COURSE INFORMATION HANDOUT
Summer 2009
English 1301: COMPOSITION AND RHETORIC
(Blended Course)
INSTRUCTOR: Audrey A. Wick
OFFICE: Liberal Arts Building, Schulenburg Campus
PHONE: (979) 743-5218
EMAIL: audrey.wick@blinn.edu
INSTRUCTOR WEBSITE: http://www.blinn.edu/schulenburg/faculty/
DISTANCE EDUCATION HOMEPAGE: http://www.blinn.edu/disted/index.htm
BLENDED COURSE INFORMATION: http://www.blinn.edu/disted/blended/index.htm
ECAMPUS LOG IN HOMEPAGE: http://ecampus.blinn.edu/
ON CAMPUS OFFICE HOURS: 30 minutes before and after each class and other times by appt.
CLASS: Meets Mondays and Wednesdays from 10:45 a.m. – 1:20 p.m. on campus June 3 – July 1, 2009
Course Description: This writing-intensive first-semester freshman composition course focuses on the writing
of researched argumentative, expository, and persuasive papers. Analytical reading, critical thinking, and
library-based research skills are emphasized. Essays, including a 1500-word documented library research-based
paper, are required. Prerequisites: Pass Writing section of THEA (or alternative test) or completion of ENGL
0321 with a grade of “C” or better; and pass the Reading section of THEA (or alternate test) or completion of
READ 0306 with a grade of “C” or better. Three class hours per week. Credit: Three semester hours.
Note: English 1301 is a blended course, meaning apx. 51% of the course will be administered in a face-to-face
format and 49% of the course will be administered in an online format. While this arrangement does allow for
some flexibility in terms of personal scheduling, English 1301 does require that set assignments be regularly
completed and that established due dates be met, be they in class or online.
Core Curriculum Statement: English 1301 is a Core Course in the 42-hour Core of Blinn College. As such,
students will develop proficiency in the appropriate Intellectual Competencies, Exemplary Educational
Objectives, and Perspectives. For more information, refer to www.blinn.edu/corecurriculum.
Student Learning Outcomes: Throughout the course, students will
 apply the steps of the writing process—prewriting, drafting, revising, and editing—in clear, correctly
written compositions;
 develop a topic appropriate to audience, purpose, situation, and assignment for written compositions;
 improve content and organization through revision;
 apply conventions of standard edited English.
Required Books:
Fowler, H. Ramsey, and Jane E. Aaron. The Little, Brown Handbook. 10th ed. New York: Longman,
2007.
Neuleib, Janice, et al., eds. The Mercury Reader: A Custom Publication. Boston: Pearson Custom
Publishing, 2005.
Standard college-level dictionary.
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Preparedness: Students are expected to read all assigned material and to remain attentive and actively
participate in class for the entire time. This includes not only taking notes during lectures and discussions but
also utilizing the required textbooks and materials during class time. Plan to purchase materials (paper, folders,
pens, etc.) which will personally facilitate this. Scantrons will be needed for the midterm and final exam.
Students should also have regular access to a computer, the Internet (Internet Explorer 7.x or higher, Firefox 2.0
and 3.0, or Mac OS X:Firefox), and Microsoft Word.
Grading System:
Essay 1
Essay 2
Midterm
15%
15%
10%
Discussion Forum Postings/Participation
Research Project
Final Exam
15%
30%
15%
Essays: The instructor will assign major writing tasks to help the student learn to prewrite, draft, critique, revise,
and polish written assignments. MLA documentation and formatting applies, and students will be asked to turn
in photocopied sources with Essay 2.
Research Project: A research project (1500+ word documented research paper with several preliminary steps)
will be assessed throughout the course to determine knowledge of skills taught in class. MLA documentation
and formatting applies, and students will be asked to turn in photocopied sources with the essay. The research
project is an attempt at incorporating scholarly source material into a fluid argument. As such, library resources
are to be utilized in favor of Internet resources. Note that no general Internet source materials (such as those
obtained through Google or other comparable searches) will be allowed for the Research Project without prior
written approval from the instructor. Even with such approval, each student must determine the relevance and
reliability of any information obtained and cite each source appropriately. Note well: In order to earn credit for
the course, each student must submit a 1500+ word documented research paper that reflects a sincere effort
to address the assignment.
