English 1301: Freshman Composition I – Fall 2013
3 Credit Hours / 48 hours per semester
16 Weeks: 8/26/2013 – 12/11/2013
Lecture / Core Curriculum
You can make anything from writing – C.S. Lewis
Instructor: Betsy Stergiou
Section:
Time:
Class Location:
Email: betsystergiou@gmail.com
62641
T/TH: 8a-9:30a
Room 604
62709
9:30a-11a
Room 604
62434
11a-12:30p
Room 604
Class Webpage: https://learning.hccs.edu/faculty/betsy.stergiou
Office Hours: By appointment
Please contact me concerning any questions or problems that you are experiencing in this
course, and remember that you do not need to wait until you have received a poor grade
before asking for my assistance. I am available. Feel free to speak to me before or after
class or contact me via email. Also, I encourage you to take advantage of the writing
center and the tutors who are available to you (listed below in additional support section).
Required Texts:
 The Bedford Reader, 11th edition by X.J. Kennedy, Dorothy M. Kennedy and Jane
E Aaron. ISBN: 978-0-312-61591-8
 Comp I Study Guide: The Process of Writing
 The McGraw Hill Handbook: Third Edition
Prerequisites: A satisfactory assessment score, completion of English 0310 or (for nonnative speakers) English 0349. Credit: 3 semester hours (3 lecture hours).
Description: 1301 is a course devoted to improving students’ writing and critical
reading. It involves writing essays for a variety of purposes, from personal to academic,
including an introduction to argumentation, critical analysis, and the use of sources. It is a
Core Curriculum course.
Course Goals
In English 1301, we seek to provide writing instruction and practice that will help
students master writing the short essay while developing critical reading skills. We
believe that in mastering this kind of writing, students will gain skills to succeed at
writing tasks in their other college courses, careers, and personal lives.
Student Learning Outcomes: English 1301 is part of the Core Curriculum and, as such,
emphasizes all of the Core Competencies: reading, writing, speaking, listening, critical
thinking, and computer literacy. To successfully complete 1301, you will:
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Demonstrate knowledge of writing as process.
Apply basic principles of critical thinking in analyzing reading selections,
developing expository essays, and writing argumentative essays.
Analyze elements such as purpose, audience, tone, style, strategy in essays and/or
literature by professional writers.
Write essays in appropriate academic writing style using varied rhetorical
strategies.
Synthesize concepts from and use references to assigned readings in own
academic writing.
Learning Objectives:
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Demonstrate writing as a connected and interactive process that includes
planning, shaping, drafting, revising, editing, and proofreading;
Demonstrate critical abilities when discussing texts in class and in writing
assignments by delving into the meanings and implilcations behind the issues,
theses, or themes;
Analyze texts by professional writers and write critical essays breaking down
rhetorical elements into parts, examining the parts, and showing their effect;
Apply various methods of development and organization, and/or rhetorical
appeals in written assignments;
Demonstrate effective use and documentation of sources in support of student
ideas in informative and/or persuasive essays.
Instructional Methods:
I will use a variety of instructional methods to help you become the best possible thinker,
reader, researcher, and writer, including but not limited to mini-assignments to help you
work through writing the major essays; collaborative work to improve your technical
skills and your understanding of how an essay question can be answered; visual and
multimedia work to enrich your critical analysis abilities; and discussion prompts (paired
with short in-class writings) to help direct your critical thinking about assigned readings.
Minimum Writing Requirement:
5,000 words minimum, but don’t panic! That number is distributed throughout the
semester, across all your major assignments - your three papers, your midterm and final and even the daily assignments you work on in class.
HCC Student Services Information:
Student Services 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. Student Services’ regular business hours are the same at both campuses: 8a-7p MTh, 8a-1p F-Sat.
Phone numbers:
Katy Campus: 713-718-5751 and Spring Branch Campus: 713-718-5669.
Kevin Fuller, M.A., is the counselor on-site at Alief (713-718-2838)
Library
The HCC Libraries offer assistance in finding and documenting resources. If you would
like help with research, you can reach the Alief library at 713-718-6941. “Ask a
Librarian” services are available at http://library.hccs.edu/learn_how/askalib.php.
