ENGLISH 0300: FUNDAMENTALS OF GRAMMAR AND COMPOSTION I
Class Information
Contact Information
Class: English 0300
Instructor: Professor Carole Brady
0013 (76453)
Office Hours: by appointment
Tues./Thurs. 12:00 – 2:00
E-Mail: carole.brady@hccs.edu
F.A. Bldg. Rm. 320
and/or bradycarole@gmail.com
0033 (77460)
Tues./Thur. 2:00 – 4:00
F.A. Bldg. Rm. 317
Course Description:
A refresher course devoted to improving basic English skills for native speakers.
(Note: Instead of English 0300, non-native speakers must refer to English 03200349 or ESOL 0341-56.) Emphasizing grammar, sentence structure, and
paragraph development, the course introduces the student to creating
techniques and essay writing.
Credits
3 credits (3 hours lecture, 1 hour lab)
Required Materials
Textbook: Paragraphs and Essays by Lee and Kelly Brandon, 11th Edition
A 3-ring notebook with dividers
Notebook paper, college ruled
Paperback College-level Dictionary
Blue or black pens for handwritten work
Highlighter
COURSE OVERVIEW/STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES
By the time you have completed English 0300, you should be able to:
 Write sentences that demonstrate proper use of grammar and mechanics.
 Read analytically.
 Develop a thesis statement and use supporting paragraphs to strengthen and
support the thesis.
 Write a variety of paragraphs including introductory, supporting, and concluding
paragraphs.
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DEVELOPMENTAL ENGLISH DEPARTMENT MISSION STATEMENT:
The Developmental English Department provides opportunities for students to upgrade
their basic language skills in order to maximize their chance of success in college level
courses. In addition, the department promotes goal setting and values clarification and
fosters self-esteem and positive attitudes to aid students in becoming contributing
members of society and gaining personal satisfaction.
PART I: GENERAL INFORMATION TO HELP YOU
Support Services:
Tutoring
Free tutoring is available in FAC 321 B
(Students may be required by instructors to work with a tutor.)
Library
The library is located in the new Learning Hub/Science Building, on the
3rd and 4th floor.
Computers Computers are available for student use at locations around campus.
Especially convenient for you are computer labs in FAC 302, and the
library, and JDB 203-204.
Disability Support Services Students who require reasonable accommodations for
disabilities are encouraged to contact the Disability Services Office in
Room 106 of The Learning Hub Building or call 713-718-6164 to make
necessary arrangements. Faculty are authorized to provide only those
accommodations requested by the Disability Services Office.
Houston Community College System Policies
Scholastic Dishonesty: According to the Student Handbook for the Houston Community
College System, page 14, “Students are responsible for conducting
themselves with honor and integrity in fulfilling course requirements.
Penalties and/or disciplinary procedures may be initiated by college
district officials against a student accused of scholastic dishonesty.”
“Scholastic dishonesty” includes, but is not limited to, cheating on a test,
plagiarism, and collusion.
Cheating on a test includes: Copying from another student’s test paper;
using materials during a test not authorized by the person giving the test;
collaborating with another student during a test; and knowingly using,
buying, selling, stealing, transporting, or soliciting on whole or part the
contents of a test.
Plagiarism is the unauthorized use of someone else’s materials (a book,
an article, an essay, your classmate’s paper, a paper written for you by a
friend, material from the internet) or the use of that work.
Collusion means the unauthorized collaboration with another person in
preparing written work offered for credit.
As stated in the HCCS Student Handbook: “Possible punishments for academic dishonesty may include a grade of “0” or “F” for the particular assignment, failure in the
course, and/or recommendation for probation or dismissal from the College System.”
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Course Repeaters: For students who repeat a course for the third time, financial aid will
no longer pay tuition/fees at HCC and other Texas public colleges and
universities. Also, a grade of “IP” cannot be given if you fail to complete
the course successfully. Before dropping any course, it is important to
speak with an academic advisor to be sure you understand the
consequences of such action.
