Dr. Gavin Schulz
English 1302, HCC--Southwest
Spring 2013
Hybrid Composition II Syllabus
Welcome to this Hybrid Composition II course. The Hybrid courses meet 50% of the time in the classroom and
50% of the time online.
COURSE INFORMATION
Instructor: Dr. Gavin Schulz
Section: CRN# 34702
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.
REQUIRED TEXTBOOKS
None. All readings will be taken from online sources.
GRADING SCHEDULE
1] 2 semester essays (roughly 1000 words each)
2] Research Paper (roughly 2000 words)
3] Online Exercises
4] Peer Evaluation Exercises
5] Take-Home Final Essay
15%
15%
25%
25%
10%
10%
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 if you need help with your password (the number can be found on
the login page.
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: 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
March 17
Last Day for Drop/Add/Swap
March 18
First Day of Classes
March 29-31
Offices closed—Spring Holiday
April 22
Last Day to Withdraw, 4:30 p.m.
May 7
Instruction Ends
May 9
Final Exam Due (take-home). No Late Papers & No Other Work Accepted
May 17
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 Online: Save your files with a clear Word file name that includes your name and
the assignment. Note that you must also give me a hard copy (see the assignment sheets for directions).
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.
Last Day for Draft Check: This is the last day that I will accept rough drafts for review.
Due Dates for Essays 1-2: Papers are due by 11:00 a.m. on the days 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.
Research Paper 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 by 11:00 a.m.
or submit the Take-Home Final Essay on the final exam day by 11:00 a.m. will result in a 0 for the assignments.
Returning Graded Papers: It will take about one weeks to grade a stack of essays.
Grading Late Papers: All essays turned in 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.
Peer Evaluation Exercises: You must have double-spaced copies of your draft, with all of the paragraphs
requested, to participate. No partial participation will be allowed.
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.
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 (including logging in to class) is required by the State of Texas and HCCS at all class
meetings. 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.
Withdrawal: It is the student’s responsibility to withdraw; so, should you decide to drop the class, do not
merely stop coming or logging in to the class. 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.
* 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.
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.
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.
______________________________________________________________________________
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,
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·
·
·
·
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.
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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 Assignments/Reading Schedule
(* Assignments are to be completed for the class they are listed under *)
Week 1:
Mar.
19] Quick Introduction / Sample Diagnostic Essay
Online] Syllabus Quiz due 3/20
Diagnostic Essay due 3/20
21] Introduction to Essay #1 / Introductions
Online] Brainstorming Exercise due 3/23
Plagiarism Exercise due 3/25
Week 2:
26] Analysis Paragraph Structure / Opposition & Response Paragraph
** Last Day to Submit a Draft to me for Review **
Online] Analysis Exercise due 3/27
APA Format Exercise due 3/27
28] Conference Day / Peer Evaluation Draft Submission
Online] Rough Draft Online Submission due 3/29
Peer Evaluation Exercise due 3/31
Week 3:
Apr.
2] ** Final Draft of Essay #1 Due / Introduction to Essay #2
Turn in to me: Final draft, any research xeroxes, and an electronic copy of your essay
Online] Final Draft Essay #1 Online Submission due 4/2
Brainstorming Exercise due 4/4
Citing in Chicago Format Exercise due 4/5
4] Defining Character Traits / Conclusions
Online] Definition Exercise due 4/8
Conclusion Exercise due 4/8
Transition Exercise due 4/8
Week 4:
9] Cause & Effect Argumentation / Transitions
** Last Day to Submit a Draft to me for Review **
Online] Cause/Effect Exercise due 4/10
11] Conference Day / Peer Evaluation Draft Submission
Online] Rough Draft Online Submission due 4/12
Peer Evaluation Exercise due 4/14
Week 5:
16] ** Final Draft of Essay #2 Due / Introduction to Essay #3
Turn in to me: Final draft, all research xeroxes, and an electronic copy of your essay
Online] Final Draft of Essay #2 Online Submission due 4/16
Brainstorming Exercise due 4/18
18] Library & Research Introduction / Legitimate Sources / Database Research
** Class Meets In: Library Computer Lab
Online] Legitimate Sources Exercise due 4/22
Week 6:
** Mon., Apr. 22: Last Day to Drop With a “W” **
23] Research / Opposition-Response Paragraphs
** Class Meets In: Library Computer Lab
Online] Opposition/Response Exercise due 4/24
25] Incorporating Sources / In-Text Citations
Online] Incorporating Forms Exercise due 4/29
In-Text Citation Exercise due 4/29
Week 7:
30] Works Cited Citations
** Last Day to Submit a Draft to me for Review **
Online] Works Cited Exercise due 5/1
May
2] Conferences Day
Online] Title Exercise due 5/3
Week 8:
7] ** Final Draft of Research Paper Due ** / Introduction to In-Class Final Essay
Turn in to me: Final draft, all xeroxes of source material, and
an electronic copy of your essay
Online] Final Draft of Research Paper Online Submission due 5/7
9] Final Exams—No Class
Online] Final Take-Home Essay Online Submission due 5/9
(** Note: changes can and may be made at the Instructor’s discretion **)