Course Name & Number

Composition II

ENGL 1302

Semester & Year

Spring 2017

Catalog Description

Intensive study of and practice in the strategies and techniques for developing research-based expository and persuasive texts. Emphasis on effective and ethical rhetorical inquiry, including primary and secondary research methods; critical reading of verbal, visual, and multimedia texts; systematic evaluation, synthesis, and documentation of information sources; and critical thinking about evidence and conclusions.

Prerequisite:  English 1301 or its equivalent.

Textbooks &  Materials

Required / Recommended

• David Rosenwasser and Stephen, Jill. Writing Analytically. 7th Edition. ISBN- 978-1285436500
• Shelley, Mary. Frankenstein. 2nd Ed. J. Paul Hunter. Norton Critical Edition. New York: Norton, 2012. ISBN 978-0-393-92793-1
• Beowulf.  Norton Critical Edition.  Ed. Nicholas Howe.  New York: W.W. Norton & Co., 2002. ISBN 978-0393974065

Instructor’s Name

Robert Burton

Office Phone #

940-498-6217

Instructor’s Office #

Corinth 207

Office Fax #

E-mail Address

rburton@nctc.edu

Office Hours

MWF 10-11am and MW 1-2pm

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, students will:

1. Demonstrate knowledge of individual and collaborative research processes.
2. Develop ideas and synthesize primary and secondary sources within focused academic arguments, including one or more research-based essays.
3. Analyze, interpret, and evaluate a variety of texts for the ethical and logical uses of evidence.
4. Write in a style that clearly communicates meaning, builds credibility, and inspires belief or action.
5. Apply the conventions of style manuals for specific academic disciplines (e.g., APA, CMS, MLA, etc.)

Attendance Policy

Attendance will be construed from class activity and turned in assignments. After three missed assignments or three absences students will need to meet with the instructor to remain in the class. After six missed assignments or absences students are expected to withdraw from the class or they may be withdrawn from the course with a WF.

*Tardiness and leaving early are unwelcome distractions in the classroom and will be considered as an absence unless previous permission has been acquired

EEOC Statement

North Central Texas College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, or disability in the employment or the provision of services.

Core Objectives

Foundational Component Area:  Communication

Courses in this category focus on developing ideas and expressing them clearly, considering the effect of the message, fostering understanding, and building the skills needed to communicate persuasively.  Courses involve the command of oral, aural, written, and visual literacy skills that enable people to exchange messages appropriate to the subject, occasion, and audience.

*Critical Thinking Skills (CT)- to include creative thinking, innovation, inquiry, and analysis, evaluation and synthesis of information

*Communication Skills (COM)- to include effective development, interpretation and expression of ideas through written, oral, and visual communication

*Teamwork (TW)- to include the ability to consider different points of view and to work effectively with others to support a shared purpose or goal

*Personal Responsibility (PR)- to include the ability to connect choices, actions, and consequences to ethical decision-making      

Grading Policy & Procedures

90-100% = A

80- 89% = B

70-79% = C

60-69% = D

0-59% = F

Scholastic Integrity

Scholastic dishonesty shall include, but not be limited to cheating on a test, plagiarism, and collusion. See Student Handbook “Student Rights & Responsibilities: Student Conduct [FLB- (LOCAL)]” #18.

Disciplinary Actions [Student Handbook, #5] “When cheating, collusion, or plagiarism has occurred beyond any reasonable doubt, the instructor may give the student or students involved an “F” on a particular assignment or in the course. [See Scholastic Dishonesty FLB (Local)] The instructor shall make a written report of the incident and of the planned action to his Department Chair.  The Department Chair shall report the incident and action to appropriate instructional dean who shall review the case, notify the student and, if necessary, take further action.  This may involve either probation or suspension of the student or students in question. If such disciplinary action is deemed necessary, the Dean of Student Services shall be notified, and the action shall be taken through that office.”

Plagiarism, which should be avoided at all costs, includes the following student actions:

1. Turning in someone else's ideas, opinions, theories, or work as your own;
2. Unintentionally or inadvertently turning in someone else's ideas, opinions, theories, or work as your own as the result of failing to document sources both internally and in the Works Cited;
3. Copying words, ideas, or images from someone without giving credit; Failing to put a quotation in quotations marks;
4. Giving incorrect information about the source of information, quotations, or images;
5. Changing words but copying the sentence structure of a source without giving credit;
6. Copying so many words, ideas, or images from a source that it makes up the majority of the student's work, whether or not the student gives credit.

Student Support Services

Disability Services (OSD)

The Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD) provides accommodations for students who have a documented disability. On the Corinth Campus, go to room 170 or call 940-498-6207. On the Gainesville Campus, go to room 110 or call 940-668-4209.  Students on the Bowie, Graham, Flower Mound, and online campuses should call 940-668-4209.

