ENGL Composition II (ENGL 1302)

ENGL 1302 Composition II Prerequisite: Composition 1301 or satisfactory score on the CLEP Exam; Credit: 3 (3 lecture) A more extensive study of the skills introduced in ENGL 1301 with an emphasis on critical thinking, research and documentation techniques, and literary and rhetorical analysis. Core Curriculum Course.

English 1302 Calendar ~ Fall 2011 ~ 16 Weeks ~ Arzola

Instructor's name: Prof. L. Arzola Course: CRN #97922

Office hours: T 9-10 AM Rm. 1027. Online or by appt T 10-1 in Rm. 230 in the Writing Center. Tel. 713-718-7037 (BB email is the best way to reach me.)

e-mail: laura.arzola@hccs.edu: Use this email only for emergencies. Most of the time you will contact me via BB.

US Mail: Laura Arzola/Dept. of English Studies/ 6815 Rustic/Houston TX 77087 (Eastside Campus)

Textbooks: Barnet, Sylvan and Hugo Bedau. Current Issues and Enduring Questions. 9^th ed. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2011. ISBN -10: 0312547323

You also need a recent handbook to support your work in writing.

IMPORTANT Websites to Bookmark:

Research and Documentation through the Library: http://bcs.bedfordstmartins.com/resdoc5e/RES5e_ch08_o.html#RES5e_ch08

Parenthetical References: http://bcs.bedfordstmartins.com/resdoc5e/RES5e_ch08_s1-0001.html

Works Cited: http://bcs.bedfordstmartins.com/resdoc5e/RES5e_ch08_s1-0011.html

Grade Percentages: (The total will equal 100%)

15% Critical Analysis of the Essay (10% = Pre-writing & evidence of Tutor review).

10% Midterm Exam (online)

30% Research Paper (RP) (14% = Pre-writing & evidence of Tutor review). (èConference with Instructor REQUIRED / No Conference = No Gradeç Conferences can be conducted by phone.)

15% Critical Analysis of Fiction (10% = Pre-writing & evidence of Tutor review).

20% Final Exam: Critical Analysis of Fiction (online)

10% 10 Journals (200 words each)

HCCS Crucial Days for Fall:

Aug. 29: Class begins

Aug. 27: Last Day for Drop/Add/Swap

Sept. 5: Labor Day Holiday

Oct. 14-17: Midterm Exam online

Nov. 3, 4:30PM: Last Day for Student Withdrawals*

Nov. 23: No Night Classes

Nov. 24-27 Thanksgiving Holiday

Dec.11: Instruction Ends

Dec. 9-12: Final Exam online

Dec. 14 Last Day to submit revised/late papers – 11:59pm

*HCC Course Withdrawal Policy The State of Texas has begun to impose penalties on students who drop courses excessively. For example, if you repeat the same course more than twice, you have to pay extra tuition. Beginning in Fall 2007, the Texas Legislature passed a law limiting first time entering freshmen to no more than SIX total course withdrawals throughout their educational career in obtaining a certificate and/or degree. //To help students avoid having to drop/withdraw from any class, HCC has instituted an Early Alert process by which your professor may “alert” you and distance education (DE) counselors that you might fail a class because of excessive absences and/or poor academic performance. It is your responsibility to visit with your DE professor or a DE counselor to learn about what, if any, HCC interventions might be available to assist you – online tutoring, child care, financial aid, job placement, etc. – to stay in class and improve your academic performance. //If you plan on withdrawing from your DE class, you MUST contact a DE counselor or your DE professor prior to withdrawing (dropping) the class for approval and this must be done PRIOR to the withdrawal deadline to receive a “W” on your transcript. **Final withdrawal deadlines vary each semester and/or depending on class length, please visit the online registration calendars, HCC schedule of classes and catalog, any HCC Registration Office, or any HCC counselor to determine class withdrawal deadlines. Remember to allow a 24-hour response time when communicating via email and/or telephone with a DE professor and/or counselor. Do not submit a request to discuss withdrawal options less than a day before the deadline. If you do not withdraw before the deadline, you will receive the grade that you are making in the class as your final grade. //DE counselors may be reached by calling 713.718.5275, option #4 or decounseling@hccs.edu

All papers must be typed. Students MUST keep copies of all submitted work in case the instructor does not receive it. Store all papers until the end of the following long semester. Remember that computers break down. Keep backup copies of your work.// Papers must be saved as .doc (MS Word documents), .rtf (Rich Text File), or .txt (Text). My computer will not open .wps (MS Works documents).

Tutors: FREE Tutors are available online at askonline.net (See below.) or at the Eastside campus Mon-Th, Sat mornings and Mon-Thur evenings in Rm. ___. For students nearer other colleges contact your local English department for information on tutors. Have tutors help you with grammar issues and format. For problems with content ask me.

Important Materials: Quality Dictionary & Thesaurus. Recent grammar Handbook with MLA information. Bookmark the Library Homepage for HCC: http://www.hccs.edu/system/library/library.html for online Dictionary/Thesaurus and http://www.smarthinking.com for online help with papers.

Every class is significant in ENGL 1302. On site students always produce better work when they have attended class and asked necessary questions. DE students will be meeting via skype.com or online chats. It is here you will use your microphone.) These sessions will give you the help you need to pass this class. Make sure you participate. Should you need to miss, you are responsible for the missed material.// In addition, you and I will work individually to discuss your Research Paper. Be sure to bring your Rough Draft and all your preliminary work with you. I prefer to work with you in person, but this can be done via phone if necessary.

