Welcome to
English Composition II
Course: ENGL 1302 Section: CRN 32700
Tuesday & Thursday, 2:00 – 5:00 P.M., Katy Campus Room 108
3 Credit Hours / 48 hours per term, Lecture / Core Curriculum
Spring 2013 B = 2nd 8 Week Term -: 03/19/2013 – 05/09/2013
Instructor: Mr. Robert Forker, M. Ed.
Contact Information:
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Telephone: Upon Request – Please see me.
robert.forkerjr@hccs.edu
eLearning site: http://learning.hccs.edu/faculty/robert.forkerjr *
Office Appointments: - Katy Campus Location – Please arrange with me.
Office Hours: 1:00-1:45 P.M. Tuesday and 5:15-6:00 Thursday
I will be happy to meet with you (in our classroom or in the library) by appointment before or
after class or at another arranged time Monday through Friday at either the Katy or Spring
Branch campus. I know you have busy lives and many responsibilities, so feel free to set up a
convenient time to talk that will fit into your schedule.
Additional Support:
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Tutoring and Writing Centers
o On-Campus tutors in the Katy Campus Writing Center, Room 321, which is
located across from the third floor Library. Look for posted hours or call 713-7185841.
o Writing Center at Spring Branch Campus, South Hall, Room 703. Look for
posted hours or call 713-718-5889.
On-Line Tutors: http://askonline.net
Prerequisites:
A satisfactory completion of English 1301 or equivalent.
Instructional Materials:
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Barnet, Sylvan and Bedau, Hugo. Current Issues and Enduring Questions: A Guide to
Critical Thinking and Argument, with Readings, Ninth Edition, Bedford / St.
Martin’s. Boston-New York : 2011. (CI)
The New McGraw-Hill Handbook. (MH)
English 1301 Study Guide. (SG)
Suggested Text: College Level Dictionary
Blue Books for formal in-class assignments (BB)
Journal – Bound Composition Book or Spiral – your choice (JL)
Flash Drive / Jump Drive for maintaining eDocuments
Course Goals:
In English 1302, we seek to provide writing instruction and practice that will help students
master critical analysis of reading selections (both fiction and non-fiction) and the research
process, as well as to continue to creatively implement persuasive/argumentative writing
techniques. All elements of English 1302 require students to apply critical thinking and writing
skill introduced in English 1301
Course Description:
A more extensive study of the skills introduced in English 1301 with an emphasis on critical
thinking, research, documentation techniques, and literary and rhetorical analysis. Prerequisite:
English 1301 or a satisfactory score on the CLEP Exam. Credit: 3 semester hours (3 lecture
hours).
How Goals and Description Apply to You:
According to the Houston Community College core curriculum, the purpose of Freshman
Composition – is “to prepare students to write clear, communicative, well organized and
detailed prose.” The course aims to accomplish this. The HCC curriculum adds that this
introductory composition course has been designed to:
1. “build a sufficient foundation for . . . courses involving writing,” 2. prepare
“students for all other college courses by introducing [them to] the rigors of the
academic environment,” and 3. develop “necessary skills for success later in
life.”
Student Learning Outcomes:
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Apply basic principles of rhetorical analysis
Write essays that classify, explain, and evaluate rhetorical and literary strategies
employed in argument, persuasion, and various forms of literature.
Identify, differentiate, integrate, and synthesize research materials into argumentative
and/or analytical essays.
Employ appropriate documentation style and format across the spectrum of in-class and
out-of-class written discourse.
Demonstrate library literacy.
Experiment in creative and reflective approaches to writing.
Learning Objectives:
1. Demonstrate the ability to coherently
analyze: divide a text into rhetorical parts,
name the parts, identify examples that
illustrate each part, and evaluate the
contribution of each in one or more essays;
2. Apply the basic principles of critical
thinking—evaluation, analysis, and
synthesis— in written essays that persuade
or argue;
3. Distinguish fact from opinion in others’
writings and evaluate whether they prove
their points and/or whether they can be
appropriately used as sources in
documented papers;
4. Research and write documented paper(s)
using proper MLA style;
5. Find and evaluate library books,
journals, magazines, and/or data-bases to
find information on a topic or issue;
6. Expand the scope, confidence, and
creativity of written expression.
Instructional Methods:
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To develop confidence and a foundation for the writing and speaking process, you
will practice a variety of writing activities to share with class members.
So that you can better understand your audience and write with purpose, you will
study how to take aim and target your written communications.
So that you will become more flexible and adaptable communicators, you will study
how to apply and to combine various differing modes of writing.
In order for you to become effective team players, you will learn how to listen, reflect
and participate in group dialogue.
