English Writing 302
COURSE SYLLABUS
Professor: Carrie Marks Term: Spring 2010 Time: Fri 5:30-8:30 Office Hours: Fri 5-5:30
Email: marksc@scc.losrios.edu Website: http://web.scc.losrios.edu/marksc
Catalog
Description of
Course
Learning
Outcome
“This course further develops analytical skills through writing and discussion. It examines
methods by which people are persuaded to think, believe, and/or act. It also includes analyses
of argument or expressions of opinions for their validity and soundness. Finally, it focuses on
critically assessing, developing and effectively expressing opinions on issues. It emphasizes
thinking clearly and organizing thought carefully by using principles of logic. This course
includes writing a minimum of 6,500 words.”
In order to make a logical and effective argument, you must be able to do the following:
 Summarize someone else’s written or oral argument accurately
 Evaluate assumptions, evidence, and inferences in someone else’s argument
 Examine your own assumptions
 Generate new ideas based on logical reasoning
 Do research to acquire information, carefully evaluating the evidence you find
 Present your ideas effectively to your intended audience
Throughout this course, you will practice all of these skills, and you will emerge with
argumentation skills that you will apply not only to academic situations, but also to the daily
discussions you have with coworkers, friends, and family members.
Required Text
Sylvan Barnet, Current Issues and Enduring Questions, 8th edition
Prerequisite
Completion of English 300 with a “C” or better. IMPORTANT: During the first week of
class, students must verify that they meet the prerequisites for the class or they will be
dropped from the class.
Attendance
Policy
Regular attendance is required to pass this course. I expect students to be seated and prepared
to begin at 5:30. Each tardy will count as a quarter of an absence. Similarly, leaving before
the end of class will be classified as a quarter of an absence.
Campus policy states that after missing 6% of the course hours for a given course
students may be dropped from the course for excessive absences. After TWO absences,
I will drop you from the class.
Getting the
Help You
Need
I am happy to meet with students during office hours or by appointment. The best way to
contact me is by e-mail. Additional help is available in the Writing Center. If you have a
documented learning or physical disability and need me to make accommodations in order for
you to be successful in this course, please see me to discuss your needs.
Grading
Plagiarism
and Cheating
Your assignments will be weighted as follows:
Essay 1 (1500 words)
Essay 4 (1500 words)
Research-based essay/ Oral argument (2000 words)
Midterm Exam (1500 word essay)
Final reflection
Discussions, shorter assignments, and quizzes
15%
20%
25%
20%
10%
10%
A paper that is found to be plagiarized or that includes plagiarized sections will receive a zero
with no chance to make up the grade. Per the Sacramento City College Student Guide, Student
Code of Conduct: “Plagiarism is representing the work of someone else as your own and
submitting it for any purpose. Plagiarism includes the following:
1. Incorporating the ideas, works, sentences, paragraphs, or parts of another
person's writings, without giving appropriate credit, and representing the
product as your own work.
2. Representing another's artistic/scholarly work as your own.
3. Submitting a paper purchased from a research or term paper service.
Any form of cheating, including copying another student’s homework or quiz, will result in a
zero for that assignment and no chance of making up the grade.
Essay Format
Late paper
policy
Participation
Out of class essays must be typed, double spaced, and written in a standard font. Include
proper MLA citation format for any citations you make, and include a works cited page when
needed. Excessive variation from the assigned length will have serious implications on the
grade. In-class essays must be written neatly in pen.
I will not accept late homework assignments. If you are absent on the day of a quiz or an inclass assignment, you will not be able to make it up. Essays will be accepted late, but the
score will drop by one full letter grade for each day that it is late. Work received after the
start of a class period is considered late. Work received late due to an absence is also
considered late. If you know that you are going to be absent, you may submit your
assignment in advance by bringing it to an earlier class session, sending it with a trustworthy
classmate, or leaving it in my mailbox BEFORE class.
Because of the course’s focus on analytical thinking and discussions, your active participation
is an essential component of this course. Active participation includes all of the following:
 Answering questions
 Sharing ideas during class discussions
 Collaborating with partners on in-class assignments
Students whose behavior inhibits the learning of other students may be asked to leave class for
the period (and will be counted as absent). Such behavior includes, but is not limited to the
following:
 Excessive side conversations
 Cell phone/ipod/PDA use
 Disrespectful language or personal attacks
English 302 Tentative Calendar
Date
1/22
In Class Focus
Course Introduction
Writing Sample
Homework DUE
1/29
Evaluating an Argument:
 Author’s central claim
 Logos, Pathos, and Ethos
Discussion on the use of torture
Read chapters 3 and 5
Be prepared for a quiz
2/5
Writing your Evaluation
 What to include
 Organizing your essay
 Review of sample essay
Review of rubric
2/12
2/19
2/26
Holiday: No class
Making your own argument
 Logical support
 Using emotional appeals
Quiz on chapter 6
3/5
The ethos of your argument:
 Tone
 Persona
 Considering your audience
 Common ground
Counterarguments
Discussion on the legalization of drugs
3/12
Organizing your argument:
 Introductory paragraphs
 Acknowledging the other side
 Supporting your argument with evidence
 Answering possible objections
 Conclusion
Midterm: In-Class Essay
You will write a 1500 word essay which argues for
your position on a controversial topic. The topic
will not be given to you ahead of time.
