UH Cinco Ranch
ENGLISH 1301 SYLLABUS
Fall 2015
CRN: 033-73530
Days & Time: T/Th 8 to 11 a.m.
Room: Cinco Ranch, Room 125
Instructor: Jane Nguyen
Email: alagjane@gmail.com
Office Hours: By appointment
COURSE OVERVIEW: English 1301 is a course devoted to improving a student’s writing and
critical reading. We will cover principles and techniques of narrative, expository, critical,
analysis/synthesis, and persuasive composition, as well as analysis of literary, expository, and
persuasive texts.
COURSE OBJECTIVES: By the time students have completed English 1301, they will be able to:
1. Demonstrate knowledge of writing as process (invention, organization, drafting, revision,
editing, and presentation)
2. Apply critical thinking in analyzing reading selections.
3. Understand principles, conventions, and techniques of (and subsequently, write) narrative
essays, expository essays, analytical essays, and argumentative essays.
4. Analyze elements such as purpose, audience, tone, style, and strategy in essays and/or
literature by professional writers.
5. Write essays in appropriate academic writing style using varied rhetorical strategies.
6. Synthesize concepts from and use references to assigned readings in their own academic
writing.
7. Participate effectively in groups with emphasis on listening, critical and reflective thinking,
and responding.
TEXTBOOKS:
The Norton Reader, 13th Edition, Peterson, Brereton, Bizup, Fernald, Goldthwaite
The MacGraw-Hill Handbook, 2nd Edition, Elaine P. Maimon, Janice H. Peritz, Kathleen Blake
Yancey
Comp I Study Guide (Blue book)
ESSAYS/PAPERS:
For each paper, there is a rough draft and a final draft. The rough draft will be due (printed out
hard copy) the day you are scheduled for a conference with the instructor. Please follow the
guidelines provided to you on a separate handout. Failure to do so will result in not getting full
credit for the conference day and the rough draft.
Final drafts AND rough drafts must be typed and double-spaced. They will not be graded or
assessed, otherwise. Final Drafts must be turned in on time via turnitin.com. You do not need to
turn in a hard copy during class. Information for turnitin.com will be given in class.
LATE PAPERS POLICY: If you do not turn the final paper in on time, you may turn it in to the
late folder, but it is 10 points off for the first day (1 minute to 24 hours) late, 10 more points off for
an additional day late (between 25 and 48 hours late). Beyond 48 hours, I do not accept late final
drafts. You will get a 0 at that point, but you must still turn the paper in (eventually, before the
semester is over) to be eligible to pass the course.
If you anticipate an extenuating circumstance, please discuss it with me. I realize that you have a
life outside this classroom and that things do happen. At my discretion, I will grant extensions if
you make arrangements with me no later than two days before the assignment is due. Remember,
though, that computer glitches, long lines at printer, the writing/printing lab not being open, running
out of toner, getting home from work late, not having your flash drive, and/or other technological
disasters are NOT valid excuses for late work. Plan ahead and prepare.
Note: Please DO NOT EMAIL MAJOR PAPERS OR ANY OTHER ASSIGNMENT TO ME
UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES. If you do, it will be ignored.
You must submit all major assignments in order to pass the course. This means that if you do three
out of four major papers and have a “A,” “B,” “C,” or “D,” average based on the three, you still
cannot pass the course because you did not complete all the assignments. The major assignments
include: Summary & Strong Response (3-4 double spaced pages), Literary Analysis Paper (3-4
pages double-spaced), T.V. Show Analysis Paper (3 to 4 pages double spaced), Analysis &
Synthesis (5 to 6 pages double-spaced) and a Final In-Class Essay.
I strongly encourage you to keep copies of your papers in your computer throughout the entire
semester and even for a week or two after. Don’t get rid of them just because you think they are
finished. Having them on hand even after they are turned in is important in case there is any
discrepancy of records, confusion of turn-in, etc.
MY PET PEEVE: Although there will not be a lot of work turned in hard copy, on the occasions
(such as homework assignments) that there is, you must staple your work if it is more than one
page. ANY assignment completed outside of class that is loose pages, merely “folded” at the
corner, paper-clipped, or otherwise not properly secured with a staple, will get half credit. I will not
necessarily say anything to you about it because there will be too much hustle and bustle at the time
of turn-in of assignments, but you should take it as a given that your work will get only ½ credit
because it was unstapled.
