C456 English Composition II is Western Governors University's second general education writing course, where academic argument meets serious research.
WGU's program guides describe it as focusing on analysis and argument, with attention to academic research and writing, critical thinking across the curriculum, proper citation and correct documentation.
You practice writing with emphasis on researching, writing and revising an academic argument, and grammar, mechanics, documentation and style are paired with each module.
The step up from Composition I is the evidence. Your own reasoning is no longer enough: you need credible sources, woven into your argument and cited correctly, while your voice stays in control of the paper.
Course at a Glance
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| University | Western Governors University (WGU) |
| Course code | C456 |
| Level | Undergraduate general education |
| Builds on | English Composition I (C455) |
| Subject area | Research writing, argument |
| Typical work | Research-based argumentative essay, source work, revision |
What C456 Covers
| Area | What it means in practice |
|---|---|
| Analysis and argument | Taking a position and defending it with reasons |
| Academic research | Finding scholarly and credible sources |
| Critical thinking | Judging evidence, spotting bias and weighing views |
| Citation and documentation | In-text citations and a reference list in one style |
| Revision | Improving the argument and its use of sources |
Key Concepts Explained
Evaluating Sources
Not every source carries equal weight. Ask who wrote it, what their expertise is, when it was published, what evidence it uses and why it exists. Peer-reviewed research and reputable organizations usually beat anonymous web pages.
Example: Writing on whether a four-day working week improves productivity, a student finds a company blog praising the idea, a news report on a national trial and a peer-reviewed study. The strongest paper uses the study as core evidence, the news report for context and the blog only as an example of business opinion, saying so clearly.
Synthesis
Synthesis means combining sources to build your own point, rather than summarizing them one by one. A synthesized paragraph might show where two studies agree, where a third differs and what that means for your claim.
Integrating Quotations and Paraphrase
Introduce each source, present its idea through a short quotation or paraphrase, cite it and then explain its significance. This "sandwich" keeps you in charge of the argument.
Typical Assignments and How to Approach Them
WGU assesses competency through performance assessments or objective assessments. Check your course page for the current format. Research writing typically includes:
| Task type | What it tests | How to approach it |
|---|---|---|
| Research argument essay | Thesis supported by sources | Build the thesis first, then find evidence |
| Source evaluation | Judging credibility | Apply the same questions to every source |
| Annotated list or outline | Planning the argument | Note how each source supports a claim |
| Revision | Improving use of evidence | Check each source does real work |
A Research Process That Works
- Narrow the question. "Climate policy" is too broad; "Should cities ban petrol cars from centers?" is workable.
- Search with keywords. Use library databases and combine terms with AND and OR.
- Read and note. Record each source's main point, evidence and citation details as you go.
- Draft the thesis. Let it reflect what the evidence supports.
- Outline with sources. Assign sources to each paragraph before writing.
- Write, cite and revise. Check every claim that needs a source has one.
Structuring a Research Argument
A research argument follows a familiar shape, but each part has a job beyond simply holding information:
- Introduction: context for the issue, why it matters and your thesis.
- Background: key terms or history the reader needs, kept brief.
- Body sections: each develops one reason, supported by synthesized sources.
- Counterargument and response: the strongest opposing view, answered fairly.
- Conclusion: what the evidence shows, its implications and any limits.
Example: For a paper arguing that cities should expand protected cycle lanes, body sections might cover safety, health and local business. The counterargument section addresses concerns about traffic and parking, using evidence from cities that have made the change, and explains why the benefits outweigh the costs.
Write a one-sentence summary of each section before drafting. If a section cannot be summarized as support for your thesis, it probably needs rethinking.
Where Students Get Stuck
- Source-driven papers. Paragraphs that string quotations together lose the writer's argument.
- Weak sources. Unattributed websites undermine credibility.
- Citation errors. Missing in-text citations or mismatched reference entries can raise integrity concerns.
- Ignoring opposing evidence. A strong argument addresses it directly.
Study Tips for C456
- Start each paragraph with your own claim, not a quotation.
- Keep a citation record from the first search, so the reference list is easy to build.
- Use the university library's databases rather than general search engines alone.
- Check every in-text citation against the reference list before you submit.
How We Help with C456
Send the prompt, rubric, your sources and draft, and any evaluator comments. A composition tutor gives detailed feedback on argument and source use, checks citations, edits for clarity within university rules, or prepares a model research paper showing how sources are integrated.
GradeEssays is independent of Western Governors University. Our work is tutoring and reference material: use it to strengthen your own writing and submit your own work under WGU's academic integrity rules. We never log in to student portals. Every order is written from scratch and plagiarism-checked, with free revisions within the scope of your original request.
Build a Research Argument That Holds Up
Share your prompt, sources and draft. A composition tutor gives detailed feedback or prepares a custom paper to learn from.
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Frequently Asked Questions
C456 places much more weight on academic research, source evaluation, citation and documentation within a research-based argument.
Credible academic and professional sources, such as peer-reviewed articles and reputable organizations. Your task instructions set the specifics.
Cite every idea you take from a source, quote exact words in quotation marks and paraphrase in genuinely new wording.
Yes, addressing opposing evidence usually makes a research argument stronger.
WGU uses performance and objective assessments. Check your course page for the current format.
No. We are an independent service with no connection to Western Governors University.