To become proficient technically as a writer, you will practice how to demonstrate
explicit, clear, critical, analytical thinking and problem solving.
To justify and benefit from the fair integration and recognition of the thoughts of
other writers, you will develop research and document proper citations for quotations
from scholarly publications.
CORE Curriculum Competencies:
This course stresses the HCC CORE Competencies of reading, writing, speaking, listening,
critical thinking, and computer literacy.
Minimum Writing Requirement:
To be good on a computer, one must spend many hours on it. To be a good short stop, one has to
field endless amounts of grounders. To be a good writer, one must . . . . As in any other skill,
practice advances mastery: 6,000 words minimum. This course requires more.
Student Assignments:
The course content and the associated materials are designed to give you an opportunity to gain
control over your own writing and by inference over your own thinking. To do this well you
will need to submit:
First Essay: Choose Persuasion or Exploration (a minimum 1000 words) = 1500 w.)
demonstrating adequate focus and development to either effectively establish a
claim for, or significantly explore the depth of dimensions of an issue.
Critical Analysis Essay (min. 1000 words) to give you a chance to look carefully at and
explain how and why a particular stance taken on a current issue or enduring
question is or is not effective,
The Midterm Exam in class essay using Analysis (min. 750 words), your score
determining your passing eligibility and indicating your degree of learning
progress in the course,
Research Project (min. 1500 words), combining your own thinking with that of outside
experts to convince your readers of your thesis and
The Final Exam in class essay (min. 750 words), your score [2/3] when averaged
together with the Midterm Exam [1/3] determining your eligibility for passing the
course (See Instructor Grading Criteria below for details.).
Online Peer Review Participation and Journal Free-writing (min. 125 words/week)
Student Assessments:
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15% Exploratory Issue Investigation – 150 (Turnitin.com) points
15% Critical Essay Analysis – 150 points
10% Midterm Exam in class essay – 100 points
40% Research Issue Argument – 400 points
20% Final Exam in class essay – 200 points
– % Peer Reviews / Journal – Incorporated into online point scores
Includes possible: Low score deductions from Unannounced Reading Quizzes and/or
High score credits from Grammar Exercises.
Where to Find Copies of Specific Assignments and Written Support
for this Class:
Assignments and assignment instructions will be found for the class at Turnitin.com for
registered class members. Points awarded for each submission will appear online as well.
On the eLearning site noted above, this syllabus and calendar, assignments, handouts, and other
materials concerning English are available to read, download and/or print.
Instructor Essay Grading Criteria:
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Online Submission Essays (3) – Exploratory Issue Investigation (1) Critical Essay
Analysis (1) and Researched Issue Argument (1) – will receive an online grade based on
your completion of all assignment elements: a Proposal, a Review Draft, a Peer Review
Session and a Final Draft.
o Rubric scoring:
 13% Content – Thesis Clarity, Focus, Insight and Depth
 12% Organization – Supporting Detail, Paragraphs
 13% Detail – Grammar, Sentence Structure, Tone and Diction.
 12% Mechanics – (punctuation, spelling, capitalization)
 +50% Basis = Completed / Submitted Word-Count, Formatting and
Deadline
Midterm and Final (in class essays)
o Department Rubric: These papers written in class will be graded by English
Discipline standards, which include grammar, sentence structure, punctuation,
word usage, tone, and mechanics. The grading profile is weighted by the
following percentages:
 Content 27%
 Organization 23%
 Sentences (Grammar & Usage) 20%
 Diction (Word Choice) and Tone (Stylistic Attitude) 17%
 Punctuation and other Mechanics 13%
o In addition to the average of grades on out-of-class writing, a student must obtain
a passing in-class essay average (70 - 100) on in order to make at least a C in the
course. If the average of in-class essays is a D (60 - 69), the student must receive
(can receive no better than) a D in the course. If the average of in-class essays is
an F (0-59), the student must receive an F in the class.
o The average of in-class essays is formed by counting the first in-class essay once
[1/3] and by counting the last one twice [2/3].
HCC Grading Scale:
A = 100 – 90
B = 89 – 80
C = 79 – 70
D = 69 – 60
F = 59 and below
Instructor Requirements:
Rules for Submission of Materials:
o In-class essays (Exams) must be written on blank blue books. Unless told
otherwise, students will write on one side of a page. One page will be designated
as a blank page on exam day. Your exam will not be accepted without this page
left blank. Make-ups for in-class exams must be hand written and undertaken
through the Testing Center Services by making an appointment. I can not accept
made-up exams unless they are delivered from the Testing Center.
o Out of class work (proposals, drafts and essays) must be turned in online* at
Turnitin.com before the assignment due date deadline by class time – 2:00 P. M.
