Lake-Sumter Community College Course Syllabus

1 Lake-Sumter Community College Course Syllabus Course / Prefix Number ENC 2300 Course Title: COMPOSITION: ARGUMENTATION CRN: 10272 Credit: 3 Term: Fall 2011 Course Catalog Description: This course builds upon the expository skills acquired in the composition sequence, but focuses on argumentation with emphasis placed on logical development of ideas. In addition to written exposition, the course includes a substantive unit on oral skills and oral communication. One or more papers require significant research, and at least one oral presentation will be required. Instructor: Kristina Van Amerongen Contact Information: vanamerk@lscc.edu 217-508-2530 Office Hours: By appointment All students are required to use LakerMail for official college e-mail communications. See the college webpage for instructions on activating LakerMail. Prerequisites: C OR HIGHER IN ENC 1102 Co-requisites: NONE Textbook and Other Course Materials: Technology and Online Computer Access Requirements: Course Objectives: (what the course will do) Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs) Assessed in this Course: (what the students take with them beyond this course) Argument!(Ed. Messenger, Gooch, & Seyler, 2011) The Little, Brown Compact Handbook, Seventh Edition (recommended) Flash/Jump drive Planner or Assignment Notebook Optional, but recommended. Papers must be written using Word 2003/2007/2010; online research required. Students will understand the methodology and philosophy of ethical persuasive arguments. Students will write coherent persuasive arguments, one of which will be a research paper. The essays will be free of distracting errors in grammar, mechanics and spelling. Students will also develop skills in oral communication. select topics which can be argued convincingly in a short essay write an essay with a clear argumentative purpose formulate a thesis statement which reflects that purpose write unified prose in which supporting material is relevant to the assertion made by the thesis statement select supporting details which reflect the ability to distinguish between general and concrete evidence organize the main ideas and supporting details in a pattern appropriate to the assignment write coherently, employing appropriate transitions and repeating key terms which are consistent with the organization and purpose of their essays support arguments with facts, examples, analogies, inductive and deductive reasoning, and the testimony of experts 1

2 Academic Integrity: Important Information for Students with Disabilities: anticipate opposing arguments and either concede or refute them recognize fallacies in what they read and avoid them in their own writing recognize emotional appeals in reading and employ them properly in their own writing develop oral communication skills through a variety of communication assignments, one of which will be a major presentation use effective word choice, including correct denotative and connotative words which support the persuasive goal; avoidance of slang, jargon, clichés, and pretentious expressions; avoidance of wordiness use conventional sentence structure, including correct placement of modifiers; appropriate coordination and subordination of sentence elements; appropriate parallelism; avoidance of fragments, commas splices, and fused sentences use effective sentence structure, including use of a variety of structures; avoidance of unnecessary use of passive construction; avoidance of awkward construction The successful functioning of the academic community demands honesty, which is the basis of respect for both ideas and persons. In the academic community, there is an ongoing assumption of academic integrity at all levels. There is the expectation that work will be independently thoughtful and responsible as to its sources of information and inspiration. Honesty is an appropriate consideration in other ways as well, including but not limited to the responsible use of library resources, responsible conduct in examinations, and the responsible use of the Internet. (See college catalog for complete statement.) Any student with a documented disability who requires assistance or academic accommodations should contact the Office for Students with Disabilities immediately to discuss eligibility. The Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD) is located on the Leesburg Campus, but arrangements can be made to meet with a student on any campus. An appointment can be made by calling 352-365-3574 and specific information about the OSD and potential services can be found at www.lscc.edu, then go to Quick Links and click on Disability Services. Privacy Policy (FERPA): Attendance / Withdrawal Policies: The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) (20 U.S.C. 1232g; 34 CFR Part99) is a Federal law that protects the privacy of a student s education records. In order for your information to be released, a form must be signed and in your records located in the Admissions/Registrar s Office. Class meets twice a week. Students are to miss no more than three (3) classes before their grade becomes penalized. Starting on the 4 th absence, student grade will be reduced by 10% per class period missed. Two (2) tardies = one (1) absence. * Students deciding to discontinue class attendance have the responsibility for formal withdrawal from class prior to the date published in the catalog, October 31, 2011. Withdrawal forms are available from the counseling center. Failure to withdraw properly from class will result in a grade of F in the course. Be advised that this course fulfills the Gordon Rule Writing requirements and failure to submit any of the primary or secondary writing assignments will result in a failing grade for the course. *A tardy is classified by being more than seven (7) minutes late to class. It will your responsibility to inform me you arrived in class after class. Withdrawal Deadline: Monday, October 31, 2011 2