REVISIONS POLICY: I allow students one re-write of each paper (except the last one).
However, I only allow this if the paper was turned in on time (on the original due date) in the first
place and if it met the page-length/word count requirement in the first place. You should also plan
to have another conference with the instructor before you re-write/revise. There will either be a
revisions folder on turnitin.com or I will tell you to simply provide me with a hard copy.
You must make more than cursory changes to receive credit for a revision. I expect you to make
use of my advice during the conference and make changes based on that advice. Superficial
revision such as fixing spelling or grammar errors will not guarantee you a higher grade.
Furthermore, simply fixing the marks I make on the paper is not enough to constitute a revision think beyond my marks and make changes of your own devising. Substantial changes mean (for
example) an improved thesis statement, better development of ideas, more specificity of
examples/ideas, better organization, more coherent sentences and connection of ideas, etc. If the
paper does not strike me as improved in a substantial, dramatic way, you will not receive a higher
grade. If you do receive a higher grade, though, that higher grade will be your new grade on the
assignment (I do not “average” it with the old grade).
IN-CLASS WORK / GROUP WORK – Often, I will ask you to do written work in class, either
individually or in groups. Sometimes this will be my giving you a writing prompt and asking you to
write for 8 to 10 minutes on that prompt. You are expected to write the whole time. I do not expect
you to write fast, just non-stop. I do not want to see students with their pens down, staring into
space. (It is okay if you pause briefly to think, but for the most part, you should be writing.) Other
times, I will give you and your group mates questions to mull over and discuss with each other, and
then you will write down what you come up with. There may also be other varieties of in-class
individual or group work. You are expected to put effort into these exercises and tasks, as they are
part of your final grade.
HOMEWORK: We will have readings each week. A reading schedule (hopefully 3 to 4 weeks at
a time) will be given to you with due dates as to when texts should be read. I will assign homework
related to those reading as we go. Often, that homework will simply be asking you to consider a
particular aspect or several aspects of the reading and think and write critically about it/them. I will
almost always put a word-count minimum on a given homework writing assignment, and it’s
important that you meet that minimum or else you will get only half credit or, if done very poorly or
hardly anything was written, no credit. You must do ALL of the reading, as many of the readings
relate to your major papers.
Homework writing assignments should be turned in hard copy in class. They must be typed
(usually double-spaced but not always.) Since homework assignments will always be posted on my
English class blog, and you will have access even if you were absent the day it was assigned, I don’t
accept late work. NO EXCEPTIONS.
It is very important that you do the reading in this course, as class will be conducted, by and large,
as a reading and writing workshop. This means that class time will be used to introduce and discuss
concepts, to collaborate with your peers, to evaluate readings, and to practice the skills you are
learning.
You must also have materials each day (book and/or whatever readings I assign [you should print
out any PDFs or documents that I have assigned for you to read]. It is okay, as an alternative, to
have the reading on a tablet, an iPad, or a laptop in which the screen is at least 7 inches. Note,
though, that I do not count having the reading on your smart phone (a 3 to 5 inch screen) as having
the reading. It is also not permissible to count a classmate’s book or a classmate’s printout (or their
electronic copy) of the reading as yours. If you do not have your reading materials with you three
or more times, you will no longer be eligible for extra credit. Also, your professionalism grade will
be affected.
EXTRA CREDIT ASSIGNMENTS: I will likely give two extra credit assignments during this
course (worth 15 points total) that will applied to a major paper grade, but the points will only be
applied for students who, at the end of the semester, have two or fewer absences in the course. In
other words, if you do both extra credit assignments and the semester is not over yet, I will hold
onto the points until it’s determined, on the very last day of class, that you were only absent twice in
the class. Also, anyone who is marked as having not brought their book or reading(s) to class more
than three times, likewise, will not be allowed to do extra credit, and if they have already done so,
the points will not be applied. There will be no more extra credit offered other than the two
assignments (worth 15 points total) that I just mentioned, so please do not come to me begging for
additional.
PARTICIPATION EXPECTATIONS: Your active participation in class discussions, cooperative
learning opportunities, and group projects is essential. College course work requires focused study
and open exchange of ideas and I expect the classroom to be a place of courteous interaction.
