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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "EN 110-10"
COURSE NAME: "Advanced Composition"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Spring 2016
SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: Tara Keenan
EMAIL: tkeenan@john cabot.edu
 HOURS: MW 8:30 AM 9:45 AM
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
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course reinforces the skills needed to write well-organized essays, focusing specifically on argumentative essays. Elements covered include thesis development, critical reading, organizing and outlining, paraphrasing and summarizing, and citation and documentation standards. Techniques of academic research and the use of the library and other research facilities are discussed. In addition to regular in- and out-of-class reading and writing assignments, students are required to write a fully documented research paper. 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. Individual students in EN 110 may be required to complete additional hours in the English Writing Center as part of their course requirements.
SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:
The course examines a range of fundamental writing strategies, starting with grammar, critical reading of sources, summarizing, paraphrasing and proper quoting; it continues with the writing of a topic proposal, selection and citation of sources, literature review, and thesis development. Research and use of library resources will also be covered. Students will be required to submit assignments through TurnitinUK.
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
Students will learn to write a well-organized and error-free argumentative research paper. By the end of the course students will be able to:

Grammar
            Write sophisticated as well as grammatically and idiomatically correct English prose

Reading
             Read to comprehend increasingly complex material
             Read and think critically

Vocabulary
              Expand vocabulary through reading and writing
              Develop subject specific terminology through reading and writing

Rhetoric
             Write well-organized essays, focusing specifically on argumentative essays
             Write a strong and developed thesis statement with supporting arguments
             Think, read, write critically for an academic audience
              Write a developed outline
              Paraphrase and summarize
             Cite and write using documentation
             Write a fully documented research paper

Research and sourcing (can be covered by a librarian in one or more workshops in the library)
                Be familiar with research and information literacy skills including                      
                        - A reinforcement of searching skills: catalog, database, and web sourcing
                         - Source evaluation
                         - Subject searching
                         - Utilize MLA style for all aspects of a research paper
                         - Understand how to avoid plagiarism
TEXTBOOK:
Book TitleAuthorPublisherISBN numberLibrary Call NumberCommentsFormatLocal BookstoreOnline Purchase
The Broadview Pocket Guide to WritingBabington, LePan, and OkunBroadview Press978-1-55481-219-6 Available at Almost Corner Bookshop, Via del Moro 45   
REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
NONE

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
NONE
GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
AssignmentGuidelinesWeight
Quizzes, worksheets 10
Research brainstorm 10
Annotated bibliography 15
Preliminary outline Required
Rough draft Required
In Class essays 30
Moodle Responses 10
Final Research Paper 20
Final Presentation 5

-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. (90-92 = A-; 93-100 = A)
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 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+)
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. (70-72 = C-; 73-76 = C; 77-79 = C+)
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. (60-62 = D-; 63-66 = D; 67-69 = D+)
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. (<60)
-ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS:
Students are required to attend all scheduled class meetings. Students are allowed 4 absences during the term (excused or unexcused). Each additional absence beyond the four allowed will result in the reduction in the final grade for the course by 5%. Students arriving to class after attendance has been taken will be counted as late. Two late arrivals will count as an absence. Please refer to the JCU catalog for the attendance and absence policies. Please note that there is homework in nearly every class so if you are absent it is your responsibility to call a classmate for the assignment.
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

Week 1 18-24 Jan

Class 1 -

-   Course introduction - Humans of the cloud: maintaining our humanity in a digital world

-   grading scale for JCU

-   syllabus

-   moodle

-   response vs. summary worksheet

            Homework: Listen to any 3 podcasts from the program Note to Self and respond/summarize on Moodle. One of the three podcasts must be the Note to Self episode from 18 November 2013 entitled “Going Deep on Digital Photo Clutter”. This and two other podcast responses are due before next class as a post on Moodle.

Class 2 -

-   Professional register

-   Turnitinuk

-   Voice memo requirements – what a good voice memo looks like

            Homework: Write me a paragraph about the one thing we need to know about you as a human of the cloud. Responses should be handed in through Turnitinuk. This should be revised before the next class.

 

Week 2 25-31 Jan

Class 1 -

How to read critically

Cunningham, Vinson. “Humans of New York and the Cavalier Consumption of Others” New Yorker Magazine, 3 November 2015.

Read and annotate article.

            Homework: Study for quiz on course policy and finish annotation

           

Class 2 -

-   Quiz on course policy

-   HONY article

            Homework: Read and annotate assigned writers from ‘Room for Debate: Facebook and Narcissism’ New York Times 23 September 2013. Respond on Moodle forum.


