COURSE NUMBER AND TITLE: 

ENGL 1301– English Composition 1 - Fall 2009                             

COURSE DESCRIPTION - The purpose of this course is to develop reading, thinking and writing skills used by successful academic writers. This will be facilitated by a study of the principles and techniques of written expository and persuasive composition and analyses of literary, expository and persuasive texts. At the end of the semester, students will be able to

·        review and analyze various professional texts,

·        read analytically,

·        think and write critically,

·        revise appropriately,

·        use standard university library tools for research, and

·        effectively incorporate research materials into writing.

Prerequisites – A grade of C or better in READ 200 and WRIT 200 or an English placement test equivalent.

REQUIRED TEXT AND MATERIALS 

Other Required Materials – letter-size notebook paper, blue or black pens, highlighters, a flash drive, a pocket folder, a TSTC email account and a valid ID in order to use the computer lab and library facilities.

Optional Texts – dictionary, thesaurus, current MLA handbook, grammar handbook

Homework and in-class work  -15%                              

Take-home essays                - 45%

Research Project                   -20%

C – 79 – 70

D – 69 – 60

F – 59 or lower (minimum passing grade – 60)

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES:

Student organizes, processes, and maintains written or computerized records and other forms of information in a systematic fashion.

Student selects and analyzes information and communicates the results to others by using oral, written, graphic, pictorial, or multi-media methods.

Student communicates thoughts, ideas, information, and messages in writing; records information completely and accurately; composes and creates documents.

Student uses imagination freely, combines ideas or information in new ways, makes connections between seemingly unrelated ideas, and reshapes goals that reveal new possibilities.

SUBMITTING ESSAYS AND RESEARCH DOCUMENTS FOR EVALUATION – Documents should be submitted electronically for the take-home essays and the research project.

1. After the final editing of the document, click the “Office Button” or “File” and then click “Save As” in the Menu.
2.  On the “Save As” screen, change the “File name” to convey the following information written in lower case without spaces: section number, last name, initial of first name, and the number of the essay -- 2004obamab3, for example.
3. Next, change the “Save as type” to “Word 97-2003 - RTF". Now click “Save” and remember where you saved the document.
4. Go to your Mymail TSTC College student email and attach the document that you saved and title the email exactly like the “File name” you just created for your document. 
5. Finally, send the email to robert.grant@harlingen.tstc.edu and check your “Sent Items” to make sure you have a record for verification of the submission.

It is the responsibility of the students to properly submit the assigned documents electronically before or on the due dates and to keep an electronic record of this submissions.

TUTORING - Students desiring tutoring should speak to Belle Martinez in the Office of Student Success, D121 in teh Bio-Medical/Medical Science Building (M-F 8-5).

ABSENCES - Attending class is crucial and excessive absences will adversely affect a grade.  An attendance sheet must be signed for each class.  Students are responsible for acquiring any information missed when absent.  Please visit the web pages if you miss a class and need information.  Email the instructor if you still have questions.  The contact information is on the first page of the Course Information Sheet.  Daily in-class work cannot be made up, but the daily grade will not count ageinst the student if the absence is excused.  The course instructor determines whether an absence is excused or unexcused.  An excused absence is defined as one due to illness or an emergency situation beyond the student's control.  A satisfactory written explanation from an appropriate authority should be given to the instructor.  An absence for any other reason is considered unexcused.

LATE WORK - The grade of take-home assignment will be lowered 10 points if submitted after the due date on the assignment sheet.  The points deducted cannot be redeemed through any subsequent rewrites.  A deadline for late submissions will be included on the individual assignment sheets.  After this deadline late essay will no longer accepted. 

REWRITES - Students may improve selected essays for a higher grade.  These rewrites must follow the submission procedure on the web site and discussed in class.

ACADEMIC HONESTY - Students caught cheating or plagiarizing are subject to disciplinary action and to failure in the course.

COLLEGE POLICY CONCERNING THREATS:  "TSTC Harlingen faculty, staff, and student are asked to report all threats, perceived or real, immediately to College police located in teh Auxiliary Building.  If the threat is imminent, the Ciollege Police emergency phone line at 364-4234 ir 9-911 should be called. College Police will then coordinate the proper response in accordance with State and federal laws and TSTC System/College rules and regulations."

Full Name  _____________________________________

Name you wish me to use  _________________________

Phone (cell)  ____________________________________

          (other)  _____________________________________

email  _________________________________________