Syllabus
English 1102: English Composition II, Spring 2011
Section 03: MW 2:00-3:15PM, Arts & Sciences 353
Section 04: MW 3:30-4:45PM, Arts & Sciences 353
Professor
Professor: Dr. Alex E. Blazer
Email: alex.blazer@gcsu.edu
Web: www.faculty.de.gcsu.edu/~ablazer/
Office Phone: 478.445.0964
Office: Arts & Sciences 330
Office Hours: MW 5:00-5:30 A&S 330, T 12:30-1:45 A&S 330, R 12:30-1:30 Blackbird, and by appointment
The undergraduate course catalog describes English 1102 as "a composition course that develops writing skills beyond the levels of proficiency required by ENGL 1101, emphasizes interpretation and evaluation of texts, and incorporates a variety of more advanced research methods." While 1101 practices critical, analytical writing through the reading of exemplary essays, 1102 develops analytical, interpretive writing through the reading of literature. We will learn how to closely read poems and key passages from fiction. In addition to interpreting individual poems and stories, we will analyze a collection of short stories and poems, Sherman Alexie's War Dances. Finally, we will learn methods for examining drama. We will journey through the entire writing process, from initial response to a work of literature, an interpretive thesis, literary research, outlining, an initial draft of a paper, peer review, and revision. Assignments include a informal responses; peer responses; a drafted, peer reviewed, and revised close reading paper; a drafted, peer reviewed, and revised paper arguing a work of literature's significance; a group presentation on a work of literature; and a research paper.
This course's Academic Assessment page describes our topics:
- Basic introductions to various types of literature, including poetry, drama, and prose fiction;
- Strategies for college-level writing about literary texts, including vocabulary, grammar, style, purpose and audience;
- Revision;
- Basic research methods for college-level work;
- Analysis of texts orally (class discussion) and in writing.
as well as course outcomes:
- To reinforce principles of writing acquired in ENGL 1101;
- To reinforce the principles and strategies of argumentation and analysis acquired in ENGL 1101;
- To understand complexities of culture in order to write or speak about them;
- To create forceful and effective written argument in the academic environment;
- To reinforce principles of academic research and how to synthesize research in writing so that the insights and documentation are logical and clear;
- To gain insight into various ways of interpreting texts and presenting insights about them in writing.
- To experience public presentation and public reaction to finished work.
required (GCSU Bookstore or Amazon.com)
Alexie, War Dances
Madden, ed. Exploring Literature, 4th ed.
Lunsford, Easy Writer, 4th ed.
required (online)
supplemental works of literature
Assignments and Grade Distribution
informal and peer responses, 5%
Informal responses will explore literature and and how it applies to life; and peer responses will review fellow student papers.
paper 1 close reading, 20%
The 4-5 page drafted, peer reviewed, and revised close reading will rigorously analyze either a 20 line poem or a short story paragraph.
paper 2 significance, 30%
Using textual analysis, this 5-6 page drafted, peer reviewed, and revised significance paper will argue a work of literature's aesthetic, cultural, and/or philosophical importance.
paper 3 research, 35%
The 6-8 page drafted, peer reviewed, and revised research paper will research and interpret an issue in a work of literature.
group project, 10%
Groups of 3-4 will choose a work of literature, compile a 12-16 source annotated bibliography of literary criticism on the text, write a 4-6 page paper summarizing the literary debate on the text, and share their findings with the class in a 20 minute presentation.
Class Preparation and Participation
I expect you to come to class having read, annotated, and reviewed the assigned reading. Moreover, you should prepare at least two comments and two questions for each reading. We're going to be working with challenging texts; therefore, we'll all benefit from sharing our ideas and questions. If I feel that you're not participating because you're not keeping up with the reading, I will give a pop quiz.
Office Hours and Email
I encourage you to stop by my office hours to discuss any aspect of the course, of literature. I'm happy to answer minor questions such as due dates over email, but I prefer face-to-face conversations for more substantive topics like papers and exams. Please use etiquette in both email and in person.
Technology
The syllabus is available at http://www.faculty.de.gcsu.edu/~ablazer/. We will be using GeorgiaVIEW and TurnItIn for assignments. It is your responsibility to learn GeorgiaView and TurnItIn. Check your university email for course-related messages. I suggest using a a free cloud computing service such as Dropbox, Live Mesh, or Mozy to save your work-in-progress. Students who text or web surf in class will be marked absent.
Attendance
There will be a one letter final grade deduction for every absence beyond three days. Therefore, missing four class periods will result in a one letter final grade deduction and missing seven classes will result in automatic failure of the course. I suggest you use your three days both cautiously and wisely; and make sure you sign the attendance sheets. Habitual tardies, consistently leaving class early, texting, and surfing the internet will be treated as absences. Excuses like work, family, and scheduled doctor's appointments will be declined. The only acceptable excuses are death in one's immediate family and one's own medical emergency. If you participate in an extracurricular activity that you anticipate will cause you to miss class, I suggest you switch sections now. You can check your attendance online by looking for your course number and the last four digits of your student identification number.
MLA Style
Formal assignments should adhere to the Modern Language Association (MLA) style. Formal papers and take-home exams require MLA style while in-class exams; discussion board responses, informal writing, and peer review may be informally formatted. One-third of a letter grade will be deducted from a formal paper or take-home exam for problems in each of the following three categories, for a possible one letter grade deduction total: 1) header, heading, and title, 2) margins, font, and line-spacing, and 3) quotation and citation format. Before you turn in a formal paper, make sure your work follows MLA style by using the checklist on the MLA style handout. I encourage students to use my MS Word template.
