|
|
JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY
COURSE CODE: "EN 110-18"
COURSE NAME: "Advanced Composition"
SEMESTER & YEAR:
Fall 2025
|
SYLLABUS
INSTRUCTOR:
Mattia Maglione
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:
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 Title | Author | Publisher | ISBN number | Library Call Number | Comments | Format | Local Bookstore | Online Purchase |
| They Say, I Say | Gerald Graff; Cathy Birkenstein | Norton | 9780393643282 | TXT PE1431 .G73 2018 | | | | |
|
REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
|
GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
| Assignment | Guidelines | Weight |
| Participation | Silent attendance does not count as participation. | 10% |
| MLA quiz I, II & III | Guidelines will be given during the course. | 15% |
| Essay I | Guidelines will be given during the course. | 10% |
| Essay II | Guidelines will be given during the course. | 10% |
| Annotated Bibliography | Guidelines will be given during the course. | 15% |
| Literature Review | Guidelines will be given during the course. | 15% |
| Final Research Essay | Guidelines 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.
|
|
|