SYLLABUS
FOR
Professor: Dr. Ann V. Nunes
Email:
ann.nunes@hccs.edu
Semester: Fall 2013
ENGLISH 1301
CRN: 59557
Time:Mon/Wed 11:30 a.m.-1 pm
Room: BSCC 200
Required Texts: Peterson, Linda H., et al. The Norton Reader: An Anthology
of Nonfiction, 13th edition. New York: W. W. Norton &
Company, 2012.
Handbook (McGraw Hill…to be discussed)
Also Required:
College Dictionary with word origins (either Webster’s
Collegiate, Oxford, or American Heritage is excellent)
Pocket-sized Webster’s or AH dictionary to bring with you
Pencils and blue and/black pens to use in class
Scantrons for quizzes
Flash drive/wand or other technology for saving essays
[Yellow folder (brads/prongs) for In-Class Essay I-1] (ZNH)
[Red folder (brads) for In-Class Essay I-2] (on movie)
Black folder (brads) for Regular Essay 1 (personal)
Red folder (brads) for Regular Essay 2 (ethos pathos logos)
Green folder (brads) for Regular Essay 3
Multicolored folder (brads) for Reg. Essay 4
Blue folder (brads and pockets) for short Research paper
Purple folder (brads) for journals
(Get the most INexpensive folders you can find!)
Your presence here means you can be treated as an adult.
Instructor guidelines and policies
Scholastic Dishonesty, including Plagiarism:
Plagiarism is the act of copying someone else’s writing and/or ideas and submitting
them as your own. Copying from any source, including cutting and pasting words
from the internet into your paper, requires the use of quotation marks and citation.
Omission of citation constitutes cheating, even if not an exact quote: when you
paraphrase, you omit the quotation marks but you still must state the source of the idea. One act
of plagiarism may result in a grade of “F” for the offending paper/assignment. A second act of
plagiarism may result in failure of the course. Students will avoid plagiarism in all
written work for the course. “Scholastic dishonesty’ includes, but is not limited to, cheating
on a test, plagiarism, and collusion. . . .” See Student Handbook on HCCS website.
Requirements for English 1301:
This course is intended to improve the student’s writing of essays and research papers, as
well as the student’s critical reading and analysis of essays and fiction. Students will write
two out-of-class essays, two in-class essays, and a six-page research paper during the course,
using writing process and organizing assignments as appropriate to the topic, the purpose,
the audience, and so on. Multiple drafts of some assignments will be required. Always keep all parts
of the writing process for each assignment. Failure to produce them may result in a failing grade for
the assignment. Moreover, any material from someone else’s work must be cited. If you
want to cite an entire page, summarize it briefly in your own words but also cite the source
to give credit to its author for the idea. Of course, if you were to copy an entire essay, you
would get no credit for the essay, and would be reported to the English department.
Penalties for a student who plagiarizes and entire essay range from a zero on the
essay, to an F in the course, to being expelled from the college.
Assignments
Four out-of-class essays, each 2½ to 3 pages long; also two in-class essays, one the first week
of February, one the first week of March.
One short research paper (five pages) due the end of February
Memorization of Declaration of Independence passage & of Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address
Memorization of last page-and-a-half of MLK’s Dream speech
Ten Journals (one page, ten lines or more, for each day of class, done after each class but not
handed in until end of February)
Homework and quizzes on sentence structure, paragraph formation, research techniques, &
citation.
Library Session
Oral Presentation and Test on Final Exam Day
Each out-of-class essay assignment will include typed outlines, typed initial drafts with peer
reviews, and typed revised drafts. Most essays will require typed Works Cited pages.
Research paper will require printouts of sources, as well as additional assignments related to
the papers’ development.
Each paper must have a title and must use the standard margins (1" on all sides); each must
be double-spaced and must conform to MLA format. Each must be typed or printed in a 12
point font (Times New Roman, Garamond, Courier, Bookman Old Style, Book
Antiqua, or other serif format—not Arial; not Century Gothic; not any other sans
serif font. Students will certainly avoid script fonts such as Script MT Bold.) and will also
avoid use of bold or italics. Names of books and movies must be underlined.