Communication with your instructor is essential in all your courses. Please keep me informed of problems you are having either with the course itself or with keeping up with assignments. It is possible to give you extra help. Questions are invited in this course. It is my opinion that questions from you demonstrate both interest and knowledge. Feel free to ask questions at any time. Do not call your questions “stupid.” If you have a question, ask it.

Cell Phones: Our Administration asks us to tell you: "Use of recording devices, including camera phones and tape recorders, is prohibited in classrooms, laboratories, faculty offices, and other locations where instruction, tutoring, or testing occurs. Students with disabilities who need to use a recording device as a reasonable accommodation should contact the Office for Students with Disabilities for information regarding reasonable accommodations."

Plagiarism: [MEMORIZE THIS INFORMATION] I am seeing an increasing amount of plagiarism. Be aware that I find plagiarism to be immoral. Read the following information and be aware that if I find that you have plagiarized, you WILL receive a Zero for the entire assignment. // Be very careful with the work you turn in for this class. Any time you use someone else’s ideas or words you must give him credit. In order to be able to be honest about your sources you must take notes carefully using quotation marks whenever you use the author’s exact words, writing down source information with each note whether it is quoted or paraphrased. Papers which show plagiarism will receive a grade of zero, and be aware that at times plagiarism can result in an F for the course. In egregious cases the student may be expelled. Familiarize yourself with plagiarism and what it means. Ask questions as necessary. Papers will be passed through www.turnitin.com in order to be sure students are not plagiarizing.// To plagiarize means to steal and pass off (the ideas or words of another) as one's own: use (another's production) without crediting the source //intransitive senses : to commit literary theft : present as new and original an idea or product derived from an existing source (Merriam Webster online dictionary). If you copy and paste from the internet or other source, and don’t give credit to the source in both a parenthetical reference and the Works Cited, you are plagiarizing. Information must be clearly defined as coming from a specific source. Make sure it is clear to your reader that you have borrowed information and where that information is in the text. There are a variety of ways to identify borrowed information. Talk to your instructor about how to do this.

Student Grievances: Students who wish to complain about any aspect of their education should first speak with their instructor. If the situation remains unresolved, then the student has the right to file a student grievance with the dept. chair, Ms. Beverly Hixon, 713-718-7057. Forms can be picked up in the office of the Dean of Instruction, 713-718-7066. These forms are first submitted to the Department Chair who will then consult with the student and other parties involved in an effort to come to a reasonable resolution of the problem.

Read your Student Handbook paying particular attention to the section on Student Policies. Within this section is a segment on Grievance Procedure as well as one on Academic Dishonesty. It is important that you familiarize yourself with both your rights and responsibilities as a student. Student Handbooks are available from the Office of the Registrar.

HCC Course Withdrawal Policy The State of Texas imposes penalties on students who drop courses excessively. Students are limited to no more than SIX total course withdrawals throughout their educational career at a Texas public college or university. // To help you avoid having to drop/withdraw from any class, contact your DE professor regarding your academic performance. You may also want to contact your DE counselor to learn about helpful HCC resources (e.g. online tutoring, child care, financial aid, job placement, etc.). HCC has instituted an Early Alert process by which your professor will “alert” you and Distance Education (DE) counselors that you might fail a class because of excessive absences and/or poor academic performance. //In order to withdraw from your DE class, you MUST first contact your DE professor, at least one week PRIOR to the withdrawal deadline to receive a “W” on your transcript. After the withdrawal deadline has passed, you will receive the grade that you would have earned. Zeros averaged in for required coursework not submitted will lower your semester average significantly, most likely resulting in a failing grade of an “F”. It is the responsibility of the student to withdraw from the class; however, your professor reserves the right to withdraw you without your request due to excessive absences. If you do not feel comfortable contacting your professor to withdraw, you may contact a DE counselor. However, please do not contact both a DE counselor and your DE professor to request a withdrawal; either one is sufficient.

FALL Final Withdrawal deadlines: REGULAR FALL COURSES: THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2010 4:30pm Please contact the HCC Registrar’s Office, Ms. Ruby Ward at 713.718.8508 to determine mini-term class withdrawal deadlines.

International Students Please contact the International Student Office at 713-718-8520 if you have additional questions about your visa status.

Students With Disabilities Any student with a documented disability (e.g. physical, learning, psychiatric, vision, hearing, etc) who needs to arrange reasonable accommodations must contact the appropriate HCC Disability Support Service (DSS) Counselor at the beginning of each semester. Faculty is authorized to provide only the accommodations requested by the Disability Support Services Office. // Students who are requesting special testing accommodations must first contact the appropriate (most convenient) DSS office for assistance:

Disability Support Services Offices: System: 713.718.5165// Southeast: 713.718.7218. After student accommodation letters have been approved by the DSS office and submitted to Counseling for processing, students will receive an email confirmation informing them of the Instructional Support Specialist assigned to their professor.
Classroom Conduct All students in HCC courses are required to follow all HCC Policies & Procedures, the Student Code of Conduct, the Student Handbook, and relevant sections of the Texas Education Code when interacting and communicating with faculty and fellow students.

* The instructor reserves the right to change various parameters of this syllabus at her discretion.*

EXEMPLARY EDUCATIONAL OBJECTIVES

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

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

To understand and appropriately apply modes of expression (descriptive, expositive, narrative, scientific, and self-expressive) in written, visual, and oral communication.

