ENGLISH 1301 SYLLABUS – HCC – Fall
Mrs. Rachel Bush, M, Ed.
Email: rbush2@houstonisd.org
713-867-5100
REQUIRED TEXTS:
1301 – ALL ONLINE
Fall Assignments/Grades:
 Essay #1: Essay 1
 Essay #2: Essay 2
 Essay #3: Research Paper
 Participation Grade-(quizzes, discussion grade, response answers, and anything else the
instructor deems as an aspect of participation)
 Final Exam
IMPORTANT DATES:
Research paper = 3rd 6 weeks
Final exam for fall = week of Dec 6
ATTENDANCE POLICY:
Attendance will be taken every class period and this policy will be enforced. HCCS policy states that
a student who is absent more than 12.5% (6 hours) of class may be administratively dropped from
the course. Students who miss more than the allotted six hours (4 classes) of time will fail the
class. Your participation is required. Students who intend to withdraw from the course must do so by
the official last day to drop. Students who prefer to receive an F rather than a W will need to attend
classes throughout the semester and take the final exam or discuss the situation with the instructor
before they stop attending the class.
EAGLE STUDENT USER ID:
Your Eagle login user ID will be your HCC User ID (sometimes referred to as the “W” number). All
HCC students have a unique User ID. If you do not know your User ID you can look it up by visiting
the HCC home page:
o From www.hccs.edu, under the column “CONNECT”, click on the “Student System Sign In” link
o Then click on “Retrieve User ID” and follow the instructions.
Or use the direct link to access the Student Sign In page:
https://hccs1.mrooms3.net/login/index.php
The default student password is “distance.” Students will then be prompted to change their password
after their first login. Please visit the Distance Education Technical Support website if you need
additional assistance with your login.
LATE PAPER POLICY:
See policies and procedures handout for specific but here’s the gist:
Daily and participation grades (10%) = no late accepted
Major grades and final drafts = 10 points off each day up to 5 days
After that, they will not be accepted!
MAKE-UP POLICY:
Students will be allowed to take make-up exams (midterm and final exams) if they have medical or
unforeseen emergencies. Students will be responsible for contacting the instructor and providing
documentation of the emergency situation. Students are strongly encouraged to avoid taking this
measure and the make-up exam will be an entirely different format from the original exam
administered in class on the scheduled date.
All makeup classwork is done at tutorials during study lab or by appointment.
SCHOLASTIC DISHONESTY:
According to the Student Handbook for the Houston Community College System:
“Students are responsible for conducting themselves with honor and integrity in fulfilling course
requirements. Penalties and/or disciplinary proceedings may be initiated by College System officials
against a student accused of scholastic dishonesty. ‘Scholastic dishonesty’ includes, but is not limited
to, cheating on a test, plagiarism, and collusion. ‘Cheating’ on a test includes:
-- Copying from another student’s test paper;
--Using materials during a test that are 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.
‘Collusion’ means the unauthorized collaboration with another person in preparing written work
offered for credit” (34-35).
Please note the possible consequences of such dishonesty, as stated in the 2006-2009 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 (35).
PLAGIARISM POLICY:
Plagiarized papers or projects will receive a grade of “0” (zero) -- no exceptions. Cheating or
collusion will also result in a grade of “0” (zero) on that paper or project. Plagiarism or collusion on
a second major assignment will result in a zero in the course. Students need to be aware that the
instructor will be utilizing plagiarism software and internet sources to check student work for
potential plagiarism. This will be discussed in more detail during class lecture.
MISSION STATEMENT OF THE ENGLISH DEPARTMENT:
The purpose of the English Department is to provide courses that transfer to four-year colleges;
introduce students to literature from diverse traditions; prepare students to write clear,
communicative, well-organized, and detailed prose; and develop students’ reading, writing, and
analytical skills.
ENGLISH 13O1 COURSE DESCRIPTION:
English 1301 is a course devoted to improving the student’s writing and critical reading. The course
involves writing essays for a variety of purposes from personal to academic, including the
introduction to argumentation, critical analysis, and the use of sources. English 1301 is a core
curriculum course.