Research paper: Place notes in left pocket of blue folder; references in right pocket (these
are either photocopied from books or articles along with title pages of books & articles, or
printed from internet). Brads contain, in order: outline topmost; then final draft of paper;
then “Works Cited” page; then all previous drafts, from latest to earliest, in order; all
prewriting.
Absence from final essay or final exam, or failure to turn in journals or research paper, yields
an F in the course. However, if you have good reason for your absence, the F can be
changed if the work is produced before the end of March.
In addition to good grades, students have the possibility of another reward for excellent
writing: the instructor may submit the best papers for publication in the school journal.
Office hours: Wednesdays 1-2 p.m.
Hand in the research paper on April 23.
Hand in your journals on April 30. Remember, each journal must have 20 lines.
Late Paper Policy / Make-up Work:
Students must complete all essays. That is, all versions of all drafts of the essays (including rough drafts) must be submitted. All
assignments are due at the beginning of the designated class or conference period. If not submitted when I collect
them during class or the scheduled conference, they are considered late. They will be accepted, with a 5%
penalty, if they are less than ten days late. If you miss a group discussion or peer editing session, that
work cannot be made up. Class work and homework cannot be made up. Pop quizzes cannot be
made up. Exams usually cannot be made up. The one exception is mandated by law: absence in
observance of a religious holy day.
Attendance:
The misfortune of having failed to listen, or having missed a previous class, fails to excuse you for being
unprepared for a class or for arriving without the assignment which is due that day . (A student with a
handicap is advised to consult the material on Students with Disabilities.) 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.
Attendance is taken daily. Each student is responsible for signing the class list both first and last
name. A student who is absent more than three times becomes subject to failing the course. If you
know you will need to be absent, explain to the instructor ahead of time and make sure to keep up
with the work. Arriving tardy or leaving early counts as one-third of an absence. The class is only
two and a half hours and students are expected to remain in the room throughout. Leaving the room
counts as missing one-third of the class that day.
Assignments:
Each of the essay assignments will include initial drafts and revised drafts, as well as additional
assignments related to the papers’ development. Papers will range from 2-6 full pages in length
(according to type of assignment). All prewriting and drafts must be submitted with the final
draft for grading.
In addition to good grades, students have the possibility of another reward for excellent writing: the
instructor may submit the best paper for publication in the school journal.
Advice on grammar, punctuation, and other technical aspects of writing will best be
addressed via the Tutoring Center on the third floor of the Fine Arts Building, next to the
English office. Students are urged to utilize tutoring extensively to avoid having papers
being needlessly marked down for such errors.
Anything in this syllabus, including assignment and exam weightings, is subject to alteration by
the instructor at any time.
Cell phones and beepers:
Devices must be turned off before being brought into the classroom and may not be answered
during class time. Any student whose equipment sounds or who answers a phone during class or in
the classroom is subject to having the instructor answer the phone and/or to having the equipment
confiscated for the duration of the class. A student who is experiencing an emergency situation and
anticipates an urgent call during class time must inform the instructor before class begins and,
out of consideration for the other students, must leave the classroom before answering such a
call, if one occurs. If a student has not consulted the instructor, and leaves the room to answer a
call, the student may be barred from the classroom and marked absent for that day.
Computers, PDAs, etc.: No chat, email, games, camera phone use, etc. while class is in session.
Same ejection rules apply.
Classroom Etiquette:
When someone, whether instructor or student, has the floor during lecture or discussion, the class
must pay attention to that person, and not interrupt. If any student has to be addressed more than
once for talking out of turn, s/he will be barred from the class until s/he can meet with the
instructor outside class to determine a solution to his/her problem—and it is the student’s
responsibility to catch me before the next class period. Every class missed, of course, counts as an
absence. A note on work for other classes: only do English work in English class. If you do not
have enough English work to occupy you during English class, I can easily come up with much more
for you.
