COMPOSITION II
Welcome to English 1102!
ENGLISH 1102 | IAI C1 901R
Why do we perform research, and what does it mean to practice research? Who produces higher quality research - scientists? Or your friend who uploads his thoughts on YouTube? We will examine all of this in our time together. The last several years have shown us that understanding, interpreting, and sharing quality information are essential skills, but the sheer amount of unverified information available to us 24/7 has made it increasingly harder to discern fact from fiction, true from lie, and good intent from bad intent. Further, artificial intelligence and machine learning-- while (sort of) useful and exciting--generate video, audio, text, "deepfakes," and "cheapfakes" that can weaken our trust, safety, freedom, and democracy.
This semester we will encounter readings, videos, audio, images, and any other relevant materials that will help us understand why ethical research matters. By the end of the course each of you should have a better sense of how to incorporate research into your writing and your everyday life. Most importantly, you should have a clear of understanding of how research not only satisfies your curiosity about the world, but also expands your knowledge, changes your attitudes, challenges your beliefs, and strengthens your values.
Office hours and location:
Mon: 10 am - 3:20 pm BIC 2447A
Tue, Wed, Thu: 7 - 8:20 pm (virtual)
:: COURSE DESCRIPTION ::
Course Catalog Description: Builds upon the rhetoric, reading, and writing concepts introduced in English Composition I by having students compose inquiry-driven research projects. In their research process, students find and select the most appropriate sources to address research questions that are intended for a discourse community. Students integrate sources meaningfully for support and present their findings via the forms of media and genre that suit the project’s objectives. Repeatable for credit: No. Prerequisite: ENGLI 1101 English Composition 1 with a grade of "C" or better, or equivalent.
Section Overview: This class will teach the basics of discourse, argumentative writing, and research methods. We will evaluate print and digital texts by conducting research using library-curated and Google Scholar resources. We will hone your skills in academic research, argumentative writing, and discourse analysis. We will practice summarizing, paraphrasing, quoting, analyzing, and synthesizing the views of writers and experts in the field. Ultimately, you will begin to apprehend the fundamental role of rhetoric (i.e., persuasion) within the world of online and academic discourse, while also learning about knowledge creation, bias, credibility, objectivity, and writing in the digital world. In sum, through classroom discussions, assignments, and a final project, this class promises to make you a better writer, reader, thinker, and researcher.
:: LEARNING OBJECTIVES ::
Upon successful completion of the course the student should be able to do the following:
Practice writing as a process involving inquiry, research, feedback, and revision
Analyze a rhetorical situation within a discourse community
Identify an issue relevant to a discourse community, a research question, a research plan, and digital and/or print media and genre(s) in which to present research findings to an audience
Assess the feasibility of the research inquiry
Build a body of research in the various stages of the research process
Evaluate the credibility of a variety of sources
Analyze arguments presented in sources
Develop research-supported arguments that address an issue relevant to a discourse community
Incorporate responses from instructor(s) and peers as part of the revision and editing process
Create researched print and/or digital texts that respond to rhetorical situations
Use suitable methods of citation
:: REQUIRED MATERIALS AND TEXTS ::
We will use Google Classroom - not Blackboard - to complete and submit work. You will receive a code to join our class. Don't share this code with anyone who is not enrolled in our course such as a parent, relative, guardian, or friend.
Students must have their own personal Gmail account - not an account they share with a parent or guardian and not an account affiliated with their high school or employer. Giving someone else access to our course or your Gmail account is a serious violation of the student code of conduct.
Your student ID is your library account, and you must get it activated within the first week of the course so you can have access to COD databases for your research. Even if you attend another university or college, you are still a COD student so please take care of this asap.