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COLLIN COLLEGE
COURSE SYLLABUS
Course Information
Course Number: ENGL 1301
Course Title: Composition I
Course Description: Intensive study of and practice in writing processes, from
invention and researching to drafting, revising, and editing, both individually and
collaboratively. Emphasis on effective rhetorical choices, including audience,
purpose, arrangement, and style. Focus on writing the academic essay as a
vehicle for learning, communicating, and critical analysis. Lab required.
Course Credit Hours:
Lecture Hours:
Lab Hour:
3
3
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Placement Assessments: Placement in ENGL 1301; College-Level Reading
Student Learning Outcomes:
 State-mandated Outcomes: Upon successful completion of this course,
students will:
1. Demonstrate knowledge of individual and collaborative writing processes.
(Teamwork, Communication Skills)
2. Develop ideas with appropriate support and attribution. (Communication Skills)
3. Write in a style appropriate to audience and purpose. (Communication Skills)
4. Read, reflect, and respond critically to a variety of texts. (Critical Thinking)
5. Use Edited American English in academic essays.
 Additional Collin Outcome: Upon successful completion of this course,
students should be able to do the following:
1. Demonstrate personal responsibility through the ethical use of intellectual
property. (Personal Responsibility)
Withdrawal Policy: See the current Collin Registration Guide for last day to withdraw.
Collin College Academic Policies: See the current Collin Student Handbook
Americans with Disabilities Act Statement: Collin College will adhere to all applicable
federal, state and local laws, regulations and guidelines with respect to providing
reasonable accommodations as required to afford equal educational opportunity. It
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is the student’s responsibility to contact the ACCESS office, SCC-D140 or
972.881.5898 (V/TTD: 972.881.5950) to arrange for appropriate accommodations.
See the current Collin Student Handbook for additional information.
Instructor Information
Instructor’s Name: Dr. Gary H. Wilson
Office Number: LH-169, Lawler Hall (formerly “D” Building), Preston Ridge Campus
Office Hours: 10:00 AM – Noon, Monday through Thursday, or as scheduled by
appointment
Phone Number: 469-365-1818
Email: GWilson@collin.edu
Class Information
Section Number: 1301.2P1 CRN: 40336 Meeting Times: 8:00 AM – 10:10 AM,
MTWR July 14 – Aug. 12, 2014 (Note: Aug. 1 and Aug. 8th are scheduled Friday
classes)
Meeting Location: L 204 (2nd floor of the PRC Library)
Course Resources: Required Texts*:
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Daniel Anderson. Write Now, 1st ed.

Richard Epstein. The Pocket Guide to Critical Thinking, 4th ed.
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Diana Hacker and Nancy Sommers. A Pocket Style Manual, 6th ed.
*Check with the Preston Ridge Campus Bookstore for current ISBN numbers and
purchase information.
Supplies: USB memory flash drive
Class Attendance Policy: *Attendance is mandatory for this class. Attendance is
essential for doing well in this course. Attendance is taken at each class.

Students who leave class early without discussing the valid reasons
with me are counted absent for the entire class. If you cannot meet
these attendance requirements, you should consider scheduling another
class that better accommodates your personal schedule of work and
study. Your time and money are valuable commodities in your pursuit of a
higher education; so, do not waste them by missing classes and being
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tardy. Since the Collin Student Handbook defines tardiness as disruptive
behavior, students who are habitually late to class will be asked to meet
with me to discuss their situation; these conferences are not optional.
In this class, tardiness is defined as being either late to class or
leaving the class early without authorized reasons. Refer to the
Student Code of Conduct, Section 7-2.4, Other Offenses, item B
(Disruption) and item C (Conduct), for more information. This policy will
be strictly enforced.
When students incur three (3) or more unexcused absences from class,
they are required to meet with me in my office during office hours to
discuss their situations. When students incur three unexcused absences,
I will officially advise them through an email. Students who continue to
miss classes after they have exceeded five (5) unexcused absences
without notifying me regarding their situations, are presumed to be nonattendees for the remainder of the semester. Their names will be sent via
email to the Dean’s office for documentation.*
*Students who have perfect attendance for the Summer II session
(no missed classes for any reason) will receive 10 “bonus” points
added to their overall point total.