Course Withdrawal: If you wish to drop a course, you must do so by the drop deadline.
After this date the course cannot be dropped, and professors can no longer
give a grade of “W” at the end of the semester. The student must be given
the grade earned, if he or she stopped coming to class. FX (new for Fall
2011) is given to a student who is taking the course for a second time and
stops attending, or misses 12.5% of instruction without notifying the
instructor of extenuating circumstances. A grade of FX cannot be changed
and will result in denial of future financial aid unless the student
reimburses the government.
Attendance: Texas State law requires 87.5% minimum attendance for college courses.
You may be dropped if you miss more than 12.5% of instruction (6 class
hours in a 3-credit hour course).
Grade Assessment
A 90-100% (Excellent) B 80-89% (Above Average) C 70-79% (Average)
IP (In progress) is given to students who do not meet minimum standards but who
conscientiously do the work of the course and complete the semester. It indicates that the
student must re-enroll in the course.
FX is given to a student who is taking the course for a second time and stops attending,
or misses 12.5% of instruction without notifying the instructor of extenuating
circumstances. A grade of FX cannot be changed and will result in denial of future
financial aid unless the student reimburses the government.
W (Withdrawn) is given to students who miss more than 12.5% of instruction or who
withdraw themselves from the class before the drop deadline. It does not affect the grade
point average (GPA), but it may affect the student receiving Financial Aid Benefits.
F or D may only be given if a student is repeating the course, for violations of the
scholastic dishonesty policy, or in rare circumstances at the discretion of the instructor.
I (incomplete) is not a possible grade in developmental courses.
EVALUATION FOR GREATER LEARNING STUDNT SURVEY SYSTEM
At HCC, thoughtful student feedback is necessary to improve teaching and learning. At a
designated time, you will be asked to answer a short survey of questions related to
instruction. The anonymous results will be made available to your professors and
division chairs. Look for the survey as part of the HCC Student System online near the
end of the term.
“Education is our passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to the people who prepare
for it today.” Malcolm X
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Part II: General Information to Help You to be a Successful College Student
Attendance:
Attendance is a major requirement for this class, on the college level there are no excused
or unexcused absences. All absences count toward the rule of no more than 6 class hours
which would equal 3 classes. Therefore, do not schedule appointments or other business
during class time. If we have a quiz or do an in-class activity you will receive a zero for
the day you were absent, no make-up work will be given. In other words, I consider what
we do in class very important and I do require that you keep up with the work.
Be on Time:
The class will begin on time you will be expected to be in your seat prepared for class.
Students that are habitually late are being rude to their fellow classmates and the
professor. If you are tardy it will count against your allotted absences ( 3 tardies will
equal an absence). The same rule applies for leaving class early. This also disrupts class
and is very distracting for your fellow classmates.
Textbook
A textbook is a required part of this course. All handouts are considered the same as a
textbook for this class. You are to read all material and make annotations to prepare for
class discussions. Read, reread, and take notes on assignments. Taking notes, also called
annotating, while you read, or after you read a section, helps you remember, understand,
and think critically about what you have read and also helps you on quizzes and
assignments.
Writing Critically
To write critically, you think in writing—you investigate, summarize, offer opinions, and
ask and answer questions about your topic. You question what others think; you even
question your own thoughts. You go beneath the surface ideas of the topic into
imaginings, possibilities, and solutions. Writing helps you to open your mind and really
think about the issues we discuss in this class.
Behavior in class
Some behaviors interrupt class, distract you and your peers, and keep us from our main
goal, which is learning and interacting in a comfortable and respectful environment. As
stated in the HCC Student Handbook misuse of electronic devices and disruptive
behavior may be subject to disciplinary action to include removal from the classroom.