North Central Texas College is on record as being committed to both the spirit and letter of federal equal opportunity legislation, including the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, ADA Amendments Act of 2009, and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (P.L. 93-112).   http://www.nctc.edu/StudentServices/SupportServices/Disabilityservices.aspx

Support Services

Counseling and Testing staff offer a variety of services to current and prospective students, such as College 101, placement testing, academic advising and course registration, transfer assistance, and College Success seminars (Time Management, Study Skills, Test Anxiety, Choosing a Major, Learning Style Strategies, Career Exploration), and much more.  http://www.nctc.edu/StudentServices/CounselingTesting.aspx

Student Success offers academic coaching, tutoring, including a Writing Center, a Math Lab, free 24/7 online tutoring through Grade Results and assist new students acclimate to college by providing computer lab services for prospective students.   First generation students can also participate in TRIO which offers specialized support services.

http://www.nctc.edu/StudentServices/SupportServices.aspx

Financial Aid offers financial resources for students that qualify, visit the financial aid offices for more information.  http://www.nctc.edu/FInancialAidHome.aspx

Early Alert/CARES

The NCTC Early Alert program has been established to assist students who are at risk of failing or withdrawing from a course. Your instructor may refer you to this program if you are missing assignments, failing tests, excessively absent, or have personal circumstances impacting your academic performance. If submitted as an Early Alert you will be notified via your NCTC e-mail address and then contacted by a Counseling and Testing advisor or counselor to discuss possible strategies for completing your course successfully.

 The NCTC CARES (Campus Assessment Response Evaluation Services) Team addresses behavior which may be disruptive, harmful or pose a threat to to the health and safety of the NCTC community-such as stalking, harassment, physical or emotional abuse, violent or threatening behavior, or self-harm. As a student, you have the ability to report concerning behavior which could impact your own safety or the safety of another NCTC student. Just click the NCTC CARES Team logo posted on MyNCTC, or send an e-mail to CARESTeam@nctc.edu.  As always, if you feel there is an immediate threat to your own safety or welfare (or to another student), please call 911 immediately.

Course Outline

Units of Study

• Block I: Readings

Students will read and analyze a variety of selections from the adopted textbook.

• Block II: Quizzes, Examinations, and the Final Exam

Students may be required to take quizzes or tests over assigned readings and/or related materials. The class MUST meet during the final exam week. A final exam, if given, may count no more than 25% of the semester grade.

• Block III: Compositions

Students will write a minimum of 5,000 words (20 pages) in a variety of compositions—formal and informal. As part of this required writing, students will produce a minimum of four graded assignments. At least two of these must use the complete writing process, which may consist of the following:

• Invention
• Drafting
• Peer Review
• Revision
• Final Draft
• Block IV: Grammar and Mechanics

Students will study grammar and mechanics in the adopted handbook in order to meet departmental standards. This study may be done by examination of units in the handbook or through writing as a process, according to the discretion of the instructor.

• Block V: Research

Students will utilize library and electronic resources. They will submit a written assignment, such as an annotated bibliography, a documented essay, or several short compositions, using MLA style documentation. Pages generated as part of this research block are included in the required writing stipulated in Block III.

Other Pertinent Information

• Please write in a tone that is suitable for higher education.
• Inappropriate language will not be tolerated and may be cause for being dropped from the course.
• Please include your name and class time in emails.
• Late work is not accepted.
• Assignments not turned into the correct location will not be accepted.
• Emailed assignments will not be accepted.
• Please only submit in .doc or .rtf.
• Technical issues are the responsibility of the student.
• All assignments will be in MLA unless otherwise specified.
• While the MLA format is indeterminate about the font, we will use Times New Roman 12 point font for all assignments.
• Our week will run Monday through Sunday.
• Electronic devices are welcome in the classroom, but only for the purposes of class.
• Five or more consecutive words constitutes plagiarism, so documentation is required.

Week

Writing Analytically

Readings

Assignments

1

1. The Analytical Frame of Mind.

Backgrounds and Context, p. 57-69; Beowulf, p. 3-13

Questions and short essay

2

2. Reading Analytically.

Beowulf, p. 13-31

Questions and short essay

3

3. Responding To Traditional Writing Assignments More Analytically.

Beowulf, p. 31-52

Questions and short essay

4

4. Reasoning from Evidence to Claims.

Criticism, Robinson and Frank

Questions and short essay

5

5. Interpretation.

Criticism, Niles and Lapidge

Questions and short essay

6

6. Finding and Evolving a Thesis.

Criticism, Hill and Bennett

Questions and short essay

7

7. Using Sources Analytically: The Conversation Model.

Criticism, Howe

Questions and short essay

8

Writing conference, conference notes and 1st long essay

9

2. Reading Analytically.

Frankenstein

Introduction; Sources, Influences and Analogues

Grading conference, conference notes, and short essay

10

3. Responding To Traditional Writing Assignments More Analytically.

Volume I

AB and short essay

11

4. Reasoning from Evidence to Claims.

Volume II

AB and short essay

12

5. Interpretation.

Volume III

AB and short essay

13

6. Finding and Evolving a Thesis.

Circumstance, Influence, Composition, Revision

AB and short essay

14

7. Using Sources Analytically: The Conversation Model.

Reception, Impact, Adaptation

AB and short essay

15

Criticism

Writing conference, conference notes and 2nd longer essay

16

Grading conference