ENG 132
Argument and Research: Global Issues and Current Events
Semester: Spring 2015
Course number/section: ENG 132.009
Meeting time: MWF 11:00- 11:50
Location: Ferguson 181
Instructor: Ms. Lauren Hawkins
Office: Ferguson 274, phone: 2165
Office hours: MW 10-11, TR 9:30-11:30, F by
appointment only
Email: [email protected]
Course Description
Continued study and application of the writing process and the skills of writing with a focus on the
forms of argumentative writing and on research methods, such as gathering, evaluating,
summarizing, synthesizing and citing source information. Prerequisite: C in English 131. Must earn a
C or higher to be admitted to any English 200-level course.
Arguments pervade every aspect of our society from the personal to a global scale. What do you
associate with the word argument—screaming matches, rational discussions, or perhaps an attempt
to reach a compromise? What is your personal style of argument? What makes an effective
argument? These are a few questions we will explore and answer throughout the semester. We will
complete four units of study with each unit focusing on socio-cultural or current issues that will
provide you with different perspectives on arguments.
 In Unit 1, students will write a comparative rhetorical analysis paper.
 In Unit 2, students will analyze issues from opposing viewpoints regarding technology in
order to write a classical or Rogerian argument paper while synthesizing multiple sources.
 In Unit 3, students will explore local issues from multiple perspectives and propose possible
solutions.
 In Unit 4, Catching Fire will serve as a framework. Students will draw connections between
the film’s themes and current socio-cultural/political issues to find sources for an annotated
bibliography and write a research paper.
Required Texts
Essentials of Argument by Nancy Wood
Prentice Hall Reference Guide edited by Muriel Harris (preferably the 8th edition)
Lumberjacks Write
General Education Core Curriculum Objectives
As part of the communication component area, in any given semester one or more of the following
Core Curriculum Objectives for English 131 may be assessed:
 Critical Thinking: creative thinking, innovation, inquiry, and analysis, evaluation, and
synthesis of information.
 Communication: effective development, interpretation, and expression of ideas through
written, oral, and visual communication.

Teamwork: the ability to consider different points of view and to work effectively with
others to support a shared goal.
 Personal Responsibility: the ability to connect choices, actions, and consequences to ethical
decision-making.
General Education Core Curriculum
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
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This course has been selected to be part of Stephen F. Austin State University’s core
curriculum. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board has identified six objectives
for all core courses: Critical Thinking Skills, Communication Skills, Empirical and
Quantitative Skills, Teamwork, Personal Responsibility, and Social Responsibility. SFA is
committed to the improvement of its general education core curriculum by regular
assessment of student performance on these six objectives.
Assessment of these objectives at SFA will be based on student work from all core
curriculum courses. This student work will be collected in D2L through LiveText, the
assessment management system selected by SFA to collect student work for core
assessment. LiveText accounts will be provided to all students enrolled in core courses
through the university technology fee. You will be required to register your LiveText
account, and you will be notified how to register your account through your SFA e-mail
account. If you forward your SFA e-mail to another account and do not receive an e-mail
concerning LiveText registration, please be sure to check your junk mail folder and your
spam filter for these e-mails. If you have questions about LiveText call Ext. 1267 or e-mail
[email protected].
The chart below indicates the core objectives addressed by this course, the assignment(s)
that will be used to assess the objectives in this course and uploaded to LiveText this
semester, and the date the assignment(s) should be uploaded to LiveText. Not every
assignment will be collected for assessment every semester. Your instructor will notify you
which assignment(s) must be submitted for assessment in LiveText this semester.
Core Objective
Definition
Course Assignment Title
Date Due in
LiveText
Critical Thinking
Skills
To include creative
thinking, innovation,
inquiry, and analysis,
evaluation and synthesis
of information.
Comparative Rhetorical
Analysis
5-12-2015
Communication
Skills
To include effective
development,
interpretation and
expression of ideas
though written, oral, and
Comparative Rhetorical
Analysis
5-12-2015
visual communication.
Empirical and
Quantitative Skills
To include the
manipulation and analysis
of numerical data or
observable facts resulting
in informed conclusions.
