Course Syllabus – Spring 2017
ENGL 1302.423 - Composition II
TR 11:00 – 12;20 PM
Instructor: Donna Keen-Maxwell Office phone#: 940-498-6204 (msg only)
Office: 201 Office hours: By appointment
Email: dkeen-maxwell@nctc.edu Cell phone #: 940-597-0529
Course Description: Continuation of ENGL 1301. Intensive study of and practice in the strategies and techniques for developing research-based expository and persuasive texts. 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.
Prerequisite: ENGL 1301 or its equivalent
Required Texts:
Schilb, John and John Clifford, Arguing about Literature 2nd ed, Boston: Bedford/St. Martins
(ISBN 978-1-4576-6209-6)
Bullock, Richard, et al, “The Little Seagull Handbook with exercises, (ISBN 978-0-393-93581-3)
Other required materials:
A college dictionary of recent publication (or the Merriam-Webster app on your smartphone).
Learning Outcomes:
Upon successful completion of this course, students will:
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Demonstrate knowledge of individual and collaborative research processes.
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Develop ideas and synthesize primary and secondary sources within focused academic arguments, including one or more research-based essays.
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Analyze, interpret, and evaluate a variety of texts for the ethical and logical uses of evidence.
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Write in a style that clearly communicates meaning, builds credibility, and inspires belief or action.
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Apply the conventions of style manuals for specific academic disciplines (e.g., APA, CMS, MLA, etc.
Core Objectives
Foundational Component Area: Communication
Courses in this category focus on developing ideas and expressing them clearly, considering the effect of the message, fostering understanding, and building the skills needed to communicate persuasively. Courses involve the command of oral, aural, written, and visual literacy skills that enable people to exchange messages appropriate to the subject, occasion, and audience.
*Critical Thinking Skills (CT)- to include creative thinking, innovation, inquiry, and analysis, evaluation and synthesis of information
*Communication Skills (COM)- to include effective development, interpretation and expression of ideas through written, oral, and visual communication
*Teamwork (TW)- to include the ability to consider different points of view and to work effectively with others to support a shared purpose or goal
*Personal Responsibility (PR)- to include the ability to connect choices, actions, and consequences to ethical decision-making
Units of Study
Students will read and analyze a variety of selections from the adopted textbook.
Students may be required to take quizzes or tests over assigned readings and/or related materials. The class MUST meet during the final exam week. A final exam, if given, may count no more than 25% of the semester grade.
Students will write a minimum of 5,000 words (20 pages) in a variety of compositions—formal and informal. As part of this required writing, students will produce a minimum of four graded assignments. At least two of these must use the complete writing process, which may consist of the following:
Students will study grammar and mechanics in the adopted handbook in order to meet departmental standards. This study may be done by examination of units in the handbook or through writing as a process, according to the discretion of the instructor.
Students will utilize library and electronic resources. They will submit a written assignment, such as an annotated bibliography, a documented essay, or several short compositions, using MLA style documentation. Pages generated as part of this research block are included in the required writing stipulated in Block III.
Scholastic Integrity:
Scholastic dishonesty shall include, but not be limited to cheating on a test, plagiarism, and collusion. See Student Handbook “Student Rights & Responsibilities: Student Conduct [FLB- (LOCAL)]” #18.
Disciplinary Actions [Student Handbook, #5] “When cheating, collusion, or plagiarism has occurred beyond any reasonable doubt, the instructor may give the student or students involved an “F” on a particular assignment or in the course. [See Scholastic Dishonesty FLB (Local)] The instructor shall make a written report of the incident and of the planned action to his Department Chair. The Department Chair shall report the incident and action to appropriate instructional dean who shall review the case, notify the student and, if necessary, take further action. This may involve either probation or suspension of the student or students in question. If such disciplinary action is deemed necessary, the Dean of Student Services shall be notified, and the action shall be taken through that office.”
Plagiarism, which should be avoided at all costs, includes the following student actions:
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Turning in someone else's ideas, opinions, theories, or work as your own;
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Unintentionally or inadvertently turning in someone else's ideas, opinions, theories, or work as your own as the result of failing to document sources both internally and in the Works Cited;
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Copying words, ideas, or images from someone without giving credit; Failing to put a quotation in quotations marks;
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Giving incorrect information about the source of information, quotations, or images;
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Changing words but copying the sentence structure of a source without giving credit;
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Copying so many words, ideas, or images from a source that it makes up the majority of the student's work, whether or not the student gives credit.
ADA Statement: TNorth Central Texas College does not discriminate on the basis of disability for admission or access to its programs. The College is committed to providing equal access to its students with disabilities by providing appropriate accommodations; a variety of services and resources are made available through the ACCESS Department. Students are responsible for notifying the ACCESS Department of their need for assistance. Students with documented disabilities, such as mobility impairment, hearing or visual impairment, learning, and/or psychological disorders are eligible for services.
