Mrs. Jennifer Garza
Fall 2014
Office Phone #: (940) 498-6200
E-mail Address: jgarza@nctc.edu and Canvas Message Board
Instructor’s Office: Adjunct Office Flower Mound most often 30 minutes before class.
Office Hours: You will usually find me 30 minutes prior to class in the staff adjunct offices on either
campus on MFW, but I encourage you to make an appointment with me whenever you feel you need extra
help or writing advice. If some unforeseen event has arisen, such as an extended illness or jury duty, please
discuss your absences with me as soon as possible.
COURSE SYLLABUS and CALENDAR
Course Name & Number: 1302.502
MWF 12:00-12:50
FLM Room 215
Catalog Description: Intensive study of and practice in the strategies and techniques for developing research-based
expository and persuasive texts. Emphasis on effective and ethical rhetorical inquiry, including primary and secondary
research methods; critical reading of verbal, visual, and multimedia texts; systematic evaluation, synthesis, and
documentation of information sources; and critical thinking about evidence and conclusions.
Prerequisite: ENGL1301or its equivalent
Textbooks & Materials: Kirszner, Laurie G., and Stephen R. Mandell. Practical Argument: A Text and Anthology.
2nd ed. New York: Bedford/St. Martin's, 2014. ISBN #1-457-64898-9
Aaron, Jane, Allyn & Bacon Longman, The Little, Brown Compact Handbook with Exercises, 8th ed. ISBN: 0-205-21
Recommended: A recent standard college dictionary
Required :
Check Canvas email account daily for changes and updates.
Access to NCTC databases, both on and off-campus.
Learning Outcomes: Upon successful completion of English 1302, students should be able to do the
following:
1. Demonstrate knowledge of individual and collaborative research processes.
2. Develop ideas and synthesize primary and secondary sources within focused academic arguments, including one
or more research-based essays.
3. Analyze, interpret, and evaluate a variety of texts for the ethical and logical uses of evidence.
4. Write in a style that clearly communicates meaning, builds credibility, and inspires belief or action.
5. Apply the conventions of style manuals for specific academic disciplines (e.g., APA, CMS, MLA, etc.)
Grading Policy & Procedures:
Here is how to calculate your grade
Essay #1
Essay #2
Essay #3
Quizzes & Writing Activities
Attendance and Participation
Final Exam
15%
20%
25%
10%
15%
15%
*Includes a writing portion
Grading Scale in Percentages
A=90-100
B = 89-80
C = 79-70
D = 69-60
F = 59 or below
Foundational Component Area: Communication
Courses in this category focus on developing ideas and expressing them clearly, considering the effect of the message,
fostering understanding, and building the skills needed to communicate persuasively. Courses involve the command
of oral, aural, written, and visual literacy skills that enable people to exchange messages appropriate to the subject,
occasion, and audience.
*Critical Thinking Skills (CT)- to include creative thinking, innovation, inquiry, and analysis, evaluation and
synthesis of information
*Communication Skills (COM)- to include effective development, interpretation and expression of ideas through
written, oral, and visual communication
*Teamwork (TW)- to include the ability to consider different points of view and to work effectively with others to
support a shared purpose or goal
*Personal Responsibility (PR)- to include the ability to connect choices, actions, and consequences to ethical
decision-making
Scholastic Integrity: Scholastic dishonesty shall include, but not be limited to cheating on a test, plagiarism,
and collusion. See Student Handbook “Student Rights & Responsibilities: Student Conduct [FLB(LOCAL)]” #18. Disciplinary Actions [Student Handbook #5] “When cheating, collusion, or plagiarism has
occurred beyond any reasonable doubt, the instructor may give the student or students involved an “F” on a
particular assignment or in the course. [See Scholastic Dishonesty FLB (Local)] The instructor shall make a
written report of the incident and of the planned action to his Department Chair. The Department Chair shall
report the incident and action to appropriate instructional dean who shall review the case, notify the student
and, if necessary, take further action. This may involve either probation or suspension of the student or
students in question. If such disciplinary action is deemed necessary, the Dean of Student Services shall be
notified, and the action shall be taken through that office.
