*ENGLISH 1102: ENGLISH COMPOSITION II
(3 CREDITS)
What you need to know about this course, including goals and objectives –
1. It is designed to advance skills acquired in English 1101 while
emphasizing argumentation and research writing. Further
mastery of MLA style is required.
2. It emphasizes the application of rhetorical knowledge in more
challenging writing situations. You’ll need to demonstrate your
own credibility as a writer in the way you address the rhetorical
elements of purpose, audience, and tone.
3. It emphasizes persuasive writing. You’ll need to show an
understanding of the key elements of an argument – claims,
reasons, evidence, counter-arguments, and appeals – and be
able to apply that understanding in your own writings.
4. It emphasizes critical thinking in the context of complex reading
and writings tasks. For example, you’ll be expected to analyze,
interpret, and critique arguments written by others, including
professionals and your peers. As you construct and compose
your own arguments, you’ll also be expected to analyze potential
sources to determine their relevance and credibility.
5. It emphasizes writing as a process in the context of more
challenging writing tasks. For example, you’ll be expected to
practice a variety of process strategies as you complete a
research project, such as pre-writing strategies for narrowing a
topic or proofreading strategies for making sure you are
documenting sources according to MLA guidelines.
6. It continues to emphasize collaboration. You will be expected to
effectively work with others to improve writing (you own writing
as well as writings shared by your peers) and to accomplish
relevant tasks that have been assigned as group activities or
projects.
7. It continues to emphasize knowledge of conventions –
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You’ll be expected to independently proofread your own
work and present writings that are free from errors in
grammar, spelling, punctuation, and capitalization.
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You’ll be expected to pay detailed attention to general
rules for formatting according to MLA style, such as rules
for line spacing, indentation, font style and size selections,
the offering of a heading and a title, etc.
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You’ll be expected to pay detailed attention to rules for
documenting the use of sources according to MLA style,
such as rules for providing in-text, parenthetical citations
and a Works Cited page.
8. It emphasizes composing and conducting research in electronic
environments. You must demonstrate an understanding of the
role that media and technology play when composing and
presenting written texts and apply that knowledge to your own
writings. You’ll also be expected to demonstrate the ability to
use electronic environments for locating and obtaining sources
that are appropriate to college level research. For example, you
must demonstrate an ability to use OhioLINK, including its
library catalog, its research databases, and its reference
materials, for the purpose of locating and obtaining sources.
9. You’ll be expected to produce a minimum of 5,000 words
(roughly 20 total pages of written work) and complete a variety
of writing assignments, including at least one research project.
Approximately 80% of a final grade will be determined based on
grades for writing assignments.
Topics you can expect to be covered in this course will include but may not
be limited to the following –
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How to define and address different rhetorical situations by
considering purpose, audience, tone.
How to explain and use the elements of argumentation.
How to identify and narrow topics appropriate to college level
research.
How to generate and state research questions.
How to generate keywords.
How to identify resources for research, such as library catalogs and
databases, internet sites, and surveys, and interviews.
How to access and navigate OPASS and OhioLINK.
How to locate and evaluate print and electronic sources.
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How to read and extract information from sources.
How to select direct quotations and paraphrase and summarize
source material.
How to synthesize and organize information and ideas.
How to avoid plagiarism.
How to use MLA guidelines to format in-text, parenthetical
citations; a Works Cited page; and papers and essays.
Expect class time to be devoted but not limited to the following kinds of
activities –
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Lectures: for example, your instructor may offer a lecture on
the elements of argumentation.
Small group or whole class projects or activities: for example,
you may be assigned to a small group charged with the task of
locating sources for a potential research topic and explaining in
a presentation to the whole class the process of locating and
evaluating the group’s selections.
Writing workshops: for example, your instructor may organize
an in-class workshop where you will draft an outline for your
research paper.
Conferences: for example, your instructor may engage in oneon-one mini-conferencing to discuss your progress on an
assignment or project.
Videos or lab activities: for example, your instructor may show
the class a video that models generating keywords or may
arrange time in a computer lab for the purpose of conducting
research on OhioLINK.
You will be expected to come to each class meeting prepared and upto-date with readings and assignments and ready to participate in a
positive and constructive manner.
Course work you’ll complete to demonstrate the goals you have achieved
may include but may not be limited to –
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A research project, to include the following assignments: a research
proposal, an annotated bibliography, a set of notecards, an outline, a
rough draft, and a final paper.
Essays, specifically arguments: argumentative essays will require the
use of sources.
Presentations, which may be based on a group project or individual
activity.
Tests, which may include reading quizzes.
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Participation, which may include participation in peer-editing sessions
or other in-class activities.
Here’s a sample sketch outline to indicate the pace you can expect on a
weekly basis from this class –
WEEK 01:
o Course overview.
o Review of English 1101 fundamentals.
o Introduction to the Reflection Essay Assignment (in class
activities to define the rhetorical situation and to analyze a
sample reflection).
Readings to be covered: pgs. 3 – 15 (Rhetorical Situations); 211 – 214
(Writing as Inquiry); 219 – 225 (Generating Ideas and Texts); 261 – 271
(Beginnings & Endings); 272 – 277 (Guiding the Reader); 180 – 187
(Reflections).
WEEK 02:
o In class activities and pre-writings to address the Reflection
Essay Assignment.
o Reflection Essay Rough Draft Due (peer-editing workshop).
Readings to be covered: 215 - 218 (Collaborating); 226 - 228 (Drafting);
229 – 234 (Assessing Your Own Writing); 235 – 241 (Getting Response and
Revising); and 242 – 246 (Editing & Proofreading).
WEEK 03:
o Revision strategies discussed and demonstrated.
o Reflection Essay Assignment due.
o Introduction to the Argumentative Essay Assignment (the
elements of argumentation and using sources to support an
argument).
o Introduction to the OhioLINK database, Academic Search
Complete.
o Conducting a basic keyword search.
Readings to be covered: 83 – 111 (Arguing a Position); 283 – 299 (Arguing).
WEEK 04:
o Analyzing an argument (in class examination of a sample
argument).
o In class activities and pre-writings to address the Argumentative
Essay Assignment.
o Introduction to the OhioLink Library Catalog and an OhioLINK
reference database.
o Introduction to quoting, paraphrasing & summarizing.
Readings to be covered: 384 – 394 (Finding Sources); 400 – 403
(Evaluating Sources); 408 – 419 (Quoting, Paraphrasing & Summarizing).
How you’ll be graded in this course –
Writing assignments must account for no less than 80% of a final
grade. This is the grading scale used for this course:
A – 90% and above
B – 80 – 89%
C – 70 – 79%
D – 60 – 69%
F – 50 – 00%
* This is not an official English Department document. In this document, I
have restated what I feel to be the most important information that appears
on the department’s official syllabus for English 1102. (Cathy LaParl)