Additional Support: Tutoring & Writing Centers
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Free on-campus tutors (call for hours)
o Katy Writing Center, Room 321, 713-718-5841
o Spring Branch Writing Center, South Hall, Room 703, 713-718-5889
o Alief-Hayes Writing & Match Center, B202
Free online tutoring: http://askonline.net
Course Evaluations Information
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.
Email and Class Website: You will need to check the class webpage and your email
daily for this class. That is how I will provide you with assignments and syllabus updates.
Students are responsible for providing me with a working email and being up-to-date
with assignments. Additionally, on the off chance that there will be a substitute or class is
cancelled, I will notify you by email. In turn, you are welcome to contact me with
class/assignment concerns in the same manner.
Grade Breakdown:
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Daily Work (10%)
An average grade of in and out-of-class work that includes: in-class writing,
quizzes, prewriting, rough drafts, group work, peer review comments,
advertisment pitch, and any other small assignments. Each is given to help you
prepare for the major writing assignments.
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Connect Composition Personalized Learning Plan, an online assignment designed
to pinpoint any student’s grammatical problem areas and guide him/her to
mastery. (20%)
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Personal Narrative (1000 words) (10%)
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Critical Analysis Essay (800-1000 words) – selected essay from The Bedford
Reader (15%)
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Written In-Class Midterm (10%)
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Written in-Class Final Essay (Descriptive Narrative) (10%)
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Researched-Persuasive Essay (1000-1500 words) (15%)
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Presentation (10%)
**Important Information Regarding In-class Essays (midterm & final): According
to the English Department Policy, students must have a passing average on these inclass essays to receive a C or higher in the course. For example, if the average of inclass major essays is a D (60-69), the student must receive a D in the course.
Grading Scale:
A (90-100%): The student demonstrates superior ability and originality. Thorough
knowledge of the material is displayed. The quality of submitted work is consistently
high with minimal, superficial stylistic or rhetorical errors.
B (80-89%): The student demonstrates above average ability. Knowledge of the
material exceeds basic requirements: moments of strong insight and/or creativity are
demonstrated. The quality of submitted work contains few stylistic or rhetorical errors.
C (70-79%): The student presents work that adequately treats the assignment. A “C”
paper may also include minor erroneous evaluation of the material and/or sources and/or
minor misinterpretations of the assignment. Errors in proofreading, mechanics, style, and
rhetorical devices appear throughout less than 50 percent of the essay.
D (60-60%): The student submits below average work. This typically indicates that a
student has erroneously evaluated the material and/or sources AND/OR has
misunderstood the assignment. In addition, the work may also contain repeated
mechanical and stylistic errors that compromise the clarity of the student’s writing.
F (0-59%): The student submits sloppy, poorly organized work containing excessive
stylistic and rhetorical errors. The work displays little student effort and interest and/or
does not reflect the assignment.
Course Policies
Assignment Policies
Assignments that don’t meet the requirements explained below run the risk of getting an
automatic zero.
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Readings are mostly from the book but will sometimes be online. When readings
are online, you are responsible for bringing the printouts to class.
Short written assignments/homework/groupwork/classwork
o Must be typed if out-of-class work (12 pt Times New Roman, 1” margins),
and stapled if more than one page.
o Must be written in ink on non-spiral paper if in-class work.
o No late work accepted (see “Course Policies” for details).
Quizzes
o There will be quizzes over all our readings with few, if any, exceptions.
o Make-up quizzes are not available.
Out-of-Class Essay Submission Formats: All out-of-class essays (three) must
be submitted at the beginning of class on their due dates in the following HARD
COPY format:
o Typed on white paper (8.5 x 11) in black ink (handwritten assignments not
accepted).
o Double-spaced, with 1” margins, 12-point Times New Roman.
o MLA format (if you need a review of MLA paper format, visit:
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/01/ )
o Points will be deducted from papers that do not meet requirements.
o Hard copy must be stapled to marked draft from draft workshop.
o Your out-of-class essays also MUST be electronically submitted via
TurnItIn.com or you will receive NO CREDIT for the assignment:
o Not accepted via e-mail
Two in-class exams (midterm and final)
o Blue book required for the exam.
o Exams must be written in ink.
o Make-ups available at my discretion for religious holidays (by prearrangement, two weeks in advance, in writing and not via email) or for
documented, unavoidable emergencies. Example of emergency: you are
unavoidably hospitalized at the time of the exam. Example of not-anemergency: you have a cold; you intend to travel on the exam date.
