Engl 1302 Composition II Spring 2018
- Coolen Office: Room 502 E
Telephone: (940) 668-7731 ext. 4306 E-Mail Address: lcoolen@nctc.edu
Office Hours:
M 9:30-10:50 5:00-5:50 T 11:00-12:00 1:00-3:30 W 9:30-10:50 1:30-3:30 R 11:00-12:00
And by appointment
Office hours are also posted in Canvas under Files, in the Department Syllabus in Canvas, and by my office door.
COMPOSITION II SYLLABUS
PREREQUISITE: Credit for Engl 1301 or the equivalent
REQUIRED TEXTS: Schilb, John, and John Clifford. Arguing about Literature: A Guide and Reader. Boston:
Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2014. Print.
Lunsford, Andrea A. The Everyday Writer with Exercises. 6th ed. (2016 MLA Update)
Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2016. Print.
A standard college dictionary (recently published) and thesaurus
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.
See Learning Outcomes and Core Objectives listed in the class syllabus below Grade Distribution.
UNIT I
One Week (Monday, January 15, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day—no classes)
Introduction to the course: syllabus, student card, department standards, Prerequisite
Completion Verification Form, student ID, class folder, signed contract, texts, and sample
composition
Note: Points may be earned by attendance, quizzes, and by submitting written assignments on time.
Frequent opportunities which may not be announced in advance enable students to earn
points.
Learning outcomes identified in the Composition II Class Syllabus after Grade Distribution and listed in the Department Syllabus posted in Canvas will be met through the writing, revising, and rewriting of two documented compositions, peer reviews, an annotated bibliography, and a research paper, as well as a variety of activities such as aural and written discussions of questions related to the assigned readings, and quizzes. The focus of the course is to learn to express ideas critically on a variety of topics addressed through literature, to communicate those thoughts orally in the classroom, and to further develop ideas into essays by careful reading of assignments, note taking, writing, revising, rewriting, and peer reviewing. An emphasis is placed on research techniques and strategies.
UNIT 2
Two Weeks
Read selections from Arguing about Literature for class discussions and writing.
Arguing about Literature: Read for analysis and application
Orozco “Orientation” 46-51
Kinkaid “Girl” 52-53
Unit 3 Focus on applying techniques of argument in the short story
Chapter 3 How to Argue about Literature 43+
Read for class discussion and application “What Is Literature?” and “Why Study Literature in a College Writing Course?”43-46;
“A Sample Student Argument about Literature” 66-9
Chapter 4 The Reading Process 88+
Read for class discussion and application “Strategies for Close Reading” 88-99
Chapter 6 Writing about Literary Genres 149+
Read for class discussion and application “Writing about Stories” 149-50, Welty “A Visit of Charity,” 150-54, “A Student’s Personal Response to the Story” 154-55, and “Final Draft of a Student Paper” 165-68
Three Weeks
Arguing about Literature: Chapter 9 “Families” 299+ (Discuss Strategies for Close Reading 88-97; TEW Ch. 58)
Argument topic: “Mothers and Daughters” 301+
Tan “Two Kinds” 308-16
Olsen “I Stand Here Ironing” 301-07
Argument topic: “Siblings in Conflict” 326+
Wolff “The Rich Brother” 326-39
Composition I Rough Draft Due________________________________________________
Composition 1 Peer Review date_______________________________________________
Composition I due___________________________________________________________
A handout will provide the instructions for the paper. Note: Final draft must be submitted to Vericite. Points will be deducted for lateness.
Take advantage of tutorial assistance in the Library Lyceum. You may also see me during office hours or by appointment.
Three Weeks (Spring Break March 12-17)
Unit 4 Focus on applying techniques of argument in poetry
Read for class discussion and application “Writing about Poems” 169-72, “A Student’s Personal Responses to the Poems 172-74, “First Draft of a Student Paper” 174-76, “The Elements of Poetry” 176-81, “Revised Draft of a Student Paper” 182-84
Argument topic: “Reconciling with Fathers: Poems” 382+
Clifton “forgiving my father” 382-83, Hayden “Those Winter Sundays” 384, Roethke “My Papa’s Waltz” 385, Lee “My Father, in Heaven, Is Reading Out Loud” 386-87
Composition 2 Rough Draft Due____________________________________________________
Composition 2 Peer Review date____________________________________________________
Composition 2 due_______________________________________________________________
A handout will provide the instructions for the paper. The final draft must be submitted to Vericite. Points will be deducted for lateness.
Take advantage of tutorial assistance in the Library Lyceum. You may also see me during office hours or by appointment.
Six Weeks (April 5 is the last day to withdraw from a class with a grade of “W.”)
Units 5-6 Focus on Applying techniques of argument in the play and in the Research Project
Read for class discussion and application “Writing about Plays” 190-206
Chapter 11 Freedom and Confinement 693+
Ibsen A Doll’s House 792-847
Jackson “The Lottery” 696-702
Poe “The Cask of Amontillado” (Find an online copy)
Hughes “Open Letter to the South” 916-19 and “Theme for English B”
Units 5-6 require an annotated bibliography as a basis for a research paper as well as a research paper. A detailed study of Chapters 12-14 TEW is required.
Argument topic: “Domestic Prisons: Plays” 669-70
Annotated Bibliography due________________________________________________________
Research Paper due_______________________________________________________________
Handouts for the annotated bibliography and the research paper will provide instructions for the projects. Take advantage of assistance from the librarians and tutors. Again, you are welcome to see me during office hours or by appointment.
