English Composition II

Overview

As a continuation of English Composition I, this course focuses on analysis and argument while devoting attention to academic researched writing, critical thinking across the curriculum, citation, and documentation. Students will use a variety of readings to develop several modes of writing including evaluation, literary analysis, classification, media analysis, illustration, and researched-based writing.

Course Text

Any authorized version of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein published in 1818. ISBN: 9780743487580.

Writing Submissions

Writing exercises and assignments may only be submitted as .doc, .docx, .rtf, or .txt files. Macintosh users should add an extension (.doc or .rtf) to the file name before uploading. If you have questions on saving files, please contact support@smarthinking.com .

Academic honesty is expected of all students. These guidelines for avoiding plagiarism must be followed:

  1. All submitted writings must be the student's own work.
  2. Words taken directly from a source must be encased in quotation marks and cited.
  3. Paraphrasing (rewording) of information must be cited.
  4. Ideas or examples that are not of general knowledge must be cited.

Course Objectives

After completing this course, students will be able to:

  • Describe literary and media genres.
  • Write a variety of essays requiring analysis, evaluation, and research.
  • Choose effective organization patterns to support an essay's rhetorical style.
  • Examine literary and media techniques to appreciate and analyze purpose, audience, and agenda.
  • Examine plot, setting, characterization, theme, and point of view in film and literature.
  • Conduct research in the library, online, and through interviews, and incorporate that research into written arguments.
  • Read, interpret, and evaluate primary and secondary sources.
  • Create strong thesis statements based on an analysis of information contained in primary and secondary sources.
  • Appropriately document sources using Modern Language Association (MLA) style.
  • Compose well-supported and well-organized essays based on research and/or personal experience.
  • Revise essays to reflect correct usage, syntax grammar, and mechanics.

Course Prerequisites

You must have successfully completed English Composition I or its equivalent to be eligible for enrollment in this course.

Important Terms

In this course, different terms are used to designate tasks:

  • Assignment: A written piece that will be submitted to SMARTHINKING for a grade when the final draft is complete. Your final grade for each assignment is calculated from the raw score provided from SMARTHINKING.  If you have any questions about your calculated Assignment grade please contact your course advisor. 
  • Practice Exercise: A non-graded quiz or writing piece that provides practice using skills discussed in a topic.
  • Graded Quiz: A graded online assessment.
  • Graded Exam: A graded online assessment.

Course Evaluation Criteria

StraighterLine does not apply letter grades. Students earn a score as a percentage of 100%. A passing percentage is 70% or higher. If you have chosen a Partner College to award credit for this course, your final grade will be based upon that college's grading scale. Only passing scores will be considered by Partner Colleges for an award of credit.

There are a total of 383 points in the course:

Topic Assessment Points Available
1 Graded Quiz 1.1: Reading Literature 10
1 Graded Quiz 1.2: Frankenstein 5
2 Graded Quiz 2.1: Symbolism, Allegory, and Irony 10
2 Graded Quiz 2.2: Frankenstein 5
2 Writing Assignment: Cartoon Analysis 21
3 Graded Quiz 3.1: Frankenstein 5
4 Graded Quiz 4.1: Evaluation 10
4 Graded Quiz 4.2: Frankenstein 5
4 Comprehensive Graded Exam: Frankenstein 100
4 Writing Assignment: Frankenstein Evaluation Essay 21
5 Graded Quiz 5.1: Thesis Development 6
5 Graded Quiz 5.2: Revising and Editing 10
5 Writing Assignment: Frankenstein Application Essay 21
6 Graded Quiz 6.1: Interviewing 10
7 Graded Quiz 7.1: Argument Letter 10
7 Graded Quiz: 7.2: Research and Citation 20
7 Writing Assignment: Researched Proposal Letter 21
8 Graded Quiz 8.1: Media Analysis 10
8 Writing Assignment: Media Analysis Essay 21
9 Graded Quiz 9.1: Illustration 10
9 Writing Assignment: Illustration Essay 21
10 Graded Quiz 10.1: Classification 10
10 Writing Assignment: Classification Essay 21

