ENGLISH 1301: Composition I Syllabus
Spring 2011
MWF 9-10 a.m.
CRN63600, FAC 314
Instructor: Leslie Schwartz
leslie.schwartz@hccs.edu
Phone: 713-718-6671
Office hours: by appointment only
CATALOG DESCRIPTION: A course devoted to improving the student’s writing and
critical reading. Writing essays for a variety of purposes from person to academic,
including an introduction to argumentation, critical analysis, and the use of sources.
Credit: 3 semester hours (3 lecture hours)
PREREQUISITE: A satisfactory assessment score, completion of ENGL 0310 or
ENGL (for non-native speakers) ENGL 0349.
COURSE PURPOSE: This college-level course is designed to acquaint you with
writing expository, analytical and argumentative essays. You will learn not only through
practice, but also through the reading of essays in which you analyze purpose, audience,
tone, style and writing strategy.
TEXTBOOKS REQUIRED:
*NOTE—Books must be purchased by fourth class or you will be dropped from the
class.
The Norton Reader, Peterson & Brereton, Eds. 12th edition.
The McGraw-Hill Handbook. Maimon, Peritz, & Yancey. 2nd edition.
MATERIALS:
Binder/folder with dividers to contain graded papers and assignment sheets, and exercises
USB drive
Highlighters
College-level dictionary and thesaurus
STUDENT LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
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.
BASIC REQUIREMENTS: Students will write at least 3,000 words during the course
to include both in-class (graded and non-graded) writing and out-of-class essays. You
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also must read all assignments and be ready to discuss the essay(s) at the next class
session. Be prepared to study two hours for each hour spent in class every week.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
40% In-class essays (at least 3)
30% Out of class essays
20% In-class writing activities, journal entries, quizzes, attendance
10% Final Exam
Scholastic honesty: Students are expected to behave with honesty and integrity in the
writing of papers and in-class discussions. Plagiarism—acknowledged or
unacknowledged use of another person’s words or ideas—earns a ZERO for the
assignment.
REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION: Any student with a documented disability
(e.g. physical, learning, psychiatric, vision, hearing, etc.) who needs to arrange
reasonable accommodation must contact the Disability Support Services Office at the
beginning of each semester. Faculty members are authorized to provide only the
accommodations requested by the Disability Counselor.
Please visit the Disability Support Office at the Central Campus building LHSG 108 on
the first floor, or call them at 713-718-5165.
SUPPORT SERVICES:
Tutoring: Free tutoring is available and may be required by the instructor. Check the
door of Central Campus FAC 321b for the fall schedule.
Open Computer Lab: Computers are available for word processing in the Computer
Writing Lab and in the Library. Check for Open hours.
Instructor will not read e-mailed essays.
STUDENT ATTENDANCE: You will be graded on your attendance. It is in your best
interest to attend class every time, excluding emergencies. HCC’s policy states that you
will be dropped after 6 class sessions have been missed. Three tardies will equal one
unexcused absence.
COURSE CALENDAR:
Note: Readings may be accompanied with journal entries, quizzes, or in-class
writing/activities on due date, but these assignments will be delivered in the form of
handouts or instruction in class. Also, except for the assignment on the first week,
reading assignments in the McGraw-Hill Handbook will individualized, according to
grading suggestions.
*Please note that syllabus is subject to change.
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WEEK ONE
January 17 Martin Luther King, Jr. Observance.
January 19 Intro to the course. Diagnostic Essay.
January 21 Read McGraw-Hill Handbook Chapter 7 p. 120-130 (Do not do Exercises
7.2 and 7.3. Do exercise 7.1 only).
Read Norton Reader Lee 1, Didion 9, Eiseley 88.
WEEK TWO
January 24 Read McGraw-Hill Handbook 3, 4, 5 on essay paragraphing,
development and essay organization.
January 26
January 28
Read Norton Reader Eighner 20, Angelou 34, Hurston 43, Rios 47.
Read McGraw-Hill Handbook Chapter 2.
In-class Essay #1 (Personal Essay)
WEEK THREE
January 31 Read McGraw-Hill Handbook Chapter 4, 5 and 11
In-class Essay #1 (Personal Essay)
DUE Out of Class Essay A (Personal)
February 2
February 4
NO CLASS
NO CLASS
WEEK FOUR
February 7 Peer review of Essay #1
February 9 Re-write of Essay #1
February 11 Read Norton Reader Cunningham 262, Sullivan 236, Slater 243.
Read McGraw-Hill Handbook Chapter 8.
WEEK FIVE
February 14 Read Norton Reader Baron 577, Rollin 369.
February 16 Read Norton Reader Swift 858, McKibben 378.
February 18 Out of Class Essay B DUE (Informative Essay)
Read McGraw-Hill Handbook Chapter 10.
WEEK SIX
February 21 No Class – President’s Day
February 23 Read Norton Reader Cohen 718, King 892, Gordon 740, Tisdale 747.
February 25 Out of Class Essay C due (Argumentative Essay)
Read Norton Reader Gould 754, Bird 467, Brooks 412, Ivins 405.
WEEK SEVEN
February 28 Read Norton Reader Baldwin 387, Barthes 342, Goodheart 303.
March 2
Read Norton Reader Naylor 510, Rollin 369, Staples 396.
March 4
In-class Essay #2 (Cultural Analysis)
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WEEK EIGHT
March 7
In-class Essay #3 (Cultural Analysis)
March 9
Peer Review of Essay #3
March 11
Re-write of Essay #3 Due
WEEK NINE
March 14, 16, 18
No Class – Spring Break
WEEK TEN
March 21
Read Norton Reader Bruffee 425, Didion 100, Steinem 268.
March 23
Read Norton Reader Orwell 581, Gore 918, Fussell 763, Konner 991.
March 25
Thoreau 776, Wollstonecraft 603, Johnson 596.
WEEK ELEVEN
March 28
Out of Class Paper D due. (Cause and Effect)
March 30
Read Norton Reader Bacon 593, FitzGerald 845, Kincaid 173, Quindlen
241.
April 1
In-class Essay #3 (Compare and Contrast)
WEEK TWELVE
April 4
In-Class Essay #3 (Compare and Contrast)
April 6
Peer Review of Essay #3
April 8
Re-write of Essay #3 Due
WEEK THIRTEEN
April 11
Read McGraw-Hill Handbook Chapter 15 and 16.
April 13
Read McGraw-Hill Handbook Chapter 18, 19 and 20.
April 15
Read McGraw-Hill Handbook Chapter 21, 22, and 23.
WEEK FOURTEEN
April 18
Oral presentation project introduced.
Read McGraw-Hill Handbook Chapter 13.
April 20
Oral Presentation Project presented.
April 22
Oral Presentation Project presented.
WEEK FIFTEEN
April 25
In-Class Writing Exercise.
April 27
In-Class Group Exercise.
April 29
Out of Class Essay E due (Research)
WEEK SIXTEEN
May 2
Read Norton Reader Wilson 1007, Williams 666, Burgess 297.
May 4
Read Norton Reader Chesterfield 674, Cronon 651, Leopold 733.
May 6
Prepare for final.
FINAL
TO BE ANNOUNCED
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