ENGL 1301: English Composition I (Fall 2012)
SYLLABUS
Instructor Information
Ms. Alexandra Lindsey, MA
Email address: aslindsey10@gmail.com
Meeting time: Mon & Wed, 12:30 – 2:00 pm
Class location: Alief campus, room B139
Class number: 28409
Office hours: before or after class or by appointment
Course Description
English 1301 is a course devoted to improving your writing and critical reading. This course
involves reading works by authors with diverse worldviews and writing essays for a variety of
purposes from personal to academic. By interacting with the readings through writings of your
own, you will learn the valuable art of critical reading and writing. You will, in-turn, learn something
valuable about yourselves.
English 1301 is designed to help students write multi-paragraph expository (meaning: to explain or
describe), analytical (analytical: analysis using logical reasoning), and argumentative (argumentative:
expressing a divergent view) essays that have the following qualities:
· clarity in purpose and expression
· good organization
· sound content, including applications of concepts from and references to assigned readings
· unity and coherence
· sensitivity to audience,
· effective choice of words and sentence patterns
· grammatical and mechanical correctness
· completeness
Student Objectives
In order to pass this class, you must do the following:
1. Complete and comprehend assigned readings.
2. Attend class regularly, missing no more than 4 classes.
3. Participate in class when asked to do so.
4. Write at least 5,000 words over the course of the semester by completing essays of various style and
length. At least one written assignment will include information obtained through research that is
presented in current MLA format.
5. Turn in your assignments on time!
Student Outcomes
By the end of the semester, you will have learned to do the following:
1. Demonstrate knowledge of writing as a process. This process includes: planning, drafting,
revising, editing and completing.
2. Apply basic principles of critical thinking in analyzing reading selections, developing expository
essays, and writing argumentative essays.
3. Analyze elements such as purpose, audience, tone, style, strategy in essays and/or literature by
professional writers.
4. Write essays in appropriate academic writing style using varied rhetorical strategies.
5. Synthesize concepts from and use references to assigned readings in your own academic writing.
Connect Composition Program
Grammar and mechanics are very important considerations in developing successful writing. For this
reason, we’ll be piloting a brand new program this semester: Connect Composition. This program is
designed to meet the individual writing needs of students; after a brief diagnostic, the program will
generate a semester-long, personalized study plan (which we’ll refer to as your PLP.) In addition to
keeping up with assigned readings from The Writer’s Presence, students are expected to keep abreast of
their Connect Composition online study assignments.
You can directly access Connect Comp. using the following URL:
http://connect.mcgraw-hill.com/class/a_lindsey_28409_2
Problems with Connect Composition
Since Connect Comp. is brand new, expect some technical glitches down the line. If you need
help, please do not contact me. Instead, contact the McGraw-Hill Digital Products Support
Center at www.mhhe.com/support. There, you can submit a request for help and you’ll be given
a case number. If you’d prefer to speak with someone, call 1 800 331 5094.
Assigned Texts
The Writer’s Presence: A Pool of Readings (Edited by Donald McQuade & Robert Atwan.) 7th Edition.
ISBN #: 978 0 312 67262 1.
(Available for purchase at HCC bookshops, Barnes & Noble, etc.)
Grading
60%
10%
10%
10%
10%
Various Essay Assignments (Narrative, Argument, etc.)
Midterm Exam
Final Exam
Participation in Class (Reading Responses, Peer Editing, etc.) &
Professionalism (Punctuality, etc.)
Completion of Connect Composition Plan
Grading Scale
Grades will be assigned numerically (80, 85, etc.) or on a +/- scale (point equivalents are 88/85/82 for a
B+/B/B-, for example.) Note, however, that final grades are tabulated on an A/B/C scale. For the
purposes of grade calculation, an average of 90-100 will earn an A for the course, 80-89 will earn a B, 7079 will earn a C, 60-69 will earn a D, and 59 or below will earn an F.
What to bring to class each day
You are encouraged to take handwritten notes in class every day. Please come prepared with a spiral
notebook or binder, as well as blue or black ink pens. Please bring your copy of The Writer’s Presence to
class every day!
When you arrive in class …
Please be seated and ready to begin class at exactly 12:30 pm.
At times, you’ll be asked to work on the computer at your desk; however, on a daily basis, do not sign in
to your computer unless told to do so!
Late Paper Policy
It is important that you turn in all assignments on time! Please understand “on time” to mean by the
beginning of class on the day the assignment is due. If for any reason you are unable to attend class on a
due date, you may email me the assignment by the beginning of class. In other words, if you turn in a
perfect paper after class has started on the day the paper is due, the paper will still be considered one day
late. For every day the paper is late, I will deduct 10 points (or, roughly one grade point) from your
paper’s grade. For example, if you submit a “B”-worthy paper two days late, the highest grade you can
earn is a “D”. Please keep secure copies of your papers! Save frequently, email drafts to yourself, etc. If
your computer crashes and your work is unsaved, you are still responsible for turning your assignments in
on time.
Revisions
I do not allow revisions of essays; I am very clear about what I am looking for in a written assignment,
and if you have questions of any kind or need assistance before the due date, please ask me at any time.
You will have plenty of feedback opportunities for your papers, as we will often assess rough drafts in
class.
Extra Credit
Though I don’t allow revisions, I do understand that sometimes stuff just happens. This being true, your
spiral notebook or binder, which should include all the notes you take during my lectures, can be turned
in at the end of the semester for up to 10 points (at my discretion) applied to the grade of your choice,
aside from your final exam and final essay. In other words, if you get an 82 (B-) on your first quiz, you
may bump this up to a 92 (A-) at the end of the semester if you turn in a semester’s worth of carefully
taken notes.
