English 1301: Composition & Rhetoric I

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Time	Section	Room	Credit	Prerequisites
MWF 8:05-9:00	5002	CASA 326	3 hours	ENGL 305 (or 365) & ENGL 307 (or 375) or Placement by testing
MWF 9:10-10:05	5005	CAST 327

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Catalog Description

A multi-paragraph composition course, including language study and the mechanics of writing, with examples from selected readings. Students may be required to achieve a departmentally approved score on a proficiency test before credit for the course may be awarded.

Course Learning Outcomes for English 1301

• Analyze a text according to purpose, audience, and other rhetorical concerns.
• Respond logically, rather than react emotionally, to texts that reflect the writers’ diverse backgrounds and values.
• Demonstrate an ability to use and analyze an effective individual writing process.
• Focus a topic appropriate to the audience, purpose, voice, and length of assignment.
• Formulate clear and concise thesis statement, main point, focus, or claim.
• Develop, evaluate, and use evidence to support a claim.
• Use effective organization strategies in support of a thesis, focus, main point, or claim.
• Write an essay that demonstrates a command of unity, coherence, continuity, and development.
• Write clear, correct, and appropriate sentences and paragraphs avoiding major grammatical and semantic problems.
• Incorporate appropriate oral and/or written media such as books, articles, interviews, visuals, and government documents.
• Avoid plagiarism when incorporating quotations, paraphrases, and ideas.
• Follow standard guidelines in documenting resources.

Students should expect to use computer technology while enrolled in classes, certificate, and/or degree programs within LSCS. Here are the specific requirements for this course: accessing materials on course website, using LSC-Online, and using a word processor.

Required Texts

Additional Materials

• in-class writing tools (pen/pencil & paper)
• a stapler
• a two-pocket folder (for submitting writing exercises & portfolios)

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Course Policies

Attendance

You should attend all of every class. Failure to attend constitutes grounds for failing the course; if you miss six days of class or more, you will receive an “F.” I make no distinction between “excused” and “unexcused” absences; an absence is an absence. I assign no grade penalty for your first two absences; starting on your third absence, however, each day you miss will reduce your final average by one point. (Three tardies equal one absence. Leaving class before I dismiss you counts as two tardies.) I will take role at the beginning of each class session; if you arrive after role call, check in with me at the end of class. It is your responsibility to find out, from your classmates, what you miss when you are not in class.

Writing Assignments

You will write 4 major essays (ranging in length from 2 to 5 pages) and 4 sets of peer critiques. You will also write 10 Writing Exercises. Twice during the semester, you will submit revised samples of your writing in a Portfolio for evaluation. I do not assign extra credit or make-up work. Failure to complete ANY assignment, graded or not, may result in a failing grade for the course. Hand in all assignments to me at the beginning of class on the designated due date. Papers not submitted directly to me will not receive grades. I do not accept late papers. I discuss grades only in private, and only forty-eight hours (at least) after I have returned an assignment.

Quizzes

I will frequently give a 5 minute pop quiz on the day’s reading assignment either at the beginning or the end of class; if you miss that 5 minutes of a class, you miss that quiz. Missed quizzes cannot be made up for any reason whatsoever. When calculating your quiz average, I will drop your 2 lowest quiz scores.

Professionalism

I expect you to participate in class professionally—arrive on time, meet deadlines, collaborate, and pull your weight. I expect you to have read and be prepared to discuss the assigned readings for every class period. Professionalism includes all of these as well as regular attendance, willing participation in all facets of classroom life, and a sincere effort to improve your own writing and that of your peers through peer critique, revision, and conferencing.

Manuscript Requirements

Make and keep a copy of every exercise, essay, draft, and peer critique you submit. Print out your final drafts on 8.5 x 11 inch paper. Use 1 inch margins, double space, paginate, and staple pages together. (NB: I will not accept, read, or grade any unstapled papers). Use only 12 point fonts and readable typefaces (such as Times New Roman, or Georgia). Always print with a good ink cartridge to ensure legibility. I will not grade papers I consider illegible. Edit and proofread everything you turn in; every assignment should be as error-free as your can make it.

Cell Phones

You may not use cell phones in class. Keep your cell phone turned off and out of sight from the moment you enter the classroom until the moment you leave. Notify me before class begins if there is an emergency situation that absolutely requires you to leave your cell phone on. I reserve the right to confiscate any cell phone visible in class and to answer or confiscate any cell phone that rings during class.

