ENGL 300
COURSE SYLLABUS:
ENGL 300:
Instructor Contact & Course Information
Semester: Spring 2014
Instructor:
Crystal M. Johnson
Email Address(es): crystal.johnson1@hccs.edu
Office Hours:
By Appointment
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: In completing this course, students will be able to:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Write sentences that demonstrate proper use of grammar and mechanics
Read analytically
Write in response to reading
Develop a thesis statement and use supporting paragraphs to strengthen and support thesis
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.
HCC Policy Statement – ADA
Special Conditions
If you have any special conditions, extenuating circumstances, or needs that may affect your progress in this course, please notify me. Discuss with me any
special accommodations that you have documented through the Ability Support Services counselors so that we may better meet your needs.
Academic Integrity:
Students are expected to be familiar with the HCC policy on academic honesty (as detailed in various HCC publications) and are responsible for conducting
themselves with honor and integrity in fulfilling course requirements. HCC officials may initiate penalties and/or disciplinary proceedings against any student
accused of scholastic dishonesty (which includes, but is not limited to, cheating on a test, plagiarism, and collusion). Should you have any questions about
proper handling of source material for your writing, consult the MLA guidelines, your professor and/or a tutor (FAC 321-B). Evidence of plagiarism results in a
grade of F.
Course withdrawal: If you elect to withdraw formally from any HCC class and thereby receive a “W” on your grade transcript, you must contact a HCC
counselor or your professor prior to the withdrawal deadline for the current semester to initiate the process. If you do not do so and simply cease to attend, you
will receive a final grade by default (quite likely “F”) based on your course average in relation to the full slate of required assignments.
The consequences for academic dishonesty are determined by the professor, or the professor and academic dean, or the professor and chief student services
officer and can include but are not limited to
1. Having additional class requirements imposed,
2. Receiving a grade of zero or "F" for an exam or assignment,
3. Receiving a grade of "F" for the course,
4. Being withdrawn from the course or program,
5. Being expelled from the college system.
Required Materials:
TEXTBOOKS
Textbook: Paragraphs and Essays by Lee & Kelly Brandon, 11th Edition
Any Good paperback college-level Dictionary
Blue or black ink pens for handwritten work
The following is a good online resource: Purdue Online Writing Lab
Attendance Policy:
If you miss more than two class sessions, your final grade in the course will be deducted 5% for every absence over the limit. If you are more than 15 minutes
late, you will be counted absent. For every three tardies, you will receive one absence.
If you are absent, it is your responsibility to get the notes and assignments from classmates.
Civility in the classroom:
Students are expected to assist in maintaining a classroom environment that is conducive to learning. In order to assure that all students have the opportunity to
gain from time spent in class, unless otherwise approved by the instructor; students are prohibited from engaging in any form of distraction. Therefore, the use of
any personal electronic devices is prohibited in class. This means you may NOT text, answer cell phones, listen to personal media players, or use laptops while
in class.
Classroom Respect:
As college students, you are expected to behave in a courteous and respectful manner toward your instructor and fellow students at all times. Verbal harassment
of instructors or fellow students orally or through email will not be tolerated. Should any of these occur, I will have a conference with the student(s) in question
and referral may be made to the Dean of Students for further disciplinary action.
Email Correspondence:
If you have questions or concerns about the course, I am of course available via email. I will try to respond to your emails quickly and promptly (within about 24
hours during the week and about 48 hours during the weekend). Do not, however, assume I will be able to reply instantly to email questions.
Email Etiquette:
All correspondence with me as your professor should be respectful and professional at all times. Email should follow those guidelines. Therefore, every email
you send will have a subject line, salutation, and electronic signature. Lastly, do not use poor grammar or text language in your emails to me.
Make-Up Work:
You are responsible for all work done in class and for keeping up with assignments announced in your absence. Attendance is expected on due dates regardless
of whether or not your work is ready to submit for evaluation. All assignments will be deducted one letter grade for every day it is turned in late. If you do not
hand in your paper by the time class begins, it will be considered late.
I do not believe in Make-up work. If you do not turn it in, you will not receive credit for it. I do not accept papers via email no matter the excuse.
