ENGL 1301 Composition and Rhetoric I

Syllabus

Summer 2012

Lone Star College-University Park

Robert Wilshire

Phone: 832-484-4180

E-mail:

“A poem, too, may remind poet and reader alike of what is remembered or ought to be remembered—as in elegies, poems of history, love poems, celebrations of nature, poems of praise or worship, or poems as prayers. One of the functions of the music or formality of poetry is to make memorable.”

–Wendell Berry, What Are People For?

Course Number: ENGL1301.6008

Class Days & Times: Mon-Thurs 1:00-3:10pm

Office Phone: Division Office, 281-357-3794

Course Description

A multi-paragraph composition course, including language study and the mechanics of writing, with examples from selected readings. Students will read and write analytically, respecting the conventions of academic discourse.

Textbooks

Read, Reason, Write, 10th edition, Dorothy U. Seyler

The Brief Wadsworth Handbook, 6th edition, Kirszner and Mandell

Other Required Materials:

  • A binder or folder
  • Loose leaf paper for in-class writing assignments
  • A flash drive (or similar memory device) for working on the computer
  • A spiral notebook for a class journal
  • Red and blue (or black) pens, different colored highlighters

Course Objectives

The students who complete English 1301 should be able to do the following:

  • Analyze a text according to purpose, audience, and other rhetorical concerns.
  • Respond logically, rather than react emotionally, to texts that reflect the writers’ diverse backgrounds and values.
  • Demonstrate an ability to use and analyze an effective individual writing process.
  • Focus a topic appropriate to the audience, purpose, situation, and length of assignment.
  • Formulate clear and concise thesis statement, main point, focus, or claim.
  • Develop, evaluate, and use evidence to support a claim.
  • Use effective organization strategies in support of a thesis, focus, main point, or claim.
  • Write an essay that demonstrates a command of unity, coherence, continuity, and development.
  • Write clear, correct, and appropriate sentences and paragraphs, avoiding major grammatical and semantic problems.
  • Incorporate appropriate oral and/or written media, such as books, articles, interviews, visuals, and government documents.
  • Avoid plagiarism when incorporating quotations, paraphrases, and ideas.
  • Follow standard guidelines in documenting resources.

Basic skills in punctuation, grammatical usage, and diction are expected upon entrance. An English usage handbook will serve as a reference source for students.

Structure of the course: As the course objectives center around developing your writing, analytical, and research skills, we will do a fair amount of reading and writing. Students will write at least five multiple-paragraph essays of at least 750 words. At least one of the essays will be written in class. The in-class essay(s) must be a minimum of 500 words long. Most of the essays will involve argument, synthesis, and/or research.

One of the five essays will be a research paper of at least 1500 words, and will incorporate five outside sources. We will review methods of research, integrating sources in your essay, and citing and documenting sources. The research paper will require more time and work, and will count as two essay grades.

Students will occasionally be assigned journal writing. This writing will be incorporated as a “minor grade,” but you are encouraged to expand upon some journal entries for the major essays for the course.

We will occasionally practice or review grammar, punctuation, and usage skills when necessary to hone your writing skills.

Grading:

The student’s semester grade will be determined as follows:

  • Major essays (60%) – Some will be graded holistically and/or through the use of a rubric. Research paper will count as two essay grades.
  • Journaling entries / short essays (15%) – Some will be completion grades, some will be graded on content.
  • Minor grades / homework / quizzes (10%)
  • Final Exam Essay (15%)

Grade values follow the policy of LoneStarCollege: A = 100-90; B = 89-80; C = 79-70; D = 69-60; F = 59 or lower.

Course Attendance and Punctuality: I will regularly take attendance in this course. If you are absent, it is your responsibility to obtain any missed class notes and assignments. Absences do not exempt you from responsibility in keeping up with course assignments. “Pop quizzes” may be given from time to time over homework assignments. Pop quizzes cannot be made up, however, and missing a quiz will result in a zero grade. (I will, however, drop your lowest quiz grade.) Students must notify the instructor regarding absences and make-up work. You will receive a “free” day of absence that will not affect your final grade. However, students will be dropped from the class if they miss three (3) or more classes or turn in no work. Frequent tardiness will also affect grades. Policies of Lone Star College will be followed in regard to absences and tardies for this course.

Late Work: Unless otherwise indicated, essays are due at the beginning of the class period. You will know well ahead of time when an essay is due, so if you are absent or are involved in a school activity on the due date, be sure to e-mail me the essay as well as submit it into All essays must be submitted to turnitin.com on the date they are due.

I will also notify you in advance of required readings and any additional assignments as needed. The reading assigned for a certain day must be completed by the beginning of class.

Make-up Work: In-class essays must be made up within a week of the date they were assigned. It is your responsibility to make necessary arrangements with me in order to obtain any make-up work.

Code for Academic Honesty:

The Lone Star College System upholds the core values of learning: honesty, trust, respect, fairness, and accountability. We promote the importance of personal and academic honesty. We embrace the belief that all learners—students, faculty, staff and administrators—will produce their own work and must give appropriate credit to the work of others. No fabrication of sources or unauthorized collaboration is permitted on any work submitted within the System. Even inadvertent cheating or plagiarizing must be avoided by careful documentation of the other people’s ideas and language. Please refer to the Academic Honesty and Student Success brochure for more information:

The Lone Star College System subscribes to Turnitin.com, an online collaborative learning tool for faculty which supports faculty in their quest to uphold academic integrity. Student coursework will be submitted to the scrutiny of the Turnitin software. Please note that these submissions of assignments to Turnitin do not necessarily constitute an accusation or suspicion of plagiarism on the student’s part.

ADA STATEMENT:

If you require reasonable accommodations because of a physical, mental, or learning disability, it is your responsibility to contact the instructor during the first two weeks of class. Check the System Office Catalog for the statement concerning people with disabilities.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY STATEMENT:

Check the System Office Catalog for the statement concerning the equal opportunity principle.