Fall2015

IntroductiontoComposition,English1302
3CreditHours/16weeks
CourseDescriptionandSchedule

Instructor:IcessFernandez
MeetingDays:Monday/Wednesday12:30a.m.1:50p.m.
CourseandRoom:English1302,KatyCampusRoom108
OfficeHours:Byappointment
Email:TBA
Coursewebsite:TBA

Personalstatement:
Imsogladyourehereandthatyouvesignedupforthisclass.Weregoingtohavefunthis
semesterandIcantwaitforyouguystoreadsomeofthesestories.Theclassdiscussionswill
befun,Ialreadyknow.

Pleasereadthroughthissyllabus,eventhoughwearegoingthroughitinclass.Thereslotsof
informationherethatyoullneedtonotonlypasstheclassbutthrive.

Idonthaveanofficeonthiscampussoifyouneedtomeetwithmeafterclass,wecandothat.
Pleaseletmeknowifyouneedto.ThebestwaytoreachmeisbymyHCCemail.

CourseDescription
:InEnglish1302,youwillstudythepurposes,strategies,andtechniques
ofwrittenandvisualarguments.Assuch,thiscourseisdesignedto
helpyoumoveintoadiscoursethatemphasizesinterpretingandreading
rhetorically,engagesinrigorousintellectualinquiry,andrequirespersuasive
constructionandeffectivepresentationofwrittenmaterials.Studentswillbeexpectedto
engageactivelywiththecomplexissuesraisedbycoursematerialsandtoapplycourse
conceptsindependentlytonewproblemsandcontexts

TheStatedescribesthiscourseas
,Intensivestudyofandpracticeinthestrategiesand
techniquesfordevelopingresearchbasedexpositoryandpersuasivetexts.Emphasison
effectiveandethicalrhetoricalinquiry,includingprimaryandsecondaryresearchmethods
criticalreadingofverbal,visual,andmultimediatextssystematicevaluation,synthesis,and
documentationofinformationsourcesandcriticalthinkingaboutevidenceandconclusions.

AcademicDiscipline/CTEProgramLearningOutcomes:
Communicateideaseffectivelythroughdiscussion.
Employresearchinacademicwritingstylesanduseappropriatedocumentationstyle.
Analyzevariousgenresofwritingforform,method,meaning,andinterpretation.
Writeinappropriategenrestoexplainandevaluaterhetoricaland/orliterary
strategiesemployedinargument,persuasion,andvariousgenres.
Writeinappropriategenresusingvariedrhetoricalstrategies.

StudentLearningOutcomesforthiscourse:
Tosuccessfullycomplete1302,youwill:
Demonstrateknowledgeofindividualandcollaborativeresearchprocesses.
Developideasandsynthesizeprimaryandsecondarysourceswithinfocusedacademic
arguments,includingoneormoreresearchbasedessays.
Analyze,interpret,andevaluateavarietyoftextsfortheethicalandlogicalusesof
evidence.
Writeinastylethatclearlycommunicatesmeaning,buildscredibility,andinspires
belieforaction.
Applytheconventionsofstylemanualsforspecificacademicdisciplines(e.g.,APA,
CMS,MLA,etc.)

Prerequisite:
Apassinggradein1301oritsequivalent

Requiredtextsforthisclass:
ArguingaboutLiterature:AGuideandReader,
JohnSchilbandJohnClifford
TheMcGrawHillHandbook
,ElaineP.Maimon,etal.

AdditionalSupport:ThelinktotheNorthwestCollegesWritingCentersis listed below.

Please clickonthelinkforthepostedhours ofeachcenter.
http://northwest.hccs.edu/programs/english/writingcenter/

Ask
Online:
http://hccs.askonline.net
Alief Campus,
Room B202, (713) 7185700
Katy Campus
Room 321, (713) 7185841
Spring BranchCampus,
South Hall
703(713)7185889

HCCGradingScale:
A=10090
B=8980
C=7970
D=6960
59andbelow=F
IP(InProgress)0pointspersemesterhour
W(Withdrawn)0pointspersemesterhour
I(Incomplete)0pointspersemesterhour
AUD(Audit)0pointspersemesterhour

IP(InProgress)isgivenonlyincertaindevelopmentalcourses.Thestudentmustreenrollto
receivecredit.COM(Completed)isgiveninnoncreditandcontinuingeducationcourses.To
computegradepointaverage(GPA),dividethetotalgradepointsbythetotalnumberof
semesterhoursattempted.Thegrades"IP,""COM"and"I"donotaffectGPA.

