English Composition I - Distance Education - Fall 2019 (ENGL 1301 Cross-listed: 16558-16835)

HOUSTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE Department of English

 

English 1301 Composition I Distance Education

Instructor Garza-Horne 8-Week Term Fall 2019

 

Composition I:

Social Issues in Literature I

 

Prerequisites

• Must be placed into college-level reading and college-level writing by appropriate testing results

• Completion of appropriate Developmental English courses

Course Content and Objectives

Welcome to Composition I, or English 1301. I hope you will learn and understand the various rhetorical modes of writing. By the end of the course, you should see improvements in your writing, editing, and grammar skills. This course focuses on Composition I:

Social Issues in Literature, and seeks to evaluate the role of higher education in helping students develop ethical, moral, and rational faculties necessary for their informed participation as citizens and members of the human race.

Student Learning Outcomes:
1. Demonstrate knowledge of writing as a 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.

By the end of ENGL 1301 students should be able to

• write essays in appropriate academic writing style using varied strategies employed in argument, persuasion, and various genres;
• analyze various genres of writing for form, method, meaning and interpretation;
• apply basic principles of critical thinking in analyzing reading selections, in developing expository essays, and in writing argumentative essays;
• analyze elements such as purpose, audience, tone, style, strategy in essays and other literature by professional writers;
• employ research in academic writing and use appropriate MLA documentation style, especially MLA formatting for in-text citations and Works Cited entries;
• communicate ideas effectively and appropriately through discussion.

Attendance & Active Participation

While there are no set “classroom” hours as with on campus courses, this online course requires many hours a week of online participation doing any number of different tasks, such as reading and listening to lectures, participating in discussion forums, taking quizzes and exams, and performing other class activities. So, while there is no daily or weekly “attendance” per se, all students are expected to attend class regularly; thus, students must login to the course on a regular basis. DE students who do not login and actively participate before the Official Day of Record will be automatically and irrevocably dropped for non-attendance.

In order to be counted as actively participating in the course by the date of record, students must do at least the following: complete the syllabus quiz and post at least once in any discussion forum. Failure to do so by the date of record will cause student to be dropped. No exceptions can or will be made to this rule.

However, while students have until the day before the date of record to prove their “active participation,” the professor implores students to log in and begin coursework as early as possible.

Late Work Policy

Late work is not accepted. Due to the high volume of course work produced this semester, late work does not apply to Weekly Assignments, Discussion Assignments, or Journals. Once the deadline has passed for these assignments, students will not be able to submit the work through Canvas.

The Late Work Policy applies to Essays Only: Due to the high volume of papers produced this semester, late work for essays will be accepted, but will suffer harsher grading procedures. All late work for essays will start at a 75. A grade above a 75 for any late essay assignment is not possible. Essay late work will be accepted one week after the original due date. Please do not turn in any essay assignment more than one week late. Essay assignments submitted more than one week late will not be accepted. No makeups/late submissions for the Final Exam and Research Essay.

 

SCHOLARLY STANDARDS

Scholarly standards are those established in the course but universally followed in college-level scholarship. One purpose of course lectures, presentations, and discussions is to demonstrate college-level academics. These standards are better learned in class than from any manual. The college writing standard ought to be well known and, for this class, specifically employs The Little Seagull Handbook for correct English expository style. The English department further authorizes students to use the MLA parenthetical citation method for scholarly form. Any work that falls beneath the college, departmental, and course standards is unacceptable.

The college has a code that regulates academic ethics. While the code is self-evident, there is one ethical question that needs be addressed here. Plagiarism is epidemic in higher education. It is a serious academic offense to plagiarize, i.e., to commit academic theft by presenting the ideas or words of another as though they were one’s own, and therefore pains must be taken to indicate borrowed ideas by endnotes, and borrowed phraseology by endnotes and quotation marks. Again, it is the student’s responsibility to know what constitutes plagiarism.

If the code and the guidance here are insufficient, contact the professor at [email protected].

 

 

Required Texts

• Peterson, Linda H. and John C. Brereton. The Norton Reader. 12th edition. (New York: Norton, 2008).
•The Little Seagull Handbook, by Richard Bullock and Francine Weinberg [LS], OR The McGraw-Hill Handbook, 2016 MLA Update ed. [MHH] OR Online MLA handbook

(Note: Students may refer to the “Purdue Owl” website for MLA guidance.) https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/01/

 

 

• A good print dictionary (Oxford recommended)
• Texts may be rented from bookstore and are also on Reserve in the Library.
  
