Course Description

English 112 is a course in argument, critical reading, research, and documentation. We will begin the term with an introduction to the fundamentals of argument followed by examinations of three argument models: classical, Toulmin, and Rogerian. We will then move on to logical reasoning and critical reading practices, which will serve as the groundwork for five symposia, student-selected topics of discussion and debate. During the latter half of the term, we will study research methods and citation formats.

Required Materials

• Raimes, Ann. Keys for Writers: A Brief Handbook. 3rd ed. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2001.
• White, Fred D., & Simone J. Billings. The Well-Crafted Argument: A Guide and Reader. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2002.

Goals & Objectives

1. Comprehend, evaluate, and write persuasive/argumentative essays.
   1. Demonstrate familiarity with basic rhetorical strategies of argumentation.
   2. Demonstrate ability to apply strategies of argumentation in writing essays.
2. Explain and document critical responses to essays and/or literature and support consistent, coherent interpretations of such writing.
   1. Articulate critical responses and interpretations through class discussion, in documented paragraphs, and, at the discretion of the instructor, in reading journals.
   2. Develop and support such responses in unified, coherent essays that incorporate relevant evidence from the works themselves.
3. Demonstrate skill in carrying out an original plan of research with critical rigor and in synthesizing the findings in a unified, coherent, formally correct research paper that integrates different kinds of evidence from a variety of sources.
   1. Demonstrate familiarity with the main tools of library research, including research databases.
   2. Demonstrate skill in using source material through accurate and properly documented paraphrase and quotations.
   3. Master each step in the writing process: (1) choosing and limiting the topic; (2) retrieving and generating adequate evidence; (3) analyzing and evaluating relevant evidence; (4) organizing ideas; (5) writing the paper, including thesis and outline, clearly constructed and adequately developed text, proper documentation, and list of works cited; and (6) presenting orally a report on the research findings or the work in progress.
4. Understand fully the general offense of plagiarism as well as the specific consequences of committing that offense at Mars Hill College.
   1. Learn and practice methods of giving proper credit when using the ideas of others.
   2. Develop the awareness and versatility needed to transfer principles of documentation learned in English 112 to projects involving research and writing in other college courses.

Instructional Methods

This course will utilize a variety of instructional methods to encourage critical reasoning and problem-solving skills. These will include but will not be limited to class discussions, occasional brief lectures, hands-on practical workshops, and collaborative learning situations.