English Composition II Course Syllabus
Ms. Kim ()
Mr. Dranginis ()
Goals:
In this course we will build upon the work you did in Composition I with the goal of producing polished and cogent writing across a variety of disciplines. Your assignments, readings, and classroom discussions will focus on approaching effective writing critically so that we can understand how and why it succeeds. As correct grammar is the foundation of clear communication, we will continue to review grammar rules, keeping in mind that the SAT looms large this year.
Materials:
Students will be expected to come to class with the following:
A journal: college-ruled, spiral-bound, and large enough to accommodate a year’s work.
A binder or large folder: these will store all your readings and previous assignments, quizzes, and tests.
The previous night’s readings: readings are available on the course website and should be printed out and prepared with annotations and answers to any reading questions.
Rules for Writers or another grammar resource: your instructor will indicate which of these to bring.
*Any students arriving without proper materials will be considered unprepared and this will be reflected in their class participation grade.
Books:
The GLP Student Council will be in touch with you about ordering an SAT prep book. As the year progresses, we will use that text to focus your preparations for the writing skills and essay sections of the test. All the course’s other readings will be available online on the course website. If you have misplaced your Rules for Writers, find a replacement immediately.
Grading:
Grades in this class will be calculated as follows:
50% Essays
30% Quizzes and Tests
20% Class Participation (including in-class writing and presentations)
*Plagiarism of any sort will not be tolerated in this course. Most commonly, plagiarism means the "borrowing" of information—whether an idea or verbatim text—from outside sources without the proper citations. In more severe instances, it also includes the hiring or solicitation of a writer to produce original text that is handed in in someone else's name. Violators of the course’s plagiarism policy will be subject to severe penalties including, a zero grade on the assignment and a permanent note in their file.
*Late Assignments will be marked down 10 points per day late unless the student has received prior permission from his instructor.
About the Class:
Readings and assignments in this class will be divided into six units:
Writing about myself
Writing about science
Writing about society
Writing about philosophy
Writing about history
Writing about literature
Coursework for this class will include frequent essay assignments, projects, SAT-style timed writings, editing and revision work, and grammar review.
We will be covering a wide variety of topics in order to understand both the larger principles and the written conventions associated with many varied types of writing. We will critically examine effective writing in each topic area in order to understand what makes it effective, and then you will work to incorporate this understanding into your own writing. Your essay assignments and in-class work should be approached as opportunities to practice and refine your knowledge and make it a practical part of your own writing. Our hope this year is to introduce you to ideas and perspectives that are unfamiliar, and in doing so to better prepare you for the intellectual challenges of college. If there are topics you have been aching to learn about, let us know. Writing is thought, and in practicing one you can improve the other. We look forward to working with you this year.