English 1302 Course Requirements and Readings: Prerequisite 1301
Professor’s Name: Dr. Cynthia McNamara
E-mail: cynthia.mcnamara@hccs.edu
Office Hours: Before and After Class and by Appointment
Texts: Making Literature Matter. Ed. John Schilb and John Clifford. Fourth Edition. ISBN10:0-312-47491-1; ISBN-13:978-0-312-47491-1
The Little, Brown Handbook. Ed. Ramsey Fowler & Jane Aaron. Eleventh Edition. (Optional but
Recommended)
Attendance Policy: HCCS policy states that a student who is absent more than 12.5% (6 hours)
of class may be administratively dropped from the course. This policy will be enforced. Coming
in late or leaving early will constitute a tardy. An excessive number of tardies (3) and/or missing
½ of the class will be counted toward your allotted absences. Your participation is required.
State of Texas Policy for Withdrawals: The State of Texas has begun to impose penalties on
students who drop courses excessively. For example, if you repeat the same course more than
twice, 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.
Scholastic Dishonesty: Please note the student handbook for a more detailed definition of this
subject and for the consequences of cheating on a test, plagiarism (unacknowledged incorporation
of another’s ideas in your work), and/or collusion (unauthorized collaboration with another
person). Plagiarized Work may result in an “F” in the course.
Special Conditions: If you have any special conditions, extenuating circumstances, or needs that
may affect your progress in this course, please notify your instructor. Discuss with your instructor
any special accommodations that you have documented through the Disability Support Services
Counselors so that we may better meet your needs.
Counseling: Counseling is available at each campus. Check with the information desk at the
particular campus for room numbers and with your class schedule for telephone numbers.
Open Computer Labs: You have free access to the Internet and word processing in the open
computer lab in the Scarcella Science Center (Stafford Campus), the Alief Campus, the West
Loop Campus and the Missouri City Campus. Check the door of the open computer labs for hours
of operation. All HCCS students are welcome to utilize this resource. A fee is charged for printed
work.
Tutoring Facilities: Tutoring in English is provided by highly qualified English teachers.
Specific hours and tutoring sites are available through your English teacher and posted at each
campus.
Prohibition of Recording Devices: 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.
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Grade Turnaround: The English department regards a two- week turnaround for the return of
major essays an appropriate time frame.
Late Paper Policy: Papers that are late will be penalized 5 points for the first class within the
week. Those late over a weekend will be penalized 10 points. Thereafter, penalty will be 10
points per class. There will be a cutoff date when no late paper will be accepted. That date is at
the discretion of the Professor.
Important Dates:
February 21 Monday Presidents' Day Holiday
March 14-20 Mon-Sun Spring Break
April 21 Thursday Last Day for Withdrawals- 4:30 p.m.
April 22-24 Fri-Sun Easter Holiday
May 8 Sunday Instruction Ends
May 9-15 Mon-Sun Final Examinations
The following objectives are to ensure basic intellectual competencies in this course:
Reading: Reading material at the college level means having the ability to analyze and interpret a
variety of printed materials.
Writing: Writing at the college level means having the ability to produce clear,
correct, and coherent prose adapted to purpose, occasion, and audience. In addition to knowing
correct grammar, spelling, and punctuation, students should also become familiar with the writing
process, including how to discover a topic, how to develop and organize it, and how to phrase it
effectively for their audience.
Speaking: Effective speaking is the ability to communicate orally in clear, coherent, and
persuasive language appropriate to purpose, occasion, and audience
Listening: Listening at the college level means the ability to analyze and interpret various forms
of spoken communication.
Critical Thinking: Critical thinking embraces methods for applying skills analytically and
creatively to subject matter in order to evaluate arguments and to construct alternative strategies.
Problem solving is one of the applications of critical thinking used to address an identified task.
Computer Literacy: Computer literacy at the college level means having the ability to use
computer-based technology in communicating, solving problems, and acquiring information.
Student Learning 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 of in-class and out-ofclass written discourse.
Grade Percentages: Essays 80% All essays will be counted equally.
Professor’s Choice (journals, daily tests, oral reports, group work): 10%
Final Exam In-Class: 10%
ALL REQUIREMENTS MUST BE FULFILLED TO PASS THIS COURSE.
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*All drafts of the essay assignments must be word-processed or typed.
This syllabus is subject to changes.
Readings
Week 1: Jan. 18-20
Introduction to the Course
Diagnostic Essay
Week 2: Jan. 24-27
How to Write about Plays 149-50
Tennessee Williams from The Glass Menagerie 150
Week 3: Jan. 31-Feb. 3
The Glass Menagerie Continued
Week 4: Feb. 7-10
Marsha Norman from ‘night, Mother 154
Element of Drama 157-167
Week 5: Feb. 14-17
Complete Drama Unit
Week 6: Feb. 22-24
How to Write about Poems 125-26
Philip Levin “What Work Is” 128
Mary Oliver “Singapore” 129
Yusef Komunyakaa 130
Week 7: Feb. 28-Mar. 3
Edwin Arlington Robinson “The Mill” 131
Student’s Personal Responses and First Draft Sample Paper 134-39
Elements of Poetry and Revised Draft Sample Paper 139-48
Week 8: Mar. 7-10
Mark Doty “Night Ferry” 1595
Robert Hayden “Those Winter Sundays” 254
Dwight Okita “In Response to Executive Order 9066” 970
William Stafford “Traveling Through the Dark” 1568
Week 9: Mar. 21-24
Complete Poetry Unit
How to Write about Stories 91
William Carlos Williams “The Use of Force” 91
Eudora Welty “A Visit of Charity” 94
Week 10: Mar. 28-31
Anton Chekhov “Sleepy” 99
Students’ Personal Responses to the Stories 103-04
The Elements of Short Fiction 105-24
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Week 11: Apr. 4-7
Bobbie Ann Mason “Shiloh” 1448 and Lynda Hull “Night Waitress” 26
Kate Chopin “Desiree’s Baby” 661 and “The Story of an Hour” 659
Week 12: Apr. 11-14
Complete Short Story Unit
Week 13: Apr. 18-21
How to Write about Essays 168
June Jordan “Many Rivers to Cross” 169
Alice Walker “In Search of Our Mothers” Gardens” 175
Week 14: Apr. 25-28
The Elements of Essays 183-89.
Week 15: May 2-5
Complete Essay Unit
Week 16: May 9-12
Final Exams