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:
EMAIL (checked Mon-Thu):
OFFICE:
OFFICE HOURS:

Matthew Bloom
matthew.bloom@sccmail.maricopa.edu
LC 337
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 Writers 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 dont 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 courses 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.coms 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 SCCs 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 wont 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 cant 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 students final evaluation depends upon in class activities that
cant 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

1: Advocacy in a Rhetorical Context

2: Confirmation and Refutation Paragraphs
3: Entering an Academic Debate
4: Working Bibliography
5: Formal Project Proposal
6: Annotated Bibliography
7: Literature Review
8: ICR Self-Analysis
9: Research-Based Argument

Revision
%Points Points
Deadline
Possible Earned
(No Revision)
2
(No Revision)
5
10
(No Revision)
3
(No Revision)
3
Day of the Final Exam
10
Day of the Final Exam
10
(No Revision)
2
Day of the Final Exam
25

Presentation of Research
Individual Work
Group Work

5
10
10

Final Exam

Total Possible
90-100 = A

100
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 persons ideas or words (phrases, sentences, paragraphs, or essays) and presenting them as ones 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 ones own name
2. Copying from another students 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 ones own
6. Having another student do ones 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 available for individual consultation
Be prepared for each class session
Clarify assignments and inform students of any
adjustments to the class schedule
Provide academic feedback and grade assignments in
a timely manner
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
Exchange phone numbers with two classmates in
classroom
order to keep current
Be in class and be on time
Ask questions when they dont understand
Be prepared for class sessions
Maintain knowledge of their grade status
Participate in class activities
Contact instructor right away about concerns or
situations that interfere with their success in class
Follow instructions and complete assignments
Comply with policies found in the SCC Catalog and
Keep up with and turn in assignments by due dates
SCC Student Handbook
Put forth their best efforts
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 SCCs 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 ExamThursday, December 13 7:30a-9:20a
*Revisions of Writing Assignments 6, 7, and 9 due at the end of final exam period (optional)*