Grading Scale: A 90-100% B 80-89% C 70-79%
IP 60-69%
W (Withdrawn) may be given if a student misses more than 12.5% of instruction (6 class
hours). IP (In Progress grade) is given to students who do not meet the minimum grading
standards but who are otherwise in good standing (have completed all assignments on a
timely basis, have attended class regularly, have participated, etc.). An IP is not the same as
an Incomplete and does not affect a student’s GPA but does require the student to re-take
the course. IP may only be given once per course per student. W (Withdrawn) is no longer
given to a student who exceeds the 12.5% maximum absence limit. A student who wishes to
drop the course must formally withdraw through the Registrar before the last drop date. D
or F may be given in cases of scholastic dishonesty or other severe academic violations.
I will not calculate your semester grade for you during the course. You can average
your grades during the semester, bearing in mind that the journals and oral presentations
count as much as the essays. Keep track of your average. Do not ask me to do this for
you. I only calculate once, at the end of the semester, when I turn in final grades.
Repeating the Course: Students who take a course and then must repeat it two or more
times may soon face significant tuition/fee increases at HCCS and other Texas public colleges and
universities. Remember that the number of withdrawals from any classes is limited, so think very
carefully before you decide to drop the course. If you are considering course withdrawal because you
are not earning passing grades, confer with your instructor/ counselor as early as possible about your
study habits, reading and writing homework, test-taking skills, attendance, course participation, and
opportunities for tutoring or other assistance that might be available.
If you ever have difficulty organizing your ideas, you might drop them into 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 make in body of essay:
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
______________
One-sentence explanation of focus of essay (thesis statement):
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Each Body Paragraph (as many as necessary—three for the short essays, more for
research paper) –
Claim (topic of paragraph):
________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________
Direct quotation (in support of claim) with citation:
________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
Interpretation or explanation of how this quotation supports your claim:
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
___________
Discussion of, or argument about, your 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):
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
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):
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
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):
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
Tentative Instructional Outline
Week
Number
1
MON 1/13
Course
introduction,
syllabus,
first writing
WED 1/15
2
MON 1/20
WED 1/22
3
MON 1/27
WED 1/29
Class Discussion
Policies & procedures of
department, college and
classroom. Writing samples.
Tutoring. Syllabus. Introduce
first essay. Dec of Ind. and
Stanton. Research Paper
topic: Water Pollution
Discussion of Personal Essay:
due in three weeks
Discussion of Researach
Paper due April 23
Discussion of “verbals”:
verbs ending in “ing” without
helping verbs
Assignment
For Wed 8/28, read the first two paragraphs of the “Declaration
of Independence” (Norton p 804) and read Stanton’s Declaration
(p 811); note the differences and be prepared to list them aloud in
class or to take quiz on Wednesday 9/18.
For Wed 9/23, be prepared to recite “We hold…” thru “…safety
and happiness.” Norton p 804. Essay 1: personal experience,
oppression, discrimination, or trauma. Discuss, brainstorm, &
outline one student’s personal experience. Peer Review of typed
first draft of this first essay due Monday 2/3; final draft due
in red folder with prongs/brads Wed 2/12.
Visit library next Wednesday to learn how to find data bases on
one potential source of chemical pollution in Houston’s drinking
water. Prepare tentative Works Cited page, due Monday 1/27.
Your journal page for this week should include discussion of
Declaration of Independence, Sojourner Truth, verbs ending in
“ing” that become nouns or adjectives; Personal Essay.
MLK BIRTHDAY
Holiday; no class
Library Visit to learn about
Data Bases for Water
Pollution
Your journal page for this week should discuss what you learned
in the library about data bases, about Works Cited page, and
about in-line citation. If these are not discussed, ask about each.
For Monday 1/27 read Hurston’s “Colored Me” pp 12ff.