(see Paper Option below*).
o Late work: Expect to loose one letter grade (10 points), deducted for each day
a paper is late, up to 3 days. After that, a paper is no longer accepted. All late
work must be submitted online.
o MLA: Out-of-class essays must follow basic MLA rules (covered in class). The
Modern Language Association (MLA) is the generally accepted standards
authority for the writing industry.
o *Paper Option only for on time work: You must submit your work online
before the due date deadline for full credit; however, if you would like a more
detailed mark up, then you may also hand me a paper copy of any essay typed,
double spaced, and printed on 8 1/2 x 11" white paper with 1" margins and use a
12 pt. plain font – no need to submit title sheets, cover booklets, or bindings –
secured with a staple or paper clip.
Electronics in the classroom: As a student active in the learning community of this
course, it is your responsibility to be respectful of the learning atmosphere in your
classroom. To show respect of your fellow students and instructor, you will turn
off your phone and other electronic devices and will not use these devices in the
classroom unless you receive permission from the instructor. If such a device
sounds or is used during class, it will be considered a disruption of the educational
process (such as other forms of inappropriate behavior) and the student may be
asked to leave for the rest of the class period. If a student expects an emergency
call, he or she must speak to the instructor to receive an exception to this policy.
HCC Policy Statements:
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Discipline: As your instructor and as a student in this class, our shared responsibility is
to develop and maintain a positive learning environment for everyone. I take this
responsibility seriously and will inform members of the class if their behavior makes it
difficult for me to carry out this task. As a fellow learner, you are asked to respect the
learning needs of your classmates and to assist me achieve this critical goal. (See
Student Handbook)
EGLS3 -- Evaluation for Greater Learning 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.
Academic Honesty: A student who is academically dishonest is, by definition, not
showing that the coursework has been learned, and that student is claiming an advantage
not available to other students. The instructor is responsible for measuring each
student’s individual achievements and also for ensuring that all students compete on a
level playing field. Thus, in our system, the instructor has teaching, grading, and
enforcing roles. You are expected to be familiar with the HCC’s policy on Academic
Honesty found in the catalogue. What that means is that if you are charged with an
offense, pleading ignorance of the rules will not help you.
Just so there is no misunderstanding, plagiarism (using another's ideas or words without
giving credit), Collusion (unauthorized collaboration with another person in preparing
written work offered for credit), and other forms of cheating will not be tolerated. To be
accepted, all papers require proof of their development. Students who plagiarize,
collude, or cheat may face disciplinary action including the grade of 0 for the
assignment, an F for the course, and/or dismissal from the college. For more on
plagiarism, see "Plagiarism" in The New McGraw-Hill Handbook, second edition. (See
Student Handbook)
Special Needs: Any student with a documented disability (e.g. physical, learning,
psychiatric, vision, hearing, etc.) who needs to arrange reasonable accommodations must
contact the Disability Services Office at the respective college at the beginning of each
semester. Faculty is authorized to provide only the accommodations requested by the
Disability Support Services Office. For questions, please contact Donna Price at
713.718.5165 or the Disability Counselor at your college. To visit the ADA Web site,
please visit www.hccs.edu then click Future students, scroll down the page and click on
the words Disability Information. Northwest ADA Counselor – Mahnaz Kolaini –
713.718.5422
Missing Class: If absent or late to a class, the student is responsible for any information
missed. Each student should exchange emails or phone numbers with at least three other
students. After an absence, students are to find out what they missed before returning to
class. Do not ask the instructor if you missed anything important. If students come in
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tardy, it is their responsibility to find out what they missed and to make sure, after class,
that their attendance has been recorded; otherwise, they will be considered absent.
Attendance/Withdrawals: As a result of absences, you should understand that your inclass grade will suffer, and of course, your ability to do the work required in the course
will also be weakened and grades on that work will naturally be lower. If a student
misses more than 6 hours of class, excused or non-excused absences, the student may be
dropped from the course. Three tardies equal one absence. Leaving early is the same as a
tardy. If students stop attending the class, they will receive an Fx, failure due to
absences, on their transcript.
o If you feel that you cannot complete this course, please take the time to meet with
me to discuss why you feel it is necessary to do so (See Contact Information
above). I may be able to provide you with suggestions to enable you to complete
the course. Your success is my primary goal.
o If you wish to withdraw, fill out the withdrawal form online and submit it.
