English 1102 Composition ~ Syllabus for Fall 2009

Dr. Anna Dunlap Higgins ~ Academic 103L ~ (678) 359-5095 ~  a_higgins@gdn.edu

Office Hours:  MWF 8:30-9:00; M 11-2; W 11-12:30; TR 8:30-9:30

The Small Print Stuff:  Students enrolled in this course must meet the Regents Test requirements; register for the test by August 19, if you have not yet passed it  ~ On my web page, you will find this syllabus and other materials.  I will announce in class when I post something new or make an alteration to our schedule—though no change to the major dates given today will occur unless we as a class have discussed the matter.  You may access Faculty Web Pages from the Gordon Home Page through the Quick Links menu.  Please note that you will also need to check your Gordon email for messages from me. If you do not have a computer at home, you will need to plan your schedule so that you can often use one on campus.  Unless previously approved by me, I accept no work via email.

 

Course Objectives

The Humanities Department requires that students who successfully complete English 1102 meet four important goals:  the literacy objective is that students must read, comprehend, and respond to college-level writing; the critical thinking objective is that students should develop or improve their ability to engage in synthesis, to reflect on the composition process and product, and to inquire into questions both personal and social; the process objective is that students should develop or improve their ability to recognize and apply complex writing processes, including the synthesis of primary and/or secondary texts; and the product objective is that students should develop or improve their ability to produce an organized, coherent, and developed essay demonstrating a mastery of Standard Written English and MLA Research format. We will achieve these goals via a Lit/Comp focus because stronger readers make stronger thinkers and stronger writers. 

 

Course Components ~Assessment & Evaluation

■Participation Grade (attendance, Quizzes, Homework/Exercises, + Reader’s

Journal entries)                                                                                                            10%

■In-Class Micro Literary Analysis One                                                                      15%

■In-Class Micro Literary Analysis Two                                                                     15%

■Group Oral Presentation                                                                                           10%

■Term Research Project:  An American Decade Portfolio                                         25%

            (Timeline + Decade Overview + Research Paper w/ MLA internal

            Documentation + Annotated Bibliography + print out of Sources)

■Final Exam Literary Analysis                                                                                   25%

 

Texts & Materials 

Our two text books are Prentice Hall Reference Guide, 6th edition and Henderson et al Literature and Ourselves: A Thematic Introduction for Readers and Writers, 6th edition.  You will also need pens (blue or black), paper, and materials for the research project. 

 

Policies & Etcetera

A.    Eligibility     In order to take this course, you must have exempted or successfully

 completed Learning Support English and Reading and the Compass. You must also have

 passed English 1101 with a C or higher.  Ineligible students will be dropped from the roll. 

B.  Attendance, penalties & Make Ups     I strongly believe that there is a connection between

student success and dedication to classes that meet in person, so I give 10 points per day for

attendance.  If you are absent, you simply do not receive that day’s points.  I also feel that if ou

registered for this class, you are prepared to attend it, so I ask you to write brief notes on the

attendance sheet if you are ever late or absent explaining what happened—and “Life does

happen,” so let’s now talk about make up work.  Homework checks, rough drafts, quizzes,

and in-class  papers may be made up under the following conditions:  you miss deadline only

once or twice all  term, the schedule allows for a make up, and you are prepared the very next

day for hand in or retake (though doing so may not fit the schedule).  There are no make ups

for group meetings or the presentations.  Points will be deducted for tardiness, leaving early,

or any inappropriate behavior at my discretion. If you miss 15% of the class days, you will not

be allowed to make up anything.  Please be advised that you are responsible for all

information, changes, and requirements discussed in class, whether or not you are present.  If

you miss a class, talk with at least one classmate. Gordon College requires that all English

Composition students attend their written Final Exam at the scheduled time. 

C.  Late Work     I expect you to turn in your one term project on its due date.  Unless you and I have discussed the matter beforehand, the project will either receive a late penalty of five points per day or will not be accepted.     

D.  Conduct & Academic Misconduct     Please treat other students and me as you would have us treat you.  If you disrupt the learning of others, you will chat with me privately; if problems continue, you will chat with the Dean. You must also follow all college-mandated policies about academic conduct and academic honesty or risk an F for the term and a visit to the Dean’s Office.

