You are responsible for having read and absorbed the material in this syllabus. It contains important and specific information
about this class. It is my contract with you. Read it carefully. Follow it. Ask questions about anything in it.
English 1302 Calendar ~ Summer 2014 ~ 8 Weeks ~ Arzola ~ CRN 57281 – DE
Instructor's name: Prof. L. Arzola (Use the class email within our class page for ALL your communications unless you simply cannot reach
me there for some reason.) Email: laura.arzola@hccs.edu. Make sure to add the word, tree, in the subject line, so your messages come to
the right bin in my Mailbox. Tel. 713-252-4042. [I prefer that you text me rather than calling my phone no. Be sure to include your name and
class (1302) in the text, so I know who you are.] Office hours: Available weekdays online or by phone from 9A-7P. US Mail: Prof. L. Arzola/
English Dept./ Eastside Campus/ 6815 Rustic/Houston TX 77087
Textbooks: Any ONE of the three following books will work for this class: Purchase your book immediately. As this is a short class, it is
critical that you get your book immediately. Delay can seriously hamper your progress in this course.
Purchase your book immediately. Delay can seriously hamper your progress in this course.
Textbooks: Any ONE of the three following books will work for this class:
1. Barnet, Sylvan and Hugo Bedau. Current Issues and Enduring Questions ($76.95) 10th ed. 2014 ISBN-10: 1-4576-2260-2
ISBN-13: 9781-4576-2260-1
// Paper Text, 992 pages. This one is most likely to be in the bookstore.
2. Barnet, Sylvan and Hugo Bedau. Critical Thinking, Reading, and Writing ($50.95) 8th ed. 2014 ISBN-10: 1-4576-4997-7
// ISBN-13: 9781-4576-4997-4
// Paper Text, 592 pages
3. Barnet, Sylvan and Hugo Bedau. CourseSmart e-Book for Critical Thinking, Reading, and Writing : ($25.99) 8th ed. ISBN10 1457651998, ISBN-13 9781457651991 Digital Book Rental. (Go to
http://www.coursesmart.com/IR/3027714/9781457649974?__hdv=6.8)
4. OR a recent edition of Current Issues or of Critical Thinking is acceptable.
You also need a recent handbook to support your work in writing. Wadsworth (my favorite), Little Brown, MacMillan, Penguin will all work.
You may order your books online at: www.hccs.bkstore.com.Textbooks for all distance education courses are housed at the Central bookstore. We do offer, free of charge,
transfer requests for students who wish to pick up their distance education textbooks at one of our 7 other locations that may be closer to them. Phone either Central, or the
requested campus, and request that their books be transferred. Get your books as early as possible. Having a book in front of you makes all the difference. If you have to wait
for your book, see if you can locate a copy at either an HCC or the public library. Also used book stores may have copies. The library may have ebook versions that can be
used temporarily. There may be pdf versions somewhere online.
Grade Percentages: (The total will equal 100%)
15% Critical Analysis of the Essay (includes Pre-writing & evidence of Tutor
No Conference = No Grade Conferences will be conducted by phone.
review).
15% Critical Analysis of Fiction (includes Pre-writing & evidence of Tutor
10% Midterm Exam (online)
review).
30% Research Paper (RP) (14% = Pre-writing & evidence of Tutor review).
20% Final Exam: Critical Analysis of Fiction (online)
(Conference to review your RP Rough Draft with Instructor REQUIRED /
10% 10 Journals (200 words each)
HCCS Crucial Days for Summer:
June 7: Last Day for Drop/Add/Swap
July 13,Monday, 4:30PM
Last Day for Student Withdrawals
June 8: Class begins, Monday
July 24-28 (Fri.-Tues.):
Final Exam online
Wed. July 29, Last Day to submit revised/late papers – 11:59pm
June 15: OE Date/ Sign in to class before this date.
Sunday, Aug. 2, Class pages closes to students
June 27-30 (Sat.-Tues.): Midterm Exam online
July 3, Friday: Independence Day Holiday
All papers are submitted online through Eagle. Students MUST keep copies of all submitted work in case the instructor does not receive it. Store all
papers until the end of the following long semester. Remember that computers break down. Keep backup copies of your work.// Papers must be saved
as .doc (MS Word documents) or .rtf (Rich Text File). My computer will not open .wps (MS Works documents) or odt.
The computer lab at SE College will help you upload temporary versions of MS Word for this class if you need it. Call 713-718-7263 for more
information. Or call a lab at a campus nearer you for this information.
Tutors: FREE Tutors are available online at askonline.net or at the Eastside campus Mon-Th, Sat mornings and Mon-Thur evenings. For students
