Instructor contact information
Instructor:
Dr. Ann V. Nunes
Office Hours:
By appointment only
E-mail:
ann.nunes@hccs.edu
Welcome to
Course Title:
Course Prefix:
Course Number:
Credit Hours:
Lecture Hours:
Lab Hours:
Total Contact Hours:
(All hrs. x 16)
Composition and
Rhetoric I
ENGL 1301
66842
3
1½
1½
48
CEU’s (if linked w/ credit course):
Semester and Year:
Spring 2011
Class Days & Times:
TTh 10am – 11:30 pm
Class Room Location:
Class Room Location:
Willie Lee Gay Hall 113
Willie Lee Gay Hall 117
5
NOTE: divide the credit contact hours by
10 to get the Continuing Education Units.
Course overview
Catalog Description:
A multi-paragraph composition course, including language study and the mechanics of writing, with examples
from selected readings. Students may be required to achieve a departmentally approved score on a proficiency
test before credit for the course may be awarded.
Course Learning Outcomes:
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Analyze a text according to purpose, audience, and other rhetorical concerns.
Respond logically, rather than react emotionally, to texts that reflect the writers’
diverse backgrounds and values.
Demonstrate an ability to use and analyze an effective individual writing process.
Focus a topic appropriate to the audience, purpose, voice, and length of assignment.
Formulate clear and concise thesis statement, main point, focus, or claim.
Develop, evaluate, and use evidence to support a point or claim.
Use effective organization strategies in support of a thesis, focus, main point, or claim.
Write an essay that demonstrates a command of unity, coherence, continuity, and
development.
Write clear, correct, and appropriate sentences and paragraphs, avoiding major
sentence errors and other grammatical and semantic problems or awkwardness.
Incorporate appropriate oral and/or written media such as books, articles, interviews,
visuals, and/or government documents.
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Avoid plagiarism when incorporating quotations, paraphrases, and ideas.
Follow every quotation, paraphrase, or idea which you incorporate with an explanation
as to how it supports your point or claim. End each paragraph with your own thought.
Be ready to explain your claim aloud to the class in two sentences or less, or in five
minutes, as required.
Follow standard guidelines in documenting resources.
In our efforts to prepare students for a changing world, students are expected to utilize computer
technology while enrolled in classes, certificate, and/or degree programs within HCCS. The specific
requirements are listed below:
Microsoft Office document submission and web searches using our library database.
Getting ready
Prerequisites:
ENGL 0305 and ENGL 0307 or ENGL 0356 or Placement by testing
Co-requisites:
None
Required Material:
The Norton Reader, 12th Edition, Peterson and Brereton
The McGraw Hill Handbook, Second ed., Maimon/Perutz/Yancey
Optional Materials
or Reference Texts:
Non-text supplies:
1 college dictionary (American Heritage/Webster’s Collegiate: recommended)
1 thesaurus (optional)
1 black folder with brads; 1 red folder with brads; 1 green folder with brads and
pockets; 2 green folders with pockets only
1 portable drive or wand for saving your work
Pencils, pens, paper, and a good eraser
Instructor guidelines and policies
Attendance: I do not differentiate between excused and unexcused absences. For this course, you
have one (01) absence to use at your discretion. Each subsequent absence will cause one (01) point
to be deducted from your grade average for the course.
For the purposes of this course, you are considered “absent” when you are out of the room for a major
portion of the class session. If you arrive late or leave early, that counts as missing one third of a
class; three such misses count as an absence. I take roll at the beginning. If you arrive after roll is
taken, be sure to check in at the end so as to avoid being counted absent. If you miss a class
session, you are sure to miss either an individual or group activity, such as a quiz, an in-class
essay, a recitation, or a discussion; in that case, you receive neither attendance nor in-class
activity credit for the session.