E.  Numerical equivalents     The numerical equivalents for our grades are A+ 97; A 94; A- 90; B+ 87; B 84; B- 80; C+ 77: C 74; C- 70; D+ 67; D 64; D- 60; F is 59 and down, at my discretion or with Chair input.

F. Issues of an Advisement nature     Withdraws after Midterm receive a WF.  This semester the midterm date is October 8.  Early registration opens on November 2—so watch your email/snailmail for correspondence from the Registrar and your advisor.

G. Special Accommodations     If you need academic accommodations for a disability, you must first see Mrs. Kristina Henderson, Student Counselor.  Her office is on the second floor of the Student Center (678/359-5585).


 

 Higgins’ Paper Evaluation Scale

 

A        

1.         Exceptional structure w/ no flaws in focus

2.         Beyond required relevant development

3.         Excellent mechanics (no major errors & few or no minors)

4.         Clear wording that also exhibits strong style (varied sentence structures, patterns, types, and lengths; lively yet careful punctuation; & appropriate yet thought-provoking word choices)

5.         Deeply provocative relevant content

 

B        

1.         Solid structure w/ no or few flaws in focus

2.         Required relevant development

3.         Strong mechanics (1 or 2 majors only and/or few minors)

4.         Clear wording that also exhibits good style (varied sentence structures, patterns, types, and lengths; lively yet careful punctuation; & appropriate yet thought-provoking word choices)

5.         Provocative relevant content

 

C         

1.         Good structure w/ perhaps a slight to somewhat substantial flaw

2.         Required relevant development, or a sentence under

3.         Solid mechanics (no more than 3 majors and/or few/some minors)

4.         Clear wording with some style, occasional awkwardness or weakness

5.         Content may be provocative in places, but not in others

 

D         

1.         Weak structure

2.         Under required development by two sentences

3.         Weak mechanics (4 or 5 majors and/or too many minors)

4.         Awkward wording and/or weak word choices and style

5.         Content may be provocative in places, but not in others

 

F         

1.         Serious structural error(s)  

2.         Unacceptable development

3.         Unacceptable error count (+five majors)

4.         Style may be brilliant or dull

5.         Content may be provocative or brain numbing

 

The Dr. H Code:  Please note the following codes/abbreviations.  RO (run on), CS (comma

 splice), Frag (fragment), S/V (subject/verb error), GR (nonstandard language usage), Sp (spelling error), ME (major

 error), WW (wrong word), WC (word choice questionable), RW (regents warning), DM/MM/FP (dangling

 modifier, misplaced modifier, faulty predication), Wdg (weak wording), TS (Thesis statement), ts (topic sentence),

 AQ (addressing the question), DEV (development/under sentence count).

Reader’s Journal Reading List

Directions:       In 1102, we use the Introduction and the last three units (Freedom & Responsibility, Creativity, and Quest) of Literature and Ourselves.  For each Reader’s Journal entry, list the author’s last name, the title of the text, and the journal entry number (the total for the semester is 30 entries).  Next, provide answers for questions about theme located in the “Questions for Engagement, Response and Analysis Reader’s Boxes” found in the Introduction.  Make sure to select the appropriate reader’s box for the genre:  essay (page 8), fiction/short story (page 13), poetry (page 17), or drama (page 21).  The Journal will be graded for thoroughness and effort, not “right” or “wrong” answers.  You would be wise to begin right away!  Also, notice which texts we’ll talk about in class because that may make your Reader’s Journal work easier

 

 

Unit                                          Genre                           Number/Text Required

 

Freedom & Responsibility

                                                Essays                         Choose one (1)

                                                Short Story                  Choose three (3)

            *Note that there are three O’Brien short stories in the Casebook.

                                                Poetry                          Choose four (4)

                                                Drama                         We all read Trifles.

 

 

Creativity

                                                Essays                         Choose two (2)

                                                                                    *Note that there is an essay

                                                                                                                by Alice Walker in the Casebook.

                                                Short Story                  Choose three (3)

                                                                                    *Note that there are three

                                                                                                                stories by Walker in the Casebook.

                                                Poetry                          Choose eight (8)

                                                Drama                         We all read Tender Offer.

 

Quest

                                                Essays                         Choose one (1)

                                                                                    *Note that there is an essay by

                                                                                                                O’Connor in the Casebook.

                                                Short Story                  Choose two (2)

                                                                                    *Note that there are two stories by

                                                                                                                O’Connor in the Casebook.

                                                Poetry                          Choose four (4)