COLLIN COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE

 

COURSE SYLLABUS

English 1301                                                                                        Fall

Composition/Rhetoric I

Section:____________________            

Room:   -  English Computer Lab              Day and Time: _______________________

Credit Hours: 3                          (Lecture Hours:  3     Lab Hours:  1)

 

Dr. Joan Kennedy, Professor

Office Hours:  MW  4-5 PM     TR  1-3 pm       Fridays by Appointment

Office: D 171                              Phone:  972-377-1044 (Office)

Preston Ridge Campus

E-mail:  jkennedy@ccccd.edu            Fax:  972-377-1004

**Note: A Student may repeat this course only once after receiving a grade, including W. If you drop the course before the census date (  ), you will not be penalized in regard to the repeat policy.  If you withdraw from the course after the census date, a grade of W will be posted to your transcript and count as one attempt toward the repeat policy. 

Textbooks:   1) Strategies for Successful Writing  8th edition, Reinking, & Von Der Osten 

 

2)    The New Century Handbook, 4th edition, Christine Hult & Thomas Huckin

 

Materials:  English 1301 Lab Sheet (I will supply this), Floppy disks (2), folder for portfolio pages, and Bluebook for final exam.  I recommend the American Heritage Dictionary and a thesaurus.

 

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

English 1301 is designed to help the student focus on the process of writing, to practice both personal and expository writing, to review standard grammatical usage, and to analyze prose critically.  Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to write well organized, syntactically correct essays on the college level for a specified audience.  The student will be able to state a thesis, provide sufficient support for that thesis, and form an effective conclusion in an essay free of mechanical errors.  The student will prepare for the English 1301 Departmental Exam.

 

COURSE ASSIGNMENTS:

A.               Essays

                   The student will write five typed (double-spaced) 3-4-page (450-600 words) essays                 

                  emphasizing the following:

                   #1  -  Narration and Description:  Due: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

                   #2  -  Illustration:  Due: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

                   #3  -  Cause and Effect:  Due:. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

                   #4  -  Evaluation (Comparison/Contrast):  Due:. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

                            *This paper will be a collaborative project.

                   #5  -  Mixed Strategies: Due:. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

 

 

B.               Lab Activities

 

The student must complete 16 units of lab work and keep a record of this work on the

English 1301 Lab Sheet.  I will provide a copy of the lab sheet listing the activities.

Your lab work will be verified in the ALC in the sign-in book and on the sign-in computer.

The following types of lab assignments are offered:

                        Computer Software

                        Video/Slides

                        Lab sheet activities

                        Writing Center consultation

                        Special assignments made by instructor

 

Lab hours: Consult Alternative Learning Center (in library).

The record sheets for lab assignments will be handed into the instructor and are due:

___________________________________________________________________

Lab  assignments are an essential component of the course, designed to help students with their writing skills.

**Failure to complete 16 units of lab work will result in an “Incomplete” in the course.

 

C.               Portfolios

Throughout the semester, students will be responsible for completing in-class exercises

and activities that focus on a variety of thinking and writing skills.  I will keep a folder to

collect the exercises at the end of the class period.

 

Student’s name, current date, and exercise number should be placed at the top of each exercise.

 

At the end of the semester, students must have completed at least 75% of the exercises to get credit for the portfolio.  These activities make up 10% of the course grade (100 points).  Students must do exercises in class;  they cannot be made up out of class.

 

D.              Attendance

You are expected to attend class regularly and to consult with me whenever an absence is necessary.  Your class attendance and participation are very important!

 

E.               Assigned Essay Reading

Students will participate in class discussions, analyzing various types of essays.  Lively

discussions can occur if you come to class prepared to share your opinions with others!  These essays also might stimulate some excellent portfolio writing as well as provide topic ideas for writing assignments.

 

F.               If you are unable to complete this course, you must withdraw from it by the drop date listed in the course catalog.  Withdrawing from a course is a formal procedure which you must initiate; I cannot do it for you.  You may do this in the Admissions Office or in the Counseling Center.  If you stop attending and do not withdraw, you will receive a performance grade, usually an “F.”

 

Students sometimes drop courses when help is available that would enable them to continue.  I hope that you will discuss your plans with me if you are considering withdrawing from the course.

 

G.              English 1301 Departmental Exam

The instructor will administer the Departmental Exam in class during the regularly

scheduled final exam time. The student will write an essay in response to a specific topic

provided by the English Department.  (Exam =  20% of course grade)

The English Dept. does not offer a make-up exam.  Failure to take the exam at the scheduled time will result in a forfeiture of 20% of your grade.