NOTE: Students are personally responsible for withdrawing from the class
before the official withdrawal date noted on the college calendar.
Job-related issues (travel, work schedule changes, overtime, and
vacation) do not qualify as excusable reasons for tardiness, class
absences, or the excused submission of late assignments. If you
must be absent, you should email me via Cougar Mail before the
absence. In the case of either excused absences (documented illness or
family emergency) and unexcused absences, you are personally
responsible for submitting all written assignments by the deadlines noted
on the course syllabus, in the class Blackboard, or as announced in class.
*Assignments not submitted due to unexcused absences cannot be “made
up.”
*Only assignments that are officially excused for illness or emergency can
be made up with my prior approval. Not having access to your required
textbooks or purchasing them in a timely manner at the beginning of the
semester are not valid reasons to excuse late assignments. If you have
questions or concerns about textbooks, see me before or after class.
NOTE: Not attending the class for any reason can impair your overall
grade.
Method of Evaluation:
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Your overall grade for this class is based on completing the assignments
described below and also noted in the Weekly Assignments Schedule
(embedded in this document on the last page) and posted in Blackboard.
Note: All submitted essays will require students to engage in at least
one form of revision before submitting the essay for a final grade.
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The three accepted forms of revision for this course are 1.) writing
conferences with the instructor; 2.) tutorial sessions in the College’s
Writing Center (either in-person or online); or, online or in-person peer
review sessions with a classmate. (Online peer reviews are set up in the
“Discussions” menu tool in Blackboard). Peer review sessions with
students outside this class or with friends or family do not qualify as
peer reviews.
All revision activities must occur before the writing assignment is
submitted and must be documented on the last page of the essay.
***Essays that are submitted without undergoing a documented form
of revision (as specified above) will result in the student earning no
lab unit essay revision credit (“0” points) associated with that
assigned essay. *Research validates that revision enhances students’
writing skills and can elevate final assignment grade levels.
Graded assignments: for this course, graded assignments are
categorized as essays, in-class writing exercises, in-class presentations,
and 16 lab units. In the embedded file, “Weekly Assignments Schedule,”
you can review all assignment due dates. ***Instructions for all
assignments can be found in the appropriate menu tool in Blackboard.
In evaluating all assignments for this course, I will grade the
assignments based on a letter grade and a points earned grade. For
example on an assignment weighted at 75 points: a student earns 93% or
70/75 points, which corresponds on the standard grading scale to the
letter-grade of an “A.”
The following standard percentage grading scale applies to all written
assignments in this class:
A = 89.56% - 100%; B = 79.6% - 89.5%; C = 69.6% - 79.5%; D = 59.6% 69.5%; F = 59.4% or less; “0”= no points given when assignments are
not submitted after 5 calendar days have passed.
MY GRADES in your class Blackboard courseware is the grade book tool that is
used to record and maintain a cumulative running total of your points earned on
all assignments. Assignments are given weighted point values. All of your written
assignments will be evaluated electronically, using the evaluation tools and
comments features available in the Blackboard courseware. All grades and
matters related to grading should not be discussed openly in the classroom to
protect your rights to privacy. If you wish to discuss your grades, you will need to
schedule a conference with me during my office hours to do so.
Grading Turn-around Times: Typically, my grading turn-around times are 4
days for essays and 2-3 days for in-class writing exercises and labs. All
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evaluative comments and accompanying grades are recorded electronically in
MY GRADES in Blackboard so that you can view them at any time and review
your cumulative total of points earned.
These cumulative point total ranges and letter-grade equivalencies apply in
determining your final or transcript grade:
There are 1,000 available cumulative points encompassing all assignments
during the session.
896 points (or 89.56%) and above = “A” (Excellent)
796 points to 895 points =
“B” (Very Good)
696 points to 795 points =
“C” (Effective Competency)
596 points to 695 points =
“D” (Deficient)
594 points and below=
“F” (Failure)
Read carefully: Unexcused late assignments are automatically deducted
one letter grade per day (5 points per each 12-hour period) when they are
not submitted by the due date and time specified in the syllabus or
Blackboard. After five days, students earn a “0”(no points) for a nonsubmitted assignment.
