I. Catalogue Description: Principles and techniques, which may include documentation of written, expository, and persuasive composition; analysis of literary, expository, and/or persuasive texts; emphasis on critical thinking.

A college composition course focusing on the principles of effective oral and written communication, critical reading, and the development of academic writing .

II. REQUIRED BACKGROUND:

According to the catalogue prerequisites, a student must demonstrate College Readiness through appropriate placement scores and/or completion of developmental sequence in English and/or Reading. To meet these requirements, a student must pass English 0301 with a grade of C or better and pass Reading 0303 with a grade of C or better OR achieve the appropriate scores on placement tests. Scores may not be older than three years:

• ACT Verbal Score of 17-26 (Students with a composite score below 23 must take the Accuplacer Reading Comprehension Test.)
• SAT Verbal Score of 430-800 (Students with a composite score below 1070 must take the Accuplacer Reading Compreshension Test.)
• SAT THEA/TASP English Score of 220 and essay of 6 and Reading Score of 230.
ASSET Writing Score of 44 and essay of 6 and Reading Score of 41.
• ACCUPLACER Writing Score of 80 and essay of 6 and Reading Score of 78.

III. TEXTS AND/OR REFERENCE MATERIALS:

Individual instructors choose from a list of approved rhetorical texts and anthologies according to the departmental/college textbook adoption guidelines. Supplemental materials may include a handbook, a college dictionary, software, a non-fiction book-length text, or a periodical subscription.

IV. METHODS OF INSTRUCTION:

These include lecture, assigned reading from required texts, directed class discussions, guided collaborative learning or cooperative learning, and library instruction. Supplemental materials may include media assisted instruction, computer-based or on-line instruction, laboratory or tutorial services, guest speakers, field trips, and service learning activities.

V. COURSE CONTENT:

1. Using writing as a process including prewriting, planning, drafting, revision, and editing
2. Writing effective synthesis essays focused by a thesis
3. Analyzing audience, purpose, and occasion
4. Using critical thinking skills to analyze and discuss non-fiction readings
5. Organizing essays effectively to reflect skills in paragraphing, summarizing, paraphrasing, and quoting
6. Focusing thesis statements to synthesize non-fiction essay materials
7. Demonstrating competency in editing for phrasing, grammar, and vocabulary
8. Accessing credible sources through research and accurately documenting use of those sources

VI. LEARNING OUTCOMES AND PERFORMANCE OBJECTIVES with their methods of measurement as used to determine the students' mastery of those outcomes:

• Learning Outcome 1: The students will be able to apply the principles of writing as a process, which includes pre-writing, drafting, revising, and editing.

  Performance Objective and Measurement: The student will write a minimum of four essays, including the final, that show awareness of writing as a process including awareness of audience, purpose, occasion, style, format, and accepted conventions of standard written English. The cumulative total for the four essays should be at least 4,000 words. These essays will constitute at least 60 percent of the course grade, and minimum competency requirements for the course will be a grade average of 70 or better.

• Learning Outcome 2: The student will read and understand course materials, including topics dealing with civic responsibility and global awareness, and apply basic principles of critical thinking in analyzing non-fiction prose.

  Performance Objective and Measurement: The student will demonstrate understanding of the materials through class discussions, collaborative activities, quizzes, and essays. Each instructor will determine percentages of each assignment beyond the essay minimum requirements.

• Learning Outcome 3: The student will be able to achieve competency in applying appropriate modes of organization, including clear thesis statements, controlling topic sentences, paragraph development, appropriate phrasing, and sufficient transitions to write expository essays.

  Performance Objective and Measurement: The student will demonstrate organizational competency as part of the minimum four essays, including an in-class final exam of at least 500 words to be written during the scheduled final exam period. The final exam will account for at least 15 percent of the final grade.

• Learning Outcome 4: The student will achieve competency in edited standard American English as expected in the local and national communities.

  Performance Objective and Measurement: The student will demonstrate competency in using effective sentence forms, spelling, and punctuation in written academic assignments as part of the minimum four essays and the in-class final essay exam.

• Learning Outcome 5: The student will demonstrate the ability to incorporate research and documentation into written assignments using the skills of summarizing, paraphrasing, and quoting as well as an accepted documentation method.

  Performance Objective and Measurement: The student will write at least one essay that incorporates source materials and demonstrates competency in an accepted documentation method. A grade of 70 or better will demonstrate competency.

