English Composition I

ENGL 1301
Summer 2015- 5 Week Class
Instructor: Professor Chelsie Meredith
Email: chelsie.meredith@hccs.edu
Office Hours: MTWTh by Appt.
Class Website: http://hccs1301.weebly.com/
Course Description: A course devoted to improving the students 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.
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.
Prerequisite: Must be placed into college-level reading and college-level
writing.
Textbooks/ Readings:
The Arlington Reader: Themes for Writers
Course Requirements:
1. Writing Projects: Each of the three major writing assignments
pertains to the Course Objectives. These assignments work to

2.
3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

illustrate and implement the Writing Process: pre-writing, research,

thesis development, outlining, composition, revision, and
proofreading. These assignments should be turned in on time, and
should follow MLA guidelines for format and style.
In Class Writing: You will complete one in-class writing assignment
at the end of the semester. This will count as your final exam.
Extra Credit: For each essay, I will mark the first 10 grammatically
incorrect sentences that catch my attention. You are allowed to
identify the mistakes and make corrections for .5 points per
mistake. This entitles you to an additional 5 points per essay.
These corrections will be due the class period after the paper have
been handed back, no later. This is not a requirement, but an
optional assignment.
Peer Review Workshops: One or more drafts will be required for
each writing assignment. You will workshop one of these drafts
with your peers, both giving and receiving critical feedback. For
each Peer Review, you will need to have at least 2.5 pages written.
Your paper should be typed. If you do not have your paper written,
you will be asked to leave the Peer Review and will not receive
credit for the assignment.
Conferences: You will be required to meet with me outside of class
for all three major writing assignments. To get full credit, you
should bring in a rough draft, as well as, questions, comments, or
concerns. These conferences are your chance to receive individual
attention based on your writing strengths and weaknesses.
Homework: In order to prep for class discussion, you may have
some homework. These are due at the beginning of class. They
should be typed, double-spaced, 12 pt. font in Times New Roman,
and MLA formatted.
Participation & Attendance: Our class is largely discussion based
whether as an entire class or in small groups. Students should
actively participate in these assignments (which can lead to
homework in order to meet the course schedule) to receive credit
for the day.

Grade Breakdown:
Your grade will be
determined by the
following

Details

Percent
of Final
Average

In Class Reflection

In Class Writing During Final Exam

10

Writing Project 1

Evaluate Sources

15

Writing Project 2

15

Writing Project 3

Compare/Contrast Rhetorical
Strategies
Letter with Proposal of a Solution

Conferences

You must meet with me on all 3 WPs

15 or 5 per

Peer Review

You must workshop all three WPs

15 or 5 per

15

Participation & Attendance

10

Total:

100%

Letter Grade Assignment:

Letter Grade

Final Average in Percent

89.5 100

79.5 89.4

69.5 79.4

59.5 69.4

< 59.5

Instructor Guidelines:
1. Classroom Etiquette: Many of the readings done in class contain
subjective material that may or may not go against a students personal
belief. While all opinions are encouraged, they shall not be discriminated
against, nor delivered in an offensive manner. Be respectful to yourself,
your professor, and your peers.
2. Absences: Students should attend each class period in order to fully grasp
all concepts and receive the highest participation grade possible.
However, life happens. Students are allowed THREE unexcused absences.
Students who miss more than these classes will lose 5 points per
missed class from their Participation & Attendance grade, up to a loss of
all points. Students who miss an excessive amount of classes may be
dropped from the course. With that said, if any student should encounter
special circumstances they should speak to me regarding this issue and
an agreement may be worked out.
3. Late Arrivals and Early Dismissals: Each class session is only an hour and
fifteen minutes long, and the class has lots to cover in that short space of
time. Please, be on time and prepared. Students who enter the classroom
more than 15 minutes late, or leave more than 15 minutes early, will be
marked absent for the day.
4. Preparation: You should have done all reading and any assigned
homework before the start of each class. An absence from the previous
class does not constitute as an excuse for not having done the homework
or properly preparing for class. Not being prepared for class (i.e.
neglecting to bring in a draft on peer review day) is the equivalent of
being absent.
5. Due Dates: All assignments are due at the beginning of class on the
assigned day. Late work will not be accepted.
6. Class website & E-mail: Students should check their e-mail daily as
important and pertinent information can be delivered at any time and not
checking ones e-mail does not constitute a viable excuse. The website

