English Composition II

BERGEN COMMUNITY COLLEGE, ENGLISH DEPARTMENT

Instructor: J. DiChiara

Email: jdichiara@bergen.edu, Phone: 551-427-6250

Course Website: http://edfolio.fdu.edu/DiChiaraJ/

Online Grade Book: http://www.engrade.com

Class Meetings: Wednesday, 6:20-9:05 PM, Pitkin Education Center, Room L-141

A. REQUIRED TEXTBOOK AND SUPPLIES: "The Road" by Cormac McCarthy

3-ring binder or spiral notebook; sans disc or Google Documents account; dictionary/thesaurus

B. COURSE DESCRIPTION:

Welcome! English Composition II is a three-credit, general education course continuing Composition I's emphasis on expository and analytic writing. This writing course will teach students how to critically evaluate, interpret, and write about their ideas involving literature (a novel). Students will learn to more fervently read, write, and think independently and collectively. This course aims to develop writing skills essential for the production of persuasive, well-supported essays. This course also aims to teach students how to wholly think and write about reading material to clearly understand an author's ideas. 1 research paper is required to provide students with a potent opportunity to directly demonstrate a semester's worth of learned and practiced writing skills. This course's prerequisite is WRT-101: Composition I.

C. STUDENT LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

Students who successfully meet this course's requirements will be able to:

1. Use critical reading skills to summarize works of literature, understand/evaluate literary texts, and explain how the interaction of literary elements convey meaning. 2. Develop essays that go beyond personal response using a variety of rhetorical strategies. 3. Write personal and academic responses to works of literature using appropriate literary terminology. 4. Use a process approach to continue the development of their writing style. 5. Justify a work of literature's validity of interpretation. 6. Employ quotations and paraphrases from primary and secondary sources in writing and document them following MLA style. 7. Revise essays to achieve unity and coherence. 8. Edit and proofread writing for clarity and correctness.

D. DAILY COURSE REQUIREMENTS:

1. Daily attendance (please see late/absent policy); attending class on time; permission needed to use personal electronic gadgets during instruction time.

2. Active class participation and enthusiastic levels of academic effort.

3. All assignments must be completed according to their corresponding rubrics and the instructor's specific directions. Emergency extensions (requiring a note of authorization from a doctor, judge, etc.) may be granted before a due date. If an extension has not been granted, a student will receive a 0 for a missing assignment. Plagiarized work receives a 0 and will be reported to the dean, as per the college's policy.

4. Students should bring textbooks, writing utensils, and notebooks to class each day, unless otherwise specified by the instructor.

E. ASSIGNMENT COURSE REQUIREMENTS

Write 3 multi-paragraph, academic essays of at least 500 words

Complete a cumulative journaling portfolio (i.e. summaries, journals, reading responses, comprehension questions, quizzes on reading assignments, letters, etc.).

Read, interpret, and analyze literary works.

Comprehend and apply various literary terms to assigned texts.

Conduct independent research and write a 7-10 page research paper using MLA style.

Submit papers that adhere to MLA manuscript requirements and demonstrate effective proofreading and editing.

Participate in discussions and in-class activities necessary to produce quality academic prose.

F. GRADING:

Essay 1...20% (20/100 points)

Essay 2...20% (20/100 points)

Essay 3... 20% (20/100 points)

Journal Portfolio...20% (5 tasks; each worth 4/100 points)

Research Paper...20% (20/100 points)

1. Students will be evaluated by their instructor based upon successful completion of all activities and assignments according to rubrics. Emailed work is preferred, please.

2. If a student's average is "borderline" between grades, the instructor will gladly take into consideration subjective elements to determine if the student will receive the higher grade. These elements may include: demonstrated enthusiasm for the subject matter; exemplifying extra effort towards assignments; positive academic interaction with peers, etc.

F. ESSAYS:

Students must utilize at least one of the following resources:

1. BCC Writing Center: http://www.bergen.cc.nj.us/pages/1795.asp

-offers individualized tutorial instruction and personalized assistance for students writing papers

2. BCC Online Writing Lab: http://www.bergen.edu/owl

-receive writing help via categorized online resources; email your paper to the OWL staff; they reply with feedback within 48 hours!

3. BCC English Language Resource Center: http://www.bergen.cc.nj.us/pages/2184.asp

-help for students who speak English as a second language.

4. BBC Online Tutoring: http://www.bergen.edu/pages/2195.asp

-students can access live online tutorials for their writing

5. Smarthinking: http://www.smarthinking.com/

-register, submit your paper online, receive professional feedback

G. LATE AND ABSENT POLICIES:

An absence involving a medical, religious, or court excuse will be excused (with a note of verification).

If a student contacts the instructor in advance by email about being late or absent, 1 absence will be automatically excused. 1 tardy or 1 early departure from class = 1/2 half absence.

More than 4 total absences may result in a failing grade, according to the instructor's discretion.

When absent, students hold personal responsibility for material covered in class. Each student will exchange contact information with a Homework Buddy. When absent, a student's Homework Buddy should immediately provide him or her with missed lecture notes, handouts, makeup work, etc.

This syllabus is subject to change at the instructor's discretion. Students will always be notified of such modifications and updates. Lecture notes/outlines may be provided for students preceding each lesson.

I have thoroughly read and understood what the contents and implications of this syllabus. I have talked about its contents with my classmates and my professor; I believe it is fair and is advantageous towards my personal academic growth and development this semester. I agree to abide by the syllabus' guidelines and rules, in accordance with both the instructor's and Bergen Community College's academic guidelines.

Signed: ______________________________________________________________

Date: _______________________________________________________________