Lake-Sumter Community College Course Syllabus Course / Prefix Number ENC 2300 Course Title: COMPOSITION: ARGUMENTATION CRN: 10460 Credit: 3 Term: Fall 2010 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: Danielle Reites Contact Information: reitesd@lscc.edu Office phone: 352-536-2263 Office Location: South Lake, Building 2, Room 230 Office Hours: Mondays and Wednesdays 9:30-11:00; Tuesdays and Thursdays 9:30-11:00 and 2:00-4:00 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 Textbook and Other Course Materials: 1. Hatch, Gary. Arguing in Communities 3 rd ed. Boston: McGraw Hill, 2003. 2. Aaron, Jane E. The Little, Brown Compact Handbook with Exercises 7 th ed. New York: Longman, 2009. Technology and Online Computer Access Requirements: I check my reitesd@lscc.edu e-mail daily (not Blackboard) during the work week (M-F). Whenever I receive student work, I will reply with a confirmation email saying I received it. During the work week, I will reply to emails within a 24 hour period. All emails to my work email should include the course name and section number in the email for identification purposes. Emails sent within Blackboard do not need this information, though I will try to respond to all emails, at least verifying that I received them. Students are expected to be able to communicate through an active LSCC e-mail account and, because this is a hybrid class, access the Internet for much of the coursework.
Course Objectives: 1. Select topics which can be argued convincingly in a short essay 2. Identify a specific audience for their writing 3. Determine major values and beliefs of a specific audience 4. Compose appropriate rhetorical contexts 5. Conduct primary and secondary research (Internet, library, and scholarly) 6. Write an essay with a clear argumentative purpose 7. Compose effective thesis statements 8. Compose effective and relevant topic sentences 9. Support arguments with facts, examples, analogies, inductive and deductive reasoning, and the testimony of experts. 10. Organize the main ideas and supporting details in a pattern appropriate to the expository purpose 11. Write coherently, employing appropriate transitions and repeating key terms which are consistent with the organization and purpose of their essays 12. Compose effective conclusions 13. Cite sources in-text and on a Works Cited page 14. Smoothly integrate sources through summary, paraphrase, and direct quotation 15. Avoid plagiarism in their summaries, paraphrases, and direct quotations 16. Anticipate opposing arguments and either concede or refute them 17. Recognize fallacies in what they read and avoid them in their own writing 18. Recognize emotional, ethical, and logical appeals in what they read and employ them properly in their own writing 19. Develop oral communication skills through a variety of communication assignments 20. 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. 21. 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. 22. Use effective sentence structure, including use of a variety of sentence structures; avoidance of unnecessary use of passive construction; avoidance of awkward construction. 23. Avoid major grammatical and mechanical errors. Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs) Assessed in this Course: Outcome: The students will compose essays with clear argumentative purpose. Competencies: The students will express their argumentative purpose clearly in an effectively worded argumentative thesis and will support their arguments with relevant facts, examples, analogies, inductive and deductive reasoning, and testimony of experts. The students will anticipate opposing arguments and either conceded or refute them. Outcome: The student will recognize logical fallacies and emotional appeals in what they read and write. Competencies: The students will employ effective word choice including appropriate denotation and connotation in direct support of the persuasive goal, avoiding logical fallacies and inappropriate emotional appeals. Outcome: The students will employ effective idea organization and delivery techniqaues in formulating and delivering oral presentations. Competencies: The students will deliver oral presentation s which communicate clearly and engage the audience. Academic Integrity: 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.) Important Information for Students with Disabilities: 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): 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. Attendance / Withdrawal Policies: Attendance will be taken at each class meeting. You are allowed 2 absences. If you exceed 2 absences, failure is not automatic, but it is a strong probability. If you miss more than 25 minutes of class, you will be marked absent. If you come in late, and miss role, it is your responsibility to let me know and mark you as present. Note: Missing multiple classes affects students' grades. Save your absences for sickness or emergencies, and be advised: Students who have a fever should stay at home to prevent the spread of illness. Students should not return to class until they have been fever-free for 24 hours without the use of Tylenol or aspirin. Withdrawal Deadline: Monday, November 1 Methods of Evaluation: Grade Categories Description of the requirements Weight toward final grade Assignment 1: Annotated An Annotated Works Consulted list is a list of 15% Works Consulted Assignment 2: Dialog sources about your research question. A dialog is a creative way to explore authorities' perspectives on your research question. Assignment 3: Persuasive A 6-8 page argumentative essay about your 30% Essay research question. Assignment 4: Persuasive A 7-9 minute oral presentation that argues a 10% Speech stance on your research question. Final Exam This will be a 7-9 minute group speech. 10% Pop Quizzes, prewriting work, and homework assignments 10% Grading Scale: Class Participation There will often be quizzes on the readings and a few homework assignments. Rough drafts and research/prewriting work will be counted as homework. Complete rough drafts get 100% and incomplete drafts get 0%. Rough drafts will be evaluated through workshops and online peer commentary. Includes Blackboard time, Blackboard discussion posts, attendance, punctuality, staying for the entire class, having all necessary materials, and participating in class discussions. Grade Percentage A 90 100 B 80 89 C 70 79 D 60 69 F 59 15% 10%
