ENGL& 102: Composition II

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Class Program
English
Distribution
Basic Skills,
Humanities Lecture
Credits 5 Lecture Hours 55
This advanced composition course provides instruction in academic writing through literary analysis and increases students’ exposure to literature.

Prerequisites

A grade of 2.0 or better in ENGL&101.
Quarters Offered
Fall,
Winter,
Spring,
Summer
Course Outcomes

Upon successful completion of the course, students should be able to demonstrate the following knowledge or skills:

  1. Students will read and analyze major literary works in order to:
  2. Further develop the academic writing skills introduced in 101
  3. Use literary analysis to develop problem-solving skills
  4. Define the themes presented by literary texts, using textual, critical, social and/or historical analysis
  5. Define how these themes present conceptual problems, and develop plans to solve these problems
  6. Understand the use of literature as a source of ideas and information that may be used in complex arguments
  7. Assess and interpret multiple possible solutions to a problem posed by a literary text
  8. Recognize their own place as participants in academic debate and discussion
  9. Recognize the importance of proper documentation style, and the differences between the various styles used in different college disciplines
  10. Develop and improve habits of lifetime literacy
  11. Create a typed draft of a sustained, detailed, precisely defined analytical essay in at least 500 words.
  12. Extend a reasoned opinion of a piece of literature based on a close reading of the text.
  13. Demonstrate an ability to understand and formally respond to critical writings on literature.
  14. Demonstrate an understanding of and ability to apply common literary terms.
  15. Compose formal essays that exhibit clear critical thinking, textual analysis, and an understanding of literary merit.
  16. Demonstrate an awareness of audience, originality, sophistication, style, unity, structure, support, documentation (MLA), grammar/usage and format.
  17. Write and correctly document a research paper in MLA format.
Institutional Outcomes
IO1 Communication: Students will be able to communicate clearly and effectively.
Course Content Outline
  1. The course will provide instruction in the writing of formal essays that use problem-solving techniques to interpret or respond to literary fiction, poetry, drama, and/or creative nonfiction.
  2. The course will focus on reading comprehension as well as writing. Film may be used as a supplement to written texts, or as the focus of one instruction unit, but at least 60% of the assigned essays will focus on written works.
  3. Essays may focus on a variety of modes of literary analysis, but each of the following must be considered at some point in the term:
    1. Creating and sustaining an argument about the meaning of a work of literature using evidence taken from the text
    2. Describing technical aspects of written texts as stylistic choices made by authors
    3. Articulating ways in which the conventions of literary texts (such as plot conflict, paradox, narrative point of view, historical perspective and other sources) affect interpretation
    4. Appreciating and using a vocabulary which supports and encourages detailed analysis of literary texts
    5. Recognizing and appreciating existing critical readings of literary texts produced by experts in the field of literary criticism
  4. The majority of essays are to be composed outside of class, and class time should be focused on interpretation of literature and instruction in writing style
  5. While tests on comprehension of the texts may be used as a tool to ensure that students complete assigned readings, no less than 70% of the grade must be based on formal essays which focus on the assigned literary texts
Department Guidelines
  1. Students will write the number of essays required by the instructor, and may be required to participate in group exercises or complete quizzes and tests in order to reach the goals of the course.
  2. Grades will be established through consideration of formal essays (which may be weighted), quizzes, and attendance.
  3. Grades may be lowered for late work. Some instructors may require individual conferences.

PO5 should be assessed: Students will be able to solve problems by gathering, interpreting, combining and/or applying information from multiple sources.