As adults, students attend every class and accept responsibility for all the material presented in
every class whether present or whether some unavoidable emergency has made it impossible to
attend that day. Students will avoid contacting the instructor to ask what occurred in the previous
class. To facilitate keeping up in the unlikely event of an emergency absence, each student will, on
the first day of class, gather email and telephone information from ten fellow-students and will contact
them to determine what transpired during an absence.
If you must miss class because of 1) jury duty or other government obligation, 2) religious holidays, or
3) University sanctioned or approved activities and if you have given me written notice, one week in
advance, of the reason for the absence(s) and why your activity can not be rescheduled—and
provided documentation of such—I’ll gladly do whatever is reasonable to help minimize the effect of
the absence on your course grade. If you will miss class for religious reasons, you must notify me, in
writing, during the first week of class to arrange to submit any missed course work.
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Drop Day: April 13. If you stop attending and neglect to drop the course, the system
refuses to accept a grade of “W” and I am forced to assign an “F” for the course.
Assignments:
Daily Work – Daily work counts as a significant portion of your final average. I will endeavor to grade
and return each assignment to you within two weeks if it is submitted on time. [ Late work is set aside
and graded later.] The daily work consists of responses, quizzes, peer reviews and participation.
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Responses – You will write five responses to some of the readings in class. These will
typically be a page in length. Avoid summarizing; instead, put some thought into responding
analytically.
Peer Reviews –You must be present to participate in the peer review sessions. There is no
make – up for this grade.
Participation – You must be actively involved in class. Active involvement includes
participating in class discussions, refraining from disrupting other students, and submitting
assignments on time for peer review sessions and for individual oral presentations.
Quizzes – There will be two or more quizzes during the semester to check for understanding.
They may or may not be listed in the syllabus. Your attendance and participation in class will
help you prepare for these quizzes. If you need help in understanding the class presentation,
ask for further explanation and see a tutor.
Major Written Assignments – This class requires you to produce a set of ten weekly journals (due in
April), one out-of-class essay, two in-class essays, and one short research paper. These will be
handed in with a folder and also by computer to Turnitin. I will provide details for each assignment.
The weight of the major assignments will be determined during the semester, but each will comprise
fifteen percent or less of your semester average. [There will also be minor written assignments.]
Print all drafts of all papers in a 12 point serif font (Times New Roman, Batang, Book Antiqua,
Bookman Old Style, or Courier New), double-spaced, with one inch margins all around, and page
numbers. Avoid sans serif fonts (Ariel, Calibri, Tahoma). Follow MLA format & documentation for all
assignments. All papers must be submitted to Turnitin via computer, by one week before the
specified Turnitin date or they will be considered late. Papers must be in Turnitin by 11:59pm of the
Turnitin date (ie, no more than two weeks late) in order to be accepted. Besides Turnitin, you must
submit paper copies to me in a folder with brads or pockets or, for the research paper, both. I will
ignore copies emailed to me. To get a grade other than F, hand me the paper in a folder.
Your papers should be clear, such as to be nearly/completely problem-free. Avoid Major Sentence
Errors (fragments, run-ons, and comma splices) and other major errors, such as awkward/
ungrammatical work. If I see a problem pattern in your work, I will schedule an appointment to
discuss strategies to deal with such errors. You are expected to pay attention to your errors, to avoid
them, and to correct them in subsequent assignments and drafts. Please keep backup copies of all
your papers. Do not give me your only copy; if I should lost your paper, it is your responsibility to give
me another.
All papers must also be submitted to Turnitin via computer, by two weeks before the specified
Turnitin date or they will be considered late. Papers must be in Turnitin by 11:59 pm of the Turnitin
date (ie, no more than two weeks late) in order to be accepted.
Every assignment has a number of minimum requirements; each must be fulfilled for the assignment
to be even considered for a grade; otherwise it will receive a grade of F. These are non-negotiable; if,
for example, I require two and a half pages minimum, anything less will earn an F; if I ask for five
outside sources minimum, a paper which includes only four will earn an F.
