Virtual College of Texas - Course Syllabus
ADMINISTRATIVE MENU
HOME
LOG IN
Course Syllabus for ENGL 1301
Section LW
Composition and Rhetoric
2010 Fall Standard Semester
Note to Students: Syllabi are the most recent available at the time they were
posted to the VCT website. They will be updated, as appropriate, on the syllabi
disseminated on the class start dates. For current textbook information, refer to
the Course Details accessed by clicking the course title in the online Course
Schedule.
Midland College Syllabus
ENGL 1301
Composition and Rhetoric
SCH (3-0)
Dr. Leslie Williams
Course Description
ENGL 1301 is designed to help students
develop reading and writing skills by
studying diction, syntax, paragraph
development, grammar, vocabulary and
essay organization and by writing
expository paragraphs and essays. Prerequisite: 220+, the minimum THEA
writing score; 70+/6 Compass score, or
successful completion of developmental
education sequence. Corequisite: ENGL
0181, when taken as culmination of the
http://www.vct.org/schedule/syllabus.php?course_id=27511&print=1&VCT_Session=[08/09/2010 2:34:49 PM]
Virtual College of Texas - Course Syllabus
developmental sequence. Course fee. A
minimum of 6,000 words of writing will
be completed as part of the requirements.
Texts
The Longman Reader (Ninth edition), eds. Nadell et al;
English Simplified, published by Longman (Twelfth edition).
Student Outcomes
Upon successful completion of the course,
students will be able to do the following:
1. Construct clear, interesting, rhetorically effective, and grammatically correct sentences.
2. Use and incorporate new vocabulary words into their writing.
3. Focus and organize ideas as part of the complete writing process.
4. Write an essay of 7 –10 paragraphs, demonstrating basic multi-paragraphing, with a
strong sense of the roles of title, introduction, body, and conclusion.
5. Construct an effective thesis sentence that controls the essay.
6. Develop essays in a variety of rhetorical modes.
9. Read and think critically.
10. Use a word processor to create essays done according to MLA style, with proper
margins and font, properly created header with page number, heading, double-spacing,
word wrap, indentations, and title centering.
11. Navigate the Internet and use email effectively for clear communication; submit
electronic course work as appropriate.
Course Objectives
1. Write a clear and appropriate thesis sentence for various modes of writing.
2. Discover how to use paragraphs effectively.
3. Discover how to build a strong essay in several modes.
4. Read and think critically.
5. Analyze essays to see how they are constructed.
6. Participate in class activities, complete a grammar pre- and post-diagnostic test and
http://www.vct.org/schedule/syllabus.php?course_id=27511&print=1&VCT_Session=[08/09/2010 2:34:49 PM]
Virtual College of Texas - Course Syllabus
exercises as needed, and write 6,000 words total in homework, drafts, essays, and the final
paper.
7. Use the Internet and computer technology effectively for communication.
Student Contributions and Class Policies
Activities and assignments:
1. Students will read and respond in writing to material and essays from the reader, as
assigned.
2. Students will write six short essays, one in each assigned mode, demonstrating their
understanding of the writing mode.
3. Students will participate in a workshop on Discussion Board to help them proofread and
revise their rough draft for a longer final paper.
4. Students will polish the rough draft and turn in a final draft. 5. Students will complete the required portions of My Writing Lab to develop writing skills
for this and other courses and for future employment.
6. Students will be given all assignments and due dates on the first day of class,
located in the course information section of Blackboard.
Attendance and make-up work:
1. Students will turn in all work in Turnitin on Blackboard, including the comments made on
the Discussion Board workshops. In an Internet class, turning in your assignments on time
is what constitutes “attendance.”
2. I do not accept work through email, although I always welcome your questions and
comments by email. You are encouraged to call me at home, before 9:30 in the evening.
3. I do not accept papers more than one class day late, unless students have contacted me
in advance. Late papers lose one point.
4. All assignments must be turned in at 11:59 p.m. on the day they are due. Turnitin will
automatically mark it on time or late so there will be no problems arising as to what time
the assignments are turned in.
