Northwest College
Instructor contact information
Instructor:
E-mail:
Mrs. Katherine Williams
katherine.williams@hccs.edu
Course Title:
Course Prefix:
Course Number:
Class Room Location:
Adv. Comp. for
Foreign Speakers
ENGL*0349
Semester and Year:
Spring 2013
Class Days & Times:
M/W 5:30-7:30 PM
Spring Branch Campus
Rm 709
Course overview
A continuation of English 0347. Designed to help non-native speakers to improve writing skills before taking ENGL
1301. Concentrated interdisciplinary writing practice and vocabulary study to prepare students for freshman composition
(English 1301).
Catalog Description: ENGL 0349 Advanced Composition for Foreign Speakers, Prerequisite: A satisfactory score on
the CELSA Test or completion of ENGL 0347, Credit: 3 (3 lecture, 1 lab), A continuation of ENGL 0347. Designed to
help non-native speakers to improve writing skills before taking ENGL 1301. Concentrated interdisciplinary writing
practice and vocabulary study to prepare students for freshman composition, ENGL 1301, and other academic courses
Course Objectives: The primary objective is to teach students the central components of academic writing and prepare
them for future English composition and other college course writing as well as career writing. Students will gain
extensive experience using Writing Process, rhetorical modes, structural strategies, and standard conventions of grammar,
usage, and mechanics. Successful students will master these writing techniques with sufficient skill to address freshman
level English composition and any state testing requirements including the THEA. Developmental English 0310
Objectives include and incorporate federally mandated SCANS SKILLS (workplace skills) in both curriculum and
classroom instruction and applications. SCANS SKILLS include skills development in listening, speaking, reading,
writing, critical thinking skills, and computer literacy.
Student Learning Outcomes
1. Use a variety of sentence patterns in writing.
2. Comprehend and respond to assigned readings.
3. Employ the writing process (planning, drafting, revising, editing, and developing thesis and
topic sentences) in assigned writings.
4. Write a variety of essays using appropriate rhetorical modes.
5. Incorporate the ideas and words of other writers in their own essays using established strategies
Course Goals: By semester end, the student who passes with a "C" or above will have been able to:
1. Complete and comprehend reading assignments.
2. Attend class regularly, missing no more than 12.5% (8 hours) of instruction.
3. Participate in small group/class discussions to analyze and interpret essay models.
4. Write five or six passing essays as assigned.
5. Pass the final essay with 70%+ and achieve a 70%+ average in the course.
Support: Please contact me concerning any problems that you are experiencing in this course, and remember that you do
not need to wait until you have received a poor grade before asking for my assistance. I am available. Feel free to speak
to me before and after class (or make an appointment) to discuss things with you. Also, be sure to take advantage of the
tutors (see additional support) who are available during much of the day, five days a week.
Additional Support:
 Tutoring and Writing Centers
o On-Campus tutors in the Katy Campus Writing Center, Room 321, which is located across from the third
floor Library. Look for posted hours or call 713-718-5841.
o Writing Center at Spring Branch Campus, South Hall, Room 703. Look for posted hours or call 713-7185889.
 On-Line Tutors: http://askonline.net
Getting ready
Prerequisites: A satisfactory score on the CELT Test or completion of ENGL 0347
Required Material: flash drive, paper and pen for notes, paper and pen for tests
Optional Materials
or Reference Texts:
Index cards, Dictionary & Thesaurus, translator
Lab Requirement(s)
Developmental English courses have a one hour lab component.
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GRADE DETERMINATION:
Your grade will be
determined by the following
Homework/Participation
Essays/ Writings
Details
Percent of Final Average
All homework, RRJs, quizzes, daily work,
as well as participation in class
discussions
All essays and other paper or writing
assignments
15%
30%
Tests
Various tests given throughout the
course- see syllabus for dates. All tests
are essay tests.