Anoteoninstruction
:IusetheSocraticmethodofinstruction,whichmeanstherewillbelots
ofdiscussions.Thegeneralrulesofclassapplynonamecalling,noraisingofvoices,all

argumentsmustbesupportedbyevidence,allpointofviews,whetherornotyouagreewith
them,willberespected.Anyviolationoftheseruleswillresultinyourdismissalofclassforthe
day.

Coursepolicies:

Alloutofclassessayswillbetyped(12pointfont,TimesNewRoman,oneinchmargins,
doublespaced)andturnedinonTurnitin.com.Outofclassessaysareduebynoonof
thedaytheyaredue.
Nolatepaperswillbeconsidered.
Inclassessayswillbedoneinabluebookwhichcanbepurchasedinthebookstore
Sincewewillbehavinglotsofdiscussions,youwillberequiredtoread.Alot.Thats
okay,itwillnothurtyou.Infact,itwillhelpyounotonlypasstheclassbutthrive.
Thrivingisgood,thereforereadingisgood.
Youwillberequiredtowrite5,000wordsthissemester.Noworries,youllbeabletothis.
Nosweat.
Also,phonesneedtobeturnedofforonsilent.Noexceptions.
Berespectfulofyourinstructorandclassmates
Postallessaysfinaldraftsintoturnitin.com.DONOTEMAILTOTHEMTOME.They
willnotbeacceptedinthisway.WhenIgradethem,youwillbeabletoalsoreviewyour
paperswithmycommentsthroughturnitin.
Ifyoudonotpostyouressayintoturnitin,youwillnotreceiveagradeforit.No
exceptions.
IstronglyrecommendthatyousubmityourpaperstoAskOnlineorvisitoneofthe
campusWritingCentersforassistancewithproofreadingyouressaydrafts.

Withdrawals/Absences
:HCCStudentsareexpectedtoattendclassregularly.Pleasebe
awarethatyoumaybewithdrawnfromthisclassifyouhaveabsencesthatexceedmorethan
six(6)hoursofclasstime.Thatsfourdays.Twolatedaysortwoearlyleaveswillequalone
absence.Ifyoucannotcompletethecourse,youshouldwithdraw.Beforewithdrawing,please
beawareofthepossiblepenalties:
lossofyourpaidtuition
asignificanttuition/feeincreaseifyourepeatacoursethreeormoretime(see3Peat
Rulebelow)
alimitofnomorethansixtotalcoursewithdrawalsthroughoutyouracademiccareerin
obtainingabaccalaureatedegree.

Also,pleasebeawarethatthereisacutoffdateeachsemesterortermforwithdrawals.Ifyou
considerwithdrawingbecauseyouarenotreceivingpassinggrades,pleaseconsultwithme
beforemakingafinaldecision.HCChasmanyservicesavailabletoassistinbeingsuccessfulin
thiscourseandinyourothercoursesaswell.

Attendance(rollistakenatthebeginningofclass).Ifastudentstopsattendingtheclass,itishis
orherresponsibilitytoformallywithdraw.
Validreasonsformissingclassincludeillnessand
familyemergenciesbuttheyarenotnecessarilyreasonstomissassignments.
Ifyouhave
doctorsappointmentsorjuryduty,youmustprovidedocumentation.Ifstudentsstopattending
theclass,itistheirresponsibilitytowithdrawformally.Youareresponsibleforallassignments

evenifyouareabsentortardy.Donotasktheinstructorwhatyouhavemissedreviewthe
calendarand/orexchangecontactinformationwithanotherstudentinthecourse.

Tardiness:Attendance,attention,participationandyourverypresenceareallcomponentsof
theoverallvalueofyoureducationalexperience.Tardinesslimitstheaboveinaddition,itis
distractingtomeandtheclassandoftencreateslogisticalissuesinthewayaclassisrun.For
example,timehastobetakenawayfrommyselforaclassmatesothatyoumayunderstand
whatwearecurrentlydiscussingand/orworkingon.Notonlyisitdisruptive,butlatenessisalso
abreachofprofessional,maturegeneraletiquette.Ifyoumustcomelate,entertheclassroom
quietlyandrespectfully.

InternationalStudents
:ReceivingaWinacoursemayaffectthestatusofyourstudentvisa.
OnceaWisgivenforthecourse(afteryouhavesubmittedwithdrawalformformally),itwillnot
bechangedtoanFbecauseofthevisaconsideration.PleasecontacttheInternationalStudent
Officeat7137188520,ifyouhaveanyquestionsaboutyourvisastatusandothertransfer
issues.

