College of Arts, Letters and Social Sciences                                Spring 2011

ENGL 111- 011, 012: First Year Composition II  (3,0)                         3 Credits

Prerequisites:    A grade of C or higher in ENGL110.

Instructor(s): 

• Robert G. Cooper,  BA, B Ed,  M Ed

• Library Room 308

• 906-635-2327 or 705-945-8165

• rcooper@lssu.edu

 Class Meeting Times:  

• ENGL111-011:  TR 2:00 – 3:20  -  CAS 123

• ENGL111-012:  TR 3:30 – 4:50  -  CAS 123

   Office Hours:   By appointment, and ... 

Required Texts:      Ballenger, R.  The Curious Researcher.  6/E  Boston: Pearson, 2000.

                   Recommended Texts:  Hacker, D.  A Writer's Reference.  2011 or any edition.

              A good Dictionary

Course Description:

           "First Year Composition II prepares students for the complex demands of academic literacy and research.  These require the students to be able to critically observe personal and public knowledge; ask questions of reading and research; formulate hypotheses; design and conduct research projects, both in the library  and in the field; and identify further avenues of inquiry.  To help students develop these abilities the course also teaches students the basic skills of analysis, interpretation, critical thinking and documentation.  Required course work includes completion of an extended research project.”   

Course Objectives: 

Upon completion of EN111 students should be able to produce research essays and reports that are free of grammatical, mechanical, and syntactical errors, that are well researched organized, interesting, and appropriate in style and format for academic and professional writing.

ENGL111 Outcomes

Rhetorical Knowledge
By the end of ENGL111, students should be able to do the following:

• Understand their role as participants in written and verbal discourse, utilizing a variety of rhetorical strategies appropriate to work within specific disciplines, fields, and occupations.

• Establish a clear purpose for writing and develop strategies that sustain that purpose throughout a comprehensive, research-driven project.

• Combine and apply multiple modes of discourse to develop research and communicate expertise.

Critical Thinking, Reading, and Writing
By the end of ENGL111, students should be able to do the following:

• Incorporate into the writing process the finding, evaluating, analyzing, and synthesizing of appropriate primary and secondary sources.

• Engage with other writers, from peers to published authors, to understand writing and reading as dialogues between people who possess differing ideas, beliefs, and values.

• Develop abilities of analysis and evaluation to assess the rhetorical strategies and logic of their own thinking and that of others.

Processes
By the end of ENGL111, students should be able to do the following:

• Work through multiple drafts to create and complete a successful text.

• Develop flexible strategies for generating, revising, editing, and proof-reading.

• Practice writing as an ongoing process that allows writers to use later invention and re-thinking to revise their work.

• Critique their own and others' works.

• Employ the collaborative and social aspects of writing processes, i.e., learn to balance the advantages of relying on others with the responsibility of doing their part

Knowledge of Conventions
By the end of ENGL111, students should be able to do the following:

·         Incorporate patterns of organization (e.g. process, compare/contrast, cause/effect) within a research project, understanding how structure and form shape data and information.

·         Practice the methods of inquiry and citation expected of university-level writing; understand how to use those methods within specific disciplines, fields, or occupations.

·         Develop their understanding of the functions of syntax, grammar, punctuation and spelling; build upon a rule-based understanding of grammar to develop a meaning-based understanding of how mechanics contribute to expression and style.

General Education Objectives:

ENGL110 and ENGL111 together fulfill the English portion of the General Education Outcome for "Communication."  The English portion of that outcome is as follows:

Upon graduation, LSSU students will be able to analyze, develop, and produce rhetorically complex texts.

Grading Scale and Policies:

Point Values: 

·         Assignments             30%

·         Attendance               05%

·         Participation              05%

·         Major Essays            40%

·         Exam                          20%

Grading Scale:  Please note that a grade of 60% is required to successfully complete this class.

Ground Rules:

1.    Completing assignments on time and keeping up with the class material is important for success in this course and in college.  Late assignments will not be accepted except for legitimate pre-approved reasons as determined by the instructor.  Examples of legitimate reasons are:  severe illness, death in family, etc.

2.    Students are expected to perform all assigned work themselves.  Any form of cheating or plagiarism will be handled in accordance with the Honor Code Procedures.  Violations of the Honor Code may result in an F for the course grade.

3.    Use of head phones, cell phones and hats during exams is prohibited.

4.    Cell phones must be turned off for all class and lab sessions.  If the cell phone is on and rings, the student will be asked to leave the class for the day and this will count as an absence.

5.    Attend all classroom sessions.

6.    Complete all reading and assignments before class.

7.    Ask questions if you do not understand anything.

8.    Attend all classroom sessions. 

University Policies and Statements:

            The Americans with Disabilities Act & Accommodations

 In compliance with Lake Superior State University policies and equal access laws, disability-related accommodations or services are available to students with documented disabilities.

 If you are a student with a disability and you think you may require accommodations you must register with Disability Services (DS), which is located in the KJS Library, Room 130, (906) 635-2355 or x2355 on campus.  DS will provide you with a letter of confirmation of your verified disability and authorize recommended accommodations.  This authorization must be presented to your instructor before any accommodations can be made.

 Students who desire such services should meet with instructors in a timely manner, preferably during the first week of class, to discuss individual disability related needs. Any student who feels that an accommodation is needed – based on the impact of a disability – should meet with instructors privately to discuss specific needs.

 IPASS (Individual Plan for Academic Student Success)

 If at mid-term your grades reflect that you are at risk for failing some or all of your classes, you will be contacted by a representative of IPASS. The IPASS program is designed to help you gain control over your learning through pro-active communication and goal-setting, the development of intentional learning skills and study habits, and personal accountability. You may contact 635-2887 or email ipass@lssu.edu if you would like to sign up early in the semester or if you have any questions or concerns.

 HONOR PLEDGE

 As a student of Lake Superior State University, you have pledged to support the Student Honor Code of the College of Engineering & Technology.  You will refrain from any form of academic dishonesty or deception such as cheating, stealing, plagiarism or lying on take‑home assignments, homework, computer programs, lab reports, quizzes, tests or exams which are Honor Code violations.  Furthermore, you understand and accept the potential consequences of punishable behavior.  

            Writing Lab Services

Take charge and learn to express yourself by visiting the Writing Lab in the Learning Centre, located on the lower floor of the Library. The Writing Lab instructor will work with you on a one-to-one basis, helping you work through all writing-related issues in a variety of disciplines. The goal is to help students generate, organize, revise and improve their writing. The Writing Lab instructor will look at work at any stage of the writing process. You can go to the Lab to talk out ideas for a paper, or to clarify a thesis statement, or to restructure an essay, or to help identify awkward sentence structure and word choice.

Tentative Course Outline - ENGL111

              Note that the order and length of course content will vary depending on the perceived need of the students.    

Topical Outline for ENGL111         (3 credits)     % of time spent

 ·       Research Theory                                                    11

·         Topic and Question                                                13

·         Researching                                                           16

·         Reading Instruction                                                 01

·         Interviewing/Surveying                                            04

·         Using Sources                                                        14

·         Writing Instruction                                                   07

·         Revising Instruction and Practice                            07

·         Formatting                                                               01

·         Thinking Skills, Epistemology                                  14

·         Student Presentations                                             07

·         Testing                                                                     05

                                                                 Total                      100%