20%
Collaborative Project
Group presentation project as assigned
by teacher
15%
Final Exam
The Final Exam for the class- see
syllabus for date
20%
Total:
100%
Instructor guidelines and policies
Attendance: Class attendance is absolutely necessary for your success in this course, therefore attendance
to all classes is required. An excessive number of absences will prohibit the successful completion of this
course. In case of absence, it is the student’s responsibility to obtain lecture notes and assignments from a
classmate. In the event that is not possible, the student may then arrange a time for the instructor to go over the
missed material. All tests need to be scheduled in advance of the missed day if at all possible. Anyone who
has missed more than 4 class days may be dropped from the course. A lot of important events
(discussions, class assignments, tests, etc.) occur at the beginning of class, so arrive on time- class will begin
with or without you! You will be counted absent for any of the following reasons :over 10 minutes late to
class, texting, emailing, using Facebook or other social media sites during class time, leaving early,
and/or sleeping. This is a participatory class, so be prepared to participate.
Assignments: All assignments are to be completed and submitted to the instructor on the scheduled due date.
All work is to be submitted electronically via www.engrade.com. If you are absent, always contact a classmate
to find out what assignments were made or look at the syllabus. I will not accept ANY late homework. Essays
that are late must be emailed to me by the next class day for a 10 point late deduction in the grade. After
that time I will not accept any late papers.
Academic Dishonesty:
The instructor reserves the right to take appropriate action in the event of plagiarism. Plagiarism in any form will
result in a final course grade of F and possible withdrawal from the course.
Exams: ALL EXAMS FOR THIS CLASS WILL BE ESSAYS!
Make-up exams:
Students will be allowed to take a different, make-up exam in the Testing Center if a test day is
missed. All tests will be available immediately following the missed class for one week. After a week,
the test will be removed from the Testing Center and there will be no more opportunity to make-up the
exam. Please make sure to check with the Testing Center to schedule a time to take your test and for
other center requirements.
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Cell Phones and other devices: As a courtesy to others, please turn all cell phones to silent, vibrate, or off
before entering the classroom. All other electronic devices (iPods, iPhones, etc) need to be off and put away.
LETTER GRADE ASSIGNMENT:
Letter Grade
A
Final Average in Percent
90 -100
B
80-90
C
70-80
D
N/A
IP
See policy below
F
69 and below
IP: A student in good standing (all work completed and attendance-compliant) will have the opportunity to
repeat the class without receiving an “F”.
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Tentative Instructional Outline:
CLASS DATE
JAN
14M
LECTURE TOPIC AND ACTIVITY
Go over instructional outline and syllabus
16 W
Discuss writing process, especially pre-writing strategies
21 M
NO SCHOOL- MLK DAY
23W
Review pre-writing
Thesis statement
Outline ideas
28 M
Organizing Essay- 5 paragraphs
Go over Process Paper
Assign Essay #1
30 W
Nouns/Subjects, Verbs, Pronouns, Sub-verb agreement, Noun-pronoun agreement
FEB
4M
Process Essay Due
Go Over Compare/Contrast Essay
Assign Essay #2
6W
Punctuation- commas, semi-colons
Assign the Project- due March 4th
11 M
Comp/Cont Essay Due
Go over how to do timed writings
Review
Project Work Day
13 W
TEST #1- Process
18 M
Go Over Definition Paper
Assign Essay #3
Group Work Day
20 W
Assign Essay #4- negative Definition (in class)
Group Work Day
25M
Definition Essay Due
Go over Classification Essay
Assign Essay # 5
Review
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27 W
MARCH
4M
TEST #2- Compare/Contrast
PROJECT DUE
Classification Essay Due
Go over Argument Essay
Assign Essay #6- due before Spring Break
6W
Assign Project #2/ Group Work Day- due April 3rd
8F
11 M
Argument Essay Due (online or email)
SPRING BREAK- NO CLASS
13 W
SPRING BREAK- NO CLASS
18 M
20 W
Go over how to do on-line research
Assign mini-research “essay”
Mini-research due
Assign Essay #8- research paper
Group Work Day
25 M
Group Work Day
27 W
Assign Essay #9- argument
Review
APRIL
1M
TEST- Argument
3W
Essay #9- argument Due
Project Due
8M
Practice with in-class reader response “essays” on visual media
10 W
Discuss critical analysis of a literary work
15 M
Research Paper Due
Discuss critical analysis of a literary work
Assign Essay #10- lit. analysis
17 W
Lit. Essay Due
Review
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22 M
TEST- Argument
24 W
Review
29 M
FINAL EXAM/ LAST DAY OF CLASS
Early Alert: Please be aware that I will refer students to the Early Alert system that I notice having difficulties in
the classroom, whether they are academic or personal. To be successful in the college system (which is a
student’s goal and an instructor’s job to facilitate), handling academic and personal problems early in the
semester makes for an enjoyable and rewarding college experience. This is not a penalty but an attempt to get
you, the student, the free help and assistance you may need.
