ENGL 1301 – Rhetoric & Composition I

SYLLABUS
Fall 2024
Subject to any new Texas legislative mandate changes.

Course Information

Class Meeting Days, Time, Location: Tuesday/Thursday, 11am-12:15pm

Course Modality: Traditional Face-to-Face Courses (TR)

Instructor Information

Instructor Name: Naomi Vela, Lecturer UTRGV E-mail: [email protected]

(usually a 1-2 hour response time, within reasonable hours)

Office Hours: every Friday, 9am – 1pm

Click on the link to sign up for a designated time. https://calendly.com/naomi46/
In-person meetings available upon student request.
____________________________________________________________________________________________

Students often think one of two ways about writing:

(1) “Ugh—I just can’t write,” or (2) “Writing is easy, and I’m planning to write a book when I can just find the
time.”

Neither attitude is right, though. This course is designed to help set the tone for a foundation of critical thinking
and reflective skills needed to become an effective writer, whether writing a book is in your future. Throughout the
course, you will engage in reading complex material along with writing assignments that will challenge you to think
“outside the box,” so to speak. You will read, reflect, write, and revise many times, which is ok because that is how
we learn.

Your words are important and deserve to be heard in a manner that is rhetorically sound while keeping your
audience in mind and following the proper form. Feedback is also essential in the writing process, which will
demonstrate your growth, and through writing and research workshops, you will gain awareness of research
methods and ethics.

Starting this now and continuing to work on your writing throughout your school, work, and personal lives, will
help you become a more rhetorical and reflective reader, writer, and student.

I am looking forward to our many in class discussions and assisting you in becoming a skillful and reflective writer.
Learning Objectives for Core Curriculum Requirements
English 1301 and 1302 are in the communication area of UTRGV’s core curriculum. Courses in this area focus on
developing ideas and expressing them clearly, considering the effect of the message, fostering understanding, and
building the skills needed to communicate properly. Courses also involve the command of oral, aural, written, and
visual literacy skills that enable people to exchange messages appropriate to the subject, occasion, and audience.
The following four student learning outcomes should be met in each course approved to fulfill this category
requirement: Critical Thinking Skills, Communication Skills, Teamwork, and Personal Responsibility.

Core Objectives UTRGV Student Learning Outcome Statement Core Area Requiring this SLO
Critical Thinking Students will demonstrate comprehension of a All Core Areas
variety of written texts and other information
sources by analyzing and evaluating the logic,
validity, and relevance of the information in them
to solve challenging problems, to arrive at well-
reasoned conclusions, and to develop and
explore new questions.
Communication Students will demonstrate the ability to adapt All Core Areas
Skills their communications to a particular context,
audience, and purpose using language, genre
conventions, and sources appropriate to a
specific discipline and/or communication task.
Empirical & Students will be able to make and communicate Math, Life & Physical Sciences,
Quantitative informed conclusions and predictions based on Social & Behavioral Sciences
Skills the interpretation, manipulation, and analysis of
empirical and quantitative data.
Teamwork Students will collaborate effectively with others Communication, Life & Physical
to solve problems and complete projects while Sciences, Creative Arts
demonstrating respect for a diversity of
perspectives.
Social Students will recognize and describe Language, Philosophy,
Responsibility cultural diversity, the role of civic & Culture; Creative
engagement in society, and the link Arts; American History;
between ethics and behavior. Government & Political
Science; Social &
Behavioral Sciences
 Core Objectives UTRGV Student Learning Outcome Statement Core Area Requiring this SLO
Personal Students will demonstrate an awareness of the Communication; Language,
Responsibility range of human values and beliefs that they Philosophy, & Culture;
draw upon to connect choices, actions, and American History; Government
consequences to ethical decision-making. & Political Science
Textbook, Technology, and/or Resource Material

No purchase is necessary. All reading material for this course will be provided to you via Blackboard in PDF format,
which means that you will be responsible for obtaining and reading the material provided to you.

It is my recommendation for you to have or create a Google Drive to upload all your work so that it is automatically
saved to the Cloud service and is accessible from anywhere, at any time, as we may be working in class or in the
library throughout the semester.