Plagiarism, which should be avoided at all costs, includes the following student actions:
1. Turning in someone else's ideas, opinions, theories, or work as your own;
2. Unintentionally or inadvertently turning in someone else's ideas, opinions, theories, or work as your own as the
result of failing to document sources both internally and in the Works Cited;
3. Copying words, ideas, or images from someone without giving credit; Failing to put a quotation in quotations
marks;
4. Giving incorrect information about the source of information, quotations, or images;
5. Changing words but copying the sentence structure of a source without giving credit;
6. Copying so many words, ideas, or images from a source that it makes up the majority of the student's work,
whether or not the student gives credit.
*Note* Students who plagiarize in ENGL 1302 will fail the course.
Attendance Policy: Because each day of instruction is important, attendance to each class meeting is
imperative and mandatory. Students will suffer a reduction of points from the attendance and participation
grade for each absence beyond the grace days. Students who miss more than three (3) classes will be
dropped a letter grade. Students who miss more than five (5) classes will be dropped from the course. Every
single class is important. To miss one class is to miss important information. If you miss class, it is your
responsibility to learn from the course calendar, or from other students, what you missed. Make up work will
be honored only for students who miss class because of a school-sanctioned field trip, athletic event,
religious holiday, or in dramatic circumstances. In most cases, I will require students to turn in assignments
prior to missing class. Be prepared to honor this rule if you are an athlete or participate in extra-curricular
activities. I will consider weather and traffic issues on a case-by-case basis and in accordance with NCTC
announcements.
Please arrive to class on time. Students who arrive to class more than 7 minutes late three times throughout
the term will be counted absent on their 3rd tardy. Students who are excessively tardy—more than five times
throughout the term—will receive a grade of “D” (65) in Attendance and Participation.
North Central Texas College does not discriminate on the basis of disability for admission or access to its programs. The College
is committed to providing equal access to its students with disabilities by providing appropriate accommodations; a variety of
services and resources are made available through the ACCESS Department. Students are responsible for notifying the ACCESS
Department of their need for assistance. Students with documented disabilities, such as mobility impairment, hearing or visual
impairment, learning, and/or psychological disorders are eligible for services.
Disability Accommodations
The Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD) provides accommodations for students who have a documented
disability. A disability is anything that can interfere with learning, such as a learning disability, psychological
challenge, physical illness, or injury. Accommodations may include extra time on tests, tests in a distraction-reduced
environment, volunteer note taker in class, etc.
On the Corinth Campus, go to room 170 or call 940-498-6207. On the Gainesville Campus, go to room 110 in the
Administration Building (100) or call 940-668-4209. Students on the Bowie, Graham, Flower Mound, and online
campuses should call 940-668-4209 to arrange for an intake appointment with OSD.
North Central Texas College is on record as being committed to both the spirit and letter of federal equal opportunity
legislation, including the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, ADA Amendments Act of 2009, and
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (P.L. 93-112).
http://www.nctc.edu/StudentServices/SupportServices/Disabilityservices/DisabilitiesFacultyResources.aspx
Units of Study:




Block I: Readings
Students will read and analyze a variety of selections from the adopted textbook.
Block II: Quizzes, Examinations, and the Final Exam
Students may be required to take quizzes or tests over assigned readings and/or related materials. The class
MUST meet during the final exam week. A final exam, if given, may count no more than 25% of the semester
grade.
Block III: Compositions
Students will write a minimum of 5,000 words (20 pages) in a variety of compositions—formal and informal.
As part of this required writing, students will produce a minimum of four graded assignments. At least two of
these must use the complete writing process, which may consist of the following:
 Invention
 Drafting
 Peer Review
 Revision
 Final Draft
Block IV: Grammar and Mechanics

Students will study grammar and mechanics in the adopted handbook in order to meet departmental standards.
This study may be done by examination of units in the handbook or through writing as a process, according to
the discretion of the instructor.
Block V: Research
Students will utilize library and electronic resources. They will submit a written assignment, such as an
annotated bibliography, a documented essay, or several short compositions, using MLA style documentation.
Pages generated as part of this research block are included in the required writing stipulated in Block III.
EEOC Statement: North Central Texas College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national
origin, gender, religion, age, or disability in the employment or the provision of services.
Etiquette/Professionalism Policy: Often, we will read material from a diverse group of thinkers and writers.
