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English Composition 2

Course Outline and Policies

Please read this page carefully.

Instructor

Randy Rambo
Office: A313
Phone: (815) 224-0338
E-mail: Randy_Rambo@ivcc.edu
Instructor's Home Page: http://www.ivcc.edu/rambo

Office Hours

Monday and Wednesday: 9:00-10:45 a.m., 12:00-1:00 p.m.
Thursday: 6:00-6:30 p.m. (at Princeton High School)
Friday: 9:00-10:45 a.m.
(and by appointment)

Required Textbook

McMahan, Elizabeth, Susan X. Day, and Robert Funk. Literature and the Writing Process. 8th ed. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice, 2007.

Course Description (college catalog description)

English Composition 2 continues the study and application of rhetorical principles of expository writing in developing effective sentences, paragraphs, and essays, with particular emphasis on analyzing and writing expository prose. Students' essays will be based upon their readings or poetry, drama, and fiction. The research writing will be developed from the literature. Successful completion of English 1001, or its equivalent, is a prerequisite for enrollment in this course.

Expected Student Outcomes

Upon successful completion of English Composition 2 Online, students will be able to

1. Read a variety of texts with understanding and appreciation;
2. Understand invention as a part of the writing process;
3. Organize and develop ideas effectively and logically in essays;
4. Develop effective, logical, and well-supported arguments;
5. Understand and use a variety of rhetorical methods for developing ideas;
6. Maintain a consistent and appropriate viewpoint, tone, and voice;
7. Strengthen essays through the revision process;
8. Write essays free from common stylistic weaknesses;
9. Write essays free from excessive errors;
10. Write essays effectively incorporating a variety of sources;
11. Become familiar with research strategies and the purpose of research;
12. Understand documentation and plagiarism; and
13. Use word-processing software as a writing tool.

Course Content

The course content of English Composition 2 Online includes the following:

1. Analysis and response to a variety of texts
2. Peer response to student writing
3. Self-assessment
4. Study of the Essay form

• Audience and purpose
• Thesis statement and topic sentences
• Rhetorical strategies and methods of development
• Transitions and logical progression of ideas
• Style and voice
• Review of grammar, punctuation, syntax, and mechanics

5. Revision and editing strategies
6. Research strategies and the purpose of research
7. The proper use, citation, and documentation of sources

Assignments

Course work for students in English Composition 2 Online includes

1. Reading assignments: approximately 10 chapters and various literary works from Literature and the Writing Process, by Elizabeth McMahan, Susan X. Day, and Robert Funk; secondary sources on selected works of literature; selected web sites; course web pages; and student essays.
2. Essay assignments: a total of three essay assignments--Essays 1 and 2 and Essay 3 (a short research paper). The minimum required length for each essay is 1000 words.
3. Optional revisions: students will have the option to revise and resubmit one or two of the three essays referred to above. 
4. Research paper: one research paper following MLA (Modern Language Association) standards on William Shakespeare's play Othello. The required minimum length of the research paper will be given later in the course (expect about 8 pages as the minimum length).
5. Peer evaluations of student writing;
6. Numerous interactive discussion assignments;
7. Exercises over reading assignments, grammar and punctuation, style, and other aspects of writing;
8. Quizzes over reading assignments.

Evaluation

Writing assignments will be evaluated and graded according to the grading standards in IVCC's Style Book. Additional assessment criteria will be given for specific assignments. For example, students are expected to follow the conventions of MLA citation and documentation for papers requiring documentation. Any additional assessment criteria for assignments will be clarified when assignments are given.

Final course grades will be determined as follows:

15% = Essay 1
15% = Essay 2
15% = Essay 3
35% = Research Paper
20% = Miscellaneous Assignments*

*Miscellaneous assignments include interactive discussion assignments, peer critiques, quizzes, and exercises.

Course work that is not submitted or that is significantly below the minimum requirement for the assignment will receive a "0," not an "F."

