English 1302: Composition & Rhetoric II

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Time	Section	Room	Credit	Prerequisites
T/Th 8:30-9:50	5023	CASA 328	3 hours	ENGL 1301
T/Th 11:30-12:50	5030	CASA 329

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Catalog Description

A continuation of ENGL 1301, with an emphasis on critical papers, culminating in a term paper or papers. Readings in modern prose, poetry, and drama.

Course Learning Outcomes for English 1301

• Analyze a text by implementing rhetorical and/or literary strategies.
• Recognize the elements of appropriate literary genres.
• Focus a topic and formulate a critical/analytical thesis, focus, main point, or claim appropriate for an academic audience that analyzes literature–nonfiction and/or fiction.
• Use a variety of organizational strategies within a single paper to support a thesis, focus, main point, or claim.
• Interpret texts in a variety of cultural and historical contexts.
• Demonstrate an ability to use effective research techniques to find appropriate oral and/or written media such as books, articles, interviews, visuals, and government documents.
• Demonstrate an ability to evaluate sources.
• Avoid plagiarism when incorporating quotations, paraphrases, and ideas.
• Follow standard guidelines in documenting resources.
• Synthesize and evaluate various interpretations of texts to complete an extended research project.
• Compose relatively error-free papers.

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

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

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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 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 missed if you were not in class.

Assignments

You will write three critical essays, with required rough drafts and peer reviews for each; the third essay will be in lieu of a final exam. You will also write twelve Reading Journal entries that help you plan your essays; Journal entries will receive either an S (Satisfactory) or a U (Unsatisfactory). Hand in 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 never assign extra credit or make-up work. 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 five minute pop quiz on the day’s reading assignment at either the beginning or the end of class; if you miss that five minutes of a class, you miss that quiz. I never, under any circumstances whatsoever, give “make up” quizzes. But when calculating your quiz average, I will drop your two lowest quiz scores. (You can count on some vocabulary questions on the quizzes, so look up the meaning of any unfamiliar word you encounter in the readings.)

Professionalism

I expect you to participate in class professionally. You should always arrive in class on time with your assignments ready to turn in and your text books in hand; you should have completed the readings for that day and be ready to discuss them intelligently. Professionalism includes all of these as well as regular attendance and a sincere effort to improve your own writing and that of your peers through revision and peer reviews.

Manuscript Requirements

Make and keep a copy of every journal, essay, draft, and peer review you submit. Print out your final drafts on 8 ½ x 11 inch paper. Use 1 inch margins, double space, paginate, and staple pages together. (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 you 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. Every time I see or hear your cell phone in class, I will deduct 5 points from your final average. I also reserve the right to confiscate any cell phone visible in class and to answer or confiscate any cell phone that rings during class. (Notify me before class begins if there is an emergency situation that absolutely requires you to leave your cell phone on.)

Laptops/Tablets

You may use your laptop or tablet computer 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 or tablet used inappropriately during class.

Website

All course materials—including the policy statement, the syllabus, assignment sheets, and so on—are available on the class website: http://drmarkwomack.com/engl-1302/.

Academic Integrity

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

Department Contact

Division 1 Receptionist 832.482.1053

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Schedule of Readings & Assignments

DATE	READINGS	ASSIGNMENTS
T 1/17	Review of instructions, policies, & syllabus
Th 1/19	“Elements of Fiction” Portable Legacies (PL) 1132-38	Diagnostic Paragraph
T 1/24	“A&P” PL 97-102 “Reading to Form an Interpretation” A Writer’s Reference (WR) L1	Signed & Dated Course Agreement
Th 1/26	“Hills Like White Elephants” & “Eveline” PL 611-20 “Planing the Paper” & Writing the Paper” WR L2-L3	Short Story Journal 1
T 1/31	“Rappaccini’s Daughter” PL 366-89 “Observing the Conventions” & “Integrating Quotations” WR L4-L5	Short Story Journal 2
Th 2/2	“Cathedral” PL 114-26 “Planing” & “Drafting” WR C1-C2	Short Story Journal 3
T 2/7	Outline Workshop “Documenting Sources” WR MLA-4	Short Story Journal 4
Th 2/9	Peer Review Workshop	Essay 1 Draft
T 2/14	Revision Workshop “Revising” & “Active Verbs” WR C3 & W3	Return Reviews
Th 2/16	Revision Conferences—8:30AM to 1:00PM
T 2/21	“Elements of Drama” PL 1164-70	Essay 1
Th 2/23	Othello, Act 1 PL 722-41
T 2/28	Othello, Act 2 PL 741-59	Explication Journal 1
Th 3/1	Othello, Act 3 PL 759-81	Explication Journal 2
T 3/6	Othello, Act 4 PL 781-98	Explication Journal 3
Th 3/8	Othello, Act 5 PL 799-813
SPRING BREAK: March 12 to March 18
T 3/20	Outline Workshop “Wordy Sentences” & “Exact Language” WR W2 & W5	Explication Journal 4
Th 3/22	Peer Review Workshop	Essay 2 Draft
T 3/27	Revision Workshop “Sentence Fragments” & “Run-on Sentences” WR G5 & G6	Return Reviews
Th 3/29	Revision Conferences—8:30AM to 1:00PM
T 4/3	“Elements of Poetry” PL 1140-50	Essay 2
Th 4/5	“Structure” & Shakespeare’s Sonnets PL 1150-57 & 666-67	Sonnet Journal 1
T 4/10	Last Day to Drop & Receive a “W”
	“Adolescence” I, II, & III PL 76-77	Sonnet Journal 2
Th 4/12	“A Valediction Forbiding Mourning” PL 668-69	Sonnet Journal 3
T 4/17	Outline Workshop “Supporting A Thesis” & “Integrating Sources” WR MLA-1 & MLA-2	Sonnet Journal 4
Th 4/19	Peer Review Workshop	Essay 3 Draft
T 4/24	Revision Workshop “Using Secondary Sources” WR L-6	Return Reviews
Th 4/26	Revision Conferences—8:30AM to 1:00PM
T 5/1	Revision Workshop
Th 5/3		Essay 3

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Grading Criteria for Essays
A	Original and interesting thesis Well-structured argument Lots of convincing evidence Lucid prose style
B	Workable thesis Well-structured argument Good supporting evidence Decent prose style
C	Obvious and boring thesis Coherent argument Some supporting evidence Correct grammar, spelling, and punctuation OR Relies too heavily on plot summary and paraphrase
D	At least ONE of the following: No discernible thesis Incoherent argument Little or no supporting evidence Incorrect grammar, spelling, and punctuation
F	TWO or more of the following: No discernible thesis Incoherent argument Little or no supporting evidence Incorrect grammar, spelling, and punctuation OR Fails to meet basic requirements for the assignment

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Lone Star College-CyFair
Campus and System Policies

Lone Star College-CyFair and its English department require me to include a 1,969 word-long list of information, regulations, and official policies in my syllabus.

The latest version of that list 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.