Description:

Because so much writing is required in college and in the workplace demands the ability to synthesize information gathered from various sources, Composition II will focus on skills essential to gathering, comprehending, analyzing, evaluating and synthesizing information. Composition II also emphasizes organizing and polishing steps important in composing expository, evaluative and persuasive prose. 3 hrs./wk. This course may be offered as a Learning Communities (LCOM) section, see current credit schedule for LCOM details.

Supplies: Refer to the instructor’s course syllabus for details about any supplies that may be required.

Textbook(s): For information see - http://bookstore.jccc.net

Course Fees: NONE

Course Objectives:

Upon successful completion of this course the student should be able to:

1. Integrate the research process into the basic writing process.
2. Begin writing tasks with appropriate methods for discovering ideas, gathering materials, and comprehending concepts from secondary sources.
3. Decide on a suitable controlling idea and arrangement of supporting ideas for compositions with explanatory, evaluative, and argumentative purposes drawing on secondary sources (including field, library and on-line sources).
4. Write essays that synthesize original positions with the ideas of others and develop the student's thesis with critically sound and interesting sources.
5. Make and assist others to make significant revisions in the organization and development of ideas using comments from the instructor and/or other students.
6. Develop a written style within the conventions of standard edited prose.
7. Demonstrate ability to read and think critically about texts:
8. Profile texts and determine appropriate audiences and potential biases.
9. Comprehend and summarize the content and intention of academic texts.
10. Evaluate the biases and reliability of sources.

Content Outline & Competencies:

I. Students Will Integrate the Research Process into the Basic Writing
Process
   A. Begin a writing task by using appropriate methods for discovering
ideas and gathering materials appropriate to a range of purposes and
subjects.
      1. Demonstrate ability to read and formulate objectives of an
assignment.
      2. Locate supporting materials and evidence from
field/library/on-line research, including professional journals.
      3. Read, comprehend, and summarize appropriate sources.
   B. Decide on a suitable controlling idea and arrangement for the
supporting ideas.
      1. Develop and express a controlling idea for papers that reflect
the range of assignments and audiences for academic writing across the
curriculum.
      2. Select a pattern of organization appropriate to support a complex
thesis.
      3. Demonstrate ability to write explanatory, evaluative, and
argumentative papers drawing on secondary sources.
   C. Write an essay that synthesizes original positions with the ideas of
others and develops the student's thesis with critically sound and
interesting sources.
      1. Analyze, organize, introduce and interpret evidence that supports
the essay's main idea.
      2. Critically select and utilize evidence free of logical
fallacies.
      3. Develop arguments using principles of logic (syllogism,
enthymemes, presuppositions, etc.).
      4. Effectively integrate and correctly punctuate appropriate support
into a text including quotations, examples, and statistics.
      5. Account for other viewpoints, including the opinions of people
who hold different political, religious, or cultural views.
      6. Write introductions that effectively introduce a topic (including
its vocabulary, importance, and appropriate historical background) to a
specific audience and conclusions that reinforce the writer's point and
brings closure to the text.
      7. Paraphrase and summarize complex written sources effectively.
      8. Document outside sources with appropriate in-text and
parenthetical citations.
   D. Make and assist others to make significant revisions in the
organization and  development of ideas using comments from the instructor
and/or other students.
      1. Revise organizational patterns to allow ideas to progress more
smoothly and logically through coherent sentences, paragraphs, and major
points of development.
      2. Insert additional materials where needed for support and
eliminate repetitive, irrelevant or ineffective and unreliable
information.
      3. Critique the work of peers to assist them in improving the focus,
organization, support, clarity, correctness and effectiveness of their
essay.
   E. Develop a written style within the conventions of standard edited
prose.
      1. Select and correctly use vocabulary appropriate to the topic and
audience.
      2. Write sentences that grammatically convey clear and complex
relationships.
      3. Use figurative language appropriately to add clarity and
interest.
      4. Edit prose into standard edited English.

II.   Students Will Demonstrate Ability to Read and Think Critically About
Texts
   A. Profile texts and determine potential biases.
      1. Identify approximate demographics for ideal audience of
individual articles, journals, books, and student essays.
      2. Determine biases or viewpoints appealed to through analysis of
the vocabulary, support, and organization of a text.
   B. Comprehend the content and intention of academic texts.
      1. Summarize an article's content effectively.
      2. Describe the author's intention or agenda.
   C. Evaluate the biases and reliability of sources.
      1. Identify language that reveals a bias.
      2. Distinguish and identify arguments based in logos, pathos and
ethos.
      3. Locate logical fallacies in student and professional texts
independently.
      4. Recognize personal and cultural biases that influence readers. 

Methods of Evaluation of Competencies:

Evaluation of student mastery of course competencies will be accomplished using the following methods:

      6-8 papers (including a major research paper)   60-80%
      Peer review                                      5-10%
      Prewriting and in-class writing assignments     15-35%
                TOTAL                                   100%

Final Grades:
      A   90% -  100%      
      B   80% - 89.9%   
      C   70% - 79.9%        
      D   60% - 69.9% 
      F     under 60%

Caveats: NONE

Disabilities:

If you are a student with a disability, and if you will be requesting accommodations, it is your responsibility to contact Access Services. Access Services will recommend any appropriate accommodations to your professor and his/her director. The professor and director will identify for you which accommodations will be arranged.

JCCC provides a range of services to allow persons with disabilities to participate in educational programs and activities. If you desire support services, contact the office of Access Services for Students With Disabilities (913) 469-8500, ext. 3521 or TDD (913) 469-3885. The Access Services office is located in the Success Center on the second floor of the Student Center.