Dr. Gavin Schulz
English 1301, HCC--Southwest
Spring 2013
Hybrid Composition I Syllabus
Welcome to this Hybrid Composition I course. We will meet twice a week in the classroom, while the rest of our coursework will be conducted online using the Eagle Online system.
COURSE INFORMATION
Instructor: Dr. Gavin Schulz
Section: CRN# 34669
Eagle Online: http://hccs1.mrooms3.net
PURPOSE OF THE COURSE
The purpose of this course is to prepare you for the short writing assignment one encounters in college.
Developing conscientious writing habits and mastering the various forms will provide a foundation for future writing tasks, even when they demand alternative, or more sophisticated, forms. There will be an emphasis on organization, pre-writing, and revision skills in order to teach you the connected and interactive process of writing.
This approach is intended to foster in the student the recognition that all writing, not merely poetry or fiction, is craft.
CONTACT INFORMATION
E-mail: Please use the email function in Eagle Online. I will check email at least every morning. For emergencies only, use my HCC email address: gavin.schulz@hccs.edu
. Treat all communication as if it were being conducted in the professional world.
Office Hours: I am available to meet with you on an appointment basis before class or after 11 a.m.
REQUIRED TEXTBOOKS
None. All readings will be taken from online sources.
GRADING SCHEDULE
1] 2 semester essays (roughly 1000 words each)
2] Revision Essay (roughly 1250 words)
3] Online Activities
4] Online Quizzes
5] Peer Evaluation Exercises
6] Take-Home Final Essay
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EAGLE ONLINE
Technical Compliance : Things will go smoothly if you (1) install the free Firefox browser (not the beta version), (2) run the latest Java script, and (3) allow pop-ups. You must use the Firefox browser for full compatibility with Eagle Online. Other web browsers are not fully supported. Be sure to use Firefox for critical, timed tasks such as quizzes and assignment submissions. You will also need Adobe Acrobat Reader.
Eagle Online User ID and Login : Your login user ID is your HCC User ID (sometimes referred to as the
“W” number). The default password is the word “distance.” You will be asked to change your password after your first login. Contact the Eagle Online Help Desk for help with your password.

Computer Access : It is the student’s responsibility to have dependable Internet access. Plan ahead—if your computer is down, keep in mind that HCC provides computer labs for your use. Public libraries also offer computer access.
Technical Help : Many technical questions can be answered when you click on “Technical Requirements,” a link in your Online Orientation, which is required for the course. I am glad to help you, of course, with course content, but Tech Support is there to help you with your technical questions. Technical Support can be found at http://smartipantz.perceptis.com/hccs , or by calling 1-855-836-3519. In addition to your name, they will need your
CRN number, your student ID, and my name.
Online Participation : You should log into Eagle Online daily to check for announcements and do the required assignments for the week. Unless you have informed me of an emergency, failing to log in the first week, failing to log in regularly throughout the semester, and failing to complete all the assignments will be regarded as not attending, and absences will be recorded.
Eagle Technical Problems : If technical problems occur, say, Eagle Online or the HCC network goes down, we will obviously have trouble accessing the online platform and meeting deadlines. I will, then, adjust deadlines accordingly.
IMPORTANT DATES
January 13 Last Day for Drop/Add/Swap
January 14
February 18
First Day of Classes
Offices closed—President’s Day Holiday
February 19
March 7
March 22
Last Day to Withdraw, 4:30 p.m.
Final Exam Due (take-home). No Late Papers & No Other Work Accepted
Grades Available Online: http://getgrades.com
or www.hccs.edu
GRADING SCALE
Evaluation Rubric : Grades will be assigned in accordance with the “Evaluation Rubric,” to which you will be given access. Grades will be assigned on a +/- scale (point equivalents are 88/85/82 for a B+/B/B-, for example).
Grading Scale : Final grades are on an A/B/C scale. A final 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
Submitting Your Papers : Save your files with a clear Word file name that includes your name and the assignment.
Rough Drafts : I am willing to read complete or partial drafts of essays at any time until the Last Day for
Draft Check dates listed on calendar. You must hand me a typed, double-spaced copy in such situations (no online versions).
Last Day for Draft Check
Due Dates for Essays 1-2
: This is the last day that I will accept rough drafts for review.
: Papers are due, in my hand, by the end of class on the day they are due. Failure to submit your paper by this time will result in a 5 point penalty, with a further 10 points deducted for each 24 hours it is late. If unable to come to class, you may submit an electronic copy by the end of class (i.e. by email), and submit the paper copy during our next class.
Electronic Copy : Papers will not be graded without accompanying electronic copies.
Revision Essay and the Take-Home Final Essay: These must be completed on the date assigned—no exceptions except for documented emergencies. Failure to submit the Revision Paper on the due date or submit the
Take-Home Final Essay on the final exam day will result in a 0 for the assignment.
Returning Graded Papers : It will take about one 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 : It is the student’s responsibility to back up files regularly. Do not get caught by a technical glitch. Keep a copy of your papers for your own file; should a paper be lost, it is your responsibility to give me another.

