MACC Catalog #LAL 102
CIP #23.0440112
Revised/Effective: May 2012
(Updates: AD April 2013, Text July 2013)
Moberly Area Community College
Common Syllabus
LAL 102: Composition II
Current Term
Instructor:
Office number:
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Contact information:
Classroom number:
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Catalog Description: LAL102 Composition II
(3-0-3)
Students are introduced to research writing through originality, organization, and persuasion. Focus is
on critical thinking when conducting research, considering sources, and synthesizing information.
(FA, SP, SU)
Prerequisite: LAL101 or instructor approval.
Text:
Title:
Author:
Edition:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Writing Arguments w/Ebook
Ramage
10th Edition 2016
Pearson
978-0-321-90673-1
Title:
Author:
Edition:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Writer’s Harbrace Handbook
Glenn and Gray
5th Edition 2014
Cengage
978-1-1333-0878-2
Other Required Materials: Per instructor’s policy
Purpose of Course: This course teaches research writing as a creative endeavor that requires
originality, organization, critical thinking, and persuasive ability. Students need a skeptical approach
when conducting research, considering sources, and synthesizing information.
Course Objectives: Upon successful completion of this course, students will
 Demonstrate academic research techniques,
 Incorporate secondary research into original writings,
 Use argument for effective evaluation and persuasion.
 Write more than 16 pages of prose that reflects writing as a process and Standard English. 
Course Content: (a topical, not chronological listing)
I.
Overview of Argument
II.
Principles of Argument
A.
Research Techniques
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MACC Catalog #LAL 102
CIP #23.0440112
Revised/Effective: May 2012
(Updates: AD April 2013, Text July 2013)
B.
III.
IV.
Writing Techniques
1.
Argument Techniques
2.
Audience Awareness
3.
Revision Awareness
Arguments in Depth
A.
Types of Claims
B.
Fallacies
Writing From Sources
A.
Academic Responsibility
B.
Selecting Sources
Assessment of Student Learning:
Non-Fiction Paper
Source Reviews
Four short papers (10% each)
Long Paper
Daily Work
Total
10%
15%
40%
20%
15%
100%
Description of Major Assignment(s)/Project(s): Portfolio: During the course of the semester, you
will use the processes of prewriting, researching, drafting, argumentation, revision, and editing to
develop a research portfolio on a single topic. You will be asked to find an issue that concerns you or
moves you or angers you. You will be required to use scholarly research and sources to develop an
expertise in that topic and to generate papers that argue your position effectively, concisely, and with
persuasion.
The portfolio will include daily work, a non-fiction essay, six source reviews, a causal argument essay,
a resemblance argument essay, an evaluation argument essay, a proposal argument essay, and an
ethical argument essay. Daily work includes prewriting, peer reviews, self-reviews, and reading
responses.
The portfolio method of evaluation allows me to determine your overall writing ability, not your ability
to jump through hoops and "do what the teacher wants" on individual papers. Portfolio evaluation
works like this: nothing is graded throughout the semester. Instead, we work together to develop a
portfolio of your best work. This allows you multiple chances to produce your best work. I evaluate
your abilities according to a rubric (You will receive one with your syllabus). I do not compare your
work to others in the class. Basically, your final grade reflects the quality of the final papers in your
portfolio and the quality of the work you produce on a daily basis. All other factors constitute effort;
evaluation of effort allows me a means of determining which way to go on a borderline grade.
Grading Scale:
100%-90% = A
89%-80% = B
79%-70% = C
69%-60% = D
59% or below = F
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MACC Catalog #LAL 102
CIP #23.0440112
Revised/Effective: May 2012
(Updates: AD April 2013, Text July 2013)
Statement to Connect Course with General Education Outcomes or Technical Program Outcome
Statement: In compliance with MACC’s General Education outcomes, the student who successfully
completes this course will be able to:
 Demonstrate effective written and oral communication skills.
o The student will demonstrate effective written and oral communication considering audience
and situation through invention, arrangement, drafting, revision, and delivery.
o The student will construct logical and ethical arguments with evidence to support the
conclusions.
o The student will conform to the rules of Standard English.
o The student will analyze, synthesize, and evaluate a variety of course material and points of
view.
o The student will accept academic responsibility for written/oral language regarding issues of
copyright, plagiarism, and fairness issues.
Composition II is a course that teaches research and writing needed across disciplines. This is a
practical course that enables students to research and write in their chosen field.
Instructor Policies:
Academic Dishonesty: MACC board policy is as follows: “Academic dishonesty by students
damages institutional credibility and unfairly jeopardizes honest students; therefore, it will not be
tolerated in any form.” Forms of academic dishonesty include but are not limited to the following:
violations of copyright law, plagiarism, fabrication, cheating, collusion, and other academic
misconduct. Incidents of dishonesty regarding assignments, examinations, classroom/laboratory
activities, and/or the submission of misleading or false information to the College will be treated
seriously. The procedure for handling academic dishonesty is outlined in the Student Handbook
(Policy Handbook M.010). In cases of alleged academic dishonesty, the burden of proof is on the
student, not on the instructor.
