English 1301 Syllabus South Plains College Improves Each Student's Life Revised 1/18/11 English 1301 - Sears Page 1 of 6 South Plains College: Reese Center Course Title: English 1301: Composition I ENGL 1301._________________________ Instructor: Ed Sears Office: RC 316 H Phone: 806-716-4691 FAX: 806-885-1783 Email: [email protected] Office Hours: Monday through Thursday 11:30–1:00 Friday 1:30 – 3:30 I. General Course Information A. Course Description: The purpose of English 1301 is to help students understand and apply the standards of correctness in formal thought and the written English language. English 1301 helps students to think well by teaching them to read and write well through its focus on the writing process, on the use of appropriate grammar and diction, on the use of logic, and on the different methods of essay development. B. Course Objectives: By the end of English 1301, the student should have written the equivalent of six 500-word papers that reflect the ability: 1. to understand writing as a process, that is, writing conceived as a connected and interactive process which includes prewriting, writing, and revision; 2. to apply the principles of writing as a process and the analysis of audience and purpose to writing assignments; 3. to write an essay that follows the principles of unity and coherence and that is appropriately developed to support a thesis by means of narration, description, illustration, definition, process analysis, cause and effect, comparison and contrast, classification and division, argumentation, and/or persuasion; 4. to write an essay in standard American English, the criteria for standard American English being those described in the current required handbook; 5. to understand and apply basic principles of critical thinking in the development of exposition and argument. C. Course Competencies: To be eligible to pass this course, each student must complete the following minimum requirements: 1. Fill out, sign, and turn in the Syllabus Acknowledgment on the last page of this syllabus. 2. Turn in to the instructor a minimum of 4 of the 5 assigned papers. 3. Complete at least two-thirds of all online exercises. 4. Complete at least two-thirds of all quizzes. Any student not meeting all these minimum requirements will receive a course grade of F. No additional assignments will be accepted in place of the above minimum requirements. No “extra credit” work will be accepted. D. Academic Integrity: 1. "It is the aim of the faculty of South Plains College to foster a spirit of complete honesty and a high standard of integrity. The attempt of any student to present as his or her own any work which he or she has not honestly performed is regarded by the faculty and administration as a most serious offense and renders the offender liable to serious consequences, possibly suspension." (South Plains College General Catalog). 2. Except in extreme cases, disciplinary action in cases of cheating or plagiarism will be handled by and at the discretion of the instructor and, if necessary, in consultation with the departmental chairperson. Depending on the nature and the severity of the problem, individual instructors may assign penalties ranging from a score of zero for the assignment to a grade of "F" for the course. Extreme cases may result in disciplinary action up to and including expulsion from South Plains College.English 1301 Syllabus South Plains College Improves Each Student's Life Revised 1/18/11 English 1301 - Sears Page 2 of 6 II. Specific Course/Instructor Requirements A. In addition to the normal paper, pencils, and other basic school supplies, every student must have the following: 1. Access to the Internet. 2. A sufficient number of Apperson® answer forms for all quizzes. 3. The following textbook: Hacker, Diana. A Writer’s Reference, Sixth Edition. Bedford / St. Martin’s, 2007. B. Attendance Policy: 1. “Punctual and regular attendance is required of all students attending South Plains College. There are no excused absences.” – South Plains College Student Guide. 2. It is not possible to pass this course without regularly attending class. Any student who can not meet minimum course requirements because of excessive absences may be administratively withdrawn (dropped) from the class with a course grade of F. 3. Absence is defined as not being physically present in the assigned class room at the beginning or dismissal of a scheduled class meeting. 4. Students do not need to provide any kind of doctor’s note, police report, funeral notice, etc. to document the reason for an absence. 5. Any student who is absent for 4 consecutive class days without contacting the instructor by phone, voice mail, or email may be dropped from the class with a grade of X or F depending on the student’s course average at the time of the withdrawal. Any student dropped for excessive absence will not be reinstated for any reason. 6. Students will receive no credit for any in-class work missed due to absence, arriving late, or leaving early. This includes but is not limited to quizzes, exercises, or essays. 7. Absence is not an acceptable excuse for turning in papers or homework late. Online exercise scores or papers may be turned in on the due date in class, to the instructor early, at the instructor’s office, through campus mail, by FAX, by email, or through someone you trust. The final draft of all papers will be turned in as attachment to email or through online means such as Turnitin®, as assigned. 8. Students are responsible for any and all lectures and discussions covered in class and assignments made during class whether they are present or not. The instructor will not repeat lessons missed because of absence. Lecture recordings may be accessed through Blackboard®. C. Assignment Policy: 1. Students will write 5 papers of 500 to 750 words each and complete online exercises and in-class exercises as assigned. 2. All papers will be typed using the format specified in class. In-class work will be handwritten. Electronic versions of the papers will be required for grading. 3. Homework assignments will be due at the beginning of class on the date assigned. All papers are due on the date and at the time specified in class. 4. Technical difficulties (computer problems, printer malfunction or out of ink, software errors, saving errors,