Course Requirements

Course Description:

ENGLISH 1301 is a study of the principles of composition with emphasis on language, the mechanics of writing, types of discourse, and research and documentation.

 

Grading

Papers:

ALL PAPERS MUST BE SUBMITTED IN ORDER AND ON TIME.  You may submit papers prior to the deadline, but late papers will be docked one point per day late.   Submit your papers by using the Assignment Drop Box included in each Unit Folder (through Blackboard). 

Get directions for submitting your papers at http://irt.austincc.edu/blackboard/stassignment.html

 

Each paper will be marked “Accepted,” “Edit,” “Revise,” or “Rewrite.” 

ACCEPTED: The paper fulfills the objectives of the assignment and is relatively free of

grammatical, spelling, and punctuation errors.  Accepted papers show mastery of all writing skills from previous papers in the course.

EDIT: The paper fulfills the objectives of the assignment but contains errors. You

must avoid similar errors in subsequent papers in order to progress in the course.

REVISE: The paper needs improvement in style, organization, or development.

REWRITE: The paper does not fulfill the objectives of the assignment.

 

Revision Policy:

You may choose to revise any papers in order to earn full credit.  If you revise a paper, please submit your new drafts via email.  In the body of your email, explain the revisions you made.

 

Reading Quizzes

For each unit there will be an on-line quiz.  You have unlimited time and you may use any notes and books to answer the questions, but you may not retest.  The purpose of these quizzes is to ensure careful reading of all assigned reading including course notes, stories, and chapters.

 

Discussion Board

Several units will also include an on-line discussion board.  Please read the Discussion Board assignment sheet for more details about the expectations for discussion board.

 

Course Notes

Download the course notes from Blackboard for each unit.  These will help you on quizzes and essays.

 

The Info Game

During the course of the semester you are required to complete The Info Game at http://library.austincc.edu/infogame.htm, an on-line information literacy program. 

 

The Departmental Exam:

The Departmental Exammay be taken under supervision in the Testing Center.  Given a selection to read, you will write an interpretive essay of at least 750 words analyzing the selection. Thisessaywill be evaluated "ACCEPTED" or "RETEST" only.  If you do not pass on the first try, you may retest twice.  Your essay must include a summary, analysis, and evaluation and must demonstrate the following: 

            •   coherence, critical thinking, and an understanding of the selection's thesis,

                 purpose(s), and method(s) of organization;

            •   adherence to stylistic, grammatical, and mechanical conventions

Final Grade Rationale:

Each “Accepted” paper is worth the following number of points:

Paper #1 –10 points

Paper #2 –10 points

Paper #3 - 15 points

Paper #4 – 25 points

Departmental Exam– 20 points

Quizzes and Discussion Boards -20 points

Scholastic Dishonesty

Acts prohibited by the College for which discipline may be administered include scholastic dishonesty (e.g., cheating on an exam or quiz, plagiarizing, and unauthorized collaboration with another in preparing outside work).  Academic work submitted by students shall be the result of their thought, research, or self-expression.  Academic work is defined as (but not limited to) tests and quizzes, whether taken electronically or on paper; projects, either individual or group; classroom presentations; and homework. 

 

Students with Disabilities

Each ACC campus offers support services for students with documented physical or psychological disabilities.  Students with disabilities must request reasonable accommodations through the Office for Students with Disabilities on the campus where they expect to take the majority of their classes.  Students are encouraged to do this three weeks before the start of the semester.  

 

Withdrawal Policy

The Texas State Legislature passed a bill stating that students who first enroll in public colleges and universities beginning in fall 2007 and thereafter may not withdraw from more than six classed during their undergraduate college career.  See ACC Student Handbook for further information. 

Readings

Books and materials:

The Brief Bedford Reader 10^thEdition

The Bedford Handbook 8^thEdition  

Course Subjects

 

Complete Orientation

May 23-27

Readings:

Orientation directions

 

The Brief Bedford Reader

“Critical Reading” (pgs. 9-25)

 

Syllabus

 

Assignments:

Syllabus Quiz

 

Introductory Discussion Board

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Unit One: Narrative

May 30^th– June 3^rd

 

Readings:

The Bedford Handbook

“The Writing Process” (pgs. 2-8)

“Prefer Active Verbs” (pgs. 142-147)

“Effective Paragraphs” (pgs. 62-67)

 

The Brief Bedford Reader

“Narration: Telling a Story” (pgs. 80-92)

“Description:  Writing With Your Senses” (pgs. 116-123)

“Fish Cheeks” (pgs. 99-103)

 

Course Notes

 

Assignments:

Reading Quiz #1

Discussion Board #1

Narrative Essay (due no later than Jan 28 )

 

 

Unit Two: Comparison and Contrast

June 6-10^th

Readings:

The Bedford Handbook

“The Writing Process” (pgs. 9-37)

“Word Choice” (pgs. 197-224)

 

The Brief Bedford Reader

“Comparison and Contrast: Setting Things Side by Side” (pgs. 189-197)

“Example: Pointing to Instances” (pgs. 156-161)

“Neat People vs. Sloppy People” (pgs. 199-202)

 

Course Notes

 

Assignments:

Reading Quiz #2

Discussion Board #2

Comparison and Contrast Essay (due no later than Feb 4 )

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Unit Three: Textual Analysis

June 13-17^th

 

Readings:

The Bedford Handbook

 “Quotation Marks” (pgs. 392-399)

“Constructing Reasonable Arguments” (pgs. 104-128)

 

The Brief Bedford Reader

“Division or Analysis: Slicing into Parts” (pg. 270-279)

“Mixing the Methods” (pgs. 474-475)

“I Have a Dream” (pgs. 483-488)

“Integrating Source Material” (pgs. 54-56)

 

Course Notes

 

Assignments:

Reading Quiz #3

Discussion Board #3

Textual Analysis Essay (due no later than Feb 11 )

 

 

Unit Four: Research Paper

June 27^th– July 8^th

 

How to do research June 20-24^th

 

Readings:

The Bedford Handbook

“Conducting Research” (pgs. 438-450)

 “Evaluating Sources” (pgs. 462-478)

“Managing Information; avoiding plagiarism” (pgs. 478-488)

 

The Brief Bedford Reader

“Academic Writing” (pgs. 57-66)

 

MLA Help Packet (available on Blackboard)

 

Course Notes

 

Conduct research – June 27- July 1^st

 

Write paper – July 4-8^th

 

 

Assignments:

Infogame (this is most helpful if you complete it by July 1st)

Reading Quiz #4

Discussion Board #4 (this is most helpful if you complete it by July 4^th)

Research Paper (due no later than July 8^th)

 

 

Unit Five: Dept. Exam

Take the Departmental Exam by July 15th if you want time to retest

Readings:

Course notes

 

Assignments:

Take Departmental Exam in the Testing Center

 

 

 

Revisions and Retests

July 16-20^th

 

During this time you should finish any revisions you may have.  You should also retest if you did not pass your first attempt at the Departmental Exam.

 

All first attempts will be graded by this point and if you are satisfied with your grade, then you have successfully completed the course.
 

Revisions and retests must be completed and submitted no later than July 20^th.

  

Student Learning Outcomes/Learning Objectives

Course Outcomes

Upon completion of English 1301, students should be able to

            •  identify rhetorical purposes and methods of organization appropriate to topic,

                        thesis, and audience;

            •  collect, read, analyze, and use information from a wide range of sources;

•  write a coherent essay observing appropriate grammatical, mechanical, and

            stylistic conventions;

            •  evaluate, edit, and revise at all stages of the writing process.