Grading: Assignment Due Date Value Literary Analyis Essay June 6 10% In-Class Essay June 20 10% Quiz June 22 10% Preliminary Research Report July 5 Se

Size: px

Start display at page:

Download "Grading: Assignment Due Date Value Literary Analyis Essay June 6 10% In-Class Essay June 20 10% Quiz June 22 10% Preliminary Research Report July 5 Se"

Lynette Norris
5 years ago
Views:

1 ENGLISH 1128: ESSAY WRITING AND SHORT PROSE SELECTIONS Section 001, , MTWR Instructor: Paul Headrick Office: A302b Phone: Office Hours: MTWR) , W) (Make appointments or drop in to discuss the course and your work. You may see me outside of regular office hours, if those hours conflict with your classes.) Course Content: This course introduces students to the principles of academic writing and critical reading through the study of various short stories, and through practice in writing and revising both in-class and home essays (one of which is a research essay). Required Texts: Headrick: Moffet and McElheny: A Method for Writing Essays about Literature (M) Points of View: An Anthology of Short Stories (POV) Mode of Delivery: Lectures, class discussions, group work, and audio-visual presentations. Students should be prepared to be called on to read examples of their work and their answers to exercise questions. 1 Electronic Devices: Students are not permitted to use cell phones, blackberries, lap top computers, etc, in class, without special permission. Grade Scale: A % A 90-94% A % B % B 75-79% B % C % C 60-64% C % D 50-54% F 0-49%

2 Grading: Assignment Due Date Value Literary Analyis Essay June 6 10% In-Class Essay June 20 10% Quiz June 22 10% Preliminary Research Report July 5 See assignment instructions Revised Literary Analysis Essay July 4 15% Library Lab July 12 5% In-Class Essay Revision July 18 15% Library Lab: My Assignment July 19 See course schedule Literary Research Essay Aug. 2/Aug. 8 15% Final Exam TBA 20% Note that the course does not officially end till after the final exam. No accommodation will be made for students who will be away when the exam is held. Assignments are due at the beginning of class on the due date. Late essays will be penalized one grade increment each day past the due date (a C+ becomes a C), except when a documented medical problem prevents you from handing in the assignment on time. An essay handed in after the start of class is considered one day late. Essay submissions by are not permitted. Special Requirement: Students must receive an average of a passing grade (50%) on the in-class essay and the final exam in order to pass the course. Students are responsible for completing all readings and assignments missed as a result of absence from class (for whatever reason). 2

3 Schedule The schedule is subject to change. Units on various elements of writing may be added as needed. Homework assignments may also be added. Students are responsible for knowing the definitions of literary terms presented in bold, as they come up: Plot, Theme, Point of View, Imagery, Symbol, Allusion. The definitions can be found in the Glossary at the back of A Method for Writing Essays about Literature. Week 1 May 9: May 10: May 11: Course Introduction. Subjects and Verbs. Introduction to Literature. Paragraph Unity. M: Chapter 1. The Analytical Paragraph. M: Chapter 2. POV: The Yellow Wallpaper, by Charlotte Perkins Gilman, and The Five-Forty Eight, by John Cheever. Note: May 11 (2100 hrs) is the deadline to withdraw and receive an 80% refund. May 12: Week 2 May 16: May 17: Plot and Theme in the Short Story. Plot and Theme in The Yellow Wallpaper, by Charlotte Perkins Gilman, and The Five-Forty Eight, by John Cheever. M: Chapter 3. 3 Plot and Theme in First Confession, by Frank O Connor. POV: First Confession, by Frank O Connor. Argument Structure. M: Chapter 4. May 18: May 19: Point of View in the Short Story. Point of View and Theme in First Confession.

4 Week 3 May 24: May 25: May 26: Week 4 May 30: May 31: June 1: June 2: Plot, Point of View, and Theme in Uglypuss, by Margaret Atwood. Introductions. POV: Uglypuss, by Margaret Atwood. Plot, Point of View, and Theme in Uglypuss, by Margaret Atwood. Conclusions. Titles. Literary Analysis Essays. The MLA Format. M: Appendix 1; Appendix 2, Essay 1. Symbols in the Short Story. Symbols in The Stone Boy, by Gina Berriault. POV: The Stone Boy, by Gina Berriault. Symbols, Point of View, Plot and Theme in The Stone Boy. 4

5 Week 5 June 6: June 7: June 8: June 9: Week 6 June 13: June 14: June 15: June 16: Plot, Theme, Symbols, and Point of View in The Stone Boy, by Gina Berriault. Passage Analysis. M: Chapter 5, Passage Analysis Essays. POV: The Stone Boy, by Gina Berriault. Literary Analysis Essay on First Confession or Uglypuss. Essays are due at the beginning of class. Assignments may not be handed in by . Imagery in Short Stories. Imagery in Scales, by Louise Erdrich. POV: Scales, by Louise Erdrich Imagery in The Voice from the Wall, by Amy Tan. POV: The Voice from the Wall, by Amy Tan. Tutorial Passage Analysis. M: Appendix 1, Essay 5. Passage Analysis. Passage Analysis. 5

