English 1301 (Online 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. The class site will be opened at midnight the morning semester officially begins. Why not earlier? Because the class is designed to be completed within the official term dates, and because it is not fair if some students are able to start early while others are not.
  2. Do we ever meet live? No.We do not.Every phase of the class is completed online.
  3. Where is the class site? 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.
  4. 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 online discussions as part of the whole class. Your work in the discussions would constitute your participation grade for the class.  There are open book quizzes on the course readings as well.
  5. 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.

  6. Is this the right class for me? Some students think that internet classes are easier. They certainly do allow for a good deal of scheduling flexibility which may help you fit the work in around family, work, or other school commitments.  However, like all distance courses, this class will require a lot of work and self-discipline. This class is designed 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. I repeat, if you do not have daily personal access to a reliable computer and internet connection, this is NOT the course for you.

N.B.: There really is no opportunity in this course for “hand-holding,” especially in session of the course that is eight weeks or shorter in length.   If you suspect that you are likely to need individual assistance with course content, writing assignments, or with technology/software, you should take the course through an on-campus section.  I’m not trying to scare anyone, but just to be realistic.

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