COURSE SYLLABUS COURSE NUMBER AND TITLE: ENGL 1301.2031---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. Last Day to drop with a W: Thursday, April 2, 2014. Prerequisites: Grade of C or better in READ 100 and WRIT 200 or English placement test equivalent. INSTRUCTOR: OFFICE: Arturo Serrata III Meet with Instructor After Class TIME AND PLACE: Tuesdays from 5:30 to 8:30 pm in W 207 CONTACT INFORMATION (TELEPHONE AND EMAIL): Office Telephone: (956) 364-4638 (Betty) Email: arturo.serrata@harlingen.tstc.edu MAJOR COURSE REQUIREMENTS: 1. Edit and proofread written documents. 2. Communicate in writing efficiently and effectively. 3. Participate in group situations. 4. Perform research. 5. Document research sources. 6. Write a research paper.
7. Read analytically. 8. Analyze and critique a variety of types of writing. LEARNING OUTCOMES: A. Class Administration and Orientation. 1. Students will demonstrate the ability to navigate the course website. B: Writing Component. (SCANS 3B, 3C, 6B, 7A) 1. Prewriting: a. Students will formulate specific thesis statement. b. Students will identify an audience. 2. Drafting: a. Students will construct fully developed examples to support thesis. b. Students will produce a minimum of 3000 words in assessable writing assignments. 3. Revising: a. Students will demonstrate ability to revise for content. b. Students will demonstrate ability to edit for grammatical and stylistic clarity. 4. Analyzing and Critiquing: Students will defend examples of original thinking. C. Research Paper. (SCANS 3B, 3C, 6B, 7A) 1. Students will identify topics and formulate questions for productive inquiry from the options given by the instructor. 2. Students will identify appropriate methods and sources for research and critically evaluate sources. 3. Students will use their chosen sources effectively, citing all sources appropriately. The Four Core Objectives: The student shall engage in the following activities throughout the course in order to successfully complete the Learning Outcomes (above). Critical Thinking Skills To include creative thinking, innovation, inquiry, and analysis, evaluation and synthesis of information. Communication Skills To include effective development, interpretation and expression of ideas through written, oral and visual communication. Teamwork
To include the ability to consider different points of view and to work with others to support a shared purpose or goal. Personal Responsibility To include the ability to connect choices, actions, and consequences to ethical decision-making (in order to successfully complete the class with a passing grade). MAJOR COURSE LECTURE, TOPICS DESCRIPTION / REQUIRED-RECOMMENDED READINGS / ELECTRONIC SOURCES TO VIEW: Tentative Schedule (Subject to change by instructor) Week Date Topic / Lecture / Event Measurable Activity 1 1-13-15 Chapters 1 and 2, Prewriting, and The Thesis Statement. Orientation to course and Moodle. Discuss Chapters 1 and 2. Analysis of the writing prompts on pages 39, 43, 44, and 45. (Critical Thinking, Communication, Teamwork, and Personal Responsibility are required for Class Participation.) Drafting Essay # 1---assignment from pp.39, 43, 44, or 45. (The students will develop their essays through critical thinking and communication skills.) 2 1-20-15 Chapter 3, The Body Paragraphs, pp. 47-79 and Chapter 9, Exposition, pp. 195-226. 3 1-27-15 Chapter 4, Beginnings and Endings, pp. 81-93 and Chapter 9, Exposition, pp. 227-244. Discuss Chapter 3, The Body Paragraphs, and Chapter 9, Development by Example, and Development by Process. Analysis of the writing prompts on page 201 and pages 212-213. (Critical Thinking, Communication, Teamwork, and Personal Responsibility are required for Class Participation.) Drafting Essay # 2---assignment from p. 201 (Example Essay) or pp. 212-213 (Directional Process or Informative Process). (The students will develop their essays through critical thinking and communication skills.) Discuss Chapter 4, Beginnings and Endings. Analysis of the writing prompts on pages 231-232. (Critical Thinking, Communication, Teamwork, and Personal Responsibility are required for Class
