COURSE SYLLABUS
Fall 2011
English 1301.700: COMPOSITION AND RHETORIC
PROFESSOR: Ms. Audrey A. Wick
OFFICE: Liberal Arts Building 135
PHONE: (979) 743-5218
EMAIL: audrey.wick@blinn.edu
INSTRUCTOR WEBSITE: http://www.blinn.edu/schulenburg/faculty
DIVISION WEBSITE: http://www.blinn.edu/humanities/index.html
CLASS: SBLA 121
Meets MW 10:25 – 11:40 a.m.
OFFICE HOURS:
M/W 8:45 – 10:25 a.m.
T 10:15 – 11:45 a.m. and 1:00 – 3:00 p.m.
R 10:15 – 11:45 a.m.
and other times by appointment
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.
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. 11th ed. New York: Longman,
2010. Print.
Kennedy, X.J., Dorothy M. Kennedy, and Jane E. Aaron. The Brief Bedford Reader. 10th ed. Boston:
Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2009. Print.
Standard college-level dictionary. (recommended text)
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.
Grading System: Students are expected to keep track of their grades and save all work.
Attendance/Journal
15%
Midterm
Essay One
(Comp./Contrast)
15%
Research Paper
Essay Two
(Description)
15%
Final Exam
10%
25%
20%
Wick—ENGL 1301 2





Attendance/Journal: Practice with writing is one way to improve one’s skills; thus, each student will
be asked to keep a semester journal. Weekly prompts will be provided on Mondays to encourage
attendance; each response should be at least 400 words. The journal will be collected at the semester’s
end for credit. Active, meaningful participation in this area will directly increase a student’s overall
course grade.
Essays: The instructor will assign two major essays (documented 750 words, minimum) to help the
student learn to prewrite, draft, critique, revise, and polish written assignments. MLA documentation
and formatting apply, and students will utilize outside scholarly sources for Essay Two.
Research Paper: A research paper (1500+ word documented) will be assigned to allow students to
demonstrate knowledge of skills taught in class. MLA documentation and formatting apply. The
research paper 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 Internet source
materials (such as those obtained through Google or other comparable searches) will be allowed for
the Research Paper. Students may be asked to submit copies of sources to the instructor.
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 inclass documented essay and course inventory test.
In addition to the above assignments, the instructor will assign homework, group work, and various in class
assignments (see attached Daily Plan).
Blinn College Grading Scale: 90-100 = A, 80-89 = B, 70-79 = C, 60-69 = D, 50-59 = F.
Manuscript Form: All papers must exhibit an understanding of MLA format. Remember: English 1301 is not
a course in creative writing. Adherence to guidelines and directions in writing is imperative.
Electronic Submission of Work: All major written work will be submitted (in its final form) to TurnItIn
dropboxes in eCampus, a service utilized by Blinn College. Full instructions for usage will be provided in class.
This system serves as a method of plagiarism control while also allowing the creation of an electronic portfolio.
Graded essays will be returned via this system using a service called GradeMark. To view comments/grade:
1. Reaccess the essay dropbox.
2. Click on the GradeMark grey dialogue bubble icon
next to the submitted assignment.
3. View the marks and comments in the new window, which will appear automatically.
Scroll through not only textual marks but also general comments; printing or saving this file is advisable.
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.
Departmental Reminder for Submission of New Work: Students who have been enrolled in English 1301
(online, 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.
Wick—ENGL 1301 3
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, clichés, 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
does not address the assigned topic, if directions have been either ignored or not followed, or if work is
recycled.
Late Assignments and Make-up work: All assignments are expected to be completed and are due by the
assigned due date/time whether or not the student attends class. Turning in assignments early is acceptable;
turning them in late is unacceptable. Please note: Pleading a case of “computer malfunction” is the dog-atemy-homework excuse of the twenty-first century, and such an excuse will not be accepted. Access to reliable
technology and avoiding procrastination are a student’s responsibility.
Additionally, please note that failure to appropriately submit an assignment to TurnItIn.com will result in
zero credit. To ensure a file has been appropriately submitted, students should always check their digital
portfolio and make sure they have correctly submitted by re-accessing (refreshing) the TurnItIn submission page
and verifying their digital receipt.
Wick—ENGL 1301 4
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” (60). 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” (62).
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 software TurnItIn as a means of plagiarism control.
Civility Statement: Members of the Blinn College community, which includes faculty, staff and students, are
expected to act honestly and responsibly in all aspects of campus life. Blinn College holds all members
accountable for their actions and words. Therefore, all members should commit themselves to behave in a
manner that recognizes personal respect and demonstrates concern for the personal dignity, rights, and freedoms
of every member of the College community, including respect for College property and the physical and
intellectual property of others.
Civility Notification Statement: If a student is asked to leave the classroom because of uncivil behavior, the
student may not return to that class until the student arranges a conference with the instructor; it is the student’s
responsibility to arrange for this conference. Note that if behavior is threatening or violent, the local police have
jurisdiction and the College’s Discipline Code, as outlined in the Blinn College Student Handbook (see p. 62),
takes precedence.