Course Topics and Objectives

Topic Lesson Topic Subtopics Objectives
1 Reading Literature
  • Genres of Literature
  • Close REading
  • Elements of Close Reading Specific to Genre
  • Define a "close reading" of a text.
  • Classify a piece of literature as fiction, poetry, drama, or nonfiction.
  • Compare and contrast different ways of reading the four basic types of literature.
2 Language Use
  • Symbolism
  • Irony
  • Allegory
  • Imagery
  • Simile
  • Metaphor
  • Interpret symbols, irony, and allegory.
  • Identify imagery and describe its effect.
  • Identify and explain simile and metaphor in literary works.
  • Examine literary elements in a comic or political cartoon analysis.
3 Examining Fiction
  • Fiction Writers in Context
  • Examining Stories that Share a Common Theme
  • Critical Thinking: How Themes Help Us Connect with Works of Fiction
  • Examine ways in which knowing an author's context helps you better understand a story.
  • Evaluate different authors' treatments of the same theme.
  • Describe how having your own life experience with a particular theme lets you read fiction more critically.
4 Evaluation
  • Introduction to Evaluation
  • Evaluation Strategies
  • Writing an Evaluation Essay
  • Examine an author's language, style, evidence, and purpose to evaluate a written piece.
  • Develop an informed opinion, and present it in a written essay.
  • Recognize logical flaws and avoid them in writing.
5 Writing about Literature
  • Inventing a Thesis
  • Defining Your Audience
  • Writing and Revising: Supporting Your Thesis
  • Editing and Proofreading: Giving a Paper the Final Touch
  • Describe several strategies available for creating a thesis.
  • Purposefully choose a paper's audience.
  • Write a well-organized paper that strongly supports its thesis.
  • Write well-organized paragraphs that strongly support their topic sentences.
  • Identify and correct awkward sentences and punctuation errors.
  • Write an well-organized essay, applying the themes of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein to modern day life.
6 The Interview
  • Introduction to Interviewing
  • Interviewing Strategies
  • Using Interview Data in Research
  • Prepare for a successful research interview.
  • Complete a professional interview to elicit the necessary information
  • Incorporate researched information from the interview into a written piece.
7 Research
  • Argument: Defending a Position or Opinion Through Research
  • Sources for Research
  • Accurately Citing Your Sources
  • Define the purpose of a researched proposal letter.
  • Formulate a substantial argument for a researched proposal letter.
  • Locate and evaluate sources to support a research topic.
  • Employ accurate MLA citing.
8 Media Analysis
  • Introduction to Analyzing Broadcast Media and Film
  • Television and Film Analysis Strategies
  • Writing a Film Analysis Essay
  • Analyze a media production by focusing on a specific creative element.
  • Use correct terminology to refer to elements of a media production.
  • Synthesize observations from the film or television production and craft a media analysis essay.
9 Illustration
  • Introduction to Illustration
  • Illustration Strategies
  • Writing an Illustration Essay
  • Create a thesis statement for an illustration essay.
  • Provide illustrations for a claim.
  • Select appropriate examples to support a claim.
  • Use logical explanation to indicate how the examples illustrate your point.
10 Classification
  • Introduction to Classification
  • Classification Strategies
  • Classification and Analysis
  • Writing an Classification Essay
  • Create a purposeful thesis statement for a classification essay.
  • Classify like items or ideas based on their traits.
  • Analyze a larger category and divide a larger category into subgroups that include ALL examples from that category.
  • Define the subgroups, indicating the traits all members must share.
  • Select representative examples and non-examples of items in that group, explaining why they do or do not fit.
11 Review
  • Reading Literature
  • Language Use
  • Examining Fiction
  • Evaluation
  • Writing about Literature
  • The Interview
  • Research
  • Media Analysis
  • Illustration
  • Classification
  • None

Online College English Course Tutoring Included

English Composition II includes 10 hours of free online college English course tutoring help— live, one-on-one, on-demand instructional support from SMARTHINKING. Expert writing professionals experienced with this online English course will carefully review and provide personalized feedback to students about their writing.

TRANSFERABLE COLLEGE CREDITS: 3


This program provides you with 6-months of course access.