LONG BEACH CITY COLLEGE – SPRING 2016
English 3: Argumentative and Critical Writing
Section 30300
Instructor: Dr. Karen Rose
Phone: 562-938-4099
Email: krose@lbcc.edu
Office: P103
Office Hours:
Monday 9:00 am-12:30 pm
Tuesday 5:30-6:00 pm
Wednesday 6:00-7:00 pm
Class Time: Tuesday/Thursday 3:15-5:20 pm
Class Room: T1311
Website: www.lbcc.edu/English/faculty/KarenRose.cfm
Course website: http://lms.lbcc.edu/
Prerequisite
You must have completed English 1 with a grade of C or better.
Course Goals
Upon completion of English 3, you should be able to:
1. Analyze and evaluate various types of argumentative and critical discourse.
2. Locate a variety of credible sources through research to develop and support a position that reflects the
analysis and synthesis of multiple points of view.
3. Apply effective strategies of argumentation in constructing an argument or critical analysis.
4. Show logical connections between ideas, avoid flaws in reasoning, and demonstrate mastery of academic
writing conventions.
Textbooks

Writing Arguments: A Rhetoric with Readings, 9th Edition, Eds. John Ramage, John Bean, and June
Johnson.

Never Let Me Go, Kazuo Ishiguro
Requirements

2 out-of-class essays

1 research project & presentation

Quizzes

Homework

Participation in group and class discussions
Grading
Your final grade for the
Essay 1
Essay 2
Research Project
Research Presentation
Quizzes
Homework
Class participation
course will be calculated as follows:
100 points
100 points
150 points
50 points
10-25 points each
5 points each
20 points
You can access your grades via our class website: http://lms.lbcc.edu/
Grading Scale
A = 90-100%
B = 80-89%
C = 70-79%
D = 60-69%
F = below 60%
English 3 / Rose / Spring 2016
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Attendance
I take attendance at the beginning of class every day. I expect you to arrive on time and be prepared to
participate in class discussions and activities. Your inability to fulfill these expectations will adversely affect your
grade. Please make note of the following:

In accordance with LBCC policy, if you are absent in excess of 20% of total class hours or for two
consecutive weeks, you will be dropped from the class.

If you arrive after attendance is taken, you are tardy. Three tardies count as one absence.

In-class work missed during an absence cannot be made up.
Missed Homework and Quizzes
If you miss class and are unable to hand in your homework, it is your responsibility to get it to me as soon as
possible. You can put it in my mailbox in the English Department office (P119) or you can put it in the mail
cubby on my office door (P103). Points will be deducted for late homework. Make-up quizzes are not
allowed. If you are absent on the day of a quiz, or if you arrive to class late and miss a quiz, you will receive a
grade of zero for that quiz.
Late Essays
Fifteen points will be deducted for each day your essay is late (including weekends). When an essay is due, a
printed copy must be handed in at the beginning of the class or it will be considered late.
Classroom Conduct
Treat your classmates as you want them to treat you! When somebody is talking, pay attention and listen to
what he or she has to say, even if you disagree with what is being said. You have the right to speak up and
present your viewpoint, but personal insults are not acceptable. Treating one another with respect will make our
class more fun.
Electronic Devices
Please refrain from using electronic devices during class. The first time your electronic device makes noise or I
find that you are interacting with your device during class, you will receive a warning. After that, I will deduct 10
points each time, and you owe the class a treat, preferably cupcakes or donuts.
Essay Format
All essays must follow MLA format: double-spaced, one-inch margins, with a typeface equivalent to
approximately 300 words per page. To cite sources, be sure to include parenthetical citations and a works cited
page. We will discuss MLA format in class; it is also explained in Chapter 17 of Writing Arguments.
Plagiarism
The MLA Handbook defines plagiarism as “the act of using another person’s ideas or expressions in your writing
without acknowledging the source.” This includes buying papers and copying/pasting content from the Internet.
If you are not sure you understand what constitutes plagiarism or you have any questions about how to
acknowledge another’s work, please ask me. Be aware that LBCC regulations require that all instances of
plagiarism be reported to the Dean of Language Arts for disciplinary action. If I learn that you have plagiarized,
you will receive a zero on the assignment, and I will contact the Dean. Please be careful to cite other people’s
words and ideas that you incorporate – by way of quotation, paraphrase, and summary – into your essays.
Resources
Take advantage of the resources available to help you develop your writing skills and succeed in this class:

Me – I am dedicated to helping each of you achieve your academic goals. If you feel that you need extra
assistance, please come to my office hours. I will be happy to help you.

