Course Syllabus
Great Basin College
English 102 –Section 1016 – Composition II
Spring 2014
Class Meets: Monday – Wednesday – 1:00 pm to 2:15 pm – High Tech Center room 108
Instructor: Russ Orr
Telephone: 775-753-2156
Fax: 775-753-2131
Office: MH 129
E-mail: The instructor can also be reached using Web Campus e-mail (preferred).
Office Hours:
Monday – 11:45 am to 12:45 pm
Tuesday – 12:30 pm to 2 pm
Wednesday – 11:45 am to 12:45 pm
Thursday – 12:30 pm to 2 pm
or by appointment
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Texts:
• TITLE: Research Writing Simplified
• AUTHOR: Clines
• EDITION: 7th
• COPYRIGHT YEAR: 2012
• PUBLISHER: Longman
• ISBN: 9780205236404
• TITLE: The Scott, Foresman Writer
• AUTHOR: Ruszkiewicz
• EDITION: 5th
• COPYRIGHT YEAR: 2011
• PUBLISHER: Longman
• ISBN: 9780205751976
• TITLE: Stat-Spotting: Field Guide to Identifying Dubious Data
• AUTHOR: Best
• COPYRIGHT YEAR: 2008
• PUBLISHER: University of California Press
• ISBN: 9780520257467
Prerequisite: Successful completion of English 101 – Composition I
Course Description:
Composition II focuses on research. Several forms of research are included – field, library, Internet – while exploring selected topics. Because the course applies research to writing, it necessarily requires a student to think about and to synthesize information from multiple sources and to effectively incorporate that information into his or her academic writing.
Course Objectives:
This course addresses the major goals of research-based writing:
• to enjoy the academic project of research for its own sake
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• to read with critical facility, especially for future academic work
English 102 concentrates on learning to read closely and reflectively and on integrating the reading material into an intelligent, accessible written version for another audience.
• to produce clear, concise, interesting prose
English 102 recognizes that every student can write, but improvement is always possible. Writing is both a skill and an art requiring the regular practice that perhaps only a writing course provides.
• to understand and practice the key academic research skill: synthesis
Synthesis is that technique which combines the material discovered during research into a new, coherent piece of writing that pays particular attention to voice. Voice is the writer behind the words; voice allows the audience to hear the author of the document.
• to understand the use and misuse of statistics
English 102 offers the perspective that although research involves statistical data, not all data is reported in good faith or with clear motive. Researchers must be able to evaluate the use of statistics and to recognize the inflated, sensational, or oversimplified use of them. The text Stat-Spotting: A Field Guide to Dubious Data has been chosen to further understanding of mass data.
• to learn documentation formats (MLA & APA)
Writers are expected to follow standardized reference formats, so English 102 reviews these two widely used academic and professional conventions.
Learner Outcomes – The Student will / Measurement – The Instructor willDisplay effective written communication skills.
(General education requirement for communication skills – written communication) / Evaluate writing assignments using a grading form that addresses the written communication requirements from the general education section of the GBC 2013 – 2014 Catalog.
Demonstrate reading skills when evaluating, summarizing, and integrating source information.
(General education requirement for communication skills – reading skills)
(General education requirement for communication skills – assessing information)
(General education requirement for critical thinking) / Evaluate source exercise assignments.
Evaluate annotated bibliography assignments.
Evaluate written documents for correct reflection and integration of source information. Page 3 of 8
Demonstrate critical thinking when locating, assessing, and integrating statistical data.
(General education requirement for critical thinking)
(General education requirement for communication skills – assessing information) / Evaluate source exercises and essays for effective incorporation of statistical data (graphs, tables, charts, etc.).
Evaluate all answers to question sets from Stat-Spotting: A Field Guide to Identifying Dubious Data.
Evaluate participation in class discussions about Stat-Spotting questions.
Understand the roles of individuals in society, the development of human societies, and the significance of creativity in the human experience.
(General education requirement for personal/cultural awareness) / Evaluate ability to research and develop a topic related to international issues, analyze and differentiate the roles of individuals while developing the topic, and describe divergent attitudes, values, and beliefs associated with the topic.
Demonstrate the use of technology.
(General education requirement for technological understanding) / Evaluate ability to create all written assignments using Microsoft Word.
Evaluate ability to utilize the Web Campus platform for class activities.
Evaluate success at accessing electronic sources using the Web and GBC library databases.
Develop knowledge, skills, and behaviors which promote personal well being.
(General education requirement for personal wellness) / Evaluate gains in knowledge, skills, and behaviors that can be used in future classes and work applications.
