ENG 102-34(SI) Composition II
T/TH 8-9:15am Curry 241
Instructor:
Office:
Office Hrs:
Email:
Colleen Farrell Colby
McIver 113
Tues & Thurs 7:30-8am, between classes and by appt
cfcolby@triad.rr.com, cfcolby@uncg.edu
Materials
Contemporary Creative Nonfiction: The Art of Truth by Bill Roorbach, Oxford Univ. Press, ISBN 0195135563
Techne Rhetorike, Ed. Lyda, ISBN9781598712544
e-spartan email account & blackboard access
About this Course
This course will focus on critical analysis. We will examine rhetorical modes, the relationship
between audience and purpose and how they impact oral and written argument choices.
Course activities are designed to enhance students’:
 Ability to write and speak clearly, coherently and effectively as well as to adapt
communication to one’s audience;
 Ability to interpret academic writing and discourse in a variety of disciplines
 Ability to locate, analyze, synthesize and evaluate information
Learning Goals
* To advance and extend students’ knowledge of oral argumentative discourse, and apply this
knowledge as a mode of learning how to write, do research, and engage in inquiry;
* To advance and extend students’ appreciation for writing and speaking as public and
community-based processes through the activities of drafting, peer review, and revision, as well
as individual and small group oratory exercises.
* To introduce students to the principles of invention, arrangement, style, memory, and delivery
in oral presentations.
* To help students to develop the habit of synthesizing, versus reporting on or simply
summarizing, source information in both oral and written communication.
Assignments
Writing Assignments:
Essays
Compare & Contrast (4 pages): A short essay examining how technique and
audience create effective writing. Theses will assert that one piece is more
successful and conduct a rhetorical analysis in support of the argument.
Writing Prompt (3-4 pages_: Essays respond to group presentation prompts.
Students will choose a query proffered by one of the group presentations and
expand in-class writing prompts into fully developed essays.
Adaptation Review (4 pages): Students will argue the respective merits of an
original short story vs. its adaptation.
Issue Analysis (3-4 pages): Issue essays will closely examine a divisive societal
issue and attempt to persuade their audience to action.
This I Believe Final Essay (2 pages)
Based on individual presentations, students will create a This I Believe essay.
Oral Assignments:
Group Presentation: Presentation will involve the critical analysis of a nonfiction reading
from the course text. Assignment includes sophisticated analysis, recognition of main
elements and ability to locate relevant companion text with comparable elements. Group
will also engage audience with questions, visual aids, video, etc.
Individual This I Believe Presentation: Based on NPR’s This I Believe project.
Grading
This course will comprise both speaking and writing activities. Your grade will be based on both.
Short Essays (4 pages each)
(Compare & Contrast 10%, Writing Prompt 10%,
Adaptation Review 10%, Issue Analysis 10%)
Group Presentation & Peer Group Evaluation
Participation (including attendance, active participation, involvement in
class/group activities, workshops, in-class writing and conferences)
Individual This I Believe Presentation
This I Believe Final Essay (2 pages)
40%
20%
15%
15%
10%
There are no make-up dates for presentations except in truly extraordinary circumstances.
If you are unprepared to do a presentation on your assigned day you will receive a failing grade
on that assignment. Due to the collaborative nature of group work and workshopping, I also
expect that your essays will be ready on the appropriate dates noted in your syllabus.
Conferences
You will all meet with me at least twice a semester- once in your group to discuss your
presentation and once individually prior to your final speech. You are always welcome to come
and talk with me at other times or to ask me to view additional drafts of your work.
Late Work Policy
It is expected that you will be present in class whenever an assignment is due and will have the
assignment completed and ready to submit. In the case of extraordinary circumstance you may
request an extension. You must request the extension prior to the due date or as soon thereafter as
possible and detail the circumstance leading to the request (documentation may be required at the
instructor’s discretion). Except in the case of severe illness, death in the family or a similarly
extraordinary event, a 15% per class period late penalty will apply.
The Classroom Community and Attendance Policy
This class is meant to be a place where we can have thoughtful discourse. I expect you to be open
to what your classmates are saying and respectful of others’ efforts in the class.
Regular contribution to class and active listening to what your classmates have to say is an
important part of this class making your attendance and preparation for class essential. Perfect
attendance will be rewarded. Missing more than two classes will negatively affect your grade
and missing more than four classes will likely result in a failing grade for the course. Missing
three classes will result in a C for the attendance portion of your grade, while missing four will
result in a D. Two tardies (more than 5 minutes) will count as an absence. If you are late or
absent, you miss out on important course material. Please try to come to every class and be on
time! If you must be absent email me in advance wherever possible and see a classmate to find
out what you missed. Please make every effort NOT to be absent on group workshop. These are
an integral part of this course and cannot be made up.
Also, please try to remember to turn off cell phones, pagers, etc. while in class. Texting or
computer usage during class time, without instructor permission, is not appropriate and will affect
your participation grade. Laptops may be used in class only to take notes pertaining to our class
or to view documents on our Blackboard website. Any student who uses a laptop for any nonclassroom activity during class time will not be allowed to use a laptop in class again. To be
perfectly clear: one violation means no laptop use.