***All essays should be electronically submitted to the Ecampus TurnItIn dropbox in addition to
submission in class by the designated date/time in class. Late essays are not accepted.
Grade Equivalencies for Major Essays:
A+ = 98
A = 95
B+ = 88
B = 85
C+ = 78
C = 75
D+ = 68
D = 65
F = 50
0=0
A- = 92
B- = 82
C- = 72
D- = 62
Discussion Forum Postings/Participation: Students will be held responsible for regular classroom (face-toface and online) attendance, and active, meaningful attendance will directly increase a student’s overall course
grade. To this end, students will participate in several Ecampus discussion postings, each graded on a 5-point
scale:
5 points = Outstanding; see "A" at http://www.blinn.edu/humanities/gradingpolicy.htm
4 points = Good; see "B" at http://www.blinn.edu/humanities/gradingpolicy.htm
3 points = Average; see "C" at http://www.blinn.edu/humanities/gradingpolicy.htm
2 points = Significant Improvement Needed; see "D" at http://www.blinn.edu/humanities/gradingpolicy.htm
1 point = Below Minimal Standards; see "F" at http://www.blinn.edu/humanities/gradingpolicy.htm
0 points = Unacceptable (incomplete, plagiarized, directions not followed, late, and/or assignment not
submitted); see "0" at http://www.blinn.edu/humanities/gradingpolicy.htm
Remember: The more regularly students participate in class, the more successful they are likely to be! (The
same holds true for the reverse—the less regularly students participate in class, the less successful in class they
are likely to be.) Students’ overall active, meaningful, and frequent class participation will be considered when
final grades are determined.
Wick—Summer (Blended) 2009 3
Midterm: A midterm exam will be given to assess knowledge of material presented at the semester’s halfway
point.
Final Exam: This exam will be given to determine whether or not the student has sufficient knowledge of the
skills needed to advance to the next level of college-credit English. It will include a 650-word in-class
documented essay and course inventory test.
In addition to the aforementioned assignments, the instructor will assign textbook and online readings and
activities, online lectures, and various individual assignments (see attached schedule). Also, remember that
active, meaningful, and frequent participation is required to complete and pass this course.
Manuscript Form
All papers must exhibit an understanding of current MLA format, discussed in class and found in The Little,
Brown Handbook (ex. paper p. 725), to receive credit. All papers submitted must be appropriate and adequate.
Review the editing symbols on the end sheets of The Little, Brown Handbook for common editing marks that
may be noted on your paper. Remember: English 1301 is not a course in creative writing. Adherence to
guidelines and directions in writing is imperative.
GRADING CRITERIA
These grading criteria are used by all instructors of English at Blinn College.
A The A paper represents original, outstanding work; it shows careful thought, fresh insights, and stylistic
maturing. With practically no mechanical errors to distract the readers, it is free of jargon, cliches, and other
empty language. Readers move effortlessly through the paper because of its effective transitions, lucid
organization, and thorough, purposeful development. At the end, they feel that they have learned something
and that they have received some unexpected and welcome illumination.
B The B paper shows thought but not unusual originality. Its few mechanical errors do not seriously distract
the readers, but the language, while neither trite nor bureaucratic, probably lacks the candor and precision of
the most memorable writing. Although it has clear organization and substantial development, the B paper
will not have the organic unity of the best writing. Its transitions, while appropriate, emphasize the logical
turnings of the writer’s mind, making readers occasionally more aware of the efforts taken to unify and
control an idea than of the idea itself.
C The C paper represents average college-level work. It is a competent expression of ordinary thoughts in
ordinary language. The writing is basically correct, though it may have some mechanical errors, but
monotonous. Because of inadequate transitions, the paper often has a chopping effect, one that is intensified
by pedestrian organization and vague development. By relying on generalities rather than on precise,
illustrative details, the writer of a C paper leaves readers feeling not much better informed than when they
first picked up the essay.
D
The D paper has only skeletal development and organization. Its serious mechanical errors, together with
the awkwardness and ambiguity of its sentence structure, make readers feel slighted, as if their time and
attention were of little concern to the writer.