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 researchbased 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.
HCC Policy Statement - 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.
For questions, please contact Donna Price at 713.718.5165 or the Disability
Counselor at your college. To visit the ADA Web site, please visit
www.hccs.edu then click Future students, scroll down the page and click on
the words Disability Information.
District ADA Coordinator –
Central ADA Counselors –
Northeast ADA CounselorNorthwest ADA Counselor –
Southeast ADA Counselor –
Southwest ADA Counselor –
Coleman ADA Counselor –
Donna Price – 713.718.5165
Jaime Torres - 713.718.6164
Martha Scribner – 713.718.6164
Kim Ingram – 713.718.8420
Mahnaz Kolaini – 713.718.5422
Jette Lott - 713.718.7218
Dr. Becky Hauri – 713.718.7910
Dr. Raj Gupta – 713.718.7631
HCC Policy Statement: Academic Honesty
A student who is academically dishonest is, by definition, not showing that the coursework has been learned,
and that student is claiming an advantage not available to other students. The instructor is responsible for
measuring each student's individual achievements and also for ensuring that all students compete on a level
playing field. Thus, in our system, the instructor has teaching, grading, and enforcement roles. You are expected
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to be familiar with the University's Policy on Academic Honesty, found in the catalog. What that means is: If you
are charged with an offense, pleading ignorance of the rules will not help you. 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 students’ test paper;
Using materials not authorized by the person giving the test;
Collaborating with another student during a test without authorization;
Knowingly using, buying, selling, stealing, transporting, or soliciting in whole or part the contents of a
test that has not been administered;
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 mean the unauthorized collaboration with another person in preparing written work offered for credit.
Possible punishments for academic dishonesty may include a grade of 0 or F in the particular assignment,
failure in the course, and/or recommendation for probation or dismissal from the College System. (See the
Student Handbook)
HCC Policy Statements
Class Attendance - It is important that you come to class! Attending class regularly is the best way to succeed in
this class. Research has shown that the single most important factor in student success is attendance. Simply
put, going to class greatly increases your ability to succeed. You are expected to attend all lecture and labs
regularly. You are responsible for materials covered during your absences. Class attendance is checked daily.
Although it is your responsibility to drop a course for nonattendance, the instructor has the authority to drop you
for excessive absences.
If you are not attending class, you are not learning the information. As the information that is discussed in class
is important for your career, students may be dropped from a course after accumulating absences in excess of
12.5% hours of instruction. The eight hours of class time would include any total classes missed or for excessive
tardiness or leaving class early.
You may decide NOT to come to class for whatever reason. As an adult making the decision not to attend, you
do not have to notify the instructor prior to missing a class. However, if this happens too many times, you may
suddenly find that you have “lost” the class.
Poor attendance records tend to correlate with poor grades. If you miss any class, including the first week, you
are responsible for all material missed. It is a good idea to find a friend or a buddy in class who would be willing
to share class notes or discussion or be able to hand in paper if you unavoidably miss a class.
Class attendance equals class success.
HCC Course Withdrawal Policy
If you feel that you cannot complete this course, you will need to withdraw from the course prior to the final date
of withdrawal. Before, you withdraw from your course; please take the time to meet with the instructor to
discuss why you feel it is necessary to do so. The instructor may be able to provide you with suggestions that
would enable you to complete the course. Your success is very important. Beginning in fall 2007, the Texas
Legislature passed a law limiting first time entering freshmen to no more than SIX total course withdrawals
throughout their educational career in obtaining a certificate and/or degree.