nearer other colleges contact your local English department for information on tutors. Askonline tutors are accessed through the Tutoring link at the very
top of our class page. Have tutors help you with grammar issues and format. Be sure to give tutors a copy of handouts with pertinent directions for the
essay. For problems with content ask me. All your out of class papers must be submitted with proof of tutor review.
Important Materials: Quality Dictionary & Thesaurus. Recent grammar Handbook with MLA information. Notice and use the links provided at the top of
our class page for the Works Cited, used for all your papers, and the library databases, which you will use for your research.
Every class is significant in ENGL 1302. On site students always produce better work when they have attended class and asked necessary
questions. DE students will be meeting via online chats. These sessions will give you the help you need to pass this class. Make sure you participate.
Should you need to miss, you are responsible for the missed material.// In addition, you and I will work individually to discuss your Research Paper. Be
sure to bring your Rough Draft and all your preliminary work with you. We will be working together over the phone though I may try using Skype this
semester.
Attendance: You are expected to come into the online class at least once a week. If you fail to do so, you run the risk of being withdrawn. Let me
know if there is an emergency, which prevents your going online. I will be happy to work with you if you let me know AHEAD OF TIME. Students
ENGL 1302 ~ Composition II ~ Arzola
Page 1 of 8
who go more than 14 days without logging in or otherwise contacting the professor may be dropped
without further warning prior to the drop deadline.
Communication with your instructor is essential in all your courses. Please keep me informed of problems you are having either with the course itself or
with keeping up with assignments. It is possible to give you extra help. Questions are invited in this course. It is my opinion that questions from you
demonstrate both interest and knowledge. Feel free to ask questions at any time. Do not call your questions “stupid.” If you have a question, ask it.
Plagiarism: [MEMORIZE THIS INFORMATION] I am seeing an increasing amount of plagiarism. Be aware that I find plagiarism to be immoral. Read
the following information and be aware that if I find that you have plagiarized, you WILL receive a grade of 01 (one point) for the entire assignment. Be
very careful with the work you turn in for this class. Any time you use someone else’s ideas or words you must give him credit. EVEN IF YOU
PARAPHRASE, (USE YOUR OWN WORDS) YOU ARE STILL BORROWING IDEAS FROM SOMEONE ELSE, YOU MUST INDICATE THE SOURCE
IN THE TEXT AND IN THE WORKS CITED. In order to be able to be honest about your sources you must take notes carefully using quotation marks
whenever you use the author’s exact words, writing down source information with each note whether it is quoted or paraphrased. Papers which show
plagiarism will receive a grade of zero, and be aware that at times plagiarism can result in an F for the course. In egregious cases the student may be
expelled. Familiarize yourself with plagiarism and what it means. Ask questions as necessary.
Student Grievances: Students who wish to complain about any aspect of their education should first speak with their instructor. If the situation remains
unresolved, then the student has the right to file a student grievance with the dept. chair, Ms. Beverly Hixon, 713-718-7057. Forms can be picked up in
the office of the Dean of Instruction, 713-718-7066. It is important that you familiarize yourself with both your rights and responsibilities as a student.
Student Handbooks are available from the Office of the Registrar.
HCC Course Withdrawal Policy In order to withdraw from your class, you MUST first contact your professor, at least one week PRIOR to the
withdrawal deadline to receive a “W” on your transcript. After the withdrawal deadline has passed, you will receive the grade that you would have
earned. You may withdraw yourself from the class. Your professor reserves the right to withdraw you without your request due to excessive absences.
See the withdrawal deadline above under crucial days above on p. 1 of the syllabus.
The Distance Education Student Handbook contains policies and procedures unique to the DE student. Students should have reviewed the
handbook as part of the mandatory orientation. It is the student's responsibility to be familiar with the handbook's contents. The handbook contains
valuable information, answers, and resources, such as DE contacts, policies and procedures (how to drop, attendance requirements, etc.), student
