ENGLISH COMPOSITION 102

Catalogue Description. Freshman Composition II. 0-3-3. Preq., English 100 or 101. Continues the work of Composition I; includes the preparation of a research paper from library sources.

Nature and Purpose

• English 102 should be regarded principally as a writing course. As such, the course is intended as a complement to English 101. Writing skills used in the first course should be augmented and further refined in the second.
• The research paper should be a major part of the course and should demonstrate a diversity of writing skills.
• The short stories, poetry, and drama taught in English 102 should be used to generate topics and to serve as material for student essays and research.

1. Assign no fewer than five 500-700 word essays. At least one of the essays should be revised and rewritten completely after the initial evaluation, preferably for a grade. Topics for student essays should come from the literary works studied in the course.
2. Assign a research paper of 1,750-2,000 words. The paper should be written on a literary or linguistic topic, preferably one selected from Literature, and should be drawn from a minimum of eight (8) sources, each cited at least once in the body of the paper. Documentation for the research paper should follow the new MLA style as demonstrated in both textbooks.
3. The essays and research paper make up 70% of the course grade.
4. An essay final of 350-450 words should be given during the last week of classes. Topics should not be given in advance but should be assigned at the beginning of the examination period.

Readings in The Bedford Introduction to Literature.

Six essays, including a research paper and a final, will be assigned during the quarter. You should turn in your paper in class on time. A paper not submitted in class on the due date is late. Submit your essays on time. YOU MUST SUBMIT ALL SIX ESSAYS TO PASS THE COURSE. YOU MUST PASS THE FINAL TO PASS THE COURSE. COMPLETE ANY MAKE-UP WORK BEFORE FINALS WEEK.

• Class attendance is regarded as an obligation as well as a privilege, and all students are expected to attend regularly and punctually all classes in which they are enrolled.
• I shall keep a permanent attendance record for this class. This record is subject to inspection by appropriate college or university officials.
• Regular attendance will help you understand your assignments and complete them on schedule. I encourage you to attend unless you absolutely cannot avoid being absent.
• Attendance will be worth 10% of your grade.

1. OUT-OF-CLASS papers MUST BE TYPED. Illegible handwritten papers will be returned ungraded; legible papers will be graded, but with a penalty assessed. I encourage you to learn to use a computerized word-processing program. It can save time, aid proofreading, and improve the appearance of an essay.
2. In-class papers MUST be written in ink.
3. Use one side of the paper only.
4. Use standard 8 1/2" by 11" white paper. Loose leaf or typewriter paper please--no frazzled edges ripped from notebooks.
5. All essays, whether hand-written or typed, must by DOUBLE SPACED.
6. Use margins of at least an inch on each side of the paper. Leave a 1.5" margin on the right-hand side.
7. Papers should be folded vertically with the following information on the outside cover: name, section, theme assignment, instructor's name, and date.
8. KEEP A PAPER COPY OF THE FINAL DRAFT IN YOUR OWN FILES. It is the cheapest insurance you can buy.
9. Turn in one 12 inch folder with your name, course, and section number on the tab.

Research Paper Schedule

• Library orientation at Wyley Tower.
• Select a research topic by this date. (Literary work from the text or one of the collateral novels.)
• Submit a bibliography of 10 works (books & journal articles).
• Submit notes taken from 3 sources.
• Submit thesis (problem or purpose for research) and outline.
• Intense research: note checks in class.
• Submit outline and introduction
• Submit a rough draft of the research paper.
• Submit the final draft of the research paper.

Conferences are encouraged during the quarter. They will be used to discuss your specific writing strengths and/or weaknesses. Try to make your appointment when you have a rough draft so we can work on it together.

You must sign the plagiarism statement for English 099/100/101/102 (located at the beginning of the Freshman Composition Course Packet) and turn it in by the second day of class.  Your work (journals, homework, in-class work, and papers) will not be accepted or graded until I receive the signed plagiarism statement.