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Professor R. Golland E-mail: rgolland@stac.edu
English 203A&B Office phone: 398-4138
Spring 2005 Office hours: Mon. 10am-12:00 pm;
Office: Sullivan Theatre 2(ST2) Th. 8:45-9:45am;
and by appointment
Text: The Norton Anthology of American Literature Nina Baym, et al., eds.
As its title indicates, Writing about American Literature is a course with two primary aims: 1) to discuss and exercise the practice of writing critical essays and 2) to introduce and analyze the literature produced by writers who call themselves "American." To perform these two functions, you will engage in discussions about assigned texts and produce written essays in response to assigned questions.
Course Outcomes
To be skilled in the close reading and analysis of American literary works.
- To be skilled in the writing of essays that have the following characteristics:
A clearly defined subject; a precise thesis; an organized argument; sound
paragraph division and focus; correct grammatical usage including spelling,
subject-verb agreement, proper use of possessive case, syntax, pronoun use,
and punctuation.
- To learn the correct uses of paraphrase, summary, and direct quotation in order to cite sources properly (though assigned essays will be reflective of the student's independent, original thought).
- Assignments
Out-of-class writing assignments for this class will consist of two 4-5-page essays, and one short mini-research project. There will also be a mid-term and final. The out-of-class essays must be typed and double-spaced, with appropriate margins and fonts, and must be assembled (stapled) in advance. Drafts will be due in advance of each final copy, and students are encouraged to meet with the professor for review.
Evaluation
Essay #1 15%
Essay #2 15%
Essay #3 (midterm identifications exam) 10%
Essay #4 (mini research project 10%
Final (Take home and In-class) 20%
Class Participation 20%
(In-class writing assignments, daily discussions,
rough drafts)
Reading Quizzes 10%
____
100%
Drafting Days
Assigned drafting days have been allotted so that students will have the opportunity for feedback from both the professor and peers. These drafting days are to be taken quite seriously as a time for draft review, feedback and revision. Students will lose points on the final essay grade when they fail to turn in a draft IN CLASS on the assigned drafting days. In addition, failure to bring a typed, printed copy of a draft on its due date will result in one half absence. The professor's office hours are for ADDITIONAL assistance, in conjunction with the work done in class. If you attend class without a draft on drafting day, you will lose class participation points, attendance, and essay points. Furthermore, barring any emergency situations, if you are absent on a drafting day, you forfeit the opportunity for draft review.
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is the submission, for grade or for review, of work that is not your own. This includes ideas you get from elsewhere as well as language- specific words and sentences- taken from other sources. You should know that plagiarism, or academic theft as it is also known, is a serious offense, punishable by sanctions ranging from failure to dismissal from the college. You should also be aware that I know plagiarism when I see it. Any student who is discovered to have plagiarized material in my class will receive a failing grade. Be aware that with the exception of the mini research project, all written work in this class is to be comprised of YOUR independent, original thoughts, ideas, and words!!!
Rules and Requirements
A total of five (5) writing assignments will be assigned throughout the semester. All written work should be maintained by students in individual "portfolios" for review by instructor at midterm and finals time.
- Two copies of typed, printed drafts brought and turned in on drafting days.
- Completion of assigned readings. Students should be prepared to discuss assignments in class. Quizzes will promote closer reading.
- A highlighter for close reading; a dictionary; a blank computer disk for use in computer labs and to store all typed work from English 203 ONLY.
- A portfolio of all graded work must be turned in at the semester's end. Be sure to save all graded work as it is returned to you.
- Class participation and attendance. You are expected to participate in all class discussions, and to attend all classes, barring any emergency situations.
Attendance and Tardiness
Students are required to be regular and prompt in their attendance, to complete the assigned readings and written work on time, and to participate in class interactions. Habitual lateness to any extent will be counted as absence, and will seriously affect your class participation grade. In addition, three lates of ten minutes or more will equal half an absence. Two lates of at least twenty minutes will be counted as an absence. It is the responsibility of the student (after class) to ensure that a mark of absence is changed in case of late arrival. Failure to bring printed drafts on drafting days results in ½ an absence per draft due. Absence in excess of two unexcused will jeopardize the final grade. Absence in excess of five will be reason for failure.
Late Paper Policy
I will accept one (1) late paper from you throughout the semester, but it will receive a late grade. For every 24-hour period the essay is late (weekends count each day as a 24-hour period), your essay grade will be lowered one full letter grade from the grade you earn. For example, if you have a 'C' paper, but turn it in one day late, your final grade for the essay will be a 'D'. Once you have turned in one late paper, no other papers will be accepted as late from you, and will count as a zero. It is your responsibility to ensure that the instructor has received your essay.
Written work is due at the start of class. Papers delivered after 9:50am (section A) and 11:25am (section B) will be subject to point deduction. Be sure to print your paper and assemble it with appropriate drafts, well before it is due. You will be counted as late or absent if you leave class to print out, or finish printing out, your essay.
Rewrites
When a rewrite is assigned, the final copy is due two weeks from the date that the rewrite was returned to the student. It will not be accepted after that time, and will count as an 'F' grade. Students must see the professor for a conference, with the paper present, before the essay may be resubmitted. Essays will not be accepted without a rewrite conference. Essays that are originally late cannot be rewritten.
Classroom Rules
This is a learning environment; therefore, the classroom atmosphere
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