Richland College
School of World Languages, Cultures, and Communications
972.761.6731
Composition I
ENGL 1301.XXX
FALL 2011 | 3 Credit Hours
North Garland High School; Room 217; Period: A1, A3, A4, B4
Instructor: Marilyn Bland
Contact Information:
Hours: Tuesday, Thursday: 2:30
Email: mbland@garlandisd.net
Phone: 972.675.3120
– 3:00; Thursday: 6:50 – 7:20
Course Description:
ENGL 1301 is a common course number replacing the former course prefix/number, ENG 101.
Prerequisite:
One of the following must be met: (1) Developmental Reading 0093 AND Developmental Writing 0093; (2)
English as a Second Language (ESOL) 0044 AND 0054; or (3) have met Texas Success Initiative (TSI) Reading
and Writing standards
.
Description:
This course focuses on student writing. It emphasizes reading and analytical thinking and introduces research
skills. Students practice writing for a variety of audiences and purposes. (3 Lec)
Coordinating Board Academic Approval Number 2304015112/2304015135
Textbook/Materials:
Text:
Reid, Stephen. The Prentice Hall Guide for College Writers. Upper Saddle River, NJ:
2008. ISBN#: 978-0-13-601698-4.
Readings:
Selected essays, poems, editorials, and short stories
Invisible Man (summer reading)
The Poisonwood Bible (summer reading)
Supplies:
2" three-ring notebook
College-ruled paper (no spiral or perforated pads)
Pack of highlighters (at least four different colors)
Pens with dark blue or black ink
1 box of Kleenex
Compliance with State Core Curriculum Intellectual Competencies:
This English 1301 course develops the following Core Curriculum Intellectual Competencies:
(1) Reading: analyze and interpret a variety of printed materials - books, documents, and articles above 12th grade level.
(2) Writing: produce clear, correct and coherent prose adapted to purpose, occasion and audience
above 12th grade level.
(3) Critical thinking: think and analyze at a critical level.
(4) Computer literacy: understand our technological society, use computer based technology in
communication, solving problems, acquiring information.
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This course also addresses the following State Core Curriculum Exemplary Educational objectives:
(1) To understand and demonstrate writing and speaking processes through invention, organization,
drafting, revision, editing, and presentation.
(2) To understand the importance of specifying audience and purpose and to select appropriate
communication choices.
(3) To understand and appropriately apply modes of expression, i.e., descriptive, expositive, narrative,
scientific, and self-expressive, in written, visual, and oral communication.
(4) To participate effectively in groups with emphasis on listening, critical and reflective thinking, and
responding.
(5) To understand and apply basic principles of critical thinking, problem solving, and technical
proficiency in the development of exposition and argument.
English 1301 Course Learning Outcomes:
Upon completing English 1301, students should demonstrate the ability to:
1. Write with voice, detail, and clarity to communicate effectively to a chosen audience
2. Write for a variety of purposes, including to express, to inform, and to convince
3. Write for a variety of audiences, each chosen with a purpose in mind
4. Build an understanding of clear, concise, academic writing
5. Write within different time constraints, such as a single class period or over the course of several days or
weeks
6. Read and critically respond to the writing of others, including professional writers and/or students
7. Demonstrate critical thinking by showing the ability to think through challenges each assignment presents
8. Paraphrase, summarize, and quote, using source material
9. Demonstrate a refined understanding of grammar and style essential to clear communication
Writing Standards and Style:
Students will compose essays that adhere to grammatical and stylistic standards of academic American English
and that follow Modern Language Association (MLA) style. Essays will need to adhere to topic and length
requirements designated for each assignment. Correctly following specific assignment guidelines, grammatical
instruction, and MLA style will impact the student’s success in the course.
Evaluation Procedures:
Late work: The general policy for Pre-AP, AP, and Dual Credit courses at North Garland High School is that
students must submit their assignments at the required date and time. It is understood that on rare occasions,
extreme extenuating circumstances may occur that may warrant an extended due date. Requests for such
extensions should be submitted to the instructor in a letter signed by student and parent. The letter should detail
the reason for the request. The instructor will consider each request on a case by case basis, and may or may
not grant the request depending on what action would best benefit the student.
Make-up Work: Students shall be permitted to make up work missed due to extenuating circumstances,
absences, participation in approved school-related activities, and suspension. It is the student's responsibility to
find out the assignments and make up the work within an appropriate period of time (as outlined in the district's
Grading, Grouping, and Reporting Procedures). A penalty of 20 points will be deducted from each assignment or
test grade made up for unexcused absences. Students who miss a class due to tardiness will be regarded as
present and will not be allowed to submit after class homework that was due at the start of class.