RepeatCourseFee
:StudentswhoenrollformostCEUclassesforthreeormoretimeswillbe
chargedanadditional$50.00persemestercredithour.

AcademicHonesty(PlagiarismandCollusion)
:TheStudentHandbookdefinesplagiarismas
"theappropriationofanother'sworkandtheunacknowledgedincorporationofthatworkinone's
ownwrittenworkofferedforcredit."Itdefinescollusionas"theunauthorizedcollaborationwith
anotherpersoninpreparingwrittenworkforcredit."Bothareseriousformsofscholastic
dishonesty.Possiblepunishmentsare"agradeof0orFonaparticularassignment,failurein
thecourse,and/orrecommendationforprobationordismissalfromtheCollegeSystem"
(
http://www.hccs.edu/district/students/studenthandbook/
).

AccordingtotheStudentHandbookfortheHoustonCommunityCollegeSystem,scholastic
dishonestyincludes,butisnotlimitedto,cheatingonatest,plagiarism,andcollusion.
1.Cheatingonatestincludes:
Copyingfromanotherstudentstestpaperandusingmaterialsnotauthorizedbythe
persongivingthetest.Collaboratingwithanotherstudentduringatestwithout
authority.
Knowinglyusing,buying,selling,stealing,transporting,orsolicitinginwholeorpartthe
contentsofanunadministeredtest
Bribinganotherpersontoobtainatestthatistobeadministered.
2.Plagiarismmeanstheappropriationofanotherswordsorideasandtheunacknowledged
incorporationofthatworkinonesownwrittenworkofferedforcredit.*
3.Collusionmeanstheunauthorizedcollaborationwithanotherpersoninpreparingwrittenwork
offeredforcredit

Food&Beverages&UseofTobaccoProducts:
Pleasedonotconsumefoodduringclass.
Drinksarefinedependentuponbuildingpolicy.Inaddition,theuseoftobaccoproducts,suchas
cheworsnuff,isprohibitedintheclassroom

ADAAccommodations
:"Anystudentwithadocumenteddisability(e.g.,physical,learning,
psychiatric,vision,hearing,etc.)whoneedstoarrangereasonableaccommodationsmust

contacttheDisabilityServicesOfficeattherespectivecollegeatthebeginningofeach
semester.FacultyisauthorizedtoprovideonlytheaccommodationsrequestedbytheDisability
SupportServicesOffice"(OfficialHCCSstatement).IfyouneedADAaccommodations,contact
theofficeMahnazKolaini(NWADAcounselor)orcall7137185422.Pleasegivemeacopyof
youraccommodationsletteratthebeginningofthesemester.

RestrictionsonUseofRecordingDevicesandCellPhones
:Useofrecordingdevices,
includingcameraphonesandtaperecorders,isprohibitedinclassrooms,laboratories,faculty
offices,andotherlocationswhereinstruction,tutoring,ortestingoccurs.

Studentswithdisabilitieswhoneedtousearecordingdeviceasareasonableaccommodation
shouldcontacttheOfficeforStudentswithDisabilitiesforinformationregardingreasonable
accommodations(OfficialHCCSstatement).

Cellphoneuseofanykind,especiallyforsendingorreceivingtextmessages,isstrictly
prohibitedinthiscourse.Ifyouviolatethisprohibition,youwillbeaskedtoleavetheclassand
markedabsentforthedaynomatteratwhatpointintheclassperiodtheviolationoccurs.The
absencewillcountagainstyourrecordedattendanceforthiscourse.

DigitalDevicesPolicy/Occurrences
:Whiletherearetimeswhenitisacceptabletousea
digitaldeviceinthiscourse,asastudent,youmustmakesurethatyouarenotabusingthis
privilegebyaccessingwebsitesthatarenotrelatedtowhatwearedoinginclass.Pleasenote
thatifIobserveyoubehavinginappropriatelyonanydigitaldevice,notablytheviewingofsocial
mediawebsitessuchasfacebookandtwitterduringclass,Iwilldeduct5pointsfromyour
grade.IwillnottellyouthatIamdoingthis,butyouwillseethepointdeductionreflectedinyour
gradewitheachoccurrence.

