English 1201 - English Composition II

Dual Credit 3 hours of college credit

Mrs. C. Tieman ctieman@wayne-local.com
Prerequisite(s): ENG 1101

Sinclair CC

WHS

Course Description: This course is a continuation of skills and aptitudes from English 1101, where
development and mastery of rhetorical literacy through research, critical reading and multigenre
writing tasks are the focus. Students will compose major and minor writings, create cumulative and
stand-alone pieces, construct arguments and analyses, and ethically incorporate academic sources
while maintaining voice.
Required Text:
Kirszner & Mandell. Patterns for College Writing Tenth Edition. Boston: Bedford/St. Martins, 2007.
Required Materials: Three-ring binder with dividers, filler paper, highlighters, post-it notes
(size/color student preference), ink pens
Course Outcomes: a) think, read, and write critically for all assignments; b) know and use standard
writing conventions in all submitted work; c) choose accurate mode, audience, purpose for each
assignment; d) demonstrate true revision and editing as to increase quality of pieces; e) show solid
support for ideas either original or borrowed.

Assignments for English 1201:

Paper #1: This I Believe essay due___________________
Follow the THIS I BELIEVE website guidelines: Be specific. Take your belief out of the ether and ground
it in the events of your life. Consider moments when belief was formed or tested or changed. Think
of your own experience, work, and family, and tell of the things you know that no one else does.
Your story need not be heart-warming or gut-wrenchingit can even be funnybut it should be real.
Make sure your story ties to the essence of your daily life philosophy and the shaping of your beliefs.
500-600 words/typed pages, MLA format
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Paper #2: Epic Analysis due___________________
Select a specific element to analyze more thoroughly from the epic Beowulf for an audience of
knowing peers and/or English teachers. Go beyond the obvious as you explain something interesting
or noteworthy from the reading. From historical perspectives, to archetypal characters, to 21 st
century connections, make this piece uniquely yours by way of voice, tone, and style. Remember this
is a formal paper!
Three (3) to Four (4) typed pages, MLA format (remember to use present verb tense when analyzing literature
and that authors should be referred by their full names in the introduction. Thereafter, just the last name will suffice.)

Paper #3: Short Story Analysis due_________________

Compare and contrast two short stories. Your comparison may be based on character, theme,
structure, writing style, or a combination of things. Perhaps the two stories say very different
things about the same theme. Perhaps two characters react similarly to very different challenges.
Perhaps two stories are similar in every way but writing style. How you compare and contrast
them is up to you.
Select your stories carefullyas the best essay responses go beyond the mere pointing out of
likenesses and contrarieties. In other words, it is important to address the significance of the
comparison/contrastanswer the So what? question. Maybe the two selections say something
particularly poignant about the culture or the time. Maybe the themes are universally appealing
(and why might they be so?). Make significant points and connections that go beyond the obvious.
Three (3) to Four (4) typed pages, MLA format (remember to use present verb tense when analyzing literature
and that authors should be referred by their full names in the introduction. Thereafter, just the last name will suffice.)

__________________________________________________________________________________
Paper #4: Poetry Analysis due____________________
Choose a poem (from the selected list) and reveal its literal and interpretive connotations. Use
TPCASTT (see handout) to aid in the process of peeling back the layers of meaning. (Note: It may be
necessary to review poetic devices or at least have a reference handy!)
Birches or Mending Wall by Robert Frost
Aubade by Philip Larkin
Wuthering Heights or Spinster by Sylvia Plath
Telephone Conversation by Wole Soyinka
Spring and All by William Carlos Williams
Sailing to Byzantium by William Butler Yeats
War is Kind by Stephen Crane
Diving into the Wreck by Adrienne Rich
The Fish by Elizabeth Bishop
The Story We Know by Martha Collins
A Blessing by James Wright
Rite of Passage by Sharon Olds
The Waking by Theodore Roethke
The Indifferent by John Donne
The History Teacher by Billy Collins
Three (3) to Four (4) typed pages, MLA format (remember to use present verb tense when analyzing literature
and that authors should be referred by their full names in the introduction. Thereafter, just the last name will suffice.)

__________________________________________________________________________________
Paper #5: Scholarship Essay due___________________
Choose a scholarship (hopefully one you will truly submit!) and follow the guidelines/criteria as given.
Attach the original prompt/scholarship along with your response. Your writing should focus on clarity
and conciseness without sacrificing important selling details that will influence scholarship award
committees.
Length varies - # of words/typed pages set up according to Scholarship Requirements

Paper #6: The Soundtrack of Your Life Analysis due___________________

Reflect upon the importance of music in your life. Consider the ways in which music has affected
you. It can instantly put you in touch with powerful memories of specific people, relationships,
places, events, experiences, and emotions. Closely examine the role that music has played in your life
and reflect on its importance to you now. To do so, select 3-5 songs that have particular meaning for
you. Print out the lyrics to each song and analyze the words. Be sure to reference specific lines in the
lyrics that are particularly powerful or insightful. Tell what importance each song in your
soundtrack has had on the course of your life. Be specific and clear in your explanations and
connections. Enjoy!
Three (3) to Four (4) typed pages, MLA format (remember to use present verb tense when analyzing
music/artists and that musicians/artists should be referred by their full names in the introduction. Thereafter, just the last
name will suffice.)