Attendance Policy: Any student who misses two consecutive weeks of class during a regular sixteenweek semester or the equivalent proportion of class time during a shorter session will be dropped from
the class by the instructor unless acceptable justification is supplied. Additionally, any student who
misses more than one-fourth of the entire number of in-seat class meetings in a regular 16-week
semester or the equivalent proportion of class time during a shorter session, may be dropped from that
class by the instructor if, in the opinion of the instructor, the student does not have reasonable
opportunity to succeed in the class. A student’s attendance rate will be calculated based upon the first
day of the semester (not the student’s date of enrollment in the course).
Student attendance must be defined in a different manner for online, hybrid, and virtual courses.
Student attendance in these courses is defined as active participation in the course. Online, hybrid, and
virtual courses will, at a minimum, have weekly mechanisms for student participation, such as any or
all of the following methods:
a. Completion of quizzes or exams
b. Submission of assignments
c. Participation in threaded discussions
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MACC Catalog #LAL 102
CIP #23.0440112
Revised/Effective: May 2012
(Updates: AD April 2013, Text July 2013)
d. Communication with the instructor
A student who does not participate in an online, hybrid, or virtual course for two consecutive weeks
will be dropped by the instructor unless acceptable justification is supplied. As with ground courses, a
student’s attendance rate in online courses will also be calculated based upon the first day of the
semester. If a student does not demonstrate active participation in the online course within the first two
weeks (or the equivalent proportion of class time during a short session), the student will be dropped as
“never attended.” Simply logging into an online class does not constitute active participation.
Students should be aware that their dropping a course and their last date of attendance in the course
may impact their financial aid. (Policy Handbook I.090 and M.095)
We will think, act, and react as a community of learners and writers. In order to do this, everyone must
attend on a regular basis. In connection with attending, listening and participating in class are essential
ingredients of active learning.
In my view, the 25% of the class periods that can be missed represent a fair number of absences, so I
do not consider excuses. In other words, there is no such thing as an unexcused or an excused absence.
If you do find it necessary to miss a class period, it will be your sole responsibility to find out what you
will miss or missed. I will not track you down and tell you, nor will your lack of knowledge constitute
a good reason to turn in late work.
Tardiness:
If you plan to come to class, plan to come on time. I will take roll once at the beginning of class. In
the event that you are unable to arrive on time, please quietly take your seat. You will be counted
absent for that class period unless you see me after class and ask me to adjust the attendance record.
Make-up and late work: Class work cannot be made up and will not be accepted late regardless of
the reason for the tardiness or absence. Your portfolio will be due during the last week of class.
Extra-credit work: None
Schedule of Student Assignments/Activities:
Week 1:
Introduction to Course
Introduction to Argument
Introduction to Creative Non-Fiction
Week 2:
Creative Non-Fiction
Peer Read Creative Non-Fiction
Week 3:
Conferences
Week 4:
Research Techniques
Week 5:
Research Techniques
Peer Read Source Reviews
Week 6:
The Core of an Argument
The Logical Structure of Arguments
An Introduction to Types of Claims
Week 7:
Causal Argument
Peer Read Causal Arguments
Week 8:
Resemblance Arguments
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MACC Catalog #LAL 102
CIP #23.0440112
Revised/Effective: May 2012
(Updates: AD April 2013, Text July 2013)
Week 9:
Week 10:
Week 11:
Week 12:
Week 13:
Week 14:
Week 15:
Week 16:
Peer Read Resemblance Arguments
Conferences
Evaluation Arguments
Peer Read Evaluation Arguments
Proposal Arguments
Proposal Arguments
Peer Read Proposal Arguments
Ethical Arguments
Peer Read Ethical Arguments
Peer Read
Peer Read
Portfolio Due
ADA Statement
Students who have disabilities that qualify under the Americans with Disabilities Act may register for
assistance through the Office of Access and ADA Services. Students are invited to contact the Access
Office to confidentially discuss disability information, academic accommodations, appropriate
documentation and procedures. For more information, please call either the Moberly office at (660)
263-4100 x 11240 or the Columbia office at (573) 234-1067 x 12120, or visit our web page at
http://www.macc.edu/index.php/services/access-office.
Title IX Statement
MACC maintains a strict policy prohibiting sexual misconduct in any form, including sexual
harassment, sexual discrimination, and sexual violence. All MACC employees, including faculty
members, are considered mandated reporters of sexual misconduct and as such are expected to contact
the Title IX Coordinator when they become aware, in conversation or in writing, of an incident of
sexual misconduct. For more information on this policy or to learn about support resources, please see
http://www.macc.edu/sexual-misconduct-policy or contact Dr. Jackie Fischer, MACC’s Title IX
Coordinator, at 660-263-4110, ext. 11236 or jackief@macc.edu.
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