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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "EN 110-17"
COURSE NAME: "Advanced Composition"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Fall 2022
SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: Fenella Joan Collins Smith
EMAIL: [email protected]
HOURS: MW 8:30AM 9:45AM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS: 45
CREDITS: 3
PREREQUISITES: Prerequisite: Placement via JCU English Composition Placement Exam or completion of either EN 103 or EN 105 with a grade of C or above
OFFICE HOURS:

COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course prepares students to read, think, and write critically. Students will develop their ability to read critically and analyze primary and secondary sources, hone their composition skills through in and out of class essays, and will complete the course by writing and revising a fully-documented and well-reasoned research paper, complemented by an annotated bibliography and literature review. EN110 focuses on the argumentative form, encouraging students to position their work within current critical discourses. The course develops the following skills: source selection and interrogation, identification and contextualization of themes, thesis development and defense, digital literacies, use of library resources, and careful citation in MLA style. Students must receive a grade of C or above in this course to fulfill the University’s English Composition requirement and to be eligible to take courses in English literature.
SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:

SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:
The course examines a range of fundamental writing strategies, starting with grammar, critical reading of sources, summarizing, paraphrasing and proper quoting; it continues with the writing of a topic proposal, selection and citation of sources, literature review, and thesis development. Research and use of library resources will also be covered. Students will be required to submit assignments through Turnitin UK.

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

Students will learn to write a well-organized and error-free argumentative research paper. By the end of the course students will be able to:

Grammar
            Write sophisticated as well as grammatically and idiomatically correct English prose

Reading
             Read to comprehend increasingly complex material
             Read and think critically

Vocabulary
              Expand vocabulary through reading and writing
              Develop subject specific terminology through reading and writing

Rhetoric
             Write well-organized essays, focusing specifically on argumentative essays
             Write a strong and developed thesis statement with supporting arguments
             Think, read, write critically for an academic audience
              Write a developed outline
              Paraphrase and summarize
             Cite and write using documentation
             Write a fully documented research paper

Research and sourcing (can be covered by a librarian in one or more workshops in the library)
                Be familiar with research and information literacy skills including                      
                        - A reinforcement of searching skills: catalog, database, and web sourcing
                         - Source evaluation
                         - Subject searching
                         - Utilize MLA style for all aspects of a research paper
                         - Understand how to avoid plagiarism

TEXTBOOK:
Book TitleAuthorPublisherISBN numberLibrary Call NumberCommentsFormatLocal BookstoreOnline Purchase
They Say, I Say - 4th editionGraff and BirkensteinNortonISBN-13: 978-0393631678 ISBN-10: 0393631672     
REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
NONE

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
NONE
GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
AssignmentGuidelinesWeight
Annotated Bibliography and Lit Review 25%
Additional at home/class activities. Plus, active participation and attendance 15%
Final Paper 40%
In Class Essays 30%

-ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:
AWork of this quality directly addresses the question or problem raised and provides a coherent argument displaying an extensive knowledge of relevant information or content. This type of work demonstrates the ability to critically evaluate concepts and theory and has an element of novelty and originality. There is clear evidence of a significant amount of reading beyond that required for the course.
BThis is highly competent level of performance and directly addresses the question or problem raised.There is a demonstration of some ability to critically evaluatetheory and concepts and relate them to practice. Discussions reflect the student’s own arguments and are not simply a repetition of standard lecture andreference material. The work does not suffer from any major errors or omissions and provides evidence of reading beyond the required assignments.
CThis is an acceptable level of performance and provides answers that are clear but limited, reflecting the information offered in the lectures and reference readings.
DThis level of performances demonstrates that the student lacks a coherent grasp of the material.Important information is omitted and irrelevant points included.In effect, the student has barely done enough to persuade the instructor that s/he should not fail.
FThis work fails to show any knowledge or understanding of the issues raised in the question. Most of the material in the answer is irrelevant.

-ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS:
ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS AND EXAMINATION POLICY
You cannot make-up a major exam (midterm or final) without the permission of the Dean’s Office. The Dean’s Office will grant such permission only when the absence was caused by a serious impediment, such as a documented illness, hospitalization or death in the immediate family (in which you must attend the funeral) or other situations of similar gravity. Absences due to other meaningful conflicts, such as job interviews, family celebrations, travel difficulties, student misunderstandings or personal convenience, will not be excused. Students who will be absent from a major exam must notify the Dean’s Office prior to that exam. Absences from class due to the observance of a religious holiday will normally be excused. Individual students who will have to miss class to observe a religious holiday should notify the instructor by the end of the Add/Drop period to make prior arrangements for making up any work that will be missed. The final exam period runs until ____________
ACADEMIC HONESTY
As stated in the university catalog, any student who commits an act of academic dishonesty will receive a failing grade on the work in which the dishonesty occurred. In addition, acts of academic dishonesty, irrespective of the weight of the assignment, may result in the student receiving a failing grade in the course. Instances of academic dishonesty will be reported to the Dean of Academic Affairs. A student who is reported twice for academic dishonesty is subject to summary dismissal from the University. In such a case, the Academic Council will then make a recommendation to the President, who will make the final decision.
STUDENTS WITH LEARNING OR OTHER DISABILITIES
John Cabot University does not discriminate on the basis of disability or handicap. Students with approved accommodations must inform their professors at the beginning of the term. Please see the website for the complete policy.

SCHEDULE

Week 1: 

  • Class 1 - Welcome, Syllabus, class topic, Writing Center, Readings
  • Class 2 – TSIS Intro and Ch 1.

 Week 2 -

  • Class 1 - TSIS Intro+1, Source 1 
  • Class 2 - TSIS Ch 2, Passives, parallels

Week 3

  • Class 1 – Source 1, effective sentences
  • Class 2 - TSIS 3, 4 and Source 2 discussion

Week 4

  • Class 1 - Reflective workshop, read and annotate essay, In Class Essay 1
  • Class 2 – Library Session, MLA

Week 5 –

·         Class 1 - Source 3, TSIS 5,

  • Class 2 -Source 4, paraphrasing

 Week 6

  • Class 1 - Essay return reflection, prepare for essay 2
  • Class 2 – TSIS 6, Rhetoric

Week 7 -

  • Class 1 - TSIS 7, source 5, Mindmapping for research topics
  • Class 2 – Essay 2, Source 7

Week 8

  • Class 1 - Source 8, 9, Mindmap to brainstorming, The research question
  • Class 2 -Reflection, Zotero session

Week 9

  • Class 1 - The Annotated Bibliography, set literature review
  • Class 2 - Middle of term self/course assessment, How easy it is to plagiarize

Week 10

  • Class 1 - Literature Review
  • Class 2 – How to make a thesis statement, research discussions

Week 11

  • Class 1 - Literature Review clarifications
  • Class 2 – Drafting, annotated bibliography deadline

Week 12

  • Class 1 – Lit review deadline on Moodle and in class
  • Class 2 - Draft workshops

Week 13

  • Class 1 - Transitions, Conclusions
  • Class 2 - Librarian half-class Zotero integration and Zotero Clean up


Week 14

  • Class 1 - Librarian one-on-one consultations, Works Cited, final questions
  • Class 2 - Paper due and Final presentation instructions

Finals week
Final presentations. 
Our final exam could be any day during finals week. Make your plans accordingly.