Syllabus/Calendar

SOUTH TEXAS COLLEGE

Division of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences

English Department Section Outline

Spring 2013

English 1301

Instructor Information:

1.      Name: Katherine Hoerth (The “o” is silent! So like earth, with an h)

2.      Office Location:  J 1-206       

3.      Telephone #:    887-0202

4.      FAX #:  (956) 872-2596 (J 3.1104)

5.      E-mail Address: kghoerth@utpa.edu

6.      Office Hours:  MW 6:50 - 7:50

Course Information:

1.      Course Name:                         Composition I

2.      Course/Section:           1301.74

3.      Classroom: South Academic-Bldg. J 1-206

4.      Class Days/Times: MW 5:30 – 6:50

Catalog Course Description:

This course focuses on the development of effective communication through written discourse.  Emphasis is placed on the process of writing, including pre-writing, writing, stages of revision, and editing.  Students will learn to employ various organizational strategies to expository essays and will analyze style, tone, and point of view in different literary genres.

Prerequisites:

A score of 60+/E-6, E-7, E-8 or 80+/E-5 on the ACCUPLACER Exam for Writing, equivalent placement score, or completion of ENGL 0091 with a grade of “C” or better; and a score of 61 on the ACCUPLACER Exam for Reading, the completion of READ 0080, or equivalent.

Program Learning Outcomes:

1.      To understand and demonstrate writing processes through invention, organization, drafting, revision, editing, and presentation.

2.      To understand the importance of specifying audience and purpose and to select appropriate communication choices.

Course Learning Outcomes:

1.      Students will demonstrate the steps in the writing process including invention, organization, drafting, revising, and editing.

2.      Students will demonstrate an awareness of audience and purpose in their communication choices.

3.      Students will write in multiple modes of expression.

4.      Students will understand the collaborative and social aspects of the writing process.

5.      Students will use appropriate research and documentation strategies.

Exemplary Educational Objectives for Core Component Area:

·         EEO 1:  To understand and demonstrate writing and speaking processes through invention, organization, drafting, revision, editing, and presentation.

·         EEO 2:  To understand the importance of specifying audience and purpose and to select appropriate communication choices.

·         EEO 3:  To understand and appropriately apply modes of expression, i.e., descriptive, exposition narrative, scientific, and self-expressive, in written, visual, and oral communication.

·         EEO 4:  To participate effectively in groups with emphasis on listening, critical and reflective thinking and responding.

·         EEO 6:  To develop the ability to research and write a documented paper and/or to give an oral presentation.

Intellectual Competencies:

READING: The ability to read various sources and relate valuable material to assignments.

WRITING: The use of literary arguments to relate ideas through text. Develop an understanding and skills for each level of the writing process.

COMPUTER LITERACY: Use of various forms of technology to communicate with students as well as increase the depth of written works. Technology can be used throughout various forms of the writing process.

SPEAKING: The use of speech to converse on and relate concepts beneficial to writing. Gain practice through presentation and small group interaction.

LISTENING: Development of listening skills to gain information and an understanding of audience. Listening in small group sessions to reflect on work.

CRITICAL THINKING: In depth analysis of information placed into writing to create logical and persuasive conclusions.

Perspectives:

(Instructor:  List appropriate outcomes for each of the perspectives to be reinforced in the course.  Note: numbers 5 and 8 are required for all classes.  Number 3 is required for all Natural Science courses.)

·         Perspective 1:  Establish broad and multiple perspectives on the individual in relationship to the larger society and world in which he or she lives, and to understand the responsibilities of living in a culturally and ethnically diversified world.

·         Perspective 2:  Stimulate a capacity to discuss and reflect upon individual, political, economic, and social aspects of life in order to understand ways in which to be a responsible member of society.

·         Perspective 3:  Recognize the importance of maintaining health and wellness. (Required for Natural Sciences)

·         Perspective 4:  Develop a capacity to use knowledge of how technology and science affect their lives.

·         Perspective 5:  Develop personal values for ethical behavior. (Required)

·         Perspective 6:  Develop the ability to make aesthetic judgments.

·         Perspective 7:  Use logical reasoning in problem solving.

