College of Arts and Sciences Department of

English and Modern Languages Fall 2016

English CRWT 0371-01 MA 211B
MWF 10:20 11:15
Instructor: Mr. Darin Thompson
Office Hours: Monday-Friday 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Phone: 880-8906
Email: dlthompson@lamar.edu
Required Texts & Materials:
The Little, Brown Handbook. H. Ramsey Fowler and Jane E. Aaron Pearson, 13th
Edition, 2016, 2012, and 2010 by Pearson Education, Inc.

A college level dictionary and thesaurus. Note: There are several good apps on both
Android and iOS that you can use for this purpose, and in most cases, they are free. Ill
even let you use them in class; however, if I see you trying to use these apps as a pretext
for texting, playing games, or otherwise using the phone, you will be asked to pick up
your things and leave the room.

One college ruled notebook in which you will take notes. This notebook will often be
exchanged with your instructor and possibly with other students, so get one that will
stand up to the abuse. My recommendation is to get one that is thick enough to write
often, but not so thick as to be a burden when moving from classroom to classroom.
There is no need to get a fancy notebook with 12 sections etc.

One USB flash drive or a reliable, online cloud account. You will be required to have
many versions of each paper, so saving often is important to success.

One pack of 3X5 Index Cards: This will be used to make a Grammar Deck.

Course Description:
CRWT 0371 is a course designed to help students improve their basic writing skills, and as such, it
is a component of the Texas Success Initiative (TSI) plan. CRWT 0371 is a required course for all
new, returning, and transfer students who have not passed the writing section of the Texas Higher
Education Assessment (THEA) test. The course neither satisfies general degree requirements for
Freshman English nor counts toward graduation hours. However, the course does qualify for
enrollment hours, and ones final grade is included on ones permanent university transcript and is
computed into ones overall GPA.

Course Placement and Exit:

Students are advised into CRWT 0371 on the basis of their THEA writing scores, and the courses
final essay exam is quite similar to the writing component of the THEA test. Students are required
to write an essay during the 2 hour Final Exam period. Students enrolled in CRWT 0371 must
comply with the established Attendance Policy (see page 3 under TSI Restricted Students of the
Class Schedule) for all developmental courses, and they must keep pace with all daily
assignments. Students who earn an unsatisfactory grade of U or who fail the course must repeat it
again, unless they can show evidence of having passed their retake of the writing section of the
THEA test. TSI guidelines permit students who pass CRWT 0371 with a C or higher to enroll in
ENGL 1301.
Student Learning Outcomes for CRWT 0371:
a. Students will be able to apply basic principles of Standard English sentence structure.
b. Students will be able to apply basic principles of Standard English mechanics and usage.
c. Students will compose organized paragraphs.
d. Students will compose essays developing a clear central idea.
Essay Submission:
All essays must be written in Microsoft Word and will be turned in electronically through
Blackboard. You will be told in advance how to submit your work. ALL submissions will be in
the following file formats only .doc and .docx. NO other formats will be accepted.
MLA Format:
All electronically submitted work will be in MLA format. This can include journals, homework
assignments, paragraphing and sentencing exercises, and essays. If you begin an assignment, and
youre wondering if you should put it in MLA format, you should. Period! End of story! I will
provide you with access to a short manual on MLA formatting which will explain how I want
papers turned in, but MLA formatting is standard. Instruction on MLA formatting can be
obtained from many sources both in print and online.
Homework:
You will have homework in this class. You will be preparing papers, writing responses,
participating in assignments on Blackboard, completing sentencing and paragraphing exercises,
and many other similar assignments. I will assign all homework in class well in advance of any
due dates. Many of the assignments will require you to prepare materials for in-class work;
therefore, if you want to get full credit for homework, you will have to come to class prepared.
Most homework assignments will be given in class, some of which might be spontaneous
assignments not listed in this syllabus. If I see you need to brush up on a particular aspect of the
material were covering, then I might assign extra reading, or short writing exercises in order to
give you more exposure to the information in question.

