COURSE SYLLABUS
COURSE INFORMATION
Course Number: ENGL 1301
Course Title: Composition I
Course Description: Intensive study of and practice in writing processes, from invention and researching to
drafting, revising, and editing, both individually and collaboratively. Emphasis on effective rhetorical
choices, including audience, purpose, arrangement, and style. Focus on writing the academic essay as
a vehicle for learning, communicating, and critical analysis. Lab required.
Course Credit Hours: 3
Lecture Hours: 3
Lab Hour:
1
Prerequisite: Placement in ENGL 1301; College-Level Reading
Student Learning Outcomes:
 State-mandated outcomes: Upon successful completion of this course, students will:
1. Demonstrate knowledge of individual and collaborative writing processes.
2. Develop ideas with appropriate support and attribution.
3. Write in a style appropriate to audience and purpose.
4. Read, reflect, and respond critically to a variety of texts.
5. Use Edited American English in academic essays.
 Additional Collin Outcome: Upon successful completion of this course, students should be able to do
the following:
1. Demonstrate personal responsibility through the ethical use of intellectual property.
Withdrawal Policy: See the current Collin Registration Guide for the last day to withdraw.
Collin College Academic Policies: See the current Collin Student Handbook
 The College District may initiate disciplinary proceedings against a student accused of scholastic
dishonesty.
 Scholastic dishonesty may involve, but is not limited to, one or more of the following acts: cheating,
plagiarism, collusion, use of annotated texts or teacher’s editions, use of information about exams posted on
the Internet or electronic medium, and/or falsifying academic records.
 Collin faculty are required to report alleged violations of scholastic dishonesty to the Dean of Student
Development, who then investigates the case, and renders an administrative decision.
 Faculty are not allowed to assign a grade to the work in question until the Dean of Student Development
renders a decision
 Students found responsible for scholastic dishonesty offenses will receive an authorized disciplinary
penalty from the office of the Dean of Student Development.
 Additionally, students found responsible for scholastic dishonesty will be assigned a penalty in this class
that ranges from a grade of “F” on the assignment to a grade of “F” for the course
Americans with Disabilities Act:
Collin College will adhere to all applicable federal, state and local laws, regulations and guidelines with respect
to providing reasonable accommodations as required to afford equal opportunity. It is the student’s
responsibility to contact the ACCESS office, SCC-G200 or 972.881.5898 (V/TTD: 972.881.5950) to arrange
for appropriate accommodations. See the current Collin Student Handbook for additional information.
Religious Holy Days: Please refer to the current Collin Student Handbook.
INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION
Instructor’s Name: Khimen Cooper (Ms. C)
Office Number: Spring Creek Campus (Library) L215
Office Hours: By appointment only (Preferably immediately before or after class MWF)
Phone Number: 972-881-5756
Email: Kcooper@collin.edu
Class Information:
Section Number: ENG 1301 PL1
Meeting Times: 8:00am-8:50am
Meeting Location: Plano Senior High School
Minimum Technology Requirement: Access to Computer with Internet and Microsoft Word
Minimum Student Skills: College Level Reading and Typing
Netiquette Expectations: All emails will be sent using Cougar mail address, will have a subject in the
subject header, will address the professor appropriately, explain the purpose of the email and what
student needs from the professor, and be appropriately signed.
Course Resources: Access to Collin College Library and Databases (JSTOR and EBSCO)
Required Text:
Bullock, Richard, Maureen Daly Goggin, and Francine Weinberg. The Norton Field Guide to Writing with
Readings and Handbook. New York: Norton, 2010. Print.
ISBN: 978-0-393-93382-6
Supplies:
 Access to Computer with Internet and Microsoft Word (Other programs often do not have options for
MLA formatting which you will be graded on)
 Access to a printer (printed papers are mandatory for peer review days)
 A bound Journal for in class daily journals (this will only have journal entries- journals turned in with
notes from class or other classes will not be accepted)
 A folder or notebook for typed Lab entries (these will all stay in the folder/notebook throughout the
semester)
 Access and a clear ability to navigate CougarWeb to access class Blackboard and Turnitin
 One Blue Book for final exam
Attendance Policy: Excused absences include religious holidays, military service, representing their school at
official functions (these must be signed off by coaches or other instructors affiliated with the event). IF there is
an emergency of any other kind in which the student will not be able to attend a class s/he should contact the
instructor who, at her discretion, may count the absence as excused. HOWEVER, Students must contact their
instructor at least 24 hours prior to missing class FOR ANY REASON for the possibility of their absence to be
excused.
