Summer I 2026
Composition I
ENGL 1301_2A3 (60400) INSTRUCTOR CONTACT INFORMATION Instructor: Joyce Blain Email: jblain@lit.edu Office Hours: Email to schedule a meeting CREDIT 3 Semester Credit Hours, No lab MODE OF INSTRUCTION Hybrid COURSE DESCRIPTION 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. COURSE OBJECTIVES Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to: 1. Demonstrate knowledge of individual and collaborative writing processes. 2. Develop ideas with appropriate support and attribution. 3. Write in a style appropriate to audience and purpose. 4. Read, reflect, and respond critically to a variety of texts. 5. Use Edited American English in academic essays. Core Objectives 1. Critical Thinking Skills: To include creative thinking, innovation, inquiry, and analysis, evaluation, and synthesis of information. 2. Communication Skills: To include effective development, interpretation and expression of ideas through written, oral and visual communication. 3. Personal Responsibility: To include the ability to connect choices, actions and consequences to ethical decision-making REQUIRED TEXTBOOK AND MATERIALS Computer with Internet access LIT ID badge ATTENDANCE POLICY Student attendance is vital to successful completion of the class. However, life happens. Due dates remain the same, whether students are in class or absent. Check email and Blackboard daily. DROP POLICY In order to drop a course, students are responsible for initiating and completing the drop process by the specified drop date as listed on the Academic Calendar. If you stop coming to class and fail to drop the course, you will earn an “F” in the course. 2 ENGL 1301 COURSE CALENDAR, Summer II 2026 DATE TOPIC June 1 Semester begins June 7 Procrastination Self-Assessment Essay 1 Topic Proposal June 18 Quotes from Sources & Outline June 21 Essay 1 Rough Draft Submission-2 June 24 Peer Review Essay 1 June 28 Essay 1 due June 30 Essay 2 Annotated Bibliography Essay 2 Rough Draft July 13 Essay 2 Peer Review July 15 Essay 2 July 19 Essay 3 Topic Proposal July 23 Essay 3 Annotated Bibliography July 26 Essay 3 Rough Draft July 30 Essay 3 due July 31 All past due assignments are due August 8 Final Exam due @ 11 pm Will not be accepted late. Exam opens on August 1st. STUDENT EXPECTED TIME REQUIREMENT Log in every single day, submit on time, and ask questions. COURSE EVALUATION Final grades will be calculated according to the following criteria: • List course categories (ie. Tests, assignments, etc.) and their % of the overall grade. Core courses must show Common Assignment with a value of 20-25% of the total grade. Course evaluation must be uniform across all sections of a course. GRADE SCALE • 90-100 A • 80-89 B • 70-79 C • 60-69 D • 0-59 F LIT does not use +/- grading scales GRADING Essay 1 10% Essay 2 15% Common Assignment 20% Daily Grades 15% Short Writing Assignments 15% Participation/Attendance 10% Final Exam 15% ACADEMIC DISHONESTY Students found to be committing academic dishonesty (cheating, plagiarism, or collusion) may receive disciplinary action. Students need to familiarize themselves with the institution’s Academic Dishonesty Policy 3 available in the Student Catalog & Handbook at http://catalog.lit.edu/content.php?catoid=3&navoid=80#academic-dishonesty. Using AI to complete work is academic dishonesty. ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE STATEMENT Lamar Institute of Technology (LIT) recognizes the recent advances in Artificial Intelligence (AI), such as ChatGPT, have changed the landscape of many career disciplines and will impact many students in and out of the classroom. To prepare students for their selected careers, LIT desires to guide students in the ethical use of these technologies and incorporate AI into classroom instruction and assignments appropriately. Appropriate use of these technologies is at the discretion of the instructor. Students are reminded that all submitted work must be their own original work unless otherwise specified. Students should contact their instructor with any questions as to the acceptable use of AI/ChatGPT in their courses. Students will earn a zero if their submission has AI usage. TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS The latest technical requirements, including hardware, compatible browsers, operating systems, etc. can be online at https://lit.edu/online-learning/online-learning-minimum-computer-requirements. A functional broadband internet connection, such as DSL, cable, or WiFi is necessary to maximize the use of online technology and resources. DISABILITIES STATEMENT The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 are federal anti-discrimination statutes that provide comprehensive civil rights for persons with disabilities. LIT provides reasonable accommodations as defined in the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Section 504 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, to students with a diagnosed disability. The Special Populations Office is located in the Eagles’ Nest Room 129 and helps foster a supportive and inclusive educational environment by maintaining partnerships with faculty and staff, as well as promoting awareness among all members of the Lamar Institute of Technology community. If you believe you have a disability requiring an accommodation, please contact the Special Populations Coordinator at (409)-951-5708 or email specialpopulations@lit.edu. You may also visit the online resource at Special Populations - Lamar Institute of Technology (lit.edu). STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT STATEMENT It is the responsibility of all registered Lamar Institute of Technology students to access, read, understand and abide by all published policies, regulations, and procedures listed in the LIT Catalog and Student Handbook. The LIT Catalog and Student Handbook may be accessed at www.lit.edu. Please note that the online version of the LIT Catalog and Student Handbook supersedes all other versions of the same document. STARFISH LIT utilizes an early alert system called Starfish. Throughout the semester, you may receive emails from Starfish regarding your cours e grades, attendance, or academic performance. Faculty members record student attendance, raise flags and kudos to express concern or give praise, and you can make an appointment with faculty and staff all through the Starfish home page. You can also login to Blackboard or MyLIT and click on the Starfish link to view academic alerts and detailed information. It is the responsibility of the student to pay attention to these emails and information in Starfish and consider taking the recommended actions. Starfish is used to help you be a successful student at LIT. 4 ADDITIONAL COURSE POLICIES/INFORMATION Communication: email jeblain@lit.edu from your LIT email account. Emails from outside accounts will not receive a response. Tech requirements: Google Chrome Conferences: Email me. Late work: most assignments will have a 3-day submission period after the due date. Once the assignment closes, students must email me to have the assignment reopened. There are no late penalties; students have the responsibility of contacting the instructor to have assignments reopened. Late work exceptions: the final essay and final exam will not be accepted late. Final exam: the final exam will be open from August 1 to August 8 at 10:59 pm. Exams will not be accepted after that time. Blackboard’s 24/7 support: 409-951-5701 LIT Help Desk: 409-839-2074