Faculty

ENGL-1301 English Composition I

Jeanne Chaltain

Credit Fall 2024

Section(s)

ENGL-1301-186 (98316)
LEC TuTh 12:00pm - 1:20pm HLC HLC2 2421

ENGL-1301-189 (98317)
LEC TuTh 12:00pm - 1:20pm HLC HLC2 2421

ENGL-1301-338 (90241)
LEC TuTh 10:30am - 11:50am HLC HLC2 2221

ENGL-1301-365 (90250)
LEC TuTh 10:30am - 11:50am HLC HLC2 2221

Course Requirements

The course has both high stakes assignments and low stakes assignments. Because this is a writing course, the high stakes assignments are essays, and together they form 85 percent of your grade. The low stakes assignments are usually short assignments intended to help you learn the skills you need to write the papers and to assess your understanding of the material in a low stakes manner. All together, these low stakes assignments account for 15 percent of your grade.

What are the essays?

There are four required papers in the class. I will provide detailed directions for each assignment in separate handouts. But here are the basics:

Paper 1 is a persuasive narrative in which you use a personal story to persuade the reader on an issue of your choice. No outside research is required. Min. length is 750 words.

Paper 2 is a proposal for Paper 3, the argumentative research paper. This paper allows you to think through your topic for Paper 3, where you will do a deep dive into the research and construct your argument. In Paper 2, you will define and narrow your topic, speculate as to the arguments on both sides, examine your biases going into the topic, and think about how you personally connect to the topic. The paper also serves as an introduction to research and MLA documentation, as one or two outside sources and MLA documentation are required. The minimum length is 1,000 words, not including Works Cited.

Paper 3 is an argumentative research paper on a topic of your choice (subject to my approval). It should be the same topic as Paper 2. It will require at least five outside sources and formal MLA documentation. Min length is 1,250 words, not including Works Cited.

Paper 4 is an analytical and evaluative essay on a persuasive article. This assignment requires you to analyze and evaluate an essay or article in terms of the three appeals of persuasion. Min length is 1000 words.

What are the low stakes assignments?

Low stakes assignments include reading sample essays and informational handouts, doing brief quizzes over the material to assess your understanding, doing writing process assignments, like outlines, which will count double, as these outlines and pre-writing assignments are especially important. In addition, sometimes we’ll do group work in class that will also lead to a low stakes grade. Due dates/times will be posted in the weekly folder in Blackboard. Low stakes assignments will be due by the start of class unless otherwise indicated.

Readings

Students will read instructional material and sample essays that will be provided on Blackboard. In addition, students will read articles on their research paper topic as they gather information for their essays.

Course Subjects

Week 1 (Aug 26-Aug. 30)

Go over syllabus, explain how to use Blackboard; Introduce Argument and Persuasion and the Three Appeals of Persuasion.

Week 2 (Sept 3-6)

practice analyzing appeals in panhandler signs and an essay; introduce paper 1

Week 3 (Sept 9-13)

My Dark Night; Crime of Compassion; The F Word; explain outline

Week 4 (Sept 16-20)

go over outlines; peer review;

Week 5 (Sept. 23-27)

Paper 1 is due Monday, Sept. 23 at 8 am. Submit through Blackboard as Word or pdf. Paper 2 introduced, online tutorials explained; sample paper 2; use of AI

Week 6 (Sept. 30-Oct. 4)

Finding background information; media bias; media literacy; optional revision for Paper 1 due?

Week 7 (Oct. 7-11)

MLA documentation; paraphrasing, directly quoting, summarizing; integrating sources into your essays.

Week 8 (Oct. 14-18)

Grammar week; proofreading

Paper 2 due Friday Oct. 18, 8 am. Submit through Blackboard as Word or pdf.

Week 9 (Oct. 21-25)

Paper 3 introduced, Step 1, annotated bibliography explained, ACC databases, sample paper

Week 10 (Oct 28-Nov 1)

advanced MLA documentation, step 2, note cards, explained, paraphrasing exercise

optional revision Paper 2 TBD?

Week 11 (Nov 4-8)

note cards are due; outline explained; research quiz;

Week 12 (Nov. 11-15)

Outline due Monday Nov. 11, 8 am; work day; Paper 3 due Friday, Nov. 15, 8 am.

Week 13 (Nov. 18-22)

Paper 4 introduced; Round Rock letter

Week 14 (Nov. 25-27)

Practice annotating Leonard Pitts in groups; Go over sample paper on Leonard Pitts;

No Class Thursday – Thanksgiving – Enjoy!!!

Week 15 (Dec. 2-6)

Annotating for appeals; PQAE exercise;

Paper 4 is due Friday, Dec. 6 at 8 am.

Week 16 (Dec. 9-13)

Work day/revision

Optional revision for Paper 3 due Friday at 8 am.

Student Learning Outcomes/Learning Objectives

COURSE LEARNING OUTCOMES Upon completion of English 1301, students should be able to ● demonstrate knowledge of individual and collaborative writing processes ● develop ideas with appropriate support and attribution ● write in a style appropriate to audience and purpose ● read, reflect, and respond critically to a variety of texts ● use Edited American English in academic essays

PROGRAM LEARNING OUTCOMES The following outcomes are developed in all Composition courses: ● expanded critical reading ability; Revised Spring 2024 3 ● strengthened written communication skills, characterized by o ability to write to the specifications of an assignment; o ability to develop a thesis, locate and select credible sources applicable to the thesis, and write an essay of the specified length that responds to the thesis; o ability to use standard American English writing conventions (grammar, spelling, usage, punctuation, and formatting) and the ability to communicate to readers with clarity and fluency. ● improved critical thinking, characterized by o examination of multiple components of a larger issue, o synthesis and evaluation of multiple perspectives, o consideration of moral/ethical questions.

GENERAL EDUCATION COMPETENCIES Upon completion of the general education component of an associate’s degree, students will demonstrate competence in: ● Critical Thinking Skills (CT) - creative thinking, innovation, inquiry, and analysis, evaluation and synthesis of information ● Communication Skills (COM) - effective development, interpretation and expression of ideas through written, oral and visual communication ● Teamwork (TW) - ability to consider different points of view and to work effectively with others to support a shared purpose or goal ● Social Responsibility (SR) - intercultural competence, knowledge of civic responsibility, and the ability to engage effectively in regional, national, and global communities ● Personal Responsibility (PR) - ability to connect choices, actions and consequences to ethical decision-making