Week 3 1-7 Feb

Class 1 -

-   Discuss annotation of article and responses

-   Discuss overlapping issues of articles and podcast

            Homework: Prepare for in-class essay on visual culture and humanity in a digital age. You will be asked to answer a question that requires you to pull together sources. Remember that according to John Cabot’s grading scale, an essay that earns a “B” demonstrates reading beyond what is required in class. An “A” does this while also demonstrating novelty and originality. If you decide to go for the A or B, have you done reading beyond what was assigned?

 

Class 2 -

In-class essay #1 “Visual culture and humanity in the digital age”. Submit document on Turnitinuk.

            Homework: Revise according to my comments for edits and content. Include a paragraph at the end of the paper explaining how you tried to address my content comments.  Simply editing your paper without content revision will earn the paper a D. Papers without process paragraphs at the end will not be read and given an F.

Due: For Monday/Wednesday classes, my comments will be posted by Friday evening and the revised paper is due on Turnitinuk by 8 a.m. on Sunday. For Tuesday/Thursday classes, my comments will be posted by Saturday evening and the revised paper is due on Turnitinuk by 8 a.m. Monday. 

 

Week 4 - 8-14 Feb

Class 1 -

Library session on sourcing and research

Homework: This American Life Episode 454 (write a response on Moodle) and 460 (write a response on Moodle).

 

Class 2 -

Plagiarism and academic honesty

            Homework: Study for plagiarism quiz and listen to 3 podcasts from the program Reply All and respond/summarize on Moodle. One of the three podcasts must be the Reply All episode episode #43 entitled “The Law that Sticks”. This and two other podcast responses are due on Moodle before next class.

 

Week 5 - 15-21 Feb

Class 1 - Plagiarism quiz

            Reply All discussion

            Homework: Read and annotate     Yochai Benkler, Hal Roberts, Robert Faris, Alicia Solow-Niederman & Bruce Etling. "Social Mobilization and the Networked Public Sphere: Mapping the SOPA-PIPA Debate" Political Communication 32.4 (2014) Web. Annotations due in class one week from today and response due on Moodle.

 

Class 2 -  Podcasts

            Homework: Finish annotating and responding to article. Bring to class.

           

Week 6 - 22-28 Feb

Class 1 -

Finish discussing article on SOPA-PIPPA

Brainstorming

Select two most interesting podcasts you have listened to and brainstorm about the issues these two podcasts bring up.

            Homework: Watch The Internet’s Own Boy on Youtube and write a response on Moodle.

 

Class 2 -

Discuss film, article and podcast.

            Homework: Listen to the podcast Off the Hook from 28 March 2012 regarding a student named Richard O’Dwyer and how the US tried to arrest him for posting some links on his British website. http://www.2600.com/offthehook/2012/0312.html Post a response on Moodle.

-    write two paragraphs about your brainstorms from last class articulating what about these specific issues is interesting and what questions they might prompt. Submit them on Turnitinuk


Week 7 - 29-6 March (Reminder: Make up day for Monday classes on Friday. Our plan is different.)

Class 1 - Discuss The Internet’s Own Boy and the other sources.

- Introduce research

Homework: prepare for the second in-class essay. This one is on law and order in the cloud. You will be asked to answer a question that requires you to pull together sources. Remember that according to John Cabot’s grading scale, an essay that earns a “B” demonstrates reading beyond what is required in class. An “A” does this while also demonstrating novelty and originality. If you are going for an A or B, have you read beyond what was assigned?

 

Class 2 -

In class essay #2 - Legislating a borderless frontier: law and order in the cloud. Revise

Revise using voice memos. Your voice memos should go through your essay addressing each voice memo point I made telling me how you tried to revise each issue I discussed. Do not address the editing issues, only the content voice memo points. Simply editing your paper will earn the paper a D. Papers without voice memos attached will not be read and given an F. Due: For Monday/Wednesday classes the assignment is due by 8 a.m. on Friday. For Tuesday/Thursday classes the assignment is due by 8 a.m. Saturday.


Week 8 7-13 Mar

Class 1

Library session #2 

            Homework: meet with librarians and work on the library worksheet. Due in class next week.

 

Class 2 - Parts of the paper


Week 9 14-20 March

Parts of the paper

How to write an annotated bibliography

Library Worksheet Due


Week 10 - 21-27 Mar

Parts of the paper

How to write an outline

Annotated bibliography Due


Week 11- 4-10 April

Parts of the paper

Preliminary outline Due


Week 12 11-17 April

Parts of the paper

From outline to draft, citation

Hand in draft via Turnitinuk


Week 13 18 -24 April

Works cited

Conferences

 

Week 14 25 Apr - 1 May

Hand in Final Paper


Final exam - 2-8 May