English 1301, an introduction to academic writing, focuses on expository and persuasive research essays, analytical reading, and critical thinking.  With an emphasis on writing from sources, English 1301 examines all stages of the writing process and requires that students use documentation.

English 1301 is a prerequisite for all other college-credit English courses.

 
COURSE OBJECTIVES

During the semester, students will have extensive practice in writing, revising, and editing and should learn the following:

1. to use library research methods;

2. to paraphrase and summarize, fairly and accurately, the works of others;

3. to support a thesis with the works of others;

4. to apply the principles of voice, purpose, and audience adaptation;

5. to revise essays in response to comments from others so that improvement is evident to readers;

6. to understand the connection between thought and language, the concepts that govern usage, and
    the various criteria for determining correctness or appropriateness of language in a given rhetorical
    situation;

7. to analyze and review essays as critical readers and writers; and

8. to cite sources correctly.

 
TEXTS
 
Fowler, H. Ramsey,  Jane E. Aaron, and Rebecca Brittenham.  The Little, Brown Handbook.

        7th ed.  New York: Longman, 1998.

Wood, Nancy V.  Perspectives on Argument.  2nd ed.  Upper Saddle River, NJ:

        Prentice, 1998.
 

SUPPLEMENTAL TEXT (on reserve in our campus library)

McCuen, Jo Ray, and Anthony Winkler, eds.  Readings for Writers.  7th ed.  Fort Worth:

        Harcourt, 1992.

 
OUTLINE OF COURSE (T/R)

All assignments are subject to change.  Additional readings might be assigned.

Week I
09/01 Introduction to course; Pretest
09/03 Diagnostic essay

Week II
09/08 LB Chapter 1; PA “Love is a Fallacy,” p. 229
09/10 LB Chapter 2 and selections from Chapter 3; PA “A Room of Their Own,” p. 111,
          “Learning by Intimidation?” p. 148, and “And a Purple Dinosaur Shall Lead Them,” p. 181

Week III
09/15 LB Chapters 35 and 36
09/17 LB Chapter 37; PA “The Road to Unreality,” p. 86, “What’s Happened to Disney Films?”
           p. 146, and “Computers in Class,” p. 172

Week IV
09/22 Library tour
09/24 PA “Hold Your Horsepower,” p. 189, and “Special Education’s Best Intentions,”
          p. 261; Sample Essay I: “Stripping Down to Bare Happiness” (handout)

Week V
09/29 First draft of Essay I (Remember that Essays I and III are in-class essays.  Do not bring rough
          drafts, outlines, or other notes.)
10/01 PA Chapter 3; Peer critiques of Essay I

Week VI
10/06 PA Chapter 4; Rewrite of Essay I
10/08 LB Chapter 4 and PA pp. 116-17 (including Writing Assignment #4 and “Trial by
          Jury”); Sample Essay II

Week VII
10/13 PA Chapter 6 and pp. 215-20; “The Whiny Generation,” p. 223
10/15 Peer critiques of Essay II  (Remember that Essay II should be completed outside of  class.
          Bring rough drafts.)

Week VIII
10/20 Out-of-class Essay II due; Sample research paper
10/22 RW (on reserve) "Am I Blue?" p. 563, and "In Defense of Deer Hunting and Killing," p. 568;
          Sample Essay III

Week IX
10/26-30 Individual conferences

Week X
11/03 RW (on reserve) "Drugs," p. 200, and "Don't Legalize Drugs," p. 203;  PA “It’s Drugs,
          Stupid,” p. 495
11/05 PA “Don’t Let Judges Set Crooks Free,” p. 498, and “A Case for Discretion,” p. 501

Week XI
11/10 First draft of Essay III
11/12 Peer critiques of Essay III

Week XII
11/17 Rewrite of Essay III
11/19 PA Chapter 8 (pp. 246-53), “Dear Mom,” p. 263, “Leave Marriage Alone,” p. 463,
          and “Let Gays Marry,” p. 461

Week XIII
11/24 Peer critiques of the research projects  (Bring rough drafts.)
 
Week XIV
12/01 RESEARCH PROJECTS DUE; Oral presentations of papers
12/03 Oral presentations of research papers

Week XV
12/08 Oral presentations of research papers
12/10 Oral presentations of research papers

FINAL ESSAY AND FINAL EXAM: ___________________________
 

GRADE DISTRIBUTION

Research Project = 25%
(Rough draft = 10 points, oral presentation = 10 points, final draft = 80 points)
Essays I, II, and III = 50%
Quizzes = 5%
Class Participation = 5%
Final Essay and Final Exam = 15%
 

METHOD OF EVALUATION

Assignments will be evaluated in accordance with "Grading Criteria."  (See attached copy.)
 

CLASS PREPARATION

Prior to each meeting, students should read and annotate their assignments (both the essays and the chapters from Little, Brown).  Readings on the course outline might be modified during class; therefore, students who are absent should contact a classmate or me to learn specifically how they should prepare for the next meeting.  Class participation is required, and students should come prepared to summarize the readings either in writing or orally.
 

ESSAYS I, II, III AND THE FINAL EXAM

Students will write Essays I, III, and the Final Exam Essay in class.  Essay I, a summary of and a response to an assigned reading, and Essay III, a critical analysis of an assigned reading, will be written neatly in exam books.  Essay II, which will include documented information and photocopies of sources, must be typed, double-spaced, and handed in at the beginning of the class period that it is due.  Photocopies of all sources cited must be handed in with Essay II.  The late penalty for Essay II is a ten-point deduction for each weekday beyond the assigned due date.  Late essays should be handed directly to me, not left in my mailbox.   I will announce the topics for the Final Exam Essay at a later date.
 

THE RESEARCH PAPER (2,000-2,200 words)

The research paper, a persuasive paper, is the most significant assignment for this course and must be typed, double-spaced, and documented using MLA form.  The following are unacceptable topics for papers in this class: pro- life/pro-choice abortion discussions, gun control, capital punishment, and euthanasia.  I will approve or reject all other topics on an individual basis.  Photocopies of all sources cited must be handed in with the research paper.  (The late policy for Essay II also applies to the research paper.)  After I have approved the topics and handed back the proposals, students may not change their topics for Essay II or the research paper without my approval.
 

QUIZZES

Students who miss a quiz because of excused absences must take a make-up within a week of their return to class.  Students who miss quizzes because of unexcused absences or tardiness will receive zeroes.
 

CLASS POLICIES

Attendance is noted at the beginning of each class period.  Students who leave before class has been dismissed will receive an unexcused absence and a zero on quizzes or other work completed that day.  Students must provide appropriate documentation of their illness or of a death in the family for absences to be excused.  Students will not be dropped from the course because of excessive absences.  Anyone who desires a “W” must drop the class by following Blinn’s official procedure for withdrawing.

Cellular phones should be turned off during class.
 

ACADEMIC DISHONESTY

A student who cheats or plagiarizes will receive a zero for that particular assignment and will be required to meet with the division chair for appropriate resolution of the problem.
 

ACCOMMODATIONS

Students with disabilities may receive accommodations on examinations and in-class essays.  These students must make their needs known as soon as possible and must provide the Academic Advising and Counseling Center (AACC) with proper documentation.
 
 
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