Comparative Rhetorical
Analysis
5-12-2015
Teamwork
To include the ability to
consider different points
of view and to work
effectively with others to
support a shared purpose
or goal.
Comparative Rhetorical
Analysis
5-12-2015
Personal
Responsibility
To include the ability to
connect choices, actions
and consequences to
ethical decision-making.
Comparative Rhetorical
Analysis
5-12-2015
Social
Responsibility
To include intercultural
competence, knowledge
of civic responsibility, and
the ability to engage
effectively in regional,
national, and global
communities.
Comparative Rhetorical
Analysis
5-12-2015
English 132 Learning Outcomes
ENG 132 learning outcomes are the goals that students must meet as part of the Freshman
Composition core curriculum requirements, which include:
1. Ability to show appropriate acquisition of CORE objective 1 skills. Students in composition
courses make application of these skills in the writing of personal, expository, and persuasive
essays, which require students to make inquiries into and explorations of topics in creative,
innovative, and analytical ways. Students are expected to complete readings, to engage in
course and group discussions, and to analyze, interpret, and synthesize their findings
resultant from these critical engagements into well-developed essays. Written assignments
will evidence the students’ command of these considerations: effective engagement of
audience (pathos), logical development of ideas (logos), and effective use of examples,
expertise, or insight (ethos); a research essay is the culminating writing of this course;
students will learn appropriate research methodologies, how to evaluate secondary sources,
and to synthesize the ideas of others in their arguments.
2. Ability to show appropriate acquisition of CORE objective 2 skills. These skills include
effective development, interpretation, and expression of ideas through written, oral, and
visual communication. Following instruction about group interaction, students will engage in
oral communication through class discussions and group work (orally in face-to-face
courses, electronically in online courses). Students will have occasion to respond to visual
medium, as found in assigned readings, lectures, power-point presentations, or other media
dependent upon course materials. Students learn processes for writing that help them to
form coherent, well-developed, well-organized, and unified discussions through a variety of
writing methodologies, including persuasive, analytical, and argumentative methodologies.
Students will write several essays; the culminating assignments will be an argumentative,
research-based essay, and rubrics will assess such concerns as development and exploration,
mechanical clarity, interpretation or expression of ideas, and effective use of research
methodologies.
3. Ability to show appropriate acquisition of CORE objective 3 skills. These skills include the
ability to consider different points of view and to work effectively with others to support a
shared purpose or goal. Following instruction about peer review processes and small group
work, students will perform peer mentorship on essay assignments and work together on
group projects, which may include collaborative writing occasions, group presentations, or
panel discussions. As peer review is the common teamwork experience, students will be
required to share potentially diverse ideas with one another, to address those views in
appropriate ways, and to help one another finalize essays for submission.
4. Ability to show appropriate acquisition of CORE objective 4 skills. These skills include the
ability to connect choices, actions, and consequences to ethical decision-making. Students
will have opportunity to examine numerous secondary sources, to determine the credibility
and value of those sources, and to understand how argumentative methodologies bear
responsibility and consequences.
Assumptions for English 132
Students entering 132 should:
 Be able to formulate a thesis statement.
 Understand the meaning of claim, evidence, and analysis.
 Know and apply the concept s of the rhetorical situation (speaker, audience, purpose,
message, context) and the rhetorical appeals (ethos, pathos, logos).
 Understand what makes a unified and coherent paragraph and be able to write one.
 Produce mechanically sound essays with only minor grammatical, punctuation, and spelling
errors.
 Understand what constitutes plagiarism
 Be proficient in MLA basics, page formatting, quotation, citation, and Works Cited lists.
Course Policies:
Acceptable Student Behavior
As stated in Student Conduct Code, policy D-34.1 “Classroom behavior should not interfere with
the instructor’s ability to conduct the class or the ability of other students to learn from the
instructional program. Unacceptable or disruptive behavior will not be tolerated. Students who
disrupt the learning environment may be asked to leave class and may be subject to judicial,
academic or other penalties. This prohibition applies to all instructional forums, including electronic,
classroom, labs, discussion groups, field trips, etc. The instructor shall have full discretion over what
behavior is appropriate/inappropriate in the classroom. Students who do not attend class regularly
or who perform poorly on class projects/exams may be referred to the Early Alert Program. This
program provides students with recommendations for resources or other assistance that is available
to help SFA students succeed.”
