ENG 120

English Composition

Syllabus
 ENG 120a Syllabus

Table of Contents
Welcome to ENG 120a English Composition 3

Course Learning Outcomes (CLOs) Linked to Program Outcomes 4

Comprehensive Learning Assessments (CLAs) Linked to Program Outcomes and CLOs 5

Course Description 6

Course Outline & Assignments 7

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Professor: Bhawana Shrestha

Email: [email protected]

Office Hours: By Appointment only

University Phone Number: 888-491-8686

Welcome to ENG 120 – English Composition

Hello Students and Welcome to Class,

I am looking forward to working with each of you as we embark on this journey together. Please feel free
to contact me anytime with questions about the course and the assignments described in this syllabus. I
am also happy to provide additional clarification of any assignment, so please do not hesitate to ask
questions. Communication between Students and Instructors is paramount to the overall quality of a
course.

Assessing the individual needs of a student will make the difference between a mediocre and successful
experience, therefore each Professor at Westcliff University has a unique and personal instruction style
that focuses on increasing Student knowledge. As an Instructor, I try to foster an open learning
environment that leads to problem solutions through concept application. My goal is to show students the
many different possibilities available through research and study while providing my own professional
insight. It is my sincere desire to assist you in rising to the rigorous challenge presented by this course.

I check my faculty email—and Global Academic Portal (GAP) (http://gap.westcliff.edu)—accounts

regularly. Please be aware, however, that my schedule varies: I make a sincere effort to respond to emails
and acknowledge/grade submitted assignments within 24-48 hours of receipt, but cannot guarantee that I
will be able to address every concern immediately.

Please contact me with any questions, concerns, or comments you have about the class. Additionally, if
you are unable to participate in class discussion during a particular week, or are unable to meet a deadline,
I require that you contact me in advance to discuss this matter.

Instructor Biography

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Course Learning Outcomes (CLOs) Linked to Program Outcomes

Learning outcomes are statements that describe significant and essential learning that students have
achieved and can reliably demonstrate at the end of the course. Learning outcomes identify what the
student will know and be able to do by the end of a course – the essential and enduring knowledge, abilities
(skills), and attitudes (values, dispositions) that constitute the integrated learning needed by a graduate of
this course. The learning outcomes for this course summarize what students can expect to learn, and how
this course is tied directly to the educational outcomes of the general education program.

Institutional Gen Ed (K) Knowledge

Course Learning Outcomes (CLOs) Learning Program (S) Skill
Outcomes Outcomes (A) Attitude
1. Describe and understand the writing
process: planning, organizing, K, S
1, 2 2, 3, 7
composing, feedback, revisions,
editing, and proofreading.
2. Reproduce effective multi-paragraph
essays that include an introduction, a 1, 6 7 K, S
body, and a conclusion.
3. Analyze arguments so as to construct
ones that are well supported, well-
1, 4, 6 3, 7 K, S, A
reasoned, and controlled by a thesis or
exploratory question.
4. Identify the multi-stage composing and
1, 2 2, 3, 7 K, S
revising process.
5. Evaluate and synthesize evidence for
the purpose of drawing valid 1, 4, 6 7 K, S, A
conclusions.

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Comprehensive Learning Assessments (CLAs) Linked to

Program Outcomes and CLOs
CLAs are comprehensive assignments that provide evidence of how well students have mastered the
course content and test the students on all the course learning outcomes. CLAs measure student
achievement of CLOs in a way that goes beyond rote memorization and gauges true understanding and
mastery of course content.

CLAs directly measure Course Learning Outcomes and indirectly measure General Education Program
Outcomes. The following table shows how CLAs, CLOs, and General Education Program Outcomes are
linked.