At the end of the semester, final course grades will be calculated using the following scale:

90-100% = A
80-89% = B
70-79% = C
60-69% = D
0-59% = F

General Policies

Students in English Composition 2 Online are expected to

1. Complete all assignments. Failure to complete assignments may result in a substantial reduction in the final course grade. The following policy applies to Essays 1-3: A draft of at least 700 words will be due at the time of peer critiques. If a student does not have a draft of the required length posted by the due date, one letter grade will be deducted from the revised draft of the paper. The same policy applies to the research paper, with a longer minimum required length at the time of peer critiques.



2. Be active participants in the class. Active and meaningful student participation is expected, so ask questions, offer comments and suggestions, share your thoughts, make a meaningful contribution to the exchange of ideas.



3. Demonstrate a genuine desire to learn and to succeed in the course. A positive attitude can take you far, so be willing to work: read and reread the texts carefully, take pride in your class work, and please see me if you need additional help. You probably need this course for the credit, but try to work hard both to gain the credit and to gain knowledge and better writing skills. Also, be aware that free tutoring is available to help you succeed in the course.



4. Maintain a positive cyber-environment for the class. Students are expected to help maintain a constructive and positive learning environment for the class, which includes following the Netiquette guidelines. Any student who communicates with other students or the instructor in a harassing, threatening, or offensive way may be withdrawn from the course.

Note that all assignments are due on the due dates and times given for them. Late assignments are not accepted and may receive the grade of "0." However, the instructor can approve a late submission of an essay if an emergency or some other legitimate situation arises that prevents a student from turning in an essay when it is due. Make sure to talk to the instructor as soon as possible if this situation comes up.

Attendance Policy

While there is no conventional attendance policy for this course, completion of assignments and the level of interaction that students demonstrate will be the primary measures of student involvement in the course. If illness, an emergency, or some other situation prevents you from completing assignments, please contact me as soon as possible.

Important: A student who does not log in to the discussion forum or does not complete assignments for more than a 14-day period may be withdrawn from the course without warning.

Please note that withdrawal from a course can affect financial aid. Students who receive financial aid should see an advisor in the Financial Aid Office before withdrawing from the course or before a lack of involvement in the course leads to being withdrawn by the instructor.

Academic Accommodations

If you need support or assistance because of a disability, you may be eligible for academic accommodations through IVCC's Special Populations Office. Visit office B-204 or call (815) 224-0284 for more information.

Technology, Possible Problems, and Poor Excuses

This course relies heavily on technology, so we may run into some problems with the technology during the semester. I understand and will make accommodations if you have computer problems, but I also know that some students may take advantage of real or imagined computer problems as excuses for not completing assignments.

If you have computer problems that prevent you from submitting assignments on time, please contact me as soon as possible about the situation. If you cannot contact me via e-mail, you should give me a telephone call at (815) 224-0338 to explain the situation.

Also keep in mind that you have access to the college computers and can use them to complete assignments for the course. You should also be able to use the computers at your local public library.

Plagiarism and Cheating

Plagiarism is the use of another person’s ideas, information, or exact words in your own writing without properly acknowledging your source in accordance with a standard system of documentation. In writing classes, plagiarism most often occurs when students use someone's else work and submit it as their own.

Make sure that all of the work you contribute to the class is your own. A student discovered submitting work that is not his or her own will receive a failing grade in the course, and the student's name and a description of the incident will be reported to IVCC's Office of Academic Affairs. The Office of Academic Affairs will keep a file of these submissions. According to IVCC's "Student Code of Conduct," "when a student has been identified as committing an act of academic dishonesty twice [in any courses], the [Vice President of Academic Affairs] and [Vice President of Student Services] will conduct an investigation, which may include a formal hearing, and will recommend or impose appropriate discipline."

You can probably find free essays on the Internet that would satisfy the requirements for each of the essay assignments in this course. I can find them as well. Do not copy an essay from the Internet, or from anywhere else, and submit it as your own: the result will be a failing grade in the course and a report of academic dishonesty to the college's Office of Academic Affairs.

Help from the Instructor

It's my job to help you succeed in the course, so please don't hesitate to contact me if you would like additional assistance. I can be contacted by telephone at (815) 224-0338 and by e-mail at Randy_Rambo@ivcc.edu. My office hours are listed near the top of this syllabus.