English 1012 (Spring 2012)
3153 BoylanChristopher Griffith
M/W 6:30 – 7:45
Office Hours: W 5:30 – 6:30 PM
Adjunct Office: 2311 Boylan
Code 0763
Course description and objectives: The Brooklyn College Bulletin describes English 1012 as: “Writing-intensive seminar focusing on a topic chosen by the instructor. Provides student with an opportunity to explore a particular subject in depth and further develop the skills of critical thinking, research techniques, and clear expression necessary for academic writing.”
This semester we’ll be looking at the literature of “alienation,” featuring narrators or protagonists who are, in some way, isolated from their societies. As a literary theme, alienation is a distinct product of modern life. It’s also a relevant topic for us, as our experiences and relationships are increasingly mediated by technology, and it’s possible to communicate with the rest of the world without ever leaving our rooms. We’ll explore this sense of disconnection, comparing the pre-Internet societies of our protagonists to our own, and discuss possibility of finding meaningful connections within the worlds depicted in these novels.
By the end of the semester, you should be able to:
-Compose a formal, academic essay that supports its original and arguable thesis with strong research.
-Understand and master the research process, including identifying, annotating, incorporating and citing sources.
-Analyze and respond critically to a variety of literary texts.
Required texts:
-A Writer’s Reference (Seventh Edition) by Diana Hacker and Nancy Summers
-Notes From Underground by Fyodor Dostoevsky (translated by Pevear and Volokhonsky)
-Play It As It Lays by Joan Didion
-The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka
-A journal that you bring to every class
Assignments: You will be required to write 8 reading responses (2 typed, double-spaced pages each) based on the class reading. In your reading responses, you may focus on any aspect of the reading for that class that strikes you. Your reading responses will also provide a good foundation for class discussion.
The largest assignment will be your formal research paper, including a topic proposal, annotated bibliography, rough draft and final paper.
Both your reading responses and research paper assignments should always be typed and double-spaced in Times New Roman 12-point font and follow MLA formatting (see A Writer’s Reference for formatting information).
In addition, you will also compose in-class writing assignments throughout the semester.
Finally, you will write journal entries at the beginning of every class (starting with the second class on Wednesday, Feb. 1). Make sure you keep a separate notebook for your journal that does not include your notes or work for other classes, as I will collect them a few times throughout the semester. Please remember to date each entry and write your name at the front of the journal! Entries are written off-the-cuff in the first 5 or 6 minutes, so they don’t need to have correct grammar, spelling, etc., but I do expect you to consider the prompt and think critically in your responses.
Participation: Your participation means your presence in and preparedness for class. This should go without saying, but it’s vital to your success that you complete each assigned reading and show up ready to discuss it in class. Failure to meet this very basic standard will certainly mean failure in the course. It also includes your contribution to group work and exercises, and your completion of in-class assignments.
Grading scale:
Research Essay40%(5% topic proposal, 10% annotated bibliography, 25% final paper)
Reading Responses25%
Participation20%
Journals15%
Final grades in English 1012 are A+ through C-, NC (no credit) and F. NC is a non-passing but non-punitive grade. It will appear on your transcript but will not affect your grade-point average. NC is intended for students who do all the work for the course but are not yet writing at C level. F means that you did not complete the work for the course and/or were excessively absent. There is no D grade.
There is no final exam or exit exam for this course.
Late work: It’s important to submit all work on time. You will lose one letter grade on an assignment each day it is late. On the fourth day you receive a failing grade on the assignment and cannot make it up. If you’re absent the day an assignment is due, you must submit the assignment at the beginning of the next class to avoid being late.
Attendance: You are allowed a maximum of 3 absences throughout the semester. More than 3 absences will affect your grade and more than 6 absences will lead to automatic failure. It’s also important that you show up to class on time. Every 2 classes you’re late will count as 1 absence.
When you miss a class, it’s your responsibility to find out what work you missed and catch up.
Cheating and Plagiarism: Here is the school’s policy: “Academic dishonesty of any type, including cheating and plagiarism, is unacceptable at Brooklyn College. Cheating is any misrepresentation in academic work. Plagiarism is the representation of another person’s work, words, or ideas as your own. Students should consult the Brooklyn College Student Handbook for a fuller, more specific discussion of related academic integrity standards. […] Academic dishonesty is punishable by failure of the test, examination, term paper, or other assignment on which cheating occurred. In addition, disciplinary proceedings in cases of academic dishonesty may result in penalties of admonition, warning, censure, disciplinary probation, restitution, suspension, expulsion, complaint to civil authorities, or ejection” (Brooklyn College Bulletin, 58).
Learning Center: The Learning Center (1300 Boylan) provides free peer tutoring in writing by trained students. Students may attend weekly or on a drop-in basis. If you are interested in weekly tutoring sessions, please see me for a referral. You may make appointments for drop-in sessions by calling the Learning Center at 718-951-5821, by emailing , or by requesting an appointment at the Learning Center’s front desk.
Tentative Schedule
M 1/30Introduction to course; syllabus; diagnostic samples
W 2/1“Alienation” in modern society; handout
M 2/6Introduction to Dostoevsky; foreword to “Notes From Underground”
W 2/8“Underground” Chapters I – VI (response)
M 2/13 NO CLASS
W 2/15“Underground” Chapters VII – XI (response)
T 2/21“Apropos of the Wet Snow” Chapters I – III (response)
W 2/22“Apropos of the Wet Snow” Chapters I – III (cont’d.)
M 2/27“Apropos of the Wet Snow” Chapters IV - VI
W 2/29“Apropos of the Wet Snow” Chapters VII – X (response)
M 3/5Introduction to Didion; “Something About Maria” by David Thomson
W 3/7“Play It As It Lays”: “Maria,” “Helene,” “Carter”
M 3/12“Play It As It Lays” Chapters 1 – 10 (response)
W 3/14“Play It As It Lays” Chapters 11 - 20
M 3/19“Play It As It Lays” Chapters 21 – 40 (response); Topic Proposal Due
W 3/21“Play It As It Lays” Chapters 41 - 60
M 3/26“Play It As It Lays” Chapters 61 – 84 (response)
W 3/28Library Research Instruction
M 4/2Introduction to Kafka; “The Metamorphosis”
W 4/4“The Metamorphosis” (response)
M 4/9 NO CLASS
W 4/11 NO CLASS
M 4/16On Annotated Bibliographies; Hacker R3
W 4/18Thesis Statement Peer Review; Annotated Bibliography Due
M 4/23Hacker MLA-5C: Sample Research Paper
W 4/25On Evidence and Analysis
M 4/30From Outline to Draft
W 5/2Research Paper Rough Drafts Due; Peer Review
M 5/7On Revision
W 5/9Individual Student Meetings
M 5/14Research Paper Presentations
W 5/16 Research Paper Presentations; Final Research Papers Due
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