Late Assignments
There will be a one letter assignment grade deduction per day (not class period) for any assignment that is turned in late. I sparingly give short extensions if you request one for a valid need at least one day before the assignment is due. I will inform you via email if I cannot open an electronically submitted assignment; however, your assignment will be considered late until you submit it in a file I can open. Failing to submit an assignment that is worth 15% or more of the course grade within five days (not class periods) of its due date will result in automatic failure of the course. Failing to submit a final exam or final paper within two days of its due date will result in automatic failure of the course.
Length Requirements
A formal paper or take-home exam will be penalized one-third of a letter grade if it does not end at least halfway down on the minimum page length while implementing 12 pt Times New Roman font, double-spacing, and 1" margins. Each additional page short of the minimum requirement will result in an a one-third letter grade penalty.
Plagiarism
Do not do it. The Honor Code defines plagiarism as "presenting as one's own work the words or ideas of an author or fellow student. Students should document quotes through quotation marks and footnotes or other accepted citation methods. Ignorance of these rules concerning plagiarism is not an excuse. When in doubt, students should seek clarification from the professor who made the assignment." Section 3.01 of the Academic Affairs Handbook elaborates other examples of academic dishonesty and outlines disciplinary procedures and appeals for academic misconduct. Submitting the same paper in two different courses constitutes academic dishonesty. As plagiarism is not tolerated at GCSU, any student found guilty of willful plagiarism or dishonesty will fail the assignment and the course. Students must submit all formal papers to TurnItIn.com.
Failure of the Course
There are three ways to fail the course: 1) failing to regularly attend class, 2) plagiarizing, 3) failing an assignment that is worth 15% or more of the course grade, be it from poor quality, lateness of submission, or a combination of poor quality and lateness. By contrast, students who regularly attend class, complete their work with academic integrity, and submit assignments on time will pass the course.
Withdrawal
The last day to add a course is Friday, January 14. The last day to drop a course without fee penalty is Wednesday, January 19. The last day to withdraw from all courses without academic penalty (unless previously assigned an F by professor for absences) is Monday, March 7.
Assistance for Student Needs Related to Disability
If you have a disability as described by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Section 504, you may be eligible to receive accommodations to assist in programmatic and physical accessibility. Disability Services, a unit of the GCSU Office of Institutional Equity and Diversity, can assist you in formulating a reasonable accommodation plan and in providing support in developing appropriate accommodations to ensure equal access to all GCSU programs and facilities. Course requirements will not be waived, but accommodations may assist you in meeting the requirements. For documentation requirements and for additional information, we recommend that you contact Disability Services located in Maxwell Student Union at 478-445-5931 or 478-445-4233.
The Writing Center
The Writing Center is a free service available to all members of the university community. Consultants assist writers in the writing process, from conception and organization of compositions to revision to documentation of research. Located in Lanier Hall 209, the Center is open Monday through Friday. Call 445-3370 or email writingcr@gcsu.edu for more information.
Fire Drills
Fire drills will be conducted during the semester. In the event of a fire alarm signal, students will exit the building in a quick and orderly manner through the nearest hallway exit. Learn the floor plan and exits of the A & S Building. Do not use elevators. Crawl on the floor if you encounter heavy smoke. Assist disabled persons and others if possible without endangering your own life. Assemble for a head count on front lawn main campus.
This schedule is subject to change, so check back in class and online for possible revisions.
Typically, we'll read 5 poems or 2 short stories per day; however, we will not always be able to discuss every selection in class.
No Class: Snow Day |
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No Class: Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday |
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Joyce, "Araby" (445-9) Murakami, "On Seeing the 100% Perfect Girl One Beautiful April Morning" (470-74) Madden, Participation: Personal Response and Critical Thinking (3-20) |
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Bishop, "In the Waiting Room" (994-5) Doty, "Brilliance" (1227-8) Olds, "Sex without Love" (790-1) Plath, "Mirror" (792) Stafford, "Traveling through the Dark (1212) Madden, Close Reading and Annotating the Text" (57-9) |
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Oates, "Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?" (474-86) Bambara, "The Lesson" (451-7) Madden, Communication: Writing a Response Essay (21-54) |
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five EL poems, 2:00 selections | 3:30 selections Madden, Reading and Analyzing Poetry (73-90) |
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two EL short stories, 2:00 selections | 3:30 selections Madden, Reading and Analzying Fiction (60-72) |
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two EL short stories, 2:00 selections | 3:30 selections |
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five EL poems, 2:00 selections | 3:30 selections |
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five 2010 poems, 2:00 selections | 3:30 selections |
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No Class: Professor at Conference |
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two EL short stories, 2:00 selections | 3:30 selections |
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two 2010 short stories,2:00 selections | 3:30 selections Madden, Argumentation: Writing a Critical Essay (150-77) |
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Week 9 |
Alexie, War Dances (War Dances 1-72) |
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Alexie, War Dances (WD 73-148) |
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Alexie, War Dances (WD 149-209) |
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No Class: Spring Break |
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No Class: Spring Break |
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Chekhov, The Proposal (EL 809-20) Valdez, Los Vendidos (EL 1057-66) Madden, Reading and Analyzing Drama (91-105) |
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first full length play, 2:00 selections | 3:30 selections |
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play, continued Madden, Research: Writing with Secondary Sources (178-92) |
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second full length play, 2:00 selections | 3:30 selections |
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play, continued |
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