VII. Course requirements and grade computation:

1. College Requirements:

"While other examinations are given at the discretion of the instructor, a written comprehensive final examination, not to exceed two and one-half hours in length, shall be given at the end of each semester for each course at the regularly scheduled time. Any exceptions to these requirements must be approved by the appropriate dean. Other examinations are given at the discretion of the instructor. Students who must be absent from a final examination must petition their instructor for permission to postpone the examination. Students absent without permission from a final examination are graded "F." Postponed examinations result in a grade of "I." The final examination must be taken within 120 calendar days from the end of the semester or the grade automatically becomes an "F." See the Final Exam Schedule in the current SAC Class Schedule for final exam dates and times (which differ from normal class meeting dates and times)" (San Antonio College--Student Handbook, 2009-2010, pg. 7).

2. Departmental Requirements:
   1. The course grade will be based primarily on writing assignments to include a minimum of four essays for a cumulative total of at least 4,000 words of finished product, one or more of which must be documented, as well as an in-class final exam that includes an essay of at least 500 words, to be written during the scheduled final exam period. The final exam grade will account for at least 15% percent of the semester grade.
   2. Grades on writing assignments will make up 60 percent or more of the final grade.

3. Instructor Requirements:
   Explained in each instructor's course syllabus.

VIII. College Policies:

1. Equal Opportunity: "The Alamo Colleges are equal opportunity colleges and do not discriminate in access, admission, campus activities, education, employment, public accommodation, or public service on the basis of age, race, color, national origin, religion, disability, handicap, height, marital status, political affiliation, gender, sexual orientation, or veteran's status. No person shall be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of or be subject to discrimination under any program or activity sponsored or conducted by the Alamo Colleges" (Alamo Colleges--San Antonio College, 2009-2010 Catalog, pgs. 92-93).

2. ADA Statement: "Persons with disabilities who plan to attend the Alamo Colleges, who may need reasonable accommodations as per the Vocational Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the American with Disabilities Act of 1990, should contact the designated Disability Support Services office at the college at least four (4) working days prior to the program or activity so appropriate arrangements can be made" (Alamo Colleges-- San Antonio College, 2009-2010 Catalog, pg. 93). If accommodation is needed, contact the office of DisABILITY Support Services, CAC 124, Phone: (210) 486-0020.

3. Children on Campus Policy: "Students are urged not to bring children to classes, labs, or other facilities such as libraries. Minors under the age of 12 must not be left unattended on- campus at any time" (Alamo Colleges--San Antonio College, 2009-2010 Catalog, pg. 89).

4. Emergency Response Plan: Click Here for The Emergency Response Plan website. iIf you have a disability that will require assistance in the event of a building evacuation, notify Disability Support Services, Chance Academic Center (CAC) 124, Phone: (210) 486-0020.

5. Emergency Contact Information:
   ACCD DPS Emergency Phone (210) 222-0911
   ACCD Police at San Antonio College: (210)486-0995
   24-Hour Dispatch: (210)485-0099
   ACCD DPS Weather Phone (210) 485-0189 (For information on college closures)
   SAC College Health Center: (210)-486-0222
   SAC General Information: (210) 486-0000
   For Alamo Colleges Police Department Web Site, click Here
6. Plagiarism/Scholastic Dishonesty: For various reasons, the number of incidents of scholastic dishonesty in the classroom has increased throughout the nation in recent years. It is in the student's best interest that scholastic dishonestly not be tolerated and that the Alamo Colleges' policies and procedures be followed so as to provide consistent college-wide enforcement. Scholastic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, cheating on exams, tests, and quizzes; plagiarism; and collusion. See the Student Code of Conduct for more detailed information.

   Cheating on exams, tests and quizzes includes, but is not limited to:

   1. Copying from another student's test paper;
   2. Using materials during a test that are not authorized by the person giving the test;
   3. Collaborating with another student during a test without authority;
   4. Knowingly using, buying, selling, stealing, transporting, or soliciting, in whole or in part, the contents of a test without the consent of the instructor;
   5. Substituting for another student, or permitting another student to substitute for one's self, to take a test;
   6. Bribing or otherwise influencing another person to obtain a test not authorized for distribution by the instructor; and
   7. Reporting fraudulent research results.

   Plagiarism is the appropriation of another's work and the unacknowledged incorporation of that work into one's own coursework/assignment including the taking and using of ideas, passages, etc. Plagiarism is scholastic dishonesty and will result in disciplinary action.

   Collusion is the unauthorized collaboration with another person in preparing any coursework/assignment" (Alamo Colleges-San Antonio College, 2009-2010 Catalog, pg. 97).

7. Electronic Devices in the Classroom: "Students are required to silence and store out of sight all electronic communication devices such as pagers, cellular phones, PDAs, etc. when in classrooms, laboratories, libraries, or areas where such devices would interfere with instruction and learning" (Alamo Colleges-San Antonio College, 2009-2010 Catalog, pg. 92).
8. San Antonio College Attendance Policy:

NOTE: Students must also abide by the policies, procedures, and rules set forth in the "Student Code of Conduct" and all other policies set forth in the Alamo Colleges-San Antonio College e-Catalog.