Comprehensive Learning Course Learning Outcomes General Education

Assessments (CLAs) (CLOs) Program Outcomes

CLA 1 (Week 4) 1, 3, 4 7

CLA 2 (Week 8) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 7

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 ENG 120a Syllabus

Course Description
COURSE NAME English Composition
CODE ENG 120
TERM Spring 2019 Session 4
INSTRUCTOR Bhawana Shrestha
UNITS 3
ACADEMIC 45
ENGAGEMENT HOURS
PREPARATION HOURS 90
START DATE March 4, 2019
END DATE April 28, 2019
LECTURE (Day/Time) Mondyas 7:00-9:00AM NPT
DISCUSSION (Day/Time) Wednesdays 7:00-9:00AM NPT
LENGTH OF CLASS 8 weeks
Instructor: [email protected]
CONTACT
Technical Support: [email protected]
INFORMATION
Administration/Program: [email protected]
This course is an introductory writing course designed to improve
critical thinking, reading, and writing skills. Students progress from
personal expressive writing to text-based expository essays
COURSE DESCRIPTION
appropriate for an academic audience. Students develop strategies
for turning their experience, observations, and analyses into evidence
suitable for writing in a variety of academic disciplines.
Skwire, D. (2016). Student’s book of college English (14th ed.).
REQUIRED London: Pearson.
TEXTBOOK(S) Print ISBN: 9780134586489, 0134586484
eText ISBN: 9780321998712, 0321998715
If the course is conducted in a hybrid modality: Students interact
with each other and with the faculty in a classroom setting and in an
online learning system. Learning will be facilitated through lecture-
discussions, presentations, cooperative learning, and case studies.
METHOD OF
INSTRUCTION If the course is conducted in online modality: The course is
conducted entirely online. Students interact with each other and with
the faculty in an online learning system. Learning will be facilitated
through quizzes, discussion questions, professional individual
assignments, cooperative learning, and case studies
Student outcomes within the scope will be measured through
discussion questions, professional assignments, attendance and class
SCOPE
participation, as well as CLAs. This ensures that the scope of this
course will be a closed cycle.

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Course Outline & Assignments

WEEK 1 Active Writing CLOs
Finding and Supporting a Thesis
Readings Student’s Book of College English- Chapters 2 and 3
Supplementary Journal Articles
Davidson, J. (2004). Publish this. T + D, 58(5), 112-115.
Owusu, E., Adade-Yeboah, A. (2014). Thesis statement: A vital
element in expository essays. Journal of Language Teaching and
Research, 5(1), 56-62.

Videos
How to Develop a Good Research Topic
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nXNztCLYgxc

What is First Person? Second? Third?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DwcJ2VoYdCg
Discussion Please answer the following question on the GAP: 1, 3, 4
Question 1. This week we have discussed some important methods of
getting started on writing pieces. With respect to the pre-writing
stage, consider what you have learned so far. What are some
ways you can organize your ideas prior to writing? Which one
have you used? Which ones do you consider to be the most and
least effective? Which ones would you be willing to try?
Explain your answer.
Applied Each student is to research a current event that is related to one or
Learning more of the Course Learning Outcomes (CLO) listed in the syllabus.
Assignment You should use the Internet; electronic news agencies, or journals to
(ALA) research a current event should be no more than 1 year old. An analysis
Current should be conducted on your researched current event (related to one or
Events – more CLO’s). Each student must create PowerPoint slide(s) and
Application should include:
 A summary of the event and a brief statement about the relationship of
the current event to the CLO(s).
 As a manager, how would you apply what you have learned to an
organization?
 You must label your slides as Current Event
Prepare a 1-2 slide PowerPoint that you will include in your final
CLA2.
Note: It is expected that you complete this assignment during this
current week; however, there is nothing that must be submitted in this
current week. Just be sure to include your current event slides in your
final CLA2.

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WEEK 2 Planning a Paper- Outlining CLOs

Readings Student’s Book of College English- Chapter 4
Supplementary Journal Articles
Munoz-Luna, R. (2015). Main ingredients for success in L2 academic
writing: Outlining, drafting and proofreading. PLoS One, 10(6), 1-15.
Oermann, M. (2000) Refining outlining skills. AAOHN Journal,
48(11), 515-517.

Videos
Creating an Outline for Your Research Paper
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MEQlqWAPD9A

Four Steps to Pre-Writing

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQbPv3jm1E4
Discussion Prior to reading this DQ, please read the PA1 assignment and 1, 4
Question understand what the assignment is asking you to complete. Once
(DQ directed at you understand the PA1 assignment, please continue to the paragraph
upcoming PA1) below to complete DQ1.

Using the Library Information Resource Network (LIRN), JSTOR, or

any other electronic journal database, research one (1) peer-reviewed
article that can be used to answer your upcoming PA1 assignment.
Your discussion should summarize the article in such a way that it can
justify any arguments you may present in your PA1 assignment and
should be different than the abstract. To summarize means to use
your own words, and not to copy and paste from the article.

Please note: This article summary should not be the only article
researched for your PA1 assignment. You may (and should) have
several other articles researched in order to fully answer your PA1
assignment. The concept of this DQ is to allow students to be proactive
in the research necessary to complete this assignment. You may use
your article summary, partially or in its entirety, in your PA1
assignment.