English 1301 course requirements:
1. A minimum of 3 multi-draft essays, one of which will be developed from sources and documented
appropriately
2. A minimum of 2 essays will be written in class to teach students how to go through the writing process
within time constraints. (These may include a midterm and a final exam.)
3. At least one peer and teacher review of a draft of all out-of-class papers
4. Group activities, such as cooperative learning exercises or other collaborative activities
5. A variety of reading assignments, including readings from literature, to help students understand the
connections between reading, writing, and critical thinking
6. A variety of writing assignments (e.g. freewrites, journal entries, response papers, etc.) which will
include self-reflection about the student’s own reading and writing processes
7. The use of technology as appropriate
8. Students will systematically develop a personal list of new vocabulary from their readings, which they then will
utilize in their own writing.
3
Grading Policy:
The course consists of three grading cycles. Each of the three grading cycles will consist of eight to twelve
grades weighted according to the following percentages:
10%
Participation in class discussions and collaborative exercises
25%
Classwork/homework/quizzes/notebook/short writing assignments
30%
Tests/essays/dialectical journals
35% Graded discussions/projects/papers
There will be a midterm exam.
A final exam will be given at the end of the course. The course grade will be calculated according to the following
percentages:
86%
14%
The average of the three grading cycles
The final exam
(NGHS policies regarding final exam exemptions will apply. If a student is exempt from the final exam, the
average of the three grading cycles will comprise the course grade.)
Course letter grades are assigned on the following scale of averages:
A = 90-100
B = 80-89
C = 70-79
F = below 70
A = 90 to 100
B = 80 to 89
C = 70 to 79
F = below 70
GRADING SCALE FOR MULTI-DRAFT ESSAYS:
The essay contains a clearly stated thesis which reflects original and creative thought. The
thesis statement appears in a strong and interesting introductory paragraph which clearly demonstrates plan
and purposes. The thesis is then supported throughout the essay by a “thread of connectedness” which
contributes unity and coherence. Furthermore, the essay contains strong and effective voice, specific
details, good diction, mechanical correctness, and ends with an adequate sense of closure.
This essay contains the same qualities as “A” papers except it may contain some minor grammatical errors
and lack the general sophistication found in “A” essays, especially in diction, choice of details, voice, etc.
The thesis statement in this essay may be quite simplistic. Although the essay displays some
attempt at organization with developed supporting paragraphs, it may contain logical breaks, smooth
transitions may be lacking, diction may be very elementary, and the sense of voice may be weak or missing
entirely.
This essay may contain an immature thesis, a vague thesis, no thesis, and/or no introductory paragraph.
Paragraphs are poorly developed, ideas are repeated, and details may be lacking. Such papers have little
unity. The paper does not meet the requirements of subject matter, grammar usage, and length.
Attendance/Withdrawal Policies:
Attendance
GISD guidelines as related to state attendance requirements must be observed. Students must be present for
90% of all days in which instruction is offered in order to receive credit for the course. Failure to attend the
minimum required number of days will result in a course grade of 69 if the student's grade is 70 or above. If the
student's grade is below 70, the actual grade will be awarded regardless of attendance.
Religious Holidays
Absences for observance of a religious holy day are excused. A student whose absence is excused to observe a
religious holy day is allowed to take a make-up examination or complete an assignment within a reasonable time
after the absence.
4
Withdrawal Policy
If you are unable to complete this course, it is your responsibility to withdraw formally. The withdrawal request
must be received in the College’s Registrar’s Office by November 14, 2011. Failure to do so will result in your
receiving a performance grade, usually an “F.” If you drop a class or withdraw from the college before the official
drop/withdrawal deadline, you will receive a “W” (Withdraw) in each class dropped. See the appropriate high
school Dual Credit administrator before you drop because dropping this course may affect your high school credit.
STOP BEFORE YOU DROP
For students who enrolled in college level courses for the first time in the fall of 2007, Texas Education Code
51.907 limits the number of courses a student may drop.
You may drop no more than 6 courses during your entire undergraduate career unless the drop qualifies as an
exception. Your campus counseling/advising center will give you more information on the allowable exceptions.
Remember that once you have accumulated 6 non-exempt drops, you cannot drop any other courses with a “W”.
Therefore, please exercise caution when dropping courses in any Texas public institution of higher learning,
including all seven of the Dallas County Community Colleges. For more information, you may access:
https://www1.dcccd.edu/coursedrops
Academic Honesty Statement:
Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, cheating on tests, plagiarism and collusion. Cheating
includes copying from another student’s test or homework paper, using materials not authorized, collaborating
with or seeking aid from another student during a test, knowingly using, buying, selling, stealing, or soliciting the
contents of an unadministered test, and substituting for another person to take a test. Plagiarism is 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. Collusion is the unauthorized collaboration with
another person in preparing written work for fulfillment of course requirements. Academic dishonesty is a
serious offense in college. You can be given a failing grade on an assignment or test, failed for the
course, or even be suspended from college or dropped from the Dual Credit program. Students who are
determined to be involved in such activities shall be punished as prescribed by college and Board policies
outlined in the Student Code of Conduct. You can access this information by going to
https://www1.dcccd.edu/cat0506/ss/code.cfm .
