Instructor: John Rutherford

Email: rutherfordja@lamarpa.edu

Phone: N/A

Office Hours: MWF 12-5 PM, and by email.

Additional Contact Information:

Intensive study of and practice in writing processes, from invention and researching to drafting, revising, and editing, both individually and collaboratively. Emphasis on effective rhetorical choices, including audience, purpose, arrangement, and style. Focus on writing the academic essay as a vehicle for learning, communicating, and critical analysis. Note: ENGL 1301 is a pre-requisite for all 2000-level literature courses

No textbook required.

Textbook Purchasing Statement: A student attending Lamar State College Port Arthur is not under any obligation to purchase a textbook from the college-affiliated bookstore. The same textbook may also be available from an independent retailer, including an online retailer.

-A computer with internet access

-The ability to access AI resource such as ChatGPT, Microsoft CoPilot, Google Gemini, Claude, etc.

TSIA2 complete in English Language Arts and Reading (ELAR)

Monday, 24th August 2026: Welcome, course introduction, and syllabus quiz. Review MLA formatting and access MLA template(MS Word document)

Unit 1: Your major. Why are you choosing it? Begin 9/2

Unit 2: Exploring the core curriculum. Begin 10/7.

Unit 3: Choosing your school. Begin 11/11, end 12/4.

ALL ASSIGNMENTS ARE DUE AT 11:59 PM

Wednesday 8/26-Pre-assessment. Personal narrative of who you are, why you're here, and why you're taking classes at LSCPA as a dual credit student instead of waiting like the rest of your peers. 500-700 words(hard limit).

Friday 8/28-Citations practice.

UNIT 1

Wednesday 9/2-Pre-writing: What do you plan to study and why are you choosing it? 500 word hard limit.

Friday 9/4-Scaffolding I: Using AI resources look up information about the planned major. You will be provided a list of questions that you must ask, but I encourage you to ask more things.

Tuesday 9/8-Scaffolding II: Without the use of AI resources find three schools(including one outside of Texas) that offer your intended major degree. Turn in a list of these schools and direct links to their website including a link to the school's main webpage, the academic department offering your major degree, and, if possible, a link to the degree plan of your major degree.

Tuesday 9/8-Scaffolding III: Without the use of AI resources find three outside sources discussing the employment statistics for people in that major, including at least one for your hometown. Write 150-300 word summary explaining what those people are doing after they graduate and what they are making per year.

Friday 9/11: Using the resources you have found, make an outline with one or two initial sentences under each heading. The Outline must include:

-Introduction

-A description of the major and why you have chosen it. Is it a popular major or a niche interest?

-Comparison of the degree programs at the schools you have selected. Are they broadly similar or do they have critical differences?

-A discussion of the employment statistics

-Conclusion

Friday 9/18: Scaffolding IV: First draft of essay 1. Word count between 1,200 and 1,500 words(soft limit).

Monday 9/28: Final draft after reading instructor comments and revision.

UNIT 2

10/7 -Pre writing: Pre-writing, 500 word hard limit. Why do you think colleges and universities have core curricula? Why do you think they make Math majors take English classes and Sports Science majors take Philosophy?

10/9-Scaffolding I: Consider the core curriculum from Lamar University. Upload provided PDF an AI resource of your choice and ask the following questions.

-Why would a major in [insert major here] take these courses?

-How will these courses make me a better [career choice]?

10/14-Scaffolding II: Find 5 sources without AI assistance discussing the relative merits of core curricula. 2 must be pro-core curriculum, 2 must be anti-core curriculum. These must be high-quality sources, preferably from either trade journals(such as The Chronicle of Higher Education or Inside Higher Ed) or peer-reviewed publications. Review your sources carefully. I will do so. 

10/16-Scaffolding III: Annotated bibliography. Take your sources and in one paragraph explain how they are helping you make your argument.

10/21-Scaffolding IV: Outline similar to previous including:

-Introduction-State position: why are you for or against the core curriculum. 

-Introduce your sources, what do they think? Argue your side. Is the core a pointless waste of student money and time or is it a valuable and essential part of higher education?

-Conclude, restating your point and completing the argument. 

10/30-Scaffolding IV: First draft of Essay 2 due 1500-1800 words.

11/9- Final draft. Make revisions based on instructor comments.

Unit 3: Final Essay: Choosing your school, a persuasive essay. Why is this school best for you?

11/11-Pre-writing: Using the information you have collected and skills you have gained over the past two essays, do a little research and find your dream university that offers your dream curriculum. What is that school? What made you choose it?

11/13-Scaffolding I: The first step in considering what university you plan to attend is cost. How much is the annual cost of attendance? How will you pay for it? Utilizing AI resources, ask the questions:

-What scholarships are available for majors in my field at this institution

-What about jobs and work study?

-Using the FAFSA estimator tool, what is my estimated financial aid?

11/18-Scaffolding II: The next step in my opinion is the faculty. Who are the faculty members at the school you wish to attend teaching in your major? Without using AI resources, choose three professors teaching in your field and consider their research interests. Do they align with yours? Write a two-paragraph summary per faculty member. 

