COLLIN COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE DISTRICT

COURSE SYLLABUS FALL 2010

Course Number: ENGL 1301.S40

Course Title: Composition/Rhetoric I

Instructor Information:

Instructor’s Name: Irene Achala

Office Number: B - 103
Phone Number: (972) 516-5090
Contact Information: iachala@collin.edu
Class Information: BB206
Class Meeting Times: TR 8.30am – 9.45am

Course Description: A beginning freshman course in writing with emphasis on expository

writing, development of paragraphs and the whole composition, study of model essays,
extensive essay writing, and individual conferences. Departmental final essay exam to be given
during final exams week.

Credit Hours: 3 Lab Required

Prerequisite: Assessment Required

College Repeat Policy: A student may repeat this course only once after receiving a grade,
including W.

NOTE: The Last Day to Withdraw for Fall 2010 sections is Friday, October 15, 2010 (at
the end of the 8th Week). Note that this date is a change from previous dates of the 12th
week.

Course Delivery Method: Lectures, class discussion, small group discussions, computer-
assisted instruction, audio/visual materials, personal conferences, lab assignments, in-class
writings/responses.

Textbooks and Supplies:

Reinking/Hart, Strategies for Successful Writing (with Handbook), 9th edition

ISBN # 13:978-0-205-68944-6
Flashdrives, etc to save computer work

Student Learning Outcomes – Upon successful completion of this course, students should be
able to do the following:
1. Students should be able to demonstrate rhetorical knowledge in the following ways:

a. Read and interpret a prompt for a writing assignment.

b. Write essays that take a position and successfully argue or defend that position.
c. Write essays with appropriate evidence, discussion, and organization for a
specific audience.
d. Write essays with strong introductions and conclusions that represent
sophisticated thought and writing.
e. Write essays that use format, structure, tone, diction, and syntax appropriate to
the rhetorical situation.

2. Students should be able to demonstrate critical thinking, reading, and writing in the
following ways:

a. Use reading and writing for inquiry, learning, thinking, and communicating.
b. Integrate their own ideas with those of others with clear distinction between the
two.

3. Students should be able to demonstrate knowledge of the writing process in the

following ways:

a. Be aware that it usually takes multiple drafts to create and complete a successful
text.
b. Develop and demonstrate flexible strategies for generating ideas, revising,
editing, and proofreading.
c. Understand and utilize the collaborative and social aspects of writing processes
by learning to critique their own and others’ work.

4. Students should be able to demonstrate knowledge of conventions in the following ways:

a. Apply knowledge of genre conventions ranging from structure and paragraphing

to tone and mechanics.
b. Control such surface features as grammar, punctuation, and spelling.

Grading Scale: A = 90 -100

B = 80 - 89
C = 79 – 70
D = 69-60
F = 59 ----

Method of Evaluation:

Five Essays = 60%

Class work grade = 20%
Final Exam = 20%
NOTE:
Students will be required to write five essays (550+ words each); two of the essays will be
in-class writings.

Twenty percent of the class work grade will be based on analysis of readings assigned,
quizzes, peer review of essays, as well as willing participation in the class. Although the
grade will be primarily determined by class work, verbal participation will lower or raise this
grade.

The final exam will be a departmental exam on a regularly scheduled exam day. The
exam will be an in-class essay and cannot be made up.

Course Content:
Diagnostic writing sample
Overview of course
Tour of LRC and/or Writing Center
Language awareness, diction
Sentence structure and variety
Grammar and style
Paragraph structure
Unity and coherence
Essay structure and development
Reading, discussing, responding to essays
Critical thinking
Essay drafts/writing/revisions
Lab assignments to complement course work
Departmental Final Exam

Class Policies

Attendance:
You are required to attend each class. You are further required to be on-time to every
class meeting. You are allowed three absences, but after three I am allowed to
lower your grade 5 points. Please note consistently coming to class late will be
counted as your being absent for that day. If for some reason you are late, check
with me after class to make sure you are not marked absent.

Late and Make-up work:

I will not accept late work. You must have assignments and drafts with you by the
beginning of class. Any late essay will be penalized 10 points for each day it is
late. If you know you will be absent or you are having trouble with an assignment,
make arrangements with me before the due date. No essays will be accepted 2 class
sessions later than the due date. Quizzes and class work cannot be made up.