Final Exam – The final exam must be taken at the time indicated in the instructional outline.
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POLICY ON ACADEMIC DISHONESTY
SCHOLASTIC DISHONESTY: According to the Student Handbook for the Houston Community
College System, "scholastic dishonesty" includes, but is not limited to, cheating on a test, plagiarism,
and collusion.
Cheating on a test includes any of the following:
 Copying from another student's test paper; using during a test, materials not authorized by the
person giving the test
 Collaborating with another student during a test without authority
 Knowingly using, buying, selling, stealing, transporting, or soliciting in whole or part the contents
of an unadministered test
 Bribing another person to obtain a test that is to be administered.
Plagiarism means the appropriation of another's work and the unacknowledged incorporation of that
work in one's own written work offered for credit. (See below.)
Collusion means the unauthorized collaboration with another person in preparing written work
offered for credit.
Note the possible consequences of such dishonesty, 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”.
Plagiarism: Plagiarism is the act of copying someone else’s writing and/or ideas and submitting
them as your own. To cut and paste work from the internet into your paper without using quotation
marks and citation constitutes cheating. To copy or rephrase from any source, without citation,
constitutes cheating, whether of a line, a paragraph, a page, or an entire essay. See note on
“Academic Integrity” toward the end of the syllabus for further definitions. If I find, or Turnitin shows,
an act of plagiarism, the offending paper/assignment will receive a grade of “0” and the college will
receive notification of the offense. A second act of plagiarism will result in failure of the course and
notification of the college. Students must avoid plagiarism in all written work for the course.
Turnitin: Sudents will be instructed to submit their work to Turnitin as well as a printed paper version.
Late or Missing Work: I will deduct ten points from the grade you earn for each class period an
assignment is late. No work will be accepted after two weeks from the due date.
Make-up Exams: There will be two exams in this course, including the final exam. You must
be present and take your final exams on the dates listed.
Classroom etiquette: While I make every effort to create a student-centered environment, when
someone has the floor during lecture or class discussion, the rest of the class must pay attention to
that person, whether instructor or classmate. If I have to call attention to anyone more than once for
talking out of turn, I will bar them from returning to class until they’ve met with me outside class to
determine a solution to the problem. It is the student’s responsibility to catch me before the next class
period. A student who is ejected from class is counted absent, that day and each day missed
thereafter until we resolve the issue. Anyone ejected a second time must drop the course him/herself
to avoid an F. A note on work for other classes: Do only English work in English class. If you lack
enough English work to keep you busy in the class, I can easily supply extra assignments for you.
Cell phones and beepers: Please turn off cell phones and pagers before entering the classroom, as
the various ring styles generally annoy, and even when on “vibrate” or text message settings these
distract all of us. Same rule of ejection applies as above.
Computers, PDAs: No chat, email, games, etc. while class is in session. Same rules of ejection.
Department/Division Contact:
By appointment only
Page 4 of 12
GRADE DETERMINATION:
Your grade will be
determined by the following
Daily Work
Details
Responses, participation, homework, peer
review
Personal Narrative
Essay One
Percent of
Final
Average
10 or less
10 or less
Oral Presentations
I, II, III, IV, V, VI
Essay Two
Memorization
10 or less
Analysis of Essay
10 or less
First Quiz
Grammar, Research Methods; Reading
10 or less
MidTerm Exam: In-class essay
Argument and analysis
10 or less
Ten Journals in a Folder
One full page/week—points off for length
10 or less
Research Paper
Research/Argument--six pages
10 or less
Final Oral Presentation
Tell what you learned in your research
(Two minutes maximum; points off for
nervous gestures, either physical or oral)
Mid-May
10 or less
Final Quiz
10 or less
10 or less
Final Exam: In-class essay
Total:
100%
LETTER GRADE ASSIGNMENT:
Letter Grade
A
Final Average in Percent
100-90
B
89-80
C
79-70
D
69-60
F
59 - 0
Houston Community College is committed to your success
Early Intervention Program and Services
Your success is our primary concern! If you are experiencing challenges achieving your academic
goals, please contact your instructor or an early intervention coach. We can provide assistance with
academic needs, ADA accommodations, classroom difficulties, financial concerns and other issues.
