PRINCE GEORGE’S
COMMUNITY COLLEGE
ENGLISH
102: INTRODUCTION TO LITERATURE
PROFESSOR
KRAMER
SPRING 2006
OFFICE: M-3073
OFFICE
PHONE: 301-322-0579
ENGLISH
DEPARTMENT PHONE: 301-322-0563
E-MAIL
ADDRESS: kramerol@pgcc.edu
(required code in subject heading:
NM231)
OFFICE
HOURS: T/TH: 8:30-9:30, T:
5:30-6:30, TH: 12:30-1:30
REQUIRED
TEXT
Retellings: A Thematic Literature Anthology, by M.B. Clarke and A.G. Clarke
*You
must purchase this new, with the accompanying cd rom
RECOMMENDED
TEXT
A Writer’s Reference, 5th. ed., with MLA update by Diana Hacker
COURSE
REQUIREMENTS
Biographical Research Essay: 15%
Comparison/Contrast Essay: 15%
In Class Poetry Explication: 15%
Portfolio of Short Essays: 30%
Active
Class Participation and Attendance: 10%
COURSE OBJECTIVES
* To understand the major literary terms and be able to identify and apply these
terms to short fiction, poetry and drama.
* To improve critical thinking and writing skills.
* To see that there are many ways to understand a text through examining
various critical perspectives, entering the dialog, and forming one’s own
understanding of the literature based upon the text and experiences.
* If literature illuminates reality and life experiences, this course is also designed
to enrich the student’s own life by introducing various works that challenge
him/her to question and relate in a personal manner.
* Finally, as the editors of your text suggest, I hope that by the end of the
semester you see yourself as “tellers of the tales” you read, “to see that with
every interpretation—a student interpretation no less than a professional
interpretation, a new story begins.”
EXPECTED
COURSE OUTCOMES:
Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
1. Write analytical essays about literary texts by
·
Formulating restricted, unified and
precise thesis statements
·
Organizing essay content into
introduction, body, and conclusion paragraphs
·
Composing restricted, unified, and precise
topic sentences for paragraphs
·
Writing unified and coherent paragraphs
that are well-developed with supporting materials drawn from the literary text
·
Applying grammar and usage rules correctly
·
Choosing appropriate diction
·
Writing clear, precise sentences
2. Explain basic literary terms in the genre of poetry, fiction, and drama (for example, theme, imagery, rhythm, figurative language, tone, character, plot etc.)
3. Write research-based essays using secondary sources to:
·
Demonstrate
their understanding of plagiarism
·
Synthesize
several different sources into an essay to support its thesis
·
Quote,
summarize, and paraphrase responsibly within that paper
·
Document
sources according to the MLA format
COURSE POLICIES
Papers:
Essays must be
typed and double-spaced with one inch margins and an 11-12 inch standard
font. All work must be submitted on time and
should have a cover page with a title, the student’s name, the professor’s
name, and the date. I follow process
pedagogy with major writing assignments, and therefore you’re expected to meet two
deadlines for both major out of class essays:
the draft day deadline and the deadline for the final polished
essay. In order to submit the final polished essay, you must have first met
the draft day deadline, and any penalties incurred due to lateness on the draft
will transfer as penalties on the final polished essay. In other words, you cannot submit a final essay for a grade, without first meeting
draft requirements, and you will take an “F” on the assignment if you don’t first write a draft and meet that
deadline. Late papers, whether drafts or
final polished essays, will be penalized one letter grade for each day they are late; likewise, if you
lose a letter grade on the draft, then you will be penalized a letter grade on
your final essay. I don’t accept papers more than two days late; in other
words, if a draft or final polished essay is due Tuesday, Thursday is the last
day I will accept it, and it will be penalized two letter grades. After two days, unless you’ve been granted an
extension for a special exception, you will take an “F” for the paper if you
don’t submit it. All papers must be
submitted into my faculty mailbox located in Marlboro 3072 by 3:00 pm if they are
submitted after the due date, and they
should have a signature from the English Department secretaries as proof of
when they were submitted. Otherwise,
papers are due at the start of class. Do
not expect to show up unprepared on
“draft day” and write the paper during the class—you will not be granted credit
for your draft at the end of the class, and instead will receive a letter grade
penalty, as it is unfair to other students who have managed their time
accordingly. Any plagiarism (ie. submission of work that is not yours or failure to cite
sources correctly) will result in an “F” on the essay and possibly an “F” in
the course. I will report first offenses; see your student handbook for a detailed
description of the College’s plagiarism policy.
Should you choose
to receive feedback on a draft before submitting it as a final polished essay,
you may see me during office hours or see a tutor in the
I am also a tutor
in the
When you submit
your final polished essay, be sure to include rough drafts and pre-writing, and
any other evidence of your writing process.
Although I don’t give extra credit for conferences in the
In-Class Poetry
Explication:
In lieu of
writing a Final Poetry Essay, you will explicate a poem in class during a timed
writing. You will be given a choice of
one poem from three possibilities, and I will provide you with guided questions
to aid you in your explication. There will be no make-ups.
