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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY
COURSE CODE: "EN 110-8"
COURSE NAME: "English Composition III"
SEMESTER & YEAR:
Spring Semester 2012
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SYLLABUS
INSTRUCTOR:
Cacoulidis Cleo
EMAIL: [email protected]
HOURS:
TTH 17:30-18:45
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:
By appointment
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COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course reinforces the skills needed to write well-organized essays, in particular argumentative essays, and leads students through the process of writing an academic research paper. Elements covered include thesis development, critical reading, analysis, organizing and outlining, paraphrasing and summarizing, and proper citation format and documentation. Techniques of academic research and the use of the library and other research facilities and sources are discussed. In addition to regular reading and writing assignments, students are required to write a fully documented research paper. Students must receive a grade C- or above in this course to fulfill the University’s English Composition requirement and to be eligible to take courses in English literature.
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SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:
This course examines and reinforces the skills needed to write well-organized essays, focusing specifically on argumentative essays. Emphasis is placed on thesis development, critical reading, analysis, organizing and outlining, paraphrasing and summarizing, and proper citation format and documentation. Techniques of academic research and the use of the library and other research facilities and sources are discussed. In addition to regular reading and writing assignments, students are required to write a fully documented research paper. Students must receive a grade C- or above in this course to fulfill the University’s English Composition requirement and to be eligible to take courses in English literature.
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LEARNING OUTCOMES:
Students who successfully complete the course should be able to write well-organized essays, especially argumentative essays, as well as well-researched and documented academic papers
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TEXTBOOK:
Book Title | Author | Publisher | ISBN number | Library Call Number | Comments | Format | Local Bookstore | Online Purchase |
Writing Research Papers: A Complete Guide (13th Edition) | James D. Lester | Longman | 978.020.565.1924 | | | | | |
MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers (7th Edition) | Modern Language Association | Modern Language Association | 978.160.329.0241 | | | | | |
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REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
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GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
Assignment | Guidelines | Weight |
1 Research paper (10 pages excluding works cited, contents & cover pages) | | 30% |
1 Draft/Outline of research paper (4-5 pages) | | Mandatory/Not Graded |
3 Essays—synthesis, analysis, argument (2-3 pages each) | | 15% each |
1 Critique (2 pages) | | 15% |
Attendance & Participation — 5% each (total = 10%) | | 5% each (total = 10%) |
-ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:
Students and faculty recognize that the grade the instructor gives is a professional judgment of the quality of the student’s submitted work and that grades are based on shared assumptions and expectations. At a basic level, assignments must be submitted on time, be clearly focused and organized, and present a discernable thesis statement. Ideas and conclusions are to be adequately supported, and research documentation well integrated and effectively presented. A formal writing style is required, along with proper grammar, punctuation, and spelling.
The grade of ‘A’ reflects excellence. The ‘A’ paper offers a well-focused and organized discussion appropriate to the instructor’s assignment, reflects critical use of relevant materials, and demonstrates effective and formal writing requirements. Papers involving research and outside sources must demonstrate outstanding efforts to identify varied pertinent sources, to employ those materials critically in the text of papers, and to provide error-free citations of those sources.
The grade of ‘B’ represents an effort beyond satisfactory and indicates the paper was completed in an appropriate and competent manner. In general, the paper demonstrates a strong attempt at original and critically analysis, writing and research. The ‘B’ paper may contain minor errors in grammar/punctuation or citations, and its thesis or conclusions may be undeveloped or too weakly supported.
The grade of ‘C’ represents a satisfactory or appropriate paper: the average work expected for university courses. The presentation is organized around a central idea with arguments supported by relevant examples. The paper is structured into correctly written paragraphs and sentences. Although fulfilling the assignment, the ‘C’ paper may exhibit one or more weaknesses, including, but not limited to, errors of punctuation and grammar, imprecise or incorrect word usage, inaccurate or uncritical use of research materials, occasional inconsistency of organization or development, and lack of direct relevance of the selected research materials to the topic.
The grade of ‘D’ indicates that the paper may have a poorly defined thesis, lack a clear focus or organization, and contain unsupported generalizations or conclusions. Research is inadequate, not clearly relevant, or improperly documented. A less-than-minimal research effort is evident. The paper may also suffer from numerous or major formal writing errors.
The grade of ‘F’ indicates that the paper may relate to the topic and contain a discernable thesis, but is so poorly presented that it fails to fulfill the assignment, or that the paper is not relevant to the assignment and that its topic and thesis are unfocused and ill defined. The paper may also display inadequate organization or development, unsupported generalizations, and nonstandard usage of grammar and syntax. Research support is absent, inadequate, or irrelevant to the assignment.
-ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS:
Students are required to attend all scheduled classes and to participate in all classroom activities. Students are allowed only two absences (no questions asked, no excuse needed). However, each additional absence beyond the two allowed will result in a reduction from the final grade as follows: 1 point for one absence, 3 points for two absences, 5 points for three absences, 10 points for four absences, and 15 points for five absences. Students with more than 5 absences beyond the allowed 2 will fail the course. Students arriving late to class, after the class attendance has been taken, will be counted as absent. Please refer to the JCU catalog for the attendance and absence policies.
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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.
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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.
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SCHEDULE
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A detailed schedule of the course will be provided on the first day of class.
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Session | Session Focus | Reading Assignment | Other Assignment | Meeting Place/Exam Dates |
17 Jan. | Course introduction and requirements | Summary, paraphrase, quotation--posted online | | |
19 Jan. | Summary Paraphrase, quotation | Chap. 7, pgs. 148-157, Writing Research Papers | | |
24 Jan. | Summary, paraphrase, quotation | Critical Reading and Critique, posted online | | |
26 Jan. | Critical reading and critique | Chap. 3-6, pgs 4-9 | | |
31 Jan | Critical reading and Critique | | Critique paper due | |
2 Feb. | Research and documentation | MLA book, Chaps. 1-3, text book, Chap. 8-9 | | |
7 Feb. | Research and documentation | | | |
9 Feb. | Research and documentation | Chap. 3 explanatory synthesis, posted online,
pgs. 22-30, Chap. 9-10 | Meeting in Library | |
14 Feb. | Synthesis, writing process, thesis | | | |
16 Feb. | Synthesis, writing process, thesis | Chap. 12 | | |
21 Feb. | Argument, writing process | | Synthesis paper due | |
23 Feb | Argument, writing process | | | |
28 Feb. | Argument, writing process | Chap. 11, MLA Chap. 6, Argument synthesis, posted online | | |
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1 March | Analysis | | Argument paper due | |
6 March | Analysis | | | |
8 March | Analysis | In-class readings | | |
13 March | Analysis | In-class readings | Draft of research paper due | |
15 March | Analysis and Argument | In-class readings | | |
27 March | Research, writing process | In-class readings | | |
29 March | Library session | MLA Chap. 5 | | |
3 April | Writing a research paper | In-class readings | Analysis paper due | |
5 April | Writing a research paper | In-class exercises | | |
10 April | Writing a research paper | | | |
12 April | Writing a research paper | | | |
17 April | Editing and revisions | In-class assignments | | |
19 April | Editing and revisions | In-class assignments | | |
24 April | Editing and revisions | In-class assignments | | |
26 April | Class wrap up | | Final research paper due—Late papers will NOT be accepted | |
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