CASPER COLLEGE COURSE SYLLABUS
ENGL 1020-02,03 English II: Composition
Semester/Year: Summer 2009
Lecture Hours: 3
Lab Hours: 0
Class Time:
Days: MWF
Section 02: 11:10 – 12:50 PM
Section 03: 1:00 – 2:40 PM
Instructor: Miles F. Edwards
Credit Hours: 3
Room: AD 283
Office: AD 287
Email: medwards@caspercollege.edu (Do not email assignments)
Office Hours: MWF shortly before and after classes
Course Description: An extension of ENGL 1010. Further refines the student’s abilities to
gather and synthesize material from independent reading. Students study language both to
appreciate its precise control and to interpret the experience of others.
Expanded Course Description: The purpose of English 1020 is to help students become
more effective readers and writers. Specifically, students will study the skills needed for
academic writing and they well learn how to apply these skills to their writing. English 1020 is
designed to help students succeed in future college writing. Students will study and practice the
writing process, with an emphasis on rhetorical and analytical considerations. This course
requires extensive reading and writing. Students will be expected to participate actively and to
contribute to the class through both individual and group work. English Composition II is an
extension of English 1010 designed to further students’ reading and writing skills by exposing
them to vast and various writing styles. Fast-paced reading and lively in-class discussions will
contribute to the students’ understanding and appreciation of others. A research essay is required.
This course stresses reading, writing and teamwork amongst classmates.
Statement of Prerequisites: A grade of "C" or higher in ENGL 1010. The prerequisite cannot
be waived.
Outcomes:
English 1020 Passing students should:
Consistently apply and refine the outcome skills of English 1010
Be able to offer interpretations of written works validated by the texts, and recognize that multiple interpretations may exist
Be able to summarize in writing, both objectively and critically, a college level text
Understand and apply basic research methods to a substantial research paper
Synthesize and cite sources using accepted documentation styles
Know and apply the strategies of effective argument, avoiding fallacies and recognizing them in others’ arguments
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The Instructor reserves the right to alter this syllabus at any time for any reason.
Produce college-level, audience-focused analytical essays
Write a minimum of 4500 words during the semester
Students are also responsible for the English Departments outcomes. They are presented as
follows:
ENGL 1010 Passing students should:
Consistently apply and refine the outcome skills of DVST 0610
Demonstrate effective critical thinking and reading skills: the ability to summarize, analyze, synthesize and evaluate ideas
Know and apply effective rhetorical modes (eg., definition, narration, description, division and classification, comparison,
and /or contrast, analogy, process analysis, cause and effect analysis, illustration, argumentation), culminating in the ability
to write an effective argument
Be able to evaluate their own writing as well as the writing of others
Demonstrate fundamental awareness of documentation skills
Write a minimum of 3500 words during the semester
ENGL 0610
Passing students should:
Consistently apply and refine the outcome skills of DVST 0600
Demonstrate awareness of audience and purpose in both reading and writing
Be able to find and develop ideas
Participate in a recursive writing process
Write thesis-driven essays
Write a minimum of 2500 words during the semester
ENGL 0600
Passing students should:
Provide and identify a unified structured paragraph focused on a topic sentence, support, coherence, etc.
Recognize and write complete sentences
Use standard grammar and punctuation
Be able to write various types of paragraphs (e.g., narrative, descriptive, process)
Recognize organizational patterns
Demonstrate awareness of audience
Write a minimum of 1500 words during the semester
Methodology: This class utilizes a variety of learning techniques. Class discussions and peer
revisions provide an interactive learning environment in which each student gains from the input
and the experience of other class members. The instructor uses lecture, written handouts, and
small group projects, papers, in class exercises, graded in-class essays, quizzes, research
assignments and class discussion as methods of instruction along with other methodologies when
appropriate or developed. Creativity is encouraged.
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The Instructor reserves the right to alter this syllabus at any time for any reason.
Evaluation Criteria: Submission of every paper is required to receive a passing grade. You
must receive a C or higher for this class to transfer to another institution.
Class work, attendance, class participation, quizzes, and writing assignments ....................... 70%
Midterm Exam/assigned paper ................................................................................................ 10%
Final Exam ............................................................................................................................... 10%
Research paper ......................................................................................................................... 10%
Grade based on 100%:
90 – 100 = A
80 – 89 = B
70 – 79 = C
60 – 69 = D
< 59 = F
Required Text, Readings, and Materials:
David Rosenwasser, Writing Analytically with Readings 1st Edition ISBN 9781413013498
Computer disk: floppy disk, DVD or CD
Portfolio to keep all class assignments in.
Stapler, writing materials
Optional Text, Readings, and Materials:
Joseph Gibaldi, MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers 6th Edition ISBN 9780873529860
1. College level dictionary
2. Thesaurus
3.Grammar Handbook – available in C.C. book store, see class book requirements
Class Policies
Last Date to Change to Audit Status or to Withdraw with a W Grade: July 17, 2009.
Attendance Policy: Attendance is mandatory; missing classes will have a negative impact upon
your final grade. Work completed for classes makes up 80% of your final grade. No makeup
work will be allowed for in-class activities. Leaving class early or arriving late to class is an
absence. Do not schedule appointments during class time. Regardless of the circumstances, if
you miss more than four classes, you must drop this course or risk failure.
Late Work Policy: In fairness to other students, I will not accept late work without penalizing it.