Students who miss up to 20% of the class (9 absences) will fail the course even if the absences are excused.
For unexcused absences:
 Students who miss 4 classes will drop one letter grade
 Students who miss 6 classes will fail the course
Tardies are considered entering class 5-10 minutes late AND leaving class 5-10 minutes early

3 tardies count as 1 unexcused absence
Students who come into class late must come see the instructor at the end of class to make sure they are counted
as present and also to let her know why they were late. It is up to the student to take care of this. If the late
student does not inform the instructor they will be counted as absent.
For tardies, excused, or unexcused absences:
It is 100% the student’s responsibility to ask peers for any material, assignments, lectures, etc. missed.
DO NOT email me asking if you missed anything- because you did, and I will not back track for you. It
is your responsibility.
Note: Jail time, court appearances, scheduled doctor’s appointments and flat tires are not considered an excused
absence. Life has many unexpected events—this is why you receive three ‘free’ absences before your grade is
affected. Use them wisely!
Late Work:
Late work will only be accepted if you have contacted the instructor at least 24 hours in advance about the
issue and she chooses to grant you an extension. Depending on the situation, the paper will be docked 15 points
for lateness. If your reason legitimately falls under her Excused Absences Policy and you contact her 24 hours
in advance you may not lose points. Student who do NOT contact the instructor and receive an extension will
NOT be able to turn their essays in late. They will receive a zero.
Having to work late, having trouble coming up with something to write, computer problems, document loss,
internet issues, other classes assignment loads, etc. DO NOT count as legitimate reasons for an extension.
Computers crash, life happens, and papers will still need to be turned in when they are due.
*I recommend using dropbox, or other outside methods of saving documents such as emailing them to yourself
because computers do crash and flash drives do get eaten by your dog. Which is unfortunate, but still not an
excuse.
Paper Policy:
 Turnitin: Students will turn papers in to Turnitin which will be accessible on the class blackboard
(Cougarweb). Essays are not considered turned in until they are uploaded to the
correct Turnitin dropbox.
 Email: Students will also email their papers to the professor (as an attachment. Do not copy and paste
the entire paper in the email. Those emails will be disregarded).
 Peer Review: Students will bring printed copies of their papers for peer review days. However, their
final drafts will only be turned in via email and turnitin.
*Turnitin.com Turnitin allows instructors to check papers for plagiarism by comparing them to websites and a
database that includes books, journals, and paper-selling services. The program highlights passages that appear
in other sources and sends a report to me. You are required to upload all essays to Turnitin. Essays are not
considered turned in until they are uploaded to the correct Turnitin dropbox on blackboard, and I will not
grade—or even look at—a paper that hasn’t been.
*Turnitin Problems:
When a student has issues turning their paper in to the turnitin dropbox (because yes, this will absolutely
happen to at least one person) just explain what the problem is in the email s/he sends with the paper. I
understand that technology messes up and the point is to make sure your work is done and submitted on time.
You will still be emailing me your essays so just explain the situation in the email and we will work it out.
Electronics and Food:
*These are the instructor’s personal policies with electronics and food. However, students are expected to
follow any rules established by the school/institution.
Electronics
Students will be allowed to use laptops, netbooks, iPads, Kindles etc. if it applies to class. If I get the
impression that you are using the electronic for anything unrelated to class I will ask you to put it away once. If
it happens a second time I will ask you to leave and you will receive an absence for that class day and will not
be allowed to use it in class again.
Cell phones- put them on vibrate/silent and have it on your desk if you are going to have it on you. If you get a
call or text that is an emergency and you need to answer, then step out to take care of it. Otherwise, ignore it. If
you are actively using your phone during class for anything that is clearly unrelated to class I will ask you to
leave. No questions asked. If it’s an emergency, you will step out, but otherwise I expect you to just leave the
phone alone. DO NOT ninja text. I can see you texting under the desk and in your purse and it’s disrespectful.
