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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "EN 105-3"
COURSE NAME: "English Composition II"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Spring Semester 2012
SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: Fadden Aidan
EMAIL: [email protected]
HOURS: TTH 16:00-17:15
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS: 45
CREDITS: 3
PREREQUISITES: Prerequisite: Placement via JCU English Composition Placement Exam
OFFICE HOURS: by appointment

COURSE DESCRIPTION:
The course aims to improve student's understanding of what constitutes good writing. A variety of strategies for producing clear and convincing prose are introduced. 
SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:
This course emphasizes the planning, writing, and revising of compositions and focuses on the development of critical and logical thinking skills. Class time will be devoted to writing that stresses analytical, evaluative, persuasive, and argumentative writing. We will embark on writing by reading a variety of essays and articles meant to spur class discussion and provide fertile material for different types of composition. We will also do a great deal of “writing practice” or in-class writing and revision. Grammar and structural issues will be reviewed as needed. Learning is hands-on in this class: you will participate in discussion and exercises in a practical, workshop-oriented atmosphere. Emphasis will be on honing critical thinking, and on the generation and revision of papers aided by regular peer reviews as the foundation for excellent writing.
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
By the end of the course, you will be a more perceptive reader with a clearer understanding of what actually makes good writing. In your own writing, you will find yourself thinking carefully about what and how you write, using a broader vocabulary and more varied sentence structures and taking advantage of the various rhetorical modes to improve essay organization and clarity. All this should increase your confidence and make writing more enjoyable for your audience and for yourself as well.
TEXTBOOK:
Book TitleAuthorPublisherISBN numberLibrary Call NumberCommentsFormatLocal BookstoreOnline Purchase
Writing Academic English, 4th editionAlice Oshima and Ann HoguePearson-Longman978-0-13-152359-3     
REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
NONE

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
NONE
GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
AssignmentGuidelinesWeight
In-Class Writing Assignments 25
At-Home Writing Assignments 25
Final Exam  30
Homework, Quizzes, Participation 20

-ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:

Assessment Guidelines for assigning main letter grades: A, B, C,D, and F.

A:  Work 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. (90 - 92 = A-; 93 - 100 = A)

B:  This is highly competent level of performance and directly addresses the question or problem raised. There is a demonstration of some ability to critically evaluate theory and concepts and relate them to practice. Discussions reflect the student’s own arguments and are not simply a repetition of standard lecture and reference material. The work does not suffer from any major errors or omissions and provides evidence of reading beyond the required assignments. (80 - 82 = B-; 83 - 86 = B; 87 - 89 = B+)

C:  This is an acceptable level of performance and provides answers that are clear but limited, reflecting the information offered in the lectures and reference readings. (70 - 72 = C-; 73 - 76 = C; 77 - 79 = C+)

D:  This 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. (60 - 62 = D-; 63 - 66 = D; 67 - 69 = D+)

F: This work fails to show any knowledge or understanding of the issues raised in the question. Most of the material in the answer is irrelevant. (<60)


-ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS:
Regular attendance is mandatory, not optional. Frequent absences will lead to a lowering of your grade or even failure of the course, and you will be required to repeat the course. In the case of illness, a doctor’s note is required or the absence is unexcused. If you are seriously ill and will be out for more than one class, please contact the professor via email. If, for whatever reasons, a student cannot attend classes regularly, after 5 absences, the student will be asked to withdraw from the course. It is the student’s responsibility to contact a classmate to find out what was missed and to come to the next class fully prepared. Late work, for whatever reason, will be accepted at the instructor’s discretion; however, habitual late work will not be accepted. Make ups will not be given for unexcused absences. Late arrivals are very disruptive. Habitual late arrivals will not be tolerated and two late arrivals (after the class has already started) will be counted as one absence.
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

Session            Focus            Reading            Assignment

 

Tues 17/1            Intros                                      Ch.5                        Planning and intros

            Sample writing

 

Th 19.1            Feedback

            Developing a draft                                                Write up process draft           

 

Tu 24.1            Transition signals

 

Th 26.1            Feedback

            Process and technology                        Ch.5                        Planning and outlining           

           

 

Tu 31.1            In Class essay 1

 

Th 2.2            Feedback                        Ch.6                        Corrections/Revision

 

Tu 7.2            Cause/Effect                                                Plan / outline                       

            Discussion of a

            problem

           

Th 9.2            Block/Chain organization                                    Home essay 1

           

Tu 14.2            Signal words           

 

Th 16.2            Feedback                                                Corrections/revision

            Rewriting and revising

 

Tu 21.2            Reading and questions                                            Revision

           

Th 23.2            Quiz                                    Ch.7

            Review

 

Tu 28.2            Comparison and Contrast                                    Research

            Order of Importance / Block

            Signal words                       

 

Th 1.3            Mid-term                                                           

 

Tu 6.3            Quiz / Practice linking words                                               

 

Th 8.3            Planning/outlining                                                Home essay 2                                                                                               

 

Tu 13.3            Discussion

 

Th 15.3            Feedback/Peer edit                                                Corrections/revision

 

Tu 20.3            Reading and questions                                    Ch.8

 

Th 22.3            In class essay 2

 

Tu  27.3            Paraphrases and Summaries                                    Paraphase or summarize

            Giving Support                                                                        story/article

 

Th 29.3            Feedback

           

 

Tu 3.4             Avoiding plagiarism

            Citing works

 

Th 5.4            Review of common problems            Ch:9

 

Tu 10.4            Argumentative essays

            What is argument?

            Discussion

 

Th 12.4            Forming opinions /Thesis statements                        Plan a topic: e.g death penalty

            Defending/rebuttal

 

Tu 17.4            Reading and questions                                                           

            Linking expressions

 

Th 19.4            In Class essay 3

 

Tu 24.4            Feedback                                                            Corrections/revision

 

Th 26.4            Review

 

April 28 – May 4             Final exam