Spring 2024 Course Syllabus
Course: ENGL-1302 (Section: 02, CRN: 10114)
Composition II
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Instructor Information
Instructor Dr. Michelle Judice
Email judicemw@lamarpa.edu
Phone (409) 984-6352
Office Student Success Center - Room: 129
Office Hours M-W-F: 9-10 and 11:30-3:30   T: 11:30-3:30 

Please schedule and confirm an appointment before arriving. 
Additional Contact Information The BEST way to contact me is email: judicemw@lamarpa.edu
Course Information
Description Intensive study of and practice in the strategies and techniques for developing research-based expository and persuasive texts. Emphasis on effective and ethical rhetorical inquiry, including primary and secondary research methods; critical reading of verbal, visual, and multimedia texts; systematic evaluation, synthesis, and documentation of information sources; and critical thinking about evidence and conclusions.
Required Textbooks Textbook Purchasing Statement: A student attending Lamar State College Port Arthur is not under any obligation to purchase a textbook from the college-affiliated bookstore. The same textbook may also be available from an independent retailer, including an online retailer.

Students will be given links in Blackboard to short stories (prose) and poetry.

In-person classes may include a handout packet, as well as written formatting instructions.

Need wide-ruled paper, binder/folder, and BLACK ink pens.

NO textbook necessary. MUST HAVE access to a computer that has Word on it (caution: several Chrome books are not compatible with Blackboard)  
Additional Materials/Resources None.
Corequisites/Prerequisites PASSED English 1301. Basic skills competency in reading and writing required.
Learning Outcomes Course Student Learning Outcomes Upon successful completion of this course, students will:

1. Demonstrate knowledge of individual and collaborative writing processes.(PSLO 1)measured by essay rubric.
2. Develop ideas and synthesize primary and secondary sources within focused acedemic arguments, including one or more                research-based essays.(PSLO 1 & 4)measured by class discussion/team work and essay rubric.
3. Analyze, interpret, and evaluate a variety of texts for the ethical and logical uses of evidence.(PSLO 1&2)measured by essay            rubric.
4. Write in a style that clearly communicates meaning, builds credibility, and inspires belief or action.(PSLO 1,2,6, Alpha)measured      by class discussion discussion & essay rubric, Pre-test/Post-test.
5. Apply the conventions of style manuals for specific academic disciplines (e.g. APA, CMS, MLA, etc.)(PSLO 2)measured by                essay rubric.  
Core Objectives * Communication Skills: Students will demonstrate effective written, oral and visual communication.

* Critical Thinking Skills: Students will engage in creative and/or innovative thinking, and/or inquiry, analysis, evaluation, synthesis of information, organizing concepts and constructing solutions.

* Teamwork: Students will demonstrate the ability to work effectively with others to support a shared purpose or goal and consider different points of view.

* Personal Responsibility: Students will demonstrate the ability to connect choices, actions and consequences to ethical decision-making.  
Lecture Topics Outline * Theory and Practice of Writing   * Standard vs Non-Standard English   * Grammar    * Punctuation

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Uncovering the Hidden Messages in 


* Fiction: (short stories): Plot, Theme, Symbolism, Relevancy

* Poetry: Plot, Theme, Symbolism, Relevancy

* Drama: (play): Plot, Theme, Symbolism, Relevancy

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* Research Paper: definition, examples, instructions   (MLA parenthetical citations and Works Cited) 
Major Assignments Schedule Week 1: Introduction to Course & Classmates, Syllabus Review, Netiquette review. Diagnostic paper.  

Week 2: Fiction

Week 3: Fiction, TEST

Week 4: Fiction

Week 5: Fiction, TEST

Week 6: Poetry

Week 7: Poetry, TEST

Week 8: Poetry, PACKET

Week 9: Begin Research Paper.

Week 10: Work on Research Paper.

Week 11: RESEARCH PAPER finished/submitted      Due: Friday, March 31  


Week 12: Drama

Week 13: Drama

Week 14: Drama

Week 15: Final review. FINAL
Final Exam Date May 3, 2024 - 10:0 AM   Through  May 3, 2024 - 11:30 AM
Grading Scale 90 - 100 = A 80 - 89 = B 70 - 79 = C 60 - 69 = D Below 59 = F
Determination of
Final Grade
Assignments: 80%      Research Paper: 20%   
Course Policies
Instructor Policies  I will not discuss your grades over the phone or by email. If you want to discuss your grades, you must come talk to me in person, either after class or we can schedule a time to sit and talk in my office.

Rudeness, to me or to another student, will not be tolerated. WE are each coming with baggage and we do not know what others are dealing with in life. I know it sounds cliche but be kind. I believe in and will work hard to include diversity, equity, and inclusion in our class (look up these words if need be!). Our society, your future workplace, is made up of people from all backgrounds, much like college classes. Professional success depends on us being able to work side-by-side with colleagues who are quite different, in various ways, from ourselves. 

Some in this class were in Honors English while others were not. Some graduated high school two months ago and others twenty years ago. For some in this class, English comes easily but others struggle with it; some love writing and some hate it. 

My policy is to help everyone in this class, no matter what their writing ability level is. Please be considerate and patient if we are reviewing a concept you have already mastered because the person behind/beside/in front of you might be struggling with it.  

We will have fun in this class. I enjoy (absolutely adore) my students. At the end of every semester, students write, on the evaluations of the class,  how much they enjoyed it (much to their surprise!)  While I am quite blunt and tough (the students write) I am extremely fair and helpful. 
Attendance Policy Research has shown a cause and effect relationship between attendance and college success. Students with more than two-three absences from the course will receive an academic penalty. PLEASE be sure to talk to me, or email me, and let me know what is happening; I want to help you through the course and totally understand that unplanned events happen. 