Important: Please ensure that you insert your citation for the article
and your reference in your discussion post. Depending on which
electronic database you use, you should see a Cite selection for your
article. In addition, there should be a variety of articles summarized
and as such, students should have different articles summarized.
Your summary MUST include ALL of the following (include every
item in the bullet point list below, or you will not receive full credit):
Clearly state what the article is about and its purpose
1. How the article and/or authors support your arguments
2. Most important aspects of the article
3. Any findings and conclusions

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4. Your response should be approximately 200 to 300 words in

length
5. Include the article’s abstract in your posting (your summary
should be original) – remember to identify and cite it as a
direct quote.
6. IMPORTANT - Include the citation for the article

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WEEK 3 Writing Your Paper CLOs

Readings Student’s Book of College English- Chapter 5
Supplementary Journal Articles
Hall Johnson, S. (2001). A memorable ending: Writing the summary
or conclusion. Nurse Author & Editor, 11(4), 7-9.
Marshall, G. (2010). Writing... an introduction. Synergy, 22-24.

Videos
Introduction Paragraph
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4WDclqoGouY

Smooth: Writing Paragraph Transitions

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6gku-vSf9Rk
Discussion Please answer the following question on the GAP: 1, 3, 4
Question What methods can be used for achieving unity and coherence in
writing? Which ones do you consider essential? Support your
reasons.

Applied Each student is to choose one (1) Course Learning Outcome (CLO)
Learning listed in the course syllabus. Using your textbook, LIRN-based
Assignment research, JSTOR.org, the Internet, or any other electronic journal
(ALA) database, research a peer-reviewed article that applies to the CLO you
Current selected AND facilitates answering part of your upcoming CLA1
Events – assignment.
Application
Subsequently, you will include in your CLA1 assignment paper, a
separate and distinct heading titled Personalized CLO Applied
Research. Under this heading, you will provide a minimum of two (2)
paragraphs that should contain the following information and/or details:
 Clearly state what the article is about and its purpose
 How the article and/or author(s) support your argument(s)
 Most important aspects of the article as it directly related to
your CLO
 Any findings and conclusions
 Approximately 150 to 250 words in length (minimum of 2
paragraphs)
 Include the in-text citation in APA format to properly
reference your article

Please be sure to provide justification by citing the article researched

and include the citation in the reference page of your paper.
Professional For this professional assignment, you will reflect upon the topics and 1, 2, 3
Assignment 1 strategies studied throughout these last three weeks. You will use
these strategies as you begin to develop a paper. We will be

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developing this paper little by little. The CLA2 will build on your
PA1, so please plan accordingly. The entire PA1 submission should
be between 750 to 1,000 words.

First, select one of the following thesis statements for your paper:

Thesis 1: It is almost impossible to separate fake news from facts on

the Internet.
Thesis 2: College education is worth striving for and essential to the
development of a country.
Thesis 3: Corporal punishment should be used in K-12 schools.

Using the strategies you have learned so far, limit your topic and
brainstorm the body of your paper by outlining your ideas. After
creating an outline, write an introduction which includes a strong
thesis and identifies the three main points you will make throughout
your paper. You may use your textbook and any other resources you
consider appropriate to support your thoughts. Submit your outline as
PA1.

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WEEK 4 Revising, Editing, and Proofreading Your Paper CLOs

Readings Student’s Book of College English- Chapter 6
Supplementary Journal Articles
Dix, S. (2006). I'll do it my way: Three writers and their revision
practices. The Reading Teacher, 59(6), 566-573.
Bernstein, B. (2008). Writing, rewriting, and working through.
Psychoanalytic Inquiry, 28(4), 450-464.

Videos
Five Steps to Improving Your Proofreading
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JRVL8f-_TPw

Otis College: Peer Writing Review Process

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=24apK7i32xg
Discussion Prior to reading this DQ, please read the CLA1 assignment and 1, 3, 4
Questions understand what the assignment is asking you to complete. Once
(DQ directed at you understand the CLA1 assignment, please continue to the
upcoming CLA1) paragraph below to complete DQ1.

Using the Library Information Resource Network (LIRN), JSTOR, or

any other electronic journal database, research one (1) peer-reviewed
article that can be used to answer your upcoming CLA1
assignment. Your discussion should summarize the article in such
a way that it can justify any arguments you may present in your PA1
assignment and must be different than the abstract.

Please note: This article summary should not be the only article
researched for your CLA1 assignment. You may (and should) have
several other articles researched in order to fully answer your CLA1
assignment. The concept of this DQ is to allow students to be
proactive in the research necessary to complete this assignment. You
may use your article summary, partially or its entirety in your CLA1
assignment.