Always, we will be sharing a variety of ideas and values, many with which you may not agree. Polite debate
is welcome, insults, and denigration of the ideas of another student or me is not welcome and will not be
tolerated. Any student who mocks or scoffs at anyone else in the class will be promptly dismissed, counted
absent, and may not return to class until the offensive student has experienced a conference with me and the
chair of the Department of English, Speech, and Foreign Language. Please conduct yourself as a professional
in our classroom. Consider your academic audience, purpose, and occasion at all times.
NCTC restricts the use of all tobacco products including cigarettes, cigars, pipes, electronic cigarettes, and smokeless
tobacco on campus property. NCTC is aware that tobacco use influences underage students, which cumulates unsightly
tobacco litter and interferes with assuring clean air for all who come to NCTC. NCTC recognizes the health hazards of
tobacco use and of exposure to second hand smoke. Information on a tobacco cessation program is available for
students, faculty, staff who wish to stop using tobacco products. We would like to "thank you" for your help in making
our campuses Tobacco-Free. For questions or concerns, please contact the Office of Vice President of Student Services
at 940-668-4240.
Important Policies:
Do not text message, accept incoming calls, or use your cell phone or ipod during class.
Do not wear ear buds to class, even if your stereo device is turned off.
You may bring a small, odorless snack or covered container of drink to class. Do not bring a meal to class.
Do not bring wet foods to class.
If you are asked to leave class because of behavioral issues, you will automatically lose 10 points from your
Participation grade. Consider your classroom audience, purpose, and occasion before making poor choices in
our classroom.
Sleeping students will be awoken, asked to leave class, and counted absent for the day. A conference with
me may, or may not follow the incident involving the sleeping student.
COURSE CALENDAR
Events and Reading Schedule subject to change; check email regularly for modifications and updates.
Note: The chapters are to be read in their entirely with the exception of the reading selections. Those readings that are listed after
the assignment indicate for you to read those selection only in addition to the chapter text information. I will clarify this statement
in class.
Week 1
August 25th
Welcome! Syllabus, calendar, course expectations.
Ice Breakers and Writing Sample-LO4
READ FOR Wednesday: “An Introduction to Argument” pp 3-17
August 27th
Discuss Introduction-Assigned Reading and Classical History of Rhetoric Aristotle and Socrates contributions.
Handout-Where Do I Stand? Anonymous Issues/Opinions Sheet-LO1/CT/COM/PR
August 29th
Continue Discussion-LO3/COM
Parts of Speech Lecture
Read for Monday Chapter 1 “The Four Pillars of Argument” pp 19-43. Reading Selection “An Immigrant Writes” by
Schwarzenegger
Week 2
September 1st
Discussion Chapter 1
Thesis Statement Group Activity-LO4/TW
September 3rd
Discuss Text Assigned Reading
Assign Angel Doc Wu’s “Stop the Clock”-LO3/CT/PR
September 5th
Power Point on Wu’s “Stop the Clock”-Sensory and Showing Language
Essay One Prewriting Activity Brainstorming-LO4/TW
Read for Monday Chapter 2 “Thinking and Reading Critically” pp 53-74. Reading Selections “Violent Media is Good for Kids”
and “When Life Imitates Video”
Week 3
September 8th-Official Day of Record
LBH “The Sentence” pp 193-206
Activity for Friday September 12th: Students are to locate an article that they believe contains bias.
Essay #1 Guidelines-Rough Draft Due Sept. 22nd/Final Draft Due Sept. 24th
September 10th
Discuss Media Bias and Chapter 3 “Decoding Visual Arguments” pp 75-88.
Thesis Statements Activity and Modeling Tree Diagrams- Powerpoint
September 12th
Writer’s Workshop on Thesis statements-Peer Evaluation-LO1/LO2/LO3/CT/COM/TW/PR
Prewriting on Essay #1 thesis statements and tree diagrams due Monday
Grammar Mini Sessions
Assigned reading for Monday Plato’s “The Allegory of the Cave” Chapter 27 pp 755-761.