F The F paper contains writing that falls below the minimal standards for college-level literacy. It shows lack
of thought and purpose, little or no organization, numerous mechanical errors, and a garbled or immature
style. Sometimes inadequacy in one area is enough to fail a paper—the writer, for instance, may not have
control of punctuation and produces fragments or comma splices in almost every paragraph—but usually
serious weaknesses occur in several areas together.
0
A paper will earn the grade zero if it contains plagiarized content in any form, including the failure to
acknowledge the source of any borrowed material (summarized, paraphrased, and directly quoted) and
unmarked exact wording (directly quoted from either a primary or a secondary source), whether a specific
well-chosen word, a phrase (two or more words), a clause, or full sentence(s). A paper can earn a zero if it
Wick—Summer (Blended) 2009 4
does not address the assigned topic or if directions have been either ignored or not followed.
Allow the passage of five days’ time before expecting the return of graded essays.
Departmental Reminder for Submission of New Work: Students who have been enrolled in English 1301
(on-line, in a classroom, or otherwise) in a previous semester should remember that the work they submit this
semester must be new. This means, for instance, that students cannot submit papers (or any other assignments)
that were initially written in a previous semester. Students need to treat this semester as a fresh start--because
recycled work from previous semesters will not be accepted. Likewise, if students have friends and/or family
members who have previously taken this class, then students should remember that papers (or other
assignments) from these friends and/or family members cannot be submitted in place of students' own work.
The work that each student submits this semester must be original. Any student who submits recycled and/or
copied work this semester will be subject to the Blinn College policies governing scholastic dishonesty.
Scholastic Integrity and Plagiarism: The Blinn College Student Handbook defines plagiarism as “the
appropriating, buying, receiving as a gift, or obtaining by any means another’s work and the unacknowledged
submission or incorporation of it in one’s own written work.” Plagiarism also includes the following
inexcusable offenses: failure to properly indicate directly quoted passages, phrasings, or significant wordings as
such by the proper use of quotation marks and misattribution of cited material. Collusion is defined as the
“unauthorized collaboration with another person in preparing written work for fulfillment of course
requirements” (51). Collusion is considered to be as egregious as plagiarism.
A student who cheats or plagiarizes will receive a zero for the assignment and will be required to meet with the
instructor and academic dean for appropriate resolution to the problem. According to the Blinn College Student
Handbook, the following penalty “may be imposed by the instructor [. . .]: an appropriate grade penalty ranging
from a grade of zero on the assignment/examination up to and including the imposition of an F for the entire
course [for egregious plagiarism].” Note: “A student receiving an F in a course because of scholastic dishonesty
MAY NOT withdraw from that course” (54).
Note well: Scholastic dishonesty does both the student and the instructor a disservice by hindering learning.
Any form of scholastic dishonesty indicates academic weakness on the student’s part, setting the student up for
failure in the course. Instructors use the TurnItIn software as a means of plagiarism control.
Print Management System: Each student is automatically given a print system account as the start of the
semester along with 15 credits (i.e. $15.00). The credits can be utilized in the library and lab settings for any
print jobs. Credits are not refundable nor does the balance roll over to the next semester.
Civility Notification Statement: If a student is asked to leave the classroom [or is denied access to the online
classroom] because of uncivil behavior [including language and/or tone], the student may not return to [or
access] that class until he or she arranges a conference with the instructor: it is the student’s responsibility to
arrange for this conference.
Students should remember the above when interacting with one another (and with the instructor) inside (or
outside) the online classroom. In short, students should be respectful of others, both actually and virtually,
whether they are interacting face to face, on the telephone, inside private mail, inside the chat room, or inside
the discussion forum.
Attendance: The College District believes that class attendance is essential for student success; therefore,
students are required to promptly and regularly attend all their classes. Each class meeting builds the foundation
for subsequent class meetings. Without full participation and regular class attendance, students shall find
themselves at a severe disadvantage for achieving success in college.
If a student has two class absences, he/she will be administratively withdrawn from class. See p. 47-48 in
The Handbook for further policy information.

