English 1302
College Composition II
Instructor: Brittni Tracy
E-mail:
Phone: (903)510-3270
Office Hours: by appointment
Sections: 017- TR, 2:00-3:20pm
018- TR, 3:30-4:50pm
Semester: Spring 2015, January 12th- May 2nd
Course Description
The purpose of English 1302 is to familiarize students with discourses in their future fields by teaching them the skills of critical thinking and reading, analysis of the structure of a text, logical development of its standpoint, hypothesis, or argument, its use of evidence and language, and its purpose. The ultimate goal is to advance students’ capability of critical reading, thinking, and writing about any source or text rather than for a specific upper-division course.
Course Goals
Upon the completion of English 1302, students should be able to
1. Recognize the rhetorical conventions characteristic of writing in a discipline they wish to pursue as a major
2. Review, analyze, and evaluate writing for a designated purpose
3. Use the style of writing and documentation appropriate for the disciplines
4. Summarize, paraphrase, and synthesize texts accurately and effectively
5. Select and incorporate material from sources professionally
6. Adopt an intensive reading and writing process for developing and structuring ideas, revising, rewriting, editing, and formatting to accomplish an academic writing task
7. Present writing with a minimum of errors
Required Text(s) and Resource(s)
• The Writer’s FAQs: A Pocket Handbook, 5th ed. 9780321857521
• Subscription to Pearson Writer
(A bundle of The Writer’s FAQs and Pearson Writer is available through the UT Tyler Barnes and Noble Bookstore)
Grading
Weight
Writing Process Assignments and Attendance 30%
Project 1: Summary 10%
Project 2: Rhetorical Analysis 15%
Project 3: Comparative Rhetorical Review 15%
Project 4: Rhetorical Review of Published Research Results 15%
Semester Portfolio 15%
To compute final course grades, the following values are assigned to the standard letter grades of A through F:
A = 90-100
B = 80-89
C = 70-79
D = 60-69
F = 59 and below
Writing Process Assignments and Attendance
The Writing Process Assignments are a reflection of student participation. These assignments include in-class reflections, worksheets, assigned free-writing/brainstorming, etc. The assignments may be counted as complete/incomplete or given a letter grade depending on the nature of the assignment.
Writing Projects
Projects 1, 2, 3, and 4 will include: two drafts, worksheet, notes/pre-writing, project letter, requirements checklist, and final paper
Tentative Timelines for Major Assignments
Project 1 (10%)
Due: Week 3
A Summary (about 1-2 pages, 350 words) of a text of general nature assigned by instructor
Project 2 (15%)
Due: Week 6
A Rhetorical Analysis (about 3-4 pages) of a reading in a specific discipline
Project 3 (15%)
Due: Week 10
A Comparative Rhetorical Review (about 4-5 pages) of two readings in different disciplines
Project 4 (15%)
Due: Week 14
A Rhetorical Review of Published Research Results (about 6-7 pages) of four source texts published in academic journals or books within the past five to ten years.
Portfolio (15%)
The Portfolio is a compilation of your semester work. It will include the Final Papers from Project 1, 2, 3, & 4. You will select either the Project 3 or 4 Final Paper to conduct a rhetorical analysis on your writing. The Portfolio will also include your Semester Reflection (in lieu of a Final Exam) that will be conducted in-class.
Classroom Policies
Attendance
While I expect you to show up for class regularly, I know that certain absences are unavoidable. If you miss more than 3 class days, your grade will be lowered by one letter grade. If you miss more than 6 class days, you will fail this course.
Tardiness
Each tardy will count for .3 absence. If you are 15 minutes or more late, then you will be counted absent for the class meeting. In addition, if you leave class early, then you will be counted absent for the class meeting.
Late Work
All late work is accepted at my discretion. This means that it is my call whether or not to accept late work as well as how much credit to assign to it. I give this word of advice: if you know something is going to be a problem, let me know beforehand. Excuses given after work was due rarely inspire me to accept the work.
Classroom Conduct
You have all been in classrooms a great deal of your life. You know how to behave and how not to behave. However, I do have 1 rule that I will enforce quite strongly: Be respectful.
By this I mean that you must be respectful of me, your classmates, the assignments, and the work process of the class. You may disagree with any of the above, but you may not be disrespectful. If I see you being disrespectful, I will ask you to leave the class for an absence.
Conferences
At specific points throughout the semester, I will be holding individual and small group conferences with you both in class and outside of class. Missing one of these conferences without prior notification will result in 2 absences.
Revision of Work
Writing is a process. Therefore, you will have the chance to revise your Writing Projects at least once to improve your grade on that assignment and to give you a chance to show what you have learned in a given unit. The final papers for each Project may be submitted for revision if they were originally submitted on-time (late submissions are not able to be revised). You must let me know within three days of receiving the grade if you plan to revise. I will then take up to one week to provide you with substantial feedback. You will then have an additional week to substantially review the assignment for a new grade. If you turn in the same assignment without substantial revision, you will receive a lower grade on the revised assignment than you did on the original.
Pearson Writer
We will be using Pearson Writer as an editing tool. Pearson Writer is a program which, among other things, identifies words and punctuation that may need to be revised. Pearson Writer will not identify every grammatical miscue and some items flagged by the program will not need to be revised. Using the program effectively requires you to take an active role in the editing process.