Attendance
Class attendance is required, and you are expected to come to class fully prepared having done the
assigned work and being ready to participate in class discussion.
 I will allow 2 excused and/or unexcused absences.
 I will have your daily work grade dropped by 10 points per absence starting with the 3rd.
 Students with more than 6 absences (excused or unexcused) who fail to drop the course
will receive an F for the semester.
 The absences that count as excused are documented family emergencies, university
sanctioned events, and extreme medical issues (hospitalization).
 All excused absences must have proper documentation (i.e. a doctor’s excuse,
documentation from coach on SFA letterhead, etc.).
 Regardless of the reason for your absence, you are responsible for all information and work
covered in class. If you missed deadlines or in-class work during an excused absence, it is
your responsibility to find out what you’ve missed and arrange with me to make it up.
 In class assignments and activities cannot be made up unless you have a documented,
excused absence.
 An excused absence does not excuse the homework that is due for that day. You are
responsible for all the work that is due for the class missed and the next.
 In case of an excused absence, homework needs to be turned in on the next day you are in
class.
Participation
An important part of the education process is learning to discuss material with your peers. I don’t
believe in a “right” answer, and more often than not, you will see something in a manner I have not
considered before. It is important that you share your ideas with the class. If you are a quiet student,
that is fine, but how do you know your ideas or questions are not similar to another student’s in the
class that is afraid to ask? If you don’t understand something or are unsure of something, ask.
Here is what I consider participation:
 Reading the material and having the ability to discuss material covered in class
 Ability to ask intelligent, thoughtful questions. If you don’t understand something, by all
means ask. You probably are not the only one who doesn’t understand.
 Showing respect for your classmates, yourself, and me. Do not engage in side conversations.
Listen actively. You don’t have to agree or even like what we read or are discussing, but you
will need to act as an adult and treat your peers well.
 If I catch you texting, I will call you out. You will be marked absent for the class period.
Turn your phone off when you enter my class.
 If you do not come to class with the required material, I will ask you to leave, and you will
be marked absent for the class period.
Note: Being only physically present in class is not considered as being present. If you do not
participate in or contribute to class discussion, you will be counted absent for that class period. I will
not inform you if I counted you absent due to lack of participation.
Tardies
You will be considered tardy:
 If you arrive to class after I have taken role or leave class early unless you have informed me
before class begins.
 If you are not present when attendance is taken at the beginning of class, it is your
responsibility to notify me at the end of class that you are present. If you fail to notify me at
the end of class and instead claim attendance later in the semester, I will not change the
record unless you have documented proof of attendance.
 If you are more than 15 minutes late to class, you will automatically be counted absent.
 3 tardies will count as an absence.
 If you are consistently late to class, your daily work grade will drop.
Late Work
 No late homework will be accepted without a university-approved absence or a compelling
excuse (my judgment) in writing, detailing your reasons and providing evidence as necessary.
 Any major paper turned in after the beginning of the class period on the due date will be
considered late.
 Late work will result in a 10 point deduction every class day it is late. Class days mean every
day that the university has designated as class days, NOT just the days that we have class
meetings.
 Except for very rare circumstances, I will not accept work that is more than 5 class days late.
 Extensions for major papers will be left to my discretion, but students must see me 3 days
prior to the assignment due date and present me with a valid reason for me to consider an
extension.
Extra Credit
Throughout the semester, I will announce extra credit opportunities.
Cell phones
Please turn cell phones off or on silent upon entering class. If your phone goes off accidently during
class, turn it off. If an emergency arises, please quietly leave the classroom and return quickly once
the situation has been handled.
Email
I am happy to answer any questions regarding the course that you may have. Email is the best way
to contact me. Please send all emails through SFASU email. If you expect me to respond, put ENG
132 in the subject line. I will respond to emails as quickly as I can. I will not accept assignments by
email unless I direct you otherwise.