PROFESSIONALISM: Professionalism is factored in – subjectively – with your In-Class/Group
Work grade. It is expected that you are professional in the course, and there is a penalty if you are
not. Professionalism is my subjective assessment of your attitude, effort, behavior, responsibility,
participation, etc. in the class. When I make this judgment, I consider (and deduct for, accordingly)
things such as sleeping in class, not working/writing when I ask the class to do a task, staring into
space or down at desk (for prolonged periods of time), putting head down on desk, making rude
comments to me or to fellow students, eye-rolling, heavy sighing when asked to do tasks or
participate, tinkering with electronic devices, incessant texting, not paying attention, being
frequently tardy by anywhere from 5 to 20 minutes, frequently leaving early, going to the bathroom
or out of the room too frequently, doing work for other classes during this course’s class time, doing
work for this class (that should have already been completed or is meant for a later time) during
class time, packing up to leave before the instructor dismisses class, etc.
ATTENDANCE/TARDIES/LEAVING EARLY – See Absence Policy page on syllabus.
Should you anticipate an absence, you may or may not notify me in advance (you certainly do not
have to); however, in-class work that is missed because of an absence cannot be made up or
completed in advance. If you miss a class, it is your responsibility to obtain lecture notes and/or
assignments from another student. Please do not come to me or email me with the expectation that I
will “re-teach” or write a lengthy email about what was covered on the day you were absent.
If you find it necessary to withdraw from the course, it is your responsibility to process an official
withdrawal form in the Registrar’s office. I will not do the work to administratively drop a student
for any reason, including excessive absences. If I tell you that you are dropped from the class, that
means you have some work to do (with administration) to make sure you get a W instead of an F, if
it is not too late for that to happen.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS and FINAL GRADE WEIGHT:
In-Class Group/Individual Work/
4%
Professionalism
Homework
10%
Connect Composition
10%
Summary & Strong Response
20%
Literary Analysis
15%
T.V. Show Analysis
15%
Analysis & Synthesis Paper
20%
In-Class Final Essay
GRADING SCALE: 90-100 A
80-89 B
6%
70-79 C
60-69 D
Below 60 F
TEXTING/CELL PHONE POLICY: You should have your phone turned off completely or set
to vibrate mode while in class (I allow ‘vibrate’ mode because of emergency situations). However,
the phone should be out of plain view. It should be in your purse, pocket, or backpack, etc. It
should NOT be anywhere on your desk or in your hands. As such, you are not permitted to text in
class OR tinker with your phone FOR ANY REASON. If I see you tinkering with your phone in
any way (no matter what you are doing), I will ask you to stop. If you continue to do it (i.e., second
offense, same day or on another day), you will be asked to leave class for that day and you will be
considered absent (it doesn’t matter if we are three minutes into class or an hour into class, you will
still be asked to leave and you will still be considered absent.) If you tinker with your phone in any
way for any reason a third time (again, same day or on a different day), you will be dropped from
the class. Lastly, please do not think of group-work time as an okay time to text or tinker with your
phone. That time is just as important as any, and the consequences for texting/phone tinkering then
still apply. ***Likewise, no iPods in class***
LAP TOPS POLICY: Most of the time, I am okay with students using laptops in class. If I
observe you surfing the Internet, however, I reserve the right to 1) give you a warning to stop, and
2) upon second time I see you surfing, ask you to leave class for the day and be considered absent. I
also reserve the right to ask that, on certain days, no students use laptops at all.
WHEN YOU ARE ABSENT: If you miss class for any reason, please do not email me to ask
about the material we covered. Instead, you must contact one of your classmates and ask him or her
to fill you in. Below, I’ve provided a space for you to get the names and contact information of
three of your classmates.
Name:____________________________________Phone/Email:____________________________
Name:____________________________________Phone/Email:___________________________
Name:____________________________________Phone/Email:___________________________
EMAIL COMMUNICATION: Please note that I communicate pretty frequently with my
students via email. If you are not a person who checks your email regularly, I have to ask that you
become a person who checks it at least every other day (though every day is much better). This is
not to have “discussions” over email. I use it as a way to send readings or give reminders about
readings/due dates, etc. Although I will occasionally remind you about things over email, it is at
my discretion. This in no way means that I am a reminder service. If something is due (as per the
syllabus or a class announcement), it is due, whether I happened to remind you via email about it or
not.
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.
