`English 0349—Second-Start
Email: ine.ine@hccs.edu
Course Syllabus, Spring 2012
Office: FAC. RM.310
Office hr: T&Th 1.00-1.50pm.
Instructor: Ine, Ine N.
CRN #: 76187
Texts and Supplies
New Directions, Second Edition, by Peter S. Gardner (required)
English collegiate dictionary (no bi-lingual dictionaries)
loose-leaf notebook paper
a 3-ring binder
one manila folder for an essay portfolio
a flash or USB drive
two Examination Books (one “Blue Book” for exams + one for vocab work)
a highlighter marker + a red pen
a stapler
Course Goals
English 0349 is part of the Academic ESL department. This course helps ESL
students prepare for American core academic college courses. Students learn
composition (comp) skills for writing in a variety of academic classes, such as in
the humanities, social sciences, and business. ENGL 0349 is the exit-level comp
class for non-native speakers who plan to continue their education and earn a
college degree. After passing this course, students should be ready to take
ENGL 1301, freshman comp, and to successfully complete any state-mandated
writing assessment designed to measure college readiness.
Specific course objectives include:
 comprehend and respond (orally and in writing) to various reading
assignments (non-fiction: essays, articles, websites, and fiction: short story)
 write well-written 500-1000 word expository essays in response to those
assignments
 use of a variety of rhetorical strategies (exemplification, comparison/contrast,
cause/effect, argumentation) to develop a thesis
 apply critical thinking skills in writing
 edit comps for accurate grammar, spelling, and mechanics (capitalization,
punctuation)
 expand vocabulary
 recognize an author’s audience, purpose, and tone in writing
 demonstrate ability to paraphrase and summarize
 apply MLA style guidelines to cite sources (knowing when to cite and why)
 demonstrate ability to complete a variety of writing tasks (journals, essays,
short-answer questions, class notes, e-mail, grammar exercises)
Compositions/Essays (6 total)
Students will write 4 compositions (comps), a midterm, and a final essay. Much
of the class time is arranged as a writing workshop in which students discuss
ideas and apply the writing process to address a topic, i.e. pre-write, draft, edit,
and revise their work, with assistance from classmates and the instructor. One or
two drafts may be written before the final draft. Only the final draft is graded, and
students do not revise further after turning in a comp for a grade. All parts of the
writing process are kept in a manila folder, called a portfolio, and turned in with
the final draft.
Essay Format
Unless otherwise directed, students must type or word-process each final draft
(except for the midterm and final exam) in 12 point Times New Roman font,
double-spaced, and identify the writer in the upper left corner of page 1 with the
student’s name, course + number, instructor’s name, date, for example:
Erin Smith
English 0349
Feb. 13, 2012
Reader-Response Journals ( 6 entries)
Students will practice a special kind of journal writing. Journal assignments are
included on the course calendar in italics. Length will vary, but in general, each
journal response should be about 250-300 words. No late journals are accepted.
The format for responding to journal topics # 2-5 is as follows:
1) summarize the article that you have chosen to write about
2) evaluate some of the author’s strengths and weaknesses
3) react to the article by explaining something you agree or disagree with,
including specific examples
It is important to correctly cite the article according to MLA guidelines. See the
example of a Reading Journal entry included at the end of this syllabus.
Homework (9 major reading assignments + 14 vocabulary + grammar)
Each week, students are expected to come to class prepared to discuss the
readings listed on the course calendar. Most reading assignments require
students to work on some preliminary vocabulary work. Students should be ready
to answer the post-reading discussion questions that follow each Core Reading.
Except for the Althen article, “American Values and Assumptions,” every student
will take a turn at leading a small group by using the following 4-step process to
discuss one of the reading assignments on the course calendar:
 name the author and discuss his/her credentials
 tell the group the author’s main purpose ( locate the thesis)
 discuss one thing that you disagree with or dislike
 discuss one thing that you agree with or like
 See the reading assignment titles on the course calendar.
Quizzes
Occasionally, a short quiz will cover the material from the reading assignments,
vocabulary, and/or specific grammar that students work on throughout the
semester. Most of the quizzes are unannounced. Therefore, students should be
prepared for a quiz on every reading assignment on the course calendar whether
or not they are leading a small discussion group.
Computer Lab Time
This class will occasionally meet in the campus computer lab to work on drafts of
essays and to strengthen grammar skills with online grammar resources.
