English 1302
Freshman Composition and Rhetoric
Spring 2011-Second Start
TTh 5:00-7:00-Central Fine Arts Center (FAC) 313
INSTRUCTOR:
Robert M. Jeffers
OFFICE:
CONTACT:
robert.jeffers@hccs.edu
TEXT:
Seyler, Dorothy. Read, Reason, Write: An Argument Text and
Reader, 9th edition. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2010.
The New McGraw-Hill Handbook
COURSE DESCRIPTION
A more extensive study of the skills introduced in English 1301 with an emphasis on critical
thinking, research and documentation techniques, and literary and rhetorical analysis.
Prerequisite: English 1301 or satisfactory score on the CLEP Exam. Credit: 3 lecture. This is a
core curriculum course.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
The student will be able to (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, and (5) demonstrate library literacy.
ATTENDANCE
Students must attend class regularly and submit assignments on time to pass this course. HCC
policy establishes that a student may be administratively withdrawn from a course upon missing
more than 12.5% of the scheduled sessions (i.e. more than four class sessions).
WITHDRAWALS
If a student misses more than 6 hours of class, excused or non-excused absences, the student may
be dropped from the course. Three tardies equal one absence. Leaving early is the same as a
tardy. If students stop attending the class, it is their responsibility to formally withdraw.
For all students, if you wish to withdraw, it is recommended that you submit the withdrawal form
in the registration office. However, before you withdraw from any class, please consider the
following carefully:
The State of Texas has begun to impose penalties on students who drop courses excessively.
For example, if you take the same course more than two times, you have to pay extra tuition. In
2007, the Texas Legislature passed a law limiting new students (those starting college in Fall
2007) to no more than six total course withdrawals throughout their academic career in
obtaining a baccalaureate degree. There may be future penalties imposed.
Please ask your instructor or counselor about opportunities for tutoring or other assistance prior to
considering course withdrawal. In consideration of the above law, I will not give “W” as a grade
option unless you have submitted the withdrawal form yourself before the deadline for
withdrawal. I will only give whatever grades are earned (A, B, C, D, or F) by you. Other
instructors may have different rules concerning giving "W" grade. Please read the syllabus for
each of your classes to be informed of the rules.
INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS: Receiving a W in a course may affect the status of your
student Visa. Once a W is given for the course (after you have submitted a withdrawal form
officially), it will not be changed to an F because of the visa consideration. Please contact the
International Student Office at 713-718-8520 if you have any questions about your visa status and
other transfer issues.
CLASSROOM ETIQUETTE
Behave like adults, and you will be treated like adults. Or, if you prefer:
The college classroom is a place for adult men and women to come together with the
common purpose of improving their intellectual and academic skills. All students deserve a
classroom environment that is free of interruptions or distractions that impede learning.
Because active participation in class discussions is essential, it is important that all students
are fully prepared for class each day. Any student who arrives unprepared, sleeps in class,
or is disruptive will be asked to leave class.
ASSIGNMENTS
This is a writing class. To learn baking, you have to bake; to learn carpentry, you have to work
with wood; to learn writing, you have to write. 8 papers will be assigned, as well as two in-class
essay exams. All assignments and their respective due dates will be announced in class.
Requirements for the papers are listed below. All in-class exams must be submitted in a Blue
Book. No exceptions will be allowed.
All Papers written outside of class must:
1. Be Typed
Format for typed papers: double spaced, font no larger than Times New Roman 11, or its
equivalent
If you can’t possibly get your paper typed, let me know.
The research paper MUST be typed. NO EXCEPTIONS. (Exceptions for extraordinary
circumstances may be made. Ask me if you have an insurmountable problem.)
2. Be Stapled
Any out of class paper that is not stapled together when it is turned in will not be accepted.
You are responsible for all pages of the paper being present, in proper order, and attached to
one another.
A stapler will be provided for papers written in class.
3. Include a heading or title page
If a heading, it should be in the upper right hand corner with:
Student’s name
Date
“English 13021”
If a title page, the same information can be simply centered on the page.
All papers requiring citation to sources (please refer to the notes and definitions of
“plagiarism” in this syllabus for further clarification) must conform to MLA style. The rule of
thumb in this class will be: “When in doubt, cite.”
All assignments are to be completed and submitted to the instructor on the scheduled due
date. All papers are due at the beginning of class on the date they are due. No late
assignments will be accepted.
Exams:
There will be one final exam in the classroom. The date for this exam is in the syllabus.
Exams must be taken on or before the scheduled time and date. Students with special needs
or circumstances must contact the instructor BEFORE the scheduled exam in order to make
different arrangements.
Grading Policy:
Final grades are determined by averaging the total of each area listed below.
6 Papers
Research Paper
Final Exam
60%
20%
20%
HCC Grading Scale:
A = 100 – 90
B = 89 – 80
C = 79 – 70
D = 69 – 60
F = 59 and below
Grading Criteria:
A – Student demonstrates superior ability, skill and originality. Possesses
thorough knowledge of material and consistently submits high quality work that is
adapted to audience and the rhetorical context.. Exceptional quality.
