion, and various genres.
 Analyze various genres of writing for form, method, meaning, and interpretation.
 Employ research in academic writing styles and use appropriate documentation style.
 Communicate ideas effectively through discussion.
English Composition I Student Learning Outcomes
 Demonstrate knowledge of writing as a process
 Apply basic principles of critical thinking in analyzing reading selections, developing
expository essays, and writing argumentative essays
 Analyze elements such as purpose, audience, tone, style, strategy in essays and/or literature
by professional writers.
 Write essays in appropriate academic writing style using varied rhetorical strategies.
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Synthesize concepts from and use references to assigned readings in their own academic
writing.
Use of Cameras or Recording Devices
Use of recording devices, including camera phones and tape recorders, is prohibited in
classrooms, laboratories, faculty offices, and other locations where instruction, tutoring, or
testing occurs. These devices are also not allowed to be used in campus restrooms. Students with
disabilities who need to use a recording device as a reasonable accommodation should contact
the Ability Services Office for information regarding reasonable accommodations.
Conduct/Rules:
*No cell phones – cell phones should be turned off prior to entering class and are not allowed in
sight – please place them in bags or pockets.
*No Bluetooth devices in ears allowed during class.
*No MP3 players or other music devices with earphones allowed during class.
*No laptops open during class.
*No palm pilots
*No food or drinks
*No unauthorized chatting
*No students allowed to print personal information or download vast amounts of data (Students
are only allowed to print class assignments per the instructor’s directions)
*No viewing of pornography
*No hacking attempts or trying to access hacking sites
Students with Disabilities
Any student with a documented disability (e.g. learning, hearing, vision, physical, mental health,
or a chronic health condition) who needs to arrange reasonable accommodations must contact the
Disability Services Office (Dr. Becky Hauri 713-718-7909). Professors are authorized to
provide only the accommodations requested by the Disability Support Services Office.
HCC AskOnline Tutoring
Students can submit papers and questions 24/7 and can reasonably expect responses within 18 24 hours. All current HCC students can register at hccs.askonline.net. I strongly suggest that all
students view the 8-minute video on the log-in page before sending their first submission.
Library
Information regarding the library can be found at http://library.hccs.edu/. Your student ID card
can be used to check out materials from the library.
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. Go to www.hccs.edu/egls3 for more information.
COURSE CALENDAR SPRING 2015 (subject to change):
WEEK ONE JANUARY 20 – 23
Tuesday: Intro to 1301/review Syllabus, Diagnostic Essay in-class (homework: read OWL
Understanding Writing Assignments and The Writing Process/all sections)
Thursday: Discussion of writing process/discussion of MLA style, Introduce Essay #1 and begin
brainstorming (homework: read “Joy of Reading and Writing” and “Everything You Need to
Know…” and complete journal responses to Turnitin.com by 11PM SATURDAY!)
WEEK TWO JANUARY 26 – 29
Tuesday: Practice Quiz, discussion of reading, writing exercise (homework: read “Once More
to the Lake” complete journal response to Turnitin.com by 11PM WEDNESDAY!)
Thursday: QUIZ, discussion of reading (homework: read “The Rake: A Few Scenes…” and
complete journal response to Turnitin.com by 11PM SATURDAY! Complete rough draft and
submit to Turnitin.com by 11PM SATURDAY! Online Peer Review (PeerMark) due by 11PM
MONDAY!)
WEEK THREE FEBRUARY 2 – 5
Tuesday: QUIZ, discussion of reading (homework: complete final draft of Essay #1 and submit
to Turnitin.com by 11PM THURSDAY! read “Hard Enough Being Me” and complete journal
response to Turnitin.com by 11PM THURSDAY!)
Thursday: Final draft Essay #1 due to Turnitin.com by 11PM! QUIZ, writing exercise, introduce
Essay #2 (homework: read “People Like Us” and complete journal response to Turnitin.com by
11PM SATURDAY!)
WEEK FOUR FEBRUARY 9 – 12
Tuesday: QUIZ, discussion of reading (homework: read “Leave Your Name…” and complete
journal response to Turnitin.com by 11PM WEDNESDAY!)
Thursday: QUIZ, discussion of reading (homework: read “Eight Days in a Corset…” and
complete journal response to Turnitin.com by 11PM SATURDAY! Complete rough draft and
submit to Turnitin.com by 11PM SATURDAY! Online Peer Review (PeerMark) due by 11PM
MONDAY!)
WEEK FIVE FEBRUARY 16 – 19 (Monday is Presidents’ Day/School Holiday!)