Faculty can only withdraw you from a class for excess absences. However,
before you withdraw from any class, please consider the following carefully: The
State of Texas imposes penalties on students who drop courses excessively. For
example, if you take the same course more than two times, you have to pay extra
tuition. In 2007, the Texas Legislature passed a law limiting new students (those
starting college in Fall 2007) to no more than six total course withdrawals
throughout their academic career in obtaining a baccalaureate degree. There may
be future penalties imposed.
o International Students: Receiving an Fx in a course may affect the status of your
student Visa. Please contact the International Student Office at 713-718-8520 if
you have any questions about your visa status and other transfer issues.
 Last day for Administrative Student Withdrawals:
Is Monday, April 22, at 4:30 P. M.
HCC Student Services Information:
Student Services (SS) provides master’s and doctoral-level
counseling for the Northwest College student body.
Counselors are available at each campus to assist students
in creating class schedules, evaluating college transcripts,
and completing degree/certificate plans.
SS Regular Business Hours: (both campuses)
 8 a.m. – 7 p.m. M – Th
 8 a.m. – 1 p.m. F – Sat
SS Phone numbers:
 Katy Campus, 713-718-5751
 Spring Branch Campus, 713-718-5669
Additional Information:
http://northwest.hccs.edu/northwest/campus-servies
Early Alert: HCC has instituted an Early Alert process by
which your professor will “alert” you through counselors
of concerns that you might fail a class because of excessive
absences and/or poor academic performance.
Syllabus Essential Overview:
Course Goal: In English 1302, we seek to provide writing instruction and practice that will help
students to master critical analysis of reading selections (both fiction and non-fiction) and the
research process, as well as to continue to creatively implement persuasive/argumentative
writing techniques. English 1302 offers students the opportunity to apply their critical thinking
and writing skills that they acquired during Composition I.
Required Materials:
 Barnet, Sylvan and Bedau, Hugo. Current Issues and Enduring Questions: A Guide to
Critical Thinking and Argument, with Readings, Ninth Edition, Bedford / St.
Martin’s. Boston-New York: 2011. (CI)
 English 1302 Study Guide. (SG)
 McGraw Hill Connect Composition – for those with outside HCC 1301 credit only*
o Site: http://connect.mcgraw-hill.com/ - Section to be announced*.
o Support: http://www.mhhe.com/support or 1-800-331-5094.
Suggested or Optional:
 The New McGraw-Hill Handbook. (MH) and A College Level Dictionary
 Notebook / Journal – Bound, Spiral or Binder; Digital Storage: Flash / Jump Drive.
Minimum Writing Requirement: You will have submitted a minimum of 6000 written words
during the semester according to the assessments break-down below. In-class essays (Exams)
must be written in Blue Books. Online Submissions, including all proposals, drafts and essays,
must be turned in online at Turnitin.com. Always check deadline times!
Student Assessments:
 15% Exploratory Investigation of an Issue (1000 w.) – 150 Turnitin.com points
 15% Critical Analysis of an Essay
(1000 w.) – 150 T points
 10% Midterm Exam in class essay
(750 w.) –
100 T points
 40% Researched Issue Argument
(1500 w.) – 400 T points
 20% Final Exam in class essay
(750 w.) –
200 T points
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Proposals; Drafts; Peer Reviews
(1000w.) –
(pts. included above)
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Essay Diagnostic & Revisions for Extra Credit
(up to 10 T pts. each)
 +10% McGraw-Hill Connect Composition Completion
(up to 100 T pts avail.)*
Calendar of Due Dates:
 Tues. Mar. 19 –
Diagnostic Essay – Draft 2 pages on paper – okay!
 Thurs. Mar. 21 –
Diagnostic Essay DUE Online
 Tues. Mar. 26 –
Issue Investigation Proposal DUE
 Thurs. Mar. 28 –
Issue Investigation Exploratory Draft DUE for Peer Review
 Tues. Apr. 02 –
Exploratory Issue Investigation DUE. Online
 Thurs. Apr. 04 –
Critical Essay Analysis (C/A) Outline/Plan DUE
 Tues. Apr. 09 –
C/A Draft DUE for Peer Review Midterm next class!
 Thurs. Apr. 11 –
Midterm Exam – in class essay – Three Hours Today!
 Tues. Apr. 16 –
Critical Essay Analysis DUE. Online
 Thurs. Apr. 18 –
Research Issue Proposal DUE
 Tues. Apr. 23 –
Research Project Outline DUE
 Thurs. Apr. 25 –
Research Works Cited DUE at end of class.
 Tues. Apr. 30 –
Research Project Draft DUE for Peer Review
 Thurs. May 02 –
Final Exam – in class essay – Three Hours Today!
 Tues. May 07 –
Research Issue Argument DUE Online
 Thurs. May 09 –
Closing Thoughts; Exam grades; Share Researched Arguments.