Paul Bounds
paul.bounds@hccs.edu
http://learning.cc.hccs.edu/Members/pbounds

Requirements: Students are required to keep up with readings and be prepared to discuss them in class. Grades will be determined through papers, quizzes, exams, and in class writings.

Attendance: Class attendance is important, and students are responsible for everything discussed or distributed during class. Students who miss class should first check with classmates to determine what they missed before coming to me. Students are responsible for all work regardless of absences. Real life does sometimes interfere, but you should make a commitment to attend to your education. It is not necessary to provide excuses to the professor for missed classes. A student may be dropped from the course, denied credit, or failed for excessive absences.

Contact: The best way to contact me is through the email address listed above. Please make sure to put your course abbreviation ( ex: ENGL 1302 ) in the subject of the message, or I may not see it amongst all my other mail. As listed elsewhere, do not email me papers (without prior specific permission)or excuses for missed classes.

Tardiness: If you are late to class, please make every effort not to disrupt the class or disturb other students with your entrance. Apologies or excuses are not necessary. The same holds if you must leave class early: simply leave with as little fuss as possible.

Grading: Your grade will be determined by your performance on the required essays as well as on daily work comprised of reading responses to the works assigned. Essays will be graded according to the following departmental standards.

Grading Scale
A 90-100% =exceptional work; superior in both style and content
B 80-89% =above average work; superior in content
C 70-79% =average work, good enough but not extraordinary
D 60-69% =below average work; mean mechanics, style, content
F 50-59% =failing work; deficient in mechanics, style and content

CORE CURRICULUM
All English courses fulfill the six competencies of the Core Curriculum.

READING: Reading material at the college level means having the ability to analyze and interpret a variety of printed materials�books, articles, and documents.
WRITING: Writing at the college level means having the ability to produce clear, correct, and coherent prose adapted to purpose, occasion, and audience. In addition to knowing correct grammar, spelling, and punctuation, students should also become familiar with the writing process, including how to discover a topic, how to develop and organize it, and how to phrase it effectively for their audience. These abilities are acquired through practice and reflection. SPEAKING: Effective speaking is the ability to communicate orally in clear, coherent, and persuasive language appropriate to purpose, occasion, and audience.
LISTENING: Listening at the college level means the ability to analyze and interpret various forms of spoken communication.
CRITICAL THINKING: Critical thinking embraces methods for applying both qualitative and quantitative skills analytically and creatively to subject matter in order to evaluate arguments and to construct alternative strategies. Problem solving is one of the applications of critical thinking used to address an identified task.
COMPUTER LITERACY: Computer literacy at the college level means having the ability to use computer-based technology in communicating, solving problems, and acquiring information. Core-educated students should have an understanding of the limits, problems, and possibilities associated with the use of technology and should have the tools necessary to evaluate and learn new technologies as they become available. (From the Houston Community College System 2000-2001 Catalog, page 35)

Paper Requirements: Papers should be around 3-5 pages typed, double spaced, MLA format, 12 point Times New Roman font, with a works cited page showing all references used in the paper. If it is absolutely impossible for you to type your papers, please see me for accommodation. Papers should be turned in directly to me to ensure that they are received. Do not email me papers without prior specific approval. Late papers will lose one letter grade for each class day late at my discretion. Final exams, essays, and portfolios should be accompanied with a self-addressed stamped envelope if you wish them returned to you after the end of the course.

Revision: All papers can be revised once to improve content and grade. Revision is not the same as editing. The paper should be substantially improved, at least following my specific recommendations, not simply corrected for errors. Revised papers must be turned in within a week of the paper's return to students. The revision must be accompanied by the original graded copy of the paper. The revised paper grade and the original grade will be averaged to determine the revised grade for the assignment.

SCHOLASTIC DISHONESTY: Students are responsible for conducting themselves with honor and integrity in fulfilling course requirements. Penalties and/or disciplinary proceedings may be initiated by College System officials against a student accused of scholastic dishonesty� which includes cheating, plagiarism, collusion, and anything else designed to deceive the instructor. (Student Handbook) Students discovered to have plagiarized or to have otherwise misrepresented their work can expect a zero for the assignment and an F in the course.

Phones and beepers: Ringing cellular phones or sounding beepers disrupt instruction. Students must remember to turn these off before class starts.

Reasonable Accommodation: Any student with a documented disability (e.g., physical, learning, psychiatric, vision, hearing, etc.) who needs to arrange reasonable accommodation must contact the Disability Services Office at the beginning of each semester. Faculty are authorized to provide only the accommodations requested by the Disability Support Services Office. If you have questions, please contact the Disability Counselor in 102 SJAC or at 713-718-5165.

SUPPORT SERVICES:
Tutoring: Free tutoring is available in FAC 321b. Check the door for exact times of service. Library: The library is located on the second floor of the San Jacinto building, at the east end. The librarians are dedicated to helping you find whatever you need.
Open Computer Labs: Computers are available for word processing in SJAC 204, the Macintosh Interdisciplinary Lab in JDB 203-204, and the Computer Writing Lab in FAC 302. Check for open hours.