English 1301 (Hybrid version)

ENGL 1301: COMPOSITION AND RHETORIC I

COURSE DESCRIPTION:
Intensive study of and practice in writing processes, from invention and researching to drafting, revising, and editing, both individually and collaboratively. Emphasis on effective rhetorical choices, including audience, purpose, arrangement, and style. Focus on writing the academic essay as a vehicle for learning, communicating, and critical analysis.

Note: ENGL 1301 is now a prerequisite for all 2000-level literature courses.

CORE OBJECTIVES:

The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board mandated a set of Core Objectives, inspired by the Association of American Colleges and Universities national initiative, Liberal Education and America’s Promise (LEAP). For English, there are four Objectives:

  1. Critical Thinking Skills – to include creative thinking, innovation, inquiry, and analysis, evaluation, and synthesis of information
  2. Communication Skills – to include effective development, interpretation, and expression of ideas through written and visual communication
  3. Teamwork – to include the ability to consider different points of view and to work effectively with others to support a shared purpose or goal
  4. Personal Responsibility – to include the ability to connect choices, actions, and consequences to ethical decision-making

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

Basic skills in punctuation, grammatical usage, and diction are expected upon entrance. English faculty will utilize a usage handbook or online resource.

Upon successful completion of this course, students will:

  1. Demonstrate knowledge of individual and collaborative writing processes.
  2. Develop ideas with appropriate support and attribution, following standard style guidelines in documenting sources.
  3. Write in a style appropriate to audience and purpose.
  4. Read, reflect, and respond critically to a variety of texts.
  5. Use edited American English in academic essays.

REQUIRED COURSE MATERIALS:

Lunsford, Andrea, et al. Everyone’s an Author with Readings. 2nd ed. Norton, 2017. ISBN: 978-0393265293.  Bundled with access code to Norton’s InQuizitive.

Kelly, Joseph P. The Seagull Reader: Literature. 3rd ed. 3 volumes. Norton, 2014. ISBN: 978-0393938104.

FAQ

  1. What is a hybrid class? A hybrid class is a course in which some work is completed online and some work is completed in face-to-face class meetings. Generally speaking, a hybrid class meets half as often as the equivalent face-to-face class (once a week, rather than twice a week, for example).
  2. Do we ever meet live? Yes. As a hybrid class, we will meet regularly at the time, date, and location stipulated in your class registration. If you are in need of a class without any face-to-face component, then you should enroll in an online version of English 1301.
  3. What makes a hybrid class different from an online class? First, you have to attend class at least once a week. Secondly, you get a lot more support for completing your work than an online-only class. It’s kind of the best of both worlds.
  4. What makes a hybrid class different from a face-to-face class? Notably, you don’t have to attend class as frequently. But that also means you have a greater obligation to complete required reading assignments or other assignments outside class. You also are more likely to have to submit your written assignments online or to take online assessments than a student in my equivalent face-to-face class.
  5. Where is the class’s online component? LSC-Online‘s website is where the class site can be found.You will need to make sure, through Distance Learning, that you have the necessary User ID and password to access the site.That’s between you and them; as an instructor I have no control over that.
  6. But what does the class consist of? There are four to six writing assignments you will be submitting (exact number depends on semester), ranging in length from two to five pages (average is around three pages). There is also a written final essay exam.  You will also be expected to participate in in-class activities and discussions as part of your participation grade for the class.  Meanwhile there are open book quizzes/exercises online to help you refer grammatical concepts. You’ll do the same amount of work as students in my equivalent face-to-face class, but where you do it might be a little different.
  7. Do I have to read everything assigned? Yes. Everything. How can you expect to participate in discussions, pass the quizzes, and write effective essays if you don’t read the assignments?!  If you choose to “get away with” reading only the bare minimum to complete assignments, you are only cheating yourself.
  8. Is this the right class for me? Some students think that hybrid classes are easier. They certainly do allow for a more scheduling flexibility which may help you fit the work in around family, work, or other school commitments.  However, like all courses with a distance component, this class will require a lot of work and self-discipline. This class is best for the highly-motivated student, one who reads carefully and follows directions, who is fluent in American English reading, spelling, and grammar, and who is already computer literate, as well as proficient in e-mail, bulletin boards, and the internet. You also must have reliable computer hardware and internet availability, as well as sufficient software of your own, including a current browser and word processor.

Based on all these things, I hope that this is the class for you. Thanks for your interest.

Sincerely,

Penny Piercy

Adjunct Professor of English, Lone Star College – Tomball