6 Week 7 June 20: June 21: June 22: June 23: In-Class Passage Analysis Essay on one of The Stone Boy, and The Voice from the Wall (2 hours). Allusions in short stories. Allusions in A Coupla Scalped Indians, by Ralph Ellison. POV: A Coupla Scalped Indians, by Ralph Ellison. Quiz (One hour, multiple choice, on lectures and on readings from M and POV). Week 8 June 27: Allusions, Symbols, Imagery, Plot, Point of View, and Theme in A Coupla Scalped Indians, by Ralph Ellison. June 28: Allusions, Symbols, Imagery, Plot, Point of View, and Theme in A Coupla Scalped Indians, by Ralph Ellison. June 29: June 30: Literature and Historical Context. 6

7 Week 9 July 4: July 5: July 6: July 7: Context and Theme in Christmas Eve at Johnson s Drugs N Goods, by Toni Cade Bambara. POV: Christmas Eve at Johnson s Drugs N Goods, by Toni Cade Bambara. Revised Literary Insight Essay. Note: Essays are due at the beginning of class. Assignments may not be handed in by . Note: July 4 (2100) is the last day to withdraw. Allusions, Symbols, Imagery, Plot, Point of View, Context and Theme in Christmas Eve at Johnson s Drugs N Goods, by Toni Cade Bambara. Preliminary Research Report. (The preliminary research report must be handed in at the beginning of class to avoid a one increment penalty on the final essay. Assignments may not be handed in by .) M: Chapter 5, Literary Analysis Essays Using Historical Sources. Allusions, Symbols, Imagery, Plot, Point of View, Context and Theme in Christmas Eve at Johnson s Drugs N Goods, by Toni Cade Bambara. 7

8 Week 10 July 11: July 12: July 13: July 14: Week 11 July 18: July 19: Context and Theme in I Stand Here Ironing, by Tillie Olsen. POV: I Stand Here Ironing, by Tillie Olsen. Library Lab My Assignment (The class will meet in the library, in L108.) Library Lab Allusions, Symbols, Imagery, Plot, Point of View, Context and Theme in I Stand Here Ironing, by Tillie Olsen. M: Appendix 1, Essay 8. Point of View, Symbols, Imagery, Allusions, Context and Theme in The Eggs of the World. POV: The Eggs of the World, by Toshio Mori. In-Class Essay Revision. 8 Point of View, Symbols, Imagery, Allusions, Context and Theme in The Eggs of the World. Library Lab: My Assignment ( My Assignment must be completed by the beginning of class to avoid a one increment penalty on the final essay.) July 20: July 21: Point of View, Symbols, Imagery, Allusions, Context and Theme in The Eggs of the World.

9 Week 12 July 25: July 26: July 27: July 28: Week 13 August 2: Interdisciplinary workshop. Bring a draft of an essay for another course. Reviewing A Coupla Scalped Indians. Comparative Literary Analysis Essays. M: Chapter 5, Comparative Literary Analysis Essays. Literary Research Essay on One of I Stand Here Ironing and Christmas Eve at Johnson s Drugs N Goods. Research essays handed in at the beginning of class on the due date will be returned with comments and a grade at the last class. You may, with no late penalty, hand in the essay at the last class. Essays handed in at the final class will be graded, but they will receive no comments. They will be returned at the final exam. August 3: August 4: Week 14 August 8: Exam Preparation 9 Student Response to Instruction. Final date to hand in Literary Research Essay on One of I Stand Here Ironing and Christmas Eve at Johnson s Drugs N Goods. Research essays handed in on this date will be graded with no late penalty, but will receive no comments. The essays will be returned at the final exam.

10 Plagiarism Essays that contain any quotations or paraphrasing of a secondary source without proper quotation marks or citations will receive zero. The dean of student services will be notified, and further penalties may be imposed. Essays in which the grammar, punctuation, or diction has been corrected by someone else will receive zero. The dean of student services will be notified, and further penalties may be imposed. For a thorough review of plagiarism and how to avoid it see General Instructions For All Essays Written At Home Format: The essays should be word processed. Follow the MLA format. Fasten your essays with a paper-clip or staple. Do not use a cover of any kind. Do not use a title page. Marks will be deducted for all format errors. Length: Marks will be deducted for essays that are too short or too long. Do not hand your essay in without first having made a copy for yourself. Assignments are due at the beginning of class. Assignments may not be handed in by . 10

