Bloom – ENG 102 – page 1

The following syllabus is a guideline for English 102 and is subject

to change at the discretion of the instructor.

SCOTTSDALE COMMUNITY COLLEGE

ENG 102 – First Year Composition

FALL 2012 SYLLABUS

Tuesday and Thursday

37613 // 9:00a – 10:25a // LC 367

INSTRUCTOR: Matthew Bloom

EMAIL (checked Mon-Thu): matthew.bloom@sccmail.maricopa.edu

OFFICE: LC 337

OFFICE HOURS: MW – noon to 1:00p

TR – 11:00a to noon

F – 10:30a to 11:30 a

DESCRIPTION

This course builds upon the methods and concepts of English 101 in order to expand and strengthen our academic writing

skills, specifically in the areas of argumentation, critical thinking, and research methodology. English 102 will encourage

us to be autonomous and curious in identifying issues, emphasize the importance of humility and respect in developing

conclusions, and introduce methods for discovering, assessing, presenting, and explaining evidence used to back up our

reasoning. The ability to move beyond simply reporting information and actually formulating and sharpening arguments

based on our own conclusions is beneficial to us not only as individuals seeking personal improvement and professional

and academic success, but also to the community on local, national, and global levels.

In order to maximize interest and relevance to the students, we will be exploring and discussing a broad range of issues

drawn from a variety of literary sources. We will read and write often throughout the course.

Prerequisite: Completion of ENG 101 with a grade of “C” or better.

OBJECTIVES

In addition to further developing our abilities in relation to the outcomes from English 101, before the end of this course,

we will at least be able to:

1. Identify and explore issues with autonomy, curiosity, humility, and respect by asking critical questions and

discussing what we read and think.

2. Conduct sound research by using appropriate technologies to find, evaluate, select, and synthesize both online and

print sources from multiple viewpoints.

3. Analyze the relevance and effectiveness of evidence with regards to a specific issue, conclusion, or rationale.

4. Compose logical, organized, developed, and thoughtful argumentative essays that justify the legitimacy of an explicit

conclusion through confirmation and refutation.

5. Integrate source information as evidence into our writing through accurately documented summary, paraphrase, and

quotation to develop and support our ideas.

6. Use appropriate technologies to generate, format, edit, and share our writing according to MLA style guidelines

(2009 update) to maintain academic integrity and professional standards.

7. Use feedback obtained through peer review, instructor comments, and/or other sources to revise writing.

8. Assess our writing strengths and identify strategies for improvement through instructor conference, portfolio review,

written evaluation, and/or other methods.

These outcomes are adapted from the MCCCD course competencies for English 102.

Bloom – ENG 102 – page 2

TOOLS

2 Books – *Neither book must be purchased* o Asking the Right Questions: A Guide to Critical Thinking (Browne and Keeley) is available on Blackboard at no

cost to the student. We will consult it regularly. On the class schedule this book is referred to as ARQ.

o A Writer’s Resource: A Handbook for Writing and Research (Maimon, Peritz, and Yancey; 2009 Update) is a

resource for composition. The instructor will refer to it in class, but it is not required because content comparable to

much of the text may be located online.

Information Technology o Utilize technology. Responsible use of fancy gadgets such as laptops, smartphones, and tablets in class is

encouraged. Any use of mobile electronic devices that proves distracting to the rest of the class or to the instructor

will be addressed and if the behavior continues may result in withdrawal from the course. If you plan to use a laptop

computer or tablet with a stand, please sit in the back of class so that others don‟t have to see your Facebook feed.

Please silence all devices.

o Your Maricopa email address is provided to you by Scottsdale Community College and through it all class

correspondence takes place (http://my.maricopa.edu/student-center/index.php). You must check it regularly,

although you may forward your Maricopa email to a preferred email if you desire.

o Most of the course readings and assignments will be made available through Blackboard. To access your

Blackboard account, go to http://www.maricopa.edu/blackboard/ under “Student Resources.”

o Some of the course‟s writing assignments must be submitted to Turnitin.com to be considered for credit. Rather

than thinking of the website as a plagiarism detective, we should think about it as a helpful tool for identifying

weaknesses in our use of source material. Originality reports will be made available to students.

o We are concerned about the enormous waste that goes into printing multiple drafts of college essays, so most

assignments will be submitted electronically. Turnitin.com‟s Grademark function will be used to provide

feedback, so word processing software must be used that is capable of producing documents in one of the following

formats: MS Word (.doc or .docx), WordPerfect (.wpd), PostScript (.eps), Portable Document Format (.pdf), HTML