ADA:
Any student with a documented disability (e.g. physical, learning, psychiatric, vision, hearing, etc.)
who needs
to arrange reasonable accommodations must contact the Disability Services Office at the respective
college at the beginning of each semester. Faculty is authorized to provide only the
accommodations requested by the
Disability Support Services Office.
Please visit the ADA Website – www.hccs.edu , then click on Future Students, scroll down the page
and click on Disability Information:
Central ADA Counselors – 713.718.6164
Northeast ADA Counselor - 713.718.8420
Northwest ADA Counselor –713.718.5422
Southeast ADA Counselor–713.718.7218
Southwest ADA Counselor – 713.718.7910
Coleman ADA Counselor – 713.718.7631
Absence/Tardy Policy
Instructor: Ms. Nguyen
Fall 2015 – English 1301
You are allowed to be absent two times with no penalty. If you are absent a third time, there is a
grade penalty (see below). If you are absent a fourth time, you will receive an F or W in the
course. If your 4th absence occurs before the drop date and you take steps to administratively drop
the course, you can receive a W. If the drop date has passed, however, OR if you do not do the
work to have yourself administratively dropped, you will receive an F. See details below. Note: all
of the penalties for lateness described below apply as well if you “leave early” the amount of time
noted.
Being sick (to any degree), or going to a doctor and having a doctor’s note does NOT excuse any
absence. You are still counted absent and it still counts against you. The only excused absences are
those for religious holidays (and I require that you notify me in advance; you cannot wait til after
the fact and say “I was absent for a religious holiday.” Even if it was for a religious holiday, your
telling me after the fact means it is no longer an excused absence), OR official school-sponsored
activities.
 Please note that if you are more than 20 minutes late for class, you are considered absent for
the day. You are still allowed to come into class to get the day’s lecture/lesson, but you
must enter as quietly as possible and walk through the back of the room to get to your desk.
Your reason for being that late does not matter; you will be considered absent for the day
even if you had a very good reason.
 Also note that you are considered tardy if you are between 8 and 20 minutes late for class.
If you accumulate three tardies, that counts as one full absence. Again, your reason for
being tardy does not matter. If you are late by 8 to 20 minutes, it is a tardy.
 Note that I never take roll within the first twenty minutes of class. It is always 20 or more
minutes into class. In the past, I have had students come to me and insist “I was here” or “I
came in late” on a day for which I have them marked absent. I will not argue with you about
it. If I have you marked as absent, it is because you were not present and did not say “here”
at the time I took roll, which is well after the point you would have been considered absent
anyway.
 While I do track your absences and tardies on my attendance sheet, I do not periodically
update you as to how many absences and tardies you have. It is your job to keep track of
how often you’ve been absent or late. That being said, you’re welcome to come ask me
about your absences and tardies if you think you may be in a “danger” zone, but again, you
should not expect me to voluntarily provide you with updates. I keep records in order to
implement drops and penalties, not as a way to provide you with warnings.
 If you are absent three times, you cannot receive higher than a C in the course. This is nonnegotiable. It does not matter if you have turned in all your work and are receiving As and
Bs. It does not matter if you participate in class a lot and are very friendly. It does not
matter if your financial aid or international student status will be affected. A third absence
means you cannot get higher than a C.
 If you hit three absences and are still in the class with ‘C’ status as described above, you
must be in class every day on time (meaning, not tardy) thereafter in order to stay at that
status. Being tardy even just once will mean you will receive an F in the course.
 If you are absent a fourth time, you are dropped from the course and/or you will receive an
F as a final course grade.
 INSTRUCTOR “late” policy: If I am anywhere between one and twenty minutes late for the
class, it is expected that you wait in the room for me to get there. You would be considered
absent if you left before the twenty minutes. If I am over 20 minutes late (even by just a
minute), you are allowed to leave and there is no penalty for doing so (you would not be
counted absent for the day even if I arrive and conduct class). That said, you do not have to
leave, and it is a good idea to stay if you want to have the day's instruction.
Tentative Calendar – Fall 2015 – English 1301: Composition I
Summary & Strong Response
8/25
8/27
9/1
9/3
Literary Analysis Paper
9/8
9/10
9/15
9/17
T.V. Show Analysis Paper
9/22
9/24
9/29
10/1
Analysis & Synthesis Paper
10/6
10/8 –
10/13
10/15 – Final In-Class Essay