11/23-Scaffolding III: What other things about the school attract you? Fraternities/Sororities/social life? Opportunities for volunteerism? Student research? Tutoring resources? Internships? Write 3-5 paragraphs explaining your reasoning. These can be casual and use non-academic language and/or terms. Be sure to include links to the school's website as citations, such as information about student organizations and Greek life, etc. 

12/1 Scaffolding IV: Write an outline 

-Introduction: Introduce your school

-Why is this school good for someone seeking your particular major? This is where you might discuss faculty. 

-Discuss cost of attendance. Argue why seeking your education here is worth the money.

-Discuss the other things from Scaffolding III

12/7 Final essay: turn in first draft of your final essay. 1500-1800 words(hard limit).

12/7/2026

 LSCPA expects all students to engage in academic pursuits in a manner that is above reproach. Students are expected to maintain complete honesty and integrity in their academic experiences both in and out of the classroom. Any student found guilty of dishonesty in any phase of academic work will be subject to disciplinary action. Disciplinary proceedings may be initiated against a student accused of any form of academic dishonesty including, but not limited to, cheating on an examination or other academic work which is to be submitted, plagiarism, collusion, and the abuse of resource materials. 

Plagiarism shall mean the appropriation of another’s work or idea and the unacknowledged incorporation of that work or idea into one’s own work offered for credit. 

Collusion shall mean the unauthorized collaboration with another person in preparing work offered for credit. 

Abuse of resource materials shall mean the mutilation, destruction, concealment, theft or alteration of materials provided to assist students in the mastery of course materials.

 Academic work shall mean the preparation of an essay, report, problem, assignment, creative work or other project that the student submits as a course requirement or for a grade.

 Students are specifically warned against all forms of plagiarism, which include “purchasing, or otherwise acquiring and submitting as one’s 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 another’s work or ideas into one’s own offered for credit” (82). Students seeking to avoid plagiarism should consult either the course instructor or the most recent addition of the MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers or the most recent addition of the APA Style Guide, depending on your College requirements for writing research papers. The course instructor will complete a thorough and impartial investigation of any instance of academic dishonesty. A student found guilty of academic dishonesty will be notified in writing by the instructor of the violation, the penalty, and the student’s right to appeal the determination of dishonesty and/or the sanction imposed. Penalties for academic dishonesty in this course will result in either a lowered letter grade or failure of the course as determined by the instructor. The penalty may vary by instructor. For complete policy, please check the LSCPA website. 

AI Policy: We will be using AI in this course as a tool, not to do our work for us. We will work collaboratively as instructor and student, and with our chatbots with the goal of developing and understanding ethical and responsible use.

In this course, your first instance of academic dishonesty will result in a zero for the assignment and a required conference. Any additional instance of academic dishonesty will result in an F for the course. Any instance of academic dishonesty will be reported to the Dean of Students and remain on your academic record for the duration of your time at LSCPA

Please be sure to check BlackBoard often for announcements and information. This will be crucial to your success in the course.

Be sure to check your campus email and Course Homepage using MyLSCPA campus web portal. You can also access your grades, transcripts, academic advisors, degree progress, and other services through MyLSCPA.

Academic honesty is expected from all students, and dishonesty in any form will not be tolerated. Please consult the LSCPA policies (Academic Dishonesty section in the Student Handbook) for consequences of academic dishonesty.

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal anti-discrimination statute that provides comprehensive civil rights for persons with disabilities. Among other things, this legislation requires that all students with disabilities be guaranteed a learning environment that provides for reasonable accommodation of their disabilities. If you believe you have a disability requiring an accommodation, please contact the Accessibility Services Coordinator, Room 119, in the Ruby Fuller Building. The phone number is (409) 984-6241.

No food or tobacco products are allowed in the classroom. Only students enrolled in the course are allowed in the classroom, except by special instructor permission. Use of electronic devices is prohibited.

This syllabus is part of LSCPA's efforts to comply with Texas House Bill 2504.

As per Texas law and LSCPA policy, all LSCPA employees, including faculty, are required to report allegations or disclosures of child abuse or neglect to the designated authorities, which may include a local or state law enforcement agency or the Texas Department of Family Protective Services. For more information about mandatory reporting requirements, see LSCPA's Policy and Procedure Manual.

LSCPA is committed to establishing and maintaining an environment that is free from all forms of sex discrimination, including sexual harassment, sexual violence, and other forms of sexual misconduct. All LSCPA employees, including faculty, have the responsibility to report disclosures of sexual misconduct, including sexual harassment, sexual assault (including rape and acquaintance rape), domestic violence, dating violence, relationship violence, or stalking, to LSCPA's Title IX Coordinator, whose role is to coordinate the college's response to sexual misconduct. For more information about Title IX protections, faculty reporting responsibilities, options for confidential reporting, and the resources available for support visit LSCPA's Title IX website.

For more information about the Clery Act and crime reporting, see the Annual Security & Fire Safety Report and the Campus Security website.

If you have a grievance, complaint, or concern about this course that has not been resolved through discussion with the Instructor, please consult the Department Chair.