Important: Please ensure that you insert your citation for the article
as your reference in your discussion post. Depending on which
electronic database you use, you should see a Cite selection for your
article. In addition, there should be a variety of articles summarized
and as such, students should have different articles summarized.
Your summary MUST include ALL of the following (include every
item in the bullet list below, or you will not receive full credit):
1. Clearly state what the article is about and its purpose
2. How the article and/or author(s) support your argument(s)
3. Most important aspects of the article
4. Any findings and conclusions
5. Approximately 200 to 300 words in length

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6. Include the article Abstract in your posting (your summary

should be original), and remember to identify and cite it as a
direct quote.
7. IMPORTANT - Include the citation for the article
Comprehensive For this first CLA, you will put into practice what you have learned so 1, 3, 4
Learning far: drafting, writing, revising, editing, and improving a piece of
Assessment written text. To do this, you will analyze the rough draft, intermediate
(CLA) 1 draft, and final draft of student Mike Boyle (this is provided to you in
your GAP as a separate document). Then, answer the following
questions:
1. How does Mike’s intermediate draft compare and contrast with
the first draft? What changes did he make?
2. How does Mike’s final draft compare and contrast with his
intermediate draft? What changes did he make? How has he
improved the level of detail in his final draft compared to his
intermediate draft? How has he improved the structure of his
paragraphs in his final draft? Where has he eliminated
unnecessary words and sentences? How has he corrected
grammatical errors?

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WEEK 5 Argumentation CLOs

Readings Student’s Book of College English- Chapter 15
Supplementary Journal Articles
Cioffi, F. L. (2005). Effective argumentation in a culture of discord.
Accounting Education News, 33(4), 9-12.
Sandler, P. M., Epps, J. A., & Waicukauski, R. J. (2010). Classic
rhetoric and the modern trial lawyer. GPSolo, 27(6), 24-25,44.

Videos
Writing an Argumentative Essay
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-lzGy5gizKg

Logic & Arguments - premises & conclusions, truth, deduction vs.

induction
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aCXVYz8JOe4
Discussion Welcome to week 5 of your course. This discussion question will 1, 3, 5
Question help you prepare for your CLA2 paper and final CLA2 PPT and
- CLA2 as such will have a fair amount of detail. Read the CLA2 assignment
Preparation & listed in week 8 of the course. Then, please provide an outline that
Course itemizes the concepts that you will include in your CLA2 paper
Learning and final PPT. Please be sure to include concepts learned in the
Outcomes course and information (findings, conclusions) from your PA1 and
CLA1 papers. Provide some brief details for each item that is
outlined. Please keep in mind that you should have placeholders for
material not yet covered in lecture from weeks 6 and 7. Here is an
itemized list that summarizes the requirements of this DQ (include
every item in the bullet point list below, or you will not receive full
credit):
1. Outline that itemizes concepts learned in the course
2. Include information (findings, conclusions) from your PA1
and CLA1
3. Brief details for each item that is outlined
4. Placeholders for material not yet covered

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WEEK 6 Business Writing CLOs

Readings Student’s Book of College English- Chapter 19
Supplementary Journal Articles
Josephson, D. (2012). Business writing mistakes you're probably
making. Agency Sales, 42(12), 42-44.
Dolezalek, H. (2005). The clarity challenge. Training, 42(9), 28-30,
32-33.

Videos
How to Write a Formal Letter
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ns_Fxn-0z_E

Writing a Resume
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MYaXN8j7rL8
Discussion Please answer the following question on the GAP: 1, 2, 3, 5
Question 1. Imagine you have just bought a defective product—a lamp, a
car, or even a computer. You have tried to return the product to
the place from which you purchased it, but the store manager
refuses to grant a refund. To solve this problem, write a 500-
word letter to the corporate office to ask for some kind of
compensation. Remember that in addition to writing this
business letter, you must be persuasive, use the appropriate
tone, and include other aspects of writing discussed during this
course. When it comes time to respond to a classmate, provide
a peer or two in depth, detailed feedback, which could help in
improving their letter.
Applied Each student is required to review the Vvideos listed in GAP for this 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Learning current week. The video(s) selection is directly related to at least one
Assignment of the Course Learning Outcomes (CLO’s), and presents a solution(s)
(ALA): Topic to a problem. Using your textbook, LIRN-based research, JSTOR.org,
Video(s) the Internet, or any other electronic journal database, research at least
one stated claim, aspect, opinion, etc. that is offered as a solution in the
video. Subsequently, you will include in your CLA2 assignment paper,
a separate and distinct heading titled Topic Video Critical Thinking &
Reasoning. You are to critically think about the solution presented and
that you researched, and apply critical thinking and reasoning skills to
present one of the following (include every item in the bullet list below,
or you will not receive full credit):
 Affirm the solution presented in the video
 Partially affirm the solution presented in the video
 Disagree or provide an alternative solution to the problem
presented in the video
 Approximately 150 to 250 words in length (minimum of 2
paragraphs)

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 Include the in-text citation in APA format to properly

reference your article
Please be sure to provide justification by citing the article researched,
and include the citation in the reference page of your paper.
Exam - Online The exam can be accessed under Week 6 of your course GAP site. The
exam will open on Monday and will close on Sunday at 11:59pm. You
will have 1 attempt to complete the exam, which must be completed
within 30 minutes. Please see Exam Grading Criteria on page 20.