3 Methods of Evaluation: Grading Scale: Course Calendar: Classroom Rules and Policies: 5%: Reading Quizzes & In Class Writings 10%: Annotated Bibliography 10%: Citation Worksheet & Quiz 20%: Argument Essay Assignments 30%: Final Research Essay 10%: Oral Presentation of Final Research Project 15%: Final in class Exam Percentages: A = 90 100; B = 80 89; C = 70 79; D = 60 69; F = 59 0 Note that this is a Gordon Rule class with a required oral component and failure to hand in any of the primary or secondary writing assignments or an oral presentation will result in a failing grade for that assignment AND for the course. Refer to Rules and Policies for specific assignment criteria. Assignments Due Date/Time Annotated Bibliography (8 entries/100 words each) September 15 th by 10:00 p.m. Draft of Argument #1 (Min. 800 words) September 27 th by 10:00 p.m. Peer Review of Argument #1 October 6 th by 10:00 p.m. Final Submission of Argument #1 (Min. 800 words) October 13 th by 10:00 p.m. Draft of Argument #2 (Min. 800 words) November 1 th by 10:00 p.m. Peer Review of Argument #2 November 10 th by 10:00 p.m. Final Submission of Argument #2 (Min. 800 words) November 15 th by 10:00 p.m. In Class Oral Presentations on Research Nov. 22 nd, 29 th, & Dec. 1st Presentation Material hard copy to Instructor By Dec. 1 st Draft of Final Argument Research Project November 22 rd by 10:00 p.m. Peer Review of Final Argument Research Project November 30 th by 10:00 p.m. Final Submission of Argument Research Project December 1 st by 10:00 p.m. (1000-1500 words with a minimum of 5 sources) NO EXCEPTIONS *Look for specific details and related assignments at end of Syllabus. Classroom Etiquette: While class is in session, students will listen attentively, take notes, and take measures to insure they do not interfere with the ability of their classmates to do the same. This means specifically no side conversations with neighbors going on simultaneously with classroom activities/discussion. No cell phones should be audible, ever. If you have an emergency situation, you need to alert the instructor prior to class, keep your phone on vibrate only, and sit close to a door so that you can exit if needed without distracting others. Texting is prohibited in the classroom environment. CAUTION: Texting = Absence. Students caught texting may or may not be notified by the professor; however, those students will lose all points accumulated for that day s assignments, including essay points, should one be due. Thus, it is possible for a student to attend every class, do every assignment, and receive a zero in the class because he or she chose to text daily rather than participate in class discussion/activities. Food and drinks. Students may have a beverage in class provided they can drink it unobtrusively and clean up after class. 3

4 Violence Statement: Syllabus Disclaimer: Discussion: In a classroom environment, students should take turns speaking and listen respectfully while others speak. Every member of this class is entitled to his or her own opinion, and all opinions should be respected as well as respectful. Students should phrase comments and critical remarks (written or oral) in constructive, nonjudgmental terms. Lake-Sumter Community College has a policy of zero tolerance for violence as stated in College Board Rule 2.17. Appropriate disciplinary action will be taken in accordance with Board Rule 2.17. Information contained in this syllabus is, to the best knowledge of this instructor, considered correct and complete when distributed to the student. The instructor reserves the right, acting within policies and procedures of Lake-Sumter Community College, to make necessary changes in course content or instructional techniques without prior notice or obligation to the student. Fall 2011 ENC 2300 Composition: Argument Schedule, Readings & Due dates* Tuesday, August 23 rd Course and Syllabus Intro. RESEARCH ASSIGNMENT: Bring a full-page(s) color advertisement from a magazine of choice to class on Tuesday, August 30 th Classmate Interview Thursday, August 25 th Turn in Syllabus quiz from Instructor website Present Classmate and turn in typed report. Week of August 30 th Week 2 Argument! Chapter 1:Reading Arguments With a Critical Eye (3-21) Hmwk: Chptr 1 Exercise 1-5 (15) Argument! Chapter 2:Responding Critically to the Arguments of Others (23-45) Pathos handout on website Hmwk: Chptr 2 Connect (43) Week of September 6 th Week 3 Argument! Chapter 3:The Basics of Argument (46-65) Key points: pp 58-59 & 62-63 Select topic for annotated bibliography and Argument Essay #1 Argument! Chapter 14:The Myth and Reality of the Image in American Consumer Culture (255-269) Ethos handout on website Little Brown Handbook pp 377-379 Trip to Library Bring Library card Week of September 13 th Week 4 4

