Rowan College at Burlington County

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Rowan College at Burlington County

Liberal Arts Division

College Composition II (ENG 102 504) Professor Jay Kratz

TUES6:30-9:20pm, Laurel Hall, Room 310Email:

Meetings by arrangement

Required Texts:

The Norton Introduction to Literature, 12th Edition, Ed. Kelly J. Mays

Any Good, College-Level Dictionary

Course Overview:

The purpose of English 102 is to enhance the student’s skills as a writer and as a critical thinker. The course combines several teaching techniques: lecture, seminar, verbal communication, student collaboration, and testing. It will incorporate the reading and discussion of fiction, poetry, and drama with written essays and informal oral presentation. Essays will be based on class discussions and critical commentary, and most will be completed at home. Upon completion of English 102, the student should be capable of expressing thoughts logically, clearly, and succinctly in writing. Successful students will effectively evaluate literature using various critical theories and the stages of the writing process learned in English 101. Critical literary interpretation—both oral and written—will be expected.

Learning Objectives:

English 102 will teach you to

1)recognize and analyze the major elements of literature in fiction, poetry, and drama;

2)write clear and coherent essays which analyze these elements;

3)identify the methods used by authors, poets, and playwrights to achieve their desired ends, while evaluating these methods for effectiveness;

4)demonstrate your ability to participate actively in the reading process by asking and responding to questions (both in writing and orally); and

5)present your interpretations to the class in an informative manner.

Policies:

1)Attendance: Students are required to attend all classes for the full duration of each session. Attendance will be taken, and penalties assessed for absences: when a student exceeds a ten-percent absence rate, he/she may be docked up to 10% of the final grade. Students are responsible for communicating with me to make reasonable arrangements for the completion of course requirements not completed due to absence.

2)All work written and submitted should utilize standard rules of grammar, sentence organization, paragraph structure, and diction.

3)All assignments are due on the date specified on the syllabus or in class without exception. Assignments not submitted on time will be penalized 15% for each day they are late.

4)Plagiarism will not be tolerated. Be aware that plagiarism includes copying someone else’s words without crediting the source; paraphrasing someone else’s words without crediting the source; using someone else’s ideas without crediting the source (even if rephrased in your own words); using facts not universally known which are obtained from a source without credit; asking someone else to write your paper, either in whole or part; or obtaining a paper or portion thereof by any means and submitting it as your work. The penalty for plagiarism is failure for the assignment and potentially failure for the course. Please refer to the BCC Student Handbook for additional information regarding College regulations and the handling of plagiarism.

Assignments:

1)Panel Presentations (10 points/5 points for each of 2): Each of you will be assigned to a panel of 5-6 students.For each class, a panel will be responsible for having read the assigned material especially closely, and will be “on call.”When “on call,” each member will be responsible for:

1. asking one question (the quality of which should reflect the close attention I ask for above)to generate conversation by drawing our attention to important problems or ideas inthe reading,
2. andanswering(at least) one question posed either by me or the class.

Each panel will be “on call” four times during the semester. If you are absent for your scheduled panel presentation, you must either submit a 250-word analysis of a poem/story/play assigned on your day (due on your return to class), or join and participate in the next presentation group. I will be taking the names of those participating in each panel presentation; if you do not participate, you will not get credit until you do one of the above.

2)One500-Word Close Readings (15 points): Students will respond to a prompt with a written argument supported by close, textual analysis.

3)In-Class Writing Assignments (15 points/5 points for each of 3)

4)Two 1000-Word Research Papers (25 points each): Students will use at least one (and no more than two) secondary, critical sources to elaborate on and complicate their own close reading of a text in response to an assigned prompt.