Participation.) Drafting Essay # 3---assignment from pp. 231-232, (Comparison and Contrast Essay). (The students will develop their essays through critical thinking and communication skills.) 4 2-03-15 Chapter 5, Drafting and Revising: Creative Thinking, Critical Thinking and Chapter 9, Exposition, pp. 248-260. Discuss Chapter 5 and Chapter 9, Exposition. Analysis of the writing prompts on pages 252-253 and pages 263-264. (Critical Thinking, Communication, Teamwork, and Personal Responsibility are required for Class Participation.) Drafting Essay # 4---(Definition Essay from pp. 252-253 or Division and Classification Essay from pp. 263-264). (The students will develop their essays through critical thinking and communication skills.) 5 2-10-15 Chapter 6, Effective Sentences, pp. 125-152 and Chapter 11, Description, pp. 323-341. Discuss Chapter 6 and Chapter 11. Analysis of the writing prompts on pages 331-332. (Critical Thinking, Communication, Teamwork, and Personal Responsibility are required for Class Participation.) Drafting Essay # 5 (Description Essay from pp. 331-332. ). (The students will develop their essays through critical thinking and communication skills.) 6 2-17-15 Chapter 7, Word Logic, pp. 153-177 and Chapter 12, Narration, pp. 343-355. Discuss Chapters 7 and 12. Analysis of the writing prompts on pages 347-348. (Critical Thinking, Communication, Teamwork, and Personal Responsibility are required for Class Participation.) Drafting Essay # 6 (Narration Essay from pp. 437-348.) (The students will develop their essays through critical thinking and communication skills.) 7 2-24-15 Chapter 14, Writing a Paper Using Research, pp. 371-440. Discuss Chapter 14: revision, uploading, documenting process, drafting, and peer editing. (Critical Thinking, Communication, Teamwork, and Personal Responsibility are
required.). (Develop ideas for a topic through the process of inquiry and synthesize those ideas into essay drafts that will be further developed and refined individually.) 8 3-03-15 Chapter 14 continued. Discuss Chapter 14 and the Research Paper: primary sources, secondary sources, a working bibliography, taking notes, an annotated bibliography, avoiding plagiarism, and MLA style. Develop an outline based on an approved topic. (Critical Thinking, Communication, Teamwork, and Responsibility are required.) 9 3-10-15 Research topic and outline are due today. Students will discuss how to analyze source materials and effectively synthesize material from critical writings. 10 3-17-15 Spring Break Spring Break 11 3-24-15 Chapter 10, Argumentation, pp. 287-322. Chapter 10. Students will discuss the intricacies of argumentation. (Critical Thinking, Communication, Teamwork, and Personal Responsibility are required.) Working Bibliography is due today. Drafting Essay # 7 (Argumentative Essay from p. 300 or pp. 302-303.) (The students will develop their essays through critical thinking and communication skills.) 12 3-31-15 Chapter 16, Writing about Literature, pp. 455-483. Discuss Chapter 16. (Critical Thinking, Communication, Teamwork, and Personal Responsibility are required.) Drafting Essay # 8 (Summary/Response Essay from pp. 611-613 and pp. 625-629.) (The students will develop their essays through critical thinking and communication skills.)
Week Date Topic / Lecture / Event Measurable Activity 13 4-07-15 Chapter 16, Writing about Literature, pp. 455-483. 14 4-14-15 Chapter 17, Writing about Visual Arts, pp. 485-518. Annotated Bibliography is due today. Discuss Essay # 8 in class. Discuss Chapter 17. 15 4-21-15 Final Exam Review Develop ideas for a topic through the process of inquiry and synthesize those ideas into an essay. 16 4-28-15 Final Exam Develop ideas for a topic through the process of inquiry and synthesize those ideas into an essay. Research Paper with Works Cited is due today. Final Exam Construct an effectively developed final exam essay which follows the conventions of standard academic English and formatted according to MLA guidelines. REQUIRED TEXT AND MATERIALS: Wyrick, Jean. Steps to Writing Well with Additional Readings. 8 th Ed. Boston: Wadsworth. 2011. Print. ISBN-13:978-1428292055 / ISBN-10:1428292055 http://www.amazon.com/steps-writing-well- AdditionalReadings/dp/1428292055/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1421090315&sr=8-1&keywords=ISBN-10%3A1428292055 GRADING CRITERIA: Ranges for the course grade: a. Written Essays...,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,60% b. Research Paper...10% c. Quizzes and In-Class assignments...20% d. Final essay/exam...10% Plagiarized or copied work will receive a grade of 0 and may result in expulsion from the class.
