Dr. Gavin Schulz
English 1302, HCC--Southwest
Summer 2016
Composition II Syllabus
By now you should have completed the orientation and read my Welcome note, but welcome again to this DE Composition II course.
Though we will not be meeting in a classroom, we will be “meeting” regularly online, using the Eagle Online system. What follows are all the course policies.
COURSE INFORMATION
Instructor : Dr. Gavin Schulz
Section : CRN# 86454
Eagle Online : eo2.hccs.edu
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. This approach is intended to foster the recognition that all writing, not merely poetry or fiction, is craft.
CONTACT INFORMATION
HCC E-mail : gavin.schulz@hccs.edu
How often I will check : I will check my email at least every morning; however, I generally do not check email after about 3 p.m., so if you email me late in the day, do not expect an immediate response. The standard rule for all courses is to respond within 24 hours.
You must use your HCC email account when contacting me!
Because of Phishing and viruses, I will not open emails from students that do not originate from the HCC email system! This means you must contact me from your HCC email account, or from the
Quickmail system found within our Eagle class (both send all emails directly to one’s HCC email inbox).
HCC EMAIL
*In order to succeed in this class, you must check your HCC Email account regularly. You expect me to get your emails and respond within 24 hours; your instructors expect the same from you.*
This is an online class, and the only way for me to contact you is through email. You can have your smartphone link to HCC Email and receive those messages immediately. Missing important information or a deadline because you did not check your HCC Email will not be excused.
You have all been assigned an HCC Email account. You can find it by looking on the HCC homepage, opening the “Information For” section (upper-right) and clicking “Students,” then find “Student Email” in the left-hand menu that opens up. HCC will use this system to make general announcements, and I will use this system to make general announcements, so make sure you check it daily. If you cannot access your account, you must fix it by following the directions found on the “Student Email” page (see “Password Management”).
REQUIRED TEXTBOOKS
None. All readings will be taken from online sources.
IMPORTANT DATES
June 6 First Day of Classes
June 9
June 27
July 5
July 6-9
July 10
Day of Record
Last Day to Withdraw, 4:30 p.m.
Last Day of Classes
Final Exams (No Classes; Only Final Exams)
Semester Ends
GRADING SCHEDULE
1] 2 semester essays (roughly 900 words each) (Essay #1)
(Essay #2)
2] Research Paper (roughly 1800 words)
3] Exercises/Quizzes
(Essay #3)
(4 lowest scores will be dropped)
30%
4] Peer Evaluation Exercises
5] Final Essay
GRADING SCALE
20%
15%
15%
10%
10%

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 AND ROUGH DRAFTS
* You must submit all three main essays in order to qualify for a passing grade in the class *
Failure to Submit an Essay : I will not accept an essay until the previous essay has been submitted for a grade. So, for example, if you do not submit Essay #1, you will not be permitted to submit any of the other essays.
How to Submit Your Papers and Exercises : Save your files with a simple, clear file name that includes your name and the assignment.
You must submit all your online work in one of the traditional processing formats (Word, Richtext, for example). You may not use pdf’s, jpeg’s, or zipped files; the Moodle system generally does not read them and I need to manipulate the text. If you submit work in these forms, or if I cannot open what you submit, then I cannot grade them; thus, you will receive a 0 for these assignment, as I cannot prove that anything was actually submitted.
Rough Drafts : I am willing to read complete or partial drafts of Essays #1 and 2 at any time before the day that Rough Drafts are due for the Peer Evaluation exercises, or 48 hours before Essay #3 is due.
Returning Graded Papers : It will take about one week 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 in the system, it is your responsibility to give me another.
Peer Evaluation Exercises : You must have all of the paragraphs requested to participate, typed and double-spaced. No partial participation will be allowed, and no late submissions will be accepted.
ESSAY REQUIREMENTS (LENGTH, RESEARCH, FORMAT, ETC.)
Requirements : Essays that fail to fulfill the assignment’s requirements will be penalized! You will get one opportunity to fix your requirements, and then I will deduct points.
Bonus points : Essays submitted by the initial due date and that fulfill all the requirements will be awarded a 5 point bonus on the essay grade;
Revision Opportunity] If your essay is submitted on time, but it fails to fulfill the requirements, I will indicate which requirements on the Essay Assignment sheet you have failed to fulfill. You will then have until the next day to revise the essay and resubmit it;
If your resubmitted essay fulfills the requirements, it will be accepted without penalty. However, if your essay still does not fulfill the requirements, I will grade your essay and deduct 5-10 points for each failed requirement, depending on its importance.
LATE ESSAYS
Late Essays : Late essays submitted before the Review Opportunity due date discussed above will be accepted without penalty if they fulfill the requirements. If these essays fail to fulfill the requirements, I will grade them and deduct 5-10 points for each failed requirement, depending on its importance.
No essays will be accepted after the Revision Opportunity due date has passed.
LATE EXERCISES
Late exercises will not be accepted for any reason. Instead, I will drop your 4 lowest exercise scores, which should cover any emergencies that you might have.
ATTENDANCE AND WITHDRAWAL POLICY
Absences : Attendance is required by the State of Texas. Students who have no record of attendance (including logging in and submitting work) before the Official Day of Record (June 9) will be automatically dropped from the course by the Registrar’s department.
Students dropped for nonattendance will not be reinstated.
In addition, attendance (including submitting online work) is required by the State of Texas and HCCS at all class meetings.
Instructors are expected to drop students who have missed more than 6 hours of class and/or its online equivalent. What does this mean?:
1] Students who fail to complete at least 50% of the online exercises by June 27 will be dropped;
2] Students who fail to submit both Essay #1 and Essay #2 by June 27 will be dropped.
FX Grades : In addition, should you fail because you have stopped attending/participating, the State of Texas now requires that you be given an “FX”—a failure for reasons of attendance. What does this mean for us?:
1] Since all three major essays must be submitted in order to get a grade in the class, students who fail to submit Essay #3 will be assigned an FX;
Withdrawal : It is the student’s responsibility to withdraw; so, should you decide to drop the class, do not merely stop logging in to class.
While it is my intention to drop students for the reasons listed above, it is not my responsibility to drop you. If you are still on my roll at the end of the semester, for whatever reason, you will receive a grade.