THAT will get you kicked out of class.
Food
Feel free to bring snacks and drinks to class. If you make a mess you clean it up. Don’t bring a four course meal
or a giant onion, but keep it discreet and you’ll be fine. It’s easy to forget to drink water and eat snacks and
meals throughout the day when you have so much going on- so you are more than welcome to do that during
this class if you can do so quietly and discreetly.
_______________________________________________________________________________________
Student Learning Outcomes: Upon successful completion of this course, students should be able to do the
following:
1. Students should be able to demonstrate rhetorical knowledge in the following ways:
a. Read and interpret a prompt for a writing assignment.
b. Write essays that take a position and successfully defend that position.
c. Write essays with appropriate evidence, discussion, and organization for a specific audience.
d. Write essays with strong, sophisticated introductions and conclusions.
e. Write essays that use appropriate format, structure, tone, diction, and syntax.
2. Students should be able to demonstrate critical reading, thinking, and writing in the following ways:
a. Use reading and writing for inquiry, learning, thinking, and communicating.
b. Integrate their own ideas with those of others with clear distinction between the two.
3. Students should be able to demonstrate knowledge of the writing process in the following ways:
a. Be aware that it usually takes multiple drafts to create and complete a successful text.
b. Develop and demonstrate flexible strategies for generating ideas, revising, editing, and
proofreading.
c. Understand and utilize the collaborative and social aspects of writing processes by learning to
critique their own and others’ work.
4. Students should be able to demonstrate knowledge of conventions in the following ways:
a. Apply knowledge of writing conventions ranging from structure and paragraphing to tone and
mechanics.
b. Control such surface features as grammar, punctuation, and spelling.
__________________________________________________________________________________________
Method of Evaluation:
Grade Distribution:



Writing Assignment 1
Writing Assignment 2
Writing Assignment 3
10%
20%
15%




Writing Assignment 4
20%
Journal & Participation
10%
Lab (8 Units)
10%
Final Photo-Reflection Exam 15%
Total Points
100%
Lab: You do not attend a separate lab for this course. The lab requirement consists of out-of-class assignments
that contribute to your understanding of course content and the production of your four major essays and will be
assigned throughout the semester.
The Lab will consist of 8 Units which break down into 8 separate assignments. You will turn 5 of these in
before midterm, and you will turn the last 3 in before the last week of the semester.
Lab Option:
For the lab assignments you will go outside of the classroom and type up journal entries that demonstrate your
ability to recognize various elements of rhetoric in different real world situations. How you choose to approach
these situations and entries can be very broad- I only require that the entry be typed in MLA format and reach at
least 400 words each. They will be very similar to a journal entry in which you communicate what you
experienced in your own informal language. Each entry should be typed and placed in your lab folder (this can
be a folder or notebook of any kind). Each entry counts for one Unit.
Second Lab option:
Another option you have is to visit the Writing Center- either physically or online. When you visit the Writing
Center you will have a tutoring session in which you work on an assignment for our class (you must bring in the
prompt for the assignment and participate for the entire session). At the end of the session the tutor will give
you a Writing Center sheet that explains what you worked on during the session. You can use the tutoring sheet
as a replacement for your lab journal entry. Just place the sheet in your lab notebook. You can visit the Writing
Center for up to 4 of your lab Units. This is a great resource for your writing assignments.
Journal and Participation:
At the beginning of each class period there will be a prompt on the board and you will have 5-10 minutes to
write in your daily journal. You will bring this journal to class every day. I will take them up 3 times
periodically throughout the semester to grade- the days I take them up will not be in the syllabus. Even I don’t
know when I will decide to do it. Students who do not have the journal the day that they are taken up will
receive a zero for that journal grade. They will be taken up at the BEGINNING of class- no exceptions.
Students will not be allowed to leave the classroom to get them.
These journals are solely for daily journal entries. Journals that have mixtures of entries, assignments, and class
notes (either from our class or other classes), will receive zeroes. I expect them to be organized by day (and
include the date on them), and have a substantial amount of writing (so, 1-3 short sentences won’t cut it. Make
it count. If you have 10 minutes to write I expect 10 minutes of writing).