Disability Accommodations
The Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD) provides accommodations for students who have a documented disability. A disability is anything that can interfere with learning, such as a learning disability, psychological challenge, physical illness, or injury. Accommodations may include extra time on tests, tests in a distraction-reduced environment, volunteer note taker in class, etc.
On the Corinth Campus, go to room 170 or call 940-498-6207. On the Gainesville Campus, go to room 110 in the Administration Building (100) or call 940-668-4209. Students on the Bowie, Graham, Flower Mound, and online campuses should call 940-668-4209 to arrange for an intake appointment with OSD.
North Central Texas College is on record as being committed to both the spirit and letter of federal equal opportunity legislation, including the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, ADA Amendments Act of 2009, and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (P.L. 93-112).
http://www.nctc.edu/StudentServices/SupportServices/Disabilityservices/DisabilitiesFacultyResources.aspx
ACCESS and NETWORKS Program: The ACCESS Program provides accommodations for students who have a documented disability. A disability is anything that can interfere with learning, such as a learning disability, psychological challenge or physical illness or injury. Accommodations may include extra time on tests, tests in a non-distracting environment, note taker in class, etc. On the Corinth Campus, contact: Wayne Smith, ACCESS Coordinator, at (kwsmith@nctc.edu), 940-498-6207 or Penny Cogbill, Departmental Assistant, at pcogbill@nctc.edu, 940-498-6212 or William Leija, Departmental Assistant, at wleija@nctc.edu, 940-498-6224 in Suite 170. For the Gainesville, Bowie, or Graham Campuses, contact Yvonne Sandmann, ACCESS Specialist, at (ysandmann@nctc.edu, (940) 668-7731 ext. 4321) in Room 110 on the Gainesville Campus.
NETWORKS is a childcare reimbursement program that may assist technical students with partial childcare reimbursement for those that apply and qualify. Contact Yvonne Sandmann, ACCESS Specialist, for more information.
Students can also access the Department of Student Success’ website by going to www.nctc.edu and clicking on the Student Services link and Student Success or “Tutoring and Other ACADEMIC SUPPORT SERVICES”, or by going directly to http://www.nctc.edu/Student_Services/Access/AcademicandStudentSupportServices.htm
EEOC Statement: North Central Texas College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, or disability in the employment or the provision of services.
Important Policies:
Although I do publish my NCTC email on the syllabus, I prefer to be contacted through Canvas mail outside of class. This makes it much easier for me to keep track of who is contacting me about which class. If Canvas is down, of course, feel free to contact me through my NCTC mail, otherwise, please use Canvas for all out of class contact.
Do not text message, accept incoming calls, wear earbuds or use your ipod during class. You may, however, bring and use laptops, tablets, or your cell phone for web research.
Attendance Policy: Regular and punctual attendance is expected. I take attendance at the beginning of the class. If you are late and I have already started class, I will not stop to mark you as present; therefore it is your responsibility to sign in on the provided late sheet as soon as you arrive. Note: every 3 tardies counts as an absence. You may accrue up to 5 absences with no penalty and no questions asked. Any absences over the 5 allowed will result in a penalty of 2% deducted from your final grade for each absence. Choose your absences wisely.
Peer Review: is a required part of the course; therefore it is important not only to attend class on Peer Review days, but also to bring a significant portion of your rough draft. On days scheduled for Peer Review, you will need to bring a typed, hard copy of your rough draft. Failure to do so will result in your being dismissed from class for the day, and you will be counted absent for that day as well as receiving a 0 for that peer review. Please note that Peer-review is an in-class only activity and there is no way to make it up if you are absent.
Essays: Over the course of the semester, you will write three major essays over three main literary genres: poetry, drama, and short fiction. All essays must conform to standard MLA format: 8.5" X 11" paper, double-spaced, 1" margins on all four sides. All essays are to be submitted within a two-pocket folder. Your name and the course and section number should appear on the outside of the folder. Place your revised draft (the one you want me to grade) in the left pocket. In order to receive full credit for your essay, you must also submit evidence of the writing process: invention, arrangement, drafting, and revision. Your evidence will go in the right pocket. All components are due when the paper is due; if you forget to turn in one or more parts, they may not be turned in later.
If you absolutely must miss class on the date an essay is due, please email a copy to me through Canvas and bring the hard copy when you are able to return to class.