Tutoring
Houston Community College is committed to student success. To facilitate this, free tutoring for English courses
is offered on the 3rd floor of the main campus Fine Arts Bldg.
Library
The computers in the lab and in the library provide a quiet work and study area available to all students.
Students access data bases with the numeral on their student ID card. The hours for computer use are listed on
the doors of those areas. Basic software assistance, access to Mac and PC computers loaded with all
courseware, printing, copying, and scanning are all available.
Counseling services are available to students who are experiencing difficulty with academic issues, selection of
college major, career planning, disability accommodations, or personal issues. Students are urged to contact
Counseling, Career and Disability Services. If you can, visit the main campus on Austin, Fine Arts Building, third
floor, which maintains a tutoring service several days every week when classes are in session.
Page 5 of 12
Library
The Houston Community College Library is located at the front of the building and contains information
resources for students. The librarians can assist with research. The Library contains, online information
databases, computers, free wireless internet and many more information/research related amenities to ensure
student success.
Anything in this syllabus, including assignment and exam weightings, is subject to alteration by the professor
at any time.
Tentative Instructional Outline:
HB – Handbook
NR – Norton Reader
Assignments in bold must be read before class.
Week
Numb
er
1
Assignment Due
on that Date
Objectives
and Details
Intro to Course, distribution of syllabus,
diagnostic writing. Essay One assigned–Personal Narrative on being (or witnessing
someone being) subjected to oppressive
prejudice. Due Feb 14.
NR pg 876 “Declaration of Independence”;
Memorize from “We hold” to “”Happiness”.
NR pg 879 “Declaration of Sentiments &
Resolutions”
Go over syllabus together.
Students discuss prejudice.
JAN 25
HB pp 34-37 Brainstorming and Freewriting
Exercises 3.1, 3.2; HB pg 22 Clustering
HB pg 46-50 Creating an outline; Ex. 3.5, 3.6
Students discuss how to develop and organize a
paper, using techniques in HB
Students will recite memorized paragraph..
JAN 27
HB pg 306-314 Plagiarism.
NR pg 886 “The Tyranny of the Majority”
Students discuss Plagiarism. Discuss tyranny of the
majority. Last chance to recite memorized paragraph.
NR pg 891 “Democracy”; NR pg 907 “I Have
a Dream”: Memorize from “I say to you today”
to “content of their character”
Students discuss democracy avoiding tyranny of
majority, value of contributions of various cultures,
fact of prejudice, oppression.
Students recite 1st section of “Dream”.
Warning of impending quiz.
Discussion of major sentence errors.
FEB 8
Quiz on Major Sentence Errors (MSE)
Peer editing exercise--bring first draft of
narrative to class. Correct MSE in drafts..
Quiz; confirm ability to find & correct major sentence
errors. Students peer edit their personal narratives.
Last chance to recite 1st section of “Dream” speech
FEB 10
Learn from 1st “I have” through “together”.
NR pg 892 “Letter from Birmingham Jail”.
HB 184-188 Support, Claims, Warrants,
reasoning; ethos, pathos, logos
Students tell how MLK’s “Letter” supports his claims
and warrants, uses ethos, pathos, logos. Students
discuss how to organize a paper, using techniques in
HB. Students recite 2nd section of “Dream” speech.
JAN 18
JAN 20
Students discuss meaning of “equal” and of
“happiness” and will compare the two Declarations.
Students examine books, discuss how to read them.
Students will recite memorized paragraph, with one
point off for each error.