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Students are expected to participate actively and regularly in class. Students should be spending, on
average, a minimum of five hours per week online inside the English 1301 online classroom, as students are
spending apx. five and a half hours per week physically attending class. This may not, necessarily, include
the time needed to complete readings, to complete homework assignments, to conduct research, to write
papers, and the like.

Students should plan to check their Private Mail accounts inside the Ecampus classroom routinely, as the
instructor will regularly use these accounts for important classroom communication.

An accurate, daily record of each student’s online attendance and participation is kept by the instructor and
by the Ecampus program itself.
Withdrawal Note: Senate Bill 1231 (passed by the 80th session of the Texas Legislature) limits the number of
courses from which an institution of higher learning may allow an undergraduate student to withdraw to no
more than six, including any transfer courses. SB 1231 affects any student enrolled as a first-time freshman at
Blinn College and all other Texas universities and colleges, beginning in the fall 2007 semester.
Late, Make-up, and Missing Work:

All assignments are expected to be completed and are due at the beginning of class on the assigned due date
whether or not the student attends class. Likewise, electronic submissions of essays to the Ecampus
TurnItIn dropbox will be due by 11:55 p.m. on the date the essay is due in class. Turning in assignments
early is acceptable; turning them in late is unacceptable.

Please note that disruptions in computer service and/or computer difficulties will not be considered as
excuses for failure to submit work. If a student experiences problems with his or her personal computer,
then that student should borrow a friend's computer, should use a computer in a campus computer lab, or
should use a computer in a public library. If all else fails, then the student should notify the instructor prior
to an assignment's due date and time so that the student can then hand deliver or fax the assignment to the
instructor as soon as possible.
E-mail Policy: While e-mail is an acceptable form of student-instructor contact, note that e-mail does not take
the place of face-to-face contact. Therefore, e-mail shall not be used as a substitute for one-on-one
conferencing. Any e-mail should be properly addressed, appropriately composed, and free of
grammatical/mechanical errors. E-mail containing errors that hinder readability will be returned to the student,
unanswered.
Special Services for Students with Disabilities
Services and reasonable accommodations are available to students with documented disabilities. The Office of
Disability Services (ODS) on the Brenham campus (Rm. 104, Administration Building) provides direct services
to students with documented disabilities and makes appropriate referrals to other resources on and off campus.
The ODS promotes awareness of the special needs and abilities of students with disabilities through educational
events and outreach activities. Information, education, and consultation about specific disabilities are available
to interested parties on request. Assistance to students with disabilities is provided in the following areas:
 Assessment of needs and appropriate services
 Provision of classroom and testing accommodations
 Assistance in orientation and registration procedures
 Counseling on disability related issues
For further information or to make an appointment, call the Brenham office at (979) 830-4157 or contact Becky
Garlick, Director of the Schulenburg campus.
Class Policies: All policies stated in The Bulletin of Blinn College (2008-2009) and other documents provided
by the institution will be followed in this class.
Wick—Summer (Blended) 2009 6
English 1301 Daily Plan
(This plan is tentative and may change with as much advance notice to students as possible.)
MER = The Mercury Reader
LBH = The Little, Brown Handbook
Class = Face-to-face instruction
HW = Homework (i.e. readings), which is listed for completion ON THAT CLASS DAY.
Ecampus = Online work (Note: Students will also be required to read multiple lectures posted
online in the Ecampus classroom on a weekly basis to supplement classroom instruction. All
online work is due weekly on Saturday by 11:55 p.m.)
-------------------DAY ONE (Wednesday, June 3)------------------Class:
 Introduction to the course.
 Course Inventory pre-test.
 Critical reading and writing.
 Author: Adler, with “How to Mark a Book” p. 211-16 in class.
 Writing as a process.
 Prewriting techniques.
HW: Read Course Information Handout.
Read MER “A Word About Honesty” p. 1-2.
Read LBH 7a-c “Studying Effectively” p. 135-42, 40 “Using Dictionaries” p. 536-42, 8a
“Forming a Critical Perspective—Thinking and Reading Critically” p. 150-64, 1a
“Understanding How Writing Happens” p. 2-3, and 2 “Developing and Shaping Ideas” p. 16-44.