Revision/Rough Draft Policy: If the student opts to revise her essay, she is
encouraged to read carefully through the instructor’s comments, discuss revision
strategies with the instructor, and/or also seek additional guidance from a tutor. A
student has ONE WEEK from the day she has received her graded paper back
from the instructor to resubmit a revised version (BOTH a printed copy to the
instructor and an electronic copy at turnitin.com). That said, rough drafts are
required on the major out-of-class assignments. These are a great opportunity to
address the overall direction and organization of your essays. Also take advantage
of the in-class peer reviews, instructor suggestions, and HCC tutoring services to
ensure that your work is of a “passing” caliber or higher.
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Assignments must meet requirements as outlined in this document, verbally
conveyed in class, and explained on assignment sheets. Assignments that do not
meet requirements run the risk of getting an automatic zero.
Students must turn in all three major essays to pass the course, and must have a
passing average on the midterm and final to make a C or better in the course.
Late major essays will lose ten points for each class period they are late. Late
homework/classwork will not be accepted at all (see “Attendance &
Withdrawal Policies” for details).
Attendance and Withdrawal Policies
 You are expected to attend class. After four absences (equivalent to two weeks),
your Professionalism grade drops to a zero.
 When you miss class, you are still responsible for what happens in class.
o Any work due the day you miss class is still due if you are not there.
o Any announcements (including changes in assignments or the syllabus)
still apply to you if you are not there.
o You should contact another student in your section to find out what you
missed and copy their notes. I am glad to meet with you during office
hours to answer questions about anything that happened in class, but I
won’t email a summary of the class to you or re-teach that day’s class in
my office hours.
o The only circumstance in which classwork and homework can be made up
after an absence is if you missed class for a religious holiday. To be
eligible for a make-up of classwork/homework due to a religious holiday
absence, you must tell me in writing (hard copy, not email) two weeks in
advance that you will be missing class for the religious holiday.
 Tardiness: Attendance, participation and your full, undivided attention are the
components that most enhance your educational experience. Tardiness limits the
above. In addition, it is distracting and often creates logistical issues in the way a
class is run. For example, time has to be taken away from the class so that you
may understand what we are currently working on. Not only is lateness disruptive,
but it is also a breach of professionalism and mature etiquette. Students who make
a habit of coming 10 to 15 minutes late miss quizzes and other assignments given
at the beginning of class.
 I will not automatically withdraw you from the class, no matter how many
classes you miss. 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. Consider this policy
carefully when deciding from which classes to withdraw, and remember that it is
your responsibility to withdraw from classes by the required due dates.
 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. I may be able to provide you
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with suggestions to enable you to complete the course. Your success is important
to me.
If you plan to withdraw from the course, this must be done PRIOR to the
withdrawal deadline in order to receive a “W” on your transcript.
International Students: Receiving a W or an F in a course may affect the status
of your student visa. Once a W or F is given for the course (after you have
submitted withdrawal form formally), it will not be changed to an F because of
the visa consideration. Please contact the International Student Office at 713-7188520, if you have any questions about your visa status and other transfer issues.
Academic Honesty
 A student who is academically dishonest is unable to demonstrate 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.
 From the student handbook: “Students are responsible for conducting themselves
with honor and integrity in fulfilling course requirements. Penalties and/or
disciplinary proceedings may be initiated by college district officials against a
student accused of scholastic dishonesty. Scholastic dishonesty included, but is
not limited to, cheating on a test, plagiarism, and collusion. Possible
punishments for academic dishonesty may incude a grade of “O” or “F” on the
particular assignment, failure in the course, and/or referral to the college Dean of
Student Services for disciplinary action up to and including expulsion. Students
have the right to appeal the decision.”