EGLS3EvaluationforGreaterLearningStudentSurveySystem
AtHoustonCommunityCollege,professorsbelievethatthoughtfulstudentfeedbackis
necessarytoimproveteachingandlearning.Duringadesignatedtime,youwillbeaskedto
answerashortonlinesurveyofresearchbasedquestionsrelatedtoyourinstruction.The
anonymousresultofthesurveywillbemadeavailabletoyourprofessorsanddivisionchairsfor
continualimprovementofinstruction.LookforthesurveyaspartoftheHoustonCommunity
CollegeStudentSystemonlineneartheendoftheterm.

HowtomakeanAinthisclass

Bepreparedforclass.
Askquestions,evenifyouthinkyoualreadyknowtheanswer.Askmequestionsbut
alsoaskyourclassmatesquestions.
Checkyoursyllabuseveryweek.
Readandwrite,Readingaheadisnotonlyokaybutencouraged.
Never,ever,everemailmeyourwork.AllessaysneedtobeuploadedonTurnItIn.com,
unlessotherwisespecified.
Keepupwiththejournals.Itseasieriftheyaretyped.

Becurious.
Turninyourassignmentsontime
Trusttheprocess

Howeverythingbreaksdown

Outofclasspapers:10percenteach(30total)
PlagiarismContract:5percent
Journals:10percent
Classparticipation/attendance:10percent
Midterm:10percent
Final:15percent
Presentation:15
Literarytermstest:10percent


NOTE:Ireservetherighttochangetherequirementsofthiscourseasoutlined
inthissyllabus.Intheeventthatsuchchangesoccur,anannouncementwillbe
madeinclass.

Week

Date

Lesson

Assignment

Aug.24/Aug.26

Gooverthesyllabus,
classexpectations,

anddiscussthe
plagiarismcontract.

Howtoreadlikea
writer,Introductionto
theshortstory,
HowtowriteLiterary
JournalEntries,
Literarytermsto
know

Aug.31/Sept.2

TheElementsof
Argument

Theme:PointofView
Discussion:William
Faulkner,ARosefor
Emily,32
JamaicaKincaid,
Girl,p.43

LiteraryTermsTest,
Sept.2

JournalEntries1and
2

Sept.7

Noschool

Noschool

Sept.9

Howtoargueabout
literature,p.34

TheWritingProcess,
p89

Firstpapertopic
given

Sept.14/Sept.16

Theme:Families

Discussion:Amy
Tan,
TwoKinds,p.

Paper1DueSept.
16

JournalEntries3and

240

Discussion:Alice
Walker,
Everyday
Use,p.249

TBA

JournalEntries5and
6

Sept.21/Sept.23

Lesson:Feedbackon
Paper1

Themeargument.
StatementTBA
Theme:Love
Discussion:
KateChopin,
Storyof
anHour,
p.428
WilliamFaulkner,
A
RoseforEmily,p
.403

Brainstorm:Paper
TwoTopics

Sept.28/Sept.30

Theme:Love
Paper2DueSept.30
Discussion:

RaymondCarver,
JournalEntry7
WhatWeTalkAbout
WhenWeTalkAbout
Love,
p.411

Lastminutepaper2
questions

WritingResearched
Arguments,part1

Oct.5/Oct.7

WritingResearched
Arguments,part2

Lesson:Feedback
Essay2

Themeargument:
StatementTBA

Oct.12/Oct.14

Midtermprep

InclassMidterm

Midterm:Oct14

Oct.19/Oct.21

Theme:Freedomand Journalentries8and
confinement
9
Discussion:Zora
NealHurston,
Sweat
andKurtVonnegut,
HarrisonBergeron,

bothonthesite

Themeargument:
StatementTBA
(sameday)

Brainstormingon
researchtopic(Bring
completedjournal
entries)

10

Oct.26/Oct.28

Oct.26:Libraryvisit

MLA:Howtocite
everything

11

Nov.2/Nov.4

Lesson:
Interpretationand
Adaptationlesson

PopularMechanics
,
onthesite,
Little
RedRidingHood
stories,617624

ResearchPaper
due:Nov.2

Journalentriesdue:
Nov.2

12

Nov.9/Nov.11

Discuss:
AScandal
inBohemia
Watch:AScandalin
Belgravia

13

Nov.16/Nov.18

Discuss:

ItHadtoBe
Murder
Watch:RearWindow

14

Nov.23/(Noclass
Nov.25)

Inclassgroupwork.

Researchpaper
feedback

15

Nov.30/Dec.2

Inclassgroupwork
Brainstormsession
forfinalinclass
paper

Inclasspaper

16

Finalsweek

Presentationsdue