Summer 2012

Austin Community College

English Composition 1301

Instructor: Jeff Trower

Email: jtrower@austincc.edu  

Office Hours:  Mondays and Tuesdays 5:00-6:00PM  RGC Lounge                       

Course Description:

English 1301 is a study of the principles of composition, with considerable emphasis on the development of vocabulary, the mechanics of writing, the various types of discourse, and on sound research and documentation.

Course Objectives:

 The goals of English 1301 are to promote the following:

* critical thinking, reading, and writing

* clear, confident, and effective communication

* proper grammar, syntax, and vocabulary building

* effective integration of source material

Course Outcomes:

Upon completion of English 1301, students should be able to do the following:

* 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 clear, coherent scholarly essays, observing appropriate grammatical, mechanical, and stylistic conventions

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

* credit source material, using MLA-style  documentation

Textbook and Reading Materials:

There is no textbook for the class, but you will be required to access Blackboard, as course readings will be posted under “Announcements.” Please bring paper and pen to class each time.

Essay Requirements:

All students must receive "Accepted" on all essays before taking the "C" test for the grade of "C." Of these essays, one will be a research paper of at least 1000 words, and one will be a textual and values analysis. The remaining essays will successfully utilize at least two of the following aims: expressive, literary, referential, persuasive.

Students will also complete The Info Game, an online information literacy program, before the end of the course. Additional assignments are required for the grades of "B" and "A."

All papers must be typed or word-processed. If you do not have a computer, ACC computers are available for your use. All papers must be double-spaced, with one-inch margins, and must include your name, the date, and name of the assignment, on the top left corner of the first page.

"C" Test:

The "C" test will 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. The "C" test will be evaluated as "ACCEPTED" or "RETEST" only. If necessary, you may retest once. Your essay should be a clear, coherent analysis and evaluation of the author’s thesis.

"B" Requirement:

In order to earn a “B” in the course, you must complete all preceding assignments. For this grade, you will write an essay following guidelines provided by your instructor.

"A" Requirement:

In order to earn an “A” in the course, you must complete all preceding assignments, including the “B” requirement. Specific parameters for this assignment will be provided by your instructor.

Grading:

Your final grade will be determined by the grade level you complete. Each paper will be marked "ACCEPTED," "EDIT," "REVISE," or "REWRITE." A grading rubric will be provided for you and will be used as a foundation for determining each paper’s acceptance.

ACCEPTED: The paper fulfills the objectives of the assignment, is logically sound, and is relatively free of grammatical, spelling, and punctuation errors.

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, coherence, grammar, syntax, or overall development.

REWRITE: The paper does not fulfill the objective of the assignment and needs to be rewritten.

Basic Course Policies:

Incompletes:

Incompletesare given only to students who are undergoing a genuine, documented emergency in which extenuating circumstances prevent completion of coursework, and for students whose assignments are current at the time of their request for an Incomplete

Attendance:

You are expected to attend each scheduled class on time and to keep up with all assignments and course requirements. Because classroom instruction and discussion directly relate to what you need to know in order to complete the required papers and assignments in this course, you may be dropped if you miss more than two class periods.

Tardiness:

Students should be on time and plan to stay the whole class period. Late arrivals are disruptive to students and instructors alike, as are attempts by students to leave early. Neither is acceptable.

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). All academic work submitted by students shall be the result of their own thought, research, and/or self-expression. Academic work is defined as (but not limited to) tests and quizzes, whether taken electronically or completed on paper, group or individual projects, classroom presentations, and homework.

Student Freedom of Expression:

Each student is strongly encouraged to participate in class discussions. In any classroom situation that includes discourse and critical thinking, there are bound to be many differing viewpoints. These differences enhance the learning experience and create an atmosphere where students and instructors alike will be encouraged to think and learn. On sensitive and volatile topics, students may sometimes disagree not only with each other but also with the instructor. It is expected that faculty and students will respect the views of others expressed in classroom discussions.

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.

There is no textbook for this course. I will supply all reading materials, most of which will be posted on Blackboard.

This course is reading- and writing-intensive. Our objective is to strive for scholarly analysis, scholarly research, and scholarly writing.

See Syllabus