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

To understand and apply basic principles of critical thinking, problem solving, and technical proficiency in the development of exposition and argument.

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

Mission Statement: The purpose of the English department is to provide courses that transfer to four-year colleges; introduce students to literature from diverse traditions; prepare students to write clear, communicative, well-organized, and detailed prose; and develop students reading, writing, and analytical skills.

New DE Student Userid

Your new student login userid will be your HCC User ID (sometimes referred to as the “W” number). All HCC students have a unique User ID. It is the same number you use for class registration. For students who have taken DE classes in previous semesters, the login will no longer be “firstname.lastname” + the last 2 digit of your SS #. If you do not know your User ID you can look it up using the following links:

From the HCC home page, click on “Register Here”
On the Student Web Services page, click on “Registration (Online)”
Click on “Retrieve User ID” and follow the instructions.

Or use the direct link: https://hccsaweb.hccs.edu:8080/servlets/iclientservlet/sauat/?cmd=start

The default student password will still be “distance.” As always, students will then be prompted to change their password after their first login.

LOCATIONS: (On the BB homepage for our class look under the followingTools.)

Discussions: All Journals with their Directions are here. Also there will be locations for Peer Review of papers and for introducing yourself. It will sometimes be the end of the semester before I grade Journals. As long as you have done Journals 1-6 BEFORE taking the Midterm you will get full credit for these journals. As long as you have completed journals 7-10 before the Final Exam, you will get full credit for each journal.

Assessments: The Midterm and the Final are here. There are specific dates and two-hour deadlines for these exams. If you go over the deadline, you will NOT be able to submit. If you open the exam and then go away, the exam will shut down in two hours. You cannot access the exam more than once.

Assignments: All submitted assignments are posted here. Some of the handouts are here with the assignments, but some of them are listed under Learning Modules where there will be many more. There are due dates, and sometimes I give you a little extra time. When that has passed, you may no longer submit the assignment. Make sure you pay attention to Assignments as when the Assignment disappears from view, you may no longer submit it.

Learning Modules: Here are handouts to help and support you in writing the various papers.

Calendar: This will tell you when certain assignments, etc., are coming due.

Syllabus: Here you will have a copy of the syllabus available to you. Since this is an important document which tells you what is coming up in the course and gives you details about assignments, it is best to print out a copy and keep it visible as you do your work for this class. You will get a copy of the Syllabus when you do your Orientation; however, I always change the syllabus and post the revision under Syllabus in BB. Make sure you print out a copy of THIS syllabus and use it instead of the earlier one.

Maill: This is where you ask questions. Do NOT use my college email except in an emergency when you cannot get into BB.

Audio Chat: Since you meet with me in class, we will not be using this tool. A link is available where you see the picture of the cat. We will be meeting periodically during the semester. Make an effort to attend these sessions. If you cannot attend, you can pick up what happened in the same location but under Archives.

Wk.

Fall 2010 Course Calendar

CI = Current Issues, BB = Blackboard // All assignments due on Sunday of that week unless otherwise indicated.

Aug. 28- Sept. 5

Research Paper Topic: For Wk. 12 create a Persuasive Research Paper on a controversial topic related to either “Going Green: What Must Be Done” (668-688) or “Immigration: What Is to Be Done” (689-703)?

**Read carefully & Highlight CI, Chap. 3, (73-110) [This is a very important chapter. It is central to all you write in this course.]

+Begin background reading for the Research Paper.

+CA: (Critical Analysis) Select an essay from either “Commencement Address,” Barack Obama (772), “The Case for ‘Service’” Peter Levine (778), “The Failure of an All-Volunteer Military” A. J. Bacevich (787), “Is it Possible to be a Conscientious Meat Eater” S. Taylor & A. Taylor (199), “Douse the Online Flamers,” Andrew Keen (68), “You’re 16, You’re Beautiful, and You’re a Voter,” Anya Kamenetz (48) for your Critical Analysis essay.

Audio Chat: Online Tuesday, Aug. 31, 7pm. Join us to talk about the class.

Sept. 6-12

+ CA: Select three related quotations from CA essay for your critical analysis.

+CA: Begin working to fill in Bodynotes worksheet for CA essay. Look under Learning Modules in BB.

+Read & Highlight CI, Chap. 5, "Writing an Analysis of an Argument" 177-191 (Pay special attention to “For Environmental Balance” as a sample essay for analysis and “Tracking Kristof” by Betsy Swinton as an example of a Critical Analysis Essay)

+ Skim CI, Chap. 6 (226), Developing an Argument of Your Own & Chap. 7 Using Sources, (262).

+ Skim Ci, Cha. 9 (349). Read for class discussion: Shulman’s “Love is a Fallacy” (383).

+ Due RP under Discussions: Topic for RP. Your topic must be approved by me.

+ Due Journals #1 & #2 (Go to Discussions for directions.) Due Sunday this week.

²Class Orientation at Eastside Campus, 6815 Rustic, Houston TX 77087. 11A, Sat. this week, Rm. No. TBA ²

Sept. 13-19

+ Due CA Bodynotes completed and turned into Rough Draft of Critical Analysis.

+ Take Rough Draft of CA to tutor. Make sure this is your best work and that it is typed. Save and submit tutor’s notes. Be sure to take or email relevant handouts to tutor. For Bodynotes, use “Bodynotes Vertical” available under Learning Modules.

