NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS COLLEGE
PONDER HIGH SCHOOL
ENGL-1302-0866 / 0890 | COMPOSITION II | CHRISTOPHER HAROLD, M.A.
Course Title: Composition II
Course prefix, number: ENGL-1302-0890
Semester/Year of course: Spring 2026
Semester start and end dates: 21 January - 17 May 2026
Modality: Face to Face
Class meeting location, days, and times: Ponder H.S. | Room 219 | M-F
Semester credit hours: 3
Course description: Intensive study of and practice in the strategies and techniques for
developing research-based expository and persuasive texts. Emphasis on effective and ethical
rhetorical inquiry, including primary and secondary research methods; critical reading of verbal,
visual, and multimedia texts; systematic evaluation, synthesis, and documentation of information
sources; and critical thinking about evidence and conclusions.
Course prerequisites: ENGL-1301
Required course materials: All texts will be provided online.
Name of instructor: Christopher Harold, M.A. Office location: Room 219
Telephone number: (940) 479-8210
E-mail address: charold@nctc.edu
Office hours for students: T-Th 4:00-4:30 P.M.
SYLLABUS CHANGE DISCLAIMER:
I reserve the right to make changes to this published syllabus if it is in the best interest of the
educational development of this class. Any such changes will be announced as soon as possible
in person and writing.
SUMMARY OF COURSE ASSIGNMENTS:
List of graded assignments:
MLA Compositions: 60% | Canvas Discussions 25% | Quizzes 15% = 100%
Final grade scale: A (90-100) | B (80-89) | C (70-79) | D (60-69) | F (0-59)
Late work policy: After the due date, I will deduct 10% for each day late.
SEE CANVAS FOR THE COMPLETE COURSE CALENDAR, OUTLINE, DETAILED
DESCRIPTION OF GRADED WORK, AND OTHER RELATED MATERIAL.
COURSE POLICIES:
Academic Integrity Policy:
Academic misconduct includes cheating, plagiarism, collusion, and falsifying academic records.
The Department of English expects its students to adhere to the college’s code of student
conduct, as outlined in both the Student Handbook. Plagiarism includes the following:
(1) Cheating: In English classes, cheating is defined as the appropriation, borrowing, theft,
purchase, or obtaining by any means work composed by someone else and submitting it under
one’s name;
(2) Insufficient Citation: Writing one’s paper but including passages copied exactly from the
work of another (un/published, printed, electronic) without providing footnotes, endnotes, or
parenthetical notes that cite the source and quotation marks or block indentation to indicate
precisely what has been copied
from the source; and
(3) Patch Writing: This form of plagiarism entails the writing of passages that are not copied
exactly but that have been borrowed from another source, with some changes. When following
the language of a source text, students are expected to use fresh words and fresh sentence
structures. In short, if you have any questions about or problems with your writing or source
material, please consult me BEFORE one submits the assignment for credit.
Attendance Policy: Ponder ISD Attendance Policy
Withdrawal Policy:
A student may withdraw from a course on or after the official date of record. It is the student’s
responsibility to initiate and complete a Withdrawal Request Form.
The last day to withdraw from the course with a “W” is: 4 April 2026.
Student Learning Outcomes: Upon completion, students will be able to:
• Demonstrate knowledge of individual and collaborative research processes.
• Develop ideas and synthesize primary and secondary sources within focused academic
arguments, including one or more research-based essays.
• Analyze, interpret, and evaluate a variety of texts for the ethical and logical uses of
evidence.
• Write in a style that communicates meaning, builds credibility, and inspires belief
or action.
• Apply the conventions of style manuals for specific academic disciplines (e.g., APA,
CMS, MLA, etc.)
COLLEGE POLICIES:
ADA Statement
North Central Texas College does not discriminate based on disability for admission or program
access. The College is committed to providing equal access to its students with disabilities by
providing appropriate accommodations; a variety of services and resources are made available
through the ACCESS Department. Students are responsible for notifying the ACCESS
Department of their need for assistance. Students with documented disabilities, such as mobility
impairment, hearing or visual impairment, learning, and/or psychological disorders are eligible
for services.
Disability Accommodations
The Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD) accommodates students with a documented
disability. A disability can interfere with learning, such as a learning disability, psychological
challenge, physical illness, or injury. Accommodations may include extra time on tests, tests in a
distraction-reduced environment, volunteer note-taking in class, etc.
North Central Texas College is on record as being committed to both the spirit and letter of
federal equal opportunity legislation, including the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of
1990, ADA Amendments Act of 2009, and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (P.L.
93-112).
http://www.nctc.edu/StudentServices/SupportServices/Disabilityservices/DisabilitiesFacultyReso
urces.aspx
Scholastic Integrity
Scholastic dishonesty shall include, but not be limited to cheating on a test, plagiarism, and
collusion. See Student Handbook “Student Rights & Responsibilities: Student Conduct [FLB-
(LOCAL)]” #18.
Disciplinary Actions [Student Handbook, #5] “When cheating, collusion, or plagiarism has
occurred beyond any reasonable doubt, the instructor may give the student or students involved
an “F” on a particular assignment or in the course. [See Scholastic Dishonesty FLB (Local)] The
instructor shall make a written report of the incident and the planned action to his Department
Chair. The Department Chair shall report the incident and action to the appropriate instructional
dean who shall review the case, notify the student and, if necessary, take further action. This
may involve either probation or suspension of the student or students in question. If such
disciplinary action is deemed necessary, the Dean of Student Services shall be notified, and the
action shall be taken through that office.”