Discuss Essay 1 due in two
weeks.Discuss research paper
due April 23. Discuss outlines.
“unalienable rights”“freedom”
“happiness”. Discuss two
kinds of fragments: lack of
verb and subordinating
clauses. Discuss other MSE.
Discuss Hurston essay.
Quiz Wed Feb 5 on all readings and on major sentence errors
plus subordinating words plus MLA format of Works Cited Page.
For Wed 1/29 From Handbook, type up subordinating
words. Read “Who Shot Johnny” 316; “Get a Knife, Get a
Dog, but Get Rid of Guns,” 323; Lincoln 486.
Also Wed 1/29: Turn in tentative Works Cited page for
Research paper due April 23. Journal page for this week
should include: how to write an essay, fragments, essays read this
week. Journals Due April 30.
Recite Declaration of
Independence.
Discuss Essay 1.
Discuss readings.
Discuss Run-on sentences and
Comma Splice.
Discuss multiple choice and
matching questions
Discuss ethos logos pathos
Due today: Tenative Works Cited page for Research paper.
Monday 2/3: Peer Review on Essay 1. .Correct all Fragments,
Run-on Sentences, & Comma Splices. Recite Dec of Ind. Read
Garrison Keillor, 446-449, Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address, 486
(Norton). MLK Letter from Birm. Jail (818).
Quiz Wed Feb 5, with questions on all Readings, on all MSE, &
on Works Cited Page format. You may use list of subordinating
words which transform sentences into subordinate/ dependent
clauses. Otherwise clear desk; NO book/computer/phone etc.
Week
Number
4
MON 2/3
WED 2/5
5
MON 2/10
WED 2/12
6
MON 2/17
WED 2/19
Class Discussion
Assignment
Review all kinds of Major
Sentence errors (MSE).
Discuss readings.
Receive Sample Quiz.
Review for Wed Quiz
Discuss ethos logos pathos
as found in MLK Letter
from Birm Jail
Due today: Essay 1 typed for Peer Review. Write comments;
then Sign back of each other’s papers.
Due Today: Recite Dec. of Independence
Wed 2/5: Quiz on Readings and on all MSE.
Mon Feb 10, re-read Hurston’s “Colored Me” 12ff and also
re-read MLK “Letter from Birmingham Jail” 818 ff
Mon 2/10 recite Lincoln’s G. A., 1st half;
Wed Feb/19: Recite Lincoln’s G. A., second half
In-class Midterm Quiz
33-50 matching and
multiple choice questions
Bring Scantrons, pencils, list of subordinating words and
phrases. Closed book, no electronics, no notes except list.
Return Quiz. Discuss
pathos, ethos, logos, in
MLK’s “Letter from B Jail”
Discuss 2nd out-of-class essay:
examples of ethos, pathos,
and logos. Warn students to
keep a copy of their lists to use
in creating Outline.
Today:Turn in Essay 1 in black folder: Outline, Best draft,
Peer Review (signed). Recite Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address,
first half.
Due Wed 2/12: Typed list of three best examples of each: three
of pathos, three of ethos, and three of logos. Justify your choices.
Due Wed 2/19: OUTLINE for 2nd out-of-class essay using
examples from your ethos/pathos/logos list. List ethos
examples in Body paragraph I, pathos examples in Body
paragraph II, & logos examples in Body paragraph III.
[Work on Research Paper on water pollution for Wed 4/23.]
Discuss typed list of examples
of ethos, logos, and pathos in
MLK “Letter”; Discuss
Works Cited for “Letter”;
topic sentences, thesis
statements, Works Cited.
Due:Typed lists—three items each for logos, ethos, pathos.
Recite Lincoln’s G. Address.
Wed 2/19 Read Asimov 890 ff; Goode 43 ff; Bacon 475 ff.
Wed 2/19 Outline & Works cited for 2nd essay (ethos, pathos,
logos based on MLK Letter from Birm Jail).Keep copy for self.
Wed 2/26 Bring 2nd essay typed for Peer Review.
