Houston Community College-Central Spring 2015
English 1301: Composition I
3 hour lecture course / 48 hours per semester / 12 weeks
Instructor: Kathleen Evans, Instructor CRN 40343/40120
Office: SJAC 215 Central Campus Phone: 713-718-6671
Email: kathleen.evans@hccs.edu Class Time: Tu/Th, 8-10 and /10-12
Office hours: Before or after class or by appointment
Web page: http://learning.hccs.edu/faculty/kathleenevans
Course Description: A course devoted to improving the student’s writing and critical reading.
Writing essays for a variety of purposes from personal to academic, including the introduction to
argumentation, critical analysis, and the use of sources. Core Curriculum course. Prerequisite: a
satisfactory assessment score, completion of ENGL 0310, or (for non-native speakers) ENGL
0349. 3 credit (3 lecture)
Core Objectives for English Classes
Given the rapid evolution of necessary knowledge and skills and the need to take into account
global, national, state, and local cultures, the core curriculum must ensure that students will
develop the essential knowledge and skills they need to be successful in college, in a career, in
their communities, and in life. Through the Texas Core Curriculum, students will gain a
foundation of knowledge of human cultures and the physical and natural world, develop
principles of personal and social responsibility for living in a diverse world, and advance
intellectual and practical skills that are essential for all learning.
Students enrolled in this core curriculum course will complete a research project or case study
designed to cultivate the following core objectives:
Critical Thinking Skills—to include creative thinking, innovation, inquiry, and analysis,
evaluation and synthesis of information
Communication Skills—to include effective development, interpretation and expression of
ideas through written, oral and visual communication
Personal Responsibility—to include the ability to connect choices, actions and consequences to
ethical decision-making
Teamwork (Comp I, Comp II, and TW)—to include the ability to consider different points of
view and to work effectively with others to support a shared purpose or goal
English Composition I Student Learning Outcomes
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.
HCC is committed to provide a working and learning environment that is free from
discrimination on the basis of sex which includes all forms of sexual misconduct. Title IX of the
Education Amendments of 1972 requires that when a complaint is filed, a prompt and thorough
investigation is initiated. Complaints may be filed with the HCC Title IX Coordinator available
at 713-718-8271 or email at oie@hccs.edu.
Required Texts:
Peterson and Brereton, Norton Reader, 13th edition Full edition to be purchased
http://www.wwnorton.com/college/english/write/read12/
Bullock and Weinberg The Little Seagull Handbook.
http://books.wwnorton.com/books/detail-students.aspx?ID=17154
or http://owl.english.purdue.edu/
Other Required Materials:
College-level dictionary
Notebook with lined college-ruled paper
Blue or black pens for in-class writing
Blue books for exams (available in bookstore)
A flash drive or Dropbox.com account for saving and accessing your work
Attendance: Students must attend class regularly and punctually. Students are responsible for
material covered during their absence and must consult with the instructor about make up work.
Texas state law requires that students miss no more than 12.5% of instruction time (6 hours). If
you are absent four consecutive days without contacting me, I may drop you from this class
bythe withdrawal deadline (April 14 at 3:00pm). After the withdrawal deadline, you will fail
the course with a grade of FX. I will not accept late essays. No make-ups are allowed for inclass essays or quizzes. You will earn an attendance grade (see “Participation” below) based on
the following scale:
0 absences = 100 (A+); 1 absence = 90 (A -); 2 absences = 85 (B); 3 absences = 75 (C); 4
absences = 70 (C-); 5 absences = 65 (D); 6 absences = 55 (F); 7 + absences = 50 or less (F).
Course Requirements
In class essays (at least 3)
Out of class papers (at least 3)
Instructor’s choice: reading responses,
collaborative/oral assignments, quizzes
Final in-class
40%
30%
20%
10%
Instructional methods: This course will incorporate reading, lecture, class discussions and
debates, in-class analysis in small groups, essay writing (in class and out), documentation in
proper MLA format, short writings, student presentations in class, and a final examination.
Student Assignments: Several different types of writing assignments comprise the bulk of your
work for this course; these submissions will be graded for appropriateness, unity and focus,
development, organization, sentence structure, word usage, and mechanics, as well as (for
research-based writing) proper citation and documentation of sources in current MLA format.
Assignments Before Class: Please read the assignments before coming to class, and bring your
dictionary to class. Reading prior to the class will give you the opportunity to participate in the
class discussions, journals and group assignments. Class participation will help your grade;
therefore, it is imperative that you are prepared for class each day. Out-of-class essays are due at
the start of class.