Portfolio of Short
Essays:
Attached is a list of entries for the portfolio. These short essays must be typed and double-spaced with a standard 12 inch font and standard one inch margins (including the top margin). The minimum length requirement for each entry is 1 and 1/2 pages; anything shorter will receive a “0.” The Portfolio writings although shorter in length, should be perceived as formal academic essays. In other words, they should follow essay format, with a thesis in an introductory paragraph that responds to the portfolio assignment question, (attached is a list of assignments for the Portfolio Essays) and supporting paragraphs that develop your major points. You are also expected to cite examples from the literature in the form of direct quotations to support your assertions. Simply reference page numbers parenthetically after each quote, and sandwich your quotes smoothly into your prose. You will complete a total of 6 portfolio entries to total 30% of your grade. You may revise two entries over the course of the semester for a higher grade, but must come to class with both the original and the revision on the last day of class. You may also utilize office hours to submit revisions, but cannot simply turn them in for reassessment. You may only revise entries that you submitted; in other words, if you took a “0” on an entry and didn’t submit it at all, then that “0” stands, and you have no opportunity for revision.
I do not accept late portfolio entries. Be careful about procrastinating on these, as they require critical thought and sometimes additional reading or research. You are given all of the assignments, along with due dates in advance, as you are expected to manage your time wisely. Please number your portfolio entries by simply typing “Portfolio #1” in the upper left hand corner and place them in a folder with your name on it; no additional title page or information is required unless specified otherwise in class. It is important that you place these in a folder, as I will be collecting at least 50 of these on a given due date. Pay attention to grammar and punctuation as well. Entries will be graded on a 4 point scale, and the following is a guideline for the scale:
v++=4 points (A). The portfolio entry is outstanding in focus, organization, development, and examples from the text. It includes ample direct quotations from the literature for support, and it comprehensively responds to the question. The portfolio is polished on the sentence level.
v+=3 points (B). The portfolio entry is very good (above average) in terms of its focus, organization, development and examples from the text. It might have some quotes for support, and discussion of points may not be as comprehensive. It may also have a few sentence level errors, but overall is still coherent, well developed and well supported.
v=2 points (C). The portfolio entry meets minimum requirements and may not be very well focused or organized. Examples may be rather cursory glances at the text, and discussion lacks full development. Sentence level errors may appear fairly consistently throughout the entry, but ideas are still coherently presented.
v-=1 point (D). The portfolio entry, although 1 and 1/2 pages in length, doesn’t meet minimum requirements. It lacks a focus, and points are difficult to follow. Major assertions also lack quotes for support, and discussion is scant and choppy. Sentence level errors may be abundant to the point of distraction, and the question is not addressed comprehensively.
0=0 points (F). The entry is less than 1 and 1/2 pages, either because it lacks discussion or the margins are not standard, doesn’t fully answer the question and lacks examples and direct quotations for support. The entry is probably riddled with errors, handwritten, or not submitted at all.
Attendance and Class
Participation:
Your prompt and regular attendance is expected; in a small seminar style course such as this, regular attendance is crucial. If you miss even two classes, you’ve missed the equivalent to a week of classes. Because the dynamics of this course are dependant upon discussion, you are also expected to be an active participant. It is crucial to our understanding of the literature that you actively engage in discussion on a regular basis. Each one of you can offer unique insight into the literature because we all come from different backgrounds and experiences, and our insights are shaped by both factors. There are no “wrong” answers when it comes to understanding the literature (although some may be more plausible than others based upon textual support), and I expect each of you to courageously enter the dialog and respect one another’s viewpoints, even if you disagree. I have weighted attendance and class participation at 10%, almost as much as a paper, and take that grade seriously. If you expect a “C” or higher for your class participation grade, you will need to come to class, prepared to enter the dialog and actively engage in discussion on a regular basis.
You are allowed to miss six classes without penalty, but you are still required to meet submission deadlines or make other arrangements to submit work prior to your absence if you must miss a class. Missing more than six classes will result in the loss of a letter grade from your final grade in the course and may result in failure of the course. If you are late you will be marked “tardy,” and 3 tardies equal one absence. If you miss more than 1/3 of the class (25 minutes) it is considered an absence.
Assigned
Reading/Active
Because of the structure of this course it is important that you complete all the reading required and that you engage in active reading. You should highlight and annotate (make comments, ask questions, etc.) in the margins of your book as you read the literature and the assigned chapter reading. (Yes, you will still be able to sell back your book to the bookstore should you choose to do so). Although I don’t assign “homework” in the form of questions on the assigned reading, responding to the questions at the end of a piece of literature or performing the “trying it out” exercises may enable you to think more critically about the work as well. You might also consider keeping a reading journal for yourself or taking notes in a separate folder as you read. Active reading of literature has been proven to enable students to better understand the literature on both a literal and figurative level. Students also engage more personally in the literature when they read actively, and class discussion will be significantly stronger. It will also help you to prepare your portfolio entries and you will retain information better. Most pieces will require more than one reading for comprehension.