COURSE PURPOSE:
English 1301 is designed to help students write multi-paragraph expository, analytical, and
argumentative essays that have the following qualities:
· clarity in purpose and expression,
· appropriate and sensible organization,
· sound content, including applications of concepts from and references to assigned readings,
· completeness in development,
· unity and coherence,
· appropriate strategies of development,
· sensitivity to audience,
· effective choice of words and sentence patterns,
· grammatical and mechanical correctness, and
· appropriate MLA citations format.
EDUCATIONAL OUTCOMES (COURSE OBJECTIVES) FOR ENGLISH 1301:
By the time the students have completed English 1301, they will:
· understand writing as a connected and interactive process which includes planning, shaping
drafting, revising, editing, and proofreading;
· apply writing process to out-of-class writing;
· apply writing process as appropriate to in-class; impromptu writing situations, thus showing an
ability to communicate effectively in a variety of writing situations (such as essay exams and
standardized writing tests like the TASP);
· apply suggestions from evaluated compositions to other writing projects;
· understand and apply basic principles of critical thinking in analyzing reading selections, in
developing expository essays, and writing argumentative essays;
· apply concepts from and use references to assigned readings in developing essays;
· analyze elements of purpose, audience, tone, style, and writing strategy in essays by professionals
writers
· complete short writing assignments, journal entries, readings quizzes, and other activities to
strengthen basic thinking and writing skills
· understand and appropriately apply various methods of development in writing assignments;
· avoid faulty reasoning in all writing assignments;
· fulfill the writing requirements of the course, writing at least 6,000 words during the semester.
HCCS CORE CURRICULUM INTELLECTUAL COMPETENCIES AND EXEMPLARY
EDUCATIONAL OBJECTIVES -- ENGLISH 1301 AND 1302
I. BASIC INTELLECTUAL COMPETENCIES IN HCCS CORE:
· READING: Reading material at the college level means having the ability to analyze and interpret
a variety of materials -- books, articles, and documents.
· WRITING: Writing at the college level means having the ability to produce clear, correct, and
coherent prose adapted to purpose, occasion, and audience. In addition to knowing correct grammar,
spelling, and punctuation, students should also become familiar with the writing process, including
how to discover a topic, how to develop and organize it, and how to phrase it effectively for their
audience. These abilities are acquired through practice and reflection.
· SPEAKING: Effective speaking is the ability to communicate orally in clear, coherent, and
persuasive language appropriate to purpose, occasion, and audience.
· LISTENING: Listening at the college level means the ability to analyze and interpret various
forms of spoken communication.
· CRITICAL THINKING: Critical thinking embraces methods of applying both qualitative and
quantitative skills analytically and creatively to subject matter in order to evaluate arguments and to
construct alternative strategies. Problem solving is one of the applications of critical thinking used to
address an identified task.
· COMPUTER LITERACY: Computer literacy at the college level means having the ability to use
computer-based technology in communicating, solving problems, and acquiring information. Coreeducated students should have an understanding of the limits, problems, and possibilities associated
with the use of technology and should have the tools necessary to evaluate and learn new
technologies as they become available.
II. EXEMPLARY EDUCATIONAL OBJECTIVES: FRESHMAN ENGLISH:
· To understand and demonstrate writing and speaking processes through invention, organization,
drafting, revision, editing, and presentation.
· To understand the importance of specifying audience and purpose and to select appropriate
communication choices.
· To understand and appropriately apply modes of expression (descriptive, expository, narrative,
scientific, and self-expressive) in written, visual, and oral communication.
· To participate effectively in groups with emphasis on listening, critical and reflective thinking, and
responding.
· To understand and apply basic principles of critical thinking, problem solving, and technical
proficiency in the development of exposition and argument.
· To develop the ability to research and write a documented paper and/or give an oral presentation.