OTHER ASSIGNMENTS
Quizzes : In-class Handbook/Policy quizzes will begin 5 minutes after class starts. You will have 10 minutes from the start of the quiz to finish, regardless of when you begin the quiz. No makeups will be allowed, though I will drop your two lowest scores.
Peer Evaluations : You must have typed, double-spaced copies of your draft, with all of the paragraphs requested, to participate. No partial participation will be allowed. Show on time; if you are late, and there is nobody left to share drafts with you, you will lose the points.
NAMES
Any assignments submitted without your name will be given zeros (0).
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 5 points for each requirement that you have failed to fulfill, or 10 points for ignoring a requirement.
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. Houston
Community College will now automatically drop all students who miss the first two days of class. **In addition, should you fail because you have stopped attending, 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 (almost 2 weeks). Therefore, tardiness of more than 20 minutes will be recorded as an absence.
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; that is what college students do. In fact, you might exchange emails with one or more of your fellow students in order to protect yourself against missed work. 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. HCC has instituted an Early Alert process by which your professor may “alert” you and DE counselors that you might fail a class because of absences and/or poor academic performance.
INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
Receiving a “W” or an “FX” in a course may affect the status of your student visa. Once a “W” or an “FX” is given for the course, it will not be changed to an “F” because of the visa consideration. Please contact the
International Student Office at 713-718-8520 if you have any questions about your visa status and any other transfer issues.
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.
NEW 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 research-based 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.
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 (713-718-7909) at the beginning of each semester.
INCLEMENT WEATHER
During inclement weather conditions, monitor major local channels for updates on school closings. You can also check for school closing information on the HCC homepage.
MENINGITIS IMMUNIZATION REQUIRED FOR SPRING REGISTRATION
Texas Senate Bill 1107 passed in May 2011, requires that new HCC students and former HCC students returning after an absence of at least one fall or spring semester who are under the age of 30 are required to present a physician-signed certificate showing they have been vaccinated against bacterial meningitis. Beginning with Spring registration, November 7, students will have to satisfy this requirement prior to enrollment. For more information and a list of exemptions please go to http://www.hccs.edu/hccs/admissions-registration-center/new-student-general-admissions-steps/submit-meningitisdocumentation