5. After three consecutive late assignments, or six total late assignments, the student will
fail the class. I cannot drop students, so if you need to drop, you will have to do it
yourself. Exception: students will have the opportunity to make up late work with
no penalty, if students contact me first, or if students can provide an acceptable
Midland College excuse. These include a doctor’s note faxed to 432-685-4769, attention:
Dr. Leslie Williams.
7. Students’ computer glitches do not count as excused late assignments. If a problem
occurs with the Midland College system, then students will not be penalized.
8. Students’ desired email address must be listed on Blackboard. I will be sending out
regular communications, and the email address on Blackboard is the one I will use.
Evaluation of Students
http://www.vct.org/schedule/syllabus.php?course_id=27511&print=1&VCT_Session=[08/09/2010 2:34:49 PM]
Virtual College of Texas - Course Syllabus
Six essays and one re-write (20 points each)………………………….140 points
Daily class assignments (5 points each)……………………………….. 60 points
Grammar component………………………………………………….100 points
300
points
300 – 270 points = A; 269 – 240 points = B; 239 – 210 points = C;
209 – 180 points = D; 179 and below = F.
Writing will be graded for content, organization, grammar, usage, spelling, and technical
competence (use of MLA form and word processing skills) according to the following
criteria: The A Paper: Superior--exceptional work that uses imagination and actually does more
than the assignment calls for. It is clear, concise, and free of errors of logic. It is wellorganized and largely error-free. Handling of sources, MLA formatting, and research
techniques are superb. The B Paper: Excellent--exceptional work with a minimum of difficulties of thought,
expression, organization, and formatting/research techniques. The C Paper: Good--work which fulfills the assignment and has an acceptable number of
technical difficulties. The D Paper: Unsatisfactory--but with some redeeming features. D\'s will be given very
rarely. The F Paper: Failing work--superficial treatment of subject, with lack of focus, garbled
prose, frequent grammatical and mechanical errors, weak organization, unacceptable
formatting/research techniques. The R Paper: To be re-written--Paper has many redeeming qualities but has serious
deficiencies which would result in lower than expected grade. Paper must be re-written and
is due within one class day. The 0 Paper: Unacceptable work--Assignment completely misses the boat or is a halfhearted attempt or is plagiarized. Paper must be re-written and is due the next class day. Instructor Information
Name: Dr. Leslie Williams Phones: 830-895-9526 (home) and 830-377-0000 (cell) E-mail address: lesliew@midland.edu
Division secretary: Lula Lee, Allison Fine Arts, Room 141
Division telephone: 685-4624 Note: Students are encouraged to call or contact the instructor at any time, up until 9:30 at
night.
http://www.vct.org/schedule/syllabus.php?course_id=27511&print=1&VCT_Session=[08/09/2010 2:34:49 PM]
Virtual College of Texas - Course Syllabus
BLACKBOARD LOGIN DIRECTIONS
http://blackboard.midland.edu
User ID: VCT – 1st initial of first name + first 3 letters of last name + last 3
numbers of telephone number. (Example: John Doe; 485-123-6789: VCT-jdoe789)
Please note there is a hyphen after “VCT.”
Password: Phone number with dashes. (Example: 485-123-6789)
Note: Student must use telephone number submitted at registration with host college.
After login, access the Tools bar > Personal Information > Change Password > verify or
revise e-mail address > Submit. The student must consistently use the same e-mail
address to facilitate communication between student and instructor. The course (http://www.midland.edu/blackboard) will be accessible to the student at 8:00
a.m. on the first day of class instruction. If the course is not accessible, contact the
Midland College webmaster by clicking on the “Blackboard Online Help Request” link at
http://www.midland.edu/blackboard/index.html.
Contact the Midland College webmaster if experiencing difficulty logging into Blackboard. Click on the “Blackboard Online Help Request” link at
http://www.midland.edu/blackboard/index.html.
For more information about VCT or help with the VCT website, please contact the Website
Manager.
©1998 - 2010 VCT • Group M7 design
http://www.vct.org/schedule/syllabus.php?course_id=27511&print=1&VCT_Session=[08/09/2010 2:34:49 PM]