  Recommended Texts
  
  Strunk Jr., William and E. B. White. The Elements of Style. Fourth edn. (New York: Longman, 2000).
  
  • Adler, Mortimer J. and Charles Van Doren. How to Read a Book. (New York: Touchstone, 1972).
  

 

** The Norton Reader. Twelfth edn., is the primary textbook used this semester.

 

Grading Scale

The evaluation of a student’s course progress and final grade is based upon the degree of mastery and of course outcomes. The grade breakdown for this class is as follows:

 

90-100	A
80-89	B
70-79	C
60-69	D
0-59	F

Percentage Scale

90-100	A
80-89	B
70-79	C
60-69	D
0-59	F

Points Scale

Grading Policy

Percentage Scale

Essay 1	15%
Essay 2	15%
Essay 3 - Research Essay	20%
Discussion Assignments Journals/Blogs Weekly Assignments (Short Writing Assignments) Participation/Attendance Final Examination (Essay) Total	10%  10%  10%    5%  10%  100%

 

Points Scale

Essay 1	15 pts.
Essay 2	15 pts.
Essay 3 - Research Essay	20 pts.
Discussion Assignments (2 total - 5 pts. each) Journals/Blogs (2 total - 5 pts. each) Weekly Assignments (Short Writing Assignments) (4 total – 2.5 pts. each) Participation/Attendance Final Examination (Essay) Total	10 pts.  10 pts.  10 pts.       5 pts.  10 pts.  100 pts.

 

 

Requirements

Research Essay – Argumentative Analytical Essay – A research based argumentative/persuasive literary analysis (with sources) research essay.

The research essay is worth 20%. The Research Essay requires the final draft (15%) and the works cited page (5%). Submit the Argumentative Analytical Research Essay in one single word document submission. You will submit the research essay through Canvas using turnitin.

 

All written work must be formatted according to MLA requirements, which are found in both handbooks mentioned above and on the MLA and Purdue OWL websites as well.

 

Header/Heading: Number your pages and include the following heading (mandatory) for each paper. For the formal essay project a proper header is mandatory in addition to the heading.

                                                                                                         

 

 

 

Student’s Last Name and page #

           

Student’s full name    

Instructor Garza-Horne                                   

ENGL 1301                                                                                                                                  

Month/Day/Year        

 

 

STUDENTS: Please keep all parts of the writing process for each assignment; failure to produce them may result in a failing grade for the assignment.

Essays 1, 2, and 3. Three essays will be written based on different genres. Check the Reading List for due dates. Submit each essay in one single word document submission. You will submit the essays through Canvas using turnitin.

 

All written work must be formatted according to MLA requirements, which are found in both handbooks mentioned above and on the MLA and Purdue OWL websites as well.

Writing Assignments. Students will write 5 paragraph-length writing assignments based on independent research, analysis of textbook articles, and specific questions related to the textbook material. Weekly Assignments are submitted through the “Weekly Assignments” tab.  There is a new Weekly Assignment due each week. Each Monday a new Weekly Assignment will open. The Weekly Assignment is due by the following Monday at 11:59 p.m. 

Weekly Assignments typically pertain to the following:

1. Textbook Assignments:

Textbook Assignments each week. These assignments focus on essay questions from the textbook. Check the Reading List for due dates.

2. Class Assignments:

 Class assignments each week. These assignments focus on rhetoric and critical thinking skills. They pertain to chapter readings, essay sub-genres, and grammar/comprehension skills. Check the Reading List for due dates.

Final Examination. The final exam consists of one part : 1. a short essay section. A Final Exam Review will be posted the week before finals.

Participation/Attendance. The success of online learning experience is largely dependent on student participation in the discussion forums and journals section. Frequent and collegial participation in the discussion forums will be an essential part of the course grade. Half of the participation grade is based on participation within discussion forums and the other half of the participation grade is based on completing and submitting journals.

Discussion Assignments. – There are 5 discussion based assignments total written through the “Discussion Forum” tab.  There is a new Discussion Assignment due each week. Each Wednesday a new Discussion Assignment will open. The Discussion Assignment is due by the following Wednesday at 11:59 p.m.  Each discussion assignment will have instructions on how much to write for that particular discussion assignment.

The Introduction Discussion Assignment is the only Discussion Assignment assigned on a Monday, August 26, 2019. It is due Monday, September 2, 2019 by 11:59 p.m.

Journals/Blogs.  - There are 5 blogs total written through the “Journals” tab.  There is a new blog each week. Each Friday a new blog will open. The blog is due by the following Friday at 11:59 p.m. All blogs will have instructions on how much to write for that particular blog.    (Note: Sometimes Journals are called Blogs.)

