English 1302
Course Syllabus
Required Texts:
Making Literature Matter, Fourth Edition (MLM)
The Little, Brown Handbook (LBH)
Required Work and Percentages of Final Grade:
Literary Analyses
Research Paper and related assignments
In-Class Midterm Exam on Poetry Analysis
In-Class Final Essay Exam
Class Assignments ( including quizzes,
writing, group work, presentations,
journals, and homework)
30%
30%
10%
10%
20%
Course Objectives:
-- mastery of critical analysis of reading selections and the research process
-- continuation of creative implementation of persuasive / argumentative writing
techniques
Course Purpose: (from the instructor’s Freshman Composition Core Curriculum, p. 20)
“English 1302 is designed to enable students to use the writing process and the
research process to write analytic and persuasive essays which exhibit mastery of
the following qualities:
 analytical, non-reductive thinking,
 clearly stated or implied thesis,
 effective strategy for audience, purpose, and thesis,
 developed, unified, and coherent paragraphs
 varied and effective sentence patterns,
 clear, concrete, lively, and original diction,
 appropriate tone,
 correct grammar, and
 correct manuscript mechanics and citation techniques.”
Grading Criteria:
A (90.00 – 100)
=
B (80.00 – 89.99)
=
C (70.00 – 79.99)
=
D (60.00 – 69.99)
F (0 – 59.99)
=
=
Exceptionally fine work, superior in mechanics, style, and
content
Above average work, superior in one or two of the areas
listed above
Average quality work, good, unexceptional, fulfills
minimum requirements of assignment
Below average work, noticeably weak in areas listed above
Failing work, clearly deficient in areas listed above
Evidence of Plagiarism will be graded as “0” (zero).
All students must demonstrate competence in their in-class writing assignments to
potentially pass English 1302. All segments of all assignments must be turned in and
accepted in order to potentially pass English 1302. The date listed on the syllabus is the
very last day on which the assignment will be accepted. Absence is not a valid reason
for failure to turn in an assignment on time. All drafts of all out-of-class assignments
MUST conform to MLA standards and MUST be typed or word-processed. There is no
extra credit, nor is there a curve. You will receive the grade you have earned for the
course.
Classroom Etiquette:
“Use 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 reasonable accommodations” (Spangler 2007).
In a non-computer classroom, students may have (and are responsible for any damage to
the room by) non-alcoholic beverages. Food is strictly prohibited from the class. In a
computer classroom, students may not have any food and/or beverage. This policy will
be strictly enforced.
HCCS Policies:
Attendance Policy:
1. 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. Presenting the appearance of sleeping is the
equal of one absence. It is the responsibility of the tardy student to make sure,
after class, that her or his attendance has been recorded. Otherwise, such students
will be considered absent. If students stop attending the class, it is their
responsibility to formally withdraw by the deadline. If they do not, they will
receive an F for the course.
2. After the official last day for student withdrawals, there is no longer an option for
a W to be granted; consequently, for every class missed over the allowed 6
hours accrued by the student, 5 points will be deducted from the student’s
overall class grade.
3. If absent or late to a class, the student is responsible for any information missed.
Each student is to exchange 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 anything important was missed.
Scholastic Dishonesty:
According to the Student Handbook for the Houston Community College System,
scholastic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, cheating on a test, plagiarism, and
collusion.
1. Cheating on a test includes:
 Copying from another student’s test paper and using materials not
authorized by the person giving the test.
 Collaborating with another student during a test without authority.
 Knowingly using, buying, selling, stealing, transporting, or soliciting in
whole or part the contents of an unadministered test.
 Bribing another person to obtain a test that is to be administered.
2. Plagiarism means the appropriation of another’s words or ideas and the
unacknowledged incorporation of that work in one’s own written work offered for
credit.
3. Collusion means the unauthorized collaboration with another person in preparing
written work offered for credit.
Possible punishments for scholastic dishonesty may include a grade of 0 or F for the
particular assignment, failure in the course, and/or recommendation for probation or
dismissal from the College System.