Grading Policy

This part is easy and entirely up to you. Read, write, meet deadlines, and participate and you will do well. This is a
writing class where your writing assignments are valued and feedback is just as valuable, however, if not done in a
timely manner your work will reflect your lack of effort.

Revision policy: As a writer, revision is part of the writing and learning process. All major assignments will be
allowed to be revised with new grades being reflected post-revision. However, this revision policy is not meant to
be used as extensions. Partially completed work (e.g., outlines, opening paragraphs only, assignments missing
supporting citation) will not be accepted. If at any point you have questions or my feedback doesn’t make sense to
you, it is your responsibility and are highly encouraged to meet with me during office hours.

Late work will be accepted within a 24-hour grace period of the original due date, with the knowledge that full
credit will not be given unless arrangements have been previously made or otherwise stated.

1301’s grading policy is distributed on a 100-point scale. At the end of the semester, your accumulated points will
determine the grade in the class using standard conversion (90-100=A, 80-89=B, etc.). No extra credit will be
offered.

Below is the breakdown of how your grade will be calculated:

Portfolio – 60%

Project One – Student Profile

Your first project for English 1301 — you will reflect on yourself as a character and use a specific memory. Your
student profile should be multimodal, meaning you will use multiple modes of communication (text, visual, aural,
etc.). See project handout for additional details and rubric.

Project Two – Local Business/Organization Profile

Throughout the semester, you’ll be putting together a researched essay. You’ll start by formulating a question that
is representative of one that’s inspired by the first project and readings. Your final essay should provide a complex
and extensive answer to your initial inquiry and should persuade an expert audience of your claims. The length of
this essay and the number and kinds of sources used will be dependent on your topic/approach and will most likely
vary. However, part of what you’ll be investigating is what a successful researched essay is. These are qualities and
aspects you should adopt for this essay. During the semester, you will be responsible for checking in at different
stages of your project before the final one, presenting up-to-date drafts of your essay and a mock-up version of
your public document. You will also be responsible for workshopping your project in groups at least once before
turning it in to me.
Reflections (Pre/Mid/Final)

For your final project, you will compose a reflection that serves as a guide to your portfolio. It’ll tell your story of
English 1301—where you argue clearly (with specific evidence) which course objectives you’ve met. Where did you
begin? Where have you ended up? What happened along the way? This should also be a place where you can
discuss which goals you haven’t met and why. Your reflection can be written as an essay or an individual
presentation. If you have a different form as an idea for a reflection, you’re welcome to reach out to me to see if
we can accommodate your request if appropriate.

Keep in mind that you need a C or better to pass, turning in incomplete essays at the end of the semester will not
guarantee you a passing grade in this course.

Daily Grind: 40%

Assignments/Engagement

Throughout the semester, you will be responsible for composing group evaluations, reflections, responses to
exercises, and other types of assignments to build on skills being developed in our class. These are small-stakes
assignments for the most part and will be jumbled together into two grades of ten points each.

Participation/Professionalism

Over the last couple of COVID-leniency years, it’s become clear that not just engagement, but professionalism has
dwindled. Why should the student who’s sick at home, for example, but on top of all their work and collaborating
with her peers be penalized over the student who is in the classroom completely unprepared and disengaged? I’ll
be determining this grade based on the National Association of Colleges and Employers’ definition of
professionalism:

1) Act equitably with integrity and accountability to self, others, and the [classroom];
2) be present and prepared;
3) demonstrate dependability;
4) prioritize and complete tasks to accomplish [course] goals;
5) have an attention to detail, resulting in few if any errors in [your] work;
6) show a high level of dedication toward doing a good job.

What this means to me is thoroughly reading syllabi and announcements, as they are there to guide you;
thoroughly doing the readings and following assignment descriptions to reduce confusion; being communicative
with me and with your peers, especially when it comes to group projects; and maintaining presence (physically and
vocally) in class, to name some examples.

You take classes to get better at the thing the class has to offer. You put in the work, and you will pass the course.

The grade you earn represents the work done or not done. Final drafts at the end of the semester will overwrite
original grades earned. If at any point you wish to discuss your grade in class or on specific assignments, please talk
to me the moment the concern arises.