Course Calendar: Week 1 8/23 2 8/30 3 9/6 4 9/13 5 9/20 6 9/27 7 10/4 8 10/11 9 10/18 10 10/25 Topics to be covered and assignment due dates Note: Unshaded blocks mean meet face-to-face. Shaded means work on Blackboard. All work should be turned in through Blackboard unless otherwise stated. Orientation What is argument? Meet in library 202B 8/25 for Blackboard walk-through Civil discourse Arguments and communities Overview of Assignment 1: Annotated Works Consulted The Writing Process Homework (due by 11:00 Monday 8/30): Complete Blackboard Week 1 module Choosing a topic: What topics interest you? Where should you begin looking? Research questions Beginning research Primary and secondary research What questions you will need answered Avoiding plagiarism and Documenting sources Homework (due by 11:00 Monday 9/6):Complete Blackboard Week 2 module Monday, Sept. 6 College closed Wed., 9/8 Meet in the library: conducting Internet and library research and evaluating sources Finding sources Homework (due by 11:00 Monday 9/13): Complete Blackboard Week 3 module MLA review Avoiding plagiarism Practice composing an Annotated Works Consulted 9/15 Bring 2 copies of your completed Annotated Works Consulted list for rough draft workshop Homework (due by 11:00 Monday 9/20): Complete Blackboard Week 4 / Work on Annotated Works Consulted final draft 9/20 Assignment 1: Annotated Works Consulted due Overview of Assignment 2: A Dialog Sample student dialog Analyzing sources for dialog material Homework (due by 11:00 Monday 9/27): Complete Blackboard Week 5 MLA format in your dialog Practice composing a dialog from two sources Homework (due by 11:00 Monday 10/4):Complete Blackboard Week 6 / Work on dialog rough draft 10/4 Rough draft workshop of Dialog due MLA Synthesizing sources Homework (due by 11:00 Monday 10/11): Complete Blackboard Week 7/Work on Dialog final draft 10/11 Assignment 2: Dialog due Overview of Assignment 3: Persuasive Essay Homework (due by 11:00 Monday 10/18): Complete Blackboard Week 8 How to be persuasive: ethos, pathos, logos Analyze sample persuasive essays Avoiding fallacies Homework (due by 11:00 Monday 10/25): Complete Blackboard Week 9 Avoiding fallacies (continued) Organization of your essay
11 11/1 12 11/8 13 11/15 14 11/22 15 11/29 16 12/6 Homework (due by 11:00 Monday 11/1): Complete Blackboard Week 10 11/1 Withdrawal deadline Persuasive essay work MLA review Homework (due by 11:00 Monday 11/8):Complete Blackboard Week 11 11/8 Assignment 3 Persuasive Essays due for rough draft workshop Thursday, Nov. 11 College closed Homework (due by 11:00 Monday 11/15): Complete Blackboard Week 12/Work on Persuasive Essay final draft 11/15 Assignment 3: Persuasive Essays due Overview of Assignment 4: Persuasive Speeches Overview of Final Exam/Group speeches Organization Experts and Inquisitors Homework: No work on Blackboard for Week 13 How to give an effective persuasive speech 4:30 Wed., Nov. 24-Fri., 11/26 College closed Homework (due by 11:00 Monday 11/29): Complete Blackboard Week 14 Assignment 4: Persuasive Speeches due Persuasive speeches this week Homework: No work on Blackboard for Week 15 Final Exam Week: Group speeches due (see table below for class exam time) Class title and meeting days/times Final exam meeting date and time ENC 2300-10460 Composition: Argumentation M&W 11:00-12:20 Wednesday, Dec. 8 th 10:00-11:55 ENC 0010-10492 College Prep Composition M&W 1:00-2:50 Monday, Dec. 6 th 7:30-9:55 (Exit Test!) ENC 0001-10489 Basic Composition Skills M&W 1:00-2:50 Friday, Dec. 10 th 2:00-3:55 ENC 1101-10502 College Composition I T&R 11:00-12:20 Thursday, Dec. 9 th 10:00-11:55 ENC 1101-10503 College Composition I T&R 12:30-1:50 Tuesday, Dec. 7 th 12:00-1:55 *Grades available via LOIS 12/15 Classroom Rules and Policies: Late work/make-ups There will be no make-ups for missed classes or quizzes. Assignments are due at the beginning of class on the due date. Late work (more than 25 minutes) will be docked one letter grade for each day it is late (includes weekends). Late papers will not be accepted more than 5 days after the due date. All work should be submitted through Blackboard unless otherwise stated. Late homework will not be accepted. It is your responsibility to contact a peer for any notes or homework assignments you may have missed due to absences. If you cannot contact that peer, it is your responsibility to contact me by phone or e-mail before the next class for any homework assignments. Cell phones / laptops Laptops have proven to be a distraction in the past. Please do not use
them in class. Please put your cell phones on vibrate / silent. I understand emergencies sometimes happen; if you need to take a call, please walk quietly outside and quietly back in. If you are text messaging during class, I will ask you once to stop. If I ask you gain, I will ask you to leave. Being part of a community Our composition classroom is a community. Within it we are all learners. As we learn, we often make mistakes or do not know the answers. Or perhaps we already think we know the issues and disagree with others' opinions. Though civil discourse is prized in college, discourse which intimidates or seeks to insult others will not be tolerated. This classroom should be an open and safe place in which we navigate among ideas. Please help me make our class an open and safe environment by showing care in your language and respect towards others. Violence Statement: 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. Syllabus Disclaimer: 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.