Houston Community College
English 1302
Composition and Rhetoric
Mrs. Ashley Fonteno
Professor of English
E-mail: ashley.fonteno@hccs.edu
Conferences by appointment
Course Description: In English 1302, you will study the purposes, strategies, and
techniques of written and visual arguments. As such, this course is designed to help you
move into a discourse that emphasizes interpreting and reading rhetorically, engages
in rigorous intellectual inquiry, and requires persuasive construction and
effective presentation of written materials. Students will be expected to engage
actively with the complex issues raised by course materials and to apply
course concepts independently to new problems and context.
Educational Outcomes for English 1302:
 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
written discourse.

Demonstrate library literacy.
Required Text:
Current Issues and Enduring Questions (10th edition)
Other Materials:
1 Spiral notebook and loose leaf paper
Pencils /Pens
Ms. Selena Flowers
Division Chair
English Studies & Education
Southeast College
6815 Rustic
Houston, Texas 77087
713-718-7166
Attendance Policy: Note in the college classroom, there are no excused or unexcused
absences; you are either in class or you are not. If students expect to be absent for an
extended period of time, they should contact the instructor beforehand you are still
responsible for work due or class instruction on that day. Regular attendance and lively
participation is expected. Each absence after three (3) will damage the student's
attendance grade. After four (4) missed classes a student will receive an F. Please note:
I do not drop (withdraw) students from this class for excessive absences. Any
student who does not drop himself or herself from this course will receive a
performance grade of F.
Tardiness: Tardiness is disruptive to the class and distracting to me. Come to class on
time and prepared to engage in discussion of the assigned reading.
American with Disabilities Act
LSCS is dedicated to providing the least restrictive learning environment for all students.
The college system promotes equity in academic access through the implementation of
reasonable accommodations as required by the Vocational Rehabilitation Act of 1973,
Title V, Section 540 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) which will
enable students with disabilities to participate in and benefit from all post-secondary
educational programs and activities.
Course Etiquette: Please respect your fellow classmates. We will have many class
discussions and everyone’s opinion matters even if it does not align with yours. We can
learn a lot from each other.
Cell phones, pagers, and other devices are to be put on vibrate. If you must take a call
please excuse yourself from the classroom. No use of external electronic equipment is
permitted in class. This prohibition includes iPods, and laptop/netbook computers.
ABSOLUTELY NO TEXTING. IF I SEE YOU, YOU WILL RECEIVE A 0 IN
THE GRADE BOOK FOR ONE OF YOUR DAILY ASSIGNMENTS.
Disruptive behavior (that is, behavior that includes extraneous conversation, profane
language, sleeping, reading another book or doing homework for another class, and
disrespectful or negative comments about any aspect of this or any other course) will not
be tolerated. If you have concerns about the class, express them in a private conference
with me during office hours or after class. Refusal to comply with class policies will
result in your being dropped from the class.
Course Structure:
The structure of the course will be a class discussion guided by me, but will be primarily
led by the students over assigned reading material. The students will be taught to express
their thoughts in a clear and effective manner. The students will develop their writing
skills by submitting five papers. The first paper will be an argument proposal essay. The
second paper will be an argument position essay and the third paper will be analysis. The
fourth paper is a presentation assignment. The fifth paper is your final. The final exam
will be a short essay. There will also be class workshops over each style of writing. There
will be peer groups formed for in- class workshops, paper review and revision. The initial
library visit will introduce students to the library resources. After that, there will be
several class library days for working on assigned essays. During this time I will be
available for assistance and questions.
Plagiarism:
HCCS expects every student to maintain a high standard of individual integrity for
work done.
 All students are responsible for knowing the standards of academic honesty.
 Plagiarism, as defined for this course, is theft of other writers/ speaker’s words or
ideas. Plagiarism includes turning in another person’s paper as your own, lifting
ideas and/or words from lectures or other media, copying word for word or
paraphrasing incorrectly without documentation.