Week 4
September 15th
Discuss “The Allegory of the Cave”
Workshop on Prewriting-LO4/CT/PR/COM
September 17th
Grammar unit on Pronoun Case LBH pp 240-250
Handouts and Guided Practice- LO4
Assign Jefferson’s “The Declaration of Independence” pp 770-773
MLA Format Requirements-LBH 450-499-LO5
September 19th
Discuss “The Declaration of Independence”
Pronoun Assignment
Week 5
September 22nd
Rough Draft Check
Peer Eval Time-LO1/LO2/LO3/LO4/CT/COM/TW/PR
September 24th
Pronoun Reference LBH pp251-254
Essay #1 Due
Assign Chapter 4 “Writing a Rhetorical Analysis” pp 89-111
September 26th
Discuss Chapter 4
Logos, Pathos, and Ethos
Week 6
September 29th
Quotations LBH pp 323-328 LO5/CT/COM
Assign Chapter 5 “Understanding Logic and Recognizing Logical Fallacies” pp113-151 Selected Reading Buchanan’s
“Immigration Time Out” pp149-151
October 1st
Essay #2 Guidelines Rough Draft Due October 10th /Final Draft Due October 17th
Discuss Logic and Fallacies
In-class activity on logic errors
October 3rd
Assign MLK’s “Letters from Birmingham Jail” pp 799-813
Logic Fallacies Continued-Website Activity
Week 7
October 6th
Discuss MLK’s Letters LO2/LO3/CT/PR/TW
Assign LBH pp 272-284 LO4
October 8th
Sentence Errors
Activity and Presentation
Finish MLK discussion
October 10th
Assign for Monday Mitch Albom’s “Don’t Shoot Holes in Gun Control Bills” Canvas Upload LO1/LO2/LO3/CT/COM TW/PR
Sentence Errors Continued
Week 8
October 13th
Discuss Albom piece-Assign Thomas Sowell’s Counterargument Canvas Upload LO1/LO2/LO3/CT/COM TW/PR
October 15th
Writer’s Workshop
Evaluate Albom and Sowell for Argument Soundness-LO2/LO3
October 17th
Final Draft Essay#2
In Class writing Activity
Evaluating who wins gun control debate?
Week 9
October 20th
Chapter 6 - Rogerian Argument, Toulmin Logic, and Oral Arguments pp. 185-236
Assign for Wednesday and Friday
October 22nd
Discuss Chapter 6 - LO1/LO3/CT/COM/TM/PR
MLA Works Cited page revisited- LO5
October 24th
Assign Bennet’s “Legalization of Drugs” Canvas Upload
Chapter 7 “Writing An Argumentative Essay” pp 241-272
Dangling and Misplaced Modifiers LBH pp 265-270
Week 10
October 27th
Dangling and Misplaced Modifiers Con’t
Discuss Bennet
October 29th
Discuss Chapter 7
Essay #3 Guidelines Rough Draft Due Nov 10th /Final Draft Nov 26th
October 31st
Assign Chapter 9- Summarizing, Paraphrasing and Quoting, and Synthesizing Sources pp 313-327
Brainstorming, Drafting Session
Grade /Progress Conferences next week--Last Name A-M Monday N-Z Wednesday
Week 11
November 3rd
Grade Conferences
November 5th
Grade Conferences
November 6th Last Day to Withdraw with a “W”
November 7th
Discuss Chapter 9
Assign Swift’s “A Modest Proposal”
Writer’s Workshop for Final Research Paper-LO1/LO2/LO4/LO5/CT/COM/TW
Week 12
November 10th
Rough Draft Peer Evals-TM
Discuss Swift-LO3/CT/COM
Assign Chapter 17 Ethical Arguments pp 589-628
Selected Reading Elie Wiesel “The Perils of Indifference” pp 605-609
November 12th
Discuss Wiesel and Ethical Arguments
Assign Selected Reading Timothy Wheeler “There’s a Reason They Choose Schools” pp 618-621
November 14th
Discuss Wheeler
Teacher Feedback on Essay Drafts
Week 13
November 17th
Assign Education Unit “How to Rebuild Our School System” Canvas Upload
Education Debate Video
November 19th
Discuss “How to Rebuild Our School System” LO1/ LO3/LO4/PR/CT/COM
November 21st
Writer’s Workshop on Research Papers
Week 14
November 24th
Grammar Review and Assessments
November 26th
Revision Exercise “The Regent Diamond” LO4/CT/COM/PR
Essay #3 Due
November 27th-29
Thanksgiving Holiday
Week 15
December 1st
Final Exam Preparation
December 3rd
Final Exam Preparation Continued
December 5th
Correction and Evaluation of Essays LO1/LO4/CT/COM/TW
Final Exam Schedule Followed