Personal Responsibility:
Any rhetorical act is both personal and social. In written responses, presentations, and
discussions, students will show an understanding of the complexities and dynamics of personal
and social responsibilities. They will also reveal their consideration through appropriate
integrations of audience, purpose, and persona.
Teamwork:
In group projects, team presentations, peer reviews/grading/editing, or in-class discussions
students should actively contribute to the progress of the group or class as a whole.
Your Next Step C in English 1301:
The English Department, Developmental Studies, College of Arts and Sciences, STARS,
ACES, and Lamar University's Curriculum Council have noticed that students are more likely to
progress through the core more quickly and to complete their composition courses more quickly
if they earn at least a C in English 1301 before enrolling in English 1302. Therefore, the English
Department, STARS, Developmental Studies, ACES, and many majors RECOMMEND that
students earn a C in English 1301 before enrolling in English 1302. Some colleges and
departments in the university require a C to receive credit for 1301, and some colleges and
departments require a C to receive credit for both 1301 and 1302. Students should see their
departmental or college advisors for specific requirements.
Handbook:
The English department intends for the Little Brown Handbook to be a reference book for
students entire college career. Students will need these sorts of grammar, mechanics,
punctuation, and documentation references in 1302, sophomore literature, and courses
outside of the English Department. Further, as students should know, they get nowhere
near what they paid for the textbook if they resell it. And if they sell it, odds are that they
will have to buy this textor one just like itin the future. All that being said, I highly
recommend you keep your Little, Brown Handbook for future use.
Semester Begins Monday, August 22, 2016
Census Date (Six Drop Rule does not apply):
Wednesday, September 7, 2016: Census Date/12th Class Day. Students may drop or withdraw
without consulting with their Instructor, Department Chair, or the Records Office. The Six Drop
Rule does not apply to students who drop before 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, September 7, 2016.
Drop Dates (Six Drop Rule applies):
Monday, September 26, 2016: Last day to drop or withdraw from the course without academic
penalty and receive a Q. The Six Drop Rule applies beginning on Thursday, September 8, 2016.
Students should consult with their instructor and the Records Office to initiate a drop between the
dates of Thursday, September 8, 2016, and Monday, September 26, 2016.
Monday, October 31, 2016: Last day to drop or withdraw with academic penalty. Student must be
passing the course at the time of the requested drop to receive a Q. The drop form, including all
required signatures, must arrive in the Records Office by no later than 5:00 p.m.
*Note: Any student seeking to drop after Monday, October 31, 2016 must submit a thorough,
written explanation, including supporting documents if applicable, of the extenuating

circumstances for which the action is being requested. The explanation must be shared with and
approved by the Instructor, the Department Chair, and the Dean of the college before the drop
form will be sent to the Senior Associate Provost for a final review and decision. In addition, it
is important for you to understand that it is the students responsibility to drop the class. If
you simply stop showing up, and fail to drop the course in accordance with current university
policies, you will receive and F for the course. It is not my responsibility as the instructor
of the course to make sure you do these things; however, I will help you however I can.
Simply visit me during my office hours to discuss your options.
Disability Accommodation:
It is the policy of Lamar University to accommodate students with disabilities, pursuant to federal
and state law and to the Universitys commitment to equal educational opportunities. Students
with a documented disability should contact the Director of the Office of Services for Students
with Disabilities (SFSWD) which is located in 105 Communication Building. Students may write
to P.O. Box 10087, Beaumont, Texas 77710, call 409.880.8347, fax 409.880.2225 or e-mail
SFSWD@lamar.edu. The Director will arrange to meet with the student to determine reasonable
academic adjustments and/or accommodations. Additional information is available at
http://dept.lamar.edu/sfswd.
Emergency Procedures:
Many types of emergencies can occur on campus; instructions for severe weather or
violence/active shooter, fire, or chemical release can be found at:
http://www.lamar.edu/about-lu/administrat ion/r isk-management/index. html. Following are
procedures for the first two:
Severe Weather:
Follow the directions of the instructor or emergency personnel.
Seek shelter in an interior room or hallway on the lowest floor, putting as many walls as
possible between you and the outside.
If you are in a multi-story building, and you cannot get to the lowest floor, pick a
hallway in the center of the building.
Stay in the center of the room, away from exterior walls, windows, and doors.
Violence/Active Shooter (CADD):

CALL - 8-3-1-1 from a campus phone (880-8311 from a cell phone). Note: Calling 9-11 from either a campus phone or cell phone will contact Beaumont City Police Dispatch
rather than University Police.
AVOID- If possible, self-evacuate to a safe area outside the building. Follow directions
of police officers.
DENY- Barricade the door with desks, chairs, bookcases or any other items. Move to a
place inside the room where you are not visible. Turn off the lights and remain quiet.
Remain there until told by police it is safe.
DEFEND- Use chairs, desks, cell phones or whatever is immediately available to
distract and/or defend yourself and others from attack.

