Instructor: Keely Viator

Email: viatorka@lamarpa.edu

Phone: (409) 984-6394

Office Hours: By Appointment Only.

Additional Contact Information: Email is the BEST method to reach me, and I accept emails any time, nights and weekends included.

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.

None; All materials will be provided through Blackboard.

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.

• Consistent access to a computer (not just a cellphone) with the internet.
• Sufficient familiarity with Blackboard-- everything we do will be through this platform!
• General understanding of Microsoft Office (through your MyLSCPA), especially Word and Outlook.

• TSIA2 complete in English Language Arts and Reading (ELAR)

Upon successful completion of this course, students will:

• Demonstrate knowledge of individual and collaborative writing processes.
• Develop ideas with appropriate support and attribution.
• Write in a style appropriate to audience and purpose.
• Read, reflect, and respond critically to a variety of texts.
• Use Edited American English in academic essays.

* Communication skills: Students will demonstrate effective written, oral and/or visual

communication.

* Critical Thinking Skills: Students will engage in creative and/or innovative thinking,

and/or inquiry, analysis, evaluation, synthesis of information, organizing concepts and

constructing solutions.

* Teamwork: Students will demonstrate the ability to work effectively with others to sup-

port a shared purpose or goal and consider different points of view.

* Personal Responsibility: Students will demonstrate the ability to connect choices, actions

and consequences to ethical decision-making.

MLA Format: Introduction to MLA Format and the 5-Paragraph Method of writing to be used in all essays this semester.

Narrative Essay: Narrative/storytelling topics with reading and writing assignments, ending with an academic essay.

Compare/Contrast Essay: Compare and contrast a topic, with an introduction to researching and using secondary sources, ending with an academic essay.

Argument/Research Essay: Argue a topic using scholarly research and source materials, with a peer-review process, ending with an academic essay.

Final Exam Essay: Complete the full writing process from planning to drafting/editing on your own, ending with the final exam as an academic essay

Please note that the schedule is subject to change, with notice.

• Week 1 : Welcome Unit; Meet Your Professor; Syllabus; About this Course; Schedule; Introduction Discussion Board; Email Etiquette Assignment; Plagiarism Contract; How to Use Blackboard; Introduction to the Course Quiz; MLA Format/5-Paragraph Structure Unit Lecture.

• Week 2 : MLA Format (continued) and Narrative Essay Unit; Three Interesting Things Writing Assignment due; Narrative Essay Topic due.

• Week 3 : Narrative Essay Unit; Outline due; Revise and Resubmit Outline (as needed); Rough Draft due.

• Week 4 : Narrative Essay Final Draft Due; Begin Essay #2 Lecture.

• Week 5 : Compare/Contrast Essay Unit; Topic due; Secondary Source Lecture; Source(s) due.

• Week 6 : Compare/Contrast Essay Unit; Outline with Works Cited page due; Revise and Resubmit Outline (as needed); Rough Draft due.

• Week 7 : Compare/Contrast Essay Final Draft Due; Begin Essay #3 Lecture.

• Week 8 : Argumentation/Research Essay Unit; Formal Topic Proposal due; Revise and Resubmit, as needed.

• Week 9 : Argumentation/Research Essay Unit; Research/Bibliography; Preliminary Bibliography due; Revise and Resubmit, as needed; Annotated Bibliography due.

• Week 10 : Argumentation/Research Essay Unit; Thesis Workshop due; Revise and Resubmit, as needed; Outline with Works Cited page due; Revise and Resubmit, as needed.

• Week 11 : Argumentation/Research Essay Unit; Outline due; Revise and Resubmit as needed; Begin Rough Draft.

• Week 12 : Argumentation/Research Essay Unit; Rough Draft Peer Review; Rough Draft Due.

• Week 13 : Argumentation/Research Essay Final Draft due; Introduction to Essay #4.

• Week 14 : Introduction to Essay #4*Thanksgiving Break*

• Week 15 : Final Exam Essay Unit; select topic, outline, and draft essay.

• Week 16 : Final Exam (Reflective) Essay Due!

December 07, 2026

90 – 100 A 80 – 89 B 70 – 79 C 60 – 69 D 0 – 59 F

+ Attendance/Participation--5%

+ Assignments--30%

+ Essays--60%

+ Final Exam--5%

= Final Grade-- 100%

• All assignments for this class will be available through Blackboard, and all grades will be displayed in the Bb Gradebook. 
• You must go through the course's Learning Modules/Units and Content Folders to access your assignments-- NOT through Gradebook or your Blackboard Activity pages.
• Assignments will vary in form: reading exercises, writing exercises, quizzes, and academic essays.
• You will be asked to demonstrate your reading and writing skills in various ways in this class, but I will do my best to provide specific instructions and examples for assignments, as needed. 
• Revise/Resubmit policy: for most assignments, you will be allowed to Revise (aka edit/fix) the first attempt and Resubmit it as a second attempt in order to earn a higher grade, and some assignments will require that you Revise and Resubmit the assignment before you can move on to the next assignment. 
• Grades for submitted assignments will be submitted in a timely manner; please understand that English is not a "simple" subject to grade, and it may take more time for grades to be returned to you due to the nature of our content. 
• Due Dates will be set in Blackboard as needed on assignments, and an automatic 0 grade will be issued for any work that is submitted after the due date. 
• Contacting me should be done through LSCPA email (Outlook), NOT through Blackboard messages.

Your Attendance/Participation will be determined by your physical presence during class meetings and/or access to the course Blackboard and timely submission of all assignments.

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.