Do not wait until the last week of class.

 Course Schedule - Tentative Calendar of Activities

* dates/activities subject to change

Module/Date
Topic/Focus Assignments/Projects
1 1. Syllabus Review
2. Ice Breaker Group Activity
(Aug 26 & Aug 28) Introductions (short writing response)
3. Introduction Forum
(Sept 2 & Sept 4) 4. Read/Discuss Mike Bunn & Michelle Sprouse
5. Reflections Overview/Assignment

2 1. “Where Good Ideas Come From” video

2. Read/Discuss Project One
(Sept 9 & Sept 11) Brainstorming and Drafting 3. Complete Team Agreement/Form groups
4. Project One Profile Plan
(Sept 16 & 18) 5. Writing Center Presentation/Services
6. Read/Discuss Susan E. Antlitz
7. Project One Draft/Instructor Feedback

3 1. Read/Discuss L. Lennie Irvin and Roger Powell

Revision and Feedback 2. Project One Profile Revisions
(Sept 23 & Sept 25) 3. Update Self-Assessments
Conference 4. Read/Discuss Erin E. Kelley and Ron De Peter
(Sept 30 & Oct 2) 5. Project One Peer Review/Feedback
6. Sign Up for Conference Time

4 1. Read/Discuss Sandra Giles

2. Project One Revised Draft
(Oct 7 & 9) Transitions 3. Mid-Course Reflection (ref. Sandra Giles)
4. Read/Discuss Project Two
(Oct 14 & 16) 5. Project Two Plan

5 1. Genre Example activity/presentations

2. Read/Discuss Randall McClure
(Oct 21 & 23) Research and Investigations 3. Project Two Research assignment

(Oct 28 & 30)

6 1. Read/Discuss Jilian Grauman

Revision and Feedback 2. Revision Project Two
(Nov 4 & 6) 3. Project Two Draft/Instructor Feedback
Conference 4. Sign Up for Conference
(Nov 11 & 13 5. Self-Assessment

7 1. Revision/Feedback External Source

2. Peer-to-Peer Presentations
(Nov 18 & 20) Presentations

(Nov 25 & 27)

8 1. Project Two Revised Draft
(Dec 2 & 4) Conclusions 2. End Of Course Reflection
3. Core Learning Objective Portfolio

Course Policies and Procedures

We value a positive and supportive learning environment, and for us to thrive together, we must recognize that our
responsibilities, actions, and contributions can impact and transform our learning. The course policies listed below
are created to ensure your success by fulfilling course expectations while remaining flexible to account for
unexpected events.

ATTENDANCE
Students are expected to attend all scheduled classes. UTRGV’s attendance policy excuses students from attending
class if they are participating in officially sponsored university activities, such as athletics, accommodation by Student
Accessibility Services (SAS), observance of religious holy days, or military service.

When setting your attendance policy, please consider extenuating circumstances. Accommodations related to long-
term complications from medical conditions should go through SAS. Students should contact the instructor in
advance of the excused absence and arrange to make up missed work or examinations.

ABSENCES/SICK POLICY
If your students need to miss class due to illness and other personal reasons, please share with students your
expectations, accommodations, and support resources in place to ensure their continued growth and success in the
course. You may consider the following questions: What mechanisms or modalities have been set up to help students
achieve the learning objectives? Will they be able to make arrangements to take quizzes/exams online or through
office hours? Is there a place where class notes and resources are offered through Blackboard or where students can
have a discussion post about what happened during the missed class?

The use of classroom recordings is governed by the Federal Educational Rights and Privacy Act
(FERPA), UTRGV’s acceptable-use policy, and UTRGV HOP Policy STU 02-100 Student Conduct
and Discipline. A recording of class sessions will be kept and stored by UTRGV, in accordance with
FERPA and UTRGV policies. Your instructor will not share the recordings of your class activities
outside of course participants, which include your fellow students, teaching assistants, or graduate
assistants, and any guest faculty or community-based learning partners with whom we may engage
during a class session. You may not share recordings outside of this course. As referenced in
UTRGV HOP Policy STU 02-100 Student Conduct and Discipline, doing so may result in
disciplinary action.