The lab time is used to work primarily on grammar on the following website:
http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar
These topics (listed in the website’s INDEX) should be covered in the order
below:
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
Parts of Speech
Phrases
Clauses
Conjunctions
Conjunctive Adverbs
Fragments
Comma Splices
Run-On Sentences
Subject-Verb Agreement
Commas
Midterm and Final Exams
The midterm and final exams consist of an impromptu essay topic based on the
reading assignments in this course. These essays will have a persuasive
purpose and are used, along with the other work done in this class, to determine
whether or not a student is ready to succeed in college credit classes. A student
who has a passing class average but who does not pass the midterm and the
final exam with a 70% or higher grade will have his/her portfolio reviewed by the
Asst. Department Chair for Academic ESL.
NOTE: the Final Exam must be taken during final exam week. See the date on
the course calendar. Please make any travel arrangements after final exams.
Texas Public Universities, Placement Rules
Beginning in the Fall 2003, the Texas legislature instituted new rules for
developmental students called the Texas Success Initiative (TSI). Under TSI
rules, most new students must be tested for placement (with THEA, ASSET or
COMPASS) and placed into developmental courses if they do not score high
enough to demonstrate college readiness. Successful completion of
developmental coursework, ENGL 0349 and GUST 0342 (or an appropriate test
score), enables students to advance to ENGL 1301.
Teacher’s Personal “Mission Statement”
I am here to help you complete the objectives of this course, to assist you in
developing your reading, writing, and critical thinking skills, and to promote your
intellectual and academic growth. Please communicate with me about any
problems or obstacles that might interfere with your success in our class.
Classroom Policies
Placement in ENGL 0349 is based on not only test scores and previous
coursework but also on the in-class assessment during the first week of the term.
A student who is not qualified to stay in this class will be notified and advised to
take the appropriate class. Students who fail to follow the teacher’s
recommendations for course placement will be asked to sign a Waiver. Also,
students are expected to arrive on time to class. I will mark you tardy for any time
missed after the scheduled time to start class. Two tardies = one absence. If you
leave at any time during the class period, I will mark you absent for the time you
miss. If you are absent from class, you are responsible for contacting me about
the missed work.
 Regardless of the reason for an absence, an essay that is turned in past
the due date will receive a 10-point penalty for each class day that it is
late.
 If necessary, students may miss up to 8 hours of instruction without
penalty. The instructor has the right to drop any student who exceeds 8
hours of absence (see the Syllabus Addendum regarding the HCC
attendance policy).
 There are no make-up tests or quizzes, but I will drop the lowest test/quiz
grade for each student at the end of the semester. In other words, if you
miss a quiz, you will receive a 0 grade, but that 0 grade will be dropped—
once only.
 All cell phones and electronic devices must be turned off and out of sight
when the class is in session. If you have an emergency and must have a
phone handy, please tell me before class begins.
 I reserve the right to dismiss you from class for any violation of the
classroom and college policies.
College Grading System
Students may earn an A, B, C, F, or IP in this class. IP means “In Progress” and
is given to the student who makes a good-faith effort to complete the work of the
class but is not ready to advance to the next level and could benefit from another
semester in 0349. If a student receives an IP, he/she must repeat ENGL 0349.
However, if the student is repeating 0349 for the second time and not passing,
the final grade will be F.
The W grade is given to the student who exceeds the allotted number of
absences (8 hours) before the last day for Administrative Withdrawals. An F is
given to students who do not make a good-faith effort to successfully complete
work in the class and to those who take 0349 for the second time but fail it.
Students are responsible for completing the process to drop a class if they wish
to stop attending. See the “Last Day to Withdraw” on the course calendar.
Tutoring and the Language Assistance Center (LAC)
You are encouraged to take advantage of the student services at your campus.
These include open computer labs, LAC’s, and tutoring. Online tutors are
available to assist all HCC students with a wide range of subjects. Reminder: the
tutor is not your editor and will not write papers for you. The website for free
online tutoring to HCC students is: www.askonline.net
Each campus has an LAC, where you can use a computer to work on grammar
software, online resources, and word processing. No appointment is needed to
use an LAC; however, if a teacher schedules a class there while you are visiting
the lab, you might be asked to leave. NOTE: Unless otherwise directed by the
teacher, students must pay for all copies printed in the LAC. Lab aides manage
the labs and are there to assist you with technical questions about the
computers.
English 0349 Grading Formula
The final grade is calculated as follows:
Comps 1 & 2
20%
Comps 3 & 4
Mid-term Essay
15%
Quizzes
Final Exam
15%
Homework/Journals
College Grading Scale
90—100
A
80—89
B
70—19
60—69
30%
10%
10%
C
IP or F
Academic Dishonesty
Students are expected to do their own work. The instructor can not help a
student unless she knows who is authoring the assignments. Copying another
person’s words without giving credit to the source is considered cheating and
called “plagiarism.” All other forms of cheating as defined by the Student
Handbook are penalized as plagiarism: a grade of “0” is recorded for all forms of
academic dishonesty that appear in ANY of the work done in this class.
