English 102: English Composition II

Writing as Self (Re)Searching

Course Description: Building off the preliminary research skills gained in English 101, English 102 is a course intended to equip students with the skills necessary for intensive research work and writing that will be necessary moving forward within a collegiate career. This course's assignments will challenge you to use research, personal narrative, and argument in a variety of mediums. In addition, students will be challenged to grow during this class as a writer, listener, and student, to find their voice in academic discourse, and to be open to change and to new ideas. In addition to exploring research skills, the readings, assignments, and classroom discussion will focus on evaluating students’ identities and sense of self. We will look at how research can be used to develop nuanced understanding of our selves, our lives, and our communities. 102 is the second of a two-semester sequence required as a general education credit for all incoming students. After completing this course, students will have completed their English Composition requirements and will be ready for the academic rigors of advanced college writing  

        At the conclusion of this class students will be able to:

• Conduct primary research utilizing research methods.
• Identify, understand, participate in all aspects of the research process including: identifying a research problem and crafting viable research questions, find, evaluate, and synthesize sources, designing and conducting a research project utilizing those sources, presenting conclusions based on research.
• Situate their identities, communities, and discourses within a public, cultural context.
• Continue to develop critical thinking and reflection skills.
• Understand and practice all elements of the writing process to develop writing skills.

Texts:

Everyone’s an Author by Andrea Lunsford

The Craft of Research, Fourth Ed. by Booth, Colomb, Williams, Bizup, and Fitzgerald

Eating Animals by Jonathan Safran Foer

Gang Leader for a Day by Sudhir Venkatesh

Assignments: The bulk of your grade will come from 4 large assignments. Several smaller assignments will be administered as part of an overall participation grade. The prompts for each assignment will be passed out in class with details and expectations. You can find the dates that assignments will be given out and the due dates below and in the schedule.

        Participation & Informal Writings        

        Literacy Narrative — Composing Our Literate Lives                

                First Draft: 3-4 pages, double-spaced due Feb. 07        

                Final Draft: 4-5 pages, double-spaced due Feb. 14

        Profile of a Discourse Community

                First Draft: 3-4 pages, double-spaced due Mar. 02

                Final Draft: 4-5 pages double-spaced due Mar. 09

        Research Project                

                First Draft: 6-8 pages, double-spaced due Apr. o4

                Final Draft: 8-10 pages, double-spaced due Apr. 18

        Digital Portfolio

                Final Drafts due April 27

                Includes revised drafts of:

                "Composing Our Literate Lives" 4-5 pages, double-spaced

                "Profile of a Discourse Community" 4-5 pages, double-spaced

                "Research Project" 8-10 pages, double-spaced

                "Reflective Statement" 2-3 pages, double-spaced

Schedule: Please Note: This schedule is subject to change in the event of class cancelations, snow days, assignment extensions, etc. You will be notified well in advance if any such changes occur.

Unit One: Composing Our Literate Lives

T Jan. 17        Introduction to the course — Guidelines, Expectations, and the Syllabus;         

Th Jan. 19        Eating Animals, Everyone’s an Author Ch. 12

T Jan. 24              Eating Animals

Th Jan. 26     Eating Animals,  Post 1

T Jan. 31        Eating Animals

Th Feb. 02        Eating Animals, Digital Archives of Literacy Narratives, Forum Post 2

T Feb. 07        Due: Literacy Narrative 1st Draft. Bring 2 hardcopies to class. Peer                         Review.

Unit Two: Discourse Communties         

Th Feb. 09        Gang Leader for a Day, Forum Post 3

T Feb. 14           Due: Literacy Narrative—Submit to Sakai and bring hard copy to class.                 Gang Leader for a Day

Th Feb. 16        Gang Leader for a Day, Everyone’s An Author Ch. 14, Forum Post 4

T Feb.  21        Gang Leader for a Day, Craft of Research Pt 1

Th Feb. 23        Gang Leader for a Day, Forum Post 5

T Feb. 28        Everyone’s an Author Ch. 31 & 32

Th Mar. 02        Due: Profile of Discourse Community 1st Draft. Bring 2 hardcopies                 to class. Peer Review.

T Mar. 07        Craft of Research Ch. 3 & 4, Forum Post 6

Unit Three: Research Project        

Th Mar. 09        Due: Profile of Discourse Community—Submit to Sakai and bring                         hard copy to class. Craft of Research Ch. 5 & 6                        

T Mar. 14        Spring Break, No class!

Th Mar. 16         Spring Break, No class!

T Mar. 21         Craft of Research Ch. 9 - 11,

Th Mar. 23        Craft of Research 12 & 13, Forum Post 7

T Mar. 28        Craft of Research 14 & 15

Th Mar. 30        Craft of Research 16 & 17, Forum Post 8

T Apr. 04         Due: Research Project 1st draft. Bring 2 hardcopies to class. Peer                         Review.

Th Apr. 06        Everyone’s An Author Ch. 27 & 28, Forum Post 9

T Apr. 11        Everyone’s An Author Ch. 35

Th Apr. 13        Everyone’s an Author Ch. 36, Forum Post 10

T Apr. 18        Due: Research Project—Submit to Sakai and bring hard copy to class.        

Th Apr. 20        Presentations

T  Apr. 25        Presentations

Th Apr. 27        Due: Digital Portfolio—Submit to Sakai and bring hard copy to class.        

Have a nice summer!