5)Participation and Attendance (10 points):I have found in past semesters that "participation" isn't a sufficient means of assessing students. How do you grade shy, or otherwise quiet, students who do very well in your class? At the same time, does a student who does very poorly on papers/quizzes/etc, but "participates" in class deserve a high grade? Instead, I have switched this to an assessment of a student's contribution to the course. How do you do in group work? Are you always on task, or do you take others off task with your actions? Do you bring useful ideas and thoughts into class? Do you go beyond commentary that is intended to please me or make you look smart? Do you experiment, take chances, and offer untested commentary? Are you punctual and always prepared? Do you do more than just listen to me? What about your presence in the class adds to it? These are some of the factors I will consider when assessing your class contribution grade.

Grading Policy: All assignments have a specific point value. There are 100 total points worth of assignments and examinations.

Total Points Earned / Final Percentages / Letter Grade
177-200 / 88.5-100 / A
175-176 / 87.5-88 / B+
159-174 / 79.5-87 / B
155-158 / 77.5-79 / C+
149-154 / 74.5-77 / C
139-148 / 69.5-74 / D
0-138 / 0-69 / F

Projected Schedule of Assignments:

*The syllabus is a living document. Sometimes, things might not work and we will need to make a change. This syllabus is subject to change at all times. Any changes will be discussed in class.

**All written work will be composed and submitted in Google Drive.

1/23: Words, Their Histories, and How to Read

Sources, Reading, and the Media: AlisynCamerota and a Public Panel, on CNN by Way of YouTube,

Literal and Figurative Language: Saul Williams’ “Explain My Heart” and William Carlos Williams’ “This Is Just To Say” (574),

Historical Meaning and the Oxford English Dictionary: Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s “Aftermath,”

Summary and Interpretation: Langston Hughes’ “Harlem,”

Discussion of syllabus and general expectations

Short Stories

1/30: Plot

“Introduction” (1-10), “Plot ” (57-66), Joyce Carol Oates’ “Where Are Your Going, Where Have You Been?” (94-109), John Updike’s “A&P” (437-442), and “Authors on their Work: John Updike” (443-444)

2/6: Point-of-View

Distributed: 500-Word Close Reading Assignment (on Toni Morrison’s “Recitatif”)

“Narration and Point of View” (110-114), Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Cask of Amontillado (115-121), Ernest Hemingway’s “Hills Like White Elephants” (122-126), Jamaica Kincaid’s “Girl” (127-129)

2/13: Character

“Character” (130-137), and Toni Morrison’s “Recitatif” (138-155).

2/20: Setting

Due: 500-Word Close Reading, Rough Draft

“Setting” (164-165), from Italo Calvino’s “Invisible Cities” (166-170), Anton Chekhov’s “The Lady with the Dog” (171-185), Amy Tan’s “A Pair of Tickets” (186-202), and Judith Ortiz’s “Volar” (203-206)

2/27: Figurative Language

“Symbol and Figurative Language” (213-218), Nathaniel Hawthorne’s “The Birthmark” (219-233), EdwidgeDanticat’s “A Wall of Fire Rising” (234-248).

3/6: Tone, and Theme

Due:500-Word Close Reading, Final Draft

Distributed: 1000-Word Research Paper Assignment(on Toni Morrison’s “Recitatif”)

Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s “A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings: A Tale for Children” (362-367); “Theme” (249), Aesop’s “The Two Crabs” (249-253), and Stephen Crane’s “The Open Boat”

Research & Criticism

3/20:Using Literary Criticism

S.K. Stanely’s “Maggie in Toni Morrison’s ‘Recitatif’” (linked to on webpage),“The Literature Research Essay” (1295-1351) & Critical Approaches (1352-1382)

Poetry

3/27: Point of View and Setting

Due: Writing Assignment 2, Rough Draft

No Panel Group / No Reading Homework Due

In-Class Readings: “Speaker: Whose Voice Do We Hear?” (509-523) especially X.J. Kennedy’s “In a Prominent Bar in Secaucus One Day,” Robert Browning’s “Soliloquy of the Spanish Cloister,” and William Wordsworth’s “She Dwelt among the Untrodden Ways”; “Situation and Setting: What Happens? Where? When?” (524-545)especially Rita Dove’s “Daystar”

