English Department Syllabus
Revised Spring 1998
A. DESCRIPTION
1. ENGL 111 - Composition 11
2. Prerequisite: ENGL 110 or equivalent course
with a grade of "C" or better.
3. The student progresses from writing analysis
of and inquiring about issues to writing argumentative and persuasive compositions
using research, through critical reading, discussion, exercises, conferences,
and revision. The majority of the writing is argumentative.
4. Three lecture hours per week
5. Credit: Three semester hours
B. OBJECTIVES
1. To further develop critical reading skills
by: a. determining the perspective accompanying the author's writing b.
judging a text's authority and currency c. selecting credible facts, statistics,
examples, and authorities' opinions as evidence
2. To analyze and generate arguments using specific
models (such as Toulmin Aristotelian, or Rogerian)
3. To develop claims for arguments that appropriately
use qualifiers and reservations
4. To select, order, and support reasons with
evidence
5. To identify fallacies in and refute opposing
views
6. To identify logical, emotional, and ethical
appeal in arguments and combine them effectively in writing
7. To construct an argument for a specific audience,
understanding both points of difference and common ground between the writer
and the readers
8. To develop style through the use of persuasive
language and sentence structures
9. To locate, evaluate, use, and document primary
and secondary conventionally published research sources
10. To become familiar with research sources
available on the Internet
11. To become familiar with the formats and techniques
for research across the curriculum and to use a documentation style, such
as MLA, APA, CBE, or Chicago style
C. MATERIALS OF INSTRUCTION
1. Texts: Rottenberg, Annette T. Elements of
Argument. 5th ed. New York: St. Martin's, 1998.
OR
Crusius, Timothy W., and Carolyn E. Channell.
The Aims of Argument: A Rhetoric and Reader.Mountain View, CA: Mayfield,
1995. REQUIRED TEXTS
Maner, Martin. The Spiral Guide to Research
Writing. Mountain View, CA: Mayfield, 1996.
The ICC Writer
A standard dictionary (Random House, American
Heritage, Webster's Seventh, New World)
2. Supplementary materials designated by the instructor
3. Audio-visual aids: overhead projectors, slides,
videos, etc.
D. METHODS OF PRESENTATION
1. Analysis and discussion of selected readings
2. Analysis and evaluation of student writing
3. Lecture/discussion/group work
4. In-class drafting, evaluating, and rewriting
5. Student conferences
6. Computer writing classroom
E. EVALUATION OF STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT
1. Writing assignments (70% or more of grade)
2. Quizzes
3. Attendance: excessive absence may be just
cause for lowering grade
4. Midterm and final examinations
5. Fulfillment of other requirements made by
the instructor
F. COURSE CONTENT
A student in English 111 will produce from 4 to
6 compositions totaling approximately 6,000 words of guided writing during
the semester. The critical reading process will accompany writing assignments
chosen to achieve analytical, argumentative, and persuasive aims, with
the majority of the writing being argumentative.