services (ADA, financial aid, degree planning, etc.), course information, testing procedures, technical support, and academic calendars. Refer to the DE
Student Handbook by visiting this link: http://de.hccs.edu/de/de-student-handbook
Class Conduct All students in HCC courses are required to follow all HCC Policies & Procedures, the Student Code of Conduct, the Student
Handbook, and relevant sections of the Texas Education Code when interacting and communicating with faculty and fellow students.
* The instructor reserves the right to change various parameters of this syllabus at her discretion.*
EXEMPLARY EDUCATIONAL OBJECTIVES
To understand and demonstrate writing and speaking processes through invention, organization, drafting, revision, editing, and presentation.
To understand the importance of specifying audience and purpose and to select appropriate communication choices.
To understand and appropriately apply modes of expression (descriptive, expositive, narrative, scientific, and self-expressive) in written, visual, and oral
communication.
To participate effectively in groups with emphasis on listening, critical and reflective thinking, and responding.
To understand and apply basic principles of critical thinking, problem solving, and technical proficiency in the development of exposition and argument.
To develop the ability to research and write a documented paper and/or to give an oral presentation.
Mission Statement: 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 1302 Student Learning Outcomes:
1. Apply basic principles of rhetorical analysis.
2. Write essays that classify, explain, and evaluate rhetorical and literary strategies employed in argument, persuasion, and various forms of literature.
3. Identify, differentiate, integrate, and synthesize research materials into argumentative and/or analytical essays.
4. Employ appropriate documentation style and format across the spectrum of in-class and out-of-class written discourse.
5. Demonstrate library literacy.
LOCATIONS with our class in Eagle:
Assignments will be turned in where it says “Submit.” Look for that word as your cue that the named assignment is to be submitted there.
In addition you will find background information and directions on assignments within the Submit link and also above and below the area of submission
as well as in the syllabus and through online chats. When things are not clear, send me an Eagle email with your question. If you feel information is
incorrect or missing in our class, please tell me. Papers are due on Sunday of the week they are assigned. They may be submitted as late as
Wednesday of the following week without penalty. Submissions after that Wed. will be docked ten points.
Calendar: This will tell you when certain assignments, etc., are coming due. But be CAREFUL to check the class page as well as there will be
messages from me there regarding due dates.
Syllabus: Here you will have a copy of the syllabus available to you. Since this is an important document, which tells you what is coming up in the
course and gives you details about assignments, it is best to print out a copy and keep it visible as you do your work for this class. You will get a copy
of the Syllabus when you do your Orientation; however, I always make a few changes to the syllabus and post the revision under Syllabus in Eagle.
Make sure you print out a copy of THIS syllabus and use it instead of the earlier one.
Email: The class email is where you ask questions. Do NOT use my college email except in an emergency when you cannot get into Eagle. You can
set up your Eagle profile, so that emails go to your personal email.
Chat: We will be chatting online at various times in the early weeks of the course. Make every effort to participate. If the times do not work for you, let
me know, so I can add some different times or adjust the ones already listed. I realize that you all work and take in person classes as well,
so you will not always be able to attend. Chats will be printed, so you can read them after the fact. I expect you to attend at least two chats
this semester.
Feel Free to Ask Many Questions! You must ask questions any time you need clarification or explanation of some point being
discussed. If you would like to set up a chat, about a specific topic, we can do that as well.
ENGL 1302 – Arzola
Page 2
Summer 2015 Course Calendar
Wk.
All readings come from Current Issues (CI) or Critical Thinking, Reading & Writing (CTRW). The page nos. and the readings are the same in the latest editions of each of these books.
All assignments due by Sunday midnight of that week unless otherwise indicated.