If you know that you will be required to miss a scheduled class, be sure to
complete and submit any assignments due before the class. Also, contact me
via Cougar Mail before your absence occurs to inform me of your situation.
*In this first-year college English course, you are evaluated based on the
following areas: regularly attending class, completing in-class exercises,
submitting out-of-class written assignments, revising your essays through a
variety of methods, and completing each of the following written assignments
shown below. In a first semester college composition class, the learning focus is
learning how to write clearly and persuasively.
Following are the assignment categories and their weighted totals.
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Assignment Category
Available Points
Totals
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Essay 1 (3 pages)
135
135
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Essay 2 (4 pages)
155
155
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Essay 3 (4 pages)
155
155
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Argumentation Blog
155
155
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(5)–In-class Writing Exercises
15 pts ea.
75
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(16)–Lab Units
15 pts ea.
240
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Final Exam Essay
85
85
TOTALS:
1,000
Bonus Points for Writing Revision Activities: Bonus points for instructor
writing conferences and documented Writing Center tutorials are given and
can positively enhance a student’s individual point totals for a specific
assignment, as well as overall individual point totals. NOTE: There are no
“extra credit” assignments in the course–only bonus points earned for the
reasons explained below.
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Students who participate in a documented in-person writing tutorial at the
Writing Center or engage in a writing conference with me before the due
date of an essay will earn a total of 10 bonus points added to their
grade for the specific essay submitted (a Writing Center tutorial and a
writing conference with me cannot be combined to earn additional points.
(Instructor writing conferences can also be conducted synchronously
online using Blackboard’s Collaborate conferencing tool.)
Students who attend one of the Summer II writing workshop sessions
(sponsored by the Writing Centers at the College) will earn 10 bonus
points for such participation.
NOTE: In this class, no extra-credit “makeup” work is provided to those
students who miss in-class assignments or other assignments scheduled
on the Weekly Assignments Schedule (unless excused for illnesses or
family emergencies).
Student Support Resources: Tutoring services are available free of charge to
all currently enrolled students! Upon request, students are assigned one of the
following tutoring services, when available:
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• small group tutoring
• online tutoring
When group or online tutoring is not available, students are given the private
tutor list. (Private tutoring services, however, must be paid by the student.)
Students can request tutoring services electronically or submit a tutor request
form in order to receive detailed information about the available tutoring services.
The form is available on Collin's website and in the following offices: CPC–room
D117, PRC–room F109, and SCC–room D140.
Online tutoring services can be accessed by clicking on the following web link:
http://www.collin.edu/studentresources/tutoring/online_tutoring.html
Group tutoring is available for the following courses: ENGL 0305, 1301, 1302.
Also, online tutoring is available for English 1301 and 1302 courses.
Technical Support: What if you experience technical problems with Blackboard
or connecting to the College’s computer file server? If you encounter technical
problems with Blackboard, there are three options for assistance:
• Call 972-377-1777 to contact the Collin College Blackboard Help Desk.
• Email the Student Technical Support center at sts@collin.edu
• You may also access the Online Student Support Center (eLC) at
http://online.collin.edu/
The college’s IT division routinely maintains its computer system services. Such
maintenance will temporarily close access to Blackboard or to the College’s file
server (an hour or two in the early hours of Saturday or Sunday). These times
will be announced several weeks ahead of the scheduled maintenance through
Cougar Mail.
Academic Ethics: Every member of the Collin College community is expected to
maintain the highest standards of academic integrity. Collin College may initiate
disciplinary proceedings against a student accused of scholastic dishonesty.
Scholastic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, statements, acts, or
omissions related to applications for enrollment or the award of a degree, and/or
the submission of one’s own work material that is not one’s own. Scholastic
dishonesty may involve, but is not limited to, one or more of the following acts;
cheating, plagiarism, collusion, use of annotated texts or teacher’s editions, use
of information about exams posted on the Internet or electronic medium, and/or
falsifying academic records. While specific examples are listed below, these
examples are intended as summaries and are not a complete list.
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Plagiarism is the use of an author’s words or ideas as if they
were one’s own without giving credit to the source, including,
but not limited to, failure to acknowledge a direct quotation.