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WEEK 7 Doing Research CLOs

Writing Your Research Paper
Readings Student’s Book of College English- Chapter 20 and 21
Supplementary Journal Articles
Barnes, R. III. (2001). How to quote your way to better copy. Fund
Raising Management, 32(4), 41-42.
Wittek, A. L., Solbrekke, T. D., & Helstad, K. (2017). You learn how
to write from doing the writing, but you also learn the subject and the
ways of reasoning. Outlines:Critical Practice Studies, 18(1), 81-108.

Videos
Choosing a Research Topic and Idea
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UwUyX0YMVqY

How to Know if a Source is Reliable

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m_EAxomGhNY
Discussion Prior to reading this DQ, please read the CLA2 assignment and 1, 3, 5
Question understand what the assignment is asking you to complete. Once
(DQ directed you understand the CLA2 assignment, please continue to the
at upcoming paragraph below to complete DQ1.
CLA2)
Using the Library Information Resource Network (LIRN), JSTOR, or
any other electronic journal database, research one (1) peer-reviewed
article that can be used to answer your upcoming CLA2 assignment.
Your discussion should summarize the article in such a way that it can
justify any arguments you may present in your CLA2 assignment and
must be different than the abstract.

Please note: This article summary should not be the only article
researched for your CLA1 assignment. You may (and should) have
several other articles researched in order to fully answer your CLA1
assignment. The concept of this DQ is to allow students to be proactive
in the research necessary to complete this assignment. You may use
your article summary, partially or in its entirety in your CLA1
assignment.

Important: Please ensure that you insert your citation for the article as
your reference in your discussion post. Depending on which electronic
database you use, you should see a Cite selection for your article. In
addition, there should be a variety of articles summarized and as such,
students should have different articles summarized. Your summary
MUST include ALL of the following (include every item in the bullet
point list below, or you will not receive full credit):
1. Clearly state what the article is about and its purpose
2. How the article and/or authors support your argument(s)
3. Most important aspects of the article

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4. Any findings and conclusions

5. Approximately 200 to 300 words in length
6. Include the article Abstract in your posting (your summary
should be original), and remember to identify and cite it as a
direct quote.
7. IMPORTANT - Include the citation for the article

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WEEK 8 Effective Sentences CLOs

Readings Student’s Book of College English- Chapter 23
Supplementary Journal Articles
Campanizzi, J. (2005). The write stuff for quality. Quality Progress,
38(10), 45-51.
Lynch, D. H., Golen, S. (2003). 10 steps to writing clear documents.
The Internal Auditor, 60(1), 53-57.

Videos
Wordiness
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihseFI5LfjQ
Active and Passive
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BlaZS7eUAgo
Discussion 1. Welcome to the last week of your course. In this discussion 1, 4, 5
Question question, you have the opportunity to be creative and to relate
what you have learned to your professional life. Please explore
and critically think about some of the learning objectives and
concepts presented in this course. Please effectively
communicate how you would lead an organization (or a group
of people within the organization) by applying the knowledge
you have learned ethically and responsibly. Your discussion
should also include innovative thinking and information-
technology aspects (such as the Internet, social-media,
computers, etc.) that may assist you in decision-making. You
may frame your discussion around any functional component
of business, and in any context: problem-solving, management,
leadership, organizational behavior, etc.
Comprehensive For your final CLA, you will compile and revise again what you did for 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Learning PA1 and PA2 and submit a final draft of your paper.
Assessment 2
In addition to your paper, include a 750 to 1,000-word reflection on the
entire essay writing process and different stages you followed to
complete this paper. How does your intermediate draft compare and
contrast with the first draft? What final changes have you made? How
does your final draft compare and contrast with your intermediate draft?
How have you improved the level of detail in the intermediate draft?
How you have improved the structure of your paragraphs in this final
version? Were you able to eliminate unnecessary words and sentences
now that you have a better idea of what is expected of a writer?

Each CLA2 will become a part of the student’s digital portfolio. Upon
completion of the program, the student’s digital portfolio will
demonstrate the student’s mastery of the course and program learning
objectives. As such, please be sure to save your CLA2 assignments from
each course!

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