(.htm), Rich Text (.rtf), and Plain Text (.txt).

o MySCC (http://www.scottsdalecc.edu/college-resources/myscc) is a resource that allows you to logon to the SCC

network from virtually any device, anywhere, allowing you to access the documents saved on your SCC network

space and edit them using SCC‟s software.

o We will be conducting a lot of research through the databases available to you on the SCC Library website

(http://library.scottsdalecc.edu/index). It is strongly recommended that if you will be using the medium of the

internet for research that you start at the library databases and not Google or Wikipedia.

o Obviously, a functional computer will be absolutely necessary. There are several computing facilities on campus

should the need arise for one that does not “crash.” The IT Help Desk can also provide support and assistance with

your technology needs and questions. For 24/7 help with technical issues, call the HelpDesk at 480-423-6274 and

select option #1. The Help Desk website is www.sc.maricopa.edu/its/Services/HelpDesk.html. o It is strongly recommended that you utilize the “Cloud” in one way or another as a method of backing up your

documents. Use MySCC, email documents to yourself, or another preferred method of saving things online so that

they can be accessed from any computer.

Old-School Supplies o In-class writing must be done by hand, so always have blank paper and a pen/pencil/crayon/marker/quill with

inkwell/whatever you want to write with by hand.

o Be sure to keep all paper assignments that have been returned to you by the instructor, perhaps in a folder, as they

may be required as proof of credit or of process when submitting future assignments.

The Writing Center. Think of it: a place specifically reserved right here on campus to assist students with all of their

writing needs. This is an acceptable form of help (as having a friend write a paper for you is not), it is free (actually,

you already paid for it with your tuition), and it is very helpful. Be sure to meet with them early on in the process and

have something to show them or else you won‟t get much out of it.

Bloom – ENG 102 – page 3

REQUIREMENTS AND EVALUATION Several Writing and Research Assignments o Most of the major assignments in this course are part of a major research project which we will be working on

throughout the semester. The first three Writing Assignments are unrelated to this research project.

o Writing and research assignments must be submitted to Turnitin.com by the specified time on the due date.

o An Assignment Prompt is a document that outlines the purpose, subject, and requirements of a writing assignment.

These prompts will often contain a rubric, which describes the criteria by which the assignment will be evaluated.

Assignment prompts will be available on Blackboard and must be read carefully.

o Some writing and research assignments may be revised once more after the submission of the „final‟ draft, but work

not turned in on time will not be eligible for revision and will be evaluated more stringently. The extra time is

specifically for rewriting, so the submitted draft is expected to reflect the process necessary for effective research

and/or composition. Remember that feedback is valuable. No writing assignment will be accepted after its

revision deadline.

o Do NOT procrastinate. Impressive research-based argumentation is time-consuming and can‟t be done overnight.

Similarly, writing is a process of plans and revisions, so it is extremely rare for the first draft of a text to be

adequately effective (no matter what past experiences you have had).

o The Presentation of your research-based argument is not optional.

Attendance and Participation o Your attendance will not only benefit you, but also your peers (including the instructor). Absences result in a

lower grade because a significant portion of the student’s final evaluation depends upon in class activities that

can’t be made up. Also, excessive tardiness disrupts the class and is not acceptable.

o All assigned readings must be read in time for class discussion. Reading materials will be available on Blackboard

or provided by the instructor. To be safe, always expect a reading quiz if a reading has been assigned.

o 10% of your final grade consists of Individual Work like In-Class Writing, Independent Practice, and Quizzes.

Students will be awarded full credit on a quiz if at least 75% of the answers are correct. Partial or no credit will be

given for poorer performances.

o Another 10% of the final evaluation is Group Work such as Peer Review, Collaborative Activities, and Discussions.

Writing/Research Assignment

Original

Due Date

Revision

Deadline

%Points

Possible

Points

Earned

1: Advocacy in a Rhetorical Context (No Revision) 2

2: Confirmation and Refutation Paragraphs (No Revision) 5

3: Entering an Academic Debate 10

4: Working Bibliography (No Revision) 3

5: Formal Project Proposal (No Revision) 3

6: Annotated Bibliography Day of the Final Exam 10

7: Literature Review Day of the Final Exam 10

8: ICR Self-Analysis (No Revision) 2

9: Research-Based Argument Day of the Final Exam 25

Presentation of Research 5

Individual Work 10

Group Work 10

Final Exam 5

Total Possible 100

90-100 = A 80-89 = B 70-79 = C 60-69 = D Below 60 = F

Students may request to know their current grade at any time, but grades will not be posted on Blackboard.