4/3:Figures of Speech

Panel Group 4 On Call

“Picturing: Visual Imagery and Figures of Speech” (577-590) especially William Shakespeare’s “That time of year thou mayst in me behold,” Emily Dickinson’s “Because I could not stop for Death,” and Robert Burns’ “A Red, Red Rose”; “Symbol” (592-608) especially Dorothy Parker’s “One Perfect Rose,” and William Blake’s “The Sick Rose”

4/10: Line,Sound & Meter

Due:Writing Assignment 2, Final Draft

Distributed: Research Paper Two Assignment

No Panel Group / No Reading Homework Due

In-Class Readings: Gwendolyn Brooks’ “We Real Cool” (521); “The Sounds of Poetry” (609-632) especially Alexander Pope’s “Sound and Sense,” and Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s “Metrical Feet”

4/17:Closed and Open Form

Panel Group 5 On Call

“External Form” head notes (655-659); “The Sonnet: An Album” (667-678) especially Henry Constable’s “My lady’s presence makes the roses red,” William Shakespeare’s “My mistress’ eyes are nothing like the sun,” Billy Collins’ “Sonnet,” and Walt Whitman’s “When I Heard the Learn’d Astronomer” (

Drama

4/24:

Due: Rough Draft,Writing Assignment 3

Panels 1 (for Act I), 2 (for Act II), & 3 (for Act III) On Call

Henrik Ibsen’s A Doll House, Acts I-III

5/1:

Panels 4 (for Act IV) & 5 (for Act 5) On Call

Henrik Ibsen’s A Doll House, Act IV-V

May 8th by midnight: Final Draft, Writing Assignment 3 Due

______

Expectations & Policies

Smart Phones, Texting, Laptops, & Other Issues of Etiquette:

Please turn your cell phone off BEFORE entering the classroom. If your cell phone goes off more than once while class is in a session, you will be asked to leave. I will not tolerate texting or other distractions to the learning experience. I will be taking points off of your course contribution grade for every time that, at the end of class, I can remember you texting during that class.Laptops are fine as long as they aren’t a distraction. Students who use education apps on their smart phones (please tell me about them!) are fine too. Please remove all earbuds before entering class.

In my classes, I have an expectation students will have access to email and computers in general. All of your work will be submitted to me digitally. Given there are public and school libraries, the ILC, coffee shops, etc, I do not see any excuse for having “no access” to email outside of the classroom.

Students are expected to check their RCBC email on a regular basis. I do not accept the excuse, “I didn't check my email for two weeks” as a valid problem. Digital correspondence should be written using proper grammar and form. I will not reply to emails filled with texting speak (2, u, 4, lol, j/k) or poor grammar and/or misspellings. Please include a subject and "sign" your email with your name and course section.

I will not be carrying handouts around all semester. If you miss class or lose a handout, please check the course website within 48 hours of the class to view, download, or print a PDF of the handout in question. Most of the time they will be uploaded before class.

Finally, a matter of general respect: I do not tolerate homophobic, misogynistic, ableist, or racist language in the classroom.

Writing:

I expect your work to be error free. You are expected to proofread for spelling, mechanics, and grammar. I will mark down for these errors; please revise and proofread often. All papers are to be typed, titled, double spaced, and given page numbers with your last name. All papers will be written and submitted in Google Docs. I will not be accepting print copies of your papers.

Do not consider your paper submitted until, if and only if, you receive a confirmation reply (usually within 24 hours, but don't panic if it is closer to 48-72). If you do not receive one within 48-72 hours, it is the student’s responsibility to get in touch with me about their work. I am not responsible for making sure you hand in your assignments; it is yours. Please make sure you are backing up your work to an external hard drive, flash drive, cloud based source or other backup method. I will not accept excuses involving crashed computers or broken files.

