College of Southern Maryland Languages and Literature Master Syllabus for English Composition Courses Composition and Non-Fiction ENG /2/13

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1 College of Southern Maryland Languages and Literature Master Syllabus for English Composition Courses Composition and Non-Fiction ENG /2/13 This Master Syllabus is not to be confused with individual course syllabi, which may vary in specifics such as required texts or topic schedules, depending on individual instructor or specific semester. It is recommended that individual syllabus also include sections on policies pertaining to Attendance, Accommodation of Documented Disabilities, Course Audit, and Academic Integrity. Class Hours: 3.0 Credit Hours: 3 Catalog Course Description: Students in this course complete their second semester college-level composition course. Using critical analysis of non-fiction prose, students build on the planning, organizing, and critical analysis skills learned in ENG-1010, Composition and Rhetoric. Students use non-fiction prose, including historical and contemporary essays, newspaper and magazine articles and features, advertising and promotional copy, and scripts. Students use non-fiction prose as the basis of their critical analysis and to extend, deepen, and illuminate students own experiences and connections with the larger world and contemporary issues. Students further master the conventions of written Standard American English, information literacy skills, and research and documentation techniques including conducting online and print research and documenting sources. By the end of the semester, students demonstrate their ability to write a unified, coherent argument-based essay of about one thousand words that is nearly free of grammatical, mechanical, and structural errors. Instructional Delivery Methods: This course may be taught by classroom by lecture or in a computer-assisted format or by online format. Entry Level Skills (Skills Expected of Incoming Students): Students should have the ability to: Read and comprehend required college-level textbooks. Write complete sentences. Write an understandable five paragraph essay of at least 1000 words that is largely grammatically correct. Possess basic keyboarding and computer skills needed to produced typed documents in MLA format. Prerequisites: ENG 1010 or equivalent 1

2 Special Skills and Materials Needed to Complete the Course: Current textbooks selected by the division Current software selected by the division Grading Standards for College Papers Grading Standards for College Papers Rubric Possess basic keyboarding and computer skills needed to produced typed documents in MLA format. Course Objectives: At the conclusion of this course, students should be able to organize and write an essay analyzing specific aspects of non-fiction prose. The essay contains a carefully defined, limited thesis that is supported with evidence from non-fiction prose. The writing reflects an understanding and an appreciation of non-fiction prose taken from historical and contemporary essays; journal, magazine, and newspaper articles, and biographies and autobiographies. Extra Credit: Extra credit must meet the following requirements: The availability of extra credit must be stated on the syllabus. Extra credit opportunities must be made available to all students. Extra credit must include a writing assignment that supports student learning course outcomes and held to the Grading Standards for College Papers. Extra credit can be worth no more than 5% of the final grade. Outline of Topics Outline of topics for this course include: 1. Find a purpose and plan a. Determine the goal or purpose of writing b. Identify and analyze the audience c. Decide what information needs to be gathered d. Identify possible sources e. Plan writing steps and schedule time accordingly 2. Gather information a. Gather information from self 1) Generate information using invention strategies such as free writing, brainstorming, listing, mapping 2) Choose information relevant to the purpose b. Gather information through careful reading of non-fiction prose 1) Identify dominant impressions or themes 2) Identify non-fiction elements that create impression or support a theme or thesis 2

3 c. Gather information from other people (e.g., personal interviews, surveys, discussions, lectures) 1) Prepare for interaction with others 2) Record information accurately d. Gather information from print, non-print, and electronic sources 1). Use library resources and online resources to find appropriate material 2) Recognize key ideas and discern relevant supporting evidence 3) Take notes systematically, accurately, and efficiently e. Establish accuracy of information and reliability of sources 1) Distinguish between reliable and unreliable sources 2). Establish accuracy and reliability of information 3). Evaluate validity of material by distinguishing between facts, inferences, and judgments, and by recognizing logical fallacies 3. Express Information in written form a. Organize information 1) Identify main ideas and connections between ideas 2) Prioritize information to create outline or draft b. Construct coherent written work 1) Decide on format for information a) Develop thesis statement b) Include necessary and relevant supporting evidence c) Integrate and document source material correctly 2) Create coherence and maintain unity a) Develop topic sentences that flow from the thesis b) Use transitional words and phrases c) Use key words 3) Build effective sentences c. Respond to and revise writing 1) Give feedback about others' writing through peer reviews, where appropriate. 2) Listen to and evaluate others' responses to own writing 3) Incorporate others' responses into draft 4) Look critically at own papers, checking for adequate supporting evidence and unity d. Proofread for mechanical errors 1) Identify errors in grammar, spelling, and punctuation 3

4 2) Check corrections for accuracy 3) Prepare finished written work in acceptable format consistent with the principles of academic integrity e. Apply Modern Language Association (MLA) methods for the following: 1) In-text citations (i.e., parenthetical references) 2) Works Cited 3) Format Learning Activities and Instructional Delivery 1. Essays writing (usually words) 2. Reading text book materials and other appropriate materials written by students and professional writers 3. Lecture and discussion 4. Group activities 5. Grammar, punctuation, and sentence mechanics exercises, as needed 6. Quizzes, tests, and exams 7. Viewing and listening to multimedia presentations about writers, their work, and their literary backgrounds 8. Attending Connections reading series and author roundtables discussion, attending collegesponsored plays or plays provided by local, national, and international theater groups and organizations Student Learning Course Outcomes: Upon completion of the course, student should: 1. Write, revise, edit and proof-read an essay of approximately 1000 words that reflects an understanding and an appreciation of non-fiction prose. 2. Locate, peruse, and evaluate supporting evidence from print and online sources, when outside research is included in the assignment. 3. Incorporate supporting evidence through direct and indirect quotation, paraphrasing, and summarizing. 4. Provide an accurate parenthetical references and works cited. Student Evaluation Requirements: 1. Seventy-five percent of the final course grade must derive from grades on essays and other formal writing assignments. Students should write a minimum of 4,000 total words on completed papers. This amount does not include drafts or informal, ungraded assignments. Essay assignments must be evaluated using the Grading Standards for College Papers (for classes taught in BlackBoard students can be directed to a posted electronic version). 4

5 The grading standards rubric must be distributed to students with the syllabus on the first night of class (for classes taught in BlackBoard or students can be directed to a posted electronic version). 2. Additional assignments to those listed above may be chosen by the instructor and can include the following: a. Students may be required to submit their essay draft to one of the following online tutorial and plagiarism detection services: Smarthinking, Thinking Storm, or an alternate tutoring vendor contracted by CSM Blackboard Learning Platform SafeAssign. b. Students may be required to practice grammar, punctuation, sentence mechanics, and editing skills necessary for them to proofread their writing effectively. Late Assignment Policy Instructors are encouraged to assign a grade of zero to any essay which is not submitted within 7 days of the due date. No late penalty can include automatic failure of the course for missing assignments. Instructors must discuss late penalties with their coordinator and/or mentor. Core Learning Areas The Core Learning Areas represent a common body of skills and knowledge to which all graduates with associate s degrees should be exposed and for which the college may determine certain levels of competency which will be assessed through the general education curriculum. 9. Develop complex topics with a rhetorical purpose. 12. Deploy grammar and mechanics of standard written English. 13. Use complex syntax and varied sentence structure. 14. Incorporate correctly cited materials. 30. Defend a reasonable position. 31. Analyze other points of view. 5