Course Syllabus

JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "EN 110-10"
COURSE NAME: "Advanced Composition"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Fall 2025

SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: Jonathan Jones
EMAIL: [email protected]
HOURS: MW 1:30 PM 2:45 PM
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:

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. The course seeks ways to make writing more livelier and more sophisticated and emphasizes the linguistic, social and rhetorical aspects of writing from both theoretical and practical perspectives. This course is writing intensive.

Please note that you will be asked to submit your papers to Turnitin.

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 Title	Author	Publisher	ISBN number	Library Call Number	Comments	Format	Local Bookstore	Online Purchase
They Say/I Say (Sixth Edition)	Gerald Graff and Cathy Birkenstein	W.W. Norton and Co	978 - 13240 700300			Hard Copy

REQUIRED RESERVED READING:

NONE

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:

NONE

GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:

Assignment	Guidelines	Weight
Final Research Paper		30
Final Presentation		10
In class summary		20
Literature Review		20
AI Revised Text		20

-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
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:

READINGS FOR THE COURSE ARE AVAILABLE ON MOODLE - STUDENTS NEED TO PRINT OUT, READ AND ANNOTATE EACH READING IN PREPARATION FOR EACH CLASS.

If you are unable to attend a class session, you should make arrangements with one or more of your classmates to catch up on anything you missed. While illness and emergencies are often unavoidable and understandable, this does not affect how the absence policy will be applied.

Students are required to attend all scheduled class meetings including the two library sessions. Students are allowed 3 absences during the semester. Students arriving to class after attendance has been taken will be counted as late. Two late arrivals will count as an absence. Any student with more than 3 absences at mid-term will receive a mid-term warning. After 5 absences you will receive another warning informing you that your chances of passing the course are now at risk. Seven absences including the 3 absences you are allowed and you fail the course.

Keep in mind that it will be difficult for you to make up missed peer reviews, small group discussions, and spoken lectures and instructions. Even if you are not able to attend, you are still responsible for making sure any assignments due that day are submitted by the deadline.

You are expected to do your own work. Cheating, plagiarism, use of AI and any other form of academic dishonesty will not be tolerated.

To participate you must attend class having prepared the materials for the day. All students are expected to come to class prepared and on time, and remain for the full class period. This includes both library sessions.

Cellphones are not permitted in class.

Disruptive behaviour will result in dismissal from the class and will be counted as one absence. This includes repeatedly entering and leaving the class once the lesson has begun, doing work for other classes during class, eating during class, use of computers/smartphones (checking on your e-mail while in class, surfing the net) talking to others while someone else is talking, repeatedly arriving late to class, sleeping, using profanity, personal or physical threats or insults, damaging property.

Please refer to the JCU catalog for the attendance and absence policies. Please note that there is homework in nearly every class so if you are absent it is your responsibility to call a classmate for the assignment.

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

Deadlines.

In Class Summary - 8th September (Week 2)

AI Revised Text - 17th September (Week 3)

Literature Review 15th October (Week 7)

Final Paper - 4th December (Week 14)

Final Exam - TBA

Course Outline (NB: This outline is subject to change)

Week 1 – Nostalgia and its Discontents

Falling Down – Part 1

Week 2 – Walking the City

Falling Down – Part 2

Week 3 – Library Session 1

The Flaneur and Falling Down

Week 4 – L.A. 92 – Part 1 – A city that never quite came together

L.A. 92 – Part 2 – Freud “On Transience”.

Week 5 – Restorative and Reflective Nostalgia

Week 6 – Reviewing the Flaneur

Nostalgia – Discontent and Transient

Week 7 – Gap in knowledge

Finding a Topic – Reading and Evaluating Sources

Week 8 - The Third Man (PPT)

The Third Man – Part 1

Week 9 –The Third Man – Part 2

Synthesis and Literature Review

Week 10 – Walking the City

Taxi Driver - Part 1

Week 11 – Library Session

Strategies for Synthesis - Taxi Driver - Part 2

Week 12 – Gap in Knowledge – Work on Research Papers

Gender and the Flaneur

Week 13 – Peer Review Research Paper

The Language of the City

Week 14 – Tying it all together – Cities of Slow Thinking