+ Due RP: Discussions, SubmitThe Research Question (Yes/No), Audience (specific age group and gender), Purpose.

+Library: Continue background reading for Research Paper (RP). Collect list of 5 high quality sources. Read and highlight sources. Also gather the bibliographic information on each source needed for creating the Works Cited page in MLA format. You must use at least TWO books. The other sources must be from a library database (http://library.hccs.edu/articles/subject/news.php). To use these databases from your home computer, you will need a library or e-Card barcode.

+ Due Journal #3

Sept. 20-26

Audio Chat: Online Monday, this week 8pm. Join us to talk about the class.

+ Submit CA on “Free Will” to the tutor either in Rm. 229-B or online. Must show evidence of tutor’s comments &/or signature. Make sure that you are writing Critical Analysis and not simply analysis. Talk to the tutor and/or the instructor about the difference. Use Bodynotes as a guide.

+ Due RP: Submit Works Cited with 5 sources correctly set up in MLA format (first draft of Works Cited for RP).

+ RP: Read in WH, Ch. 12-17 on Research: pp. 243-358; Study in WH, Ch. 18: MLA Documentation Style

+ RP: ëIMPORTANTëStudy the “Guidelines for a Persuasive RP” handout under Learning Modules ; Study the sample RP in CI, Theresa Washington, “Why Trials Should Not Be Televised” pp. 300-314.. The sample WC is on p. 313.

+ RP: Begin gathering 30-40 notes for the Research Paper.

+ Midterm: Read: More’s “From Utopia” and Machiavelli’s “From The Prince,” CI, pp.834. 847 ff.

+ Due Journal #4

Sept.27-Oct. 3

Audio Chat: Online Tuesday, this week 7pm. Join us to talk about the class.

+ CA Revise according to notes from Tutor.

+ Due CA: completed essay due this Sunday

+RP (CI): Read about Tone, 243// Avoiding Sexist Language, 247// Peer Review, 248. RP: Read “A Student’s Essay,” 248-255 CI. +See CI Sample RP Outline, 302. Review Ch. 7, “Using Sources,” focusing on how to use MLA format in both parenthetical references and the Works Cited.

Continue studying, re-reading Machiavelli for the Midterm Exam

+ Due Journals #5

Oct.4-10

Audio Chat: Online Monday, this week 8pm. Join us to talk about the class.

Continue studying Machiavelli for the Midterm Exam and review More’s “From Utopia” along with Study Guides under Learning Modules.

+RP Study carefully CI, Chap. 7 "Using Sources," 257

+ Due RP: Þ30-40 Notes, ÞRevised & Corrected Works Cited for RP, ÞCopy of 1 page showing note and where you got it from, & 2 of your Sources for RP (See Sample Notes & Source under RP icon)

+Due Journal #6

Oct. 11-17

Audio Chat: Online Tuesday, this week 7pm. Join us to talk about the class.

RP: Review A Student’s Essay, 248-255 CI as a sample of writing Persuasively.

è Due No Late Journals #1-6 accepted after Midtermç

ØRP: Set up for in person or phone conference with me to go over the RP during Weeks 8, 9, or 10. Sign up in class. Bring partial rough draft, outline, WC page, notes: all on disk or online; also bring copies of sources.

ØThis conference is a requirement for the RP. æNo conference = NO GRADE!æ

+Prepare for Midterm Exam by practicing with handouts under the Midterm icon.

+ Due RP: Due Preliminary Outline (See CI, pp. 242) and Working Thesis for RP (228-234). See CI Sample RP Outline, 302

Oct. 18-24

±Mid-term exam Online Oct. 15-18, Fri – Mon. Do not take the exam after 8 pm on the last day as BB may not accept it. // All Journals 1-6 must be in by the Midterm; NO LATE JOURNALS ACCEPTED.±

+RP Conferences: (Required)

+ Due RP Rough Draft: At least 1000 words with WC, and Outline REQUIRED by Sunday this week.

+ RP: * Peer editing * via BB. Be sure the name of the reader is indicated on his edited copy.

+ RP: Take rough draft of RP to Tutor and revise according to comments.

+CA Fiction Read “The Unknown Citizen” by W.H. Auden p. 869 CI, “Let America be America Again” by Langston Hughes p. 871 CI, & “The Ones who Walk away from Omelas” by Ursula K. Le Guin p. 874 CI.

Oct. 25-31

Ongoing RP Conferences with Instructor either in person or by phone.

+ Read Ch. 13, CI, A Literary Critic’s View: Arguing about Literature 465-494.

+ Read & Study WH, Ch. 22 & 23, Writing about Literature, pp. 495-542.

+ CA Poetry Select one of these poems: “The Unknown Citizen” by W.H. Auden p. 869, “Let America be America Again” by Langston Hughes p. 871, “The Man he Killed” by Thomas Hardy p. 939, “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock” by T. S. Eliot, p. 940, or “To the Lady” by Mitsuye Yamada, p. 955.

+Find an argument in that work and analyze the effectiveness of the writer’s support of that argument.

Nov. 1-7

Audio Chat: Online Monday, this week 8pm. Join us to talk about the class.

+ Individual Meetings with Instructor. Bring your RP, Notes, Outline, revised WC page, Sources

No RP Conferences available after Thursday this week.

+ Due Completed Rough Draft of RP, 1500+ words

+ Send rough draft of RP to Tutor and revise according to comments.