Writing Assignments:
Writing Assignment 1: (4 pages) Literacy and Beliefs
We’ve been discussing and defining literacy as more than just reading and writing text. This essay asks you to
think about a social literacy that you are familiar with and discuss the importance that literacy has for those who
understand it. Consider those who are unfamiliar with it? How does this particular literacy impact the world- or
at least your world? You will choose a literacy that specifically incorporates some form of social issue such as
gender, race, politics, education, etc. Connect this literacy to a specific current event using examples to discuss
its relevance. Consider how those without an understanding of this particular literacy could be impacted if they
were to gain an understanding of it.
Writing Assignment 2: Education Narrative (6 pages)
Expanding the concept of education beyond the walls of the classroom, you will narrate a moment in your own
life in which you became a part of a discourse community. What were the literacies you learned within that
community? Who were your literacy sponsors? Were you a sponsor for anyone else? Use this essay as a way to
communicate to your reader the important ways that education can reach outside of the classroom and apply in
broader more social ways than just memorizing information and acing tests.
Writing Assignment 3: Proposal (2 pages)
For this essay your instructor will give you three current visual ad options to choose from. You will decide
which ad you want to discuss for your research essay (Writing assignment 4). For WA4 you will be rhetorically
analyzing the ad using terms we have discussed throughout the semester to do so. So, for WA3 you will write a
2 page proposal in which you introduce the project, explain why the ad will be an appropriate choice for WA4,
and briefly explain the different rhetorical elements you intend to focus on.
Writing Assignment 4: 2 part Argumentative Research Essay (5 pages/ 1 pages)
Now that you have completed your proposal you will be writing the essay in which you rhetorically analyze the
ad you chose. Along with introducing and describing the ad, and clearly discussing the various rhetorical
techniques utilized for it, you will also find two outside ads (medium of your choice) to compare to the ad you
chose originally. Your essay will include examples from all three ads, and a clear understanding of rhetorical
techniques.
Last Page: At the end of this essay you will attach a one page list (this can be in paragraph form or bulleted)
that explains at least 6 rhetorical techniques that YOU used in WA4. You will list what you did and briefly
explain (1-2 sentences) how you did it.
ALL ESSAYS WILL:
 Include quotes from class readings (this will be specified on separate prompt handouts)
 Be typed in MLA format
 Include accurate MLA works cited page

Final Exam: Photo Essay and Reflection Essay (4 pages)
Before moving on to another course, it’s necessary to reflect upon what you’ve completed, where you’ve been
successful and where you need to improve. You will think critically about the progress you’ve made and where
you need to continue to work as you progress through your academic career, for this exam.
Part 1: The first half of this exam will be completed at home. You will create a “photo essay,” where you will
include various images that contribute to different things you have learned throughout the semester. These
images should represent the work you’ve done in class and the concepts you’ve learned. Consider everything
you have done on your own, work you’ve read, and lectures, discussions, and other activities we’ve done during
class. The Photo essay should include at least 6 images but can definitely have more. Be as creative as you’d
like! They can be printed, drawn, painted, actual photos you’ve taken, 3d art, etc. Remember this is a final
assignment- a piece of notebook paper with hastily drawn images and/or slapped on printouts will not receive a
passing grade. This photo essay will be due before finals week.
Part 2: Reflection Essay. For the second half of the exam you will write an essay (around 4 pages handwritten)
that explains your photo essay. You will be able to create an outline for this essay before finals week that you
will turn in to your instructor. On final day you will bring a blue book and a pen. Your instructor will hand you
back your outlines and you will write your final reflection essay. You will have 50 minutes to complete this
final. The outline is very important because you will not have your photo essays with you as your write this
final.
__________________________________________________________________________________________
Americans with Disabilities Act Compliance: It is the policy of Collin County Community College to provide
reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals who are students with disabilities. This College will
adhere to all applicable Federal, State and local laws, regulations and guidelines with respect to providing
reasonable accommodation as required to afford equal educational opportunity. It is the student's responsibility
to contact the ACCESS office, SCC-G200 or 972-881-5898 (V/TTD: 972-881-5950) in a timely manner to
arrange for appropriate accommodations.