·         Perspective 8:  Integrate knowledge and understand the interrelationships of the scholarly disciplines. (Required)

Course Requirements, Evaluation Methods, and Grading Criteria:

A minimum of four (4) essays with multiple drafts and one (1) documented paper. The fundamentals of MLA documentation will be covered; instruction provided in APA format as well.

Introduction Essay 5pts

In class assignments 20pts

Essay 1: Description 10pts

Essay 2: Process Analysis 10pts

Essay 3: Definition 10pts

Essay 4: Cause and Effect 10pts

Final Essay: Argumentative w/ Sources 20pts

Final Portfolio: 15pts

For Essays 2, 3,4, and the final essay, rough drafts are required. See the course schedule for due dates on rough drafts as well as final copies. Rough drafts count 25% of the grade, so make sure to bring them to class when they are due!

A: 90-100pts

B: 80-89pts

C: 80-79pts

D: 60-69pts

Extra Credit

Throughout the semester, you will have various opportunities for extra credit. If you attend a literary event in the community, (i.e. a play, poetry reading, or book signing) write a 1 page review of the event for 5 additional points to your final grade!

Course Policies

1. Essay Format

a. Times New Roman 12pt

b. 1 inch Margins

c. Double Spaced

d. Minimum 2 pages

2. Assignments are to be turned in at the beginning of the class. Assignments can also be emailed. Late work will be accepted, with a 10% deduction per day the assignment is late (including weekends). Please turn in only typed assignments for all essays (no handwritten, please)

PLEASE NOTE: ASSIGNMENTS 9 AND 10 CANNOT BE TURNED IN LATE, DUE TO TIME RESTRICTIONS. IF THESE ASSIGNMENTS ARE NOT ON TIME, YOU WILL RECEIVE A 0.

3. Some general rules – We are all adults, but please follow these rules to ensure a productive class:

a. Come to class on time, but if you are late, please come into the class without creating a disruption

b. Please do not talk disruptively in class. If you need to talk, you may do so outside the classroom.

c. If you need to use your cell phone, please step outside. Please keep cell phones on silent or vibrate. I understand that many of us have family and work obligations (myself included).

d. If you have to leave class early, please do so without creating a distraction.

e. Snacks are ok, full meals are not 

4.  Attendance

a. Although I do keep attendance, I will not drop you from the course for missing more than three class days. Dropping the course is your responsibility.

b. Also, if you miss a class day, contact me immediately to inform me and receive information on missed material.

c. If you are absent and miss an “in class assignment,” you will receive a zero (0).

d. You are responsible for keeping abreast on assignment due dates, regardless of your attendance.

e. If you are considering dropping the course, talk to me about it first.

Required Textbook & Resources:

Kathleen T. McWhorter, Successful College Writing, Fourth Edition

Each Major Assignment and Examination:

Week 1: Writing History – Final copy due 1/25

Week 2: Description Essay – Rough draft due 1/30, final 2/1

Week 4: Process Analysis Essay – Rough draft 2/8, final 2/13

Week 5: Definition Essay & Citation Exercise Rough Draft 2/22, Final 2/27

Week 7: Cause and Effect Essay Rough draft 3/5 final 3/19

Week 13: Argumentative Exercise – Rough draft 4/2 final 4/9

Week 16: Portfolio – 4/23

General Description of Each Lecture or Lesson:

General Description of Each Lecture or Lesson:

Week 1:

1/23  -- Introduction of course and syllabus

Assignment #1: Writing History Assigned Reading: Ch. 2 pages 21-26 (Writing in College)

Week 1:

1/28 --–  Discuss Chapter 2 in class. Read Ch. 4 pages 77-97  (Prewriting Chapter)

1/30 -- Assignment #1 Due, Review Writing Strategies, Assign Essay 1: Description. Also, read chapter 11 (Descriptive Chapter)

Week 2:

2/4 Discuss Chapter 11

2/6  Description Essay Rough Draft Due - Bring 3 copies to class for peer review!