Rough Drafts
Because it is impossible to conduct meaningful peer editing if all students do not participate and bring
rough drafts to class when assigned to do so, your final paper grade for that assignment will be docked a
full letter grades if your rough draft is not submitted on time. It is imperative that you bring rough drafts
to class when assigned to do so! By completing a rough draft by the assigned date, you save yourself the
pressure and stress of trying to come up with your final essay the day before the due date.
Midterm & Final Exams
These exams are each worth 10% of your final grade. If you happen to miss one of these exams, you will
have 3 business days to come to me and request a make-up. After that, your score will be a 0.
Reading Responses
At times, I’ll ask you to respond thoughtfully, in your own words, to a question or questions about an
assigned reading. Reading responses are not essays, so they don’t have to be perfect, and they won’t be
graded for correctness. They should reflect your thoughtful consideration of the assigned reading
material. If you come to class without your reading responses, you likely won’t have much to contribute
to any class discussions, which will detrimentally affect your participation grade.
Electronic Devices
Use of recording devices, including camera phones and tape recorders, is prohibited in classrooms and
other locations where instruction, tutoring, or testing occurs. I also prohibit the use of cellphones and ipods while I am lecturing and during class discussion; I give students my full attention when they are
talking and I expect the same in return. I reserve the right to dismiss any student from class at any time
for cellphone or i-pod use.
Attendance, Withdrawal Policy, and the “FX” grade
Absences: Attendance is required by the State of Texas and HCCS at all class meetings. The State of
Texas now requires that all students who miss the first two days of class to be withdrawn. Furthermore,
should you miss more than 6 hours of class (4 classes, in the case of this course) in a semester, the State
of Texas now requires that you be given an “FX” at the end of the semester —a failure for reasons of
attendance.
Tardiness: I take and submit attendance promptly at the beginning of class, so you will be marked
absent if you are not present by the time I’m done taking roll. If you arrive late, remember to approach
me after class to let me know you were here. This is your responsibility, not mine. You will then be
added to the roll, but marked as tardy. Please be aware that three (3) tardies is the equivalent of one (1)
absence. Any more than 2 absences (whether because of accumulated tardies or otherwise) will adversely
affect your participation/professionalism grade.
Withdrawal: Students who take a course for the third time or more must now pay significant
tuition/fee increases at HCC and other Texas public colleges and universities. At HCC it is an additional
$50 per credit hour. If you’re considering course withdrawal because you are not earning passing grades,
confer with your instructor/counselor as early as possible about your study habits, reading and writing
homework assignments, test-taking skills, attendance, course participation, and opportunities for tutoring
or other assistance that might be available. Also, the state of Texas has passed a new law limiting
students (as of Fall 2007) to no more than 6 withdrawals throughout their academic career in obtaining a
baccalaureate degree.
Please note that it is the student’s responsibility to withdraw from a class; should you decide to drop
the class, do not merely stop coming – let me know! Note that we no longer have the option to assign
"W"'s at the end of the semester, so all students still on my roll at the end of the semester will receive the
“FX” grade, which is treated the same as an “F” in terms of GPA, probation, suspension, and satisfactory
academic progress. The drop date is November 2, so please make sure to withdraw before then if you
plan to do so.
Missed Schoolwork: Rather than emailing me with questions about what you missed in class (notes,
assignments, etc.), please contact one of your classmates. It’s always a good idea, on the first day of
class, to exchange contact information with at least one other student.
Academic Dishonesty
Scholastic Dishonesty includes, but is not limited to:
“Plagiarism” (the appropriation of previously written work and the unacknowledged incorporation of
that work in one’s own written work for credit.)
“Collusion” (the unauthorized collaboration with another person in preparing written work for credit.)
“Cheating” (obtaining or providing answers from/to another person during a quiz or test.)
A student guilty of a first offense will earn a grade of 0 on the assignment involved. For a second
offense, the student will earn an F for the course.
Special Conditions/Circumstances
Any student with a documented disability (e.g. physical, learning, psychological, vision, hearing, etc.)
who needs to arrange reasonable accommodations must contact the Disability Services Office (713 718
5422) at the beginning of each semester. Faculty members are authorized to provide only the
accommodations requested by the Disability Support Services Office.
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.
Tutoring
Please make the most of face-to-face tutoring, which is provided at the Spring Branch and Katy campuses
in their writing labs. When you register at HCC, you pay for tutoring services as part of your fees. So, all
you have to do is show up with the writing assignment and someone will be happy to assist you.
The Spring Branch Writing Lab
Room 703, South Hall
713 718 5889
Hours: M-Thurs, 8 am to 8 pm; Fri, 8 am to 12 pm; Sat., 10 am to 2 pm.
The Katy Writing Lab
Room 321 A, across from the library
713 718 5841
Hours: Mon & Tues, 8 am to 7 pm; Wed & Thurs, 8 am to 2 pm; Fri, 8 am to 12 pm.
In addition to our face-to-face tutoring, HCC offers online tutoring. Papers reviewed by tutors will be
clearly marked, but marking will be done in Microsoft Word format and may not be visible with other
word processors. All HCCS open student computer labs have Microsoft Word installed for your
convenience. Students can log onto the tutoring site any time of the day or night and upload a draft of
their paper or retrieve one that has been reviewed by a tutor. Go to http://hccs.askonline.net.
Library
The HCC Libraries offer assistance in finding and documenting resources. If you would like help
with research, you may contact the Alief campus librarian, Jo Blair, at jo.blair@hccs.edu, or call
the library at 713-718-5447. The library is in the ERC. (Electronic Resource Center.)