Note that the program cannot determine if your paper meets the requirements of the assignment or evaluate your paper per grading criteria. Therefore, using the program does not guarantee an A paper.
Why, given the limitations of the program, should you use Pearson Writer? Most people find it difficult to edit their own writing; Pearson Writer can help ease that difficulty. Interactive use of the program can help you learn to identify and resolve sentence-level concerns. As with any tool, there will be a learning curve. The more you use Pearson Writer, the more you will learn how it can help you become a more efficient editor.
POLICIES THAT MUST APPEAR IN EACH COURSE SYLLABUS
The following University policies must appear on each course syllabus or be provided as an informational sheet (web-links to these policies may be used in the print or electronic syllabus) http://www.uttyler.edu/academicaffairs/syllabuspolicies.pdf
Students Rights and Responsibilities
To know and understand the policies that affect your rights and responsibilities as a student at UT Tyler, please follow this link: http://www.uttyler.edu/ wellness/rightsresponsibilities.php
Grade Replacement/Forgiveness and Census Date Policies
Students repeating a course for grade forgiveness (grade replacement) must file a Grade Replacement Contract with the Enrollment Services Center (ADM 230) on or before the Census Date of the semester in which the course will be repeated. Grade Replacement Contracts are available in the Enrollment Services Center or at http://www.uttyler.edu/registrar. Each semester’s Census Date can be found on the Contract itself, on the Academic Calendar, or in the information pamphlets published each semester by the Office of the Registrar.
Failure to file a Grade Replacement Contract will result in both the original and repeated grade being used to calculate your overall grade point average. Undergraduates are eligible to exercise grade replacement for only three course repeats during their career at UT Tyler; graduates are eligible for two grade replacements. Full policy details are printed on each Grade Replacement Contract.
The Census Date is the deadline for many forms and enrollment actions that students need to be aware of. These include:
• Submitting Grade Replacement Contracts, Transient Forms, requests to withhold directory information, approvals for taking courses as Audit, Pass/Fail or Credit/No Credit.
• Receiving 100% refunds for partial withdrawals. (There is no refund for these after the Census Date)
• Schedule adjustments (section changes, adding a new class, dropping without a “W” grade)
• Being reinstated or re-enrolled in classes after being dropped for non-payment
• Completing the process for tuition exemptions or waivers through Financial Aid
State-Mandated Course Drop Policy
Texas law prohibits a student who began college for the first time in Fall 2007 or thereafter from dropping more than six courses during their entire undergraduate career. This includes courses dropped at another 2-year or 4-year Texas public college or university. For purposes of this rule, a dropped course is any course that is dropped after the census date (See Academic Calendar for the specific date).
Exceptions to the 6-drop rule may be found in the catalog. Petitions for exemptions must be submitted to the Enrollment Services Center and must be accompanied by documentation of the extenuating circumstance. Please contact the Enrollment Services Center if you have any questions.
Disability Services
In accordance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the ADA Amendments Act (ADAAA) the University offers accommodations to students with learning, physical and/or psychiatric disabilities. If you have a disability, including non-visible disabilities such as chronic diseases, learning disabilities, head injury, PTSD or ADHD, or you have a history of modifications or accommodations in a previous educational environment you are encouraged to contact the Student Accessibility and Resources office and schedule an interview with the Accessibility Case Manager/ADA Coordinator, Cynthia Lowery Staples. If you are unsure if the above criteria applies to you, but have questions or concerns please contact the SAR office. For more information or to set up an appointment please visit the SAR office located in the University Center, Room 3150 or call 903.566.7079. You may also send an email to
Student Absence due to Religious Observance
Students who anticipate being absent from class due to a religious observance are requested to inform the instructor of such absences by the second class meeting of the semester.
Student Absence for University-Sponsored Events and Activities
If you intend to be absent for a university-sponsored event or activity, you (or the event sponsor) must notify the instructor at least two weeks prior to the date of the planned absence. At that time the instructor will set a date and time when make-up assignments will be completed.
Social Security and FERPA Statement:
It is the policy of The University of Texas at Tyler to protect the confidential nature of social security numbers. The University has changed its computer programming so that all students have an identification number. The electronic transmission of grades (e.g., via e-mail) risks violation of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act; grades will not be transmitted electronically.
Emergency Exits and Evacuation:
Everyone is required to exit the building when a fire alarm goes off. Follow your instructor’s directions regarding the appropriate exit. If you require assistance during an evacuation, inform your instructor in the first week of class. Do not re-enter the building unless given permission by University Police, Fire department, or Fire Prevention Services.
Important Dates
Jan 12 Classes begin
Jan 19 Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday, all offices closed, no classes held
Jan 26 Census Date
Feb 2 Registration for Short Summer, Long Summer, Summer I, and Summer II 2015 begins
Feb 4 20th Class Day
Mar 9-14 Spring Break for faculty and students
Mar 23 Last day to withdraw from one or more classes
April 1 Registration for Fall 2015 begins for graduate/senior/honor/GATE students
April 2 Registration for Fall 2015 begins for juniors
April 3 Registration for Fall 2015 begins for sophomores
April 6 Registration for Fall 2015 begins for freshman
April 27 Study Day
April 28-30 Final Exams
May 1-2 Final Exams
May 1-2 Spring Commencement
English 1302 2 of 6 Course Syllabus