Obtaining Final Course Grades Using eConnect
Final Grade Reports are no longer mailed. Convenient access is available online at www.econnect.dcccd.edu or
by telephone at 972-613-1818. Use your identification number when you log onto eConnect, an online system
developed by the DCCCD to provide you with timely information regarding your college record. Your grades will
also be printed on your Student Advising Report, which is available in the Admissions and Student Records
Office, T170.
Repeatability Issue:
Effective for Fall Semester 2005, the Dallas County Community Colleges will charge additional tuition to students
registering the third or subsequent time for a course. All third and subsequent attempts of the majority of credit
and Continuing Education/Workforce Training courses will result in additional tuition to be charged.
Developmental Studies and some other courses will not be charged a higher tuition rate. Third attempts include
courses taken at any of the Dallas County Community Colleges since the Fall 2002 Semester.
5
Classroom Etiquette:
Please treat each other and the instructor with respect. Be aware of the written and/or verbal policies the
instructor includes in the syllabus or says in class. As you would wish to be treated, so treat others. In other
words, by following the rules outlined below, you will be more successful and less frustrated with your instructor
and fellow students (and better prepared for university and/or business life).
1. Practice open and honest communication. Communicate, politely, with your instructor if you have a problem.
Nothing can be solved if you approach your instructor in an offensive manner, or demand the instructor solve your
problems. Also, nothing can be accomplished if you don’t talk to your instructor at all! Remember the golden rule
above: if you treat your instructor with respect, your instructor will treat you with respect. This works for your fellow
students, too!
2. Avoid asking for special treatment without good reason. Requests for special consideration from the instructor
(such as late papers, excused absences, etc.) are just that, requests. You are asking the instructor for a favor.
Your instructor must be fair to all students and may not grant your request, or may grant it only with adequate
documentation/evidence. Be aware of this and respect the instructor’s decision.
3. Be prepared. Come to class prepared to write, discuss, work in groups, and ready to cooperate. Being
prepared and able to work with a team are the two most valued skills in the business world! Have your reading
done, drafts prepared, topics considered before you come to class. This, above all else, demonstrates respect for
yourself!
4. Listen! Listen to your instructor and your fellow students. Take notes when needed. Most problems occur
because deep and open listening has not been practiced. Considering what has been said before reacting shows
respect for the other person, as well as yourself.
5. Finally, respect other students and the instructor by coming to class on time and making sure you turn off cell
phones and pagers. Disrupting class is never respectful in anyone’s eyes.
Thank you for your attention. It is noticed and appreciated by your instructor and fellow students.
Financial Aid Statement:
Students who are receiving any form of financial aid should check with the Financial Aid Office prior to
withdrawing from classes. Withdrawals may affect your eligibility to receive further aid and could cause you to be
in a position of repayment for the current semester. Students who fail to attend or participate after the drop date
are also subject to this policy.
Where to go if you need additional help with your writing:
The Richland College Writing Center is located in Medina 216 (Phone: 972-238-6226).
The Eastfield Learning Assistance Center is located C-236 (Phone: 972-860-7177)
Help with grammar and mechanics is also available on-line at the following websites:
http://webster.commnet.edu/grammar/
http://www.dianahacker.com/writersref/index.html
http://www.owl.english.purdue.edu
ADA Statement:
If you are a student with a disability and/or special needs who requires ADA accommodations, please contact the
Richland College Disability Services Office at: 972-238-6180 or the Eastfield College Disability Services Office at
972-860-8348.
Student E-mail:
Legal privacy issues prevent your instructor from discussing your work or your grades on commercial e-mail
accounts. If you wish to communicate with your instructor by e-mail, you must open a student e-mail account. It is
free, and you may set it up by going to www.dcccd.edu and click on Student Services, Online Services, and
Student NetMail. All students receiving financial aid must open a student NetMail account.
6
Campus Emergency Operation Plan
Richland College and the Dallas County Community College District have developed policies and
procedures for dealing with emergencies that may occur on campus. To familiarize yourself with these
procedures, please take time to watch the overview video:
http://video.dcccd.edu/rtv/DO/emergency_dcccd.wmv The complete Emergency Operations Plan can be
viewed and printed at the following website: http://www.rlc.dcccd.edu/emergency If you have questions or
concerns, please contact the Richland College Office of Emergency Management. This office can be
reached by phone (972/238-3794) or by e-mail (rlcoem@dcccd.edu).