Extra credit assignments may be made available to the entire class if and when the instructor deems it prudent.

Department policy dictates that no Honors contracts will be available for this course.

Bloom – ENG 102 – page 4

ACADEMIC HONESTY POLICY

The English Department at Scottsdale Community College has this to say about academic dishonesty: “Plagiarism is the

act of using another person‟s ideas or words (phrases, sentences, paragraphs, or essays) and presenting them as one‟s own.

Even when one paraphrases material, he or she must still give credit to the source. Some (but not all) of the instances

which constitute plagiarism are listed below:

1. Borrowing from an anonymous author and signing one‟s own name

2. Copying from another student‟s paper

3. Taking a paragraph from another source and enlarging on it to write an essay without properly indicating the

source

4. Presenting an idea or language which is not original and not properly indicating the source (published or

unpublished material)

5. Buying a professionally prepared paper and turning it in as one‟s own

6. Having another student do one‟s paper for him/her

7. Directly quoting material or statistics, dates, etc. and omitting the quotation marks with or without including the

source of the material

Since all students on the college level, especially ENG 101 and ENG 102, are supposed to have reading and

comprehension skills adequate for understanding the above definition and for fulfilling the requirements of these courses,

instructors believe that plagiarism is intolerable; consequently, the student will receive an F in the course for

plagiarism. A letter will then be sent to the Dean of Students advising him/her of this action.” We will be working

throughout the semester on methods of research and composition that will help to avoid inadvertent plagiarism.

CODE OF CIVILITY

Instructors are expected to be professional, courteous, respectful and empathic to students. They will:

Begin and end class on time

Be prepared for each class session

Provide academic feedback and grade assignments in

a timely manner

Be available for individual consultation

Clarify assignments and inform students of any

adjustments to the class schedule

Students are expected to be reflective, courteous, respectful and emphatic to classmates, instructor, and other college staff

assisting in their learning. Students are expected to arrive on time for class and remain until class has ended. The

instructor should be notified in advance if there is a need to leave early. Students will be expected to:

Silence mobile electronic devices before entering

classroom

Be in class and be on time

Be prepared for class sessions

Participate in class activities

Follow instructions and complete assignments

Keep up with and turn in assignments by due dates

Put forth their best efforts

Exchange phone numbers with two classmates in

order to keep current

Ask questions when they don‟t understand

Maintain knowledge of their grade status

Contact instructor right away about concerns or

situations that interfere with their success in class

Comply with policies found in the SCC Catalog and

SCC Student Handbook

Students that behave in such a way in class as to distract their peers and/or deter a better comprehension of the material

may ultimately be withdrawn from the course. We have to work together to get through what can sometimes seem like

difficult or dry material (although it is only slightly difficult and not really very boring), and any dissatisfaction with the

material or topic should be addressed directly to the professor.

Everyone in this class, including the instructor, must adhere to the policy of the Maricopa Community College District

which states: “The policy of the Maricopa County Community College District (MCCCD) is to provide an educational,

employment, and business environment free of unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal

and/or physical conduct or communications constituting sexual harassment as defined and otherwise prohibited by state

and federal law.” For additional information, please check SCC‟s General Catalog & Student Handbook.

Bloom – ENG 102 – page 5

ACADEMIC SUPPORT AND ACCOMMODATIONS A variety of student services can be accessed online. Please refer to the SCC Student Home Page at

http://www.scottsdalecc.edu/college-resources . Services are free of charge to all registered SCC students.

Check the following websites for information and operating hours:

Writing Center, Room LC379, http://www.sc.maricopa.edu/writingcenter/

Open Computer Lab, Room BU133W, http://www.sc.maricopa.edu/its/Services/Labs.html

Counseling Center, Room SC108, http://www.sc.maricopa.edu/counseling/

Advisement Center, Room SC118, http://www.sc.maricopa.edu/advisement/

Students with disabilities who believe that they may need accommodations in this class are encouraged to contact

Disability Resources & Services office, Building SC-144, 480-423-6517.

Students may initiate an official withdrawal from any course by submitting a withdrawal form with required signatures to

the A&R office within published deadlines. Failure to attend any classes is not a guarantee for a refund or an excuse of

debt incurred through registration. The official date of withdrawal will be the last date of attendance as determined by

student withdrawal or report of the instructor. Failure to file an official withdrawal form within the deadlines can result in

a failing grade. Refer to the General Catalog for more information.

