SOUTH PLAINS COLLEGE Reese Campus South Plains College Mission Statement: South Plains College exists to educate students in an academically challenging, learning-focused environment for professional success and lifelong learning. Course Name: ENGL 1301 Composition and Rhetoric Term and Year: Spring 2012 Full Name of Instructor: Rob Knight Phone and Email: 806-543-7301, [email protected] Office Hours, Building, and Location: Tuesday 6:30 PM Class Meeting Time: Tuesday 7 PM Catalog Description: Principles of clear, correct, effective expository writing, with illustrative readings and frequent essays and conferences. Prerequisite: Appropriate scores on entrance tests or completion of appropriate introductory courses. Required Textbook and Resources: Diana Hacker: A Writer’s Reference, 5th or 6th edition Optional Materials: A flash-drive would be helpful as well. Course Outcome Competencies: Upon the conclusion of this course, students actively engaged in learning will be able to: 1. Apply standard rules and conventions of the English language to written expressions. 2. Summarize the steps and components of the writing process. 3. Compose academic, nonfiction essays or responses in at least four different rhetorical modes or style. 4. Demonstrate basic college-level research skills. 5. Employ active reading strategies. The more the student puts into the course, the higher his or her outcome competencies will be. Attendance Requirements: As stated in the South Plains College Catalog, students enrolled at one of the University’s external campuses should make every effort to attend all class meetings. All absences must be explained to the instructor, who will then determine whether the omitted work may be made up. When a student reaches that number of absences considered by the instructor to be excessive, the instructor will so advise the student and file an unsatisfactory progress report with the campus dean. Any student who misses 25 percent or more of the regularly scheduled class meetings will receive a grade of F in the course (25%=4 face-to-face meetings). Additional attendance policies for each course, as defined by the instructor in the course syllabus, are considered a part of the University’s attendance policy. Additional Attendance Requirements: The course outcomes for this class are dependent upon daily attendance so that each student is actively involved in receiving instructor feedback, fulfilling daily writing activities, participating in writing workshops, completing quizzes. Daily grades can only be completed if student is in attendance. Only those students who miss class due to a school sponsored event will be allowed to make up daily grades. Disability Statement: It is University policy that no otherwise qualified disabled person be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subject to discrimination under any educational program or activity in the University. Students should inform the instructor of existing disabilities at the first class meeting. (Documentation of disability may be required.) Cell phone Policy: The School of Languages and Literature prohibits student use of cell phones during scheduled classes. All such devices must be turned off or put in silent (not vibrate) mode during class. Laptop use not directly related to class is also prohibited.Grading Priority: - Daily grades, quizzes and online drills 250 points - Participation/Attendance 50 points - Comparison Essay 150 points - Cause and Effect Essay 150 points - Argument Essay 200 points - Literary Analysis 200 points Total 1,000 points Tips on doing well in this class: 1. Class will meet in the computer lab. Be there. Missing daily grades will put a big dent in your grade. Missing more than four (4) face-to-face classes will disqualify you from passing this class. Turn in your assignments. 2. Turn them in on time. They must be typed according to the guidelines at the beginning of class on the due date. All late papers will be counted off 10 points for every class period it is late. 3. Don’t drop out of class in the middle of the semester. 4. It is your responsibility to keep up with the assignments; I will not always remind you when something is due, and I will not inform you of missing submissions unless you ask. If you miss a class, it is your responsibility to find out what you missed and make it up. 5. Don’t make excuses. Get your work done. If you have an emergency that prevents you from completing an assignment, let me know before-hand so we can do something about it. 6. Print out your work before you come to class. 7. Learn to use Hacker website. 8. Don’t come to class cranky. Writing can be a chore if you are in a bad mood. South Plains College Standards for Writing Good writing exhibits the following characteristics: 1. Content is clearly purposeful, demonstrating depth, insight, and critical thinking. 2. Structure and organization are effective, coherent, and logically developed. 3. Conventions are conscientiously observed. This includes—-but is not limited to—-sentence structure, usage, and mechanics such as punctuation, grammar, and spelling. 4. Style is effective. Style has been defined as “the personality of the writing.” It includes—but is not limited to—word choice, sentence variety, voice, and attention to audience. 5. Resources are quoted and cited correctly, exhibiting quality and breadth. Plagiarism is unacceptable. See Plagiarism Statement in SPC Academic Catalog.English 1301 Spring 2012 January 17 Introduction to course, syllabus, requirements. Our Writing Toolbox—the textbook, the website, external sources. Why do we write? How do we write? What do we write about? “Planning and drafting your paper.” “Revising and editing your paper.” Send me an email from your SPC account or personal e-mail account. Sign-up for Hacker account. Search the web for anything about “Writing Process”, “College/university Composition”, “Drafting Essays”, “How to write a college essay”, etc. Bring at least 3 websites on hard copy. January 24 Researching Effectively—Using and documenting sources Finding sources. Forms of Writing Writing Introductions/Conclusions January 31 Introduce