College Composition II
ENGL 1302
Mitchell, Spring 2017
General Information
Instructor: Angie Mitchell
Contact Information: email is , and school phone number is (817) 220-3888
Tutorial Hours: My availability may vary, depending upon my school duties, but typical hours will be:
Monday – Friday: 7:45 – 8:00 A.M. / 3:45 – 4:00 P.M. / other times by appointment
Synopsis of Course Content and Goals
English 1302 is a course that focuses on analytical writing as well as research. Its central purposes are (1) to help you improve your writing for academic contexts; (2) to help you understand your own composing process and the many ways you might adapt it to new situations; (3) to help you get a little sense of how/why scholars wrestle with problems, issues, and questions; and (4) to help you understand some basic rhetorical principles that can help you write for other contexts. The course goes about accomplishing these purposes through five writing tasks and the processes required to produce them, which include: principles and techniques of analytical composition; analysis of literary, expository, and persuasive texts; critical thinking; techniques for creating effective written expression; developing critical reading and thinking skills; writing effective essays including a major research paper and a literary analysis paper; and conducting research.
Co-Requisites and Pre-Requisites: ENGL 1301 or consent of the English Department Chair.
English 1302 is a total of 3 credit hours.
Course Learning Objectives:
Upon completion of the course students should be able:
1. To understand and demonstrate writing and speaking processes through invention, organization, drafting, revision, and editing.
2. To understand the importance of specifying audience and purpose and to select appropriate communication choices.
3. To understand and appropriately apply modes of expression, i.e., descriptive, expositive, narrative, scientific, and self-expressive, in written, visual, and oral communication.
4. To understand and apply basic principles of critical thinking, problem solving, and technical proficiency in the development of exposition and argument.
5. To develop the ability to research and write a documented paper.
Major Writing Assignments
The Assignments: As I noted above, six major assignments are the center of this course. Here are the titles and other information about the assignments:
Writing #1: Literary Analysis
Tentatively due: Friday, February 3, 2017
Writing #2: Visual Analysis
Tentatively due: Monday, February 20, 2017
Writing #3: Annotated Bibliography
Tentatively due: Tuesday, March 7, 2017
Writing #4: Research-based Comparative Analysis (6-8 pages, excluding works cited, and mandatory to pass the course)
Tentatively due: Thursday, April, 13 2017
Writing #6: Rhetorical Analysis
Tentatively due: Friday, May 5, 2017
Assignment Sheets: You will receive printed pages that detail each of these assignments. I will distribute them early in the cycle of each writing task.
Evaluation of Writing Assignments: For you to get anything at all out of this course, you have to apply to your own writing the principles and strategies we work on in class (examples: organization schemes, etc.). Therefore, when I read your written work for this course, I will evaluate it in light of a set of "evaluation criteria," which I will put on every assignment sheet. Take note of these criteria because they are what I am looking for when I grade your writing.
Guidelines and Special Concerns for Writing Assignments
Assignment “Cycles”: Each of the six graded writing tasks carries with it a cycle of activities. I will ask you to produce tentative drafts and to come with questions about problems you have had with the assignment. Ultimately, since this section of English 1302 is in part about developing one’s own sense of the composing process, I want you to figure out as much as you can—and then come to class with informed questions about the assignment.
Rough Drafts: All major writing assignments will require a rough draft, which is considered part of the assignment. I will not grade the rough draft, but if you fail to include a rough draft when you turn in one of these assignments, I will not grade the assignment.
Rough Draft Readings (by class members): For your writing assignments we will have "rough draft reading days," that is, we will have class periods where you will circulate your rough draft to other class members for their commentary. These class periods are extremely important for you as writer and commenter alike; they can help sharpen your eye toward characteristics of good academic writing. Having your rough draft circulate on these days is part of each assignment.
Rough Draft Readings (by me): If you would like me to read and talk to you personally about any or all of your rough drafts, bring them by before or after school. I will not “correct” or “edit” your papers, but I will give you oral responses, especially in light of questions you might have had about the project.
Daily Grades: Because this course centers on the composing process, I will require you to do "bits and pieces" of each writing assignment during the period when the entire class is working on the task. For instance, during one week's work on an assignment, on Monday I might require a set of notes from the reading you are responding to; on Wednesday I might require a plan for the paper; on another day I might require part of a draft. While these activities may not seem like much at the time, they are deeply woven into the fabric of each writing assignment. Please take them very seriously.
