ENGL 112: Written English and Literary Studies II

Fall 2021
Exclusively Online

Course Description

In ENGL 112, students read and critically analyze texts. Students compose a full-length research
essay based on assigned topics.

Here are our course goals:

1. To continue developing critical reading skills.

2. To continue refining one’s writing process, including: reading, pre-writing, drafting,
editing, and revising.
3. To learn to situate oneself in a critical debate, thinking critically about the ways texts
interact and intersect.
4. To write competently in the rhetorical modes, using textual evidence to support ideas.
5. To practice and refine elements of grammar, punctuation, style, and MLA
documentation.
6. To write a scholarly research paper.

Professor Information

Name: Stefan Cruet

Email: Please use the Blackboard course email for ENGL 112 first, if necessary
scruet@mercy.edu second.

Required Texts & Materials

- The Beautiful Struggle: A Father, Two Sons, and an Unlikely Road to Manhood by Ta-
Nehisi Coates / ISBN: 9780385527460
- All other materials are available online through open-access texts
- Students must have an active Blackboard account and Microsoft Word
- Students must bring all readings to class
- Students must bring pens and paper. Students can bring laptops/tablets if possible.

Student Learning Outcomes

1. Use close reading strategies to foster analytical discussions of fiction and nonfiction texts.
2. Write clear, coherent research-based genres that work to support a final research essay.
3. Engage in research methods and writing by gathering a range of scholarly sources, evaluating
these sources, and placing them in conversation with each other.
4. Demonstrate audience awareness by identifying different academic audiences and writing for
these audiences.
5. Continue refining the writing process, which includes pre-writing, drafting, and revising in
collaboration with peers and the instructor.
6. Demonstrate correct grammar, punctuation, style, and documentation appropriate for
academic writing.

General Education Essential Transferrable Skills

Through discussions, writing, and other activities, we will work to various degrees on developing
some of the following General Education skills:

Written Communications (WC) Reading Fluency (RF)

1) Write appropriately to context, 1) Evaluate the explicit message of a text
audience, and purpose and its main supporting elements
2) Use appropriate content to illustrate 2) Explain possible implications of the text
comprehension of a subject beyond its explicit message
3) Execute appropriate conventions 3) Analyze texts for significance and
particular to a specific discipline and/or relevance
writing task 4) Analyze text structure or other textual
4) Use relevant sources to develop ideas features
that are appropriate for the discipline
and genre of the writing
5) Communicate meaning to readers
with clarity and fluency

Critical Thinking (CT) Information Literacy (IL)

1) Evaluate the viewpoints or 1) Determine the nature and the extent of the
assumptions of others information needed
2) Evaluate their own viewpoints or 2) Select the most appropriate investigative
assumptions methods or information retrieval systems for
3) Create a specific position accessing the needed information
(perspective, thesis/hypothesis) that 3) Evaluate information and its sources
takes into account the complexities of an critically
issue 4) Use information effectively to
4) Synthesize information from sources accomplish a specific purpose
5) Draw logical conclusions and identify 5) Access and use information ethically and
consequences and implications legally

Course Components
Your ENGL 112 grade will be determined by the course components listed below.

• Project #1: Essay/Assignment #1  20%

Follow the directions in the question list in COURSE MATERIAL—2 Essays, 1
Research Paper Due—in Blackboard. Write a critical argumentative essay based on the
text. Follow the MLA rules (double-spaced): 1-2 pages, use 1-2 quote from the text to
support your analysis.
 • Project #2: Essay/Assignment #2  20%
Follow the directions in the question list in COURSE MATERIAL—2 Essays, 1
Research Paper Due— in Blackboard. Write a critical argumentative essay based on the
text. Follow the MLA rules (double-spaced): 1-2 pages, use 1-2 quote from the text to
support your analysis.

• Project #3: Research Paper  25%

Again, follow the directions in the question list in COURSE MATERIAL—2 Essays, 1
Research Paper Due— in Blackboard. But this time use 1 to 2 secondary sources, 3-5
quotes. You can mix quotes from the memoir and secondary sources, or use only
secondary sources; but, be sure to use secondary source research (not just the
memoir) to research your topic in completing a 5-page research paper based on the
text. Follow the MLA rules (double-spaced).

* Students will write and submit: at least two critical argumentative essays or research-based
genres based on the primary text(s); one typed, 5-page research paper

* Each project will include a draft

• Final Reflection  15%

• Peer Review for all major projects  10%

• Participation  10%

ENGL 112 Assessment of Course and General Education Learning Outcomes

Assignment/Assessment Course Learning General Education

Outcome(s) Assessed Learning Outcomes
Assessed
Essay/Assignment 1 1; 2; 5; 6 [Fill in a couple—for
example, WC 1-2]
Essay/Assignment 2 1; 2; 3; 4; 5; 6 [Fill in a couple]
Research Paper 1; 2; 3; 4; 5; 6 [Fill in a couple]
Final Reflection 5 [Fill in a couple]
Peer Review 1; 5 [Fill in a couple]

Final Portfolio Grade Distribution

At the end of the semester, you will be 93-100 A 90-92 A-

required to submit your research paper. 87-89 B+ 83-86 B
The portfolio is a requirement of the 80-82 B- 77-79 C+
undergraduate English Program for 73-76 C 70-72 C-
assessment purposes. 60-69 D 59 and below F
Course Policies

Attendance and Lateness

Attend each class. As per the Department of Language and Literature policy, students are
allowed two absences for ENGL 111 during the semester. Each absence beyond two can detract
from the student’s final grade. Excessive absences may put a student’s grade in jeopardy. If a
student is repeatedly late to class, the instructor may count it as an absence. Students must arrive
to class on time and remain for the entire class period. Students are responsible for notifying
instructors when they must miss class for any reason. Students are responsible for material
covered in a missed class.

