Faculty Syllabus
ENGL-1301 English Composition I
John Terrill
Credit Spring 2026
Section(s)
ENGL-1301-175 (33955)
LEC MW 6:30pm - 7:50pm RRC RRC1 1221.00
ENGL-1301-176 (33956)
LEC MW 6:30pm - 7:50pm RRC RRC1 1221.00
ENGL-1301-178 (33958)
LEC TuTh 6:30pm - 7:50pm RRC RRC1 1221.00
ENGL-1301-179 (33959)
LEC TuTh 6:30pm - 7:50pm RRC RRC1 1221.00
Course Requirements
COURSE EVALUATION RUBRIC 1. Essay 1 10% 2. Essay 2 10% 3. Midterm 10% 5. Essay 3 15% 6. Essay 4 20% 7. Departmental Exam 15% 8. Attendance and Participation 20%
Students will submit six essays over the course of the semester, including two timed writing assignments (a midterm exam and the final Departmental Exam) for a total minimum of 4000 words. Instructors will provide specific written guidelines for each assignment. The Departmental Exam is an exit-level test graded Pass/Fail, which will be written in an ACC Testing Center. DIL, SAS, and Dual Credit students may be allowed other program-approved options. â— Students will learn to develop a writing project through multiple drafts. â— Essay assignments will develop arguments using rhetorical purposes (expressive, referential, persuasive, and/or literary) and rhetorical strategies (narration, description, cause/effect, comparison/contrast, definition, illustration, process analysis, and evaluation). â— The research process will be a significant focus of the class, with assignments sequenced to build facility with integration of outside source material using MLA format. Early assignments will involve work with one or two sources, building to a more substantial research project. â— At least one essay will be a textual analysis in which students demonstrate the ability to identify an essay’s purpose, audience, thesis, and rhetorical strategies and evaluate the essay’s effectiveness. Students will complete the Academic Honesty/Plagiarism Research Tutorial, and additional tutorials, such as ENGL 1301 English Composition I Research Paper (both located at http://library.austincc.edu/help/Tutorials.php), as assigned by the instructor. Instructors may also assign readings, quizzes, in-class writing activities, Learning Lab work, presentations, group projects, and other activities that will affect final grades.
Readings
The professor provides course materials electronically via Blackboard. It is the responsibility of the student to acquire required texts/materials. Instructors will retain course work for one semester following enrollment. Students are responsible for making copies of any papers they want to keep for their files.
Course Subjects
A study of the principles of composition with emphasis on language, the mechanics of writing, the types of discourse, and research and documentation.
The goals of Composition I are to promote â— critical thinking, reading, and writing; â— clear, coherent, confident, and effective communication; â— collaborative writing and learning; and â— exposure (through reading or composing) to a range of genres, including genres incorporating visual design elements.
Student Learning Outcomes/Learning Objectives
COURSE OBJECTIVES/RATIONALE The goals of Composition I are to promote â— critical thinking, reading, and writing; â— clear, coherent, confident, and effective communication; â— collaborative writing and learning; and â— exposure (through reading or composing) to a range of genres, including genres incorporating visual design elements. STUDENT 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 DISCIPLINE/PROGRAM STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES The following outcomes are developed in all English Composition I students regardless of student age or course location: • expanded critical reading ability; • ability to write to the specifications of an assignment in terms of subject, rhetorical purpose, method(s) of organization and length; • ability to form a research question, 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; • expanded ability to develop content for an essay and organize writing • expanded ability to use correct grammar and mechanics GENERAL EDUCATION LEARNING OUTCOMES Upon completion of the general education component of an associate’s degree, students will demonstrate competence in: Critical Thinking—Gathering, analyzing, synthesizing, evaluating and applying information. Interpersonal Skills—Interacting collaboratively to achieve common goals. Personal Responsibilities—Demonstrating effective learning, creative thinking, and personal responsibility. Technology Skills—Using appropriate technology to retrieve, manage, analyze, and present information. Written, Oral and Visual Communication—Communicating effectively, adapting to purpose, structure, audience, and medium.
Office Hours
Published: 01/30/2026 14:06:31