Scholastic Dishonesty: From the Collin College Student Code of Conduct 7-2.3
The College District may initiate disciplinary proceedings against a student accused of scholastic dishonesty.
Scholastic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, statements, acts, or omissions related to applications for
enrollment or the award of a degree, and/or the submission as one’s own work material that is not one’s own.
Scholastic dishonesty may involve, but is not limited to, one or more of the following acts: cheating, plagiarism,
collusion, use of annotated texts or teacher’s editions, and/or falsifying academic records.
Plagiarism is the use of an author’s words or ideas as if they were one’s own without giving
credit to the source, including, but not limited to, failure to acknowledge a direct quotation.
Cheating is the willful giving or receiving of information in an unauthorized manner during an
examination, illicitly obtaining examination questions in advance, copying computer or Internet
files, using someone else’s work for assignments as if it were one’s own, or any other dishonest
means of attempting to fulfill the requirements of a course.
Collusion is intentionally aiding or attempting to aid another in an act of scholastic dishonesty,
including but not limited to, providing a paper or project to another student; providing an
inappropriate level of assistance; communicating answers to a classmate during an examination;
removing tests or answer sheets from a test site, and allowing a classmate to copy answers.
In cases where an incident report has been filed for an alleged violation of scholastic dishonesty, faculty are
requested to delay posting a grade, for the academic work in question, until the Dean of Students Office renders
an administrative decision in the case. Students found responsible for scholastic dishonesty offenses will receive
an authorized disciplinary penalty from the Dean of Students Office. The student may also receive an academic
penalty in the course where the scholastic dishonesty took place. Additionally, students should not recycle
papers they have written for other courses. The professor will determine the appropriate academic penalty.
Students found guilty of scholastic dishonesty will receive a “0” for the paper submitted to the Dean of
Students.
Writing Center: The Writing Center, located in D-224, offers in person and online writing assistance and
other resources. You should visit the Writing Center at least once this semester, and I may request that you visit
the Writing Center for help with specific writing concerns. The Writing Center also hosts several free
workshops each semester. Visit their website at http://www.collin.edu/writingcenter for hours and contact
information.
Course Calender


Reading is to be completed before class on the day indicated. Assignments are to be completed before you
come to class on the day indicated.
Occasionally, I send notices to class members by way of Cougar Mail, the e-mail account assigned to every
student. Students should check their messages regularly.
o If you are absent, it is up to you to contact a classmate for information and class notes. If you do not
understand any assignment or anything said in class, please ask for clarification as soon as possible.
Remember: This calendar is subject to change, and any changes will be announced in class. It is your
responsibility to record any changes in your notes.
Week Sunday
Monday
Wednesday
Friday
8pm
1
8/24
25
28
29
Intros
Literacy, Discourse
Rhetoric
Communities and
Rhetoric
2
8/31
Email to
Ms. C Due
today
9/7
1
LABOR DAY
SCHOOL CLOSED
3
Ch. 50- MLA Guide
5
Part 1
8
Ch 21-23
10
Ch 24
12
Ch 26
4
9/14
WA1 Due
15
Ch 30
17
Ch 27
19
Ch 35
5
9/21
22
Ch 39
24
Ch 37
26
Ch 6
6
9/28
29
WORK DAY
NO CLASS
1
Ch 8
3
Ch 42
7
10/5
6
LABS UNITS 1-5 DUE
8
Ch 9
10
Ch 7
8
10/12
WA2 DUE
13
Ch 44
15
Ch 45
17
Ch 47
9
10/19
20
WORK DAY
NO CLASS
22
Ch 16
24
Ch 20
10
10/26
27
Ch 27
29
Ch 17
31
Ch 34
11
2
WA3 DUE
3
5
Ch 58
7
Ch 55
12
9
10
Ch 56
12
Ch 52
14
Ch 66
3
13
16
WA4 DUE
17
Review Part 1
19
21
LAST THREE LABS
DUE
14
23
24
TG SCHOOL CLOSED
26
TG SCHOOL CLOSED
28
TG SCHOOL CLOSED
15
30
1
3
PHOTO ESSAY and
OUTLINE DUE
Present photo essays
5
16-F