Nov.8-14

Audio Chat: Online Tuesday, this week 7pm. Join us to talk about the class.

+ CA Fiction Keep reading and analyzing the argument used in your poem or story. Work with the dictionary as well as in discussions with classmates and me to help you interpret both words and concepts found in this work.

+ Begin creating Rough Draft of the Critical Analysis of Fiction due on either “The Unknown Citizen” by W.H. Auden p. 869, “Let America be America Again” by Langston Hughes p. 871, “The Man he Killed” by Thomas Hardy p. 939, “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock” by T. S. Eliot, p. 940, or “To the Lady” by Mitsuye Yamada, p. 955 using Bodynotes to help shape the paper.

è Due Mail Research Paper by Tuesday, Week 12 (Title page, Outline, Text, WC, Photocopies of at least 1 page from 2 sources, tutor’s comments, etc.) Place paper in 2-pocket portfolio. Also attach RP under Discussionsç

Nov. 15-21

Due RP due: No paper will be accepted w/o a previous conference with Instructor.

èResearch Paper to be submitted under Discussions by Tues., this week. Hard copy of RP will be submitted either in person or by mail by Tues., this week. (No need to spend extra money overnighting this paper. Simply mail it.]

q Title page, Outline, Text, WC in ONE document

q Photocopies of at least 1 page from 2 sources with attached notes

q Tutor’s comments

q Peer Review (Peers must be classmates. Peer Reviews will be done under Discussions. There must be evidence that each student in the class has reviewed at least two classmate’s papers using the Peer Review checklist found under Learning Modules.)

q Place paper in 2-pocket portfolio.

q Attach RP under Assignments making sure to label the attachment with your last nameç

+Final Exam: Read CI, 471, “Mending Wall” by Robert Frost along with the two student essays following on pp. 474 & 477 for Final Exam

Nov. 22-28

+ CA Fiction Due Complete Bodynotes for poem. Start turning the Analysis into a finished paper. (See Handout below.)

+Begin thinking about final over “Mending Wall.” Prepare for Final online essay.

+Take draft of Analysis of poem or story to Tutor

+Due: Journals #7 & #8

14 Nov. 29-Dec. 5

è CA Fiction Due By Thursday, this week, analysis of poem or story. Submit copies of both Bodynotes and the Final Paper as attachments under Assignments adding Bodynotes at the end of the Final Paper.ç

+Review for Final over “Mending Wall.”

+ Due Complete Bodynotes for “Mending Wall.”

+Due Journal #9

15 Dec. 6-12

Due Journal #10

âAll Journals 7-10 must be submitted before taking the final. No late journals accepted.â.

16 Dec. 13-19

Final Essay Exam ² Final Exam Dec. 10-13, Fri. - Mon. ²

The Writing Assignments

Most of your assignments will be submitted as attachments. Save these documents with your surname on them: SmithCAFinal; This tells me that Smith has sent me the final draft of the Critical

Analysis essay. Then when you attach them, they will come to me labeled with your surname. This is important as it keeps all your documents together in my files, and it helps me to find YOUR paper on my computer. If your work is not submitted with proper labeling, I will return it to you for resubmission. Work to make sure this does not happen.

15% Critical Analysis of the Essay (out-of-class essay)-500-750 words (10% of Final Grade comes from Prewriting and Tutoring Evidence.) Select an essay from “How Free Is the Will of the Individual in Society?” for your Critical Analysis essay and criticize it selecting both negative and positive aspects of the essay for discussion. The analysis and criticism will then be incorporated into a short essay. The final essay, however, is not the entire grade. One third of the grade comes from the pre-writing evidence. It is REQUIRED that you fill in and submit the Bodynotes sheet found under the CA icon. In addition you are expected to submit a rough draft to smarthinking.com and then revise the rough draft according to comments received before submitting the final draft to me. This is an unusual type of essay that students are frequently unfamiliar with. In order to prevent many revisions it is advisable that you do the background reading in Current Issues. I have created many worksheets to help you get a better understanding of the CA essay. If you disregard all this and go directly to what you think I expect, you may find yourself revising more than you might wish. Study the worksheets I have provided for you. The only one you must fill out is Bodynotes; the others are there to help you understand what I require. Follow directions carefully. Submit this Paper to me on BB under Discussions (not through regular e-mail) as an attachment. Save it with your last name followed by the name of the assignment: (for the work you receive from the tutor – or show this to me in class if it is handwritten), and then SmithCAFinal. If you need to submit more than one rough draft, use this form: SmithCARough2, or SmithCrittendenRough2, etc.

Keep in mind that your writing does not simply analyze what this essay is about. It works to show whether and why this essay is convincing to its readers. You are evaluating the effectiveness of the writer: Did he or she do a good job of convincing his selected audience? What makes this essay so effective or ineffective. As you write you must work not to insert yourself into your paper. Avoid saying “I think” or “I believe” or “In my opinion.” We know you wrote the paper, so these are your opinions. Also do not use “YOU” in any form in any paper written for this class.

Read one: Select an essay from “How Free Is the Will of the Individual in Society?” for your Critical Analysis essay.

– Highlight and take notes. Discuss elements of this work with classmates under discussions.

– Bodynotes due (Save your submitted attachment as YourLastNameBodynotesCA)

– Rough Draft due to smarthinking.com or in person tutor, Rm. 230 (Set up appt. ahead of time.)