June
8-14
 Read and highlight Ch. 3 (73-111) [Super IMPORTANT information! Learn what it means to argue effectively. What should a persuasive essay contain
in order to make its arguments effectively?]
 Critical Analysis: (CA #1) For wk. 3, select an essay from one of these: “On Racist Speech” Charles R. Lawrence III (64), “Protecting Freedom of
Expression on the Campus” Derek Bok (69), “The Locavore Myth: Why Buying from Nearby Farmers Won’t Save the Planet” James E. McWilliams (345),
“From Utopia” Thomas More (463), or “Declaration of Sentiments and Resolutions” Elizabeth Cady Stanton (490) for your Critical Analysis essay. Ch. 3
discusses effective elements, which form convincing arguments, such as: facts, evidence, statistics, authoritative testimony, OR deductive reasoning, etc.
Select 2-3 quotations from the target essay showing arguments made by its author. Each quotation should show one of these effective elements being
used.
 Skim , Chapters 6, 7, & 9.
 Read for Journal #3: Shulman’s “Love is a Fallacy.” Look in index for the correct page no.
 RP: Research Paper Topic: For Wk. 6 create a Persuasive Research Paper on a controversial topic relating to the topic of WATER. You can PROVE
something about water conservation, the upcoming political wars over water rights, proving the increasing scarcity of water, the value of drinking more
water, the best type(s) of water to drink, water containers, water births, water aerobics, etc. Remember you are PROVING something in this paper.
Descriptions or simple information are not all that is wanted. You must present facts, evidence, statistics, authoritative testimony, etc., PROVING that what
you say about water is the correct way for your audience to go. Begin background reading. Look for 3+ books. You are welcome to use e-books or parts of
books as you might find on amazon.com. Use 5+ database articles. The database is found at the top of the class page. No internet sources may be used
until after you have these first 8 sources. To use the HCC library ebooks and database from home, you need your student ID no., which you can find in
PeopleSoft.
 Due Journals #1 & #2 Due Sunday this week. Directions are found in Eagle under each link to Submit each Journal.
 Due CA Bodynotes
Turn Bodynotes into Rough Draft of Critical Analysis.
 Due CA to the tutor.
June Read & Highlight , Ch. 5, “Writing an Analysis of an Argument" 179 (Pay special attention to “For Environmental Balance” (186) as a sample essay for
15-21 analysis and “Tracking Kristof” by Betsy Swinton (192) as an example of a Critical Analysis Essay).
 Due RP: Submit The Research Question (Yes/No), Audience (specific age group and gender), Purpose. Your topic must be PERSUASIVE, i.e., you
are PROVING you are right regarding your topic. Your topic must be approved by me.
Library: Continue background reading for Research Paper (RP). Collect list of 3+ books & 5+ database articles – NOT internet. Access Database on
class page above wk. 1.
 RP: IMPORTANTStudy the “Guidelines for a Persuasive RP” handout. Study the sample RP in ch. 7; it does not have a title page or outline, which
I require. See the sample RP on the class page for examples of these: Title page, Outline, Text, Works Cited – in that order.
 RP: Begin gathering sources for the Works Cited, and start the 40-100+ notes for the Research Paper. Notes are quotations, paraphrases and
summaries with their parenthetical references in MLA format. See examples on the class page.
 Midterm: Read & Study Machiavelli’s “From The Prince” (477). Skim More’s “From Utopia” (463), which will be used as an example for the Midterm
Exam. You may focus on one of the 4 sections of The Prince reproduced in our text.
 Due Journals #3 & + #4
 Chat: Look on the class page for chats. They will occur in various weeks. You are not required to attend, but it is strongly suggested that you come in at
least once during the semester to ask your questions.