The Learning and Academic Resources Department offers services and classes designed to help you improve
your academic performance. Free tutoring, study skills assistance, computers, and more are available at both
campuses. For more information visit: www.lbcc.edu/lar or contact the Multidisciplinary Student Success
Centers at LAC (L-212 562-983-4699) or at PCC (EE-206 562-938-3991).
English 3 / Rose / Spring 2016
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Course Schedule and Assignments
Note: This schedule is subject to change. If we need to spend more time
on any of the topics listed below, we will make adjustments.
Tuesday
Thursday
Week 1
Feb. 9 &
11
Course overview
Interviews and introductions
Chapter 1, “Argument: An Introduction” (2-22)
Week 2
Feb. 16 &
18
Chapter 2, “Argument as Inquiry” (23-56)
Chapter 3, “The Core of an Argument: A Claim with
Reasons” (58-71)
Reyna Wences, “My Life in the Shadows” (504-505)
Mark Krikorian, “DREAM On” (505-507)
Week 3
Feb. 23 &
25
An Interview with Sherry Turkle, “Digital Demands:
The Challenges of Constant Connectivity” (426429)
Stephen Marche, “Is Facebook Making Us Lonely?” (online)
Quiz #1 (covers Chapters 1, 2, 3)
Film: Growing Up Online
Alison Gopnick, “Diagnosing the Digital Revolution”
(429-432)
Discuss Essay #1 Topic
Week 4
March 1 &
3
Chapter 4, “The Logical Structure of Arguments”
(72-88)
Chapter 5, “Using Evidence Effectively” (89-108)
Craig Anderson, “Violent Video Games and Other Media
Violence” (445-447)
Henry Jenkins, “Reality Bytes: 8 Myths About Video Games
Debunked” (449-452)
Week 5
March 8 &
10
Quiz #2 (covers Chapter 4)
Essay #1 Due
Rough Draft of Essay #1 Due
Appendix One, “Informal Fallacies” (404-410)
Week 6
March 15
& 17
Flex Day – No Classes
Chapter 6, “Moving Your Audience: Ethos, Pathos, &
Kairos” (109-123)
Week 7
March 22
& 24
Quiz #3 (covers Informal Fallacies)
Chapter 9, “Analyzing Visual Arguments” (175-208)
Kathryn Jean Lopez, “Egg Heads” (161-163)
Ellen Goodman, “Wombs for Rent—For a Price”
(170-171)
Week 8
March 29
& 31
Film: Food, Inc.
Chapter 15, “Finding and Evaluating Sources” (348-367)
Overview of research project
April 4 – 9
Spring Break
English 3 / Rose / Spring 2016
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Tuesday
Thursday
Week 9
April 12 &
14
Never Let Me Go, Chapters 1-9
Never Let Me Go, Chapters 10-17
Week 10
April 19 &
21
Never Let Me Go, Chapters 18-23
Research Topic Proposal Due
Week 11
April 26 &
28
Chapter 10, “Intro to the Types of Claims” (212221)
Film: Never Let Me Go
Quiz #4 (covers Chapter 10)
Chapter 11, “Definition and Resemblance Arguments” (222253)
Discuss Essay #2 topic
Week 12
May 3 & 5
Chapter 13, “Evaluation & Ethical Arguments”
(285-310)
Chapter 14, “Proposal Arguments” (310-346)
Two summaries due
Daniel Esty and Michael Porter, “Pain at the Pump? We
Need More” (565-566)
Sign up for Research Project Presentation
Liza Long, “I Am Adam Lanza’s Mother” (online)
Ken Saxon, “What Do You Do with a B.A. in History?” (520527)
Scott Adams, “How to Get a Real Education at College”
(527-529)
Week 13
May 10 &
12
Essay #2 Rough Draft Due
Essay #2 due
Week 14
May 17 &
19
To Be Announced
Research project presentations
Week 15
May 24 &
26
Research project presentations
Research project presentations
Week 16
May 31 &
June 2
Research project presentations
Research project presentations
Week 17
June 7 & 9
Research project presentations
No Classes - LBCC Graduation
Two summaries due
Mandatory attendance today!
Research project due