Assignment
Essay 1: Description/Narration
Essay 2: (In-Class)
Essay 3: argument
% of Final Grade
10
10
15
Due Date
3/6
4/10
5/1
Paragraphs (8)
20
Weekly
Final Exam
Dialectical Reading Journals/Participation/Lab Hour
activities/Quizzes
Homework: Weekly assignment questions
Grammar Projects
Total
10
15
TBA
15
5
100
Weekly
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.
Exams & In-class writing: All in-class essays are based on a prompt, which you are given on the day of the in-class writing. 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 JAC Monday-Thursday ___________: Friday ____________
(**Students may be required by instructors to work with a tutor.)
Library: The library is located in The Learning Hub Science Building on the 3rd and 4th floor.
Open Computer Labs: Computers are available for student use at various locations around campus. Especially convenient for you are computer labs in FAC 302,
the library, and the Macintosh Interdisciplinary Lab in JDB 203-204. Check locations for open hours.
Weekly homework assignments: Every week, you will respond to online assignments, which are due each Sunday at 11:59 pm. You will turn in your response
through Eagle Online. Website: http://eo2.hccs.edu/
Changes to Assignment Schedule and Course Policies:
The instructor reserves the right to update the assignments and schedule at any time. It is the student’s responsibility to keep up with changes as they are
announced.
** Students should be prepared for in-class quizzes over readings/vocabulary on the day they are due.
Calendar of Readings and Due Dates
Week 1
February 13-17
Day
In-Class Course Topics and Activities
T
Introduction to course policies
TH
Diagnostic Essay
Readings Due
Homework
None Due this week
Week 2: Writing Process
January 20-26
Day
T
Th
Homework
In-Class Course Topics and Activities
Discuss Ch 1
In-Class Journal
LAB HOUR: Ch 1
Discussion questions
(Ch 2 pg 17)
Assignments & Readings Due
Chapter 1: 3-11
Responses are due by Sunday 11:59 p.m.
* Be prepared to discuss your responses on Monday.
Week 3: Writing Process
January 27-February 2
Day
In-Class Course Topics and Activities
Readings Due
T
Discuss Ch 2
Chapter 2: 12-23
Th
In-Class Journal
LAB HOUR: Ch 2
Discussion questions
(Ch 3)
Responses are due by Sunday 11:59 p.m.
* Be prepared to discuss your responses on Monday.
Homework
Week 4: Writing Process
February 3-9
Day
In-Class Course Topics and Activities
T
Discuss Ch 3
Th
In-Class Quiz
LAB HOUR:
Homework
Discussion questions (Ch 4)
Week 5: Building Paragraphs
February 10-16
Day
In-Class Course Topics and Activities
T
Discuss Ch. 4
TH
In-Class quiz
LAB HOUR:
Homework
Week 6: Description Narration
February 17-23
Day
In-Class Course Topics and Activities
T
Introduction to Description
Introduction to Essay 1
TH
Dialectical Reading Journal
Sign-up for Grammar Projects
Lab Hour: Description Paragraphs
Homework
Description Activity
Week 7:
February 24-March 2
Day
In-Class Course Topics and Activities
T
Description Continued
*Description Paragraph Due
TH
Lab Hour: Revise Description Paragraph & Introduction
Paragraph/thesis statements
Homework
Vocabulary & Grammar
Week 8: Exemplification
March 3-9
Day
In-Class Course Topics and Activities
T
Lecture: Ch. 8
Guidelines for Papers
Essay 1 Rough Draft Due
TH
Dialectical Reading Journal
Essay 1 Due
Lab Hour: Exemplification paragraph
Readings Due
Chapter 3: 24-53
Responses are due by Sunday 11:59 p.m.
* Be prepared to discuss your responses on Monday.
Readings Due
Chapter 4: 55-63
Assignments & Readings Due
Chapter 7: 105-115
Espinoza’s essay “An American in Mexico” (123-125)
Kavanagh’s essay “The Drag” (131)
Rensky’s “Rituals as Comfort Food..” (132-133)
Responses are due on Eagle Online by Sunday 11:59 p.m.