Plagiarism, which should be avoided at all costs, includes the following student actions:
Turning in someone else's ideas, opinions, theories, or work as your own, including AI writing:
Unintentionally or inadvertently turning in someone else's ideas, opinions, theories, or work as
your own as the result of failing to document sources both internally and in the Works Cited;
Copying words, ideas, or images from someone without giving credit; Failing to put a quotation
in quotation marks;
Giving incorrect information about the source of information, quotations, or images;
Changing words but copying the sentence structure of a source without giving credit;
Copying so many words, ideas, or images from a source makes up most of the student's work,
whether or not the student gives credit.
Please do not cheat on an assignment. Ever. If you are struggling, contact me, and we can work
through any issue together. You've gained nothing even if you get away with it and fool me.
Email me if you’re feeling the urge to cheat on any assignment, big or small.
EEOC Statement
North Central Texas College does not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, gender,
religion, age, or disability in the employment or the provision of services.
Etiquette/Professionalism Policy
We will read material from a diverse group of thinkers and writers. There will be a constant
sharing of ideas and values, many with which you may not agree. A polite debate is welcome
and will be required from time to time. Insults and denigration of the ideas shared is not welcome
and will not be tolerated. Any student who mocks, scoffs, or is aggressive in any way towards
another student or me will be promptly dismissed, counted absent, and may not return to class
until said student has experienced a conference with the chair of the Department of English,
Speech, and Foreign Language and me. Please conduct yourself as a professional in our
classroom. Consider your academic audience, purpose, and occasion at all times. Listen and be
kind to one another.
Support Services
Counseling and Testing staff offer a variety of services to current and prospective students, such
as College 101, placement testing, academic advising, and course registration, transfer
assistance, and College Success seminars (Time Management, Study Skills, Test Anxiety,
Choosing a Major, Learning Style Strategies, Career Exploration), and much more.
http://www.nctc.edu/StudentServices/CounselingTesting.aspx
Student Success offers academic coaching and tutoring, including a Writing Center, a Math Lab,
free 24/7 online tutoring through Grade Results, and assist new students in acclimating to college
by providing computer lab services for prospective students. First-generation students can also
participate in TRIO, which offers specialized support services.
http://www.nctc.edu/StudentServices/SupportServices.aspx
Financial Aid offers financial resources for qualified students; visit the financial aid offices for
more information. http://www.nctc.edu/FInancialAidHome.aspx
Early Alert/CARES
The NCTC Early Alert program has been established to assist students who are at risk of failing
or withdrawing from a course. Your instructor may refer you to this program if you need to
complete assignments, failing tests, excessively absent, or have personal circumstances
impacting your academic performance. If submitted as an Early Alert you will be notified via
your NCTC e-mail address and then contacted by a Counseling and Testing advisor or counselor
to discuss possible strategies for completing your course successfully. The NCTC CARES
(Campus Assessment Response Evaluation Services) Team addresses behavior that may be
disruptive, harmful, or pose a threat to the health and safety of the NCTC community-such as
stalking, harassment, physical or emotional abuse, violent or threatening behavior, or self-harm.
As a student, you can report concerning behavior that could impact your safety or the safety of
another NCTC student. Just click the NCTC CARES Team logo posted on MyNCTC, or e-mail
CARESTeam@nctc.edu. As always, if you feel an immediate threat to your safety or welfare (or
to another student), please call 911 immediately.
Student Life!
At NCTC, we are working hard to provide an array of fun opportunities for students to come
together in a social setting with their classmates and other members of the college community.
These opportunities range from student organizations, student activities, leadership retreats,
service-learning trips, intramural sports, outdoor pursuits, and everything in between. It’s all
aimed at providing a place for students at NCTC to learn and grow outside of the classroom.
Contact Brisa Chavez in Room 173 (bchavez@nctc.edu) for more information. Get connected
with Student Life on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram “lifeatnctc” or Snap Chat “lifeatnctc5.”
For Service-Learning Trip information, you can visit:
http://www.nctc.edu/StudentServices/StudentLifeHousing/ServiceLearning1.aspx
I reserve the right to change dates, assignments, and topics at my discretion. Please note that I
will only move things to benefit your hard work and needed extension of time, should that need
arise.
STUDENT HANDBOOK
Students are expected to follow all rules and regulations found in the Student Handbook.
ADA STATEMENT
NCTC will adhere to all applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulations, and guidelines
concerning providing reasonable accommodations to afford the equal educational opportunity. It
is the student’s responsibility to contact the Office for Students with Disabilities to arrange
appropriate accommodations. See the OSD Syllabus Addendum.
STUDENT SERVICES
NCTC provides a multitude of services and resources to support students. See the Student
Services Syllabus Addendum for a listing of those departments and links to their sites.QUESTIONS, CONCERNS, or COMPLAINTS The student should first contact the instructor to deal with any questions, concerns, or complaints specific to the class. If the student and faculty ar
student may proceed to contact the instructional dean.
For general course questions, please contact your instructor, whose contact information can be found above in the "Instructor Information" section.
Name of Chair/Coordinator: Lisa Smart
Office Location: Corinth 171
Telephone number: (940) 498-6282, ext. 4961|
E-mail address: Ismart@nctc.edu
Name of Instructional Dean: Mary Martinson
Office Location: Gainesville
Telephone number: (940) 668-7731, ext. 4377
E-mail address: mmartinson@nctc.edu