Wed 2/19: Tenative outline and Works Cited for Research Paper
President’s Day. School
Closed.
No school today. Note what is due Wednesday (below)
Collect outlines. Discuss
readings. Discuss logical
fallacies. Discuss thesis for
essay on ethos pathos logos,
also audience, purpose.
Return essay 1. Collect
outlines. Discuss “Letter”:
pathos logos ethos
Due today: Outline & Works Cited for 2nd essay
Tentative outline & Works Cited for Research Paper
Recite 2nd half Lincoln’s G. A.
Due Mon 2/24: Re-read Dream speech 852 & Hurston 12 ff.;
also read William Blake, Ambrose Bierce, pp 483-485.
Wed 2/26: Peer Review of 2nd Essay.
Mon 3/3: Turn in Essay 2 red folder in brads. Include
outline, then final version, then works cited, then Peer
Review signed on back
Week
Number
7
MON 2/24
WED 2/26
Class Discussion
Assignment
Peer Review
Discuss readings, including
Hurston’s “Colored Me”.
Discuss first in-class essay,
Mon 10/21 & how to write
outline & Wk Ctd for it .
Review for Quiz 10/16.
Today: Be prepared to discuss readings and to recite 2nd half
Lincoln’s G.A.
Recite 2nd half Lincoln’s G.A.
Due 2/26: Bring typed copy of essay on ethos, pathos, logos
for Peer Review. Mark essays; sign backs of essays.
Mon 3/3: Turn in Final version of 2nd essay. Also turn in Outline
& Works Cited for In-Library essay on Hurston (keep a copy)
Mon 3/3: Recite paragraphs 11-15 from “I Have a Dream”
Mon 3/17: Recite “Dream”: paragraphs 16-19 p 854.
Wed 3/19: First in-library essay analyzing Hurston’s essay
Mon 3/24. Recite “Dream”: paragraphs 20-21 p 854
Wed 3/19: First in-library essay analyzing Hurston’s essay.
Wed 4/9 Recite “Dream” paragraphs 22-end, pp 854-55.
Peer Review. Recitations.
Discuss readings
Discuss analysis of Hurston
essay. Review for Quiz 3/5
Due Today: Peer Review of 2nd out-of-class essay. Remember,
purpose of essay: show understanding of ethos/pathos/ logos.
Mon 3/3 Recite “Dream” speech, 1st part, para 11-15.
Mon 3/3: Bring ethos/pathos/logos essay in brads in red
folder. Outline, then best draft of essay, then Work Cited
page, and, last, Peer Review signed on the back.
Mon 3/3 Turn in tentative outline and works cited for InLibrary essay. Keep copy for yourself.
Quiz Wed 3/5 Bring Scantron & pencils
Recitations of MLK speech
Discuss analysis of Hurston
essay. Review for Quiz Wed
10/16.:Readings, MSE (major
sentence errors)
Due today: 2nd out-of-class essay (MLK Letter) in red folder.
Recite MLK speech para 11-15
Due Wed: Read Guinier, Hughes, Copland, Holt, Sullivan and
McCloud. Cartoon 1091. Turn in Outline and Works Cited
page for in-library essay on Hurston.
Wed 3/5. Quiz on Readings, on MSE, and on Work Cited
entry.
Wed 3/19: In-library essay on ZN Hurston’s essay. Bring
outline and works cited and folder. Bring wand to save
essay. Email copy of essay to yourself and to me.
Hand in essay at end of class.
Quiz 2 : Readings, MSE,
and Work Cited entry
Bring Scantrons and pencils. No electronic devices.
Take Quiz 2 on readings, Major Sentence Errors, types of
sentence, and Works Cited entry. Matching and multiple
choice.
SPRING BREAK: NO CLASS
NO CLASSES THIS WEEK.
[NEXT WEEK IN-LIBRARY ESSAY 3/19]
8
MON 3/3
WED 3/5
MON 3/1012