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. Students are expected to arrive to class on
time and to stay in class the full time. Tardiness indicates an ill preparedness and is disruptive to both the
instructor and students; so, too, is leaving a class early. Any student who does so without the instructor’s
approval may be counted absent. A student should schedule doctors’ appointments and other similar obligations
for times outside the class period. Notification of an advance absence or the reasons for an absence are the
student’s responsibility. Conferencing with the instructor in a timely manner is the best way to find out what
lectures, assignments, and due dates he or she missed during an absence.
If a student has one week’s worth of absences during the semester, he/she will be sent an e-mail by the College
requiring the student to contact his/her instructor and schedule a conference immediately to discuss his/her
attendance issues. If the student subsequently accumulates two weeks’ worth of absences, he/she will be
administratively withdrawn from class. See p. 57-58 in the Blinn College Student Handbook for an
explanation about excused absences and further policy information.
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.
Wick—ENGL 1301 5
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.
Food and Drink Policy: Students are not allowed to have any food and /or drinks in any Blinn College
classroom/lab.
Class Policies: All policies stated in the Blinn College Student Handbook (2011-2012) and other documents
provided by the institution will be followed in this class.
English 1301 (tentative) Daily Plan
BED = The Brief Bedford Reader
LBH = The Little, Brown Handbook
HW = abbreviation for “homework,” which is listed for completion by the next class day
8-29
8-31
9-5
9-7
9-12
9-14
Class: Introduction to the course. Diagnostic essay.
HW: Read Course Syllabus.
Read BED “Introduction” p. 1-5.
Read LBH Ch. 6 intro. “Developing Academic Skills” and 6a-6d, p. 128-36 and LBH 40 “Using
a Dictionary and a Thesaurus” p. 512-13.
Class: Lecture: Origins of the English language and using textbooks effectively.
HW: Read BED Ch. 1 “Critical Reading” p. 9-12.
Read LBH 7a-b “Forming a Critical Perspective” p. 138-53.
Class: Lecture: Critical reading and defining “good writing.” Course Inventory.
HW: Read LBH 18 “Comma Splices, Fused Sentences” p. 338-45, 19 “Pronoun Reference” p. 34552, and 20 “Shifts” p. 352-58.
Class: Grammar Day: Comma usage, pronoun reference, parallelism, and shifts.
HW: Read BED Maya Angelou’s “Champion of the World” and “On Writing” p. 93-98 and Amy
Tan’s “Fish Cheeks” and “On Writing” p. 99-103.
Class: Lecture: Angelou and Tan. Discuss Essay One.
HW: Read BED “Comparison and Contrast” p. 189-97.
Read LBH 1a “Understanding How Writing Happens” p. 2-4, LBH 2 “Developing and Shaping
Ideas” p. 16-45, and LBH 3a “Writing the First Draft” p. 46-50.
Class: Lecture: Comparison/Contrast writing, thesis statements, and prewriting/writing stages with
various activities.
[HW listed on next page.]
Wick—ENGL 1301 6
HW:
9-19
9-21
9-26
9-28
10-3
10-5
Read BED Suzanne Britt’s “Neat People vs. Sloppy People” and “On Writing” p. 199-204.
Read LBH 43d “Using Summary, Paraphrase, and Quotation” p. 611-20.
Class: Lecture: Britt, Revision, and MLA Format. In-class practice.
HW: Read BED “Narration” p. 81-92 and George Orwell’s “Shooting an Elephant” and “On Writing”
p. 489-98.
Read LBH “Questions for Literary Analysis” on p. 737-38 and revising ideas in yellow
boxes on p. 51-52, 60-61, and 66. Familiarize yourself with LBH Ch. 46.
Typed rough draft of Essay One due next class for self edit.
Class: Typed rough draft of Essay One due for in-class self edit. Lecture: Narrative writing and
Orwell.
HW: Read BED “Argument and Persuasion” p. 429-44, Colleen Wenke’s “Too Much Pressure” p.
445-50, and Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” p. 483-88.
Final draft of Essay One due next class.
Class: Final draft of Essay One due to TurnItIn.com by 11:55 p.m. Lecture: Argumentation,
Oration, Wenke, King, and in-class writing activity, with paired Clinton supplement. Discuss
Research Paper.
HW: Read LBH 10 “Writing an Argument” p. 196-215 and 9g “Recognizing Fallacies” p. 190-96.
Class: Lecture: Argumentation and Classroom Court activity.
HW: Read BED “Classification” p. 309-17 and Deborah Tannen’s “But What Do You Mean?” p.
325-33.
Read LBH 44 “Avoiding Plagiarism and Documenting Sources” p. 626-35.
Class: Lecture: Classification writing and Tannen. Plagiarism discussion and in-class documentation
practice.
HW: Read LBH 5 “Designing Documents” p. 111-26.