 Plagiarism is using someone else’s ideas, arguments, or research without giving
credit through citation and/or using someone else’s words without giving credit
through quotation and citation. Collusion is unauthorized collaboration with
another person in preparing written work offered for credit.
 Major papers must be turned in with proof of development, i.e., at minimum, a
marked rough draft from our in-class draft workshop.
 Please note that in this class, turning in writing originally completed for another
course counts as scholastic dishonesty. Do not recycle papers.
Possible punishments for scholastic dishonesty include: a grade of zero (0) for the
particular assignment, failing the entire course, or a recommendation for probation
or dismissal from the HCC System. DO NOT PLAGIARIZE ANY MATERIAL. IT
IS UNETHICAL, UNADULT, AND A FORM OF STEALING.
Professionalism & 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) Since
we want each and every student to get as much out of class as possible, adult conduct is
expected. Disruptive behavior that interferes with teaching and/or learning will not be
tolerated; it may result in an administrative withdrawal without refund.
Our class will reproduce in many ways a “real-world” work environment, and you will be
expected to participate professionally – be on time and prepared, meet deadlines, do your
fair share, and be polite. Professionalism includes all of these as well as regular
attendance and willing participation in all facets of classroom life. Per HCC policy, this
entails keeping laptops closed (unless given permission), silencing cell phones, and
refraining from texting. See following:
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Electronics in class: Please turn off all cell phones, iPods, and any electronic
hand-held device before coming into class. It goes without saying: anyone
checking their email, texting, answering their phone, playing a video game or
listening to music will be asked to leave for the class period and may be
marked absent. 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.
If personal use of electronic devices is excessive in a class, a penalty of a 5-point
deduction on the next major assignment may be enforced. While you may be
asked to use electronic devices for in-class purposes, checking one’s email or
Facebook status is ABSOLUTELY PROHIBITED. This is an issue of general
professional etiquette. Inattention is distracting to both your instructor and fellow
students and devalues the overall course. and fellow students, and it devalues the
overall course.
Official HCCS policy concerning camera phones, cameras, audio/tape recorders,
video recorders and any other electronic device that is capable of recording the
human voice or image declares that the “[u]se of recording devices, including
camera phones and tape recorders, is prohibited in classrooms, laboratories,
faculty offices, and other locations where instruction, tutoring, or testing occurs.
Students with disabilities who need to use a recording device as a reasonable
accommodation should contact the Office for Students with Disabilities for
information regarding [such] accommodations.”
Please do not consume food during class. Drinks are fine dependent upon building
policy. In addition, the use of tobacco products, such as “chew” or “snuff,” is
prohibited in the classroom.
Other equally important requirements, rules and policies
 Homework / Class participation: This is a discussion-based course, requiring lots of
reading and talking. You are expected to come to class having carefully read and
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analyzed the assigned texts. Your ability to participate thoughtfully in large and small
group discussions will determine your class participation grade.
Quizzes: Students should be prepared for quizzes every day. Quizzes will be short
(10-15 minutes) and may require short answers or brief essays. I will drop one quiz
grade a semester, no questions asked.
Writing / revision workshops: We will workshop out-of-class essays extensively, and
students are required to attend these classes. You must be prepared to participate
thoughtfully; your fellow students depend on your collaboration!
Out-of-class essays: In order to be accepted, these assignments must be submitted to
Turnitin.com as well as printed out in hard copy. We will discuss the procedures for
submitting papers to Turnitin.com before the first major essay. Furthermore, you
should format these essays according to MLA manuscript guidelines.
In-class essays / exams: Blue books are required for each of the two exams. There will
be no make-ups unless the student provides timely, written, and verifiable
documentation of a grave illness or other emergency within 48 hours of the scheduled
exam date.
Passing / Success: To successfully complete this class, your course work will
demonstrate that you can: analyze the arguments of others and respond appropriately,
locate and evaluate credible sources of information, develop reasoned positions in
arguments, and demonstrate intellectual integrity by appropriately attributing sources.
ADA Accommodations
“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 are authorized to provide only the accommodations requested by the Disability
Support Services Office” (Official HCCS statement). For questions, please contact Donna
Price at 713-718-5165 or the Disability Counselor at your college. You can also visit the
ADA website by going to www.hccs.edu, clicking Future Students, scrolling down the
page, and clicking on the words “Disability Information.” The Northwest ADA
Counselor is Mahnaz Kolaini (713-718-5422).