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Cheating is the willful giving or receiving of information in an
unauthorized manner during an examination, illicitly obtaining
examination questions in advance, copying computer or Internet
files, using someone else’s work for the assignments as if it
were one’s own, or any other dishonest means of attempting to
fulfill the requirements of a course.
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Collusion is the intentionally aiding or attempting to aid another
in an act of scholastic dishonesty, including but not limited to,
providing a paper or project to another student providing an
inappropriate level of assistance; communicating answers to a
classmate during an examination; removing tests or answer
keys from a test suite, and allowing a classmate to copy
answers.
In cases where an incident report has been filed for an alleged violation of
scholastic dishonesty, faculty are requested to delay posting a grade, for the
academic work in question, until the Dean of Student Development Office
renders an administrative decision in the case. Students found responsible for
scholastic dishonesty offenses will receive an authorized disciplinary penalty
from the Dean of Student Development Office.
If a student is found responsible for violating academic ethics in this class,
he or she will receive a grade of “0” for the assignment or assignments
involved. *You should review the section on scholastic dishonesty in the Collin
Student Handbook, which can be accessed at online web link:
http://www.collin.edu/shared/shared_studentresources/pdf/1213_student_handbo
ok.pdf.
Academic Etiquette: Our common goal is to create a vibrant collaborative
learning environment that will benefit everyone. Any type of disruptive behaviors
(talking while the instructor or others are talking, texting, using cell phones or
other digital devices during class, profanity, and any violations noted in the Collin
Student Handbook will not be tolerated.
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Turn off cell or digital devices before the class begins.
Remove ear buds.
No web surfing before or after class, unless students are accessing
and using the Blackboard courseware or databases directly related
to their course work.
The classroom is not a cafeteria, so refrain from bringing and consuming
food in the workstation classroom. We cannot learn if we are not all
focused on the task before us.
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For many students, college is truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Many
students at Collin College make substantial sacrifices and commitments to attend
classes while working full or part-time and supporting their families. Don’t waste
this opportunity. ***Attitude is everything.*** Come prepared to learn and you
will. This is not a class to socialize or engage in non-productive conversations
with others. Do your socializing before and after class. Those who repeatedly
disrupt the class through their behaviors will be asked to leave the class for the
full period. ***Repeat offenders will have their names forwarded through
appropriate official channels for appropriate intervention.
Email Policies and Netiquette: Use your Cougar Mail for all email
communications. We all realize that this is an English course. As an English
professor, I consider your emails to be demonstrable expressions of your thinking
and writing skills. For these reasons, you should always use correct grammar
and sentence clarity in all of your written emails.
Each email should specify an appropriate subject in the subject line; do not
simply reply to prior emails with subjects that are different than the one you are
sending–doing this creates confusion and time delays. If you have a complex
question that requires a lengthy answer, then you can call me at (469) 365-1818
at my office telephone number on the Preston Ridge Campus or you can
schedule an online conference period with me.
***If you are not willing to abide by the norms and accommodate the
challenges of a college environment, you should not be here.
Teaching Methods: In all my classes, I attempt to create a meaningful
exchange of ideas that dignifies the learning process and helps students always
feel comfortable that their ideas and contributions are important. I ask students
questions in class to focus their attention on the reading and writing assignments.
I also encourage my students to ask questions about the topics, ideas, and
assignments we are studying. An inquisitive nature is a powerful first step in
learning new ideas and challenging the status quo.
I use technology to help students improve their academic writing.
Blackboard provides meaningful tools that help student-writers prewrite,
compose, and revise their written assignments. I also teach critical reading and
thinking skills in this course since research demonstrates that these two
attributes are prerequisites for effective writing. Teaching and learning is always
a two-way process. I challenge my students to feel that they are embarking on
an important journey which will provide a solid foundation for their thinking and
writing in future college classes and in their chosen professions.
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Writing Conferences: All writing conferences will be conducted in my office
during my scheduled office hours in LH-169 (Lawler Hall) on the Preston Ridge
Campus.
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Writing conferences afford students meaningful opportunities to discuss
any aspects of the course as well as their writing assignments. To
facilitate a discussion of a writing assignment or essay draft, students
should bring their work saved on their USB memory devices.
You should directly schedule the conference with me via Cougar Mail.