· B – Student shows above average ability, but nothing distinguished. Usually goes
beyond what is required. Work is largely free of rhetorical and stylistic errors.
Adheres to instructions. Good work.
· C – Average work which adequately treats assignment. Contains some errors,
i.e., mechanical, stylistic, rhetorical, proofreading. Work adheres to instructions
sometimes.
· D – Below average work, but not failing. Inadequate development of assignment,
poorly focused writing indicating writer’s uncertainty of task. Shows little
originality and skill. Student rarely adheres to specified guidelines. Work
frequently contains errors.
· F – Student consistently turns in unacceptable work which is sloppy, poorly
organized, fails to meet requirements and contains excessive errors in style and
logic. Student never meets deadlines and demonstrates no interest and little effort
in work.
Academic honesty: Students are expected to be familiar with the HCC policy on academic
honesty (as detailed in various HCC publications) and are responsible for conducting themselves
with honor and integrity in fulfilling course requirements. HCC officials may initiate penalties
and/or disciplinary proceedings against any student accused of scholastic dishonesty (which
includes, but is not limited to, cheating on a test, plagiarism, and collusion). Should you have any
questions about proper handling of source material for your writing, consult the MLA guidelines,
your professor and/or a tutor (FAC 321-B). Evidence of plagiarism results in a grade of F.
Support Services:
Services to students with disabilities: Any student with a documented disability (e.g.
physical, learning, psychiatric, vision, hearing, etc.) who needs to arrange for reasonable
accommodations must contact the Disability Services Office at the beginning of each
semester. For more information, please contact the disability counselor on campus (or call
713-718-5165).
Tutoring: Free tutoring is available in FAC 321B. Hours are posted on the door of FAC 321B.
AskOnline: AskOnline is an online tutoring service that you can use. I highly
recommend that you use a
combination of in-person tutoring that is available on various
campuses as well as AskOnline. There is a
link to AskOnline on your Blackboard page, or
you can access it by visiting this link: hccs.askonline.net.
AskOnline tutors can help you
with grammar as well as other aspects of your essay—however, they will
look at only one
draft of the essay.
Learning Resource Center / Library: The library is located on the third floor of the
Learning Hub Science Building. Check for hours.
Computer lab: You are able to use various open computer labs at HCCS campuses.
Computers are available for word processing in SJAC 204, the Macintosh
Interdisciplinary Lab in BSCC 200-201, and the Computer Writing Lab in FAC 302.
Check for open hours. Note that as an HCCS student you may use computer facilities at
any of our colleges. Computer Labs at Central:
http://learning.cc.hccs.edu/Computing/complabs
English office: The English office is located in FAC 319. Hours are 8:00 am to 5:00
p.m., Monday through Thursday; and 8:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. on Friday. The English office
phone number is 713.718.6671.
TENTATIVE LECTURE OUTLINE:
WEEK
NUMBER
1
February
15-17
2
February
22-24
READING ASSIGNMENT
.
Reference Chapters
or text pages
Introductory Lecture
“Locating, Evaluating, and Preparing to Use Sources”
“Writing the Researched Essay”
“Formal Documentation: MLA Style, APA Style”
“Responding Critically to Sources”
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 2
“Understanding the Basics of Argument”
Chapter 3
“Writing Effective Arguments”
Chapter 4
“Learning More About Argument: Induction, Deduction, Analogy,
and Logical Fallacies”
Chapter 5
“Learning More About Argument: Induction, Deduction, Analogy,
and Logical Fallacies”
Chapter 5
“Definition Arguments”
Chapter 7
1st paper
due
3
March 13
2nd
paper due
4
March 810
3rd paper
due
5
6
March
22-24
Spring Break
“Evaluation Arguments”
Chapter 8
“The Position Paper: Claims of Value”
Chapter 9
“Arguments about Cause”
Chapter 10
“Presenting Proposals: The Problem/Solution Argument”
Chapter 11
8
April 5-7
“The American Dream: Reality, Myth, or Goal?”
Chapter 23
9
April 1214
“Censorship and Free Speech Debates”
Chapter 19
“Ethics and the Law: Current and Enduring Debates”
Chapter 20
7
March
29-31
4th paper
due
5th paper
due
10
April 1921
6th paper
due
11
April 2628
“Globalism: How Do We Fit In?”
Chapter 22
“Understanding Literature”
“Sonnet 116,” by William Shakespeare
“To his Coy Mistress,” by Andrew Marvell
“The Passionate Shepherd to his Love,” by Christopher Marlowe
“The Nymph’s Reply to the Shepherd,” by Sir Walter Raleigh
Appendix
Research
Paper Due
12
May 3-5
“The Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas,” by Ursula K. LeGuin
May 10
Final Exam-5:30 p.m.