In this syllabus template, REQUIRED elements are indicated by a blue highlighted annotation.Recommended elements that are at the discretion of individual instructors are annotated and highlighted in yellow.
HOSTOS COMMUNITY COLLEGE
DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH
Literature and Composition
Spring 2015
Course: English 111 [Required: fill out particular section number, semester, and other details]
Semester:
Professor:
Class Hours:
Classroom:
Office:
Office Hours:
Office Phone:
Email:
Prerequisites and/or Corequisites: The successful completion of ENG 110 or its equivalent.
Course Description: Literature and Composition[This exact catalog description, using this language, is required]: English 111, the second semester of freshman composition and a foundational writing course, introduces students to techniques for close reading of literary texts. This course develops students’ critical thinking skills through the study of literary elements such as plot, character, setting, point of view, symbolism, and irony. Additionally, students will learn the Modern Language Association (MLA) system of parenthetical citation and how to incorporate quotations into their analysis of literary texts; they will also complete a research assignment by consulting both print and online sources. Students will be able to interpret and write critically about each of the three major genres: fiction, poetry, and drama.
Course Objectives for English 111[Required]: In this course the students will become familiar with three of the major genres of literature (fiction, poetry, and drama) and read and write critically about one or more of these forms. By the end of this course, they are expected to
- Identify literary elements such as plot, character, point of view, setting, imagery, irony, tone, and symbols when analyzing stories, poems, and plays;
- Interpret a literary text and support that interpretation with evidence gained from close reading;
- Write clearly and coherently in varied, academic formats using standard English;
- Integrate ideas with those of others from print and online sources;
- Find, evaluate, analyze, and synthesize appropriate primary and secondary sources in a literary research paper;
- Write at least three formal, critical essays (minimum ten pages total) and one research paper (minimum 5 pages).
Required Course Materials[Texts and suggested material are at the discretion of the instructor; however, your coursebooks’ ISBN-13 and list price MUST be stated]:
Kennedy, X.J., and Dana Gioia. Backpack Literature: An Introduction to Fiction, Poetry, Drama, and Writing. 4th ed. Boston: Longman, 2011. Print. ISBN-13:978-0205151660 Amazon list price: $60.92.
Suggested Materials
●[Instructor discretion]
General Course Policies
Attendance:[The language concerning the 15% of the number of scheduled classes is official CUNY/Hostos attendance policy, as per the College Catalog. You must state an attendance policy on the syllabus. The CUNY attendance policy will hold whether stated or unstated. Specifically describe the penalty for exceeding 15% lateness or absence. This may range from a specific grade or point penalty to automatic failure of the course.]
●Students are expected to attend all class meetings in the courses for which they are registered. Classes begin at the times indicated in the official schedule of classes. Arrival in class after the scheduled starting time constitutes lateness.
●The maximum number of absences is limited to 15% of the number of scheduled class hours per semester, and a student absent more than the indicated 15% is deemed excessively absent. Attendance is monitored from the first official day of classes. In the case of excessive absences or lateness, the instructor has the right to lower the grade, assign a failing grade, or assign additional written work or readings.
●Absences due to late registration, change of program, or extenuating circumstances, will be considered on an individual basis by the instructor.
The below language and policies are at the discretion of the instructor. It is recommended that you explicitly state policies with regard to lateness, participation, and etiquette.
Note: any work missed during any period of absence must be made up by the student. To meet financial aid criteria, a student must attend class at least once in the first three weeks.
Lateness
Participation
Preparation
Classroom Etiquette [You must include a classroom etiquette statement in your syllabus.]
Other Requirements: In order to pass the course, the student must receive a passing grade in class work, and, in addition, pass the final exam. Students must also: attend class regularly and punctually; participate in class discussions; write, read, and speak English with clarity and correctness; complete assigned work; and be prepared to revise and rewrite formal assignments.
Academic Integrity
Academic Honesty Statement[You must include an academic honesty statement in your syllabus.] [It is recommended that you check the course catalog for the official language. The first three paragraphs below are from the catalog. See
Academic dishonesty is prohibited in the City University of New York and is punishable by penalties including failing grades, suspension, and expulsion, as detailed in the Hostos Course Catalog.
Plagiarism is also prohibited as part of the college Academic Integrity Policy, spelled out in the course catalog. Plagiarism is the act of presenting another person’s ideas, research or writings as your own. Internet plagiarism is covered by this definition; examples include submitting downloaded term papers or parts of term papers, paraphrasing or copying information from the internet without citing the source, and cutting and pasting from various sources without proper attribution.
A faculty member who suspects that a student has committed a violation of the CUNY or the college Academic Integrity Policy, shall review with the student the facts and circumstances of the suspected violation whenever possible. The decision whether to seek an academic sanction only, rather than a disciplinary sanction or both types of sanctions, will rest with the faculty member in the first instance, but the college retains the right to bring disciplinary charges against the student. Among the factors the college should consider in determining whether to seek a disciplinary sanction are whether the student has committed one or more prior violations of the Academic Integrity Policy and mitigating circumstances if any.
Cheating is the unauthorized use or attempted use of material, information, notes, study aids, devices or communication during an academic exercise.
Plagiarism is the act of presenting another person’s ideas, research or writings as your own. The following are some examples of plagiarism, but by no means is it an exhaustive list:
●Copying another person’s actual words without the use of quotation marks and footnotes attributing the words to their source.
●Presenting another person’s ideas or theories in your own words without acknowledging the source.
