English 104

Course Description

Further instruction in composition with an emphasis on writing longer essays. Includes assigned readings. Further instruction and practice in research methods. Prerequisite: English 101, 102; or ENG 103; or appropriate combination of SAT verbal or ACT English scores and academic index. Credit Hours: 3.

Course Rationale and Goals

English 104 applies the fundamentals of rhetoric to the research process. This class introduces students to the methods of research; the rhetorical nature of research; and the elements, strategies, and conventions common to research writing, including the visual as well as the verbal organization of new knowledge.

At the completion of English 104, students should be able to achieve the following goals:

• Create and complete research projects. This involves generating a research question, engaging in critical/analytical reading, developing an argument with evidence collected from both primary and secondary research, and documenting sources appropriately.
• Align research questions with appropriate research methods
• Employ critical thinking in evaluation, speculation, analysis, and synthesis required to evolve and complete a research project
• Use a variety of strategies to gather and organize information appropriate for the context and persuasive to the intended audience
• Use the university research library to forward their research agenda
• Engage in collaborative research
• Employ format, syntax, punctuation, and spelling appropriate to various rhetorical situations in a stylistically sophisticated manner
• Collect, analyze, and organize research information in verbally and visually compelling ways
• Take initiative for the development and completion of individual and joint research projects

Course Content and Format

The content and format of English 104 are designed to enable students to achieve the course goals; specifically, students in English 104 will:

• Discuss, analyze, and respond to texts composed in a variety of media that develop an argument by relying on different kinds of research and that are addressed to diverse academic audiences
• Analyze the connections among research questions, research methods, audience, and style
• Design various research projects that involve generating a question, collecting data, analyzing data, and interpreting the analysis.
• Conduct research projects that rely on various means of gathering data, including but not limited to fieldwork, online research, and library research.
• Analyze data collected through a variety of methods
• Compose proposals, progress reports, and final research reports for individual projects.
• Compose final research reports that are persuasive and appropriate for the intended audience and context
• Compose research reports in multiple drafts, involving peer feedback, self-reflection, instructor’s written comments, and teacher-student conferences
• Reflect regularly on the choices available and the decisions made in the creation and completion of research projects

Requirements

As an outcome of the course content and format, which enable the accomplishment of the course goals, students in English 104 will be required to complete:

• Four or more research projects that address different audiences, contexts, and data collection/analysis processes
  • Each project will culminate in a research driven report, between 4 to 6 pages; appropriate works cited is additional
  • One report must incorporate a significant visual element
• Reading assignments for discussion, analysis, and response including texts created through a variety of media
• Informal writing assignments (such as journals, reading reflections, in-class writings, or smaller pieces intrinsic to major research projects)

Evaluation

Students will provide anonymous evaluations of the course. Instructors are urged to evaluate and revise individual syllabuses on a regular basis. ENG 104 is subject to curriculum review by the Writing Committee.

Texts

See the list of approved texts for English 104.

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