Blackboard
Blackboard will be fundamental to our course. On Blackboard, you will find course readings and
materials. Please familiarize yourself with the site and check it regularly. When we make
changes to our course calendar, I will always post an updated syllabus on Blackboard.

Due Dates
Please check the course calendar and project assignment sheets for due dates. Students should
work to hand in all assignments by due dates, but instructors should demonstrate reasonable
flexibility about the submission of late work, especially if students are facing hardship. Students
should communicate to the instructor if they need due date extensions, and both student and
instructor should reach deadline agreements.

Mercy Policies and Services

Disability Resource Center

Mercy College is committed to the availability of its academic offerings to all qualified
students, in compliance with section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and the Americans with
Disability Act (ADA). The College is committed to achieving equal educational opportunities
and full participation for persons with disabilities. It is our practice to create inclusive
learning environments. If a disability is presenting barriers to your inclusion or access to the
class and instructional materials—such as inaccessible web content or the use of non-
captioned videos—please notify the instructor as soon as possible. Students are also welcome
to contact the Office of ACCESSibility at 914-674-7523 or accessibility@mercy.edu. For
more information, visit our website at mercy.edu/student-affairs/access. The Office of
Disability Services coordinates disabilities services, including the provision of auxiliary
services. Students whose disabilities may require some type of accommodation must self-
identify and complete a “Request for Accommodations” agreement. An intake interview
with the Director for Disabilities Services may be required. Both the request for
accommodations and the interview should be completed one month prior to the academic
term. Reasonable accommodations will be made upon receipt of medical documentation of
the disability, which supports the request and need for the accommodation. Appropriate
modifications of accommodations will be worked out on a case-by-case basis. Requests for
testing with accommodations should be made to the director for Disabilities Services two
weeks in advance of need. Students with disability for which they are or may be requesting
an accommodation are encouraged to contact the Office of Disability Services, Main Hall,
Room 108, 914-674-7523, as soon as possible in the term.

Student Counseling Services

Mercy College offers counseling services to students, including for issues related to stress,
depression, and anxiety as well as concerns about academic progress, daily living, adjustment to
college, and relationships with others. Please visit Counseling Services at: mercy.edu/student-
affairs/counseling-services. You may also call 914-888-5150 or email
counselingcenter@mercy.edu

Lost Class Time Policy

This policy addresses lost class time due to an official college or campus closing and other
instances in which a faculty member cancels a specific class session when the college is open
and operating on a normal schedule. Lost class time is to be made up so that the college is in
compliance with Federal and New York State Education Department requirements specifying
that the number of contact hours per course credit must be met. This policy also reinforces the
college’s commitment to providing our students with the depth and quality of education that they
expect and deserve and maintaining faculty autonomy with regard to curriculum and teaching.
See the full policy here:
http://catalog.mercy.edu/content.php?catoid=3&navoid=120#lostclasstimepolicy

Writing Center
The Center for Academic Excellence and Innovation (mercy.edu/academics/academic-tutoring)
offers writing support to students. Writing Specialists may help with different stages of writing
and communication, including assignments, reading comprehension, grammar, and presentation
practice. You can make one-on-one appointments through Mercy Connect. Please visit:
mercy.edu/academics/academic-student-services/academic-tutoring/writing-tutoring

Plagiarism
Plagiarism is the act of using someone else’s words and/or ideas and passing them off as one’s
own words/ideas without crediting and citing the author. Any essay, paper, exercise, or response
that is not a student’s words and ideas and is found to be copied from an online or print source or
from another student will receive an “F.” The Department of Literature and Language follows
the plagiarism policy as outlined in the version of the Mercy College Student Handbook that
corresponds with the academic year in which the course is offered. Please see the Academic
Integrity Policy here:
http://catalog.mercy.edu/content.php?catoid=3&navoid=120#academicintegritypolicy
An instructor who determines that a student has cheated on a test or assignment will, at a
minimum, give a zero for that item and may give a failure for the course. Normally the matter is
handled between the instructor and the student, but the department chairperson may be consulted
by either party to ensure fairness. Both cheating and plagiarism are grounds for dismissal from
the College.

Course Calendar

• Please note that this calendar is tentative and subject to change

 Date In Class

9/8 - Post your introduction.

Week 1 - Begin reading the first three chapters
of The Beautiful Struggle.

9/15 - Continue reading TBS.

Week 2 - See discussion in COURSE
MATERIAL

9/22 - Introduction to Essay 1

Week 3 - See discussion in COURSE
MATERIAL

9/29
Week 4 - TBA

10/6
Week 5 - TBA

10/13 - Submit draft of Essay 1 for peer-

Week 6 review and instructor feedback

10/20 - Essay 1 due

Week 7 - Introduction to Essay 2

10/27
Week 8 - TBA

11/3 - TBA
Week 9

11/10 - Submit draft of Essay 2 for peer-

Week 10 review and instructor feedback

11/17 - Essay 2 Due

Week 11 - Introduction to Research Paper
 Date In Class

11/24 - TBA
Week 12

12/1 - TBA
Week 13

12/8 - Submit draft of Research Paper for

Week 14 peer-review and instructor feedback

12/9 - Research Paper due

Week 15