Manuscript Form: Since writing on a computer is part of the course, all of your work will be word-processed. Please leave one inch margins on the left and right, number pages consecutively after the first, clip or staple in the upper left hand corner, and use the heading established by MLA on the first page.
Late Assignment Policy: A major assignment is due on the day listed on the assignment sheet unless for some reason I announce a change or unless you have made special arrangements with me. Writing assignments turned in after that date receives a deduction in grade (one half letter grade per day). I will not accept major assignments more than five days late.
Plagiarism: Do your own work and avoid the temptation of having someone else do the work for you. If I find out that a major assignment has been plagiarized, I will automatically give it a failing grade and make a request to the principal that the student be given a failing grade for the course. For legitimate help on writing assignments, visit me.
Legal and Behavioral Considerations
Classroom Civility: I expect you to respect the rights of the other class members by not speaking or whispering when I am talking or when anyone else has the floor. I am granted the right by the school to remove a student from the classroom when he/she ignores such civility; or in other words, send him/her to the office.
Computer Resources
GAL/Chrome Books: All writings must be typed; therefore, several days during this semester will be computer drafting days. Please note: lab time is not "play time." There are three ideas behind having a lab for the class: (a) so there is computer access to type your paper, (b) so I can be available to help with your writing project, and (c) so I can be there to evaluate your writing in process.
During these computer class periods, I will usually expect you to come with your paper currently in process and to get the most out of the specific issues I ask you to work on that day. Most lab days I will have an agenda of revision for you to work on; that agenda will be discussed in class.
Please don't attempt to pirate software from the computers or "experiment" with them in any way.
Course Grading
Course Grades: Your total grade for the course consists of these percentages of course contents:
Literary Analysis 20%
Visual Analysis 15%
Annotated Bibliography 15%
Research-based Comparative Analysis 25%
Rhetorical Analysis 15%
Daily Work 10%
Grade Scale: My grade scale for the course is the same one used throughout the first-year writing program at Weatherford College: A = superior; B = above average; C = average; D = below average; F = unacceptable; 0 = not completed.
Withdrawal Option
If you are going to fail the course, you have the option to withdrawal or “drop” the course:
This semester, the last day to drop with an undisputed W is Wednesday, April 12, 2017.
FERPA
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) requires that I treat each dual credit student’s educational records as confidential; therefore, I cannot release that information without the written consent of the student. FERPA release forms may be printed from Weatherford College’s website. Once the release form is returned to me signed and dated, I may then discuss attendance, progress reports, tests, and homework.
Academic Integrity Policy
The Weatherford College English Department has a policy regarding the use of www.turnitin.com. All written assignments of 500+ will be uploaded to www.turnitin.com through the Moodle course site. Students who fail to upload the assignment will earn a zero. Instructors will make the originality reports available prior to the due date, and students will be able to alter the paper until the due date. Each paper should be the student’s original work created for assigned assignment.
Academic Integrity is fundamental to the educational mission of Weatherford College and the College expects its students to maintain high standards of personal and scholarly conduct. Academic dishonesty of any kind will not be tolerated. Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, cheating on an examination or other academic work, plagiarism, collusion, and the abuse of resource materials. Any student who is demonstrated to have engaged in any of these activities will be subject to immediate disciplinary action. A full record of all demonstrable violations of this policy will be retained in the student's disciplinary file for the length of his or her tenure at Weatherford College. The student retains the right to appeal any disciplinary action to the Student Appeals Committee. The instructor will notify the student of the report of academic dishonesty. The Dean of Humanities and Fine Arts will notify the student of the disciplinary action.
ADA Statement
Any student with a documented disability condition (e.g. learning, psychiatric, vision. hearing etc.) who requests reasonable accommodations may contact the Director of Special Populations’ Office located in the Student Services Office (817-598-6350) to request reasonable classroom accommodations.
Intellectual Property Rights
A student shall retain all rights to work created as part of instruction or using College District technology resources.
Rules and Procedures
Our college class takes place in high school; therefore, all school policies will be enforced. For that reason, you must:
· Be on time. Tardy and attendance policies will be enforced.
· No food or drinks in the classroom at anytime.
· Come to class prepared; coming to class otherwise will result in disciplinary action.
· Make-up daily work – each student has one day for every absence. After that time has passed, if the student has not turned in work, it will be considered late and a zero will be recorded. If an absence is unexcused, any grade taken on that day will be reduced by 30% as directed by district policy. (Remember that major papers have a different policy, which is discussed in the “Guidelines and Special Concerns for Writing Assignments” section.)
