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English 1301 Course Requirements and Readings.
Professor’s Name: Dr. Cynthia McNamara
E-mail: cynthia.mcnamara@hccs.edu
Office Hours: Before and After Class and by Appointment
Texts: Bloom & Smith, eds. The Arlington Reader:Contexts and Connections. Third Edition,
ISBN 10: 0-312-64359-4
Fowler and Aaron, eds. The Little Brown Handbook. 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.
Computer Facilities: The Open Computer Lab in the Scarcella Bldg at Stafford; the Open
Computer Lab at the West Loop Campus; Open Computer Lab at Sienna Campus in Missouri
City; and Computer Facilities in the libraries of most campuses. Specific available hours are
posted at each site.
Tutoring Facilities: The Learning Hub at the Stafford Campus, the West Loop Campus, and the
Missouri City Campus. Tutoring in English is provided by highly qualified English teachers.
Specific hours are available through your English teacher and at each tutoring site.
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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Faculty Evaluation Survey: 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.
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 15 points. Thereafter, penalty will be 20
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. There are no exceptions to this policy.
Important Dates:
February 20 Presidents' Day Holiday
March 12-18 Spring Break
March 29 Last Day for Administrative/Student Withdrawals—4:30 pm
April 6-8 Spring Holiday
May 6 Instruction Ends.
May 7-13 Final Examinations
The following are Student Learning Outcomes Designed for English 1301:
1. Demonstrate knowledge of writing as process.
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 their own academic
writing.
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.
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Grade Percentages: Essays 80%
Professor’s Choice (journals, daily tests, oral reports, group work) 10%
Final Exam 10%
ALL REQUIREMENTS MUST BE FULFILLED TO PASS THIS COURSE.
*All drafts of the essay assignments must be word-processed or typed.
This syllabus is subject to changes.
Readings
Week 1: Jan. 17-19
Diagnostic Essay
Introduction to the Course
Week 2: Jan. 23-26
Peter Elbow “Freewriting” 67
Stephen King “Write or Die” 71
Katherine Ann Porter "You Do Not Create a Style" 66
Writing Process: Invention and Outline
Week 3: Jan. 30-Feb. 2
Eudora Welty "Listening" 29
Writing Process: Developmental Paragraphs
Introduction and Thesis
Week 4: Feb. 6-9
Sherman Alexie "The Joy of Reading and Writing: Superman and Me" 45
The Writing Process: Conclusion, Editing, Proofreading, MLA format
Week 5: Feb. 13-16
Environmental Unit
Jared Diamond “The World as a Polder” 633 Assign oral reports on the essay
Paul Souders Kangerlua Glacier Melting Photograph 631
Week 6: Feb. 21-23 (Monday, Feb. 20 Presidents'Day)
Complete Writing Unit
Essay Writing Process
Week 7: Feb. 27-Mar. 1
Oral Presentations on Diamond Essay
Week 8: Mar. 5-8
Vaclav Havel “Our Moral Footprint” 591
Wangari Maathai “The Green Belt Movement” 586
Week 9: Mar. 19-22
Al Gore “A Planetary Emergency” 583
Terry Tempest Williams “The Clan of One-Breasted Women” 576
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Week 10: Mar. 26-29
Rachal Carson “The Obligation to Endure” 612
Week 11: Apr. 2-5
Al Gore An Inconvenient Truth: Documentary
Week 12: Apr. 9-12
Complete Environmental Unit
Week 13: Apr. 16-19
Sherman Alexie "What Sacagawea Means to Me" 115
Anna Quindlan "Anniversary" 158
Week 14: Apr. 23-26
E. B. White "Once More to the Lake" 163
Week 15: Apr. 30-May 3
Food, Inc. : Documentary
Week 16: May 7-10
Final Examinations
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