RP: Skim Ch. 6 (226), “Developing an Argument of Your Own,”
Continue studying for the Midterm Exam on Machiavelli, & review the Study Guide.
RP Study carefully your TEXT, Ch. 7 on elements of the Research Paper.
June CA1 Revise according to notes from Tutor.
22-28 Due CA1: completed essay due this Sunday
Due RP: 40-100+ Notes with the Works Cited on its own page at the end of the notes. (Insert a Page Break between Notes & WC.)
Due Journals #5 & #6
Mid-term exam Online June 27-30, Sat.-Tues.  Due No Late Journals #1-6 accepted after Midterm


June
29July 5

July
6-12
RP: Set up phone conference with me to go over the RP during Weeks 4 (Last names A-M) & 5 (N-Z). Email partial rough draft, outline, WC page.
This conference is a requirement for the RP. No conference = NO GRADE!
Due RP: Due Preliminary Outline. Show that you are following RPGuidelines by having body sections incorporating the ideas of Background,
Refutation of opposing views, Arguments in favor, and Solutions. Optionally you can include the Introduction and Concusion.
Mid-term exam June 27-30, Sat.-Tues. Do not take the exam after 8 pm on the last day as Eagle may not accept it. // All Journals 1-6 must be in by the Midterm; NO LATE JOURNALS ACCEPTED.
Ongoing RP Conferences by phone. (Required for surnames N-Z.)
 Due RP Completed Rough Draft of RP, 2000+ words of text not counting the Outline or Works Cited. Write in the word count at the end of the rough
draft.
 Due RP: Peer Reviews of RPAlmostFinal. Revise according to comments.
 Due RP: RPAlmostFinal to Tutor and revise according to comments. Send this in ASAP as tutors may take some time with your paper.
 Read Ch. 12, CI/CTRW, A Literary Critic’s View: Arguing about Literature 420.
 CA Poetry. Read, then select one of the poems posted on class page. Work to find significant quotations in the poem around one of its arguments.
ENGL 1302 – Arzola
Page 3

July
13-19

July
20-26

July
27Aug.
2
 CA Poetry Keep reading and analyzing the ideas used in the poem. Work with the dictionary. Email questions to me to help you interpret both words
and concepts found in your selected work.
 Begin creating Rough Draft of the Critical Analysis of Poetry working with one argument found in your selected poem, using Bodynotes to help shape
the paper.
 Due Submit Research Paper by Sunday this week (Title page, Outline, Text, WC in ONE document.  (Use RP Template for Headers)
Due RP due: No paper will be accepted w/o a previous conference with Instructor.
Final Exam: Read “Mending Wall” Robert Frost (426) for Final Exam. You will discuss one argument found in this poem.
Take draft of Analysis of story to Tutor. Get evidence of this visit to turn in with your paper.
Due:  CA Poetry Due By Thursday, this week, analysis of argument in poem.
Review for Final over Frost’s “Mending Wall.”
Due Journals #7-10 before the last day of the final. No late journals accepted.
Final Essay Exam Online July 24-28, Fri.-Tues.
Due Journal #10
All Journals 7-10 must be submitted before taking the final. No late journals accepted..
Final Essay Exam Online July 24-28, Fri.-Tues.
Last day to submit any revised papers: Wednesday this week.
Online class access closes Sunday this week. Grades posted by Monday next week.
______________
The Writing Assignments
 This class is intensive. There is a great deal to be done, and you are doing it in 8 weeks instead of the 16 weeks of the fall and spring semesters. The
only way to handle the amount of work before you is to keep to the strict discipline of doing each week’s work on time. Take the time to do your work
well. Work methodically, carefully. Make an effort to submit excellent work.
 Follow directions: A large part of what I am looking for in your submitted assignments is that you have followed directions. At times you will not want
to do the assignment as assigned. For example, I ask you to write the body of every essay written from here forward before tackling the introduction
and then the conclusion. This may bother you. Do it anyway. You may find that writing in the way I suggest is actually easier than what you have
been doing.
 You are asked to use MLA format. This may be unfamiliar to you because you have never used a writing style before or because you typically use
APA format. If you have used APA, you are in luck because MLA is similar; the differences are there, but once you master them, you can easily
convert the way you have written before. If you are completely unfamiliar with either of these scholarly writing styles, then you must train yourself. Sit
down with chapter 7. Study it carefully working to master what it is saying. Ask me questions via email making sure to write the term listed above in
the subject line. We can set up a time to talk together on the phone. You can also get help from on campus tutors. You can ask classmates for help.
Whatever you do, keep working until you understand what MLA format is about. It is a way of referencing sources within the text of your paper. It is
the way you tell your reader 1. That you have borrowed specific information from a book or a database,etc., and 2. Where, specifically, you found that
information (even giving the page number when the source is printed), so your reader can find it for herself if she wishes to do so.
 All the writing in this class has something to do with persuasion. You are either evaluating someone else’s argument (in the Critical Analysis essays)
or creating your own (in the Research Paper). Chapter 3 in your book is what we are using as the basis for evaluating others’ arguments. We are
looking in their essays for elements mentioned in chapter 3, such as facts, evidence, statistics, etc.
 Most of your assignments will be submitted as attachments. Save these documents with your surname on them: SmithCAFinal; This tells me that
Smith has sent me the final draft of the Critical Analysis essay. Then when you attach them, they will come to me labeled with your surname. This is
important as it keeps all your documents together in my files, and it helps me to find YOUR paper on my computer. If your work is not submitted with
proper labeling, I will return it to you for resubmission. Work to make sure this does not happen.
15% Critical Analysis of the Essay (out-of-class essay)-500-750 words (10% of Final Grade comes from Prewriting and Tutoring Evidence.)
See Week 1 above for the selections for this essay. Criticize it selecting both negative and positive aspects of the target essay for discussion. The
analysis and criticism will then be incorporated into a short essay. The final essay, however, is not the entire grade. One third of the grade comes from
the pre-writing evidence. It is REQUIRED that you fill in and submit the Bodynotes sheet found under the CA icon. In addition you are expected to
submit a rough draft to either an in-person tutor or askonline.net and then revise the rough draft according to comments received before submitting the
final draft to me. This is an unusual type of essay that students are frequently unfamiliar with. In order to prevent many revisions, it is advisable that you
do the background reading in ch. 3. Follow directions carefully.

