English 1301: Composition I—Fall 2014
CRN#29131: MW 8:00-9:30, Room B-139
CRN#29206: MW 2:00-3:30, Room B-203
CRN#28983: TTh 9:30-11:00, Room B-125
CRN#28984: TTh 11:00-12:30, Room B-125
Instructor: Eva Foster
Email: eva.foster@hccs.edu
Learning Web: http://learning.hccs.edu/faculty/eva.foster
Course Blog: Facebook group (details to follow in class)
Office Hours: M 9:30-10:45, T/Th 12:30-1:30, available via chat & by appointment
3-hour lecture course | 48 hours per semester | 16 weeks

Required Texts

Texts
The Norton Reader, Linda H. Peterson and John C. Brereton, 13th edition

English 1301 Study Guide + The New McGraw-Hill Handbook (already online and available to you).

Materials Ink pens for in-class writing (no pencil, please) Non-spiral, lined notebook paper for in-class writing Pocket folder or legal folder (something to corral papers, in other words) A printer at home with plenty of printer ink, or a printing account at school, or both

PREREQUISITES
A satisfactory assessment score, completion of English 0310 or English 0349, and successful completion of remedial reading courses, if required.

Course description
“A course devoted to improving the student's writing and critical thinking. Writing essays for a variety of purposes from personal to academic, including the introduction of argumentation, critical analysis, and the use of sources. Core Curriculum course” (HCC Catalog).

Course Goals
English 1301 is part of the Core Curriculum and, as such, emphasizes all of the Core Competencies: reading, writing, speaking, listening, critical thinking, and computer literacy. In English 1301, we seek to provide writing instruction and practice that will help students master writing the short essay while developing critical reading skills. We believe that in mastering this particular kind of writing, students will also gain skills that will permit them to be successful at writing tasks in other college courses, their careers, and in their personal lives.

general core objectives
Given the rapid evolution of necessary knowledge and skills and the need to take into account global, national, state, and local cultures, the core curriculum must ensure that students will develop the essential knowledge and skills they need to be successful in college, in a career, in their communities, and in life. Through the Texas Core Curriculum, students will gain a foundation of knowledge of human cultures and the physical and natural world, develop principles of personal and social responsibility for living in a diverse world, and advance intellectual and practical skills that are essential for all learning.

Students enrolled in this core curriculum course will complete a research project or case study designed to cultivate the following core objectives:
Critical Thinking Skills—to include creative thinking, innovation, inquiry, and analysis, evaluation and synthesis of information
Communication Skills—to include effective development, interpretation and expression of ideas through written, oral and visual communication
Personal Responsibility—to include the ability to connect choices, actions, and consequences to ethical decision-making
Teamwork—to include the ability to consider different points of view and to work effectively with others to support a shared purpose or goal
Student proficiency in Communication Skills will be assessed as a formal written out-of-class essay, which is at least 3 pages long and which includes an oral presentation component as well as a visual component. Student proficiency in Critical Thinking will be assessed by a formal out-of-class essay assignment. Personal, Social Responsibility, and Teamwork will be assessed as part of long unit or major essay assignment, which will include assigned reading responses, pre-writing activities, multiple drafts, and group activities (such as peer review or group presentations). Student project grades will account for at least 5% of