Dr. Gavin Schulz
English 1302, HCCS--Southwest
Summer 2011
Course Syllabus
PURPOSE OF THE COURSE
The purpose of Composition II is to foster the understanding that all aspects of a written
text must be viewed as “craft,” that, like fiction, drama, or poetry, essays must be crafted with
care. To further this end, this course provides instruction and practice that will help students
master a variety of writing situations. This will enable students to build upon the writing
process, upon critical reading skills, upon computer skills, and upon the research process—
generating essays that demonstrate thesis-driven, analytical thinking.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Email: gavin.schulz@hccs.edu (I can only check email while at school)
Office Hours: TBA, on an appointment basis.
REQUIRED TEXTBOOK
Fowler, H. Ramsey, Jane E. Aaron, and Janice Okoomian, eds. The Little, Brown Handbook.
11th ed. New York: Pearson/Longman, 2009. (ISBN 13: 978-0-205-65171-9;
ISBN 10: 0-205-65171-2)
GRADING
1] Two short essays
2] Mini-Research Paper
3] Handbook/Policy Quizzes
4] Peer Evaluation Responses
5] Final In-Class Essay
20% (#1)
20% (#2)
35% (#3)
5%
10%
10%
GRADING SCALE
Grades will be assigned in accordance with the “Evaluation Rubric.” Grades will be
assigned on a +/- scale (point equivalents are 88/85/82 for a B+/B/B-, for example).
Note, however, that final grades are on an A/B/C scale. For the purposes of grade
calculation, an average of 90-100 will earn an A for the course; 80-89 will earn a B; 70-79 will
earn a C; 60-69 will earn a D, and 59 or below will earn F’s.
PAPERS
** Draft Check Day: All three semester essays must be submitted on the draft check
days—no exceptions. Failure to include a legitimate draft on these days will result in a zero for
the final essay assignment (not just the draft). To be safe, show me (or send via email) your draft
in advance, as soon as you have it. **
Rough Drafts: I am willing to read complete or partial drafts of essays at any time before
the draft check dates. You must hand me a typed, double-spaced copy in such situations (no
online versions).
Due Dates: Papers are due, in my hand, by the end of class. Failure to submit your paper
by this time will result in a 10 point penalty, with a further 10 points deducted for each 24 hours
it is late.
Electronic Copy: Papers will not be graded without the electronic copies. You must
give me both the hard copy you want me to grade and an electronic copy in class, on the due
date, or it will be considered late.
Essay #3 and the In-Class Final Essay: These must be completed on the date
assigned—no exceptions except for documented emergencies. Failure to submit the Research
Paper on the due date and failure to write the In-Class Final Essay on the final exam day will
result in 0s for the assignments.
Returning Graded Papers: It will take about a week to grade a stack of essays.
Grading Late Papers: All essays turned in (both hard and electronic copies) after class
on the due dates, for whatever reason, will be placed in a separate pile and will be graded only
after all of the on-time essays have been completed.
Lost Papers: Please keep a copy of your papers for your own file; should a paper be lost,
it is your responsibility to give me another.
EXCUSES
Broken computers, printers out of ink, car running out of gas, etc. These may be reasons
why you cannot turn in your paper on time, but they are not excuses. If you wait until the last
minute to turn something in and fate conspires against you, then you have only yourself to
blame. Always keep a backup copy of your essay, and always submit your essay by email as
soon as it’s ready.
EXTRA CREDIT
There is none. Your grade in this class will be determined by how well you do on the
assignments themselves.
ESSAY REQUIREMENTS
Essays that have failed to fulfill the assignment’s requirements will be penalized; these
essays will be marked down 5 points for each requirement that has not been satisfactorily
fulfilled.
GRAMMAR
Essays that do not meet the minimum grammatical requirements for college level writing
in this class will be penalized; these essays will earn an average of two grades: the grade for the
essay and an F (50 points) for grammar.
ATTENDANCE AND WITHDRAWAL POLICY
Absences: Attendance is required by the State of Texas and HCCS at all class meetings.
The State of Texas now requires that all students who miss the first two days of class to be
withdrawn. **Furthermore, should you miss more than 6 hours of class in a semester, the State
of Texas now requires that you be given an “FX”—a failure for reasons of attendance.
Tardiness: Note, however, that showing up twenty minutes late to class each day does
not mean that you have perfect attendance; it means that you have missed one-fifth of the
semester (about 7 hours of class).
Withdrawal: It is the student’s responsibility to withdraw; so, should you decide to drop
the class, do not merely stop coming. Note that we no longer have the option to assign "W"'s at
the end of the semester, so all students still on my roll at the end of the semester will receive
grades.