To clarify, the following behaviors are not acceptable in this classroom:
 Coming in late or leaving early (see the above on attendance)
 Sleeping (I will ask you to leave)
 Talking while the instructor is speaking
 Talking when someone else is speaking
 Belittling others or making rude remarks about a person’s ethnicity
 No food is allowed in the classroom, you may bring something to drink as long as
it has a lid.
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Working on outside material (for example, an assignment for another class)
Use of informal language, cursing, or slang in class or in writing.
Using any technology or electronic devices in class (includes cell phones, ipods,
ipads, laptops, etc.)
First offense, you will receive a warning; second, you will be asked to leave and you
will receive a zero for the day.
Please turn off and put away all cell phones and other electronic devices. If you beep,
buzz, ring, or break into song during class, you will be asked to write a formal letter
of apology of 350 words to your fellow classmates for interrupting their education.
The letter will be due the following class period, the next offense will require a more
in-depth research into social etiquette and cell phones.
Turning in All Work on the Due Date
Work is due on the assigned due date. No late work will be accepted. The purpose of
the agenda/assignment sheet is to keep you informed of all assignments and due dates. It
is your responsibility to keep informed and have your work typed, printed, and prepared
to turn in on time. If you have an emergency which prevents you from coming to class
you must call me ahead of time and I will determine if you can turn in the assignment the
following class period.
WHAT YOU NEED TO DO TO EARN YOUR GRADE
Work with initiative and eagerness to learn:
 have texts and assignments in class
 prepare assignments before class
 stay focused on the class topic
 triple check all work to ensure its accuracy
 engage in all class activities and conversations with mature attitudes
 respect all classmates and the instructor
 have an open maid toward learning
 be tolerant of different opinions
 welcome new ideas
Grading Categories
1) Instructor’s Choice: Classroom
activities, journals, homework,
grammar and quizzes
2) Lab-hour Activities
3) Mid-Term Exam
4) Collaborative Projects
5) Paragraphs (5) Essays (5)
6) Final
Total
10%
5%
10%
5%
60%
10%
100%
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“To be able to be caught up into the world of thought—that is being educated.” Edith
Hamilton
1) Instructor’s Choice will include homework assignments, quizzes over reading
and grammar and daily journals.
We will be doing daily journal writing. These will be what your textbook calls
“free writing” meaning that you just write, however, there will be times when you
will be asked to answer questions from the required reading and you must respond
with answers that show me you have read the material. You will do these on
notebook paper and keep in your binder in the section for Journals. Be sure to
include the subject for each journal entry and the date at the top of the page.
Daily journal writings are intended to be fun and informal. In DJW you can
explore your own ideas and respond to questions informally. We will do our
DJW’s at the beginning of each class. Don’t be late to class or you will miss a
DJW, you cannot make-up DJW’s.
Quizzes: Quizzes will be given at different times during the semester to check on
your understanding of the exercises and reading selections. Be sure you have read
all of the required assignments and you will be prepared for quizzes. If you miss
a quiz you will receive a zero for that day.
Grammar: Grammar activities will be assigned either individually or for the
class as a whole depending on the needs of each student. We will also be doing
grammar labs in class.
2) Lab assignments allow you to learn independently, working with specific
concepts and skills in a way that is unique and productive to you as an individual.
Each lab will consist of: 1) an introduction to the particular topic you will be
learning, 2) an activity of some sort, and 3) a self-reflection section where you
will reflect back on what you have completed in the lab and how it has benefited
you personally and academically. It is this self-reflection that makes learning
unique to you as an individual. You will have one hour or longer depending on
the lab to complete the lab. We will also be doing grammar labs that will
correlate with the grammar that you are assigned in the text and on the handouts.
If you do not complete the labs during the time set aside in class for lab, you
will have until the next class period to complete the lab and turn it in at the
beginning of class.
3) Mid-term exam: We will have an exam during the eighth week of class that will
cover the material we have completed in class up to that point, including grammar
and essay writing.