Academic Integrity
“Academic integrity is founded upon and encompasses the following five values:
honesty, trust, fairness, respect, and responsibility. Violations include, for example,
cheating, plagiarism, misuse of academic resources, falsification, and facilitating
academic dishonesty. If knowledge is to be gained and properly evaluated, it must be
pursued under conditions free from dishonesty. Deceit and misrepresentations are
incompatible with the fundamental activity of this academic institution and shall not be
tolerated” (from UNCG’s Academic Integrity Policy). To ensure that you understand the
university’s policy on academic integrity, review the guidelines and list of violations at
<http://academicintegrity.uncg.edu>. I expect you to abide by the Academic Integrity
Policy. Common sanctions for violations could include assignment or course failure and
additional sanctions which are possible include suspension or expulsion from the
university (upon finding by University hearing panel).
Disability Services
Students with documentation of special needs should arrange to see me about
accommodations as soon as possible. If you believe you could benefit from such
accommodations, you must first register with the Office of Disability Services on campus
before such accommodations can be made. The office is located on the second floor of
the Elliott University Center (EUC) in Suite 215, and the office is open 8am to 5pm,
Monday - Friday. Telephone: 334-5440; e-mail: ods@uncg.edu.
The Writing Center (3211 MHRA)
The Writing Center can provide you with assistance related to organization, grammar,
development of ideas, etc. You are encouraged to drop in or call 334-3125 for an appointment.
The Speaking Center(3211 MHRA)
The Speaking Center can review with you the elements of your speeches for this class and
suggest areas for improvement. They can be reached at 256-1346.
Adverse Weather
The Adverse Weather Hotline for UNCG is 334-4400 or you can call UNCG Police at 334-5963.
Additionally, closings will be posted on the UNCG homepage. Please do not assume classes are
cancelled. Call or email prior to class if you absolutely cannot make it due to weather but classes
have not been cancelled. In the event that a class is cancelled, continue to follow the course
schedule and do the readings for the next class and look for further direction via Blackboard or
email.
Weekly Schedule- You will be notified via blackboard if changes are made to this schedule during the
semester. Be sure to check the schedule regularly to keep up with readings and assignments, as I may not
always mention them in class. It is your responsibility to keep apprised of the syllabus and to do the
assignments listed. If you have any questions about any of the assignments feel free to ask or email me at
any time.
IN CLASS
WEEK ONE
Jan
19
21
WEEK TWO
Jan
26
28
WEEK THREE
Feb
2
4
WEEK FOUR
Feb
9
11
WEEK FIVE
Feb
16
18
WEEK SIX
Feb
23
WORK FOR NEXT CLASS
Introduction to the Course
Review Syllabus
Groups, Public Speaking
Student Introductions
“How to Write a Personal
Essay” p. 299
TR- “Academic Integrity”
“Rhetorical Positioning”
Compare & Contrast Essays
“The Kiss” p. 122
“A Federal Offense” p. 176
Compare & Contrast Essays
MLA & Research Review
“Geography of the Heart” p. 141
“A Small Place” p. 250
TR- “Developing an Idea of
Audience”
Compare & Contrast Essays
Workshopping
Group Presentations
“Lights of the Long Night” p.
TR- “Performing Rhetorically”
Issue Analysis Handout
Group Presentations Introduction
Compare & Contrast Essays
Compare & Contrast Essay Workshop
Compare & Contrast Essay Drafts Due
BB-Compare & Contrast Essays
TR- “Student ExampleRevision”
Revised Compare & Contrast Essay Due
Issue Analysis
Group Essays
Group Meetings re: Essay Selection
Group Essays
TR- Oral Presentations…
Group Presentation Schedule
Issue Analysis
BB- Issue Analysis Readings
Introduce This I Believe
Writing Prompt Essay Handout
Group One Conference
Issue Analysis Essays
25
WEEK SEVEN
Mar
2
4
WEEK EIGHT
March 9
11
Workshop Issue Analysis Essays
Issue Analysis Drafts Due
Group One Reading
Revise Issue Analysis Essays
Group One Presentation
Group Two Conference
Revised Issue Analysis Essays Due
Group Two Reading
No Class- Midterm Conferences
No Class- Spring Break
No Class- Spring Break
WEEK NINE
March 16
Group Two Presentation
*Last day to drop course without academic penalty
18
WEEK TEN
March 23
25
WEEK ELEVEN
March 30
April
1
WEEK TWELVE
April 6
8
WEEK THIRTEEN
April 13
15
WEEK FOURTEEN
Adaptation Essay Handout
Adaptation analysis
BB Link “The Bear
Came Over the Mountain”
Film- Away From Her
Film Handout
TR “Visual Rhetoric”
Film- Away From Her
Technique Analysis, Persuasive Rhetoric for Adaptation Review
Group Three & Four Meetings
Adaptation Essays
Adaptation Essay Workshop
This I Believe
Adaptation Essays
Group Three Reading
TR- “Rhetoric of Voice”
Adaptation Essays Due
This I Believe
Group Three Presentation
Group Four Reading
Writing Prompt Essays
This I Believe
Group Four Presentation
Writing Prompt Essays
This I Believe
Individual Presentation Conferences
Writing Prompt Essays
This I Believe
Workshop Final Essays & Presentations
Workshop Writing Prompt Essays
Essay Rewrites Due
April
20
Individual Presentations
22
Individual Presentations
WEEK FIFTEEN
April 27
29
Finish Individual Presentations/Prepare Final Essays
Final Essays Due
Final Examination Period Tuesday May 11th 8-11am
*Final Grades will be posted on UNCGenie within 48 hours of the designated Final Exam period.