Assignments & Readings Due
Chapter 5: 65-79
Responses are due on Eagle Online by Sunday 11:59 p.m.
Assignments & Readings Due
Chapter 8: 145-150
Bernstein’s “How Facebook Ruins..” (152-154)
Lara’s essay: “Who’s Cheap” (157-159)
Gall’s essay: “Little Brother Is Watching” (155-156)
Homework
Exemplification paragraph due
Week: Spring Break
March 10-16
Readings
Responses are due on Eagle Online by Sunday 11:59 p.m.
Assignments Due
Week 9: Cause & Effect
March 17-23
Day
In-Class Course Topics and Activities
T
Explaining Causes and Effects
Grammar Group guidelines
TH
Dialectical Reading Journal
Lab Hour: C&E paragraph
Homework
C&E activity
Week 10:
March 24-31
Day
T
TH
Homework
In-Class Course Topics and Activities
Introduction to Comparison & Contrast
Introduction to Midterm Requirements
Dialectical Reading Journal
Lab Hour: C&C Paragraph
C&C Activity
Week 11: Practice In class Essay
April 1-6
Day
In-Class Course Topics and Activities
T
Grammar Activities
C&C Paragraph Due
TH
Dialectical Reading Journal
Lab Hour: C&C/ Practice in class essay
Grammar Presentations
Homework
Vocabulary and Grammar
Assignments & Readings Due
Chapter 11: 236-243
“Kick Me” to “Kiss Me” (256-257)
“The Ghetto Made Me Do it” (251-254)
Responses are due on Eagle Online by Sunday 11:59 p.m.
Assignments & Readings Due
Chapter 13: 294-301
Britt’s essay “Neat People vs. Sloppy People” (306)
Brehm’s essay “Blue as in Boy, Pink as in Girl” (303)
Rodriguez’s essay “Public and Private” (304)
Responses are due on Eagle Online by Sunday 11:59 p.m.
Assignments & Readings Due
Mukherjee’s essay “Two Ways to Belong in America” (308)
Responses are due on Eagle Online by Sunday 11:59 p.m.
Week 12: Arguments
April 7-13
Day
T
TH
Homework
In-Class Course Topics and Activities
Dialectical Reading Journal
Essay Exams
Grammar Presentations
Essay 2: Midterm exam (In-Class)
Grammar & Vocabulary
Week 13: Argumentation
April 14-20
Day
In-Class Course Topics and Activities
T
Introduction to Argumentation & Persuasion
Grammar Presentation
TH
Dialectical Reading Journal
Lab Hour: Argumentation paragraph
Homework
Argumentation Activity based on Bentancourt’s essay
Assignments & Readings Due
Bring a Blue book to class.
Responses are due on Eagle Online by Sunday 11:59 p.m.
Assignments & Readings Due
Chapter 15: 357-365
Daum’s essay: “Shouldn’t Men Have a Choice” (372)
Bentancourt’s essay: “Mandatory Tipping at BoBo’s” (382)
Responses are due on Eagle Online by Sunday 11:59 p.m.
Week 14: Argumentation
April 21-27
Day
T
TH
Homework
In-Class Course Topics and Activities
Argument and Persuasion Continued
Argumentation Paragraph Due
Grammar Presentation
Dialectical Reading Journal
Lab Hour: Revise Argumentation Paragraph & Introduction
Paragraph/thesis statements
Assignments & Readings Due
Smith’s “Who Raised the thugs in the hood?” (367)
Logical Fallacies & Vocabulary
Responses are due on Eagle Online by Sunday 11:59 p.m.
Week 15: Argumentation
April 28-May4
Day
In-Class Course Topics and Activities
T
Argument & Persuasion continued
Essay 2 Rough Draft Due
TH
Lab Hour: Research Activity
Grammar Presentation
Essay 3 Due
Homework
Assignments & Readings Due
Responses are due on Eagle Online by Sunday 11:59 p.m.
Week 16:
May 5-11
Day
In-Class Course Topics and Activities
Final Exam
Date: TBA
Readings Due