Composition and Rhetoric Course Description
Composition and Rhetoric is a writing-intensive,
first-semester freshman composition course that focuses on the writing
of researched argumentative, expository, and persuasive papers. Analytical
reading, critical thinking, and library-based research skills are emphasized.
Papers required. Prerequisite: A passing TASP score.
Local assessment test or exemption. Three semester hours per week.
Credit: Three semester hours.
Course Objectives
English 1301 focuses on referential and persuasive
essays, which develop analytical reading skills, critical thinking, library
research skills, and researched essay writing experience. Specifically,
you should learn the following:
1. to use appropriate library research methods;
2. to paraphrase and summarize, fairly and accurately,
the ideas of others;
3. to support a thesis with the works of others,
well-assimilated and accurately and appropriately documented, in a series
of essays and a researched essay;
4. to follow the guidelines and conventions set
forth by the Modern Language Association for the writing of research papers;
5. to recognize purpose, audience, and voice
(tone) as they apply to various readings;
6. to apply the principles of purpose, audience,
and voice (tone) to writing;
7. to revise essays in response to comments from
others so that improvement is evident to readers;
8. to understand the connection between thought
and language, the concepts that govern grammatical and syntactic usage,
and the various criteria for determining correctness, appropriateness,
or idiomatic language choice as dictated by given rhetorical situations
in the endeavor to communicate logical thought clearly and precisely;
9. to evaluate and formulate discourse that will
reinforce logical habits of mind;
10. to analyze and review critically an essay,
comparable essays, or book; and
11. to understand and apply the principles of
persuasion to the development of arguments.
Learning Activities
English 1301: Composition and Rhetoric
focuses on students’ developing a clear, correct, analytical prose style.
Students are exposed to examples of written prose that serve as models
both of analysis and of argument; students will thereby develop the skills
to analyze others’ arguments and develop personal, persuasive, and rational
styles of their own. By revising their own essays, by offering peer
editing to their classmates, and by revising essays using their instructors’
input, students learn the full process of revision. By both reading
the assignments and writing in response to the assignments, students learn
through experience the purpose of writing and the reason for selecting
effective modes and strategies in which to express their ideas; they also
learn to recognize the strengths—and potential fallacies—in inductive and
deductive reasoning.
Through the course’s emphasis on the documented
essay, especially the documented research project totaling 2000+ words,
English 1301 students learn to use the library appropriately; they also
learn the techniques of summarizing, paraphrasing, and quoting both appropriately
and effectively the primary and/or secondary sources used in the development
of arguments that are supported by and through research. In addition,
students learn, through the process of formalizing these documented essays,
the correct forms of internal documentation and works-cited entries, effective
transition into and out of quoted passages used as support for an essay’s
argument, and the accepted MLA-style presentation for formal papers.
Students will tour the Blinn Library in
order to become acquainted with the resources available to the student
involved in research.
Required Texts and Materials
Fowler, H. Ramsey, and Jane E. Aaron. The Little, Brown Handbook. 7th ed.. New York:
HarperCollinsPublishers, 1998. [LBH] ISBN 0-321-03797-9
Wood, Nancy. Perspectives on Argument. 2nd. ed. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Prentice-Hall, Inc., 1998.
[PA] ISBN 0-13-096448-4
Grading System
You will write a great deal in this class.
Remember that this class focuses on the process of writing (planning, drafting,
revising, and proofreading) as well as the process of research and research
writing (MLA documentation style). Your grade will be determined
as follows:
Major Papers: 55%
Daily Work: 25%
Final Exam: 20%
Extra Credit Project: Portfolio of Semester
Work. This is the only extra credit project offered in this course.
It is offered because I believe that is it helpful for students to self-assess
their semester’s work in this class. Doing so may show students their
strengths and weaknesses as writers and may help students prepare for the
next required writing course. Up to 15 Points may be added to the
lowest major paper (on major research paper, points count once). See attached
assignment sheet.
Evaluation Policy:
A - The A grade represents successful completion
of the course requirements with an average of 90 or better.
B - The B grade represents successful completion
of the course requirements with an average of 80-89.
C - The C grade represents successful completion
of the course requirements with an average of 70-79.
D - The D grade represents completion of the
course requirements with an average of 60-69.
F - The F grade represents unacceptable completion
of the course requirements with an average of 59 or below.
W - The W grade represents a withdrawal from
the course. The last day to withdraw without penalty is November
17, 2000. Dropping after the W date results in an automatic WF in
the course.
WP/WF - The WP/WF grade represents withdrawal
from the course after the W date. WP represents withdrawal with a
passing average (D or better). WF represents withdrawal with a failing
average (F) and usually transfers as an F.
Policies
Attendance is strongly encouraged for all students. I keep an attendance record. The only excused absences allowed are for Blinn College-sponsored events, illnesses with a doctor's note, and hospitalizations. Students should remind me in advance when possible or ASAP in writing or by email and make an appointment to make up missed work. Students who choose make doctor’s appointments or schedule other meetings during class time will be counted absent. Dropping the course is the student’s responsibility. To drop a student must complete a form and pay a fee at the admissions office.
Make Up Work: Make up work for major writing projects, daily work, or exams will be allowed only if I am notified ASAP (before class meets) by email or in writing that you cannot manage the due date. In writing you will need to negotiate an alternative due date with me and keep it in order to receive credit for the assignment.
Turning an assignment in late (after the class meeting is over but before the next class meeting begins) results in ten points off the assignment grade. No other late work will be accepted.
Quizzes or class work (group work, workshop, journals written in class) are not eligible for make up. So, do not miss a class meeting!
Classroom Policy: Students should be prepared to stay in class during its entirety unless an emergency occurs. Students are expected to be considerate of others, to treat others with respect. Disrespectful students will be asked to leave the classroom and must arrange a conference with the instructor to discuss correction of the behavior before the student is allowed to return to class.
Participation in class discussion and activities is encouraged since it is through active participation that students may successfully complete the course. Completion of homework assignments is encouraged and affects course grade. See Grading System.
Email: Students are encouraged to secure an email address to communicate with the instructor and other students in the course. I may assign a number of activities involving both the Internet and email.
Learning Center: The Learning Center (Library 248) provides word processing services and Internet access. Tutoring sessions may be assigned to help students with course content. Students will need to be flexible in their schedule in order to make time to attend the center as needed throughout the semester. All services require a student ID. The LC hours of operation for the fall are Sunday, 5-9 p.m.; Monday – Thursday, 8 a.m.-9 p.m.; Friday, 8 a.m.-9 p.m. The LC opens August 28, 2000, closes for Thanksgiving November 22-24, and closes for winter break December 13, 2000.
Plagiarism is stealing another person’s work and taking credit for it. Whether it is done intentionally or unintentionally, it will result in a zero on a paper and/or possible failure in a course as per the Blinn College policy for academic dishonesty. Cheating is also covered by this policy; I will follow its guidelines.
Students with Disabilities may receive accommodations on exams or assignments. Students protected by the Americans with Disabilities Act must inform their instructor about their needs as soon as possible. The process begins with the Disabilities Coordinator in the Counseling Office, 821-0255. The instructor will not grant accommodations until the required paperwork is filled out.
Cellular phones and pagers must be turned off before entering any classroom, lab, or library and may not be used in these facilities.
Group Work