Submit this Paper to me on EAGLE under its link as an attachment.

Save your paper with your last name followed by the name of the assignment: YourLastNameCATutor, YourLastNameCAFinal.

If you need to submit more than one rough draft, use this form: YourLastNameCARough2, or YourLastNameRough3, etc.

All files should be submitted as either .docx, .doc or .rtf.

Keep in mind that your writing does not simply analyze what this essay is about. It works to show whether and why this essay is convincing to its
readers. You are evaluating the effectiveness of the writer:

Did he or she do a good job of convincing his or her selected audience?

What makes this essay so effective or ineffective? As you write you must work not to insert yourself into your paper.

Avoid saying “I think” or “I believe” or “In my opinion.” We know you wrote the paper, so these are your opinions.

Also do not use “YOU” in any form in any paper written for this class.
10% Midterm Essay Exam (Online)- 500+ words
The essay for the Midterm should be carefully studied ahead of time; it will be analyzed and criticized by you. You will be presented with several
quotations from your selected essay. You will select ONE of those quotations and write a paragraph of Critical Analysis in the time allotted. Information
about the exam is available on the class page. Careful preparation is essential.
30% The Research Paper-@ 1500+ words (14% of Final Grade comes from Prewriting and Tutoring Evidence.)
Conference with Instructor REQUIRED for the Research Paper! No Conference = No Grade.
One third of the available class time will be spent working with this essay. Students will choose a topic, select a series of sources, take notes, create an
ENGL 1302 – Arzola
Page 4
outline, and finally write the paper. This is a Persuasive Paper, which involves a refutation of Opposing Views. Make sure you follow the Guidelines
sheet in creating the paper. Failure to do so will result in a drastically lowered grade.
15% Critical Analysis of Poetry or Fiction (out-of-class essay) -750+ words (10% of Final Grade comes from Prewriting and Tutoring
Evidence.)
We will be analyzing one of the poems or stories posted for you in Eagle. You will read the work you have selected then analyze its arguments. [To
help you in your analysis, only when you are analyzing a story, you will fill in the 7 sheets, a single handout, which takes you through the story asking for
elements of characterization, setting, symbols, etc.] Submit this Paper through Eagle as Your LastNameFictionFinal or
YourLastNamePoetryFinal.
20% Final Exam-Critical Analysis of Fiction (online final essay exam)-750+ words
This essay is written online. Students will write a commentary on – for poetry -- Frost’s “Mending Wall” or – for fiction -- LeGuin’s “The Ones Who Walk
away from Omelas.” Information about the exam is available under its link. This Final Exam essay is written online. You have a 2-hour time limit.
Submit a backup copy of the exam in the link provided under the link for the final -- just in case your exam does not go through. This is important as
the exam does not always save properly. Be sure to submit this IMMEDIATELY after taking the exam. A delay could cause this backup to be
unacceptable to replace the submitted final.
10% 10 Journals (200 words each): Journals should be written consistently during the semester. Submit them under the appropriate Discussion.
Specific topics are listed under Discussions.
Be aware that preliminary assignments form part of the final grade for each paper. Also the journals add up to one letter grade. There is a deadline for
the journals: Journals 1-6 must be completed before the Midterm; journals 7-10 must be written before the Final Exam. Submitting journals outside their
due dates is pointless; you will not receive credit.
The Library Homepage: You have a link to this page at the top of our class page. There is also a link to information on MLA style on
the top of our class page. You will be expected to use the section on MLA Style if you do not have a Handbook for the class.