EXCUSES
Broken computers, printers out of ink, car running out of gas, illness, 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 do not wait until the last minute to submit your work.
EXTRA CREDIT
There is none. Your grade in this class will be determined by how well you do on the assignments themselves.
EAGLE ONLINE
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. This is a DE class, so access is a requirement. If you cannot access the class, you cannot participate.
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 assignments will be regarded as not attending, and absences will be recorded.
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. (Note that some systems do not respond well to Firefox; if you are having trouble accessing the material in Eagle Online, switch to
Internet Explorer or Google Chrome to see if they give you access.)
Eagle Online User ID and Login : Your login user ID is your HCC User ID (sometimes referred to as the “W” number). The password should be the one you created for HCC email. If you have forgotten your W#, go to this address
( https://hccsaweb.hccs.edu:8080/psp/csprd/?cmd=login&languageCd=ENG ) and click the link for forgotten ID. Go to this address
( http://www.hccs.edu/district/students/student-e-maileagle-id/ ) for information about resetting your password.
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. If you have any problems other, contact the Eagle Online Help Desk (713-718-2000) for help.
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.
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.
* 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.
TUTORING: THE WRITING CENTER
The Southwest College Writing Centers provide a student-centered environment where professional tutors support student success for all HCC students. The primary goal of the Writing Centers is to offer free, convenient, and personalized assistance to help students improve their writing at any stage of the writing process required in any courses at HCC. Tutors will also assist students with their job application letters, resumes, and scholarship/transfer essays. In one-on-one consultations tutors collaborate with students in understanding a writing assignment, developing ideas, shaping content, writing a thesis, drafting, revising, self-editing, and learning to proofread. Tutors will also assist students with learning about research and using sources. Furthermore, the Writing Centers offer access to computers and interactive websites for improving grammar skills. At the Southwest College Writing Centers, each tutoring session becomes a learning experience.
The Southwest College Writing Centers are located in Room N-110 (Scarcella Center) at the Stafford Campus and Room C-218 at the
West Loop Campus, where tutoring is available. The hours will be posted each semester.

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.
TITLE IX OF THE EDUCATION AMENDMENTS OF 1972, 20 U.S.C. A§ 1681 ET. SEQ.
Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 requires that institutions have policies and procedures that protect students’ rights with regard to sex/gender discrimination. Information regarding these rights are on the HCC website under Students-Anti-discrimination. Students who are pregnant and require accommodations should contact any of the ADA Counselors for assistance.
It is important that every student understands and conforms to respectful behavior while at HCC. Sexual misconduct is not condoned and will be addressed promptly. Know your rights and how to avoid these difficult situations. Log in to: www.edurisksolutions.org
. Sign in using your HCC student e-mail account, then go to the button at the top right that says Login and enter your student number.
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.
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-meningitis-documentation
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/current-students/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.
______________________________________________________________________________
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 13O2 COURSE DESCRIPTION
Intensive study of and practice in the strategies and techniques for developing research-based expository and persuasive texts. Emphasis on effective and ethical rhetorical inquiry, including primary and secondary research methods; critical reading of verbal, visual, and multimedia texts; systematic evaluation, synthesis, and documentation of information sources; and critical thinking about evidence and conclusions.
COURSE PURPOSE
English 1302 is designed to help students write multi-paragraph, 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.