2
3
FEB 1
FEB 3
4
Page 6 of 12
Week
Numb
er
5
Assignment Due
on that Date
Objectives
and Details
FEB 15
Personal Narrative Due. Second essay
assigned: analysis of “Letter”. Due Feb 28.
Students discuss “Letter”; recite 2nd part of “Dream”.
FEB 17
HB pg 42-45 Writing a thesis statement
HB pg 188-191; 193-194; Avoiding fallacies
HB 195-200 Developing Strong Argument
HB 201-209 Annotated Arguments
Students identify fallacies; discuss examples of good
argument in “Jail”. Identify & write thesis statements
from “Letter”..Recite 2nd part of “Dream”.
(Handout) Sojourner Truth “Ain’t I a Woman?”
HB pg 512-518 “Sentence Fragments,”; Ex.
32.2, Ex. 32.5. HB pg 524-535 “Comma
Splices, and Run-ons”; Ex. 33.4
Students discuss Truth’s speech; write paragraph to
explain it. Discuss Fragments, comma splices, &
Run-ons and how to avoid or correct them. Recite 1st
section of “Dream”. Quiz Thursday on MSE
6
FEB 22
FEB 24
HB pg 524-535 “Comma Splices, and Runons”; Ex. 33.4
Quiz on Major Sentence Errors (MSE)
Briefly Review fragments, comma splices and runons.
Quiz on MSE.
7
MAR 1
MAR 3
Bring essay on “Letter” for Peer Review
HB pg 250-280 Finding Information; Ex. 15.2
“The Lottery”: Research Paper on critical
reviews of the story. Due April 12
Peer Review of paper on “Letter”. Discuss elements
of a research paper: Notes; Outline; Sources; Works
Cited Page w. five or more sources; formatting of
citations. Last chance to recite 2d section of “Dream”
HB pg 289-298 Evaluating Sources; pg 273
Documenting Research Paper; pg 288-331
MLA Documentation. Memorize “Dream”
from “This is our hope” thru “let freedom ring”
Rm 117 Librarian shows use of books, online data
bases, finding reviews of “The Lottery” by critics, incl.
Peter Kosenko, how to photocopy & download
articles. Find & print out essay on Islam.
Turn in essay on “Letter”.
HB pg 334-345 Sample MLA paper to
illustrate formatting your paper
Review of, and Quiz on, MLA format & accessing
data bases. Practice proper MLA Documentation
techniques. Recite third section of “Dream”.
HB pg 217 “Writing an analysis of
literature”. Turn in Tentative Works Cited
page, listing critical articles on “Lottery”
Instructions on how students are expected to analyze
and organize the critical responses to “The Lottery”
HB pg 56 Levels of Language; 61-63 Civil
Language; 65-71 Sentences Phrases
Clauses; 74 Subordinating Conjunctions &
Pronouns; NR pg 666 “The Clan of the
One-Breasted Women”
Quiz on Subordinating conjunctions, subordinate
clauses, and fragments. Students discuss who the
“oppressor” is of the “one breasted women”
Students recite third section of “Dream”.
Handout: The “Pollution” song (Sing, if time)
Analysis of “Letter” due. HB pg 74 Subordinating Conjunctions & Pronouns; 79-84:
10b Reducing Wordiness. NR pg 663“Tune
of the Tuna Fish”. Memorize “Dream”: “And if
America” to “free at last!” (next page)
Analysis of “Letter from Birmingham Jail” due
Students discuss strong sentences versus wordy
sentences. Students discuss who the “oppressor” is
of the people who want to eat tuna fish and breathe
clean air. Last chance: recite 3rd section of “Dream”
8
MAR 8
MAR
10
9
MAR
15
MAR
17
Students recite fourth section of “Dream”
Page 7 of 12
Week
Numb
er
MAR
22-24
Assignment Due
on that Date
Objectives
and Details
SPRING BREAK
SPRING BREAK – NO CLASS
Outline of research paper on “The Lottery” due
Bring first draft of research paper to class.
