Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Required texts:
Kirszner, Laurie G. and Stephen R. Mandell. The Blair Reader: Exploring Issues and Ideas, 10th
Edition
Office Hours: My office hours will be conducted on Zoom. I’ll stay in our Zoom “classroom”
after class on Fridays from 11:00 am until noon to meet with anyone needing individual
assistance. You can also contact me by email. Meet with or email me when you have questions
about an assignment, when you would like to try out some ideas before a document is due, or
when you have questions about a comment I’ve made. Please also meet with or email me to get
help with particular writing problems, to resolve differences about grades, or to suggest ways to
improve the course.
Catalog Description
This course emphasizes the composition of organized, clear, coherent, and well-supported
essays, which feature standard English conventions, effective style, and the appropriate use of
research strategies and sources. Students develop the critical reading and thinking skills
necessary to produce effective college-level writing that communicates to a particular audience,
fulfills a specified purpose, and conforms to a given genre.
Prerequisite: Placement through the College Testing and Placement Program or completion of
ENGL 007, 051 or 057 with a grade of C or higher; ENGL 003 is a pre- or co-requisite.
Course Objectives
Upon successful completion of the course the student will be able to:
Organize compositions using the writing process as a systematic and on-going
strategy
Organize essays effectively by using focused paragraphing to support ideas
appropriately with specific and credible evidence
Locate, read, and evaluate college-level resources and present citations in an
academically-accepted format and documentation style
Demonstrate critical reading and thinking skills by integrating the ideas of others
through the analysis and synthesis of information
Adapt writing to various audiences by refining sentences for clarity, variety, and
appropriate diction
Employ grammatical conventions suitable to audience and purpose
Your grade will be divided into several assignments on a 1000-point scale as follows:
Portfolios: (70%)
Throughout the semester you will submit via online dropbox critical and creative written
responses to the readings you do in the text chapters. I will grade them and add
comments/corrections that you may use to revise and improve your draft writing. You will
keep all ten responses plus any versions of those responses that you choose to revise in
chronological order in an electronic “folder” or “portfolio”. It will become a collection of all
your work for the entire semester, and you will write a reflection on it for your final exam.
Critical Response: You will be given five writing prompts for critical analysis of text
that you read. Then you will write an essay of about 1-2 pgs in response to each one.
For most of these you will need include at least one in-text citation and a Works Cited
page in MLA format.
Creative Response: You will be given five prompts for creative reaction to your
reading. To earn full credit, you must include a typed one-paragraph
introduction/explanation of the creative process and product, which can be written in
an informal tone.
Make-up Policy on Major Assignments: All written work, including drafts, is due at the
beginning of class on the dates indicated on the syllabus. Assignments turned in late will be
penalized one letter grade for each class day late unless you have made other arrangements with
me in advance. It is extremely important that you turn an assignment in. Students who do not
turn in major assignments will fail the course. Turning in an assignment very late and earning an
F (50% of possible points) is far more to your benefit than not turning it in and taking a 0% of
possible points.
Now here is one exception to this policy: Because I realize that there may be a time when work
or family obligations preclude you from meeting the assignment due date, I will accept one late
assignment (see EXCEPTIONS below), without penalty, provided the assignment is submitted
with the one-time Assignment Late Pass (located at the end of this syllabus) no later than one
class meeting after the due date. This exception for late assignments DOES NOT APPLY TO
the final Portfolio, which will not be accepted after the due date.
Homework
Over the course of the semester you will be assigned reading that you are expected to complete
outside of class time as preparation for the upcoming class. And you can expect that drafting
and revising your writing assignments will require you to spend a significant amount of time
working outside of class meeting times.
Promptness. In this course, you must turn in your work on time. All projects are due at
the beginning of class on the dates indicated on the syllabus. All “class exit” reflective
journal entries are due within 2 hours after the end of class. Assignments turned in late
will be penalized one letter grade for each class day late unless you have made other
arrangements with me in advance.
Appearance. All final drafts should be neatly prepared in digital form, using conventional
margins and spacing.
Back-up Copies. Always back-up your electronic files. Sometimes I will request an
electronic copy of one of your documents so that I can use it as a sample (with your
Revisions. You will receive feedback on your writing at various stages of the writing
process. You should try to apply the comments to improve not only the particular
assignment you are working on at the time but also your strategies for writing in general.
In addition to the requirements outlined above, you are expected to attend and be fully engaged
until the class period has ended; to complete all reading assignments on time; to help your
classmates learn by your responses to their writing; to spend at least six hours per week out of
class for writing and class preparation; and to be courteous and considerate.
Attendance
I expect students to attend every class. Missing more than three (3) classes may lower your grade
by one letter, and missing more than four (4) classes is grounds for being dropped from, or for
failure in, the class. Allowing 3 absences is my acknowledgement that unexpected things will
sometimes come up (like sudden illnesses); however, even these absences should be excused.
All other absences will be considered unexcused. I shall also require a student to furnish
documentation for other kinds of absences substantiating that the absence should be
considered “excused” if absences become excessive or occur at questionable times (for
example, on the day that an assignment is due).
I shall drop a student from a class with the concurrence of the division/campus administrator
when excused and/or unexcused absences exceed 15% of the total class hours that will take place
throughout the semester and when the excessive absences preclude the possibility of the student
attaining the stated learning outcomes for the course. Faculty-initiated drops/withdrawals for
excessive absences can be processed only through the Drop/Withdrawal Period (prior to the
completion of 70% of the scheduled instruction time for the part of term), and students who stop
attending after the Drop/Withdrawal Period will receive a final grade for the course. For more
information on HACC’s Drop/Withdrawal policies please visit
http://www.hacc.edu/Students/RegisterOnlineGuide/add-and-drop-deadlines.cfm
Also, absence on the day an assignment is due will not excuse lateness of the assignment. If a
paper is due and you're not going be in class, you may submit it by the beginning of class on the
due date, or use the one-time Assignment Late Pass located at the end of this syllabus, and
submit it by the beginning of the next class meeting.