Finally, please follow the “24 hour rule” for paper returns. I do not discuss returned student papers until 24 hours have elapsed since I returned them. There will be no discussion in person or via email about them until that time window.

Paper Revision Policy:

I strongly believe one of the most important lessons I learned about writing was that quality work almost always entails rewriting. In this class I will accept a rewrite of your papers until the Friday after grades are sent back to the entire class. This means if you are not satisfied with your grade, you may resubmit that paper for a predetermined period of time. This time period will be added to the online version of the syllabus and announced during class. Normally, this will be anywhere from three to five days. After that time period, you may not resubmit.

Obviously, just resubmitting the paper will not count as a rewrite. If you incorporate the feedback I give you on your papers when I send them back, the odds are pretty high you will improve your grade. Only making cosmetic changes will not improve it.

Extension Policy:

Extensions are gifts, not a right. College work involves responsibility and ownership over your individual situation. With that in mind, here are a few caveats about extensions. First, I need to know 48 hours before an assignment is due if you need an extension. This will be clearly addressed on the class schedule. To apply for an extension, we must speak in person or over email immediately. A rough draft of your paper in progress will be required to be handed in at this time. I will then determine whether to grant or deny the extension and how much time would be allotted for it.

To apply for an extension beyond the 48 hour mark for reasons of hospitalization, bereavement, military service, observance of religious holidays, legal reasons (jury duty, etc), or work related issues (ie: getting called into work at the last minute), written documentation not given before the due date must be in by Saturday night after the due date.

For the following reasons, extensions will not be permitted: short term illnesses and family vacations.

Only one extension will be granted per semester, although an "emergency" extension can be granted under certain circumstances.

Academic Honesty:

Plagiarism will not be tolerated under any circumstances. Be aware that plagiarism includes (but is not limited to) copying someone else’s words without crediting the source; paraphrasing someone else’s words without crediting the source; using someone else’s ideas without crediting the source (even if rephrased in your own words); using facts not universally known which are obtained from a source without crediting the source; asking someone else to write your paper, either in whole or in part; or obtaining a paper or portion thereof by any means and submitting it as an original document. The penalty for plagiarism is failure of the assignment and potentially failure of the course (at the instructor’s discretion), and it may result in suspension or expulsion from the College (at the discretion of the Student Affairs Committee). Please refer to the BCC Student Handbook for additional information regarding College regulations and the handling of plagiarism.

With this in mind, all papers that use in-text citations must have a works cited page. Failure to include a works cited page will be an automatic zero for the paper.

Make Up Work:

Work should be handed in on the date it is due. I will accept late work with one full grade taken off the top for each class it is late. If an emergency has come up, I expect an email before the class you will be missing letting me know. Your work will be due at our next meeting, but it would be great if you could email it to me in the meantime as well.

If you are going to be absent for the final exam, barring emergency, I need to know before the exam. Failure to do this will result in a zero for the exam.

College Policies:
In order for students to know their rights and responsibilities, all students are expected to review and adhere to all regulations and policies as listed in the College Catalog and Handbook. These documents can be accessed at Important policies and regulations include, but are not limited, to the following:

• College Attendance Policy
• Grading Standards

• Withdraw (W) and Incomplete Grades (I & X)
• Withdrawal date for this semester

• Student Code of Conduct

• Academic Dishonesty/Plagiarism and Civility

• Use of Communication and Information Technology

Office of Student Support and Disability Services:
RCBC welcomes students with disabilities into the college’s educational programs. Access to accommodations and support services for students with learning and other disabilities is facilitated by staff in the Office of Student Support (OSS). To receive accommodations, a student must contact the OSS, self-identify as having a disability, provide appropriate documentation, and participate in an intake appointment. If the documentation supports the request for reasonable accommodations, the OSS will provide the student with an Accommodation Plan to give to instructors. For additional information, please contact the Office of Student Support at 609-894-9311, ext. 1208, , or