Journals: All students are expected to keep a reading journal. Each journal entry should be headed with the author's name(s) and title(s) of the work(s). The content of the journal entries is up to you, but you will probably want to include basic information about the reading (author, title, main characters, speaker, brief plot summary, etc) and any other notes that will help you during quizzes, exams and papers. Journals will be taken up at the same time as each major essay. In the interest of convenience, journal entries may be stapled together and tucked into your essay folder. It's a good idea to keep up with your journal entries as these are the only resource you'll be allowed during a quiz or exam.
Quizzes: are usually given on Thursdays and will consist of objective questions over the week's reading assignments. The questions will usually be multiple choice, fill in the blank, or short answer. You may use your journals as a resource when taking a quiz.
Midterm and Final exams: Will consist of questions over the readings taken directly from the quizzes in addition to more general questions regarding literary terms, author and textual backgrounds, and analytical issues discussed in class (in other words, pretty much everything covered in class is fair game). Note: If you have three or fewer absences, have turned in all assignments, and have an A in the course to date, you may opt out of the Final and receive an A for the class.
Late policy: All papers and other assignments are due on the dates stated. I will not accept late essays. I will accept other late work (reading journals, homework, etc), however, 5 points will be deducted for each class meeting day the assignment is late. Please note that not all in-class work may be made up. Quizzes may be made up, but in the case of unexcused absences, there will be a 5 point penalty for every class meeting day after the quiz was originally given.
Grading Policy: Grading Scale
Attendance / Participation 5% 90 – 100 = A
Quizzes / Reading Journals 5% 80 – 89 = B
Midterm Exam 15% 70 – 79 = C
Final Exam 15% 60 – 60 = D
Essays (3 @ 20%) 60% Below 60 = F
100%
Tentative Course Schedule – Subject to change; check Canvas for any updates
Introduction to Literary Argument
Week 1
Tu Jan 17 Course Introduction: syllabus, policies, etc.
Review: What is Argument?
Th Jan 19 Chapter 2: How to Argue about Literature pp. 34-69
Week 2
Tu Jan 24 Chapter 6: Writing Researched Arguments pp. 193-227
Th Jan 26 Appendix: Critical Approaches to Literature, pp 1094-1122
Unit 1: Writing about Poetry
Week 3
Tu Jan 31 Chapter 5: Writing about Poems; The Elements of Poetry, pp 141-53
Assign Essay 1
Th Feb 2 Arguments about a Poem: Sylvia Plath's "Daddy" pp 344-62
Week 4
Tu Feb 7 Eliot, "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock" pp 453-58
Th Feb 9 Blake, "The Tyger", pp 633-34;
Lawrence, "Snake" pp 635-37
Bishop, "The Fish" pp 638-39
Week 5
Tu Feb 14 Hughes, all selections, pp 658-68
Th Feb 16 Browning, "My Last Duchess" p 846
Spera, "My Last Husband" p 849
Week 6
Tu Feb 21 Frost, all selections, pp1032-36
Th Feb 23 Peer Review: bring a typed hard copy of Essay 1 to class
Unit 2: Writing About Plays
Week 7
Tu Feb 28 Essay 1 due
Chapter 5: Writing about Plays, The Elements of Drama, pp 162-177
Assign Essay 2
Th Mar 2 Contexts for Research: Ida Fink's The Table and Wartime Atrocities pp 975- 1001
Week 8
Tu Mar 7 Nottage, POOF! Pp 736-44
Review for Midterm
Th Mar 9 Midterm Exam
Week 9
Tu Mar 14 Ibsen, A Doll House, pp 670-725
Th Mar 16 Ibsen, continued
Week 10
Tu Mar 21 Glaspell, Trifles, pp 725-35
Th Mar 23 Peer Review: bring two typed hard copies of Essay 2 to class
Unit 3: Writing about Short Stories
Week 11
Tu Mar 28 Essay 2 due
Chapter 5: Writing about Stories, Elements of Short Fiction, pp 121-40
Assign Essay 3
Th Mar 30 Arguments about a Story: Flannery O'Connor's "A Good Man Is Hard to Find" pp. 938-62
Week 12
Tu Apr 4 Hemingway, "Hills Like White Elephants" pp 296-300
Th Apr 6 Oates, "Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?" pp 389-402
Week 13
Tu Apr 11 Poe, "The Cask of Amontillado" pp 591-96
Th Apr 13 Jackson, "The Lottery" pp 604-11
Week 14
Tu Apr 18 Carter, "The Company of Wolves" pp 624-31
Th Apr 20 Gilman, "The Yellow Wallpaper" pp 778-91
Week 15
Tu Apr 25 Hawthorne, "Young Goodman Brown" pp806-17
Th Apr 27 Bambarra, "The Lesson" pp 817-23
Week 16
Tu May 2 Review for Final Exam
Th May 4 Peer Review: bring 2 typed hard copies of Essay 1 to class
Week 16
Tu May 9 Essay 3 due
Final Exam