Laptops

You may use your laptop only for taking notes, accessing the class website, or other specifically class-related work. If you use it to IM, e-mail, play games, shop or any other such activity during class, you forfeit your right to bring a laptop to class for the rest of the semester. I reserve the right to confiscate any laptop being used inappropriately during class.

Website

I will make all course materials—including the policy statement, the syllabus, assignment sheets, and so on—available on the class website: http://drmarkwomack.com/engl-1301/. I expect you to check the site regularly so that you can keep up with class announcements.

Academic Integrity

If I find clear evidence of academic dishonesty for ANY assignment, I will record a 0 (0 points) for the assignment and notify the English Dept. Chair of the incident and the grade. If a second incident of academic dishonesty occurs, I will record an “F” for the course grade and notify the English Dept. Chair of the incident and the grade.

Department Contact

Division Receptionist 832.482.1053

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Schedule of Readings & Assignments

DATE	READINGS	ASSIGNMENTS
M 8/29	Review of instructions, policies, & syllabus
W 8/31	Writing Classic Prose	“Who Is…?” Essay
F 9/2	Model Sentences	Writing Ex 1 (In Class)
M 9/5	LABOR DAY
W 9/7	“Write or Die,” The Arlington Reader [AR] (71-73)	Writing Ex 2
F 9/9	“Shooting an Elephant” AR (516-21)
M 9/12	“The New Jouranlsim” AR (62-64)	Writing Ex 3
W 9/14	“See You in Six Months” (on-line)
F 9/16	Peer Critique Workshop	Essay 1
M 9/19	“Active Verbs,” A Writer’s Reference [WR] (W3) & “Passive Verbs” WR (M1-b)
W 9/21	“Aria,” AR (275-84)
F 9/23	“Politics and the English Language” (on-line)
M 9/26	“Last Words,” AR (64-65)	Writing Ex 4
W 9/28	“Once More to the Lake,” AR (163-68)
F 9/31	“The Way to Rainy Mountain,” AR (118-22)
M 10/3	“Why I Write” AR (60-62)	Writing Ex 5
W 10/5	“Under the Influence” AR (181-91)
F 10/7	Peer Critique Workshop	Essay 2
M 10/10	“Needless Words” WR (S2) “Wordy Sentences” WR (W2)
W 10/12	“I Have a Dream” (on-line) “Letter from Birmingham Jail” AR (494-507)
F 10/14	“Writing Paragraphs” WR (C4)
M 10/17	“Ain’t I a Woman?” AR (146-47)	Writing Ex 6
W 10/19	“Sentence Fragments” WR (G5) “Run-on Sentences” WR (G6)
F 10/21	“Documenting Sources” WR (MLA-4)
M 10/24		Mid-Term Portfolio
W 10/26	“Reading the Comics” AR (51-53) & “Hate” AR (522-32)
F 10/28	“Where I Lived and What I Lived For” AR (594-98)
M 10/31	“Meditation 17 (For Whom the Bell Tolls)” AR (486-87)	Writing Ex 7
W 11/2	“Heaven and Earth in Jest” AR (599-607)
F 11/4	Peer Critique Workshop	Essay 3
M 11/7	“Citing Sources” WR (MLA-2) “Quotation Marks” WR (P5)
W 11/9	“Why We Crave Horror Movies” (on-line)
F 11/11	“Joyas Voladoras” AR (160-62)
	Last Day to Drop & Receive a “W”
M 11/14	“Microbes 3, Humans 2″ AR (476-78)	Writing Ex 8
W 11/16	“The Physical Genius” AR (213-23)
F 11/18	“Is Google Making Us Stupid?” AR (336-44)
M 11/21	“Cyber-Neologoliferation” AR (362-65)	Writing Ex 9
W 11/23	“The Allegory of the Cave” AR (295-98)
F 11/25	THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY
M 4/26	Peer Critique Workshop	Essay 4
W 11/30	“Academic Cross-Dressing” AR (460-64)
F 12/2	Nonsense Sentences	Writing Ex 10 (In Class)
M 12/5	Revision Workshop
W 12/7	Portfolio Revisions
F 12/9		Course Portfolio

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Lone Star College-CyFair
Campus and System Policies

LSC-CyFair requires every syllabus to include the Campus and System Policies.

The latest version of those policies is available HERE.

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Your instructor, Mark Womack, reserves the right to amend any policies listed here with sufficient written and verbal notice.