Students will peer edit their papers and begin
working on their final drafts, due after the
spring break. NR pg 43 “How It Feels to Be
Colored Me” and prepare to write analytical
essay about it on April 7.
Students discuss outline of paper on “The Lottery”.
Students recite last section of “Dream”. Students
peer edit their papers and begin working on their final
drafts, due after the spring break. Discuss Hurston’s
attitude toward herself, noting literary allusions,
analyzing them, organizing them for in-class essay on
April 7.
NR pg 605 “The Gettysburg Address”
Memorize it all. Explanation of argument;
analysis of essay.
Last chance to recite from “Dream”. Discuss Hurston
attitude toward self: note, analyze, organize literary
allusions; in-class essay on March 31 after break.
APR 5
Further explanation of organizing analysis of
ZNH essay. Be ready to write on Thursday.
Students recite Gettysburg Address.
Students discuss Hurston’s essay further.
APR 7
Write in-class essay on Hurston’s essay
Write & submit in-class essay on Hurston’s essay.
APR 12
HB 450 Subject Verb Agreement; HB 453,
470, Agreement with Pronouns
Students will discuss agreement
APR 14
Homework on Agreement
Discussion of Agreement. Agreement to be on Final
Quiz.
APR 19
Watch movie with prejudice. Take notes; be
prepared to write in-class essay about it.
Pause periodically to discuss scene of prejudice or
character development.
APR 21
Continue watching movie and taking notes.
Students will discuss scenes of prejudice and/or
character development for in-class essay.
APR 26
Continue watching movie and taking notes.
Students will discuss scenes of prejudice and/or
character development for in-class essay.
APR 28
Finish watching movie and taking notes
Discuss organization of essay: prejudice; character
development of main character; development of one
other character; introduction; conclusion
MAY 3
Review for Final Exam Quiz; explanation of
how to do Recitation. Review of outline of how
to write essay on the movie.
Students will discuss grammar and essays with quiz
in mind; also discussion of how to recite. Students
will discuss stories with quiz in mind
MAY 5
Write & Submit in-class essay TODAY in class
In-class essay on movie as per earlier discussion
Final Exam Quiz and Recitation
Students will recite and take quiz. Quiz to include
movie, all essays, major sentence errors, verbs,
agreement, works cited format, content of assigned
essays
9
MAR
29
MAR
31
10
11
12
13
14
15
W EEK
MMAY
AY 911
Page 8 of 12
Houston Community College Campus and System Policies
Academic Integrity
Houston Community College is committed to a high standard of academic integrity in the academic community.
In becoming a part of the academic community, students are responsible for honesty and independent effort.
Failure to uphold these standards includes, but is not limited to, the following: plagiarizing written work or
projects, cheating on exams or assignments, collusion on an exam or project, and misrepresentation of
credentials or prerequisites when registering for a course. Cheating includes looking at or copying from another
student's exam, orally communicating or receiving answers during an exam, having another person take an
exam or complete a project or assignment, using unauthorized notes, texts, or other materials for an exam, and
obtaining or distributing an unauthorized copy of an exam or any part of an exam. Plagiarism means passing off
as his/her own the ideas or writings of another (that is, without giving proper credit by documenting sources).
Plagiarism includes submitting a paper, report or project that someone else has prepared, in whole or in part.
Collusion is inappropriately collaborating on assignments designed to be completed independently. These
definitions are not exhaustive. When there is clear evidence of cheating, plagiarism, collusion or
misrepresentation, disciplinary action may include but is not limited to: requiring you to retake or resubmit an
exam or assignment, assigning a grade of zero or "F" for an exam or assignment; or assigning a grade of "F" for
the course. Additional sanctions including being withdrawn from the course, program or expelled from school
may be imposed on a students who violate the standards of academic integrity.
Student Behavior Expectations
Students are expected to conduct themselves appropriately on College property or in an online environment.