Core Objectives
Given the rapid evolution of necessary knowledge and skills and the need to take into account global, national, state, and local cultures, the core curriculum must ensure that students will develop the essential knowledge and skills they need to be successful in college, in a career, in their communities, and in life.
Through the Texas Core Curriculum, students will gain a foundation of knowledge of human cultures and the physical and natural world, develop principles of personal and social responsibility for living in a diverse world, and advance intellectual and practical skills that are essential for all learning.
Students enrolled in this core curriculum course will complete a research project or case study designed to cultivate the following core objectives: o Critical Thinking Skills —to include creative thinking, innovation, inquiry, and analysis, evaluation and synthesis of information o Communication Skills —to include effective development, interpretation and expression of ideas through written, oral and visual communication o Personal Responsibility
—to include the ability to connect choices, actions and consequences to ethical decision-making o Teamwork (Comp I, Comp II, and TW)—to include the ability to consider different points of view and to work effectively with others to support a shared purpose or goal o Social Responsibility (Lit Only)—to include the ability to connect choices, actions, and consequences to ethical decision-making
Student proficiency in Communication Skills will be assessed as a formal written out-of-class essay, which is at least 3 pages long and which includes an oral presentation component as well as a visual component. Student proficiency in Critical Thinking will be assessed by a formal out-of-class essay assignment. Personal, Social Responsibility, and Teamwork will be assessed as part of long unit or major essay assignment, which will include assigned reading responses, pre-writing activities, multiple drafts, and group activities (such as peer review or group presentations). Student project grades will account for at least 5% of the final course grade.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, students will:
1. Demonstrate knowledge of individual and collaborative research processes.
2. Develop ideas and synthesize primary and secondary sources within focused academic arguments, including one or more research-based essays.
3. Analyze, interpret, and evaluate a variety of texts for the ethical and logical uses of evidence.
4. Write in a style that clearly communicates meaning, builds credibility, and inspires belief or action.
5. Apply the conventions of style manuals for specific academic disciplines (e.g., APA, CMS,
MLA, etc.)
Dr. Gavin Schulz
English 1302, HCCS--Southwest
Spring 2016
DE Course Calendar
Class Essays & Exercises Submission Schedule
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
**First Week Exercises**
Week 1 (Jan. 19-24):

Diagnostic Essay—Sun., Jan. 24

HCC Email Response— Sun., Jan. 24
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
**Beginning of Essay Assignment #1 Module**
Week 2 (Jan. 25-31):

Syllabus Quiz— Sun., Jan. 31

Read articles listed for Essay Assignment #1

Read lectures for Essay Assignment #1
Week 3 (Feb. 1-7):

Brainstorming Exercise—Due Tue., Feb. 2


Plagiarism Quiz—Due Sun., Feb. 7
Week 4 (Feb. 8-14):

APA Format Quiz— Due Sun., Feb. 14

Logic Chain Exercise—Voluntary Exercise Due by Sun., Feb. 14
Week 5 (Feb. 15-21):

Rough Draft Submission—Due Thu., Feb. 18

Peer Evaluation Exercise—Due Sat., Feb. 20
Week 6 (Feb. 22-28):

Essay Assignment #1 Submission—Due Mon., Feb. 22
**End of Essay Assignment #1 Module**
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
**Beginning of Essay Assignment #2 Module**

Read stories listed for Essay Assignment #2

Read lectures for Essay Assignment #2
Week 7 (Feb. 29-Mar. 6):

Brainstorming Exercise—Due Tue., Mar. 1

Chicago Format Quiz—Due Sun., Mar. 6
Week 8 (Mar. 7-13):

Transition Exercise—Due Sun., Mar. 13

Conclusion Exercise—Due Sun. Mar. 13

Extended Definition Exercise—Voluntary Exercise Due by Sun., Mar. 13

Cause/Effect Chain Exercise—Voluntary Exercise Due by Sun., Mar. 13
Week 9 (Mar. 14-20):
SPRING BREAK—OFFICES CLOSED
Week 10 (Mar. 21-27):

Rough Draft Submission—Due Thu., Mar. 24

Peer Evaluation Exercise—Due Sat., Mar. 26
Fri. Mar. 25] SPRING HOLIDAY—OFFICES CLOSED
Week 11 (Mar. 28-Apr. 3):

Essay Assignment #2 Submission—Due Mon., Mar. 28
**End of Essay Assignment #2 Module**

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
**Beginning of Essay Assignment #3 Module**

Read lectures for Essay Assignment #3
Week 12 (Apr. 4-10):

Brainstorming Exercise—Due Tue., Apr. 5

Opposition Response Exercise—Due Sun., Apr. 10
Tue. Apr. 5] ** Last day to drop with a "W" ** (@ 4:30 p.m.)
Week 13 (Apr. 11-17) :

Legitimate Sources Exercise—Due Sun., Apr. 17

Incorporating Sources Exercise—Due., Sun. Apr. 17
Week 14 (Apr. 18-24):

MLA In-Text Citation Exercise—Due Sun., Apr. 24

MLA Format Quiz—Due Sun. Apr. 24
Week 15 (Apr. 25-May 1):

Title Exercise—Due Wed., Apr. 27
Week 16 (May 2-8):

Essay Assignment #3 Submission—Due Mon. May 2
**End of Essay Assignment #3 Module**
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Final Exam: There is no Final Exam. Instead there is one last, short essay:
Final Essay: Due Wednesday, May 11
(** Note: changes can and may be made at the Instructor’s discretion **)