For the Works Cited use http://bcs.bedfordstmartins.com/resdoc5e/RES5e_ch08_s1-0011.html

For Parenthetical References use http://bcs.bedfordstmartins.com/resdoc5e/RES5e_ch08_s1-0001.html, (Par. Ref. are also called intext citations.)

For Library databases use http://library.hccs.edu/articles/atoz.php

To access the databases you will need the number on the back of your student id card.
ENGL 1302 – Arzola
Page 5
Some Thoughts about Writing
Formal Papers:

All papers in this class (except Journals which are un-graded writing) are considered formal papers; this means that you are not to use
the words you, or I (or any of their variants such as your and my.) in your papers.

“You” can be replaced by a noun such as a person’s name or the words “a person.”

Instead of using “I” the writer might use a different form of the sentence. For example a sentence like, “I think all teenagers are drug
addicts,” could be replaced with a much stronger statement: “All teens are drug addicts.”

When you say, “I think,” you indicate that you are not sure. In persuasive writing you must strive to make it at least appear that you
are sure. Thus, it is best not to say, “I think,” etc.

Learn to strengthen your comments by EXCLUDING mention of yourself.

In addition do not use contractions such as can’t. Use the written out form, cannot, instead.

Use MLA format in all papers.
Becoming an Excellent Writer:
 Be aware that often “sounds right” will not work in your writing. You must learn the rules of grammar and follow them, so that your writing is
at the best level possible.
 If you are unfamiliar with the rules of grammar, with how to write well, my best suggestion is to become a reader and to observe how good
writers write. Also read that expensive grammar handbook you have. Follow the rules of grammar. There are a limited number of
rules. It is quite possible to learn and follow them.
 The sort of English we are asking for in your writing is the kind that will be understood by speakers of English in any part of the world;
consequently, you must use what is called standard English.
 When errors in your writing are pointed out to you, make a strong effort to correct those errors in future. I put a great deal of time into
making comments on student papers. The purpose of these comments is to help you improve your writing, NOT to put you down. If
you disregard those comments of mine when you revise your papers, then you are likely to get a low grade.
 If you keep getting corrected for the same sorts of mistakes, it’s time to learn the rules and change your style.
 Learn the rules of grammar: They are simple and few in number.
 Work to make this class the one in which you learn the rules so that you reduce the number of errors you consistently make.
 Ask lots of questions. Never be afraid you will look stupid. It’s the smart student who asks questions. And . . . she gets the answers! You
cannot get the answer to an unasked question. Right?
Editing your Work:

As you begin to write a paper, allow the ideas to flow. Let the writing happen. Do not try to control it as you work to get your ideas
down on paper. After you have gotten as many ideas as possible, then you can start to select, organize, and shape those ideas into a
good paper.

It is not a good idea to edit your writing from the beginning.

Begin your writing process by focusing only on getting all your ideas on paper. From this series of thoughts, select the best, and then
begin to organize and develop the paper itself.

Work to make these ideas as clear as possible.

Grammar and mechanics should be the LAST thing you worry about as you do your final editing and revisions before turning in your
work.

If you worry too early about grammar, you will find that you get lost in the trees and forget the general direction of the forest you are
walking through.

If you are foreign speaker, it might even be best to write the first drafts of your paper in your native language. Once you get the ideas
down in your own natural language, then go back and correct what you have written.

Careful and detailed editing is the hallmark of good writing.

With time you will get better and better at this so that there is less and less to correct.

But no matter how good you get, it will rarely be possible to put something out which is well written without editing.

The best writers spend as much time editing the final draft as they did creating it.
Creating Papers:

Although previously you may have been taught to start with the 1st par., I would suggest that instead you begin with the Body.