●Using information that is not common knowledge without acknowledging the source.
●Failing to acknowledge collaborators on homework and laboratory assignments.
Internet Plagiarismincludes submitting downloaded term papers or parts of term papers, paraphrasing or copying information from the internet without citing the source, and “cutting & pasting” from sources.
Cheating/plagiarism can result in failure of an assignment, course, or expulsion from the Hostos/University.
Student Resources [The inclusion of statements about the learning and counseling center are at your discretion.]Please be aware of the resources that are available to Hostos students, as they can assist you with maintaining academic integrity and strengthening your writing process:
Hostos Writing Center
The Writing Center, located within Hostos Academic Learning Center (HALC – C/596) offers students one-on-one and small-group tutoring as well as in-center workshops and online writing resources. In order to maximize your potential in this course, frequent visits to the Writing Center are encouraged.
According to its website, “The Writing Center does not “correct” student papers, but facilitates the writing process by tutoring students one-on-one. Our goal is to help ALL students reach their goals as college-level writers and thinkers so, regardless of level, please make use of this free service. Sessions are scheduled for an hour, and typically last 45 minutes. Please plan ahead and book your appointments well in advance of their due dates.”
Appointments: Monday – Thursday: 10am- 8pm Friday: 10am-3pm Saturday: 10am-3pm Walk-In times: Tuesday: 10 am — 3pm Wednesday: 3 pm — 8pm. Schedule an appointment with the Writing Center at the following:
ADA Statement[Required language]
As required by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, reasonable accommodations are provided to ensure equal opportunity for students with verified disabilities.
If you have a disability that requires accommodations, contact:
Accessibility Resource Center
Savoy (D) Building
120 Walton Ave, Room D101P
Bronx, NY 10451
Phone: (718) 518-4454 (Voice/TTY)
If you are already registered with the ARC and have a letter from them verifying that you are a qualified student with a disability, please present the letter to the instructor as soon as possible. The instructor will work with you and the ARC to plan and implement appropriate accommodations.
Carlos E. González Counseling Center
I am aware that personal issues may impact academic performance, and strongly encourage students experiencing such issues to visit the Counseling Center. The Counseling Center provides on-going personal and academic counseling for students on an individual and group basis. Counseling is provided in a private and supportive environment in which students may focus on academic and career issues, family problems, personal development concerns and other matters of importance to them. Visit the Counseling Center, D-102, 718/518-4319 E:
Please Note
Students who do not register with the Accessibility Resource Center and have their disability verified are not eligible to receive any special accommodations.
Grade Configuration[You must state the weight of each assignment as it corresponds to the overall grade.] [Including descriptions and guidelines for each assignment is at your discretion. Stating revision policies and communications policies is at your discretion, as is the language of these statements.]
Essays
By semester’s end, you will each have experience writing about fiction, poetry, and drama. Final essay drafts will be evaluated on depth of content, strength of organization, effective style and proper use of mechanics. These assignments are designed to facilitate engagement with our course readings, and strengthen compositional skills.
Guidelines for Final Drafts of Essays
●Use Purdue University’s website for writing and grammar guidelines:
●Use MLA format for citing sources, available on the web under “MLA style guides” at sites such as or Grades will be penalized if essays are not properly cited.
●Please keep in mind that you may be required to submit your typed essays electronically through Blackboard, to determine the authenticity of your assignment. More information will be provided at a later time, but please be sure that you have access to Blackboard in the meantime.
●The format for all typed assignments is the same, and must be followed consistently. Use standard pages with 1” margins on top, sides, and bottom. All work should have a proper heading and original title. Your essays should be double spaced, pages numbered, and use Times New Roman, 12 point font.
Research Project
In this course, we will devote considerable time to strengthening library skills and refining research questions. As this project comprises a significant portion of your final grade, you will need to plan your time accordingly to accommodate your research, organization of sources, writing, and revision. You are strongly advised to consult the Writing Center to maximize your potential on this high stakes assignment.
Revision Policy
Students will also be given the chance to revise ONE graded essay, which can improve only by one letter grade.
Essay Due Dates
Please be aware of these dates and prepare yourself adequately for each assignment. Do not wait until last minute or fail to complete these assignments. Your successful academic performance will depend on your ability to plan ahead and organize your time effectively.
●List dates here, per discretion
Final Exam
The final exam will be a timed essay that will require you to analyze a selected work from one of the three literary genres, using the terminology appropriate to the genre and our course. Exam review will occur the week before the exam.
Communication
Students are encouraged to consistently communicate their questions, concerns, or to report any issues that may arise throughout the semester. Please keep an open line of communication with your instructor via email or office hours. Your instructor is here to encourage you, clarify assignments and assist with study skills that will enhance learning outcomes.
Grade Number/Letter Conversion Chart [It is recommended that you include this grade chart. This is the official conversion as per the college catalog.]
A: 93-100
A-: 90-92
B+: 87-89
B: 83-86
B-: 80-82
C+: 77-79
C: 70-76
D: 60-69
F: Below 60
Library Workshops [required]
Workshops By the end of English course sequence (111), students should have completed Hostos Library’s “Research Survival Skills: Plagiarism and How to Avoid It,” “Keys to Database Searching” and “Finding Articles.” Proof of your attendance will be required for successful completion of this course. Please follow the link to read descriptions of workshops, and to enroll, using your Hostos ID and password.
Schedule of Assignments
You MUST provide a specific daily or weekly breakdown of readings and due dates of assignments. Consult the following link to the academic calendar for details:
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