Students may receive disciplinary action up to and including suspension, if they violate System or College rules,
disrupt classes or interfere with the opportunity of others to obtain an education. Students who pose a threat to
the safety of others will be subject to immediate withdrawal from the classroom, campus environment, and/or
online environment, as well as face subsequent criminal charges, as appropriate.
Americans with Disabilities Act Statement
Houston Community College is dedicated to providing the least restrictive environment for all students. We
promote equity in academic access through the implementation of reasonable accommodations as required by
the Vocational Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Title V, Section 504 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990
(ADA) which will enable students with disabilities to participate in and benefit from all post-secondary
educational activities. Students are strongly encouraged to contact the Disability Services Office—phone
713-718-6164 to make necessary arrangements and get the papers to show to your professors before the end
of the first two weeks of class to arrange for reasonable accommodations. Faculty are authorized to provide
only such accommodations as are requested by the Disability Support Services Office.
Computer Virus Protection
Computer viruses are, unfortunately, a fact of life. Using removable devices on more than one computer creates
the possibility of infecting computers and diskettes with a computer virus. This exposes the computers of the
college, your personal computer, and any others you may be using to potentially damaging viruses. The college
has aggressive anti-virus procedures in place to protect its computers, but cannot guarantee that a virus might
not temporarily infect one of its machines. It is your responsibility to protect all computers under your control and
use and ensure that each diskette you use, whenever or wherever you use it, has been scanned with anti-virus
software. Since new viruses arise continually, your anti-virus software must be kept current. And, since no antivirus software will find every virus, you must keep backup copies to protect yourself. You are advised also to
make hard copies whenever you leave one computer, and to send copies to yourself via email.
Equal Opportunity Statement
It is the policy of the Houston Community College System to provide equal employment, admission and
educational opportunities without regard to race, color, creed, national origin, gender, age, veteran's status,
sexual orientation, or disability.
Page 9 of 12
Houston Community Colleges strive to provide an excellent learning environment free from harassment or
intimidation directed at any person’s race, color, creed, national origin, gender, age, veteran's status, sexual
orientation, or disability. Any form of harassment will not be tolerated.
Internet and E-mail
The System provides computing and network resources to students. You are encouraged to use the computers,
software packages, and electronic mail (e-mail) for educational or System-related activities and to facilitate the
efficient exchange of useful information. However, the equipment, software, and network capacities provided
through the district computer services are and remain the property of the System. Use of the equipment and
networks is to comport with the policies and procedures of the System and access may be denied to any
student who fails to comply with the System’s policies and procedures regarding its use.
Access to the System’s e-mail and similar electronic communications systems are a privilege and certain
responsibilities accompany that privilege. All users are expected to demonstrate the same level of ethical and
professional manner, as is required in face-to-face or written communications. Threatening, anonymous, or
forged messages will be treated as a violation of this policy.
Software Piracy
Law strictly prohibits unauthorized copying of software purchased by HCCS for use in laboratories. Houston
Community College-Willie Lee Gay Hall administration will take appropriate disciplinary action against anyone
violating copyright laws.
Evaluation of Instruction
Houston Community College is committed to student success. As part of its’ institutional effectiveness efforts,
our instructors are assessed in several ways. For the continuous improvement of our instruction, all students
are required to provide input for each course they take each semester using the Course Evaluations
Questionnaire, which can be accessed online for each course. This occurs approximately half way through your
course and your instructor will provide you more information on this process. Once you evaluate your course,
print and turn in the receipt of completion to your instructor. The college deans review these evaluations each
semester. The deans, and/or department chairs may visit each instructor’s class at some time during the
semester to observe the instructional environment being provided, and complete an assessment of the
instructor.
Final Examinations
A final evaluation activity will occur during the published final evaluation period. The appropriate associate dean
must approve any variation to this schedule.