Assignments
This course will be graded on a point scale. There will be a total of 1000 points possible. The
assignments and grades for this course will be as follows:
Comparative Rhetorical Analysis (Capstone) (3-4 pages)
Position Argument (4-6 pages)
Explanatory Proposal (5-6 pages)
Annotated Bibliography
Research paper (8-10 pages)
Midterm
In class final
Daily Work and Participation
120 points
150 points
150 points
100 points
150 points
40 points
100 points
190 points
I will provide detailed description of each assignment: for now, here are some general notes:
 All final drafts of your writing for this course should adhere to the rules of standard written
English grammar, punctuation, and spelling (American).
 Failing to meet the minimum page count for any draft will have a significant negative impact
on your grade for that assignment. If the assignment is 3-4 pages, the paper needs to be 3
FULL pages. (See assignment rubrics for penalties for failing to meet page length
requirement.
 All drafts and final papers must be submitted through D2L. Papers are due by the time class
starts. Any papers received after class begins are considered late.
 Except for your final portfolio, all major assignments will be submitted electronically. Daily
work and homework will be submitted on paper.
 I generally grade and return major assignments within two weeks after they have been
submitted.
 Note: Please keep all drafts and graded papers until the end of semester.
Final Grade
900-1000
A
800-899
B
700-799
C
600-699
D
0-599
F
Note: If your grade is borderline (within 1.5 points of another letter grade), class participation,
professionalism, and punctuality can raise your final grade whereas lack of participation,
disrespectfulness, and tardiness can lower your final grade.
Formatting Guidelines
Unless an assignment specifies otherwise, these are the general formatting guidelines for papers
produced for this class. All papers must be
 Typed- Times New Roman, 12 point font
 Double-spaced
 Formatted according to MLA style
Withheld Grades Semester Grades Policy (A-54)
Ordinarily, at the discretion of the instructor of record and with the approval of the academic
chair/director, a grade of WH will be assigned only if the student cannot complete the course work
because of unavoidable circumstances. Students must complete the work within one calendar year
from the end of the semester in which they receive a WH, or the grade automatically becomes an F.
If students register for the same course in future terms the WH will automatically become an F and
will be counted as a repeated course for the purpose of computing the grade point average.
Academic Integrity (A-9-1)
Academic integrity is a responsibility of all university faculty and students. Faculty members
promote academic integrity in multiple ways including instruction on the components of academic
honesty, as well as abiding by university policy on penalties for cheating and plagiarism.
Definition of Academic Dishonesty
Academic dishonesty includes both cheating and plagiarism. Cheating includes, but is not limited to
(1) using or attempting to use unauthorized materials to aid in achieving a better grade on a
component of a class;(2) the falsification or invention of any information, including citations, on an
assignment; and/or,(3) helping or attempting to help another in an act of cheating or plagiarism.
Plagiarism is presenting the words or ideas of another person as if they were your own. Examples of
plagiarism include, but are not limited to (1) submitting an assignment as if it were one's own work
when, in fact, it is at least partly the work of another; (2) submitting a work that has been purchased
or otherwise obtained from the Internet or another source; and, (3) incorporating the words or ideas
of an author into one's paper or presentation without giving the author due credit.
Please read the complete policy at http://www.sfasu.edu/policies/academic_integrity.asp
Students with Disabilities
To obtain disability related accommodations, alternate formats and/or auxiliary aids, students with
disabilities must contact the Office of Disability Services (ODS), Human Services Building, and
Room 325, 468-3004 / 468-1004 (TDD) as early as possible in the semester. Once verified, ODS
will notify me and outline the accommodation and/or auxiliary aids to be provided. Failure to
request services in a timely manner may delay your accommodations. For additional information, go
to http://www.sfasu.edu/disabilityservices/.