PLAGIARISM STATEMENT "The attempt of any student to present as his or her own work that which he or she has not produced is regarded by the faculty and administration as a serious offense. Students are considered to have cheated if they copy the work of another during an examination or turn in a paper or an assignment written, in whole or in part, by someone else. Students are guilty of plagiarism, intentional or not, if they copy material from books, magazines, or other sources or if they paraphrase ideas from such sources without acknowledging them. Students guilty of, or assisting others in, either cheating or plagiarism on an assignment, quiz, or examination may receive a grade of F for the course involved." GRADING SCALE: 90-----100 A 80----89...B 70----79...C 60----69...D 00----59...F ACCOMMODATION STATEMENT: If you have a documented disability which will make it difficult for you to carry out class work as outlined and/or if you need special accommodations due to a disability, please contact (956) 364-4520 or visit the Consolidated Student Services Center as soon as possible to make appropriate arrangements. CLASS POLICIES: Copyright Statement The materials used in the course [textbooks, handouts, media files (podcast, MP3, Videos, RSS (Feeds), and all instructional resources on the colleges Learning Management System (Moodle)] are intended for use only by students registered and enrolled in this course and are only to be used for instructional use, activities associated with, and for the duration of the course. All materials generated for this course, which include but are not limited to syllabi, quizzes, exams, in-class materials, review sheets, and any additional materials.
These materials may not be retained in another medium or disseminated further. They are provided in compliance with the provisions of the Teach Act. These materials may not be reproduced, displayed, modified or distributed without the express prior written permission of the copyright holder or TSTC. For further information contact your instructor. Communicating with your instructor (MyMail E-mail System) All official college E-mail to students is sent through MyMail, the official student e- mail system at TSTC Harlingen. When communicating with instructors and/or employees of the college, you are required to use your TSTC MyMail student e-mail address. If you choose to forward your e-mail to another account, please be advised that you must respond from the MyMail account. My E-mail address: arturo.serrata@harlingen.tstc.edu MOODLE You will be required to use Moodle. Your specific assignments and due dates will be detailed on Moodle. You are expected to check Moodle and their TSTC MyMail accounts at least once a week. Access to TSTC Moodle (https://mycourses.tstc.edu/ ) ATTENDANCE POLICY Only absences of an extreme or catastrophic nature/emergency may be excused and must be corroborated in writing by an appropriate authority (hospital, doctor); merely phoning in or emailing does not excuse an absence. Students must file a withdrawal form with the Admissions Office to be withdrawn from the course. It is the responsibility of the student to drop the course prior to the last date for withdrawal without incurring an F grade. The withdrawal process will not be initiated by the instructor. Students are expected to bring their textbook and all necessary materials to class. A STUDENT S RESPONSIBILITIES The TSTC handbook outlines the policies regarding your responsibility as a student: appropriate conduct and discipline, consequences for cheating, process for appeals and grievances. A student should conduct herself/himself accordingly. Serious and/or repeated discipline problems will be cause for removal from the class. Cellular phones should be silenced (and anything else that may disrupt class). Come to class PREPARED and ON TIME. Regular class attendance is required. You are responsible for obtaining the notes and assignments for any classes that
you miss from Moodle or another student. Computers, Kindles, and electronic notebook/ tablets must turned off during class. Students should not be talking to each other while the instructor is lecturing or discussing a point! Students should not grab or touch other students or the instructor. LATE WORK Work that is submitted past the posted deadline will be graded, but the highest grade possible on late work is a 70. Plan, prioritize, and allow for every eventuality such as broken, lost, stolen storage devices and computers, Moodle outages, and unexpected emergencies. Do NOT wait until the last minute to submit your assignments. Late assignments could result in a final grade of D or F for the course. Any and all late assignments MUST be turned in by April 14, 2015. SAFETY ISSUES "TSTC Harlingen faculty, staff, and students are asked to report all threats, perceived or real, immediately to College Police located in the Auxiliary Building. If the threat is imminent, the College Police emergency phone line at 364-4234 or 9-911 should be called. College Police will then coordinate the proper response in accordance with State and federal laws and TSTC System/College rules and regulations." NOTE: Any changes to this syllabus will be provided in writing to the student and updated on the class Moodle site. EMERGENCY/SAFETY STATEMENT In the event of an emergency, students should familiarize themselves with building and classrooms emergency exits/evacuation routes and be able to locate the nearest fire extinguisher. When an emergency alarm is activated, students should immediately leave the classroom, exit the building, and go to a designated safe area until clearance is given to go back into the building. Students should also register and be familiar with the Emergency Notification System.
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