 Plagiarism is obtaining by any means another’s work and incorporating it into
your own work without giving the author credit.
 Plagiarism also includes the failure to properly cite material.
 Collaboration on a paper for the fulfillment of course requirements is plagiarism.
 Due to the rise in plagiarism cases, be advised that the college subscribes to a
plagiarism detection site called TURNITIN.com to which all suspicious
papers will be submitted.
 The penalty for plagiarism is a zero on the paper, an F in the course, and
possible suspension from the college.
 Please ask for assistance if you need help with documentation.
Changes to the Syllabus: We might stray from the course schedule. It is your
responsibility to be aware of those changes and be ready for class, even if you were
absent when the change was announced.
Journal Entries: The journal assignments this semester is an opportunity to practice
writing by responding to readings, class discussions and current events. Although
standard writing conventions are encouraged, you will not be penalized for a failure to
strictly adhere to these. You will be assigned a topic on which to base your response. At
the top of each page write your name and journal entry #. Each entry should be at least 1
handwritten page in length. You should keep up to date with your journal entries. I
reserve the right to collect them at any time.
Feedback: Whenever you have questions regarding any of the material, please do not
hesitate to contact me in person, through email, or privately during my office hours.
Please do not email your papers to me for revision. I am more than eager to help you by
answering questions, and offering suggestions for improving your writing; however, my
effectiveness as a teacher ends when I rewrite your papers for you. Please also feel free
to help each other by exchanging ideas with classmates. Part of becoming a good writer is
dependent upon your willingness to share ideas by participating in the reading/writing
community of your class.
Assignment Submission:
Submitting essays and class work/homework on time is part of the assignment. All
essays will be submitted through TURNITIN.com Managing your time well has a
great deal to do with your probability of success in college in general. No make up
for in class work. NO LATE ESSAYS WILL BE ACCEPTED. All essays must be
completed to pass the class.
5:30 class ID: 9228854-Password: workit1
7:00 class ID: 9228857-Password: workit1
Writing Workshops /Peer Review Groups: Students will receive credit for
participating in peer groups. It is important not to miss these class days because the work
cannot be made up. Active participation in all peer groups adds points to your final grade.
Students will form groups of three people depending on the size of the class. Peer groups
will work on strategies for approaching writing topics for essays and will convene on the
library days to proofread each other’s papers. Writing workshops and revision are
integral parts of the writing process. Students should bring a completed first draft of
their papers, (typewritten according to MLA Format), and participate in the editing,
revising and peer review process on the days workshops are scheduled.
Guidelines for Typed Writing Assignments:
1. typed, printed
2. double spaced
3. 12 point font, Times New Roman
4. one inch margin on all sides
5. MLA format heading and header, including last name and page number
6. All papers must be e-mailed to me on TURNITIN.com
The Southeast College Writing Center is in two locations.
At the Eastside (Main) campus, we are in Room 102, Felix Morales Building, 6815
Rustic.
At the Felix Fraga Center, 301 N. Drennan St., were are in Room MC1638B (the
second-floor Library Annex).
The Eastside phone number is (713) 718- 2678. The Fraga Center Library Annex phone
number is (713) 718-6960.We open for business, the second week of regular-term
classes. To schedule an appointment, log in to our online appointment system. Enter your
W number and password (the same information you use to log into campus computers
and Eagle Online), choose a location (Eastside or Fraga), then choose from the dropdown list of tutors to see available times. When no times are displayed, there are no
available times for that tutor. Try each tutor's name until you find an available time.