AARC Tutoring
Free writing tutoring for this course is available both in the Academic Assistance and Resource
Center (1st floor of Steen Library) and online. To arrange online tutoring, go to mycourses and click
on the link to “AARC Owl” in your course list
Tentative Course Schedule (subject to change)
Week 1:
W 1/21- Syllabus Review
Argument Questionnaire
HW: Complete Syllabus Quiz on D2L and finish Argument Questionnaire
F 1/23 - Discuss Argument Questionnaire
Traditional and Consensual Argument
Introduction to Argument PP
Homework: Read pages 27-30 and 35-37 in Essentials of Argument
Week 2:
M 1/26- Rhetorical Analysis Review PP
Homework: Read “Taking a World of Wars Too Literally” and 1 page
response paper and complete Plagiarism Module on D2L
W 1/28- Discussion on “Taking a World of Wars Too Literally”
Plagiarism Review
Homework: Read pages 122-130 in Essentials of Argument
F 1/30- Types of Claims and Evidence PP
HW: Read pages 95-107 in Essentials of Argument
Week 3:
M 2/2- Toulmin Method PP
Homework: Read two of the assigned articles (take notes on claims,
evidence, purpose, rhetorical appeals, and audience)
W 2/4- Introduce Comparative Rhetorical Analysis Essay Assignment
Class analysis/discussion of one or two articles using the Prewriting
Questions as a guide
Homework: Read the other two of the assigned articles
F 2/6- Group work for comparative analysis essay
Homework: Upload prewriting notes on your groups TWO articles to
Discussion Board by Saturday by 5 pm
Read pages 193-206 in Essentials of Argument
Week 4:
M 2/9-Visual Analysis
Homework: Visual Analysis 1 page response paper
W 2/11- Comparative Rhetorical Analysis Rough Draft due
Peer review
HW: Read the PDF on the Position Paper (pages 205-212) that is posted on
D2L and Complete Citing Your Sources Module on D2L
F 2/13- Argument Position PP
Week 5:
M 2/16- Introduce Argument Position Essay Assignment
HW: Begin brainstorming ideas for Position Paper
W 2/18- Comparative Rhetorical Analysis Final Draft due
Library Tutorial-How to use Library Databases
HW: Read “The Battle for Your Brain” and write a 1 page response
paper. Complete The Research Process Module on D2L
F 2/20- “The Battle for Your Brain” Discussion
HW: Read pages 219-228 and 235-236 in Essentials of Argument
Post your topic and your working thesis statement for paper
on Discussion Board
Week 6:
M 2/23- How to Integrate Sources
HW: Complete Primary and Secondary Sources and Magazines and
Journals Module on D2L
W 2/25- Rogerian Method
HW: Rogerian Argument Response Paper
F 2/27- Discuss the In Class Debate
Prepare for the debate
Week 7:
M 3/2- TBD
W 3/4- Discuss Midterm
F 3/6- Argument Position Rough Draft due
Peer Review
Week 8:
M 3/9- Midterm
W 3/11- TBD
F 3/13- Argument Position Final Draft due
Debate activity
HW: Read “A New Strategy for the War on Drugs” PDF
Week 9:
M 3/16- NO CLASS SPRING BREAK
W 3/18- NO CLASS SPRING BREAK
F 3/20- NO CLASS SPRING BREAK
Week 10:
M 3/23-Proposal PP
W 3/25- Introduce Problem Solution Assignment
Discuss “A New Strategy for the War on Drugs”
F 3/27- Catching Fire
Week 11:
M 3/30- Catching Fire
HW: Post your topic for your Problem Solution Essay on Discussion Board
W 4/1- Catching Fire
F 4/3- NO CLASS EASTER
Week 12:
M 4/6- Introduce Annotated Bibliography and Research Paper Assignments
HW: Choose your topic for your research paper
W 4/8- Problem Solution Essay Final Draft due
How to Locate, Evaluate, and Integrate Sources Lecture
F 4/10- Annotated Bibliography Lecture
Homework: Begin working on Research Proposal
Week 13:
M 4/13- Research Paper Brainstorming Activity
HW: Research Proposal Due Tuesday by 5 pm
W 4/15-CONFERENCES (No class)
F 4/17-CONFERENCES (No class)
Week 14:
M 4/20- CONFERENCES (No class)
W 4/22- Works Cited Review
MLA Scavenger Hunt
F 4/24- Presentations
HW: Upload 2 Sample Annotated Bibliography entries to Discussion Board
Week 15:
M 4/27 – Presentations
W 4/29- Research Day
F 5/1- Annotated Bib draft due; peer review
Week 16:
M 5/4- Research paper draft due; peer review
W 5/6- Research Day
F 5/8- Research Final Paper and Annotated Bibliography due
Discuss Final Exam
Week 17 Final Exam: Wednesday, May 13th 10:30-12:30