Puerto Rico Conservatory of Music

Office of Academic Affairs

Department of General Studies

Course Title: English Composition II - Summer Session I

Code: INGL 3002 (EFL)
Class Schedule: Mon/Tues/Wed/Thurs, 11:30am-2:30pm
Professor: Laura Martínez
Office Hours: By appointment
Email: englishclass.pr@gmail.com
Facebook: facebook.com/englishclass.pr

Course This course focuses on teaching students of English as a

Description: Foreign Language how to think critically and write
persuasively. It provides an introduction for a
methodological analysis of written and audiovisual texts,
as well as the tools to write effectively about them. The
course emphasizes formal structures in writing, active
reading, and the development of research skills. The class
is held exclusively in the English language.

Objectives: At the end of this course, students will be able to:

1. read actively to maximize reading comprehension;
2. identify and understand basic rhetorical devices in a
variety of texts;
3. analyze literature, film, and music;
4. compose critical reviews of audiovisual texts;
5. approach writing as a means to inform;
6. perform thorough research with the use of our library
resources and the Internet;
7. write about their findings in a literature review;
8. use the APA Style Guide appropriately;
9. compose well-structured texts following the
principles of coherence and unity;
10. understand and adhere to the structure of the essay;
11. edit for grammar, structure, and content (individual
and peer editing).

Course Topics: 1. Active Reading

a. Study Habits
b. Reading Techniques
c. New Vocabulary and Dictionary Use
2. Introduction to the Literary Analysis:
a. Rhetorical Devices
b. Literary Conventions
c. Reading Literature
d. Writing about Literature
e. Thesis Statement
f. Arguments
3. The Critical Review
a. Structure
 b. Content
4. The Research Paper
a. Principles of Research
b. The Literature Review
5. American Psychological Association (APA):
a. Format
b. Citation
c. References
d. Plagiarism
6. Editing and Proofreading
a. Transitions
b. Punctuation
c. Subordinate Clauses
d. Structure and Content

Teaching There will be emphasis on the student’s active

Strategies: participation in the use of the library and its resources by
means of coordinated visits, orientations on the different
uses of the resources such as bibliographic materials,
recordings, audio, visual and electronic materials, and use
of the online catalogue and Internet.

Throughout the course of the semester, the class will

analyze and discuss different texts by means of open
debate. Each topic will be introduced by means of a
lecture or workshop and will be further explored in group
discussions. Students will regularly practice their writing
skills with different activities in the classroom and at
Learning home.
Resources:
Print, audiovisual, electronic, and computer resources
available in the Amaury Veray Library and the Technology
Evaluation: Resource Center.

Book Report + Oral Presentation = 20%

Literary Analysis + Critical Review = 30%
Research Project = 30%
References: Participation and Attendance = 20%

Text Book:
Clouse, B. F. (2009). A Troubleshooting guide for writers:
strategies
and process. (6th ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill.

References:
Blanchard, K. & Root, C. (2002). Get ready to write: a first
composition
text. (3rd ed.) New Jersey: Pearson.
Booth, W., Colomb, G & Williams, J.M. (2008). The craft of
research.
(3rd ed.) Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
Feng-Checkett, G. & Checkett, L. (2011). The write start
withreadings :
paragraphs to essays with professional and student
readings. (4th
ed.) Boston: Cengage Learning.
Kirszner, L. & Mandell, S. (2001). Literature: reading,
reacting, writing.
Boston: Thomson & Heinle.
Scarry, S. & Scarry, J. (2011). The writer’s workplace with readings:
building college writing skills. (7th ed.) Boston: Wadsworth
Cengage Learning.
Schrampfer Azar, B. (2009). Understanding and using
English grammar.
(4th ed). New York: Pearson Education.
Wilson, P. & Ferster, T. (2003). Writing essentials : exercises to
improve spelling, sentence structure, punctuation, and
writing. (2003). Boston: Thomson Heinle.

Online Resources:
Literature:
The Forest of Rhetoric:
http://rhetoric.byu.edu/
The Literature Network
http://www.online-literature.com/
Project Gutenberg:
http://www.gutenberg.org/
Read Book Online:
http://www.readbookonline.net/

Grammar and Writing:

About.com: English as 2nd Language:
http://esl.about.com/
American Psychological Association:
http://www.apa.org/
English Grammar Online 4U:
http://www.ego4u.com/
Englishpage.com:
http://www.englishpage.com/index.html
ESL Gold:
http://www.eslgold.com/
Using English:
http://www.usingenglish.com/
The Writing Lab & Owl at Purdue University:
http://owl.english.purdue.edu

Online Dictionaries:
Dictionary.com:
http://dictionary.reference.com/
Merriam-Webster Online:
http://www.merriam-webster.com/
Word Reference:
http://www.wordreference.com/