Work completed during class may not be made up. Late papers will be penalized one letter grade
for every weekday they are late; weekends count as two days. Under extremely rare
circumstances, a penalty may be waived at my discretion. Please note that ALL PAPERS must
be completed for you to pass this course.
Submission of essays: Essays must be submitted according to the criteria set forth in the
following Paper Guidelines
1 Papers are due at the beginning of class. Late papers are penalized (i.e. a computer “problem”
is not a legitimate excuse; PLAN AHEAD!) Minimum length is 400 words.
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The Instructor reserves the right to alter this syllabus at any time for any reason.
2. Students must be prepared for peer revision with a complete product. Unprepared students will
receive a one letter grade deduction for the final paper. Papers submitted without a peer revision
(when required) will lose a letter grade. If the assignment includes a peer revision, a student from
your class must complete the peer revision.
3. Papers submitted without a draft(s) that demonstrate significant revision work will not be
graded.
4. Research papers must follow MLA documentation.
5. Proofread and edit your essays. You will lose one or more letter grades depending on the
frequency and severity of errors.
6. All papers must be typed/word processed, double-spaced, standard margins, 12 pica, Times
New Roman font, with cover page.
7. The following information must be on the first page in the top left corner (This
information does not count toward a paper’s required length), all pages stapled together.
1) Your Name
2) Course Title with type and title of paper
3) Date paper is Due, also date of paper if submitted late
8. All papers are required to have: an appropriate title, fully developed paragraphs, topic
sentences, sufficient supporting details, concluding/transitional sentences, introduction
that orients the reader to the paper’s topic, conclusion that emphasizes the topic’s
relevance to its audience, holistic unity, and standard mechanics.
9. A copy of each paper must be submitted to the instructor in addition to a copy on a disk
or CD in Rich Text Format, Word document or a compatible program at the end of the
semester. I scan student papers for plagiarism. The copy remains with the instructor.
10. All decisions, methodologies and criteria for these classes can be challenged by the
students: the instructor reserves the right to alter or change or re-evaluate all work, class
expectations and/or individual student situations, with fairness toward all as part of the
criteria.
Student Rights and Responsibilities: Please refer to the Casper College Student Conduct and
Judicial Code for information concerning your rights and responsibilities as a Casper College
Student.
Chain of Command: If you have any problems with this class, you should first contact the
instructor in order to solve the problem. If you are not satisfied with the solution offered by the
instructor, you should then take your problem through the appropriate chain of command starting
with the department head, then the division chair, and lastly the vice president for academic
affairs.
Academic Dishonesty - Cheating & Plagiarism: Casper College demands intellectual honesty.
Proven plagiarism or any form of dishonesty associated with the academic process can result in
the offender failing the course in which the offense was committed or expulsion from school. See
the Casper College Student Code of Conduct.
ADA Accommodations Policy: It is the policy of Casper College to provide appropriate
accommodations to any student with a documented disability. If you have a need for
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The Instructor reserves the right to alter this syllabus at any time for any reason.
accommodation in this course, please make an appointment to see me at your earliest
convenience.
Calendar or schedule indicating course content: The instructor reserves the right to alter this
syllabus at any time for any reason. The following is a tentative outline for reading assignments
and written paper due dates; this schedule does not include activities that will be completed
during class meetings. Complete all readings written assignments prior to the class meeting.
Specific readings and paper (R&W) topics will be assigned each week. Peer reviews will be
weekly. You must have submitted a paper to be able to review other’s work. I will also try to
have guest speakers and visitors from time to time. Students are encouraged to make your own
reading and writing assignments, from time to time. Students are encouraged to develop and
make use of out-of-class discussion/study groups, this is very helpful. Read your papers out
loud, preferable to someone else, prior to submission. Be prepared to read out loud and/or
collaborate during each class session. If a paper is submitted on time, you will be allowed to
rewrite and re-submit, some times. The English department provides an excellent writing
assistance program, please make use of this. The web site, Wikipedia, is not acceptable as a
source for research.
NOTE: Due to the compressed nature of a summer term class, there will be little time for late
papers or make up work, do not plan on this. There will be two chapters of reading each week, a
critique of an assigned reading and a 400 word paper due. This will leave us with little time,
plan on extensive commitment and production.
Week 1
Introduction to the class; review syllabus and expectations
First Reading and first written assignments assigned
1st R&W due, 2nd R&W assigned
Week 2
2nd R&W due
3rd R&W assigned
Think of a subject for research paper. Minimum: 8 pages, with 6 sources, with MLA style,
and bibliography page, cover page, demonstrating various literary styles and graphic techniques.
Week 3
3rd R&W due
4rd R&W assigned
4th R&W due
Week 4
4th R&W due
5th R&W assigned
July 1 Mid Term exam
July 3rd NO CLASS, campus closed
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The Instructor reserves the right to alter this syllabus at any time for any reason.
Week 5
5th R&W due
6th R&W assigned
Week 6
6th R&W due
7th R&W assigned
Week 7
7th R&W due
Review all assigned reading chapters
Rough draft of research paper due
Week 8
Presentation of research papers
7/31 Final exam, research paper due
Note: you must turn in two copies of your final essay; one without your name or my name on
it. This will be used by the English Department in their outcomes assessment goals.
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The Instructor reserves the right to alter this syllabus at any time for any reason.