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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY
COURSE CODE: "EN 110-9"
COURSE NAME: "English Composition III"
SEMESTER & YEAR:
Spring Semester 2012
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SYLLABUS
INSTRUCTOR:
Cacoulidis Cleo
EMAIL: [email protected]
HOURS:
MW 8:30-9:45
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 for the term will be provided to students at the first meeting of the class.
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Session | Session Focus | Reading Assignment | Other Assignment | Meeting Place/Exam Dates |
16 Jan. | Course introduction and requirements. | Summary, paraphrase, quotation- posted online. | | |
18 Jan. | Summary, paraphrase, quotation | Chap. 7, pgs. 148-157, Writing research papers | | |
23 Jan. | Summary, paraphrase, quotation | Critical reading and Critique, posted online | | |
25 Jan. | Critical reading and critique | Chap. 3-6, pgs 4-9 | | |
30 Jan. | Critical reading and critique | | Critique paper due | |
1 Feb. | Research and Documentation | MLA text, Chaps. 1-3, text book, Chaps. 8-9 | | |
3 Feb. | Research and Documentation | | | |
8 Feb. | Research and Documentation, Library session | Explanatory synthesis, posted online. Pgs. 22-30, Chap. 9-10 | | |
13 Feb. | Synthesis, writing process, thesis | | | |
15 Feb. | Synthesis, writing process, thesis | Chap. 12 | | |
20 Feb. | Argument, writing process | | Synthesis paper due | |
22 Feb. | Argument, writing process | | | |
27 Feb. | Argument, writing process | Chap. 11, MLA Chap. 6, Argument synthesis-posted online | | |
29 Feb. | Analysis | | Argument paper due | |
5 March | Analysis | | | |
7 March | Analysis | In-class readings | | |
9 March | Analysis | In-class readings | Draft of research paper due | |
12 March | Analysis and Argument | In-class readings | | |
14 March | Analysis and Argument | In-class readings | | |
26 March | Research and writing process | In-class readings | | |
28 March | Research, Library session | MLA Chap. 5 | Analysis paper due | |
2 April | Writing research paper | In-class readings | | |
4 April | Writing research paper | In-class readings | | |
11 April | Writing research paper | In-class readings | | |
16 April | Writing research paper | In-class readings | | |
16 April | Editing and revision | In-calls assignments | | |
18 April | Editing and revision | In-class assignments | | |
23 April | Class wrap up | | Final research paper due--Late papers will NOT be accepted | |
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