You will take a total of 8 Active Reading Quizzes (ARQs) over the course of the semester, and these are unannounced. Quiz questions will range from covering chapter content to the assigned literature, or even information on an assigned handout. At least one of these quizzes will be a “book check.” On the day of that quiz, you must provide proof of active reading of that day’s reading assignment. Therefore, if you choose to keep a reading journal, be sure to bring it to every class. These are not only designed to ensure that you do the reading for the course, but also that you practice active reading. These will also be graded on a four point scale, with a “0” equaling an “F” and a “v++” equaling an “A.”
Peer Review:
You are expected to revise written assignments several times, and you will receive written feedback from your peers to help you engage in this process on your major out of class essays. On the day the rough draft is due you will engage in peer review in a workshop class format. You might also choose to conference with me during the workshop class. Peer review is not only helpful with offering an additional perspective on your writing, but enables you as a writer to more objectively examine and revise your own essay, as peer review guidelines are specifically tailored to writing in response to literature. As part of your basic requirements with major out of class essays, you must submit, along with your final polished essay, a completed peer review sheet (which I’ll provide you with) and any evidence of your writing process, including at least one rough draft. The peer review sheet you submit is the one that was completed for you by your peer. If you must miss a draft day, you are still expected to make arrangements for peer review with a member from our class. If you do not have a completed peer review sheet, you will lose a letter grade on your final polished essay. Please feel free to use office hours to receive additional feedback on your writing; they operate on a “first-come, first-serve” basis.
Professionalism:
Your professional behavior is expected, and improper behavior cannot and will not be tolerated. You are all adults who pay good money for your education, and class time belongs to all students. It is part of my responsibility to insure that the classroom climate remains conducive to learning at all times. Therefore disruptive behavior of any kind will be dealt with in strict accordance with college wide policy. Please remember to turn your cell phones off; answering a cell phone call or text messaging in the middle of class is both rude and disruptive. Although I don’t mind if you eat during class, please do so without being loud and disruptive, and be sure to clean up after yourself. When someone else is talking, whether it is me or a classmate, you should be respectful and not talk at the same time. There are other “givens” about conducting yourself in a professional manner that I will assume you are aware of and will follow as adults.
Delayed College
Openings:
When the college announces a delayed opening, all classes with at least 45 minutes of class time remaining at the time of the opening will be held. For example, in the event of a 10 a.m. opening, a 9:30-10:45 a.m. class will be held. This procedure applies to all credit classes.
DISABILITY
SUPPORT SERVICES
Students requesting academic
accommodations are required to contact the Disability Support Services Office
(M-1042) or call (301) 322-0838 (voice) or (301) 322-0122 (TTY) to establish
eligibility for services and accommodations.
Students with documented disabilities should discuss the matter
privately with their instructors at the beginning of the semester and provide a
copy of their Student/Faculty Accommodation Form.
CODE
OF CONDUCT
The
CODE
OF ACADEMIC INTEGRITY
The college is an institution of higher
learning that holds academic integrity as its highest principle. In the pursuit of knowledge, the college
community expects that all students, faculty, and staff will share responsibility
for adhering to the values of honesty and unquestionable integrity. To support a community committed to academic
achievement and scholarship, the Code of Academic Integrity advances the
principle of honest representation in the work that is produced by students
seeking to engage fully in the learning process. The complete text of the Code of Academic
Integrity is in the 2004-2005 Student Handbook (pages 41-43) and posted on the
college's website.
Where to Turn For
Help:
I have an “open-door policy” and should you need help outside of class, you should feel free to see me during office hours. These operate on a “first-come, first-serve” basis, and you need not schedule an appointment. When I am not in my office, you can slip a note in my faculty mailbox located in Marlboro-3072, leave a voicemail message, or leave a phone message with the secretary in the English Department. The English Department #s are: 301.322.0563, 0562, 0561. You may choose to send me an e-mail. Please include the following code and don’t send any attachments: NM231. This code should appear in the “subject” heading of any e-mails. Should you desire feedback on your writing, simply “copy and paste” either part, or all of it into an e-mail. I also recommend that you provide me with a context of where you are in the writing process, and specifically what you’d like me to focus on.
COLLEGE RESOURCES and SERVICES
Tutoring and
Bladen
Wing, Room 107
Stop by or call 301-322-0748 to make an
appointment.
If
you have the feeling that something is missing from your studies, the
The
Student Development Services 301-322-0886
(www.pgcc.edu/pgweb/pgdocs/student_services/index-sds.htm)
Student Development Services has various
programs that provide students with mentoring, advising and individual
counseling. Call or check the website
for more information.
Library (www.pgcc.edu/library)
Accokeek
Hall General information: 301-322-0105
Circulation
services: 301-322-0475
Reference services:
301-322-0476
The
Learning Resources Division provides a range of library and media services.
Refer
to the web site for hours and more information about the services.
Campus Bookstore (www.pgcc.edu/pgweb/pgdocs/bookstore.html)