– Peer Reviews. Send a copy of your paper to one or two classmates for their comments. Have your classmate write a few comments. Show evidence that this was done with a signature and obvious comments.

– Modify your written essay based on comments received.

– Final Draft due (SmithCAFinal) + Bodynotes (SmithBodynotes)+ response from smarthinking (SmithSmarthinkingCA)

10% Midterm Essay Exam (Online)- 500+ words

We will read an excerpt from both More’s Utopia and Machiavelli's The Prince. For the midterm you will focus on The Prince. This essay will be analyzed and criticized in preparation for writing. For the exam you will have worked out the meanings in this excerpt. You will be presented with several questions about this essay. You will select ONE and write a brief essay on The Prince in the time allotted. Information about the exam is available under its icon. Careful preparation is essential. This essay is written in class in a Bluebook or on the computer.

– Read and re-read Machiavelli’s The Prince. Highlight important information. Discuss elements of this work with classmates.

– Take Midterm online. íSave a copy of your electronic exam for your records.

30% The Research Paper-@ 1500+ words (14% of Final Grade comes from Prewriting and Tutoring Evidence.) ÞConference with Instructor REQUIRED weeks 8-10 ONLY!Þ

One third of the available class time will be spent working with this essay. Students will choose a topic, select a series of sources, take notes, create an outline, and finally write the paper.

a. This is a Persuasive paper which takes a particular stand on a controversial topic related to ether Going Green or Immigration. Keep in mind that you are writing a PERSUASIVE paper, so your topic must be controversial and be debatable, i.e., have two sides.

b. Work to focus on the Logical aspects of this issue. Develop it with Facts, Evidence, Statistics, Graphics, and Authoritative Testimony; include a discussion of the practical aspects of this issue.

2. You will select an aspect of this topic about which there might be some disagreement.

3. You will come up with

a. a Yes/No question,

b. a particular Audience whom you think will be interested in learning about your topic, and

c. a Purpose (a reason for writing to this particular audience), and then you will research your topic.

4. Your studies should prove that one side of this Yes/No, controversial issue is stronger than the other.

5. Having decided, then, which side of the argument you Fall on (either the yes side or the no side of the fence), you will then write your paper using Facts, Examples, Evidence, Statistics, Graphics, Logical arguments, etc., which you have found in your sources, to prove that your position is the correct one.

6. In the finished paper you are required to have 5 sources; at least two of them must be books, the rest must come from a database, and about 15 quotations, paraphrases, and/or summaries from those 5 sources in the finished paper.

a. It is BEST to use sources available from the library homepage under Databases by Subject, Current Issues. There you can find high quality sources which have been published in journals, magazines and newspapers which means that an editor has scrutinized them and accepted them for publication.

b. It is clear that students much prefer the ease of finding information on the net; however, much of this information is questionable and not readily accepted in acadème.

7. Besides the finished paper you are also required to turn in elements of your work as you complete them: the topic, the narrowed topic, your Works Cited page, your notes, etc.

8. Also you are required to come in at least one time around Wk. 8-10 for a one-on-one conference with me. The conference should be after the midterm. We will spend about 30 minutes together going over the paper. You are required to bring at least 1000 words of your rough draft with its revised Works Cited and your Outline. We will be looking at your format, your structure making sure it is Persuasive, as well as your work with borrowed material.

9. Be aware that format is very important. Study where the periods and the commas go in the WC and parenthetical references. Study Current Issues to be sure you have the correct format. Also ask me questions if you are unsure how to format such things as headers and outlines.

10. The RP seems like a very long paper, but it isn’t. Remember that you will be using quotations and paraphrases from a variety of sources. Each of these borrowings from sources must be interpreted or explained to your reader and then discussed by you. These will fill out your paper making the writing much easier and quicker.

11. For DE students the finished RP will be submitted through the mail. On site students will submit their paper in class. For both on site and DE students the completed paper will also be submitted under Discussions.

12. Preliminary parts of the paper can be submitted as Discussion attachments through BB: JonesRPTopic// JonesRPQuestion// JonesRPWC -- for the Works Cited page// JonesRPNotes// JonesRPRough1// JonesRPRough2.

15% Critical Analysis of Poem (out-of-class essay)-750+ words (10% of Final Grade comes from Prewriting and Tutoring Evidence.)

We will be analyzing one of the poems listed in your syllabus under week 11. You will read the work you have selected then analyze and criticize it. Submit this Paper through BB as an attachment under Assignments: SmithPoemFinal.

20% Final Exam-Critical Analysis of Poem (online final essay exam)-750+ words

This essay is written in class. Students will write a critical analysis of “Mending Wall” by Robert Frost, Current Issues, 472. Information about the exam is available under its icon. This essay is written online. You have a 2-hour time limit. íSave a copy of your electronic work to your files in case something happens to your exam.

10% 10 Journals (200 words each): Journals should be written consistently during the semester. Submit them under the appropriate Discussion. Specific topics are listed under Discussions. Submit Journals in the message screen. Do NOT attach them. Please write your last name in the subject line.

The Library Homepage: http://www.hccs.edu/system/library/library.html Bookmark this invaluable page. You will be expected to use the section on MLA Style if you do not have a Handbook for the class. For the Works Cited use http://bcs.bedfordstmartins.com/resdoc5e/RES5e_ch08_s1-0011.html. For Parenthetical References use http://bcs.bedfordstmartins.com/resdoc5e/RES5e_ch08_s1-0001.html, (Par. Ref. are also called in-text citations.)

