Faculty

ENGL-1302 English Composition II

Susan Meigs

Credit Spring 2026

Section(s)

ENGL-1302-036 (16513)
LEC MW 11:50am - 1:10pm SAC SAC1 1211

ENGL-1302-045 (16521)
LEC MW 1:25pm - 2:45pm SAC SAC1 1211

ENGL-1302-066 (16530)
LEC TuTh 9:00am - 10:20am SAC SAC1 1318

ENGL-1302-238 (34141)
LEC TuTh 11:50am - 1:10pm SAC SAC1 1211

Thematic Focus

This course has a thematic focus, namely "The Pursuit of Happiness." In addition to the standard Comp II focuses on research, inquiry, critical analysis, and reflection, our course readings and assignments will relate to and explore the subject of happiness, from both a personal and collective perspective.

Course Requirements

Our course includes six major writing assignments:

A short blog post that synthesizes your view of purposeful life and that of a person you interview
An ad for one of the classical virtues
A report on a personal happiness project
A slideshow presentation on a place identified as “happy”
A research-based essay proposing an action to improve civic happiness and well-being
A reflection assignment analyzing your work and your growth as a student and writer

Additional supporting assignments include in-class and online discussions, a reading journal, and course progress memos.

Readings

Readings may include but are not limited to the following:

Oxford Happiness Questionnaire

“How Nearly a Century of Happiness Research Led to One Big Finding”

“Jung’s Five Pillars of Happiness,” Arthur C. Brooks

Classical Thoughts on Happiness

Meditations, Marcus Aurelius, translated by George Hays

How to Read Marcus Aurelius' Meditations, Ryan Holiday

The Stoicism of Benjamin Franklin

How to Grow Deeply Happy, Jonny Thomson

Rhetorical Appeals

Jessica Cerretani, "The Contagion of Happiness"

Jeremy Sutton, "Is Happiness Genetic?"

Readings from the Dalai Lama, Thich Nhat Hanh, and Buddhist Practices

What is Mindfulness

The Effects of Mindfulness on Psychological Health

How Stress Affects Your Brain

"How to Make Stress Your Friend," Kelly McGonigal TED Talk

Change Your Life with the Alexander Technique

Mindful Eating

21 Mindfulness Exercises & Activities for Adults

Tamara Bhandari, "Mind-Body Connection is Built into Brain, Study Suggests"

Studies on Mind/Body Connection

"The Meaning of Embodiment" podcast

"The Euphio Question," Kurt Vonnegut (audio reading of story)

"Happy Endings," Margaret Atwood

"The Happiness Paradox," Mort Laitner

"A Psalm of Life," Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

"Life Doesn't Frighten Me at All," Maya Angelou

"The Guest House," Jalaluddin Rumi

"Life," Charlotte Bronte

"Advice to My Son," Peter Meinke

The World Happiness Report 2025

Happy City Index 2025

Happiest Places in the World 2024

Blue Zones of Happiness

The Secrets Behind the US's Happiest City

What is the World’s Emotional Temperature?

"The Link Between Happiness, Health, and Literacy"

Ursula K. LeGuin, The Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas

Shirley Jackson, The Lottery

Kurt Vonnegut, Harrison Bergeron

David Cameron, "Happiness is a Collective--Not Just an Individual--Phenomenon"

Nickolas Christakis and James Fowler, "Social Networks and Happiness"

"The Blue Zones Project"

Boulder Model

Seb Murray, "Why Income Inequality in America is Hurting Collective Happiness"

Utilitarianism: John Stuart Mill

Course Subjects

ENGLISH 1302 is an intensive study of and practice in the strategies and techniques for developing research-based expository and persuasive texts, with an emphasis on effective and ethical rhetorical inquiry, including primary and secondary research methods; critical reading of verbal, visual, and multimedia texts; systematic evaluation, synthesis, and documentation of information sources; and critical thinking about evidence and conclusions.

Composition II deepens the work of Composition I to promote critical thinking, reading, and writing in the service of clear and effective communication in academic and other public writing contexts. In this class, you will continue to develop your voice as you analyze texts, which may be literary or drawn from other fields, conduct independent research, and engage in collaborative learning. All of these skills are applicable to future collegiate study, professional work, and civic life.

Our course is also a Liberal Arts Gateway class. This means that in addition to focusing on research, inquiry, critical analysis, and reflection, our course has a central focus, the concept and practice of happiness. Our readings and assignments will relate to and explore this subject.

Student Learning Outcomes/Learning Objectives

Upon completion of English 1302, students will be able to

Demonstrate knowledge of individual and collaborative research processes.
Develop ideas and synthesize primary and secondary sources within focused academic arguments, including one or more research-based essays.
Analyze, interpret, and evaluate a variety of texts for the ethical and logical uses of evidence.
Write in a style that clearly communicates meaning, builds credibility, and inspires belief or action.
Apply the conventions of style manuals for specific academic disciplines (e.g., APA, CMS, MLA, etc.)