· If you’re absent, it is your responsibility to get all make-up work. There is a binder near the door that will contain all of our assignments. If you fail to check the binder and submit make-work, a zero will be given.
· Upon entering the classroom, set in your assigned seat and begin bell work.
Some discipline problems may require an immediate office referral, which is used at the teacher’s discretion.
Master Syllabus
Course Number: ENGL 1302 (23.1301.51 12)
Course Title: Composition II
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. Three hours lecture per week.
Co-Requisites and Pre-Requisites: ENGL 1301
Required Materials:
Aaron, Jane E. LB Brief. Weatherford College edition. Boston: Pearson, 2014. Print.
Rosenwasser, David, and Jill Stephen. Writing Analytically. 7th ed. Stamford: Cengage Learning, 2015. Print.
Course Learning Objectives:
Upon successful completion of this course, students will:
1. Demonstrate knowledge of individual and collaborative research processes.
2. Develop ideas and synthesize primary and secondary sources within focused academic arguments, including one or more research-based essays.
3. Analyze, interpret, and evaluate a variety of texts for the ethical and logical uses of evidence.
4. Write in a style that clearly communicates meaning, builds credibility, and inspires belief or action.
5. Apply the conventions of style manuals for specific academic disciplines (e.g., APA, CMS, MLA, etc.)
Required Student Learning Outcomes:
Upon successful completion of this course, students will:
1. Demonstrate knowledge of individual and collaborative research processes.
2. Develop ideas and synthesize primary and secondary sources within focused academic arguments, including one or more research-based essays.
3. Analyze, interpret, and evaluate a variety of texts for ethical and logical use of evidence.
4. Write in a style that clearly communicates meaning, builds credibility, and inspires belief or action.
5. Apply the conventions of style manuals for specific academic disciplines (e.g. APA, CMS, MLA, etc.)
Evaluation Standards:
At the beginning of the semester, the instructor will provide each student in the class with a written course outline that shows how the final grade is determined by assignments and percentages. The WC English Department policy requires the following assignments in English 1302:
• Research Paper (6-8 typed pages, excluding works cited list)—minimum 25% of course grade (mandatory to pass the course)
• Annotated Bibliography—percentage at instructor’s discretion
• Literary Analysis Paper—percentage at instructor's discretion
• Additionally, instructors will utilize readings and Writing Analytically to develop two or three other assignments. At a minimum, these assignments may include two short essays (4-6 typed pages) and a research essay proposal. These projects are weighted at the instructor’s discretion.
All English 1302 papers are scored holistically on the basis of appropriateness, unity and focus, synthesis, analysis, development, organization, sentence structure, and mechanical conventions. Documentation style according to MLA guidelines must be observed.
Academic Integrity Policy:
The Humanities Department has a policy regarding the use of www.turnitin.com. All written assignments of 500+ words will be uploaded to www.turnitin.com site through the Moodle course site. Students who fail to upload the assignment will earn a zero. Additionally, all instructors will make the originality reports available prior to the due date, and students will be able to alter the paper until the due date. All written material must be the product of the student’s original work, created specifically for this class. Papers written for other classes (including previous attempts of this course) will not be accepted without the express permission of the instructor.
Academic Integrity is fundamental to the educational mission of Weatherford College and the College expects its students to maintain high standards of personal and scholarly conduct. Academic dishonesty of any kind will not be tolerated. Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, cheating on an examination or other academic work, plagiarism, collusion, dual or former submission, and the abuse of resource materials. Any student who is demonstrated to have engaged in any of these activities will be subject to immediate disciplinary action. A full record of all demonstrable violations of this policy will be retained in the student's disciplinary file for the length of his or her tenure at Weatherford College. The student retains the right to appeal any disciplinary action to the Student Appeals Committee. The instructor will notify the student of the report of academic dishonesty. The QEP Director will notify the student of the disciplinary action.
ADA Statement:
Any student with a documented disability condition (e.g. learning, psychiatric, vision. hearing etc.) who requests reasonable accommodations may contact the Director of Special Populations’ Office located in the Student Services Office (817-598-6350) to request reasonable classroom accommodations.
Intellectual Property Rights:
A student shall retain all rights to work created as part of instruction or using College District technology resources.
Revision Date: Fall 2016