COURSE DROPS
Please consider the following information when referencing course drops. Instructor-initiated drops can have
significant financial consequences for students. According to UTRGV policy, students may drop any class without
penalty earning a grade of DR (drop) until the official drop date. Following that date, students must be assigned a
letter grade and can no longer drop the class. Students considering dropping the class should be aware of the “3-peat
rule” and the “6-drop” rule so they can recognize how dropped classes may affect their academic success. The 6-
drop rule refers to Texas law that dictates undergraduate students may not drop more than six courses during their
undergraduate career. Courses dropped at other Texas public higher education institutions will count toward the six-
course drop limit. The 3-peat rule refers to additional fees charged to students who take the same class for the third
time.

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY
Members of the UTRGV community uphold the Vaquero Honor Code’s shared values of honesty, integrity and mutual
respect in our interactions and relationships. In this regard, academic integrity is fundamental in our actions, as any
act of dishonesty conflicts as much with academic achievement as with the values of honesty and integrity. The
Writing Center is an excellent resource to assist in learning about and avoiding plagiarism in writing. Violations of
academic integrity include, but are not limited to: cheating, plagiarism (including self-plagiarism), and collusion;
submission for credit of any work or materials that are attributable in whole or in part to another person; taking an
examination for another person; any act designed to give unfair advantage to a student; or the attempt to commit
such acts (Board of Regents Rules and Regulations, STU 02-100, and UTRGV Academic Integrity Guidelines). All
violations of Academic Integrity will be reported to Student Rights and Responsibilities through Vaqueros
Report It.
Student Support Resources

We are committed to your personal, academic, and professional success; please know you can reach out to me for
questions and/or I can help you identify the resources you need. UTRGV offers student support resources designed
to contribute to your well-being and academic excellence.

Students seeking academic help in their studies can use university resources in addition to an instructor’s office
hours. University Resources include the Advising Center, Career Center, Counseling Center, Learning Center, and
Writing Center. These centers provide services such as tutoring, writing help, counseling services, critical thinking,
study skills, degree planning, and connections student employment (through Handshake and HR Student
Employment). In addition, services, such as the Food Pantry are also provided. Locations are listed below.

Center Name E-mail Brownsville Campus Edinburg Campus

Advising Center [email protected] BMAIN 1.400 EITTB 1.000

(956) 665-7120 (956) 665-7120

Career Center [email protected] BINAB 1.105 ESTAC 2.101

(956) 882-5627 (956) 665-2243

Counseling Center [email protected] BSTUN 2.10 EUCTR 109

Mental Health Counseling and (956) 882-3897 (956) 665-2574

Related Services List

Food Pantry [email protected] BCAVL 101 & 102 EUCTR 114

(956) 665-3663
(956) 882-7126

Learning Center [email protected] BMSLC 2.118 ELCTR 100

(956) 882-8208 (956) 665-2585

University Library [email protected] BLIBR ELIBR

www.utrgv.edu/library (956) 882-8221 (956) 665-2005

Writing Center [email protected] BLIBR 3.206 ESTAC 3.119

(956) 882-7065 (956) 665-2538

Financial Need

Students who demonstrate financial need have a variety of options when it comes to paying for college costs, such as
scholarships, grants, loans and work-study. Students should visit the Student Services Center (U Central) for
additional information. U Central is located in BMAIN 1.100 (Brownsville) or ESSBL 1.145 (Edinburg) or can be
reached by email ([email protected]) or telephone: (956) 882-4026. In addition to financial aid, U Central can assist
students with registration and admissions.

Blackboard Support
If you need assistance with course technology at any time, please contact the Center for Online Learning and
Teaching Technology (COLTT).
 Campus: Brownsville Edinburg

Location Casa Bella (BCASA) 613 Marialice Shary Shivers (EMASS) 3.142

Phone (956)-882-6792 (956)-665-5327

Toll Free
1-(866)-654-4555

Support
Submit a Support Case via our Ask COLTT Portal
Tickets

Online
Chat with a Support Specialist online.
Support

24/7
Need Blackboard assistance after hours? You can call our main office numbers, (956)-
Support 882-6792 or (956)-665-5327, to speak with a support representative.