Ecampus: Post Ecampus student introduction to discussion forum by Saturday, June 6 at 11:55 p.m.
-------------------DAY TWO (Monday, June 8)------------------Class:
 Comparison/contrast writing.
 Authors: Angelou, Hughes, and Britt-Jordan.
 Analyzing text.
 MLA formatting, including summarizing, paraphrasing, and directly quoting.
 Paper organization and outlining.
 Thesis statements.
 Drafting and revision in the writing process.
 Essay One discussion.
HW: Read MER Maya Angelou’s “Champion of the World” p. 217-22, Langston Hughes’s
“Salvation” p. 376-79, “Compare and Contrast” p. 117-19, and Suzanne Britt-Jordan’s “Neat
People vs. Sloppy People” p. 130-33.
Read LBH 3a “Writing the First Draft” p. 44-48, 44d “Using Summary, Paraphrase, and
Quotation” p. 617-23, and “Questions for Literary Analysis” p. 792-93.
Ecampus: Read MER Frye’s “Don’t You Think It’s Time to Start Thinking?” p. 17-20 and answer posted
Ecampus discussion question by Saturday, June 13 at 11:55 p.m. May submit rough draft
and/or questions to Ecampus for Essay One writing/rewriting help.
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-------------------DAY THREE (Wednesday, June 10)------------------Class: Final draft of Essay One due in class at 10:45 a.m. and in the TurnItIn dropbox by 11:55
p.m.
 Argumentative writing.
 Oration, appeals, and fallacies, with “Classroom Court” activity.
 Authors: King and Swift.
 Discussion of research project and possible topics.
HW: Read MER “Persuasion” p. 433-37, Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” p. 507-13, and
Jonathan Swift’s “A Modest Proposal” p. 590-600.
Read LBH 10 “Writing an Argument” p. 199-218 and 9g “Recognizing Fallacies”
p. 192-98.
Also, familiarize yourself with the revising ideas in yellow boxes on LBH p. 49, 58, 59, and 60
along with Ch. 47 on MLA.
Ecampus: Read Bill Clinton speech online and answer posted Ecampus discussion question on
King/Clinton by Saturday, June 13 at 11:55 p.m.
-------------------DAY FOUR (Monday, June 15)------------------Class: Research Project Proposal due in class at 10:45 a.m. and in the TurnItIn dropbox by
11:55 p.m. Library time today!
 Socratic method writing activity
 Using the library for effective research.
 Bibliographies and annotated bibliographies discussion.
 MLA Documentation.
 Examples of research project works cited entries.
HW: Read LBH 43 “Finding Sources” p. 571-98 and 44 “Working with Sources” p. 599-629.
Familiarize yourself with Ch. 47.
Ecampus: Read MER Tannen’s “Sex, Lies, and Conversation” p. 141-47 and answer posted Ecampus
discussion question by Saturday, June 20 at 11:55 p.m.
-------------------DAY FIVE (Wednesday, June 17)------------------Class:
 Follow-up annotated bibliography discussion.
 Plagiarism and how to avoid it, with Quotes and Citations video.
 Utilizing source material effectively.
 Appropriate language/Standard American English.
HW: Read LBH 45 “Avoiding Plagiarism and Documenting Sources” p. 629-38 and 37 “Using
Appropriate Language” p. 510-18.
Ecampus: Read MER “Definition” p. 149-51 and Naylor’s “Mommy, What Does ‘Nigger’ Mean?”
p. 389-93 and answer posted Ecampus discussion question by Saturday, June 20 at 11:55 p.m.
*Take midterm exam in Ecampus by Saturday, June 20 at 11:55 p.m. Make sure you are
on a secure internet connection and have 40 minutes of uninterrupted time in which to
take the 40-question multiple-choice exam.
-------------------DAY SIX (Monday, June 22)-------------------
Wick—Summer (Blended) 2009 8
Class:
Research Project Annotated Bibliography due in class at 10:45 a.m. and in the TurnItIn
dropbox by 11:55 p.m.
 Planning the Research Project and beginning the rough draft.
 Descriptive writing with class activities.
