Instructions for Developing Syllabus for English Composition II
In order to insure
consistent student outcomes in this course, instructors
teaching Composition II should use these guidelines when developing a syllabus
for their classes. You must include a
copy of the common syllabus for Composition II in your syllabus. Include
in addition the information noted with an asterisk.
Course title
Course name
Course ID number, including section number
Class meeting times
Class location
Faculty name
Faculty email address
Faculty office location, office phone, office hours
Semester and year
Include a description of the course, including what
perspectives you have on the subject matter and the course, etc.
Include a short statement about the teaching methods you will use and
describe the process you will use to evaluate performance (essays, etc.)
[Faculty Information] Minimum Class Requirements for Students in All
Composition II Classes
In order to receive credit for Composition II, the minimum requirement for each Composition II student will be to
1.
take
the pre- and post-assessment tests;
2.
write five graded essay equivalents,1 including not less than three
graded expository essays, using multi-disciplinary and/or literary works as
supporting evidence, one of the three
graded essays being a researched and documented expository essay, and all
graded essays reflecting the writing process and containing a stated thesis
statement;
3.
use
selections from each of the required textbooks, including multi-disciplinary
essays chosen from four of the following
areas: social science, natural science, film, pop culture, and literature;
4.
write
paragraph answers to essay test questions, in accordance with guidelines in the Guide
to College Writing;
5. write one or more graded
short essays (SAT/ACT style) in class in 50 minutes.
1 Essay
equivalents may include a major revision project, a series of seven or more
essay question answers, a series of five or more summary and evaluation
combinations. Individual instructors may
require more assignments, exercises, projects, essays, etc., but may NOT require
less.
* Grade Composition
Grades will be based on the following:
[Faculty Information]: Grading Sheet
A grading sheet, i.e., a composition rubric is printed in the Guide
to College Writing.
NOTES:
q
Documented papers
(papers assigned which should be documented) may lose additional points if
incorrectly documented. For example, a paper might lose 10-20 points if it lacks
correct Works Cited format and 10-20 points if it lacks internal, parenthetical
documentation, etc.
q
The academic rubric in the Guide
to College Writing is designed for basic grading. Certain sections may
receive more emphasis and therefore more points based on the information for the
assignment.
[Faculty Information] Attendance Policy
Instructors should develop an attendance policy that allows for
emergencies but that also expresses the importance of student presence.
Include a statement about late work and extra credit, if any.
[Faculty Information] Late Work
Instructors should develop a late-work policy that allows students to
submit late work and be assessed appropriate penalties.
For example, some instructors have a policy that says late work is
penalized 10% per day up to 30% and that no late work is accepted more than two
weeks after the initial submission date.
Include a schedule with assignment deadlines, test dates (if applicable),
assigned readings, etc.
[Faculty
Information] Revision of Class Content and Assessment Procedures
This common syllabus will be revised yearly. Suggestions are welcome.
Evaluation of the writing program will be conducted every year. Data collected will be evaluated, and changes in the program will be considered and implemented appropriately. Evaluation criteria will be determined during this process. Examples of evaluation criteria that may be considered include students’ scores in the context of GPA, gender, age, and perceived necessity for remediation. Course syllabi may be reviewed if a weakness in the program is determined by the evaluation process.