Scholastic Honesty: Students are expected to conduct themselves with honesty and integrity. Plagiarism (attempting to pass off another’s work as your own) will result in a ZERO for the assignment (no recourse). Consult the HCCS website for all policies and procedures pertaining to course work and conduct.

 

Withdrawal Policy

As of Fall 2007, the Texas legislature has instituted a new policy governing all community colleges in Texas. The new regulations require that all student-initiated or administrative “withdrawals” must be recorded on or before the official college “Withdrawal Date.” After that date, students dropping out of the course or not fulfilling course requirements may only be given an “F.” Individual professors have no discretion in this matter any more.

Additionally, freshman entering college Fall 2007 onward are only allowed to have six “Withdrawals” total over the course of their academic careers. This rule does not apply to students enrolled previous to Fall 2007. Thus, if students are thinking about withdrawing from a course, it is important to discuss the implications of this choice with an academic adviser, as they now carry serious academic consequences.

It is the student’s obligation to withdraw from the course. The professor will not do it for him/her.

STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES

The Americans with Disabilities Act requires all places of business and employment, all government agencies, and all educational institutions to make reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities. Students with disabilities—whether those disabilities be physical handicaps or learning disabilities—are encouraged to discuss immediately any and all difficulties or potential difficulties in the course with this instructor (who is herself disabled) and with all their instructors more generally. To facilitate any necessary accommodations, students must contact their appropriate Distance Education counselors.

REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION: Any student with a documented disability (e.g., physical, learning, psychiatric, vision, hearing, or other) who needs to arrange reasonable accommodation must contact the Disability Support Services Office at the beginning of each semester. Faculty are authorized to provide only the accommodations requested by the Disability Support Services Office—Room 106 on the first floor of the Learning Hub—or call the counselors at 713-718-6164. To visit the ADA website, log onto www.hccs.edu, click Future Students, scroll down the page and click on the words Disability Information.

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.

Tutoring and Other Learning Assistance

All students are strongly encouraged to seek out and use the assistance of writing tutors working throughout the HCC system, at every college and online as well. Each college (Central, NW, NE, SW, SE) has a writing center staffed with helpful, knowledgeable, and friendly tutors that can help you with any writing assignment in this course, anywhere in the writing process, from generating ideas to revision and editing. Their help is free for students enrolled in any course at HCC, either on campus or online. Just make sure to have a copy of your assignment instructions. To find these on campus writing centers, contact the English Department at a given campus that you wish to visit.

In addition to the on campus writing centers, HCC has an online tutoring service Ask Online (http://hccs.askonline.net/), which can also help students with any assignment in the course.

SUPPORT SERVICES:

Tutoring: Free tutoring is available in the FAC building, room 321b. Check door for schedule.

Library: The library is on the third floor of the Learning Hub. The librarians are dedicated to helping you find whatever you need. GET YOUR FREE HCCS STUDENT I.D. for Library privileges.

Open Computer Lab: Computers are available for word processing in the Computer Writing Lab  in FAC 302 and in the Library. Check for open hours.

 

Course Communication

 

Professor Garza will be available for general consultation by email. If possible, I will also offer “Virtual Office Hours” using iChat. If time permits, each week, I will post different “Virtual Office Hours,” during which students may conference with me by internet chat or by email.

If a student should encounter problems with the course, he or she should immediately inform the instructor by e-mail at  [email protected] , or

(through the Canvas Online course e-mail, only if necessary though).

 

[email protected] is the best way to get in touch with the professor. Please contact the

professor through this contact option first. Students must use the hccs.edu email. Do not use

personal emails – Yahoo, hotmail, Gmail, etc.

 

The instructor encourages students to communicate with her about this course and any other important matters. Also, any student who encounters difficulties in the class, in his or her studies in general, or with the larger academic institution, should immediately inform me so that we may try together to overcome them.

The instructor’s objective in teaching is to educate students at a high academic standard, that is, to equip students intellectually and empower them to think critically and to read and write correctly and well both in English courses and in college more generally. What students learn in this course ought to be relevant to other courses and to their lives. The instructor’s objective is, in sum, Socratic. Consequently, the instructor implores students to engage in dialogue with her. Teaching is not the instructor’s occupation but her vocation.

 

 

FINAL EXAMINATIONS

Monday, October 14^th from 12:00am TO 11:59pm

 

Students may take final examinations online any time between 12:00 a.m. on Monday to 11:59 p.m. on Monday. Late Final Exams are not accepted.