Paper Format: All papers are to be double-spaced. The mandatory heading, which follows
MLA, must be in the upper left-hand corner of first sheet, the title centered, the paragraphs
indented as follows:
Student’s name
English 1301, Assignment #
Instructor’s Name
Date
Title of Essay
Grading Scale
A 90-100% =exceptional work; superior in both style and content
B 80-89% =above average work; superior in content
C 70-79% =average work, good enough but not extraordinary
D 60-69% =below average work; mean mechanics, style, content
F 50-59% =failing work; deficient in mechanics, style and content
W (Withdrawn) may be given if a student misses more than 12.5% of instruction (6 class hours)
before the drop deadline.
FX will be awarded for those who discontinue coming to class after the drop deadline.
I= Incomplete
Scholastic Honesty: “Students are responsible for conducting themselves with honor and
integrity in fulfilling course requirements. Penalties and/or disciplinary proceedings may be
initiated by College System officials against a student accused of scholastic dishonesty.
„Scholastic dishonesty‟ includes, but is not limited to, cheating on a test, plagiarism, and
collusion. . . .” See Student Handbook on HCCS website.
Phones and Beepers: Please turn off all cell phones, pagers and beepers before class begins.
Ringing cellular phones or sounding beepers disrupt instruction. Students must turn these off
before class starts.
Reasonable Accommodation: Any student with a documented disability (e.g., physical,
learning, psychiatric, vision, hearing, etc.) who needs to arrange reasonable accommodation must
contact the Disability Services Office in SJAC 102 of the Central Campus or the Counselor at the
South Campus at the beginning of each semester. Faculty are authorized to provide only the
accommodations requested by the Disability Support Services Office. If you have questions,
please contact the Disability Counselor in LHSB106 of the Central Campus or at 713-718-6164.
EGLS3 -- Evaluation for Greater Learning Student Survey System: 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.
Support Services
Tutoring: Free tutoring is available in SJAC 384 the Central Campus. Other campuses have
tutoring as well. Askonline is the online tutoring service. http://hccs.askonline.net/
Library: HCC library is on the third floor of the Learning Hub of the Central Campus. The
librarians are dedicated to helping you find whatever you need.
Open Computer Lab: Computers are available for word processing in the Open Lab. Check for
hours.
Changes in this document: At his discretion, the professor may announce necessary changes in
this syllabus and assignment calendar at any time during the term.
English 1301 Course Calendar Spring 2015
WEEK ONE
2/17: Diagnostic Essay; Introduction to course, textbooks, instructor, and classmates; syllabus,
strategies for critical reading
2/19: Read Norton Reader - (Personal Report)- Chang-Rae Lee
WEEK TWO
2/24: Read NR - (Personal Report) - Franklin, Eighner
2/26: Read Norton Reader: (Personal Report) -Goode
WEEK THREE
3/3: Read Norton Reader: (Personal Report) - Mairs, Walker
3/5: In Class Essay 1
WEEK FOUR
3/10: Read Norton Reader: (Portraits of People and Places) - Sanders, Cofer,
3/12: Read NR: Morrison
Out of Class Paper A due
SPRING BREAK: March 16 - 22
WEEK FIVE
3/24: Norton Reader: (Human Nature) – Quindlen, Theroux,
3/26: NR: Cunnigham, Fisher, Smiley
WEEK SIX
3/31: Read Norton Reader: (Cultural Analysis)- Carr, Kristoff
4/2: Read NR: Strebeigh, Staples
In Class Essay 2
WEEK EIGHT
4/7: Read Norton Reader: (Op-Eds) - Ivins
4/9: Op-Eds- Binge Drinking
Out of Class Paper B due
WEEK NINE
4/14: Read Norton Reader –(Ethics)- Levin, Ephron
4/16: Norton Reader – Franklin, H. Bruce
WEEK TEN
4/21: Read Norton Reader – (Spoken Words) - King, Gore
4/23: In Classy Essay 3
WEEK ELEVEN
4/28: Philosophy & Religion) - Hughes
4/30: Presentation of Argumentative Essay C
WEEK TWELVE
5/5: In Class Essay 3
5/7: Review for Final Exam
FINAL EXAMS: 5/13/15
At her discretion, the professor may announce necessary changes in this syllabus and
assignment calendar at any time during the term.