University Policy Statements

[The following UTRGV policy statements are required on all syllabi. DO NOT Modify.]

We care about creating a safe and supportive learning environment for all students. The University policy statements
below are intended to create transparency for your rights and responsibilities as students. We each contribute to
ensuring a safe and positive environment through our actions and conduct, and students are encouraged to advocate
for their needs.

STUDENT ACCESSIBILITY SERVICES

Student Accessibility Services staff can be contacted at either campus to learn about and explore accessibility
services.
Campus: Brownsville Edinburg

Location: Music and Learning Center (BMSLC, 1.107) University Center (EUCTR, 108)

Phone: phone (956) 882-7374 phone (956) 665-7005

e-mail [email protected]

STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES

Students with a documented disability (physical, psychological, learning, or other disability which affects academic
performance) who would like to receive reasonable academic accommodations should contact Student
Accessibility Services (SAS) for additional information. In order for accommodation requests to be considered for
approval, the student must apply using the mySAS portal and is responsible for providing sufficient documentation of
the disability to SAS. Students are required to participate in an interactive discussion, or an intake appointment, with
SAS staff. Accommodations may be requested at any time but are not retroactive, meaning they are valid once
approved by SAS. Please contact SAS early in the semester/module for guidance. Students who experience a
broken bone, severe injury, or undergo surgery may also be eligible for temporary accommodations.
PREGNANCY, PREGNANCY-RELATED, AND PARENTING ACCOMODATIONS
Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 prohibits sex discrimination, which includes discrimination based on
pregnancy, marital status, or parental status. Students seeking accommodations related to pregnancy, pregnancy-
related condition, or parenting should submit the request using the form found at Pregnancy and Parenting | UTRGV.

SEXUAL MISCONDUCT AND MANDATORY REPORTING

In accordance with UT System regulations, your instructor is a “Responsible Employee” for reporting purposes under
Title IX regulations and so must report to the Office of Institutional Equity & Diversity ([email protected]) any instance,
occurring during a student’s time in college, of sexual misconduct, which includes sexual assault, stalking, dating
violence, domestic violence, and sexual harassment, about which she/he becomes aware during this course through
writing, discussion, or personal disclosure. More information can be found through the Office of Institutional Equity
and Diversity, including confidential resources available on campus. The faculty and staff of UTRGV actively strive to
provide a learning, working, and living environment that promotes personal integrity, civility, and mutual respect that
is free from sexual misconduct, discrimination, and all forms of violence. If students, faculty, or staff would like
confidential assistance, or have questions, they can contact OVAVP (Office for Victim Advocacy & Violence
Prevention) at (956) 665-8287, (956) 882-8282, or [email protected].

DEAN OF STUDENTS
The Dean of Students office assists students when they experience a challenge with an administrative process,
unexpected situation, such as an illness, accident, or family situation, and aids in resolving complaints. Additionally,
the office facilitates student academic related requests for religious accommodations, support students formerly in
foster care, helps to advocate on behalf of students and inform them about their rights and responsibilities, and
serves as a resource and support for faculty and campus departments.

Vaqueros Report It allows students, staff, and faculty a way to report concern about the well-being of a student, seek
assistance in resolving a complaint, or report allegations of behaviors contrary to community standards or campus
policies. The Dean of Students can be reached by email ([email protected]), phone (956-665-2260), (956-882-5141), or
by visiting one of the following office locations: Cavalry (BCAVL) 204 or University Center (EUCTR 323).

MANDATORY COURSE EVALUATION PERIOD

Students have the opportunity to complete an ONLINE evaluation of this course, accessed through your UTRGV
account (http://my.utrgv.edu). Course evaluations are used by the instructor to better understand the student
experience in the course, which can inform revisions of the course to ensure student success. Additionally, course
evaluations are also used by the instructor for annual performance review and promotion applications, teaching
award applications, among others. For these reasons, your feedback, reflections, and insights on your experience in
the course are invaluable to ensure student success and a quality education for all. You will be contacted through
email with further instructions. Students who complete their evaluations will have priority access to their grades.