You are expected to be familiar with the college’s Policy on Academic Honesty,
found in the HCC catalog. What that means is: If you are charged with an
offense, pleading ignorance of the rules will not help you. Students are
responsible for conducting themselves with honor and integrity in fulfilling course
requirements. Penalties and/or disciplinary proceedings may be initiated by HCC
System officials against a student accused of scholastic dishonesty. “Scholastic
dishonesty” includes, but is not limited to, cheating on a test, plagiarism,
collusion, and unauthorized collaboration.
Cheating includes:






Copying from another students’ homework, test, or essay
Letting a classmate copy your homework, test, or essay
Using materials not authorized by the instructor
Collaborating with another student during a test without authorization
Knowingly using, buying, selling, stealing, transporting, or soliciting in
whole or part the contents of a test or essay
Bribing another person to obtain a test or essay
Plagiarism means the appropriation of another person’s work and the
unacknowledged incorporation of that work in one’s own written work offered for
credit. Copying phrases, sentences, and/or paragraphs from another person
without giving credit to the source of the ideas AND copying and pasting
someone else’s work is plagiarism. This is a serious offense in college and equal
to stealing.
NOTE: The consequence of cheating and plagiarism is a “0” grade on the
assignment. Students who repeatedly violate HCC’s academic honesty policies
will be reported to the Academic Dean.
(Continue/Scroll down to view Course Calendar)
ENGLISH 0349
Second-Start Course Calendar
Spring 2012
(This schedule may change to meet the needs of the class.)
Important Dates:
Feb. 13
Feb. 14
Feb. 20
Feb. 21
Mar. 12-18
April 6-8
April 9
May 6
First day of Spring Second-Start semester classes
Last day to add/drop/swap a class
Presidents’ Day Holiday
Official Date of Record
Spring Break
Spring Holiday
Last day to withdraw, by 4:30 p.m.
Instruction ends
May 7-13
Final Exam Period (See course calendar below)
NOTE:
Week 1
Monday
Homework:
Students! Prepare yourself to discuss the reading assignments on
this calendar before you come to class.
Introduction to the course; Intro. to the text: overview of text + pp.
104-123, “The Essentials of Writing,” in New Directions; diagnostic
assessment
Review “The Structure of an Essay” and “The Writing Process,
pp. 104-117
Wednesday Introduction to vocab. assignments; discuss Althen, pp. 4-17
Journal # 1: Establish e-mail contact with your teacher. Briefly
introduce yourself.
NOTE:
See assignments below for Week 2; finish vocab work (pp.15-16)
Week 2
Mon/Feb. 20 President’s Day Holiday
NOTE:
See assignments for Wednesday, Feb. 22; do vocab work
(pp. 32-34) and prepare to discuss Levine.
Wed/Feb 22 Discuss Levine, pp. 26-43
Discuss the model for the reader-response journals (see syllabus) +
begin Journal # 2
Journal # 2: reader-response to Levine
Week 3
Mon/Feb.27.
Begin Essay # 1—the Personal Narrative/Descriptive Essay
Wed/Feb 29
Finish Essay # 1; Final Draft Due: Feb. 29, 2012
Week 4
Mon/March 5
Discuss Rothenberg & Cummins, pp. 67-75
Wed/March 7
Discuss Gage, pp. 88-92
Journal # 3: reader-response to Rothenberg or Cummins
SPRING BREAK MARCH 12-18
Week 5
Mon/Mar. 19
Discuss Walljasper, pp. 259-266
Wed/Mar. 21
Discuss Boll, pp. 278-282
Journal # 4: reader-response to Walljasper or Boll
Week 6
Mon/Mar. 26
Midterm In-Class Essay
Wed/Mar. 28
Essay # 2, based on revision of the midterm essay
Week 7
Mon/Apr. 2
Discuss McCubbin and Dahl, pp. 189-199
Wed/Apr. 4
Discuss Tannen, pp. 211-217
Journal # 5: reader-response to Tannen
Week 8
Mon/Apr 9
Begin Essay # 3
Wed/Apr 11
Finish Essay # 3; Final Draft Due: April 11, 2012
Week 9
Mon/Apr. 16
Discuss Gelernter, pp. 136-147
Wed/Apr. 18
Intro. to Online Research Resources (teacher supplements)
Journal # 6: reader-response to Gelernter
Week 10
Complete Essay # 4; Final Draft Due: April 25, 2012
Intro. to Collaborative Group Project
Week 11
Mon/Apr. 30
Continue Collaborative Group Project
Wed/May 2
Collaborative Group Presentations
Week 12
Final Essay Exam: Wednesday, May 9, 2 – 4 p.m.