Withdrawal Policy
Withdrawal from the course after the official day of record and prior to “W” Day, (see current catalog for this
date) will result in a final grade of “W” on your transcript. Instructor approval is necessary if you want to
withdraw after official day. No credit will be awarded for a course earning a “W”. If you stop attending class, you
must withdraw at the registration office prior to “W” day. If you stop attending class and do not officially
withdraw, you are required to receive an “F” for the course. If you want an F, fine. If you want a W, you must
withdraw before the drop date.
Six Drop Rule
Students who enrolled in Texas public institutions of higher education as first-time college students during the
Fall 2007 term or later are subject to section 51.907 of the Texas Education Code, which states that an
institution of higher education may not permit a student to drop (withdraw with a grade of “W”) from more than
six courses, including courses that a transfer student has previously dropped at other Texas public institutions of
higher education that have already been counted against their six drop limit. Each student should fully
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understand this drop limit before you drop any course. Please see a Counselor or Advisor in our Student
Services area for additional information and assistance.
If you ever have difficulty organizing your ideas, you might arrange them in one of the following templates to see
what works in and what’s still missing from your paper. Copy and use the templates as often as you like.
Essay Template 1
Introduction –
Attention getter (quote, anecdote, etc.):
_____________________________________________________________________________
List Three Claims you’ll make in body of essay:
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________
Explanation of focus of essay (thesis statement):
_________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
Body Paragraphs (write as many as necessary—three for the short essays, more for longer essays) –
Claim (topic of paragraph):
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
Direct quotation (in support of claim) with citation:
_________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
Interpretation of quotation:
_________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
Discussion of or argument about claim (drives home the point made in this paragraph):
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________
Tie this paragraph’s claim to thesis of entire paper:
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
Conclusion –
Reminder of thesis (refreshes reader’s memory of the subject of the essay):
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
and/or final thoughts (the new understanding – but not new information – with which you’d like your reader to
leave this essay):
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
Essay Template 2
Introduction –
Attention getter (quote, anecdote, etc.):
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________________
5 W’s and an H Explanation (who, what, where, when, why, how?):
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________
Explanation of focus (thesis statement):
_________________________________________________________________________________________
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_________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________
Body Paragraphs (write as many as necessary) –
Claim (topic of paragraph):
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
Anecdote explaining claim:
_________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________
Direct quotation (in support of claim and anecdote):
_________________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________
Discussion (of anecdote and topic – drives home the point made by this paragraph):
_________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________
Transitional sentence (moves you into next body paragraph):
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
Concluding paragraph – Avoid saying “In conclusion” (I will count off if you say it)
Reminder of thesis (refreshes reader’s memory of the subject of the essay):
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
Final thoughts (the new understanding – but not new information – with which you’d like your reader to leave
this essay):
_________________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
GENERAL ADVICE ON RESEARCH PAPER
Be sure that your thesis is clearly stated. Too many essays go astray because the thesis is vague. The
thesis must clearly and simply answer the assignment. Your thesis should state your position (one side or the
other . . . no fence-sitting) on a debatable issue; i.e. there must be a clear opposing side. It must also clearly
answer the wording of the assignment.
Remember that persuasive arguments must address both sides in the debate. You choose a side, and
you also present the case for the other side—but you write it in such a way that your side wins. You must show
what the other side would say to try to win, and then demonstrate their error.
Explain your ideas fully. You must build a case, step by step, and explain the logic behind your beliefs
(why you believe what you do). This is a very difficult task, and this is where most students will struggle. Rather
than assume that readers “get it,” you must explain every quotation and statistic and explain how it supports the
point you have just made. Otherwise, your readers can have trouble understanding that you are right, and you
want to be sure your reader does understand this.
Use your examples after you have made your point. In your paragraphs, you should be explaining and
giving examples. For every point you make, you will give examples to show that you are right. You will give
statistics to show that the examples are typical. You will give expert opinions to show that you have correctly
interpreted the examples and the statistics.
ALL ESSAYS must have a one inch margin at sides, top, and bottom.
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