End of Cycle dates:
Cycle 1: 09.30.11
Cycle 2: 11.09.11
Cycle 3: 12.16.11
Course Outline:
Unit 1: Writing to express
GCW: Chapters 1-4
MDE #1: First draft due
MDE #1: Second draft due
Unit 2: Writing to express (continued)
GCW: Chapters 5 and 12
MDE #1: Final paper due
Unit 3: Writing to inform
GCW: Chapters 8 and 13
MDE #2: First draft due
MDE #2: Second draft due
Unit 4: Writing to inform (continued)
GCW: Chapters 9 and 13
MDE #2: Final paper due
Unit 5: Writing to convince
GCW: Chapter 11
MDE #3: First draft due
MDE #3: Second draft due
08.22-09.11
08.31.11
09.07.11
09.12-09.27
09.21.11
09.28-10.17
10.13.11
10.19.11
10.18-11.02
10.31.11
11.03-11.18
11.08.11
11.14.11
Unit 6: Writing to convince (continued)
GCW: Chapter 11
MDE #3: Final paper due
12.07.11
11.19-12.09
Additional announced and unannounced in-class essays, as well as exercises and quizzes in reading,
writing, vocabulary, and syntax, will be assigned throughout the course.
The instructor reserves the right to amend this syllabus as necessary.
7
Dual Credit Course Expectations: Acknowledgement and Acceptance
I understand and accept the specifications outlined in the syllabus, including the
extracted sections printed and initialed below.
Student's signature
Parent's signature
Writing Standards and Style:
Students will compose essays that adhere to grammatical and stylistic standards of academic American English and that follow Modern
Language Association (MLA) style. Essays will need to adhere to topic and length requirements designated for each assignment. Correctly
following specific assignment guidelines, grammatical instruction, and MLA style will impact the student’s success in the course.
Student's initials
Parent's initials
Evaluation Procedures:
Late work: The general policy for Pre-AP, AP, and Dual Credit courses at North Garland High School is that students must submit their
assignments at the required date and time. It is understood that on rare occasions, extreme extenuating circumstances may occur that
may warrant an extended due date. Requests for such extensions should be submitted to the instructor in a letter signed by student and
parent. The letter should detail the reason for the request. The instructor will consider each request on a case by case basis, and may or
may not grant the request depending on what action would best benefit the student.
Make-up Work: Students shall be permitted to make up work missed due to acceptable extenuating circumstances, absences,
participation in approved school-related activities, and suspension. It is the student's responsibility to request the assignments and make
up the work within an appropriate period of time (as outlined in the district's Grading, Grouping, and Reporting Procedures). A penalty of
20 points will be deducted from each assignment or test grade made up for unexcused absences. Students who miss a class due to
tardiness will be regarded as present and will not be allowed to submit after class homework that was due at the start of class.
Student's initials
Parent's initials
Withdrawal Policy
If you are unable to complete this course, it is your responsibility to withdraw formally. The withdrawal request must be received in the
College’s Registrar’s Office by November 17, 2011. Failure to do so will result in your receiving a performance grade, usually an “F.” If
you drop a class or withdraw from the college before the official drop/withdrawal deadline, you will receive a “W” (Withdraw) in each class
dropped. See the appropriate high school Dual Credit administrator before you drop because dropping this course may affect your high
school credit.
For students who enrolled in college level courses for the first time in the fall of 2007, Texas Education Code 51.907 limits the number of
courses a student may drop. You may drop no more than 6 courses during your entire undergraduate career unless the drop qualifies as
an exception. Your campus counseling/advising center will give you more information on the allowable exceptions. Remember that once
you have accumulated 6 non-exempt drops, you cannot drop any other courses with a “W." Therefore, please exercise caution when
dropping courses in any Texas public institution of higher learning, including all seven of the Dallas County Community Colleges. For more
information, you may access: https://www1.dcccd.edu/coursedrops
Student's initials
Parent's initials
Academic Honesty Statement:
Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, cheating on tests, plagiarism and collusion. Cheating includes copying from another
student’s test or homework paper, using materials not authorized, collaborating with or seeking aid from another student during a test,
knowingly using, buying, selling, stealing, or soliciting the contents of an unadministered test, and substituting for another person to take a
test. Plagiarism is 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. Collusion is the unauthorized collaboration with another person in preparing
written work for fulfillment of course requirements. Academic dishonesty is a serious offense in college. You can be given a failing
grade on an assignment or test, failed for the course, or even be suspended from college or dropped from the Dual Credit
program. Students who are determined to be involved in such activities shall be punished as prescribed by college and Board policies
outlined in the Student Code of Conduct. You can access this information by going to https://www1.dcccd.edu/cat0506/ss/code.cfm .
Student's initials
Parent's initials