Bering Strait School District

1103 Composition II Syllabus

Course Description:
1103 Composition II guides students through the expository writing process through close
reading of contemporary critical discourse and teaches the rhetorical arts of argument and
persuasion through critical thinking, reading and research. Students will develop an
understanding of themselves as readers and writers of culture as they participate in public
discourse about writing; examine the relationship among writer, audience, and purpose; and
practice writing prose through a recursive process. Students completing this course should
be able to write persuasive/argumentative, researched, and documented compositions,
demonstrating the conventions of standard written English and manuscript presentation
while having command of the English language.
Course Objectives:
Students will be able to:
1.
Analyze, evaluate, and document various sources, using MLA and APA format
2.
Identify, select, and analyze appropriate research methods, research questions,
and evidence for a specific rhetorical situation
3.
Use argumentative strategies and genres in order to engage various audiences
4.
Use grammatical, stylistics, and mechanical formats and conventions appropriate
to rhetorical situations and audience constraints
5.
Produce well-reasoned, argumentative essays demonstrating rhetorical
engagement
6.
Study, analyze, evaluate, and interpret the elements of literary genres, such as
poetry, non-fiction, fiction, drama, short story
7.
Reflect on what contributed to their writing process and evaluate their own work
Course Requirement:
Students will be required to complete at least two literary analysis writing assignments
(1000 words or more), two argumentative compositions (1000 words or more) and two
analytical research papers (1500 words or more). Students must use techniques of logical
argumentation, analyze various genres, use a wide variety of sources, and correctly evaluate,
use, and cite sources in their writings.