ENG102.032 - English Composition II
Prof. Eileen Joy
Spring 2007

Everything's An Argument?

Tuesdays & Thursdays 12:30-1:45 (Founders Hall 0303)

"The need of truth is more sacred than any other need. Yet it is never mentioned." (Simone Weil, from The Need for Roots: Prelude to a Declaration of Duties Towards Mankind, 1949)

COURSE DESCRIPTION

The SIUE Department of English Language & Literature tells us that ENG 102 is a continuation of ENG 101. Assignments in this course will still be designed to help you focus upon a theme, develop a thesis, organize ideas, control tone, and express ideas in clearly communicated language. Students will learn formal argumentation techniques and terminology. In addition, researched essays, reports, and papers will be assigned. You will learn how to research topics, incorporate researched material into your papers, and properly cite and document your papers or Web projects. You can expect to write expository essays that range from 500 to 3,000 words, researched or non-researched (i.e, two to twelve pages).

COURSE OBJECTIVES (the more concrete version)

This is something slightly different, yet altogether connected to our “COURSE DESCRIPTION.” This is also a good example of an outline.

I. Students will gain an understanding of the elements of formal argumentation.

II. Students will locate, read, analyze, and synthesize sources in order to write papers incorporating source material.

III. Students will develop an awareness of citation formats and be able to use at least one of them correctly.

IV. Students will learn about and engage in ethical academic research.

V. Students will increase the powers of their vocabulary, both verbal and cultural, in order to increase their powers of articulation.

REQUIRED TEXTS

A good, thick collegiate dictionary is highly recommended. In addition, be aware that the online Oxford English Dictionary is available on Lovejoy Library's website.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS

2 FORMAL ESSAYS (20% each = 40%)
1 RESEARCH PROJECT/PAPER (35%)
NEWS & COMMENTARY + INFORMAL WRITING (25%)

PAPER FORMAT

Follow these guidelines for submitting final work:

• use 8-1/2" x 11" white paper printed on one side only
• double-space the text
• use 1"-margins all the way around
• use a 12-point Times or Roman font
• staple paper in the upper, left-hand corner
• number each page of the paper
• include a heading on first page (upper left-hand corner) that includes: your name, date, title of course (ENG102.032), and my name (Prof. E. Joy)
• ALWAYS have a creative title (that is centered on the first page below heading)

REVISION POLICY

I am happy to consider revisions of essays you would like to rewrite for a higher grade (with the exception of the final research paper), with the following provisions:

• you meet with me first to formulate and discuss your plans for revision
• the revision must represent SUBSTANTIAL change of the original paper; in other words, it must demonstrate significant improvement in global issues such as focus (is the paper focused on a clearly-defined topic, and is the writer's purpose clear?), or arrangement (is the order of the content logical and easy to follow?), or development (is there enough detail and support for the reader to clearly understand the ultimate issue?), or tone (is the writer addressing the audience appropriately for the purpose and occasion?)
• only one revision allowed per paper
• the revision must be submitted within two weeks of the original paper's return to the student

WRITING CENTER

This support service resides in Peck Hall #1419 (Chad Verbais, Coordinator). Writing consultants are available there to work with you by appointment on ANY writing assignment, at any point in the drafting process. Smart students, no matter how advanced or limited their writing skills, understand the benefit of such a service and regularly seek it out.

DISABILITY ACCOMMODATIONS

If you feel that you are entitled to special accommodations (for example, a volunteer note-taker, interpreter, special desk, or extra time on tests), please contact the Disability Support Services office in Rendleman Hall #1218 (Jane A. Floyd-Hendey, Director), and they will help you fill out the necessary paperwork.

LATE PAPER POLICY

I do not accept late papers. Period. If there is an extraordinarily good reason for needing an extension on a paper due date, let me know in advance, and I will be kind.

ATTENDANCE POLICY

Attendance, promptness, and participation are essential to success in college courses. Faculty members recognize that unexpected occasions may arise when a student must be absent from class, but my general attendance policy is that if a student is absent more than the number of required class sessions per week (in this case, that would be more than 2 sessions), I have the option of lowering the student’s final course grade by one letter grade for each additional session missed.  Furthermore, if absences become excessive (more than two weeks' worth of sessions), the SIUE Registrar, at my request, reserves the right to withdraw the student administratively. For more information on this, please consult the following: SIUE Class Attendance Policy. Failure to attend class in a responsible and committed manner may thus be grounds for failure in or administrative withdrawal from the course.

ACADEMIC DISHONESTY

Any student found engaging in an act of academic dishonesty will be promptly dismissed from the course with a grade of "F." By "academic dishonesty," I mean PLAGIARISM (the act of representing the work of another as one's own), which the University considers a grave breach of intellectual integrity. All definitions, terminology, concepts, and patterns of organization taken from an outside source must be identified and given credit in any essay or exam you write--whether it be for the English department or any other department. For more detailed information on this, please consult the following: SIUE Plagiarism Policy.

GRADING SCALE

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

EA=Everything's An Argument