3/19
Introduction to Proposals
Using Sources
 Quiz
 Different types of sources
 Evaluating sources
Read “The Truth about Torture”
and “The Abolition of Torture”
(pp. 812-829) and take notes on
EACH article. Follow “Evaluating
an Argument Checklist” when
taking notes.
Final draft of essay 1: Evaluation of
an Argument
Chapter 6: Read and be prepared for
a quiz
Read essays on the legalization of
drugs (Chapter 23, pages 659-693).
Take notes on key points for both
sides of the argument.
Be prepared for midterm by
reviewing chapter 6.
Chapter 7 due. Be prepared for a
quiz.



3/26
Incorporating sources
MLA format
Presentation from librarian on off-campus
access and journal searches
Oral arguments
Annotated bibliography due
Analyze sample proposal from The End of Poverty
Prepare to write proposals
4/2
Spring Break: No class
4/9
4/16
Present your proposal orally for peer evaluation
Sound Approaches to Argumentation:
 The Toulmin Model
 Deductive reasoning
 Inductive reasoning
Logical Fallacies
4/23
4/30
Discussion of Singer’s article
Moral Reasoning
 Principles of moral reasoning
 Related fallacies
5/7
Advanced analysis of arguments: Looking for
sound reasoning and fallacies.
Assign Essay
5/14
Final exam in class
Oral presentation due.
Final draft of proposal due
Read chapter 8 (pages 325-336) and
part of chapter 9 (pages 349-371).
Complete the exercise on pages 368371.
Be prepared for a quiz.
Read chapter 10.
Write a two-page, informal response
to Peter Singer’s article (included in
the chapter). To what extent do
you agree or disagree with his
arguments?
Readings (to be assigned). Take
notes on how each one uses sound
reasoning and/or fallacies to
advance claims.
Final essay due
English 302: Essay Scoring Guide
A” = Excellent
This essay is a
fresh, personal,
and provocative
composition that
communicates
clearly and
effectively
B= Good paper
The essay clearly,
thoughtfully, and
thoroughly
addresses the
topic.
C =satisfactory
The essay
communicates,
but requires effort
from the reader
D= unsatisfactory
The essay does
not communicate
clearly and
persuasively.
Content
*A well-chosen thesis
clearly controls the
direction of the paper.
*Supporting points are
thoroughly developed
with clear, well chosen,
vivid examples
*Analysis of the subject
is clear, thorough, and
logical
*Thesis is clear and
worthwhile, and it
controls the essay's
direction.
*Examples are well
chosen but may
occasionally be lacking
in specificity.
*Analysis is generally
clear and logical
*Has a central idea, but
it might lack clarity or
insight.
*Development is not
consistently thorough;
examples might be
sparse, not quite to the
point, or repetitious
*The essay depends
more on narration,
description, or mere fact;
has too little analysis
The essay has one of
more of these problems:
* no central idea
* central idea is too
general or obvious.
*provides almost no
support
*Summarizes source
without analyzing it
*Many errors in logic
Organization
*Paragraphs
exhibit unity and
coherence
*Organization is
smooth and
logical
Style
*Diction and tone
are appropriate and
effective
*Appropriate, even
creative language
*A strong writing
“voice”
*Sentence structure
is varied
Mechanics
Few, if any,
errors
*Paragraphs are
generally unified
and coherent
*Organization is
generally clear and
logical
*May contain a few
ineffective
sentences, but
others will show
flair
*Some sense of
“voice”
*Appropriate use
of language
Generally
shows
evidence of
careful
proofreading
*Paragraphs
support the thesis,
but some might
lack unity or
coherence
*Organization is
apparent but may
have lapses
*Sentence structure
might be choppy or
lack variety
Mechanical
errors, but
they don't
impede
reading of the
essay
*Paragraphs are
often out of order
and/or lack unity
and coherence, or
are unduly brief
*Organization is
weak, tenuous
*Awkward
wording
*Poorly
constructed
sentences
*Language may be
simplistic and
predictable
Errors occur
so often as to
impede
understanding
the essay
“F” = FAILING PAPER
The essay might be off topic, unduly brief, or incomprehensible due to an overwhelming number of
errors.