Tuesday: QUIZ, discussion of reading, bring rough draft to class for In-class Peer Workshop
(homework: complete final draft of Essay #2 and submit to Turnitin.com by 11PM
THURSDAY! Read “Mother Tongue” and complete journal response to Turnitin.com by 11PM
WEDNESDAY!)
Thursday: Final draft Essay #2 due to Turnitin.com by 11PM! Writing exercise, QUIZ,
discussion of reading, introduce Essay #3 (homework: read “Hooking Up” and complete journal
response to Turnitin.com by 11PM SATURDAY!)
WEEK SIX FEBRUARY 23 – 26
Tuesday: QUIZ, discussion of reading (homework: read “Why Women Smile” and complete
journal response to Turnitin.com by 11PM WEDNESDAY!)
Thursday: QUIZ, discussion of reading (homework: read “Hip Hop Planet” and complete
journal response to Turnitin.com by 11PM SATURDAY!)
WEEK SEVEN MARCH 2 – 5
Tuesday: QUIZ, discussion of reading (homework: read “Pleasures of the Text” and complete
journal response to Turnitin.com by 11PM WEDNESDAY!)
Thursday: QUIZ, discussion of reading (homework: complete rough draft of Essay #3 and
submit to Turnitin.com by 11PM SATURDAY! Online Peer Review (PeerMark) due by 11PM
MONDAY!)
WEEK EIGHT MARCH 9 – 13
Tuesday: Bring rough draft of Essay #3 to class for In-class Peer Workshop (homework:
complete final draft of Essay #3 to Turnitin.com by 11PM WEDNESDAY! read “Designer
Babies”)
Thursday: Writing exercise (homework: read OWL Common Writing Assignments – Argument
Papers & Research Papers)
WEEK NINE MARCH 16 – 20 SPRING BREAK!
WEEK TEN MARCH 23 – 27
Tuesday: Introduce Essay #4/Research Project, discuss argument papers (Homework: read
OWL General Writing – Academic Writing – Creating a Thesis, Establishing Arguments
including Strong Thesis, Organizing Your Argument, Rhetorical Strategies)
Thursday: discuss reading (homework: read “Letter from Birmingham Jail” and complete
journal response to Turnitin.com by 11PM SATURDAY!)
WEEK ELEVEN MARCH 30 – APRIL 3
Tuesday: QUIZ, discuss reading (homework: read “How Computers Change the Way We
Think” and complete journal response to Turnitin.com by 11PM WEDNESDAY!)
Thursday: QUIZ, discuss reading (homework: read “Is Google Making Us Stupid?” and
complete journal response to Turnitin.com by 11PM SATURDAY!)
WEEK TWELVE APRIL 6 – 9
Tuesday: QUIZ, discuss reading (homework: read “Perpetual Adolescent” and complete journal
response to Turnitin.com by 11PM WEDNESDAY!)
Thursday: QUIZ, discuss reading (homework: read “Mirror, Mirror” and complete journal
response to Turnitin.com by 11PM SATURDAY! Choose a topic for your research paper)
WEEK THIRTEEN APRIL 13 – 16
Tuesday: QUIZ, discuss reading, writing exercise (homework: read OWL Argument Papers –
Creating a Thesis, Establishing Arguments)
Thursday: discussion of writing an argument (homework: read OWL Common Writing
Assignments – Annotated Bibliographies, begin research for research paper/Essay #4)
WEEK FOURTEEN APRIL 20 – 23
Tuesday: MLA/Research discussion (homework: begin work or continue working on rough
draft of Essay #4)
Thursday: Bring annotated bibliography to class! (homework: complete rough draft of Essay #4
and submit to Turnitin.com by 11PM SATURDAY! Online Peer Review (PeerMark) due by
11PM MONDAY!)
WEEK FIFTEEN APRIL 27 – 30
Tuesday: Bring rough draft to class for In-class Peer Workshop (homework: complete final
draft of Essay #4 and submit to Turnitin.com by 11PM FRIDAY! prepare for essay
presentation!)
Thursday: Begin class presentations of Essay #4 (homework: prepare for essay presentation!)
WEEK SIXTEEN MAY 4 – 7
Tuesday: Continue class presentations of Essay #4, writing exercise
Thursday: Finish remaining class presentations of Essay #4, discuss final exam (homework:
complete final exam at Turnitin.com!)
WEEK SEVENTEEN MAY 11 – 14
Final Exam due at Turnitin.com at 11AM MONDAY!