 Authors: Woolf and White.
 Essay Two discussion.
HW: Read LBH 42 “Planning a Research Project” p. 558-71.
Read MER “Description” p. 209-10, Virginia Woolf’s “The Death of the Moth” p. 682-87, and
E. B. White’s “Once More to the Lake” p. 424-32.
Work on research project prewriting and writing.
Ecampus: Answer posted Ecampus discussion question on White’s essay by Saturday, June 27 at 11:55
p.m. May submit rough draft and/or questions to Ecampus for Essay Two
writing/rewriting/documentation help.
-------------------DAY SEVEN (Wednesday, June 24)------------------Class: Final draft of Essay Two due in class at 10:45 a.m. and in the TurnItIn dropbox by 11:55
p.m.
 Tone, style, and coherence in argument.
 Analyzing effective argumentation.
 Author: Anthony.
 Troubleshooting the research paper.
 Final MLA formatting/documentation discussion.
HW: Read MER Susan B. Anthony’s “Women’s Right to Vote” p. 438-47.
Read LBH 9e “Watching Language, Hearing Tone” p. 188-89 and 9a-c “Reading
Arguments Critically” p. 179-87.
Work on research project rewriting.
Ecampus: Answer posted Ecampus “Party Grammar” question (through Ecampus mail) by Saturday, June
27 at 11:55 p.m. May submit rough draft and/or questions to Ecampus for Research
Project writing/rewriting/documentation help.
-------------------DAY EIGHT (Monday, June 29)------------------Class: Research Project final draft (with all source copies) due in class at 10:45 a.m. and in the
TurnItIn dropbox by 11:55 p.m.
 Research Project debriefing.
 Discussion of definition writing.
 Response to course/self-evaluation.
 Test taking strategies.
 Complete Course Inventory Exam.
HW: Read LBH 7d “Preparing For and Taking Exams” p. 142-49.
Prepare for final exam.
Ecampus: Complete End of Semester Survey in Ecampus by Wednesday, June 1 for participation
credit.
-------------------DAY NINE (Wednesday, July 1)------------------Final exam: Essay portion (writing a definition essay).
Wick—Summer (Blended) 2009 9
Research Project Steps
Paper Proposal (worth 10 points)
Due Date: Monday, June 15.
A. Select a significant social topic based on the research prompt. The topic must be problem/solution
based! Topic selections may be discussed with the instructor any time prior to this due date.
B. In a typed, double spaced, MLA formatted paper, address the following in at least 250 words:
a. Introduce the issue.
b. Discuss why it is compelling to you.
c. Discuss what you know about this topic and what more you need to know.
d. Anticipate how you will argue this problem/solution issue.
e. Anticipate any potential problems that may arise during your research process (sources not
being available in the Blinn campus libraries, possible personal interview scheduling, changes
in the problem, etc.)
Gathering Sources
Follow the directions on the handout for library research.
Complete on your own.
Annotated Bibliography (worth 30 points)
Due Date: Monday, June 22.
Create an MLA style annotated bibliography of at least 12 sources. Use the handout given as a guide.
This annotated bibliography must be typed, double spaced, and MLA formatted. Meet minimum source
requirements for types of acceptable sources, and make sure NOT to include any unacceptable sources
(no general Internet sources, no encyclopedia entries, etc.) specifically prohibited on the Gathering
Sources handout.
Planning the Paper
Complete on your own.
After highlighting facts in your photocopied sources, making observations, and creating notes, follow
the directions on the handout as a guide for planning your research paper. Try a variety of invention
strategies to get started. Your instructor is happy to help!
Writing and Self editing the Rough Draft
Complete on your own.
Write, then type a draft of the research paper which has at least 1500 words, at least ten
parenthetical (in-text) citations, and at least six works cited entries. You will perform a self edit of the
rough draft using a handout provided to you prior to the final draft due date.
Final Draft (worth 60 points)
Due Date: Monday, June 29.
Turn in the final typed draft electronically to the Ecampus TurnItIn dropbox and provide a hard copy as
well as your photocopied sources that show highlighting of information used in final draft to the
instructor in class. Do not procrastinate, as this is the last week of class.