Late Enrollment and Excessive Absences: GBC will register students during a late enrollment period with the permission of the instructor. If you register late, you will miss not only assignments, but also commentary on course goals, grading policies, and course expectations. Late enrollment does not excuse you from work missed, nor does it free you from class policies and withdrawal/refund policies.
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You must attend class to fully understand each assignment because additional information about specific assignments will be provided throughout the semester. Students who reach six absences will be withdrawn from the class.
Withdrawal: You are responsible for withdrawing from the course. If you quit participating in class and fail to withdraw before March 24, you will earn an F.
Course Assignments: Assignments must be submitted through Web Campus (as a file attachment) by the due date and time. Late assignments will be accepted for one week after the due date (unless noted in the following list) with either a 10% point deduction or a deduction within the “assignment as specified” section of the grading rubric. After the late period, assignments will not be accepted and will not receive points. A point total for each assignment can be found in Web Campus.
• Topic and Format Proposal
• Web Site Evaluation
• Print Source Exercise
• Web Source Exercise
• Database Source Exercise
• Table Source Exercise
• Figure Source Exercise
• In-text note Exercise
• Recognizing Plagiarism
• Summarizing Exercise
• Annotated BibliographyExercise
• Paper Format Exercise
• Works Cited/References Page Exercise
• Focused Research Interview
• Paraphrase In-class Exercise
• Paraphrase In-class Exercise 2
• Paraphrase Project
• Direct Quote In-Class Exercise
• Direct Quote Project
• Essay 1 Outline
• Essay 1 Peer Review (no late submission)
• Essay 1 Tutor Review (no late submission)
• Essay 1
• Essay 2 Outline
• Essay 2 Peer Review (no late submission)
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• Essay 2 (no late submission)
• Annotated Bibliography(no late submission)
• Best - Question Set 1
• Best - Question Set 2
• Best - Question Set 3
• Best - Question Set 4
• Best - Question Set 5
• Best - Question Set 6
• Best - Question Set 7
• Best - Question Set 8
• Best - Question Set 9
•
Grading: Percentage of Total Points and Letter Grades
94% ‒ 100% ‒ A87% ‒ <90% ‒ B+77% ‒ <80% ‒ C+ 60% ‒ <70% ‒ D
90% ‒ <94% ‒ A- 84% ‒ <87% ‒ B74% ‒ <77% ‒ C <60% ‒ F
80% ‒ <84% ‒ B-70% ‒ <74% ‒ C-
Academic Success Center (ASC)
The Academic Success Center in the Electrical/Industrial/Technology Building provides students with free tutoring services in mathematics, science, English, writing, accounting, economics, and foreign languages. In addition, the center has a full-service computer lab with access to the Internet and library databases. Tutors are available to assist students with basic computer skills such as word processing, accessing the Internet, or accessing a WebCampus course site. Students can walk in to the center for help or make an appointment by calling 775.753.2149. The ASC is especially helpful for students who have been out of school for a while or who just need extra help in a challenging course. Operating hours for the ASC are posted each semester.
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Academic Honesty
Plagiarism: Plagiarism is presenting someone else’s words, ideas, or data as one’s own. When a student submits work that includes the words, ideas, or data of others, the source of that information must be acknowledged through complete, accurate, and specific references, and if verbatim statements are included, through quotation marks as well. In academically honest writing or speaking, the student will acknowledge the source whenever:
• Another person’s actual words are quoted.
• Another person’s idea, opinion, or theory is used, even if it is completely paraphrased in the student’s own words.
• Facts, statistics, or other illustrative materials are borrowed, unless the information is common knowledge. A nationally recognized plagiarism software may be used to check student work.
If you have concerns or academic problems, or if you feel you need special assistance, please discuss all matters with me first, and as soon as you can. See the GBC General Catalogue 2012-2013 on the procedure to follow should you need to protect your rights in any class.
Confidentiality: The English Department respects the policy that your grades are private (your instructor is the only other person familiar with your grades). However, during the semester, student writing will be shared with peers and/or Writing Center tutors for revision purposes and may be publicly displayed. This is an integral part of the college writing program. If you have comments concerning this policy, please make them known to me during the first week of the course.
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Accommodations: Great Basin College is committed to providing equal educational opportunities to qualified students with disabilities in accordance with state and federal laws and regulations, including the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. A qualified student must furnish current verification of disability. The Students with Disabilities Office will assist qualified students with disabilities in securing the appropriate and reasonable accommodations, auxiliary aids, and services. For more information or further assistance, please call 775.753.2271.
***This is your class. If you have any concerns or academic problems, or if you need special assistance please discuss all matters with me first – as soon as you can. If you have further concerns, see the current GBC catalog on the procedure you must follow to protect your rights.
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