Announced Campus closure:

In the event of an announced campus closure in excess of four days due to a hurricane or other
disaster, students are expected to login to Lamar Universitys websites homepage
(www.Lamar.edu) for instructions about continuing courses remotely.
Academic Honesty:
Students are specifically warned against all forms of cheating and plagiarism. The
Lamar
University Student Handbook clearly reads: Any student found guilty of academic dishonesty in
any phase of academic work will be subjected to disciplinary action. Punishable offenses
include, but are not limited to, cheating on an examination or academic work which is to be
submitted, plagiarism, collusion, and the abuse of source materials. One aspect of the
Handbooks definition of cheating includes purchasing or otherwise acquiring and submitting
as ones own work any research paper or other writing assignment prepared by an individual or
firm. Plagiarism is defined as the appropriation and the unacknowledged incorporation of
anothers work or ideas into ones own and submitted for credit. Faculty members in the
College of arts and Sciences investigate all cases of suspected plagiarism.
Any student who is found guilty of academic dishonesty in this course may receive an F
in the course, an F on the assignment, and/or will be reported to his/her College Dean and
the Dean of Students.
Note: I feel I must make you aware that I run each and every paper through a plagiarism checker,
sometimes several checkers. If you try to cheat in this class, I will catch you.
Grading Policy:
Your final grade will be based on the following requirements:
Total Grade Composition: 770 Points

Essays (3): 300 Points

Assignments: 50 Points
o Complete/Incomplete (subject to change)
Quizzes: 70 Points
o Syllabus, Reading, Grammar, and Vocabulary
Oral Presentation: 100 Points
o Presenting the Digital Portfolio
Digital Portfolio: 200 Points
o The digital portfolio will include several gradable writing assignments/sections
Final Exam: 50 Points
o Hot-Pen

*The total number of points could (and probably will) change, but not by much. If I see that the
class as whole needs further instruction in one section, I will add content to the curriculum.
Final grades are determined by applying the following scale:
90-100=A 80-89=B 70-79=C 60-69=D 0-59=F
Grading Complete/Incomplete:
Assignments marked complete/incomplete will be carefully evaluated. If you follow the directions
and turn in a sincere submission by the due date, you will receive full credit for the assignment. If

you do not follow the directions and/or turn in something hastily prepared, you will not receive
any points for your submission. It is my job to evaluate your work, and the final disposition of
your grade on any assignment is at my discretion.

Rough Draft:
You may, anytime during the semester, bring a rough draft by my office before the due date of the
final draft. I will let you know if youre headed in the right direction.
Writing Center:
I strongly encourage all students to go to the Writing Center to get extra help with their writing.
The tutors can help with any aspect of the writing process (brainstorming, revising, MLA
documentation, etc.); however, they will not proofread or edit students work for them. The
Writing Center is located on the first floor of the library. To get more information about the
Writing Center, access their website at http://dept.lamar.edu/writingcenter. There is a lot of useful
information about their services on the website, and it would be a good idea to look at the site
before going to the Writing Center for help. I will entertain the idea of assigning extra credit to
those who use this service. You simply need to the tutor to sign the assignment sheet for whichever
assignment youre working on when you visit.
Attendance Policy:
You are expected to attend all classes and to be on time. Class attendance is required. No more
than three (3) unexcused absences will be accepted. For absences to be excused, the student must
furnish appropriate information that details the nature of the absence and the verification of the
need to be absent from class. Any student who accrues four (4) or more unexcused absences will
fail the course. This policy is firm. Do not expect to be the exception. You will be disappointed.
Makeup work will be allowed only for excused absences for valid reasons. For one- or two-day
absences, consult your in case of emergency buddy and email me if you have questions. For
extended absences because of illness or emergencies, you must contact me and arrange to make up
the work missed within one week after returning to class. Most attendance issues will require you
to come to my office, by appointment, and present any documentation and a thorough explanation.
During that visit to my office, we will come up with a plan to get you back on track with your
work.
Make-up Work:
Students must receive specific permission from me to make up missed work or to turn in an
assignment after its original due date. I will permit make up work and accept overdue assignments
only under excused absences or in situations of extreme hardship. You must notify me either in
advance or on the day of your absence that you wish to submit an assignment after its due date.
Basically, assume there is no make-up work allowed.

The only other circumstance in which I would accept late work - is when pigs fly. If you can
prove to me that you have seen a pig fly, or have a pig that can fly, I will allow you to turn in
work past the due date.
Note: Please be aware that this syllabus is subject to change.