http://southeast.hccs.edu/departments/addon/writing-center/
Evaluation:
Grade percentages
A= 100-90
B= 89-80
C=79-70
D=69-60
F=59-below
Paper percentages
Major Papers 50%
Research process and paper 25%
Final Exam Essay 10%
Workshop days / Attendance /Participation /Book Ass10%
Journal 5%
Course Structure
Date
Topic
1/20
Course
Introduction/
Reading Assignment/ In-Class
Work
- Go over syllabus
-Introduce Journal Writing
-Access to computers on campus
-Sign up for Turnitin
5:30 class 9228854-workit1
7:00 class 9228857-workit1
Due
Dates
Homework Assignments
The Tutoring Center, Room 203,
Felix Morales Bldg.,
713-718-2694
- Journal #1
1/22
Powerpoint
-Intro/thesis/body/conclusion
-Journal #2
DEMO ON COMP
-MLA /Paper structure
Journal 1&2 due 1/27
-Peer Review
-Making an outline
(Intro Paragraph, Thesis)
1/27
In class workshop on Proposal
Essay
Due
2/15
Read Pg. 538-542 Answer
questions 1, 2 and 4/ Write in
complete sentences /do not write
question (1) Due 1/29
Habit/Quirk/Tradition
Pg 237 Check Thesis
Pg 242 Check Title
Pg 243 The Opening Paragraphs
1/29
- Library workroom
-Using Library databases etc./how to
access the database at home
-Journal #3
Meet in front of library
2/3
Pg 246 Organizing the Body of the
Essay /Use steps 1, 3, 4, 5, 6
Read pg 523-527/ Answer
questions 1, 4 and 5/ Write in
complete sentences /do not write
question (2) Due 2/5
-Ch7/MLA Works cited/ Plagiarism
-In text citations
Check thesis , Outline
2/5
Work on paper/In class/Answer
Questions
-Journal #4
Check 1st 2 paragraphs of essay
Journal 3&4 due2/10
2/10
Workday
2/12
2/17
2/19
-Read pgs 598-600
Q 1,2 (3) Due 2/17
Rough Draft of Proposal
Argument
Due/Peer Review
Due 3/8
-In class workshop
Argument Position essays
-273 Wikipedia
Miscellaneous
-No Contractions
-Personal pronouns
Journal # 5
-Read pgs. 587-592
Q 1,4,7 (4) Due 2/24
Workday on position essay
-Write intro and thesis
2/24
-Check 1st and 2nd Paragraphs,
thesis and outlines of argument
position essay
Journal # 6
Journal 5&6 due 2/26
2/26
Visual Arguments Powerpoint Ch4
141
-Journal #7
Pgs 146,147,143 answer questions
1-5 on pg 157 in regard to each
image. There should be 15 short
answers to suffice this assignment
(5) Due 3/3
3/3
Workday in class on Position essay
3/5
Rough draft of Argument Position
-Journal #8
Bring visual argument for Extra
points on Analysis Essay
Journal 7&8 due 3/10
3/10
In class workshop Analysis of
Argument /Powerpoint
Due
3/29
Logical Fallacies PP
-logos, pathos, ethos
-Ch9 in text
1st and 2nd Paragraph of analysis
due 3/12
179,184,195
Checklists for writing an argument
Essays given 114,117,
125,136,123,129, 132
You will be assigned an essay
-Visual argument extra credit
3/12
Workday on Analysis
1st and 2nd Paragraph of analysis
due
3/17
Work on Analysis
Spring break
3/19
Work on Analysis
Spring break
3/24
Work on Analysis
Last day to withdraw 3/24
3/26
Rough Draft Analysis essay/Peer
Review
Journal #9
Journal 9 due 3/31
3/31
In Class workshop on Presentation
Research Paper
Give outlines
Introduce software
Check ideas Research Assignment
4/2
Work on Research Assignment
4/7
Work on Research Assignment
4/9
Work on Research Assignment
4/14
Work on Research Assignment
4/16
Work on Research Assignment
4/21
View Presentation Status(Professor
Only)
Work on Research Assignment
4/23
View Presentation Status(Professor
Only)
Presentations
4/28
Presentations
4/30
Presentations
5/5
Final Given out
Presentations
5/7
Final Due Online