4) Collaborative Project: The federally mandated SCANS SKILLS requires that
curriculum include graded collaborative projects. We will discuss this more in
class after we have completed several weeks of class. You will be given a
grading rubric for the project with step by step instructions and due dates.
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5) Paragraphs and Essays: You will be turning in five paragraphs and five essays
during the semester. Each paragraph will build on the skills we are learning at
that time as we work to develop toward multiple paragraphs including
introductory, supporting and concluding paragraphs. After successfully
completing the paragraphs we will be moving on to essays with an assigned topic
and purpose. Two of these essays will be in-class timed assignments. All writing
assignments will follow MLA format, with 12 pt., double-spaced, with indented
paragraphs. All writing assignments are to be typed according to this format.
6) Final: The final will be a timed essay to be completed in class.
Portfolio
You are required to keep all of your work organized in a notebook binder with index tabs.
You will be given the topics for the tabs by the third class meeting. Your binder will be
graded for neatness, and organization. I will take up your binders at various times during
the semester. Bring your binder to class with you everyday. Be sure you return graded
papers to your binder and place them in order under the correct tab.
NOTE: All assignments must be typed, unless it is group work. Save all
typed material on a flash drive. Do not throw away anything you write or I return
to you.
Format for Assignments
Each assignment is to be labeled with your name, my name, course number, date, and
name of the assignment in the upper left corner of the first page.
First and Last Name
Professor Brady
English 0300
Due Date
Name of the Assignment (Ex. Homework pages 1-3)
Papers are to set up with one-inch margins on all sides. Double space all text, be sure to
indent each paragraph. Use a standard 12 pt. font and staple pages together in the upper
left corner.
Follow the same heading for work done in class:
Use blue or black pen only
Skip every other line (double-space) indent paragraphs
Do not write on the back
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Honor our Contract
This syllabus is a contract between you as a student and me as your instructor. By
staying in this class after the first day, you agree that you will abide by ALL of the
information in the syllabus including the academic integrity policy and the acceptable
behaviors for this class.
Please print your full name and date
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ENGLISH 0300 ASSIGNMENTS
Reading assignments are in the textbook Paragraphs and Essays unless a
different assignment is given.
Week 1
Reading assignment: Chapter 1
Topics: Reading and Writing
Tuesday/ Syllabus
Exercises (in class): Diagnostic Writing
Thursday/ Group Activity, Class Introductions
Lab #1 Introduction to Labs
Exercises (homework): Chap. 17, pages 401-406
Read Ch. pgs. 31-39
Week 2
Reading assignment: Chapters 2-3
Tuesday
Discussion on Ch. 2, notes on the writing process,
Stage 1
Topic: Strategies for Getting Started
Assign Paragraph #1 Student Interview
Exercises (in class): brainstorming and looping
Exercises (homework) Read Ch. 3, do ex. 1, 2
Rough Draft of paragraph #1 due
Week 3
Week 4
Week 5
Reading assignment: Chapters 4-5
Topic: Writing and Introducing the Thesis
Exercises (in class): _______________________
Exercises (homework): _____________________
Essay #2 due _____________________________
Reading assignment: Chapters 6, 8 (skip 7)
Topic: Revising and Editing
Narrating and Describing
Exercises (in class): ________________________
Exercises (homework): ______________________
Essay #3 due ______________________________
Reading assignment: Chapters 11 -12
Topic: Compare and Contrast, Cause and Effect
Exercises (in class): _________________________
Exercises (homework): _______________________
Essay #4 due _______________________________
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Week 6
Week 7
Week 8
Reading assignment: Chapter 14
Topic: Arguing Persuasively
Exercises (in class): __________________________
Exercises (homework): ________________________
Reading assignment:
Selected essays and topics from Units 3 and 4
Topics: Review Argument topics for final
Exercises (in class): ____________________________
Exercises (homework): __________________________
Essay #5 due Argument Essay
FINAL Monday, December 13 8:00 a.m.
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