In this class, the consequence of such dishonesty is a zero (0) for the assignment,
resulting in an F for the course. This policy will be STRICTLY enforced. ALL source
material MUST be documented in compliance with MLA guidelines in all drafts of all
assignments submitted to the instructor.
Students are responsible for complying with the concepts of scholastic honesty. If you
have any questions concerning this issue or any major assignment for this course, arrange
a conference with me.
Inclement Weather
During inclement weather conditions (such as a hurricane), the College contacts local
television stations to inform them of campus closings. These stations broadcast school
closings on a regular basis. Students should monitor these stations if they have any
concerns about a campus closing due to weather conditions.
Statement Regarding Special Conditions
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 therespective 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.
District ADA Coordinator – Donna Price – 713.718.5165
Central ADA Counselors – Jaime Torres - 713.718.6164
Martha Scribner – 713.718.6164
Northeast ADA Counselor- Kim Ingram – 713.718.8420
Northwest ADA Counselor – Mahnaz Kolaini – 713.718.5422
Southeast ADA Counselor – Jette Lott - 713.718.7218
Southwest ADA Counselor – Dr. Becky Hauri – 713.718.7910
Coleman ADA Counselor – Dr. Raj Gupta – 713.718.7631
Free English Tutoring
The Southwest College offers you free tutoring at our tutoring centers where you will
receive individual attention with any of your writing concerns. Be sure to bring your
books and assignments with you when you go to the tutoring lab. List of Locations for
Live ‘face to face’ Tutoring: Alief Hayes Road Campus - Room B139 MW 2-5pm;
Stafford Campus Learning HUB - Room 314 M-R 2-5pm; West Loop Center - Room
C129 M-R 2:00-5:00pm; Sienna Room 111 MW 12:30-3:30pm.
HCC also provides an online tutoring program. The url for this tutoring option is:
http://hccs.askonline.net. In order to use HCC's Online Tutoring, students must first
register with www.hccs.askonline.net, and to do that they must use an email account. You
may use your personal email account or your HCC email account. To activate the HCC email, students should go to the HCC Home Page, click on "For Students," and from the
right column of choices, click on "Student E-Mail" and follow the directions. Students
with old HCC Askonline accounts from last semester may continue to use their old user
names and passwords. If they have forgotten one and/or the other, they should e-mail
sandra.vaughn@hccs.edu with their full names and student ‘W’ number.
Open Computer Lab
You have free access to the Internet and word processing in the open computer labs in the
Scarcella Science Center (Stafford Campus), the Alief Hayes Road Campus, and the
West Loop Campus. Check the door of the open computer labs for hours of operation or
click on link below. All HCCS students are welcome to utilize this resource. Link to
Open Lab information: http://learning.swc.hccs.edu/technology/open-computerlabs/southwest-college-student-open-computer-labs/ . Please Note: A fee is charged for
printed work (per page).
Library (Learning Resource Center)
The Southwest College has a Learning Resource Center at each campus for student use.
The library provides electronic resources including a computerized catalog system as
well as numerous data bases that contain full-text articles. Stop by your campus library to
find out hours of operation. All students will be required to obtain and/or update an
HCCS Library Card. Please note – your HCC picture id is your library card.
http://library.hccs.edu/
Student Organizations
One organization of interest to students taking English classes is Southwest Writers, a
group of students who write and read their works (in a public forum as well as on the
Internet) and receive peer support and constructive criticism. Students in this group create
a supportive network to create poetry, fiction, drama, and non-fiction prose. Contact
advisor Ms. Helen Jackson at helen.jackson@hccs.edu. Another organization of interest
for English students is the Women’s Studies Club. The Women’s Studies Club will meet
on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month from 2:00-3:00pm to discuss the roles of
women in society and to promote awareness of women’s issues. Contact Ms. Marie
Dybala at marie.dybala@hccs.edu and/or Ms. Ileana Loubser at ileana.loubser@hccs.edu
if you are interested in joining this HCC student organization. In addition, Phi Theta
Kappa is the honor society of two-year colleges. Students must earn a 3.5 grade point
average and accumulate 9 credit hours to join this group. HCCS has a very active chapter:
Omega Sigma. Contact: Ms. Eunice Kallarackal at: eunice.kallarackal@hccs.edu for
more information.