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To help students avoid having to drop/withdraw from any class, HCC has instituted an Early Alert process by
which your professor may “alert” you and HCC counselors that you might fail a class because of excessive
absences and/or poor academic performance. It is your responsibility to visit with your professor or a counselor
to learn about what, if any, HCC interventions might be available to assist you – online tutoring, child care,
financial aid, job placement, etc. – to stay in class and improve your academic performance.
If you plan on withdrawing from your class, you MUST contact a HCC counselor or your professor prior to
withdrawing (dropping) the class for approval and this must be done PRIOR to the withdrawal deadline to
receive a “W” on your transcript. **Final withdrawal deadlines vary each semester and/or depending on class
length, please visit the online registration calendars, HCC schedule of classes and catalog, any HCC
Registration Office, or any HCC counselor to determine class withdrawal deadlines. Remember to allow a 24hour response time when communicating via email and/or telephone with a professor and/or counselor.
Do not submit a request to discuss withdrawal options less than a day before the deadline. If you do not
withdraw before the deadline, you will receive the grade that you are making in the class as your final grade.
Repeat Course Fee
The State of Texas encourages students to complete college without having to repeat failed classes. To
increase student success, students who repeat the same course more than twice, are required to pay extra
tuition. The purpose of this extra tuition fee is to encourage students to pass their courses and to graduate.
Effective fall 2006, HCC will charge a higher tuition rate to students registering the third or subsequent time for a
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.
Classroom Behavior
As your instructor and as a student in this class, it is our shared responsibility to develop and maintain a positive
learning environment for everyone. Your instructor takes this responsibility very seriously and will inform
members of the class if their behavior makes it difficult for him/her to carry out this task. As a fellow learner, you
are asked to respect the learning needs of your classmates and assist your instructor achieve this critical goal.
Use of Camera, Recording Devices, and other Electronic Devices
As a student active in the learning community of this course, it is your responsibility to be respectful of the
learning atmosphere in your classroom. To show respect of your fellow students and instructor, you will turn off
your phone and other electronic devices, and will not use these devices in the classroom unless you receive
permission from the instructor.
Use of recording devices, including camera phones and tape recorders, is prohibited in classrooms,
laboratories, faculty offices, and other locations where instruction, tutoring, or testing occurs. Students with
disabilities who need to use a recording device as a reasonable accommodation should contact the Office for
Students with Disabilities for information regarding reasonable accommodations.
Cell phones are an increasing problem in the classroom. It is my policy that cell phones are not to be heard nor
seen. It causes a disruption in the classroom. All cell phones must be either turned off or on silent (not vibrate).
Accepting phone calls or leaving class to make them is not acceptable. If you have an emergency situation,
please discuss this with the instructor prior to class, not during class time. Repeated infractions will result in a
referral to the Early Alert system for intervention.
Instructor Requirements
As your Instructor, it is my responsibility to:
 Provide the grading scale and detailed grading formula explaining how student grades are to be derived
 Facilitate an effective learning environment through class activities, discussions, and lectures
 Description of any special projects or assignments
 Inform students of policies such as attendance, withdrawal, tardiness and make up
 Provide the course outline and class calendar which will include a description of any special projects or
assignments
 Arrange to meet with individual students before and after class as required
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To be successful in this class, it is the student’s responsibility to:
 Attend class and participate in class discussions and activities
 Read and comprehend the textbook
 Complete the required assignments and exams:
 Ask for help when there is a question or problem
 Keep copies of all paperwork, including this syllabus, handouts and all assignments
Grading
Your instructor will conduct quizzes, exams, and assessments that you can use to determine how successful
you are at achieving the course learning outcomes (mastery of course content and skills) outlined in the
syllabus. If you find you are not mastering the material and skills, you are encouraged to reflect on how you
study and prepare for each class. Your instructor welcomes a dialogue on what you discover and may be able to
assist you in finding resources on campus that will improve your performance
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