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Paper #7: Letter to My Future Self due___________________
Fast forward. Imagine it is now April 2025. What are you doing as a 20-something? How are you
using writing in your career/job? How does writing work into your time outside of work? Project in
a letter addressed to your future self what ways and means you use writing in your everyday world.
What kinds of written communication (besides texting or emailing as these are FORMS of writing
NOT TYPES of writing!) might you be doing? Make logical predictions, according to your life plans
as they currently exist.
Two (2) to Three (3) typed pages, Friendly Letter Style
__________________________________________________________________________________

PORTFOLIO: Final copies of all seven (7) pieces + Reflective Letter

due Monday, 27 April!
Writing Center: A minimum of five (5) writing center conferences are required for the semester.
You may select any five (5) pieces of writing to focus on the revisions. Prepare several targeted
questions or areas of concern prior to each visit to the Writing Center and have the WC tutor sign off
on each of the Writers Agenda forms. Be sure to turn in your WC forms along with the rest of the
drafts and final papers so I can follow your process approach!
Due Dates: Email or hand deliver all writing to me before or on the due dates given. (Expect a
deduction of points for late work.) All prior drafts must be submitted along with the final (also
include the WC forms, if completed), and all final pieces must be typed in MLA style.
The end of term portfolio includes all pieces as well as a reflective letter.
Sinclair Community College - English Department Grading Scale:
100-90 = A; 89-80 = B; 79-70 = C; 69-60 = D; 59-0 = F
Paper Criteria: Refer to the attached rubric for each paper assessment and evaluation. --------
Plagiarism: The Sinclair English Department states that plagiarism is the misuse of source materials and
is unacceptable in student work. At the discretion of the instructor, the penalty for plagiarism may be a cc
for failure of the course itself. Plagiarism is cheating. It is unethical and a violation of the Honor Code.

PORTFOLIO GRADING STANDARDS

Assessment for every piece of writing is based on form, content, and how well assignment guidelines
were followed.
The A portfolio meets all requirements and shows extensive revision; it reflects polished, outstanding
college-level work. The A portfolio shows originality of thought in stating and developing central ideas.
These pieces are clear, logical, and thought-provoking. The A portfolio exhibits all of the positive
qualities of effective writing:
1)
Excellent construction and organization of sentences, paragraphs, and the writing as a whole
2)
Thoughtful choices of effective words and phrases
3)
Clear concentration on main purpose, with concrete development and firm, relevant supports
for every part
4)
Virtually no mechanical, spelling, usage errors.
The A portfolio earns from 90 to 100.
_____________________________________________________________________
The B portfolio meets all requirements and shows substantial revision; it reflects above average collegelevel work. The B portfolio shows a clear focus, with central ideas mostly logical and adequate in
development. These pieces are mostly clear and logical. The B portfolio exhibits most of the positive
qualities of effective writing:
1)
Good construction and organization of sentences, paragraphs, and the writing as a whole
2)
Good choices of words and phrases
3)
Concentration on main purpose, with good development and supports for every part
4)
Few mechanical, spelling, usage errors.
Although the writing is above average, the B portfolio lacks the excellence of thought, development,
and style which characterize the A portfolio.
The B portfolio earns from 89 to 80.
________________________________________________________________________
The C portfolio meets many requirements and shows evidence of revision; it reflects average collegelevel work. The C portfolio shows reasonably clear ideas with fairly adequate development and support
in the writing. These pieces are satisfactorily organized, yet have noticeable errors in the use of English.
The C portfolio exhibits some of the positive qualities of effective writing:
1)
Satisfactory construction and organization of sentences, paragraphs, and the writing as a whole
2)
Satisfactory choices of effective words and phrases
3)
Satisfactory concentration on main purpose, with fairly adequate development and supports
for every part
4)
Some mechanical, spelling, usage errors.
Although the writing may have few issues, the C portfolio lacks the level of thought, development, and
style which characterize the B portfolio.
The C portfolio earns from 79 to 70.
_________________________________________________________________________

The D portfolio does not meet many requirements and shows little or no evidence of revision; it
reflects below average college-level work. The D portfolio shows unclear or incomplete ideas,
inadequate development and support, and/or unclear organization in the writing. The D portfolio
exhibits few of the positive qualities of effective writing:
1)
Unclear construction and organization of sentences, paragraphs, and the writing as a whole
2)
Ineffective choices of effective words and phrases
3)
Lack of concentration on main purpose, with inadequate development and supports
4)
Many mechanical, spelling, usage errors.
The D portfolio lacks the level of thought, development, organization and style which characterize
the C portfolio.
The D portfolio earns from 69 to 60.
_______________________________________________________________________________
Any missing Portfolio or a submitted Portfolio with fewer than ______ entries will constitute an
automatic failing grade.
Portfolios with serious errors or lacking gravely in much of the Portfolio Requirements will also earn
a failing grade.