Houston Community College
Professor S. Simon
Office: FAC 318
Phone: 713-718-6301
Office hrs: By appointment
English 0300: Fundamentals of Grammar and Composition I
Course Guidelines and Weekly Schedule
Course Description: English 0300 is a refresher course devoted to improving basic
English skills for native-speakers of English. (Note: Non-native speakers must refer to
Engl. 0320-0349 or ESOL 0341-0356). This course emphasizes grammar, sentence
structure, paragraph development, and creative techniques in essay writing.
Course Overview/Goals: By the time you have completed English 0300, you should be
able to:
1. Write sentences that demonstrate proper use of grammar and mechanics
2. Read analytically
3. Write in response to reading
4. Develop a thesis statement and use supporting paragraphs to strengthen and
support thesis
5. Write a variety of paragraphs including introductory, supporting, and
concluding paragraphs.
Developmental English Department Mission Statement:
The Developmental English Department provides opportunities for students to
upgrade their basic language skills in order to maximize their chance of success in
college-level courses. In addition, the department promotes goal setting and values
clarification and fosters self-esteem and positive attitudes to aid students in becoming
contributing members of society and gaining personal satisfaction.
Textbooks:
Paragraphs and Essays by Lee and Kelly Brandon, 11th Edition
A three-ring notebook with dividers (Syllabus/ Assignment Guidelines, Essay in
Progress, Journals/Notes from reading/Returned papers, miscellaneous)
A good college-level dictionary/thesaurus
Blue or black ink pens/ 2 Blue Examination books
Course Requirements
5 Essays (at least 2 will be in-class writing)
Daily writings
Instructor’s choice (homework, attendance/participation, Lab Hour Activity)
Midterm and Final (These assignments make 7 Essays in all)
In-class writing: All students must demonstrate competence on in-class writing to pass
course.
Essays: Essays will be built from different types of paragraphs (introduction, body,
transition, conclusion), and always require a directly stated thesis. In your own essays
and in other writers’ essays, you will discuss elements of essays such as topic, purpose,
audience, thesis, style, tone, strategy, etc. The essays you write in class should be at least
300 words long and those out of class should be at least 400 words long. Both will be
graded using a departmental grading profile based on the assessment guidelines of
appropriateness, unity and focus, development, organization, sentence structure, word
usage, and mechanics.
Instructor’s choice: This part of your grade will be determined by a combination of
class assignments: quizzes, reading responses, homework, vocabulary, and various
writing assignments throughout the semester. Included in this component of your final
grade will be all Lab Hour activities assigned throughout the semester, assigned at later
date.
Exams: The midterm and Final exams are done in class in a Blue Examination Book.
You must have a passing average of at least 70% on in-class essays in order to pass this
course.
SUPPORT SERVICES
Tutoring: Free tutoring is available in FAC 321B: Check for hours
(**Students my be required by instructor to work with a tutor)
Library: The library is located in the Learning Hub Science building on the 3rd and 4th
floor. Open Computer Lab: Computers are available for word processing in FAC 321,
SJAC 204a and in the Macintosh Interdisciplinary Lab in JDB 203-204. Check of hours.
STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES/REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION:
Disability support services: Students who require reasonable accommodations for
disabilities are encouraged to contact the Disability Service Office in Room 106 of the
Learning Hub building or call 713-718-6164 to make necessary arrangements. Faculty is
authorized to provide only those accommodations requested by the DSSO.
HCCS POLICIES:
Course Repeating: For students who repeat a course three or more times, financial aid
will no longer pay tuition/fees at HCC and other Texas public colleges and universities.
Before you withdraw from a course, confer with your instructor/counselor about the
consequences of withdrawing and to discuss other options available for you.
ATTENDANCE: Texas State Law requires 87.5% minimum attendance for college
courses. You may be dropped if you miss more than 12.5% of instruction (6 class hours
in a 3-credit hour course).
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 copying from another students 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,
transporting, or soliciting in whole or part the contents of an unadministered test and or
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.
Collusion means the unauthorized collaboration with another person in preparing
written work offered for credit.
Please 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.”
Grading: A 90-100% (Excellent/Superior) B 80-89% (Above Average) C 70-79%
(Average)
IP (In Progress) is given to students who do not minimum standards but who
conscientiously do the work of the course. It indicates that the student must re-enroll in
the course.
W (Withdrawn) is given to students who miss 12.5% of instruction or who withdraw
themselves from the class before the drop deadline. It does not affect the grade point
average (GPA), but it may affect the students receiving Financial Aid Benefits.