For a Library card: Go to the Virtual Librarian or to the nearest HCC library with your proof of registration to get an HCC library card.

-Online Card Catalogs: Lists of books and resources available from various HCC libraries which can be ordered online and sent to the HCC library nearest you. Also you have access there to the Houston Public Library (http://www.houstonlibrary.org/home). If you have their card, you can request that books be sent to the public library nearest you. In addition you can see the card catalogs for several libraries of public colleges such as UH. You can see which books are currently available on the shelves. You will, of course, have to travel to the UH library where the book is located.

- Research: Although you probably are accustomed to using the internet for research, the quality of available sources is usually poor. A far more acceptable source of articles is the library home page. Under the rubric, “Databases by Subject,” you will see several listings. // You will also find quality online sources in the Houston Public Library Databases which can be accessed from their homepage. There is a link on the HCC Library Homepage. // Whichever of these databases you access, you will find excellent articles which will support your position on your RP topic. IMP: I will not accept ordinary online sources except those with the suffixes .org, .edu or .gov.

- Dictionary, Thesaurus, MLA: Under Quick Reference, which is further down on the same page, you will find a dictionary and thesaurus which will be useful for avoiding using the same words repeatedly in your writing and for checking meanings. The dictionary has a pronunciation tool which can be useful. The MLA section is most useful for your RP since I am not requiring that you buy a particular handbook. Under it you will find a section on Documenting Sources which you can use for creating the Works Cited correctly. From there you will click on the “MLA list of works cited.” Sources of various types are listed. You will have to study the information in order to understand what each element is and how it is correctly punctuated. In addition there is information on in-text citations (which I call parenthetical references) which will help you with how to reference resources when you use them in the text of your paper.

Use these for help with your writing:

Link for MLA format: http://www.bedfordstmartins.com/lunsford/everyday_writer/

Useful source for writing MLA papers: http://bedfordstmartins.com/hacker/resdoc/humanities/english.htm

Link for Library Home Page: http://www.hccs.edu/system/library/library.html (Bookmark this.)

Submitting Papers via BB:

§ Attach any papers, which are formatted. This means almost everything except Journals which are simply included in the msg. screen.

§ Save these papers in your own computer with your last name so when they are attached, they have your name on them: (This will help me file your papers so I can tell whose paper I am opening.)

o Create a New Folder for this class. Perhaps label it 1302.

o Save all your papers for your class there.

o Save each paper with your last name and an indicator telling what paper it is: SmithRPOutline (Your last name + RP for Research Paper + Outline indicating what is in the paper).

o Another example: MartinezCARough (Your last name + CA for Critical Analysis, the first essay for this class + Rough indicating this is the rough draft).

o Improperly labeled attachments will NOT BE ACCEPTED.

The Writing Center: We have a new resource for you called The Writing Center found on the Eastside Campus, Rm. 230. It will house tutors who will be available at certain hours to work with you. Above I have listed the hours I plan to work in the center where you can come to me for tutoring help. (Other HCC Campuses, which might be nearer your home, will also have tutors available. Call the campus to find out where and when they are available.)

§ A percentage of the grade for each paper, either 10 or 14 percent, will come from evidence that you have seen a tutor for help with your papers. Be aware that tutoring will help improve your grade. Make sure that you have a written record of your work with the tutor.

§ PEER REVIEWS: It will be helpful to you if you have a peer read and comment on your paper. There is space for this available under Discussions. You must review two students’ work before the deadline – not after – and this will potentially constitute two points, which will be added to your final grade for this paper. As a student seeking a review, it is imperative that you POST your paper early enough that classmates will have the time to review it. Waiting till the last minute will not work at all.

§ Some students will be required to see a tutor for help with their papers. If this is you, and you have any problems connecting with a tutor, contact me immediately via BB email.

www.askonline.net: On-line Tutoring in many subjects including English

Students can access FREE tutoring help 24/7 for writing assigned in any class, not just in English classes. Drafts seen by tutors are clearly marked; if submitted with papers, these prove that tutors have looked at the paper, Looking at these tutor reviewed drafts also allows teachers to see exactly what kind of help students are getting. CHAT and DISCUSS transcripts can be printed as proof of use.

HCCS On-line Tutoring has three components, all of which are available to every HCC student. ASK has two sub-components: paper submission and live tutors.

1. Students e-mail any paper, not just those assigned for English classes, and HCC tutors will pinpoint problem areas in organization, following directions, formatting, citing sources, and grammar; offer suggestions for correcting those problems; suggest links to other on-line resources; and guide students through the revision process. Papers will not be corrected or edited. They will be annotated because teachers need to evaluate student work, not tutor work. We hope to have a 24-hour turn-around on all papers submitted.

2. From 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm every day, a real, live HCC English faculty person will be live on-line to answer questions. Papers will not be read, but questions about understanding assignments, formatting papers, and other related questions will be answered. This component allows students to make sure that they are starting their work well.

CHAT is an exciting feature. Real, live teachers will host 2-hour scheduled, focused chats on a regular basis. Some of the topics already on tap include understanding research methods, documenting sources, finding and fixing one’s own grammar problems, critical reading, and the difference between an analysis and a book report. A bi-weekly schedule will be posted on the splash page (what you see when you open Askonline / HCCS) and on HCC News.