Usually you will begin with the ideas for each body paragraph.

Next you will develop each body paragraph.

After that you will decide on a Topic Sentence for that paragraph which indicates exactly what is discussed in it.
o Think about the Topic for that paragraph and the sequence of the sentences in it.
o Is this the clearest sequence for your reader?
o Work to make the paragraph flow clearly from the first idea to the last in a logical sequence that will be easy to understand.
o Remember your reader will not be able to ask you questions.

Once you have the body pretty much in order, your next step is the Introduction.
o Here you tell your reader what is coming in the paper.
o You will frequently summarize the work you are analyzing.
o You will give your thesis, that is the essence of what you will be saying in the paper.
o The thesis should work well if you were asked for a one-sentence summary of your paper.

Finally you create the conclusion.
o Review what was said in your paper.
o Draw a conclusion from the ideas you have stated.

You have worked to make a case.

Now tell your reader what she should have understood from what you said.
ENGL 1302 – Arzola
Page 6
Here is how your grade is determined:
Assignment
Advanced Forum: Submit Journal #1 here.
Directions for this journal are located here.
Advanced Forum: Submit Journal #2 here.
Advanced Forum: Submit Journal #3 here
Advanced Forum: Journal #4
Advanced Forum: Journal #5
Advanced Forum: Journal #6
Advanced Forum: Journal #7
Advanced Forum: Journal #8
Advanced Forum: Journal #9
Advanced Forum: Journal #10
Category total
Assignment: CA #1 0 Submit Bodynotes for
Building Essay CA1.
Assignment: Submit CA #1 Tutor's Comments on
Bodynotes
Assignment: Due: CA #1 due Sunday this week.
Total
Category Total: Grade/100 for this Category
Quiz: Midterm Exam #2
Advanced Forum: Submit here RP #3 Yes/No
Question, Audience, Persuasive Purpose
Advanced Forum: PEER REVIEWS: Submit here
your Almost-FinalRP//Submit here at least ONE
Peer Review
Assignment: Due: RP #3 Submit Works Cited (In
Summer this is combined with the Notes & WC,
which is then worth 20 points.)
Assignment: Due: RP 40+ Notes & Revised Works
Cited
Assignment: Due: RP Outline 0 Submit here.
Submit as: YourLastNameRPOutline
Assignment: RP Rough Draft 0 Submit Here//
Save As: YourLastNameRPRough
Advanced Forum: Submit here your choice(s) for
your RP Conference.
Assignment: RP #3: Submit here Evidence you
worked with a Tutor
Weight:
Value for
this
Assignment
Points for each part of Assignment
10%
10
10
10
10
10
10
10
10
10
10
100
10
10
5
8
10
10
10
10
10
10
93
0
0
0
0
10
10
10
10
10
10
60
25
25
0
25
100
150
Equals Category Total / 150 X 100
100
25
65
115
77
78
0
65
65
43
75
10
10
0
10
10
0
10
0
0
10
10
0
10
10
0
10
10
10
10
10
10
10
0
0
15%
10%
Example
Student
#1
Example
Student
#2
Assignment: RP #3 Submit Completed RP
100
70
70
Total
180
130
90
Equals Category Total / 180 X 100
72
50
25
25
0
25
100
150
Equals Category Total / 150 X 100
100
Equals (Journals X .1) +
(CA1Category Total X .15) +
(Midterm X .1) + (RP Category
Total X .3) + (CA4 Category Total
X .15) + (Final X .2)
Final Letter Grade
0
85
110
73
78
0
65
65
43
80
77
C
58
F
Category Total: Grade/100 for this Category
Assignment: CA Fiction. Submit The Seven
Sheets here.
Assignment: CA#4: Submit here Evidence you
worked with a Tutor.
Assignment: CA #4 Poetry/Fiction
Total
Category Total: Grade/100 for this Category
Quiz: Final Exam: Open May 205 (Fri.0Mon.)
30%
Course Total
Slash (/) means "Divide by"
(X) means "Multiply by"
15% translates to .15 when calculating a value
100%
15%
20%
ENGL 1302 – Arzola
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ENGL 1302 – Arzola
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