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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "EN 110-2"
COURSE NAME: "Advanced Composition"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Fall 2025
SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: Mattia Maglione
EMAIL: [email protected]
 HOURS: MW 3:00 PM 4:15 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: MW 7:30PM
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:

EN-110 is designed to help students develop the skills learned in previous composition classes. The course helps students independently plan, research, a complete academic research paper. Students will be guided through each phase of the writing process, starting with crafting a well-defined research proposal, gathering and organizing sources into an annotated bibliography and literature review, and then moving on to outlining, drafting, and finalizing the paper according to current MLA guidelines.

The course includes writing exercises such as peer review sessions, worksheets on citation and quoting, annotation tasks on academic sources, and a review of library resources, both physical and digital, along with basics of research databases.
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
  • Independently plan, research, and compose an academic paper on a relevant case study.
  • Identify, choose, and incorporate secondary sources that align with the objectives of the research paper.
  • Apply MLA formatting throughout the paper, including the title page and works cited section.
  • Take initiative in enhancing their writing skills, including content organization, grammar, structure, and style.
  • Develop an annotated bibliography and literature review.
    •
    TEXTBOOK:
    Book TitleAuthorPublisherISBN numberLibrary Call NumberCommentsFormatLocal BookstoreOnline Purchase
    They Say, I Say: The Moves that Matter in Academic WritingCathy Birkenstein; Gerald GraffNew York : W.W. Norton039364328X Any edition post 2018.   
    REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
    NONE

    RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
    NONE
    GRADING POLICY
    -ASSESSMENT METHODS:
    AssignmentGuidelinesWeight
    ParticipationSilent attendance does not count as participation.10%
    MLA quiz I, II & IIIGuidelines will be given during the course.15%
    Essay IGuidelines will be given during the course. 10%
    Essay IIGuidelines will be given during the course. 10%
    Annotated Bibliography Guidelines will be given during the course. 15%
    Literature ReviewGuidelines will be given during the course. 15%
    Final Research EssayGuidelines will be given during the course. 25%

    -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

     

    TOPIC

    EXAM/QUIZ

    Week 1

    Setting Goals

    Research Writing

    Syllabus Overview

    MLA Basics

     

    Week 2

    Annotations and Marginalia

    What Is a Scholarly Source?

    MLA Quiz I

    Week 3

    Lead Ins and Support

    Using Summaries

    Integrating and Breaking Down Quotations

    ‘Hit And Runs’

     

    Week 4

    Metacommentary

    Primary Sources

    Secondary Sources

    What is a Research Proposal?

    Essay I

    Week 5

    Intro to ‘The Annotated Bibliography’

    MLA in text citations

    Works Cited

     

    Week 6

    The Annotated Bibliography

    Grouping sources by methodology

    MLA Quiz II

    Week 7

    What is a Literature Review?

    Purposes, Characteristics and Focus Points

    Annotated Bibliography

    Week 8

    Workshop: Peer Review Sessions, Microediting Sessions

     

    Week 9

    The Research Paper I

    Your Stance, Your Voice

    Literature Review

    Week 10

    The Research Paper II

    Counterclaims and Rebuttals

     

    Week 11

    The Research Paper III

    Danger: Logical Fallacies

    Essay II

    Week 12

    Zootero

    MLA Recap

     

    Week 13

    Workshop: Writing The Research Paper

    MLA Quiz III

    Week 14

    Workshop: Writing The Research Paper (continued)

    Final Essay

     

    OTHER INFO:

    ALL EXTRA TEXTBOOK READINGS WILL BE LINKED ON MOODLE.

    MAX NUMBER OF UNEXCUSED ABSENCES: 4, AFTER WHICH STUDENTS FAIL THE COURSE.

    TWO LATE ARRIVALS COUNT AS AN ABSENCE.