5 Argument! Chapter 4: Writing Effective Arguments (67-85) Argument! Chapter 5:More About Argument: Induction, Deduction, Analogy, and Logical Fallacies (87-103) Argument! Chapter 13: Documenting Sources (226-235, MLA style only) MLA Works Cited Quiz Annotated Bibliography by Thurs @ 10:00 p.m. Week of September 20 th Week 5 Argument! Chapter 6:The Refutation Essay (106-113) Argument Essay #1 Proposal due Tues @ 10:00pm Argument! Chapter 15:The Challenges of Living in a High-tech, Multimedia World (272-286) Logos handout on website Week of September 27 th Week 6 Argument! Chapter7: The Position Essay (120-133) Discussion? s pp 116 Argument! Chapter 16: Violent Media or Violent Society? (290-300) Plagiarism & Quote Integration handout on website Draft of Argument Essay #1 by Thurs @ 10:00pm. Week of October 4 rd Week 7 Argument! Chapter 8: The Causal Essay (136-148) Peer review due by Thurs @ 5pm. Argument! Chapter 17: America in the Age of Obama (304-319) Knowing Your Audience PPT on website Week of October 11 th Week 8 Argument! Chapter 9: The Problem/Solution Essay (136-148) Argument! Chapter 18: Chapter Students, Teachers, and Schools in the 21 st Century (322-334) Final Submission of Argument #1 due Thursday @ 10:00 p.m. Week of October 18 th Week 9 Argument! Chapter 10: Planning the Research Argument (164-184) Proposal for Argument #2 Due in class on Tuesday Argument! Chapter 19: Freedom of Expression in the 21 st Century (338-353) Week of October 25 th Week 10 Argument! Chapter 11: Evaluating and Utilizing Sources (188-199) Hmwk: pp 199 CONNECT ~ Due Thurs in class. Argument! Chapter 20: Enduring Controversies (354-370) Hmwk: pp 370 Reasoning and Analysis #1, 2, or 3 Pick only one. ~ Due Thurs in class Week of November 1 st Week 11 5

6 Argument! Chapter 12:Drafting and Revising the Researched Argument (188-199) Draft of Argument #2 due by Tuesday @ 10:00 p.m. Argument! Chapter 21: Marriage and Gender Roles (373-385) Week of November 8 th Week 12 Argument! Chapter 22: Arguing About Science (387-399) Peer Review of Argument #2 due by Thursday @ 10:00 p.m. Week of November 15 th Week 13 Argument! Chapter 23: Competing Perspectives on the American Economic and Financial Crisis (402-411) LBH: pp125-129 Oral Presentation Final Draft of Argument Essay #2 due Tuesday @ 10:00pm Finalize any equipment needed for presentations on research material: Tues by end of class. Week of November 22 nd Week 14 Oral Presentations of Final Argument Research Project (8-10 Minutes) Draft of Final Argument Research Essay Tuesday @ 10:00 p.m. November 24, 2011 ~ HAPPY THANKSGIVING! Week of November 29 th Week 15 Oral Presentations of Final Argument Research Project (8-10 Minutes) Peer Review of Final Argument Research Presentation by Tuesday @ 11:00 p.m. FINAL Argument Research Essay by Thursday @ 10:00 p.m. Week of December 5 th Week 16 Final exam: December 8 @ 10:00-11:55am. All email submitted essays MUST be accompanied by an email granting me permission to return commented Essays. If permission is not granted, you may NOT submit electronically without prior Instructor approval at least 12 hrs before deadline. Non-essay documents submitted online will be marked in Instructor grade book and student will be given a slip of paper with grade printed on it. If student wishes to receive comments on non-essay documents, they must be submitted in hard copy form. 6