Please give me your accommodations letter at the beginning of the semester.
VERY TENTATIVE FALL 2013 SCHEDULE
(Subject to change)
To keep the content of our class discussions current, additional readings (usually op-ed
pieces) will also be provided over the course of the term. You will be notified in class.
*Reaadings should be completed before/on the day provided.
All class webpage readings should be PRINTED and brought to class.
Week 1:
8/27 & 8/29
T. Introduction to English 1301; Review syllabus, attendance & calendar
Th. Comp I Study Guide “Introduction” pp. 1-3, “Purpose & Audience” p. 6,
“Drafting Paragraphs” pp 11-13, and “Interacting with Professors” pp. 88-90. We
will start Chapter 1: “Critical Reading” of The Bedford Reader in Class.
Week 2:
9/3 & 9/5
T. Article summary/analysis due: “Let’s Live Longer!”/ “Miley Cyrus, Syria’s
Chemical Weapons, and the Business of News”/ “Toiling in Tech’s Past” /
“Martin Luther King Jr.’s Dream Lives in Acts of Justice Big and Small” /
“Low Prices Come at a High Cost”
“The Writing Process” – Bedford
Th. Connect – Pre-diagnostic due. “Narration” - Bedford
Introduce Essay #1 (Narrative).
“Academic Writing” - Bedford
Week 3:
9/10 & 9/12
T. Quiz over “Academic Writing”. Maya Angelou “Champion of the World”
discussion. “Description” – Bedford
Shirley Jackson “The Lottery” - journal
Th. “The Lottery”, “Description” continued
Week 4:
9/17 & 9/19
T. Bedford “Example.” “On Compassion” Barbara Lazear Ascher.
Th. “Example” continued
Week 5:
9/24 & 9/26
T. Peer Workshop – Rough Draft Due
Th. Personal Narrative due; Comparison/Contrast (Bedford Chapter 7). Suzanne
Britt Neat People vs. Sloppy People, Dave Barry Batting Clean-Up and Striking
Out; Homework: David Sedaris Remembering My Childhood on the Continent of
Africa or Fatema Mernissi Size 6: The Western Women’s Harem journal entry
Week 6:
10/1 & 10/3
T. Process Analysis
Th. Critical Writing, SG 48-54. Bedford Description Chapter 5
Week 7:
10/8 & 10/10
Bedford Example Chapter 6
Week 8:
10/15 & 10/17
T. Midterm: Begin
HW: Have 50% of your CC PLP completed by tonight, 10/15.
Th. Midterm: Complete
Week 9:
10/22 & 10/24
T. Peer Workshop – Rough Draft
Th. Critical Analysis Essay due, Persuasive Essay introduced
Week 10:
10/29 & 10/31
T. Working with Sources 56-66, HCC Libraries 83-85; McGraw Hill Ch. 16
(Research) and 20 (Plagiarism)
Th. Comparison & Contrast: Bedford pp. 245-254. In Class: Bedford pp. 267-281,
“Grant and Lee”; “Remembering my Childhood”
Week 11:
11/5 & 11/7
T. Definition: Tracing a Boundary: Bedford, pp. 507-516.
Th. Bedford”pp. 517-529 “The Meanings of Words”; “Being a Chink”
Week 12:
11/12 & 11/14
T. Argument and Persuasion: Bedford pp. 547-568
Th. Bedford, pp. 605-615 “Supporting Family Values”; “Bassackwards”
Week 13
11/19 & 11/21
T: Peer workshop – rough draft due
Th: Persuasive essay due
Week 14
11/26 & 11/28
T. Presentations
HW: Complete your Personalized Learning Plan Performance by tomorrow, Wed.
11/27
Th. No class. Happy Thanksgiving!
Week 15
12/3 & 12/5
T. Final Exam: Begin
Th. Final Exam: Complete
Due by midnight: Connect PLP Post-diagnostic
Week 16
We will meet during our scheduled final exam period during Finals Week for
conferencing, grades handed back, and English 1302 preparation review.