Review Essay Organization

Assigned Reading: Ch. 13, pages 304-316 (Process Analysis Chapter)

Process Analysis Essay Assigned

Week 3:

2/11 -- REVISED Descriptive Essay Due today! Bring one copy to class to turn in
Review essay organization
Assigned Reading: Chapter 13
Discuss Process Analysis Essay Assignment
 2/13: Discuss Chapter 13 and review Process Analysis guidelines

Week 4

2/18 Rough Draft of Process Analysis Essay Due! Bring 3 copies to class
2/20 -- Process Analysis Revisions due today!
Begin discussing Chapter 16
Assigned reading: Chapter 16 (Definition Essay)

Week 5

2/25  MLA and APA Review and Citation Exercise. Definition Essay Assigned!
2/27 Smartthinking Overview

Week 6

3/4 Discuss Plagiarism. Submit Definition Essay Draft to Smartthinking by today!
3/6 -- Definition Essay Due Today! Introduce Cause and Effect Essay
Assigned Reading: Read Ch. 17, pages 446-458 (Cause and Effect)

Week 7: 3/11 & 3/13 -- SPRING BREAK, NO CLASS, WORK ON CAUSE AND EFFECT ESSAY

Week 9
 3/18 Rough Draft of Cause/Effect essay due! Discuss Plagiarism in class
 3/20 Student/Teacher Conference

Week 10

Monday, 3/25– Teacher/Student Conferences
Wednesday, 3/27 Cause/Effect Essay due today. Discuss arguments in class and assign Argumentative Essay
Assigned Reading: Pages 599-611(Writing a Paper With Sources)

Week 11

4/1  - Review Chapter 19 today (quiz!). Work on thesis statements in class.

4/3 – Library orientation day

Week 12:

4/8 - Work day for annotated bibliographies (no class)

4/10  - Annotated bibliographies due today! In class assignment: work on outlines

Week 13

4/15 - 1st Draft of Argumentative essay due today. Take to CLE and/or submit to smartthinking (no class)

4/17- Peer review session in class today. Bring 3 copies of revised argumentative essay!

                                                  

Week 14:

4/22 – Argumentative Essay Revisions due today! No late work accepted. In class: review portfolio requirements

4/24 – Return argumentative papers in class today and discuss portfolios

Week 15:

4/29: Work on portfolios (no class)
5/1 -- FINAL PORTFOLIO DUE! NO LATE WORK ACCEPTED.

English Department Plagiarism Statement:

            As a student in the English Department at STC, you may receive an “F” for the semester if you commit or assist someone else in committing plagiarism.

Plagiarism is the theft of words, phrases, sentence structures, ideas, or opinions.  Plagiarism occurs when any such information is taken from any source or person and—intentionally or unintentionally—presented or “borrowed” without mention of the source.  Plagiarism also occurs when materials from cited sources are reproduced exactly or nearly exactly but are not put in quotation marks.

            The penalties for plagiarism at STC can be found in the Student Code of Conduct.  Students who commit plagiarism are subject to the following penalties:  failure in the course; disciplinary probation; removal or disqualification from extracurricular activities, athletics, and organizational office; loss of eligibility for financial support; suspension; expulsion; and withholding of degrees and transcripts.

            Copied work of any kind or cheating in any other fashion will not be tolerated.

English Department Chain of Command Statement:

Whenever concerns arise between an STC student and an instructor, the student should first discuss the matter with the instructor during the instructor's office hours.  If the matter is not resolved, the student may then discuss the matter with the Department Chair. (Chair’s information: Joseph Haske, Office # - Pecan J 3.1104B, (956) 872-8352).

Developmental Studies Policy Statement:  The College’s Developmental Education Plan requires students who have not met the college-level placement standard on an approved assessment instrument in reading, writing, and/or mathematics to enroll in Developmental Studies courses including College Success.  Failure to attend these required classes may result in the student's withdrawal from ALL college courses.

Statement of Equal Opportunity: No person shall be excluded from participation in, denied the benefits of, or be subject to discrimination under any program or activity sponsored or conducted by South Texas College on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, veteran status or disability.

Alternative Format Statement: This document is available in an alternative format upon request by calling (956) 872-6412.

ADA Statement: Individuals with disabilities requiring assistance or access to receive services should contact disABILITY Support Services at (956) 872-2173.