Students must supply their own bluebook for the exam.

Date:__________________________________________________________________

 

COURSE EVALUATION:

            The final course grade will be based on the following:

1)     First three essays – 100 points each

2)     Last two essays – 200 points each

3)     Portfolio exercises – 100 points

4)     Final exam – 200 points

Total     =     1000 points

Grading Scale:      900-1000      =      A

                  800-899         =      B

                  700-799         =      C

                  600-699         =      D

                  Below 600     =      F

**Failure to complete 16 units of lab work will result in an “Incomplete” in the course.

**Late Papers:

            I will not accept papers handed in more than one class period late.  If a paper is one

            class period late, it will be lowered one grade level.

 

CAMPUS  POLICY:

            Campus regulations do not allow food, drinking, or smoking in the classroom.  The same

            rule applies to labs.

**I will announce in class any changes to assignments or dates.

 

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 accommodations as required to afford equal educational opportunity. It is the student's responsibility to contact the ACCESS office (G-200) or (972-881-5898) (TTY-972-881-5950)  in a timely manner to arrange for appropriate accommodations.

 

RELIGIOUS HOLIDAYS: In accordance with Section 51.911 of the Texas Education Code, CCCC will allow a student who is absent from class for the observance of a religious holy day to take an examination or complete an assignment scheduled for that day within a reasonable time.  Students are required to file a written request with each professor within the first 15 days of the semester to qualify for an excused absence.  A copy of the state rules and procedures regarding holy days and the form for notification of absence from each class under this provision are available from the Registrar’s Office.

 

 

English 1301

Dr. Joan Kennedy                      COURSE OUTLINE                                    Fall

 

Week 1             Overview of Course

                          Portfolios – In-class writing – Computer Orientation

                           Reading: Strategies – Ch. 1 “Writing: A First Look”;  
                          
Ch. 2 “Strategies for Successful Reading";          

                           Ch. 3 “Planning and Drafting Your Paper"; Ch. 4 "Revising and Editing Your Paper"

                       

 

Week 2             In-class writing, Creating Techniques

                          Reading: Strategies – Ch. 5 “Narration:Relating Events”

                                                           Ch. 6 “Description: Presenting Impressions”

                                                           Narrative Essays: pp. 428-439

                         NO CLASS ON MONDAY, LABOR DAY HOLIDAY                                       

 

Week 3             Reading: Strategies – Description Essays pp. 440-454

                                                                       Ch. 15 “Paragraphs”

 

 

Week 4             ESSAY # 1 – NARRATION AND DESCRIPTION

                          Due: Tuesday

                          Work on Illustration Essay – In-class writing

                          Reading: Strategies – Ch. 8 “Illustration: Making Yourself Clear”

                          Illustration Essays – pp. 470-483

 

Week 5             Work on Illustration Essay, in-class writing

                          Reading: Strategies – Ch. 16 “Effective Sentences”

                                                           Ch. 12 “Definition: Establishing Boundaries”

 

Week 6             Work on Illustration Essay

                          Exercises

                          ESSAY # 2 – ILLUSTRATION   DUE: THURSDAY

 

Week 7             Work on Cause and Effect Essay

                          Reading: Strategies – Ch. 11 “Cause and Effect: Explaining Why”

                                                           Ch. 17 “Diction, Tone, & Style”

 

Week 8             Work on Cause and Effect Essay

                          Reading: Strategies –Cause and Effect Essays – pp. 518-531

 

Week 9             In-class writing – Work on Cause and Effect Essay

                          Lab Work

 

Week 10           CAUSE & EFFECT ESSAY DUE:  TUESDAY

                          Work on Evaluation Essay (Comparison/Contrast)

                          Reading: Strategies – Ch.10  “Comparison: Showing Relationships”

                                                           Comparison Essays: pp. 501-517

                        Handout Sheet – Evaluation (Comparison)

                        This essay will be a collaborative project.  Students will work in pairs or

in groups of three.  Each group will hand in one essay.  Each student of the                                          group will receive the same grade.

 

Week 11         Work on Evaluation Essays (Comparison)

 

 

Week 12

                        Work on Evaluation Essays (Comparison)

            EVALUATION ESSAY DUE: THURSDAY

                       

                        Last Day to Drop With a “W” – Friday

 

Week 13

                        Work on Mixed Strategies Essay

                        Reading: Strategies – Ch. 1“Mixing the Writing Strategies”

                                                         Mixed Strategies Essays:  pp. 588-601

 

                        THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY: WED., THURS., AND FRI.