DISCUSS is the third component, and it has great potential for all students, especially non-native speakers of English. Students e-mail a question, a tutor answers it, and students check back to see the answers. All questions are threaded, so students can see what others have asked and increase their knowledge. We anticipate that this feature will be used for vocabulary questions, cultural context questions, questions about idiomatic expressions used in readings and class discussions, identification of people and places mentioned in classes, and myriad other areas. It is a catch-all for student questions.

Some Thoughts about Writing

Formal Papers:

§ All papers in this class (except Journals which are un-graded writing) are considered formal papers; this means that you are not to use the words you, or I (or any of their variants such as your and my.) in your papers.

§ “You” can be replaced by a noun such as a person’s name or the words “a person.”

§ Instead of using “I” the writer might use a different form of the sentence. For example a sentence like, “I think all teenagers are drug addicts,” could be replaced with a much stronger statement: “All teens are drug addicts.”

§ When you say, “I think,” you indicate that you are not sure. In persuasive writing you must strive to make it at least appear that you are sure.

§ Learn to strengthen your comments by excluding mention of yourself.

§ In addition do not use contractions such as can’t. Use the written out form, cannot, instead.

§ Use MLA format in all papers.

Becoming an Excellent Writer:

§ Be aware that often “sounds right” will not work in your writing. You must learn the rules of grammar and follow them, so that your writing is at the best level possible.

§ If you are unfamiliar with the rules of grammar, with how to write well, my best suggestion is to become a reader and to observe how good writers write. Also read that expensive grammar handbook you have. Follow the rules of grammar. There are a limited number of rules. It is quite possible to learn and follow them.

§ The sort of English we are asking for in your writing is the kind that will be understood by speakers of English in any part of the world; consequently, you must use what is called standard English.

§ When errors in your writing are pointed out to you, make a strong effort to correct those errors in future. I put a great deal of time into making comments on student papers. The purpose of these comments is to help you improve your writing, NOT to put you down. If you disregard those comments of mine when you revise your papers, then you are likely to get a low grade.

§ If you keep getting corrected for the same sorts of mistakes, it’s time to learn the rules and change your style.

§ Learn the rules of grammar: They are simple and few in number.

§ Work to make this class the one in which you learn the rules so that you reduce the number of errors you consistently make.

§ Ask lots of questions. Never be afraid you will look stupid. It’s the smart student who asks questions. And . . . she gets the answers! You cannot get the answer to an unasked question. Right?

Editing your Work:

§ As you begin to write a paper, allow the ideas to flow. Let the writing happen. Do not try to control it as you work to get your ideas down on paper. After you have gotten as many ideas as possible, then you can start to select, organize, and shape those ideas into a good paper.

§ It is not a good idea to edit your writing from the beginning.

§ Begin your writing process by focusing only on getting all your ideas on paper. From this series of thoughts, select the best, and then begin to organize and develop the paper itself.

§ Work to make these ideas as clear as possible.

§ Grammar and mechanics should be the LAST thing you worry about as you do your final editing and revisions before turning in your work.

§ If you worry too early about grammar, you will find that you get lost in the trees and forget the general direction of the forest you are walking through.

§ If you are foreign speaker, it might even be best to write the first drafts of your paper in your native language. Once you get the ideas down in your own natural language, then go back and correct what you have written.

§ Careful and detailed editing is the hallmark of good writing.

§ With time you will get better and better at this so that there is less and less to correct.

§ But no matter how good you get, it will rarely be possible to put something out which is well written without editing.

§ The best writers spend as much time editing the final draft as they did creating it.

Creating Papers:

§ Although previously you may have been taught to start with the 1^st par., I would suggest that instead you begin with the Body.

§ Usually you will begin with the ideas for each body paragraph.

§ Next you will develop each body paragraph.

§ After that you will decide on a Topic Sentence for that paragraph which indicates exactly what is discussed in it.

o Think about the Topic for that paragraph and the sequence of the sentences in it.

o Is this the clearest sequence for your reader?

o Work to make the paragraph flow clearly from the first idea to the last in a logical sequence that will be easy to understand.

o Remember your reader will not be able to ask you questions.

§ Once you have the body pretty much in order, your next step is the Introduction.

o Here you tell your reader what is coming in the paper.

o You will frequently summarize the work you are analyzing.

o You will give your thesis, that is the essence of what you will be saying in the paper.

o The thesis should work well if you were asked for a one-sentence summary of your paper.

§ Finally you create the conclusion.

o Review what was said in your paper.

o Draw a conclusion from the ideas you have stated.

§ You have worked to make a case.

§ Now tell your reader what she should have understood from what you said.

FALL 2011

Aug. 28 (Aug. 27 Last Day for Drop/Add/ Swap)

Sept. 1

5 Labor Day Holiday

9 Official Date of Record

Oct. 1

14 Midterm Exam

15 Midterm Exam

16 Midterm Exam

17 Midterm Exam

Nov. 1

3 Last Day for Admin/ Student Withdrawals - 4.30 pm

23 No Night Classes

24 Thanksgiving Hol.

25 Thanksgiving

26 Thanksgiving

27 Thanksgiving

Dec. 1

4 Final Exam

9 Final Exam

10 Final Exam

11 Instruction Ends// Final Exam

12 Final Exam

14 Last Day to submit revised/late papers – 11:59pm

Course Information

ENGL 1302 Fall 2011 (54621, 54622, 54623, 55496, 55497, 52870, 62134) Syllabus