Reading Quizzes:
Students are expected to attend class prepared to discuss the previous 2-4 days’ news
accurately and effectively. Quizzes will be given at the instructor’s discretion and there
will be no make-up quizzes given for those missed.
Mid-Term and Final In-Class Essays:
You must make a grade of “C” or better on your in-class writing assignments to
potentially receive a grade of “C” or better in the course, per HCCS requirements.
General Requirements:
 All out-of-class work must be typed, double-spaced, and presented on white 8.5 x
11 inch paper; use a 12-pt. plain typeface.
 In-class essays and exams must be written in a Blue Book in blue or black ink.
 The research paper must be at least 2500 words and follow the Modern Language
Association (MLA) guidelines for documentation. The word count includes only
the body of the paper, NOT the title page, Works Cited page, or other peripheral
pages.
No Extra Credit:
 Extra credit will not be offered for this class.
 Consistent attendance and meaningful class participation are ways to boost your
grade.
No Late Work:
 Homework, papers, and all other assignments are due within the first 10 minutes
of class. Homework and other minor assignments will not be accepted after the
first 10 minutes of class.
 A major assignment will be accepted no later than the end of class in which it
is due. However, if the assignment is received after the first 10 minutes, but
before the end of class, it will receive a 20% deduction, before I begin grading it.
Course Calendar
The course calendar is subject to change at the discretion of the instructor, and students
are responsible for all changes announced in class. Specific reading and homework
assignments will be posted on the board on a daily basis.
Week 1
Introduction to the course
Diagnostic essay
Review the writing process and the persuasive essay
Week 2
Introduction to research paper assignment
Read: Ch. 43, “Working with Sources” (LBH)
Ch. 44, “Avoiding Plagiarism and Documenting Sources”(LBH)
Ch. 46 & 47 on MLA Documentaton & Two Model Papers (LBH)
Week 3
Classic argumentation strategies
Secondary sources, integrating sources
Library orientation
Submit initial research topic for instructor’s approval
Read: Ch. 46 & 47 (continued)
Week 4
Writing an argument (continued)
Research project work (continued)
Week 5
Research project work (continued)
Conferences/Independent writing
Week 6
Research project work (continued)
Conferences/Independent writing
Week 7
Research paper is due.
Research paper packet must include:
 All drafting notes
 Labeled photocopies of all source documents
 Final typed paper
 Grading rubric/checklist specific to research assignment
Week 8
Introduction to poetry analysis
Read: Ch. 1, “What Is Literature?” (MLM)
Ch. 2, “How to Read Closely” (MLM)
Ch. 3, “How to Make Arguments about Literature” (MLM)
Week 9
Analysis of poetry
Read: Ch. 3, “How to Make Arguments about Literature” (MLM)
Ch. 6, “How to Write about Poems” (MLM)
Week 10
Analysis of poetry (continued)
Read poems, as assigned by instructor
Week 11
Analysis of poetry (continued)
Read poems, as assigned by instructor
Week 12
Exam: The poems and poetry analysis
Poetry analysis is due.
Week 13
Introduction dramatic analysis
Read: LWP 715 – 19; 720 – 21; 769 -70; 827 – 28
A Doll’s House by Henrik Ibsen (LWP 975 – 1027)
Week 13
A Doll’s House dramatic analysis (continued)
Week 14
A Doll’s House dramatic analysis (continued)
Week 16
Final exam period: Classes will meet only at assigned final exam times.
The in-class final exam will cover the literary genres of poetry and drama,
along with MLA documentation rules covered throughout the semester.