 

Week 14           Work on Mixed Strategies Essay

 

                         LAB WORK DUE: THURSDAY

 

Week 15          MIXED STRATEGIES ESSAY DUE:  TUESDAY

 

                        COMPLETE PORTFOLIO WORK – THURSDAY

 

                        Reading: Strategies – Ch. 18  “The Essay Examination”

                        Review for Final Exam

 

Week 16         FINAL EXAM WEEK

                        IN-CLASS ESSAY – DEPARTMENTAL EXAM

Student will write an essay in response to a specific topic provided by the English Department.  There will be no make-up tests!  Students must furnish their own bluebook for the exam.

DATE:. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

 

 

 

ENGLISH 1301 GRADE SHEET

 

Name: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Section: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

YOUR GRADE IS DETERMINED ACCORDINGLY:

 

                                                                                    Total Points              Your Points

 

1.         Essay #1                                                                100                   . . . . . . . . . . . . .

            (Narration & Description)

 

2.         Essay #2                                                                100                   . . . . . . . . . . . . .

            (Illustration)

 

3.         Essay #3                                                                100                   . . . . . . . . . . . . .

            (Cause and Effect)

 

4.         Essay #4                                                                200                   . . . . . . . . . . . . .          

            (Evaluation: Comparison/Contrast)

            Collaborative Paper

 

5.         Essay #5                                                                200                   . . . . . . . . . . . . .

            (Mixed Strategies)

 

6.         Portfolio Exercises                                                  100                   . . . . . . . . . . . . .

 

7.         Departmental Final Exam                                        200                   . . . . . . . . . . . . .

            In-Class Essay

 

                                                                                    . . . . . . . . . . .

                                                                                           1,000                YOUR

                                                                                                                   TOTAL

 

                                                                                                               . . . . . . . . . . . . .

 

GRADING SCALE:                       900-1000          =            A

                                                        800-899            =            B

                                                        700-799            =            C

                                                        600-699            =            D

                                                        Below 600        =            F

 

*Lab Work – You must complete 16 unitsNo partial credit

                       Failure to complete the lab work will result in an Incomplete for this class.

 

 

 

 

 

SCHOLASTIC DISHONESTY STATEMENT

Scholastic Dishonesty

The College 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.

 

PLAGIARISM

Scholastic dishonesty and plagiarism are briefly defined in the "Student Code of Conduct" in the CCCCD Student Handbook.  Every student should read that information, but the CCCCD English faculty would like for you to know more about plagiarism whether you are beginning the study of the research process and the pitfalls of proper documentation or whether you are preparing a critical essay for a literary studies course.  In college courses, plagiarism's penalties can range from failure on a particular assignment to failure in a course to expulsion from college.  PLAGIARISM IS A SERIOUS MORAL OFFENSE. 

 

According to the MLA Style Manual, the origin of the word plagiarism is the Latin for "kidnapper"; thus, a plagiarist kidnaps another writer's sentences, words, ideas, or organization and presents the material as his own.  When the plagiarist uses his stolen material, he may do so knowing that the work is not his own.  This is the most blatant form of plagiarism.  MANY CASES OF PLAGIARISM, HOWEVER, ARE THE RESULT OF CARELESS DOCUMENTATION OR FAULTY NOTETAKING.  Unfortunately, the reader who finds the error, not knowing the writer's intent, can only assume the plagiarism intentional.  Intentional or not, plagiarism in any paper will still carry serious penalties.

 

You can avoid plagiarizing if you remember that when you quote, use quotation marks; when you paraphrase, use only your own words.  IN EITHER CASE, YOU MUST DOCUMENT.  Proper paraphrasing does not mean changing a few words here and there, nor does it mean omitting a few sentences or scrambling their order.  For a more complete explanation of proper paraphrasing, see the textbook.

 

Many students overreact when they learn what plagiarism means.  They either assume that they should not use any sources (thus avoiding the problem entirely), or they assume they should document every word they have written.  Both reactions are in error, for good writing involves the synthesis of your own ideas with the ideas of others.  Documentation serves the purpose of clearly indicating which ideas are yours and which are those of other writers. If you are in doubt about that dividing line, ask your instructor or the Writing Center tutors for guidance.

 

Plagiarism, because it is a form of theft, burglary, kidnapping, or dishonesty that interferes with the goals of education, must carry severe penalties.  The CCCCD English Department's policy is that an assignment containing plagiarized material receives an automatic "F."  Your instructor may have other penalties in the course syllabus and may choose to initiate disciplinary proceedings against any student guilty of plagiarism.