I WILL be in class so you are expected to be in class also. I will be on time to class, so you are also expected to be in class when it starts. In other words, walking in late once, is all right; walking in late every time is not acceptable. 

IF you miss class, PLEASE ask a classmate what you missed and what is due. In fact, ask a couple classmates (yes, this means meeting people!)  Email me to ask only AFTER you have checked with a classmate. 

IF you quit attending, I WILL NOT drop you, which means an F (no matter the grade average when attendance ceased). PLEASE come see me with a drop slip for a Q instead of the F that I will be forced to submit if you do not drop yourself. If you do not know an Advisor's name, ask me; I will give you a contact name and number. 
Additional Information You will write. A LOT. This English Composition class is a basic writing class. Composition means composing/writing, which means students do a lot of practicing this skill, just as a person would practice driving, cooking, singing, knitting, running, fishing, or working on a vehicle. The more we do, the better we become. 
Long story short: almost each time we meet we look at good writing and then we will practice writing to become better ourselves. PLEASE turn in assignments on time. If it is one day late ten points will deducted, two days late, twenty points, and it will not be accepted after that. 

I trust you. I trust you until you show me that I can't trust you. PLEASE write your own assignments. You will not become better at writing if a friend, sibling, significant other, or Uncle Google, humans or artificial intelligence, writes it for you. If you submit work from any of these sources, I may or may not find out (but if you don't write it yourself, you do not learn anything and you do not improve so what is the point of being in the class?)

Plagiarism is unacceptable. There will be consequences for submitting, intentionally OR unintentionally, anything you did not write yourself. The first time, a plagiarized submission will be given a 0, with NO makeup. The second time, the student will be given an F. You DON'T need to cheat. You have brains in your head and am here to help you through. 

You can succeed. I assume you are enrolled in this class with the goal of passing it. My goal is to help you become better writers AND pass this class. However, you MUST want success and try as hard as I am going to try. This means not just being in class physically but also being present mentally and paying attention; it is extremely rude to be on the phone in any way while in a class. I will be so happy to see you in class and I will focus on the purpose of this class: preparing you to write in future classes and/or preparing you to write in the workplace. You CAN do this! 

Please ask questions. If we are going over something and you do not understand (chances are very good you are not the only one!), please ask any questions. Sometimes I just assume you know it or think we have already covered it, so don't hesitate to ask. Helping students is what instructors are in the classroom for! 

Institutional Policies
MyLSCPA Be sure to check your campus email and Course Homepage using MyLSCPA campus web portal. You can also access your grades, transcripts, academic advisors, degree progress, and other services through MyLSCPA.
Academic Honesty Academic honesty is expected from all students, and dishonesty in any form will not be tolerated. Please consult the LSCPA policies (Academic Dishonesty section in the Student Handbook) for consequences of academic dishonesty.
ADA Considerations The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal anti-discrimination statute that provides comprehensive civil rights for persons with disabilities. Among other things, this legislation requires that all students with disabilities be guaranteed a learning environment that provides for reasonable accommodation of their disabilities. If you believe you have a disability requiring an accommodation, please contact the the Office for Disability Services Coordinator, Room 231, in the Madison Monroe Building. The phone number is (409) 984-6241.
COVID 19 Information The Lamar State College Port Arthur (LSCPA) Student Code of Conduct COVID 19 Policy requires students who have been diagnosed with COVID 19 to report their condition directly to their local health department. Students should also contact their course faculty to report their quarantine status. In addition, this policy requires all students to wear face coverings when directly exposed to COVID 19 in compliance with the criteria included in the policy. For more information please refer to the COVID 19 link on the LSCPA website.
Facility Policies No food or tobacco products are allowed in the classroom. Only students enrolled in the course are allowed in the classroom, except by special instructor permission. Use of electronic devices is prohibited.
HB 2504 This syllabus is part of LSCPA's efforts to comply with Texas House Bill 2504.
Mandatory Reporting of Child Abuse and Neglect As per Texas law and LSCPA policy, all LSCPA employees, including faculty, are required to report allegations or disclosures of child abuse or neglect to the designated authorities, which may include a local or state law enforcement agency or the Texas Department of Family Protective Services. For more information about mandatory reporting requirements, see LSCPA's Policy and Procedure Manual.
Title IX and Sexual Misconduct LSCPA is committed to establishing and maintaining an environment that is free from all forms of sex discrimination, including sexual harassment, sexual violence, and other forms of sexual misconduct. All LSCPA employees, including faculty, have the responsibility to report disclosures of sexual misconduct, including sexual harassment, sexual assault (including rape and acquaintance rape), domestic violence, dating violence, relationship violence, or stalking, to LSCPA's Title IX Coordinator, whose role is to coordinate the college's response to sexual misconduct. For more information about Title IX protections, faculty reporting responsibilities, options for confidential reporting, and the resources available for support visit LSCPA's Title IX website.
Clery Act Crime Reporting For more information about the Clery Act and crime reporting, see the Annual Security & Fire Safety Report and the Campus Security website.

Grievance / Complaint / Concern If you have a grievance, complaint, or concern about this course that has not been resolved through discussion with the Instructor, please consult the Department Chair.
Department Information
General Education and Developmental Studies
Chair:Steven Zani
Email:zanisj@lamarpa.edu
Phone:(409) 984-6431