Missed Schoolwork: You are, in any event, responsible for any material assigned or
collected on those days that you are absent or tardy. Be sure to get the notes from somebody
who was in class. If a paper is due on a day that you are going to be absent, it is your
responsibility to find a way to turn it in. Missed exercises/quizzes may not be made up.
* TEXAS WITHDRAWAL RULE *
Students who repeat a course three or more times, or who accumulate 6 or more “W”’s
during their college career, face significant tuition/fee increases at HCC and other Texas public
colleges and universities. If you are considering course withdrawal, confer with your
instructor/counselor as early as possible about your study habits, reading and writing homework,
attendance, course participation, and opportunities for tutoring that might be available.
BOOKSTORE
Please note that the bookstore is not run by HCC. It is a Barnes and Noble facility. We,
therefore, have no say in how it is run, what books they stock, how many copies of each book
they stock, or what they claim you will need for any specific class.
ELECTRONIC DEVICES
Use of recording devices, including camera phones and tape recorders, is prohibited in
classrooms and other locations where instruction, tutoring, or testing occurs. Inappropriate use
of a recording device will be reported to the police and may be a felony offense.
SPECIAL CONDITIONS/CIRCUMSTANCES
Any student with a documented disability (e.g. physical, learning, psychological, vision,
hearing, etc.) who needs to arrange reasonable accommodations must contact the Disability
Services Office at the beginning of each semester.
POLICY ON ACADEMIC DISHONESTY
Scholastic Dishonesty includes, but is not limited to:
1] “Plagiarism”--the appropriation of previously written work and the unacknowledged
incorporation of that work in one’s own written work for credit.
2] “Collusion”--the unauthorized collaboration with another person in preparing written
work for credit.
3] ‘Cheating’—obtaining or providing answers from/to another person during a quiz.
A student guilty of a first offense will earn a grade of 0 on the assignment involved. For
a second offense, the student will earn an F for the course.
Class Assignments/Reading Schedule
(* Assignments are to be completed for the class they are listed under *)
Week 1:
July
11] Course Introduction / Diagnostic Essay
12] Sample Diagnostic Essay / Introduction to Essay #1
13] Brainstorming / Outlining / Thesis Statements
Read for class: Online editorials from the July 12th edition of the Houston
Chronicle, at www.chron.com, found in the “Opinion” section. There
should be about 4-5 articles at left side of page under headings “Chronicle
editorials” and “other views.”
14] Handbook Quiz #1 / Introductions / Argumentation
15] Handbook Quiz #2 / Opposition/Response Paragraph /
Plagiarism / APA Format
Week 2:
18] ** DRAFT CHECK DAY / Peer Evaluation Day
Due at start of class: 2 copies of rough draft (must include introduction, point
#1 & 2, and opposition/response paragraphs)
19] * Final Draft of Essay #1 Due * / Handbook Quiz #3
Turn in to me by the end of class: Final hard copy of essay, any peer evaluation
responses received, and an electronic copy of the essay
20] Handbook Quiz #4 / Introduction to Assignment #2 / Chicago Format
21] Brainstorming / Extended Definitions
Read: Online stories listed on my Learning Web page
22] Handbook Quiz #5 / Cause & Effect Argumentation
Week 3:
25] Handbook Quiz #6 / Transitions / Conclusions
26] ** DRAFT CHECK DAY / Peer Evaluation Day
Due at start of class: 2 copies of rough draft (must include Starting Point, Lesson
#1, Lesson #2, and conclusion paragraphs)
27] * Final Draft of Essay #2 Due * / Handbook Quiz #7
Turn in to me by the end of class: Final hard copy of essay, any peer evaluation
responses received; research Xeroxes, and an electronic copy of the essay
28] Handbook Quiz #8 / Introduction to Assignment #3 / Brainstorming / Titles
Read: The homepage of The International Herald Tribune (July 27 edition) found
at www.iht.com
29] Handbook Quiz #9 / Library Research / Database Research
Meet in Library Computer Lab today
Week 4:
August 1] Handbook Quiz #10 / Research
2] Handbook Quiz #11 / Opposition & Response Paragraphs / Incorporating Sources
Bring: One research source
3] Handbook Quiz #12 / In-Text Citations / Research
Bring: One research source
4] Works Cited Page (Part I)
Bring: One book and one internet article
5] ** DRAFT CHECK DAY / Works Cited Page (Part II)
Bring: One magazine/journal and one database article
Week 5:
8] ** Final Draft of Essay #3 Due **
Turn in to me at start of class: Final draft, any peer evaluation responses, all
xeroxes of source material, and an electronic copy of your essay
9] In-Class Final Preparation Day
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Final Exam Date (In-Class Essay):
For the 8 a.m. class: Wednesday, August 10 from 8:00 a.m.-10:00 a.m. in our regular classroom.
(** Note: changes can and may be made at the Instructor’s discretion **)