Choose Research Paper topic; have idea ready for next class.
Class: Must choose Research Paper topic by today! Socratic Method Writing Activity. Lecture:
Document design and “real world” technical writing.
HW: Read LBH 42 “Finding Sources” p. 561-89.
10-10 Class: Lecture: Using the Library Effectively. Distribute “Gathering Sources” worksheet for Research
Paper. Guided time in Lab 127.
HW: Familiarize yourself with LBH 43 “Working with Sources” p. 589-625.
Gather Research Paper sources.
10-12 Class: Guided time for gathering Research Paper sources in Lab 127.
HW: Read BED “Process Analysis” p. 229-37, Linnea Saukko’s “How to Poison the Earth” and “On
Writing” p. 238-42, and Ian Frazier’s “How to Operate the Shower Curtain” and “On Writing”
p. 250-55.
Continue gathering Research Paper sources.
10-17 Class: Lecture: Process Analysis writing, Saukko, and Frazier. Group letter reading activity.
HW: Read LBH 41 “Planning a Research Project” p. 548-61.
Begin reading/highlighting/note-taking on Research Paper sources.
10-19 Class: Diction and figurative language activity: Stephen Crane text (supplement). Lecture:
Bibliographies and annotated bibliographies. In-class practice.
HW: Read LBH “Questions for Evaluating Sources” p. 591.
Continue reading/highlighting/note-taking on Research Paper sources.
10-24 Class: Lecture: Source credibility. Video on MLA documentation.
HW: Read BED “Definition” p. 397-405 and Gloria Naylor’s “The Meanings of a Word” and “On
Writing” p. 406-11.
Read LBH 37 “Appropriate Language” p. 502-11.
[HW continued on next page.]
Wick—ENGL 1301 7
Work on documenting Research Paper sources.
10-26 Class: Lecture: Definition writing, Naylor, standard language, OED discussion, and midterm review.
HW: Study for Midterm Exam.
10-31 Class:
HW:
11-2 Class:
HW:
11-7
11-9
Take Midterm Exam.
Prewrite for Research Paper.
Discuss writing the Research Paper rough draft. View The Story of English video.
Read BED “Description” p. 117-25 and Yiyun Li’s “Orange Crush” and “On Writing” p. 14449.
Continue prewriting for Research Paper.
Class: Lecture: Descriptive writing and Li. Discuss Essay Two.
HW: Read BED E. B. White’s “Once More to the Lake” and “On Writing” p. 504-12.
Work on Essay Two and Research Paper rough drafts.
Class: Lecture: Continue discussion of descriptive writing. Begin White with visualization activity.
HW: Read LBH 9a-c “Reading Arguments Critically” p. 179-85.
Work on Essay Two and Research Paper rough drafts.
11-14 Class: Lecture: Finish White and discuss coherence and effective argumentation.
HW: Read LBH 3g “Giving and Receiving Comments” p. 68-71.
Typed rough draft of Essay Two due to TurnItIn peer review dropbox by Tues., Nov. 15
at 11:55 p.m. (750-word minimum)
11-16 Class: Peer edit Essay Two in Lab 127.
HW: Read LBH Justin Malik’s example research paper “The False Promise of Green Consumerism”
p. 696-719. Note annotations throughout.
Read LBH 9e “Watching Language, Hearing Tone” p. 186-87.
Work on final draft of Essay Two.
Work on Research Paper rough draft.
11-21 Class: Final Draft of Essay Two due to TurnItIn.com by 11:55 p.m. Lecture: Research paper
components, tone, and style. Make “To Do” list for Research Paper.
HW: Work on Research Paper rough draft.
---------------------- THANKSGIVING BREAK: November 23 - 27---------------------11-28 Class: Typed Research Paper rough draft due (minimum 1,500 words, 6 sources, and 10
parenthetical citations). A self edit will be completed in class and credited with your typed
rough draft (-5 on final draft for no rough draft today). Lecture: Troubleshooting the final
draft and author responsibility as researcher— Blair, Rosenblatt, and Mortenson stories.
HW: Work on Research Paper final draft due next class.
11-30 Class: Research Paper final draft due to TurnItIn.com by 11:55 p.m. Debriefing on writing
assignments and research paper. Lecture: Citation revising and application of research skills.
HW: Read BED Sandra Cisneros’ “Only Daughter” and “On Writing” p. 476-82.
12-5
12-7
Class: Journals due in class. Lecture: Definition writing techniques. Read/discuss Cisneros and
“Eleven” supplement. Final review for the Course Inventory and for the essay portion of the
final exam.
HW: Read LBH Ch. 6e “Preparing for Exams” p. 136-38 in preparation for Course Inventory.
Class: In-class evaluative essay. Course Inventory exam.
HW: Read LBH Ch. 53 “Essay Examinations” p. 822-28 in preparation for final exam essay.
Final exam: Friday, Dec. 9 from 10:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. in Room 120.
You will be given two hours to complete the definition essay.