Lateness
I will designate a student who arrives after the starting time or leaves before the ending time for
the class as “late”. Three instances of being late will count as one unexcused absence in
determining whether a student has reached the threshold to be withdrawn from the course.
Students initiating a course drop/withdrawal after the Tuition Refund Period and during the
Drop/Withdrawal Period (prior to the completion of 70% of class time) forfeit all tuition and
fees. After the tuition refund period has ended and during the Drop/Withdrawal Period (prior to
the completion of 70% of class time), students must submit requests to drop courses online
through MyHACC. The request to drop is pending for seven days during which time the student
and instructor may communicate about the decision to withdraw. If no action is taken prior to the
end of the pending status period by the student or instructor, the course drop will be processed
with a “W” status. However, if you have been academically dishonest, you will receive an “F”
grade if you withdraw or are dropped from the class. After the drop/withdrawal period has
ended, you will be assigned a grade based on the grades you have earned.
Academic Honesty:
Academic honesty is taken very seriously. An essential condition of academic study in college is
personal integrity. Honesty is required in all academic work. In accordance with HACC’s Shared
Governance Policy and Handbook on “Academic Dishonesty” (594), if a student is caught
conducting an act of academic dishonesty as listed below, the student will receive a failing grade
on the particular assignment. If a student conducts multiple or repeated acts of academic
dishonesty, the student will receive a lowered grade for the course, fail the course or be
dismissed from the course in accordance with AP 594. All suspicions of academic dishonesty
will be reported to the campus Academic Dean.
A. Cheating – giving or receiving answers on assigned material, using materials or aids
forbidden by the instructor, unauthorized possession of examinations or any other
intentional use or attempted use of unauthorized materials, information or study aid.
(Zero grade on assignment.)
B. Plagiarism – offering someone else’s work, words, or ideas as one’s own or using
material from another source without acknowledgement. (Zero grade on assignment.)
C. Interference – interfering without permission with the work of another student, either
by obtaining, changing, or destroying the work of another student. (Dismissal from
course with failing grade.)
D. Buying or selling of term papers, homework, examinations, laboratory assignments,
computer programs, or other academic work. (Dismissal from course with failing
grade.)
E. Falsifying of one’s own or another’s academic records, or falsifying of admission,
registration or other related college materials. (Dismissal from course with failing
grade.)
F. Knowingly assisting someone who engages in A – E above. (Same penalty as
outlined for perpetrator.)
Student Access Services provides reasonable accommodations, auxiliary aids and support
services to students with temporary or permanent disabilities (including pregnant and parenting
students) as mandated by Americans with Disabilities Act, 1990 and Section 504, Rehabilitation
Act, 1973 and Title IX of the Education Amendment of 1972. Students in need of
It is the policy of Harrisburg Area Community College, in full accordance with the law, not to
discriminate in employment, student admissions, student access and/or student services on the
basis of race, color, religion, age, political affiliation or belief, gender, national origin, ancestry,
disability, place of birth, General Education Development Certification (GED), marital status,
sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, genetic history/information, or
any legally protected classification. HACC recognizes its responsibility to promote the principles
of equal opportunity for employment, student admissions, and student services taking active
steps to recruit minorities and women.
Information about these laws may be obtained by visiting the Pennsylvania Human Relations
Commission website at http://www.phrc.pa.gov/Pages/default.aspx#.V2HOujFuNS0.
HACC—Gettysburg Campus
Phone: 717-339-3533
Phone: 717-780-2614
HACC—York Campus
HACC—Lebanon Campus
Rm: D 316
Phone: 717-270-6333
Name:_____________________________________________________________
Assignment: _______________________________________________________
Due Date:___________________________
Submission Date:_____________________________
You will be required to complete reading assignments outside of and before the start of
each class. Then, you can expect each class will include
A skill builder warm-up
A Peer Writers’ Group meeting to review and prepare an oral report on the out-of-
class reading assignments
Group reports (individual informal oral presentations from each group)
Activities to deepen understanding of the day’s assigned content (including class
discussions – both small group and whole class; and feedback on writing from
instructor and peers)
A preview of next class and out-of-class assigned reading
Reflective journal writing
BR Chapter 9:
The American
Dream
pp. 308-51
CRITICAL 5: See
Handout for
Prompt
CREATIVE 5: See
Handout for
Prompt
11/26 THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY – NO CLASS
Chapter 10 CRITICAL 5:
Week 13 Individual/Group BR Chapter DRAFT FOR Organize Writing
12/3 Presentation 11: Making PEER REVIEW Portfolio before
Ethical class
Reading and Writing: Choices CREATIVE 5:
Making Ethical Choices – FINAL CRITICAL 5:
Argument with Evidence BR Chapter FINAL
NOTE: The last day to withdraw from this class with a withdrawal status is prior to the
completion of 70% of class time for the part of term. Go to
http://www.hacc.edu/Students/RegisterOnlineGuide/add-and-drop-deadlines.cfm
ALSO NOTE: This schedule is subject to change. You will be notified of changes if and
when they are necessary.
Your final semester grade will be calculated on a 1,000 point scale. Each assignment you
complete and submit gives you points towards your final semester point total. For
example, since each Critical and Creative assignment can score a maximum of 70 points,
earning 63/70 points (that is, 90% of 70 possible points) would keep your grade in the
“A” range, 56/70 points would keep your grade in the “B” range, etc. Therefore if you
keep track of the points you are gaining throughout the semester, you should be able to
monitor your overall progress toward a final grade.
Points Grade