should also be consulted on a daily basis. All assignments should be

completed prior to class.
7. Electronic Devices: Laptops shall be permitted; however, spending time
on websites that are not appropriate for class (Facebook, Twitter, etc.) will
mean the loss of computer privileges for the class for the remainder of the
semester. Phones shall not be used in class. They should be silent, and
stowed away. If you are found using a cell-phone once, you will be asked
to turn it off and stow it away. If you are found using a cell-phone twice,
you will be asked to leave the class and lose that days participation
points.
8. Plagiarism: Read HCC Policies Below. It is my policy that if you are found
to be cheating or plagiarizing, you will be notified by me, you will fail that
assignment, and you will be reported to the university. Further
punishments are possible and will be decided based upon a case by case
basis.
9. Changes to Course Syllabus: A syllabus is merely a class guideline and
can be altered at any time. This goes double for the course schedule.
HCC Policies:
1. Scholastic Dishonesty: According to the Student Handbook for the
Houston Community College System, scholastic dishonesty includes
cheating on a test, plagiarism, and collusion:
2. Cheating on a test-- copying from someone elses paper or using
unauthorized materials during a test
3. Plagiarism: using another persons words, information, or ideas in your
own written work without appropriate acknowledgement (and quotation
marks when exact words are used).
4. Collusion: unauthorized collaboration (35). Please note the possible
consequences of such dishonesty, as stated in the Student Handbook:
Possible punishments for academic dishonesty may include a grade of 0
or F for the particular assignment, failure in the course, and/or
recommendation for probation or dismissal from the college System (35).
5. Repeating the Same Course: Beginning in the Fall of 2007, students who
repeat a course for a third or more times faced significant tuition/fee
increases at HCC and other Texas public colleges and universities.
6. Withdrawal: The deadline for student withdrawals is June 29, 2015 at
4:30
PM. If you drop the course, you must complete the necessary forms with
the Registration personnel prior to this date. If you do not complete the
withdrawal form and do not complete the required work in this class, you
will receive an F for the course. HCCS instructors are no longer allowed
to give students a grade of W at the end on the semester. The only way
your grade will appear as a W on your course record is if the withdrawal
form is submitted prior to the deadline of June 29, 2015. The State of
Texas imposes penalties on students who withdraw/drop courses

excessively. Students are limited to no more than SIX total course

withdrawals throughout their educational career at a Texas public college
or university.
Students are encouraged to review the HCC Drop Policy.
7. On site Tutoring: Free tutoring is available at most of the HCC Campuses.
Please check the tutoring schedules.
8. HCCS On Line Tutoring: There is also an on-line tutoring service available
at
www.askonline.net. Students can now access tutoring help 24/7 for writing
assigned in any class, not just in English classes. Drafts seen by tutors are
clearly marked; if submitted with papers, these prove that tutors have
looked at the paper, Looking at these tutor reviewed drafts also allows
teachers to see exactly what kind of help students are getting. Students
e-mail any paper, not just those assigned for English classes, and HCC
tutors will pinpoint problem areas in organization, following directions,
formatting, citing sources, and grammar; offer suggestions for correcting
those problems; suggest links to other on-line resources; and guide
students through the revision process. There is a 24-48 hour turnaround
time to send the tutor comments to the student. From 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm
every day, a real, live HCC English faculty person will be live on-line to
answer questions. Papers will not be read, but questions about
understanding assignments, formatting papers, and other related
questions will be answered.

Wee
k
1

Date
8-Jun
9-Jun

-Have read pgs. 3-10 in AR

-Have read pgs. 52-57 in AR

Discussion of Tan

11-Jun

-Have read pgs. 21-26 in AR

WP1 Prompt; Thesis & Intro

Workshop

15-Jun

-You should have your introduction completed by

today

Outline Workshop;
Conference Sign Up

17-Jun
18-Jun

-Please bring in a copy of your essay/outline for

your conference.
-Have completed 2.5 full pages of a Rough Draft.
-I will inform you how many copies to bring to
class for Peer Review.
-WP1 Due Hard Copy in Class

22-Jun

-Have read readings available on Blackboard.

Please bring a copy of these to class.

23-Jun

-Readings TBD

24-Jun
25-Jun
4

28-Jun
29-Jun

In-Class Plan
Syllabus; What is Rhetoric;
Key Terms
Review Rhetorical Situation
& Evaluating a Text;
Introduce Topic for WP1

10-Jun

16-Jun

Homework Due

-Please bring in a copy of your essay/outline for

your conference.
-Have completed 2.5 full pages of a Rough Draft.
-I will inform you how many copies to bring to
class for Peer Review.
-WP2 Due Hard Copy in Class

Conferences
Peer Review
Intro to Aristotelian Appeals
Intro to Rhetorical
Strategies

Discussion of readings; WP2

Prompt
Outline/Body Paragraph
Workshop; Sign up for
Conferences
Conferences
Peer Review

Introduce topic of WP3; WP3

Prompt

1-Jul

Begin watching Waiting for

Superman; Discussion

2-Jul

Finish watching film;

Discussion

6-Jul

-Have read pgs. 27-34 in AR

Research Workshop; In-Class

Drafting of Essay

7-Jul
8-Jul
9-Jul

-Please bring in a copy of your essay/outline for

your conference.
-Have completed 2.5 full pages of a Rough Draft.
-I will inform you how many copies to bring to
class for Peer Review.
WP3 Due Hard Copy in Class

Conferences
Peer Review
FINAL in class reflection