Writing conferences are scheduled on a first-available basis. Writing
conferences will always be conducted in my office and will last no more
than 20-25 minutes to enable others to participate in conferences.
*Current research shows that one-on-one writing conferences help
students improve their writing skills during a college semester. Such
sessions create a workshop forum wherein student writing concerns can be
efficiently identified with individualized improvement strategies.
Instructor Contact and Response Times: Routinely, I check my Cougar Mail
(GWilson@collin.edu) at once each hour. I try to respond to all student emails
within a two-hour period. I start checking my Cougar Mail early in the morning
and into the evening. If you send an email late in the evening, expect that you
will not receive a reply until I check my email in-box first thing the following
morning. If you wish to telephone me, my office telephone has voice mail so you
can leave a brief message. I respond to all student voice mails left before 3 PM
during the same day they are communicated. *My preferred method of contact
with students is through Cougar Mail.
Course Requirements: To be successful in this class, you should first
maintain a positive attitude that you are here to learn.
• Regardless of your past academic experiences in college or high school,
by keeping a positive attitude about the course, you will learn and
succeed.
• Since this class is instructed entirely in a workstation classroom, you
should possess proficiencies in computer keyboarding and using MS
Word, know how to upload and download documents, and also how to
navigate the Blackboard courseware.
• Free tutorials are provided for computer software and for Blackboard
through the eCollin Learning Center, located in the PRC Library. You can
telephone the eCollin Learning Center on the Preston Ridge Campus at
972-377-1777, or link to their technical support page:
http://online.collin.edu/eLC_technicalissues.html .
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Students’ Privacy Protection: In accordance with the provisions of the Family
Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), matters involving students’ records
and grades will not be openly disclosed nor discussed. If students wish to
discuss their grades with me, they can do so by scheduling a conference
during my office hours. *Grades or grading matters will not be sent or
commented upon through emails since emails can be inadvertently forwarded to
third-parties. Students should refrain from openly discussing their grades with
others inside or outside the classroom in order to protect their privacy.
Campus Security: To report suspected criminal activities, Call 5555 – Preston
Ridge Collin police (972.578.5555 from any off-campus telephone). For all lifethreatening emergencies, call 911.
Collin College Summer II Session 2014 Important Dates
July 14 ……………………………………………… Summer II Session Begins
July 16 ………………………………………………1:00 PM - 3:00 PM - “How to
Wow Your Reader” Learn how
to narrow topics, write creative
introductions and effective
thesis statements.
July 22 ……………………………………………… 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM, Writing
Workshop: “MLA Made Simple”
Learn the basics of MLA
documentation (See Cougar
Web Calendar for location)
July 23 ……………………………………………….1:00 PM - 3:00 PM – “Beyond
Wikipedia” Identify reliable
sources for research, find
articles and books online, and
use the college library
resources from home.
July 28 ……………………………………………….1:00 PM - 3:00 PM “The
Argument Clinic”
Learn the basics of writing
persuasive papers, including
purpose, audience, and thesis.
July 29 ……………………………………………… .Last Day for Class Withdrawal
Aug 12 ………………………………………………. Final Exam Day for Summer II
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Course Weekly Reading and Writing Assignments
*Note: All assigned readings are taken from Write Now, 1st ed., The Pocket
Guide to Critical Thinking, 4th ed., and A Pocket Style Manual, 6th ed., and
selected websites that are linked in the “Weekly Assignments Schedule” (refer to
the embedded file below).
*Reading and writing assignments must be completed by the dates noted on
this syllabus before the class begins.
*Changes to the following schedule of reading, writing, and in-class
assignments may be made to enhance the students’ learning process.
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I will announce any changes to this weekly assignments schedule in class
and post them also in the “Announcements” section of your course
Blackboard, as well as send them to your Cougar Mail email address.
Classes officially canceled by the College due to inclement weather may
affect this schedule.
You should review your course Blackboard website at least twice daily for
any announcements or updates.
Weekly Schedule of Assignments
*Double click on the file icon below to open the embedded MS Excel file
entitled “Weekly Assignments Schedule.” This file contains all reading and
writing assignments and their required assignment due dates for the semester.
You should review this schedule frequently.
Engl 1301 Summer II
Weekly Assignments Dr. Wilson.docx