F or D may only be given if a student is repeating the course or for violations of the
scholastic dishonesty policy or in rare circumstances.
I (Incomplete) is NOT a possible grade in developmental courses.
HCCS Holidays/ Crucial Days for Spring 2011
Dr. Martin Luther King Day January 17
February 21 President’s Day -Holiday
Official Drop Date: April 14 at 4:30 pm
Last Day of Instruction: May 6
Final Exam Week: May 9-15
Course Syllabus (This is not the Bible; it is subject to change)
Week One
Introduction of course; Diagnostic essay
Week Two
Class Notes (grammar); Class notes (paragraph writing)
Discuss Chapter 5 in Text: Writing the Paragraph; Practice Assignment on Paragraphs #1
Week Three
Discuss Chapter 6 Writing the Essay
Practice writing on Essay assignment #2
Week Four
Chapter 7 Descriptive Narration pp. 97-121
Readings: “No Tears for Frankie,” Gina Greenlee, pp.112-114; “More,” Judith Ortiz
Cofer, pp.115-116; “Yearning for Love,” Chantra Shastri, p. 117.
Get Major Assignment #1
Week Five
Workshop or lab work for Assignment #1
Chapter 8 Writing with Examples pp.128-145
Readings: “Dropping Way Out,” David Levine; “Who’s Cheap?” Adair Lara; “Cheating
Is Not Worth the Bother,” Lara Olivas; “Grading a Professor’s Writing,” pp.144-45
Week Six
Major Assignment #1 Due; Get Major Assignment #2
Workshop or lab work for Assignment 2
Week Seven
Chapter 11: Cause and Effect: Determining the Reasons and Outcomes pp.207-231
Readings: “What Happens to Steroid Studs?’; “Family Heroes and Role Models”;
“Romantic Love, Courtship and Marriage”; “Why Marriages Fail”
Major Assignment #2 Due
Week Eight
Prepare for Midterm Exam (This is an in-class writing assignment; it is to be done
in a Blue Examination Book) This is Major Assignment # 3
Week Nine
Chapter 12 Classification: Establishing Groups pp.237-260
Readings: “How Do I Love Thee?” pp.246-247; “The Different Ways of Being Smart,”
pp.248-50; “How to Deal With a Difficult Boss,” pp.251-55
Get Major Assignment # 4; Workshop and lab work for Assignment
Week Ten
Chapter 13 Comparison and Contrast: Showing Similarities and Differences pp.264-284
Readings: “Chick Flicks vs. Macho Movies: Can You Tell the Difference,” pp.276-277;
Neat People vs. Sloppy People,” pp.278-79
Watch Movie: __________________________
Major Assignment #4 Due
Week Eleven
Finish and Discuss Movie; Get Major Assignment #5
Workshop
Week Twelve
Chapter 15 Argument: Writing to Persuade pp.321-342
Readings: “Shouldn’t Men Have “Choice” Too?” pp.330-331
“Rape: A Bigger Danger Than Feminists Know,” pp.332-335
Major Assignment # 5 Due
Week Thirteen
Supplements of Argument Articles
Discuss
Week Fourteen
Writing Assignment # 6
Week Fifteen
Final -2 Day Task Essay is written in Blue Examination Book (#7)
Week Sixteen
FINAL EXAMINTION WEEK FOR SCHOOL; CHECK INDIVIDUAL CLASS
SCHEDULE FOR TIMES
*PLEASE COMMUNICATE WITH ME THROUGHOUT THE SEMESTER; IT
MAKES THINGS GO A WHOLE LOT SMOOTHER.
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I DO NOT ACCEPT LATE PAPERS; I GIVE YOU AMPLE TIME TO
COMPLETE YOUR PACKAGES.
READ THE ASSIGNMENTS BEFORE CLASS; THAT WAY YOU WILL
ALREADY BE FAMILIAR WITH THEM.
IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTINS ABOUT ANYTHING (CONCERNING
CLASS, THAT IS) DO NOT HESITATE TO ASK
IF YOU MAKE A GRADE OF 70-76, YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY
TO REDO THAT ASSIGNMENT, WITH THE HELP OF A TUTOR; IT
MUST BE SIGNED BY THE TUTOR TO RECEIVE CREDIT.
PLEASE GET THE PHONE NUMBER OR AN EMAIL ADDRESS OF
ONE OF YOUR CLASSMATES TO ASSURE INFORMATION FROM
CLASS.