VIRTUAL CLASSROOM CONDUCT & EAGLE ONLINE LMS
As with on-campus classes, all students who log into Eagle Online courses are required to follow all HCC Policies
& Procedures, the Student Code of Conduct, the Student Handbook ( http://www.hccs.edu/hccs/currentstudents/student-handbook ), and relevant sections of the Texas Education Code when interacting and communicating in a virtual classroom with your professor and fellow students. Students who violate these policies and guidelines will be subject to disciplinary action that could include denial of access to course-related email, discussion groups, and chat rooms, or even removal from the class.
POLICY ON ACADEMIC DISHONESTY
Scholastic Dishonesty includes, but is not limited to:
1] “Plagiarism”—using another person’s paper, words, or ideas without quotation marks (if exact words are used) or appropriate citation.
2] “Collusion”--the unauthorized collaboration with another person in preparing written work for credit.
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.
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ENGLISH MISSION STATEMENT
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 detaioled 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 an 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 computerbased technology in communicating, solving problems, and acquiring information. Core-educated 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.
STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES FOR ENGLISH 1301
1. Demonstrate knowledge of writing as process.
2. Apply basic principles of critical thinking in analyzing reading selections, developing expository essays, and writing argumentative essays.
3. Analyze elements such as purpose, audience, tone, style, strategy in essays and/or literature by professional writers.
4. Write essays in appropriate academic writing style using varied rhetorical strategies.
5. Synthesize concepts from and use references to assigned readings in their own academic writing.

Class Assignment/Reading Schedule
(* Assignments are to be completed for the class they are listed under *)
Week 1
Jan. 15] Course Introduction
17] Introduction to Essay Assignment #1 / Freewriting / MLA Page Layout
- Week 1 Online Assignments : Syllabus Quiz (due 1/16)
Diagnostic Essay (due 1/18)
Quiz 1 (due 1/20)
Plagiarism Exercise (due 1/20)
Read articles from Essay #1 list (due 1/22)
Week 2
22] Analyzing Articles / Group Brainstorming / Thesis Statements / Thesis exercise
24] **Last Day to Submit a Rough Draft to me** / Introductions / Testing Claims—Asking Why
/ Logos-Pathos-Ethos / Ethos Appeal Group Exercise
- Week 2 Online Assignments : Paragraph Analysis Exercise (due 1/24)
Sample Essay Exercise (due 1/24)
Quiz 2 (due 1/27)
Quiz 3 (due 1/27)
Rough Draft (due 1/26)
Week 3
29] Conferences
31] ** Essay Assignment #1 due ** / Introduction to Essay Assignment #2
-- Week 3 Online Assignments : Peer Evaluation (due 1/29)
Essay Assignment #1 Electronic Submission (due 1/31)
Short Sentence Exercise (due 2/3)
Quiz 4 (due 2/3)
Quiz 5 (due 2/3)
Week 4
Feb. 5] Responding to the Opposition / Group Brainstorming
7] **Last Day to Submit a Rough Draft to me** / Types of Evidence / Evaluating Evidence /
Evidence Group Exercise / MLA In-Text Citations
- Week 4 Online Assignments : Opposition Exercise (due 2/7)
Citation Exercise (due 2/7)
Rough Draft (due 2/9)
Quiz 6 (due 2/10)
Week 5
12] Conferences

14] ** Essay Assignment #2 due ** / Introduction to Essay Assignment #3 (World Conflict)
- Week 5 Online Assignments : Peer Evaluation (due 2/12)
Essay Assignment #2 Electronic Submission (due 2/14)
Quiz 7 (due 2/17)
Quiz 8 (due 2/17)
Read articles from Essay #2 list
Week 6
19] Library Visit / Research
21] Clustering / Group Brainstorming / MLA Works Cited
- Week 6 Online Assignments : MLA Citation Exercise (due 2/24)
Quiz 9 (due 2/24)
Quiz 10 (due 2/24)
Week 7
26] **Last Day to Submit a Rough Draft to me** / Using Quotations / Quotation Group Exercise
/ Annotated Bibliography
28] Conferences
- Week 7 Online Assignments : Annotated Bibliography Exercise (due 3/3)
Quiz 11 (due 3/3)
Quiz 12 (due 3/3)
Week 8
Mar. 5] ** Essay Assignment #3 due ** / Introduction to Take-Home Final Essay
7] **No class today**
- Week 8 Online Assignment : Essay Assignment #2 Electronic Submission (due 3/5)
Take-Home Final Essay (due 3/7)