English Web Home

Back to EN120b

Back to Courses

EN120b Expository Writing II
Course Outline / Revised December 2000

I. COURSE OBJECTIVES

A. General Objectives

The goal of this course is to improve student’s research, expository writing, and critical thinking skills. The course will provide the student’s with the basic skills necessary to write research-supported papers in the humanities and sciences.

B. Specific Objectives

Students will be able to:

1. use summary and paraphrase skills.
2. use outlining skills.
3. demonstrate a knowledge of note-taking skills.
4. develop a research thesis or hypothesis.
5. demonstrate knowledge of primary and secondary sources.
6. conduct interviews and surveys for research purposes.
7. conduct research using the internet, CD-ROM, and library.
8. demonstrate the ability to incorporate research into a research paper.
9. demonstrate a knowledge of proper citation and avoid plagiarism.
10. demonstrate a knowledge of different rhetorical styles and their uses in humanities, science, and social science research.
11. write an argumentative essay supported by research.

II. COURSE CONTENTS

Topics covered in this course:

1. Review of rhetorical patterns learned in Expository Writing I.
2. Summary, paraphrase, and note-taking skills.
3. Thesis development and argumentation.
4. Outlining.
5. Research methods, including how to use interviews, surveys, internet (e.g. search engines, e-mail, discussion lists…), library, and CD-ROM resources in research.
6. Content areas, as chosen by the instructor.

Course-work will include (at least) three short research papers. The research topics will be chosen by the instructor from the areas of humanities, science, and social science.

III. TEXTBOOKS

Ruszkiewisz, John and Janice R. Walker. Bookmarks: A Guide to Research and Writing. Longman, 2000. (web site)

Supplemental Texts:

Hult, Christine A., Thomas N. Huckin. The New Century Handbook. Boston: Allyn and
Bacon, 2000.

Meriwether, Nell W. 12 Easy Steps to Successful Research Papers. Lincolnwood, IL:
National Textbook Company, 1997.

Spencer, Carolyn M., Beverly Arbon. Foundations of Writing: Developing Academic
Writing Skills. Lincolnwood, IL: National Textbook Company, 1997.

IV. REQUIRED COURSE MATERIALS

Blank floppy disk.

V. REFERENCE MATERIALS

Gibaldi, Joseph. MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers. 5th Edition. New York:
The Modern Language Association of America, 1999.

VI. INSTRUCTIONAL COST

There are no special costs associated with this course.

VII. METHODS OF INSTRUCTION

Instructor may use, but is not limited to, lecture, group discussion, on-line groups, web-based documents, and research activities.
Instructor’s may call upon faculty from other divisions to guest lecture in specialized content areas that the class is researching.

VIII. EVALUATION

Student’s will be graded based upon their research essays, homework, quizzes, tests, and in-class participation.

Student’s who commit major and willful plagiarizing in their research papers will be referred to the division chair (or appropriate administrator). These students may be removed from the class or brought before the student conduct board.

There is no credit-by-examination for Expository Writing II.

IX. ATTENDANCE POLICY

COM-FSM attendance policies apply.