SCHEDULE The following is a tentative schedule of the semester, including major deadlines. The schedule is subject to change

depending on class context. Readings are listed on the date when they will be discussed in class, so read them

beforehand. Many dates do not yet have a specific reading. The instructor may provide class-specific texts in order to

address important concepts or favorite topics of discussion. There may be a reading quiz at the beginning of any class

period for which a reading has been designated. Please note that the page numbers listed below for Asking the Right

Questions refer to the searchable document reader pages, not those in the actual facsimile. Assignments completed

electronically (via email, Turnitin.com, or Blackboard) are due by 11:59 p.m. on the date listed unless otherwise noted.

Phase One – Understanding Context___________________________________________________________________

Week One

4 September: Introductions; Course Overview; Summary of ARQ chap. 1; Rhetorical Contexts

WA1: Advocacy in a Rhetorical Context assigned

6 September: Diagnostic Activity; Report v. Argument

Read “Mental Habits that Betray Us” (Handout)

Course Agreement Form due Sunday, September 9 (Turnitin.com) Syllabus Quiz due Sunday, September 9 (Blackboard) WA1: Advocacy in a Rhetorical Context due Sunday, September 9 (Turnitin.com)

Phase Two – Basics of Argumentation__________________________________________________________________

Week Two

11 September: Topics, Issues, Conclusions, and Reasons

Read ARQ chap. 2 and 3 (29-49)

13 September: The Classical Argument – Confirmation and Refutation

WA2: Confirmation and Refutation Paragraphs assigned

Bloom – ENG 102 – page 6

Week Three

18 September: Evidence - Read ARQ chap. 8 and 9 (117-150)

Summary, Paraphrase, and Quotation

20 September: The Classical Argument (Revisited)

WA2: Confirmation and Refutation Paragraphs due (Turnitin.com)

WA3: Entering an Academic Debate assigned

Phase Three – Evaluating Arguments and Using Research_________________________________________________

Week Four

25 September: Ambiguity - Read ARQ chap. 4 (51-66)

Assumptions - Read ARQ chap. 5 and 6 (67-96)

Constructive Feedback

27 September: Peer Review of WA3 (in class)

WA3: Entering an Academic Debate due Sunday, September 30 (Turnitin.com)

Week Five

2 October: Plagiarism - Read “Plagiarism and Academic Integrity” (Handout) Research Topic due

4 October: Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary Sources

Web Sources and Electronic Databases

WA4: Working Bibliography assigned

LAST DAY FOR WITHDRAWAL WITHOUT SIGNATURE OF INSTRUCTOR

Week Six

9 October: Logical Fallacies - Read ARQ chap.7 (97-116)

WA4: Working Bibliography due (email or hard copy to instructor)

WA5: Formal Project Proposal assigned

11 October: Causation - Read ARQ chap. 10 (151-168)

WA5: Formal Project Proposal due (email or hard copy to instructor)

WA6: Annotated Bibliography assigned

Week Seven

16 October: Deceptive Statistics - Read ARQ chap. 11 (169-180)

Ongoing Discussion of Issues Begins

18 October: WA6: Annotated Bibliography due (Turnitin.com)

Bloom – ENG 102 – page 7

Week Eight

23 October: Omitted Information - Read ARQ chap. 12 (181-194)

25 October: WA7: Literature Review due (Turnitin.com)

Phase Four – Your Argument_________________________________________________________________________

Week Nine

30 October: WA8: ICR Self-Analysis due

1 November: Peer Review Introduction to WA9 (in class)

Week Ten

6 November: Qualifying Conclusions - Read ARQ chap. 13 (195-206)

8 November: First Draft of WA9 due (Turnitin.com)

Week Eleven

13 November: Conferences (No class meeting)

15 November: Conferences (No class meeting)

Week Twelve

20 November: Peer Review second draft of WA9 (in class)

LAST DAY FOR WITHDRAWAL WITH SIGNATURE OF INSTRUCTOR

22 November: Thanksgiving Recess (NO CLASS)

Week Thirteen

27 November: Presentations

WA9: Research-Based Argument due by the beginning of class (Turnitin.com)

29 November: Presentations

Week Fourteen

4 December: Presentations; Review for Final Exam

6 December: Review for Final Exam

Week Fifteen

Final Exam—Thursday, December 13 – 7:30a-9:20a

*Revisions of Writing Assignments 6, 7, and 9 due at the end of final exam period (optional)*