Lab Assignments:
 You must complete 16 units of lab work to receive a grade in this course. If you fail to
do so you will receive an Incomplete with an understanding that you will do
assignments that I assign before you receive a grade in the course. Do not wait until
the last week of the semester to do lab work; lab work should be done throughout the
semester if you are to improve your writing skills. You will receive a lab sheet on
which to keep track of lab assignments. This lab sheet indicating you have completed
16 units of lab work will be due on the date set in the course calendar.

Syllabus and Schedule Changes:

I have tried to make this document as complete as possible; however, during the
course of the semester I may be required to alter, add, or abandon certain
policies/assignments. I reserve the right to make such changes as they become
necessary. You will be informed of any changes in writing.

Student Responsibilities:
1. Attend class and be aware of announcements made in class.
2. Inform instructor of late arrival immediately after class.
3. Complete homework early enough to seek help if needed.
4. Be familiar with information in the syllabus, especially attendance, grading, and test
policies.
5. Take care of personal needs before and after class.
6. Keep all electronic devices (cell phones, MP3 players, etc.) in mute or off mode, and
out of sight. TEXTING DURING CLASS IS PROHIBITED.
7. Students are expected to assist in maintaining a classroom environment which is
conducive to learning. Inappropriate behavior, including but not limited to any form of
distracting or offensive behavior in the classroom will not be tolerated. Please conduct
yourself in a professional, adult manner.

Religious Holy Days: Please refer to the current Collin Student Handbook.

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, SCC-G200
or 972.881.5898 (V/TTD: 972.881.5950), in a timely manner (the first two weeks of school) to
arrange for appropriate accommodations.

Academic Ethics: The College District 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 the 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 IS A SERIOUS MORAL OFFENSE. 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 is intentional. Intentional or not, plagiarism in any
assignment will receive: an automatic grade of “zero” notation on the student’s permanent
record, and a mandatory visit to the Dean of Students.

English 1301 MWF

Instructor: Irene Achala
COURSE CALENDAR--Fall 2010
*Please note that this schedule is subject to change. Regular attendance is necessary--it is
recommended that you exchange phone numbers with another student in the event that you
must be absent. ABSENCE IS NOT AN EXCUSE FOR FAILURE TO BE PREPARED FOR
EVERY CLASS.

All readings from: Strategies for Successful Writing (9th edition)

Lab Project Text: The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway

Week 1 Aug 23-25

Introduction to English 1301, Syllabus, Writing Assessment
Textbooks, Plagiarism Policy
Audience and Purpose - Advertisement Assignment
The Writing Process - In class discussion

Week 2 Aug 30-1

Chapter 8: Narration (136)
The Paragraph and Coherence in Writing
First Lab Project: Biographical Outline of Ernest Hemingway
Reading Review (145, 459)

Week 3 Sept 6 - 8
Chapter 9: Description (152)
Reading Review (473)
First essay question assigned on Narration
Visit Library and the Writing Center
Sept 6 – Labor Day
Sept 7- Census Day

Week 4 Sept 13-15

Chapter 11: Illustration (182)
The Role of the Editor – How to be a good peer reviewer
Reading Review (187, 498, 507)
Peer review of Narrative essay #1

Week 5 Sept 20-22

Essay #1 due
Chapter 13: Comparison (210)
Lab Project 2: Historical Context of The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway
Reading Review (218,526,529)

Week 6 Sept 27- 29

Essay #2 due in class – Comparison Topic Essay
Grammar Review – Class exercises

Week 7 Oct 4 - 6
Chapter 14 – Cause and Effect
Reading Review (233, 544, 551)
Lab Project 3 – In class project – Cultural Outline of The Old Man and The Sea by Ernest
Hemingway
Week 9 Oct 18-20
Chapter 21 Databases and MLA format
Read pgs 407 - 415

Week 10 Oct 25 - 27
Peer review of essay #3
Essay #3 due

Week 11 Nov 1 – 3
Chapter 15 – Definition (240)
Reading Review (249, 559)

Week 12 Nov 8 -10

Essay #4 due in class – Cause and Effect Topic Essay
Lab Work 4: Genre of Text

Week 13 Nov 15 – 17
Chapter 16 – Argument (256)
Reading Review (283, 595, 600)
Essay #5 assigned on Argument Essay Topic

Week 14 Nov 22 – 24
Peer review of essay #5
Nov 24-28 Thanksgiving Holiday

Week 15 Nov 29 – 1
Essay #5 due
Lab work done

Final Exam: Dec 10 @9 -11 am.