11 Assignment Instructions Literary Analysis Essay Write an essay of 900 to 1,200 words, analyzing First Confession or Uglypuss. The essay must follow the MLA format. Marks will be taken off for all format errors. The essay must have a minimum of five paragraphs. It may have more. The essay must follow the structure described in the assigned sections of A Method for Writing Essays about Literature. The essay should reflect class discussions of the story and relevant elements of literature. The quality of your writing matters. Carefully proofread and revise your essay. Read it out loud, several times, correcting as you go. Write several drafts. When you discover new ideas in the writing process, use those ideas to develop your thesis and your argument further. You must hand in a hard copy of your essay. An ed essay is not considered to have been handed in. In-Class Essay (passage analysis) Write an essay of at least five paragraphs, analyzing one of the following passages from one of The Stone Boy or The Voice from the Wall. [The passages will be provided in-class on the day of the essay.] 11 The essay must follow the structure described in the assigned sections of A Method for Writing Essays about Literature. The essay should reflect class discussions of the story and relevant elements of literature. Double space. Write in blue or black ink. Write on one side of the sheet only. Do not tear any sheets out of the exam booklet. No books are allowed, including dictionaries.

12 Revision of Literary Analysis Essay and Revision of Passage Analysis Essay Each essay revision must be a complete, properly formatted essay of 900 to 1,200 words (the revised passage analysis essay must include a list of works cited). Marks will be taken off for format errors. Carefully review all of the comments on your essay. Pay special attention to the comments under the heading "For Your Revision." The revision is not simply a proofread version of your original essay. It is a major rewrite, taking into account instructor comments. Note that not every error on your original essay is marked. You will need to go over your original essay yourself, very carefully, noting areas that can be improved. Changes to one part of your essay will almost always require changes to other parts of your essay, whether or not those parts have been commented on. If you change your thesis, your claims, your evidence, or your analysis, you will need to change all of the other components of the essay to make your argument coherent. Marking Guide for Essay Revisions F: The essay may include corrections of errors and other minor changes, but it does not include major changes that respond to all the instructor comments. D: The essay may include corrections of errors and other minor changes, but its major changes in response to instructor comments are minimal or unsuccessful. Same grade as the original: The essay includes major changes, but they do not significantly improve the essay. 12 Higher Grade: Major changes improve upon the original essay. Note: The abbreviation "S.O." stands for "See Original Comment." It indicates that you have not responded to a comment on the original essay. Several instances of this comment usually mean a grade of "F."

13 Preliminary Research Report on I Stand Here Ironing (Tillie Olsen) or Christmas Eve at Johnson s Drugs N Goods (Toni Cade Bambara) 1) When was the story written? 2) When is the story set? 3) Where was the story written? 4) Where is the story set? 5) What is the relevant background of the author (sex, age, class, education, race, religion, culture, etc.)? 6) List three questions concerning historical context that seem important for your story. For the essay on John Cheever s The Five-Forty-Eight, for example, the author noted several features of the main character s personality and decided it was important to find out what the relationship was between those features and the culture generally in The United States during the 1950s, the time and place in which the story is set. The answers to your questions may not prove enlightening, which is why you should have several. 7) Make a separate short list of specific details in the story that further research might help you to understand better and that might prove important, even if only in a small way. Course Value: Failure to hand in the completed Preliminary Research Report on time will lower the grade on your research essay by one increment (a C+ becomes a C). 13

14 Literary Research Essay Write an essay of 1,000 to 1,300 words on one of I Stand Here Ironing (Tillie Olsen) or Christmas Eve at Johnson s Drugs N Goods (Toni Cade Bambara). Your essay must incorporate an analysis of the story s historical context. See the essay on The Five-Forty Eight in Method for an example of such an analysis. Your essay should present a logical argument that identifies one of the story s themes. The essay must follow the structure described in the assigned sections of A Method for Writing Essays about Literature. Your essay should reflect class discussions of the story and relevant elements of literature. I recommend that you meet with me to discuss your thesis and your argument at least one week before the essay is due. Your Works Cited list must include at least one book that is not a reference work, one scholarly article available in Langara s library or from an on-line service you can access through Langara, and one specialized reference work (such as a dictionary of religion or an encyclopaedia of philosophy). You may not use Wikipedia as a source. 14

ENGLISH 2235: AMERICAN LITERATURE 1 SUMMER 2010 Section 001: , T/R Instructor: Paul Headrick Office: A302b Office Phone:

ENGLISH 2235: AMERICAN LITERATURE 1 SUMMER 2010 Section 001: 1230-1420, T/R Instructor: Paul Headrick Office: A302b Office Phone: 604-323-5833 E-mail: pheadrick@langara.bc.ca Office Hours: M) 1155-1225