10
WEEKLY CALENDAR
______________________________________________________________________________
ASSIGNMENTS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE AS DEEMED NECESSARY BY THE
INSTRUCTOR
WEEK ONE
Introduction to 1301
Diagnostic Essay Exam
Assignment due next class: Purchase textbooks and read the class syllabus
Continue to Introduce 1301 Class Requirements
Assignment due next clasS
WEEK TWO
The Writing Situation: Developing Thesis Statements, Drafting and Revising
Introduce Elements of Fiction
Introduce Essay1
Introduce Outline of Essay 1
Assignment due next class: Read “The Lesson” by Toni Cade Bambara (Eagle Reading) and
“Everyday Use” by Alice Walker (Eagle Reading)
Developing and Shaping Ideas
Critical Analysis of Assigned Reading
Continue to Discuss Essay 1
Review MLA style
Review MLA Work Cited Page
Assignment due next class: Read Chapters 7, 10, and 32 (HE); Read “Araby” by James Joyce and
“The A&P” by John Updike (Eagle Reading)
WEEK THREE
Critical analysis of assigned reading
Continue to review Essay 1
Writing and revising paragraphs
Developing a critical response
Assignment due next class: Work on Essay 1
Writing Workshop
Assignment due next class: Complete outline and draft; bring one typed copy of the outline and
one typed copy of the rough draft to class to participate in the peer evaluation.
WEEK FOUR
Peer Evaluation of Essay 1
Instructor-Student Conference
Assignment due next class: Submit Essay 1
Essay 1 is due
Introduce Essay 2
Instructor-Student Conference
Assignment due next class: Read “A Letter from Birmingham Jail” by Martin Luther King- (Eagle
Online)
WEEK FIVE
Assignment due next class: Read Chapters 12, 13, and 14 (HE)
Critical Analysis of Assigned Literature
Discuss the Answers Submitted onto the Discussion Forum
Assignment due next class: Review King’s Essay as well as Class Notes
WEEK SIX
Continue to Discuss King’s Essay
Review of Rhetorical Appeals
Assignment due next class: Review King’s Essay as well as Class Notes
Continue to Discuss King’s Essay
Assignment due next class: Review King’s Essay as well as Class Notes
WEEK SEVEN
Group Writing Workshop-Essay 2
Assignment due next class: Continue to Develop Group Paragraph 13
Group Writing Workshop-Essay 2
Assignment due next class: Complete Group Paragraph; Remember, Every Group Member Must
Bring to Class a Hard Copy of the Paragraph.
WEEK EIGHT
Writing Workshop
Assignment due next class: Complete Outline and Rough Draft of Essay 2 for Peer Evaluation
Peer Evaluation of Essay 2
Assignment due next class: Complete Essay 2 and submit assignment via Eagle.
WEEK NINE
Essay 2 is due by 11:59 pm via Eagle Online
Introduce the Research Paper
Library Orientation
Assignment due next class: Read “Is Google making us Stupid?” by Nicholas Carr and “Veiled
Threats” by Martha Nussbaum (Eagle Reading)
Assignment due next class: Read Chapter 28 (HE)
WEEK TEN
Discussion of Assigned Literature
Continue to discuss the Research Paper
Writing an Argument
Fallacies
Discuss the Answers Submitted onto the Discussion Forum
Assignment due next class: Read “The Cost of an Illiterate Society” and “Just Walk on By: A Black
Man Ponders His Power to Alter Public Space” (Eagle Online).
Critical Evaluation of Assigned Reading
MLA review
Planning the research paper
Sample Research Paper
Assignment due next class: Read “The Men We Carry in Our Minds” by Scott Russell Sanders;
Read “Grant Park Victory Speech” by Barack Obama (Eagle Online) 14
WEEK ELEVEN
Critically Evaluation of Assigned Reading
Research Paper Workshop
Assignment due next class: Work on Research papers.
Research paper workshop
Topics Are Due Today
Assignment due next class: Work on Research Paper Outline
WEEK TWELVE
Research Paper Workshop
Assignment due next class: Complete outline and Rough Draft for Peer Evaluation
Peer Evaluation of Research Paper
Assignment due next class: Complete Research Paper and Submit the Essay onto Eagle Online
WEEK THIRTEEN
Research Paper is due
Assignment due next class: Prepare for the Oral Presentation
Thanksgiving Holiday!
WEEK FOURTEEN
Begin Oral Presentation
Assignment due next class: Prepare for the Oral Presentation
Oral Presentation
Assignment due next class: Prepare for the Oral Presentation
WEEK FIFTEEN:
Oral Presentation
Review for the Final Exam
Assignment due next class: Prepare for In-class Writing Assignment 15
Thursday, December 6:
In-class Essay Exam-Due by the End of Class