One Week
Unit 7 Final Exam due_____________________________________________________________
Poem Memorization: A handout will provide the instructions and a list of poems from which you will choose one. The poem recitation is due no later than the final exam, but you may present it earlier if you wish. Begin memorizing the poem as soon as you receive the handout in order to recite it well.
May 7-10 Final Exams/May 11 Commencement Ceremonies
Grade Distribution
2 compositions 40%
Annotated Bibliography 20%
Research Paper 20%
Poem Recitation 10%
Earned Points (100) 10%
A=90-100 B=80-89 C=70-79 D=60-69 F=grades below 60
English Department Outcomes for Engl 1302
- Demonstrate knowledge of individual and collaborative research processes.
- Develop ideas and synthesize primary and secondary sources within focused academic arguments, including one or more research-based essays.
- Analyze, interpret, and evaluate a variety of texts for the ethical and logical uses of evidence.
- Write in a style that clearly communicates meaning, builds credibility, and inspires belief or action.
- Apply the conventions of style manuals for specific academic disciplines (e.g., APA, CMS, MLA, etc.)
Core Objectives
- Critical Thinking Skills (CT) - creative thinking, innovation, inquiry, and analysis, evaluation and synthesis of information
- Communication Skills (COM) - effective development, interpretation and expression of ideas through written, oral and visual communication
- Empirical and Quantitative Skills (EQS) - manipulation and analysis of numerical data or observable facts resulting in informed conclusions
- Teamwork (TW) - ability to consider different points of view and to work effectively with others to support a shared purpose or goal
- Social Responsibility(SR) - intercultural competence, knowledge of civic responsibility, and the ability to engage effectively in regional, national, and global communities
- Personal Responsibility (PR) - ability to connect choices, actions and consequences to ethical decision-making
Attendance Regulations: College Catalog
The NCTC attendance policy is published in each course syllabi. NCTC faculty are expected to keep up to date attendance records. However, general regulations regarding class attendance are as follows:
- Regular and punctual attendance is expected of all students in all classes for which they have registered.
- All absences are considered to be unauthorized unless the student is absent due to sickness or emergencies which are approved by the instructor, or due to participation in an approved college-sponsored activity (which requires written approval from the appropriate Instructional Dean).
- The instructor is responsible for judging the validity of any reasons given for absence. Valid reasons for absence, however, do not relieve the student of the responsibility for making up required work.
- Students will not be allowed to make up an examination missed due to absence unless they have reasons acceptable to the instructor. A student who is compelled to be absent when a test is given should petition the instructor, in advance if possible, for permission to postpone the exam.
- Students may be dropped from a class by the Registrar upon recommendation of the instructor who feels the student has been unjustifiably absent or tardy a sufficient number of times to preclude meeting the course's objectives.
- Persistent, unjustified absences from classes or laboratories may be considered sufficient cause for College officials to drop a student from the rolls of the College.
- Students may be dropped from a developmental course required for the Texas Success Initiative (TSI) purposes for non-attendance. Official NCTC TSI rules state that students not passing all sections of the THEA, Compass, or new statewide TSI Assessment test must be enrolled in at least one area of remediation each semester they are enrolled or until all sections are passed or all remedial requirements have been met. Students who are dropped twice for non-attendance in a required developmental course will receive a registration hold limiting enrollment in the subsequent semester.
- Simply logging into an online course does not constitute attendance. The Department of Education calculates "last date of attendance" by the last time a student participated in an online discussion or made contact (interacted) with a faculty member.
Grading System: Two compositions, one annotated bibliography, one research paper, one poem recitation, and earned points will determine the grade for the course.
Makeup Work: Makeup work is rarely accepted. In case of an emergency, contact me immediately to ask about making up the work. I must be notified no later than the due date. No daily assignments may be turned in late.
Attendance Policy: Students are required to attend class. Realizing that circumstances may prevent attendance, I allow students to miss up to two weeks. Students who miss even one class risk making a lower grade than students who do not. Students who miss more than two weeks may be dropped from the course. Note that students have the responsibility to withdraw from the course if they wish to drop it.
Classroom Etiquette: Always be considerate of your professor and classmates. Do not do anything to disrupt the class including using discourteous language, coming late to class or leaving early, talking out of turn, using crude or abusive language. Do not wear earbuds in class. Also, do not use electronic devices during the class unless you are directed to do so.
Plagiarism: Students who plagiarize may receive a grade of F on essays or research papers. (See “Plagiarism” Arguing about Literature pp. 198-99.) Additionally, students who plagiarize risk being dropped from the class and being suspended from the college.
Cheating: Cheating in any form, including collusion, is unacceptable and may result in an F for the course.
Help on Assignments: You may make an appointment to see me, see me during office hours, call me, or email me through Canvas. My office hours are listed on this syllabus, in Canvas, and posted near my office door. You should also take advantage of tutors on campus (Library Lyceum).
Syllabus Revisions: The professor reserves the right to make changes in the syllabus. For example, some of the selections in the units may be omitted or treated in an order other than the one listed. Assignments are clarified during class time. You should have contact information with two or more students in the class so that if you have to clarify an assignment, you will be able to do so. Do not contact me about an assignment outside of class.
Also, check you NCTC email daily. I often send messages about class assignments during the week.
Files: Students must return all quizzes and major writing assignments to me. I will file them in your student folder in my office, Room 502 E . You are encouraged to drop by my office to review your folders’ contents. Students who wish to have their essays returned to them should pick them up after grades are posted and prior to the end of the next semester when they will be discarded.
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
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.