Syllabus & Policy Statement

Macon State College

Department of English

Spring 2013

English 1102- Syllabus and Policy Statement:

A book is a portable form of magic. ~ Stephen King

Instructor: Mrs. Sharon Aiken, H/SS 248   

Office phone: 478-471-2893

Office hours:  M/W: 2-3 p.m.; T/TH: 1-2 p.m. and by appointment

Email: sharon.aiken@maconstate.edu

       Website:   AE02S13.blogspot.com
(Note: Strange initials and numbers refer to: Aiken English 1101 Spring 2013)

Best means of contact: email.  Use your Macon State email. I check and respond to my Macon State email, Monday-Thursday and on Sunday evenings.  I expect you to do likewise, because I use email for class announcements.

Required Texts and Materials: 

Lunsford, Andrea A. The St. Martin’s Handbook. Boston: Bedford/St.Martin’s, 2008 or other collegiate grammar text

Literature: The Human Experience – Shorter 9^th edition; Richard Abcarian & Marvin Klotz, editors

blue or black pens (NO  hot pink, neon orange, lime green) for in-class quizzes and compositions—not pencils

Suggested Texts:

King, Stephen.  On Writing -- the second half of the book

a good collegiate dictionary                                               

Class Description:   This is a composition course that develops writing skills beyond the proficiency required by English 1101; English 1102 emphasizes interpretation and evaluation based on an introduction of fiction, drama, and poetry, and incorporates a variety of more advanced research methods.  An oral communication component is also required.

Class Goals:  By the end of the course, each student will:

Be able to research a work of literature using the Web and traditional library resources

Gain further experience using MLA citation methods

Be able to write a clear, in-class explication of a poem

Be able to write an effective analysis of a work of fiction and a work of drama

Gain further experience in using Web-based course assignments

The best way to develop your writing is to write AND to read.  There are no shortcuts, no easy outs, and no simple solutions.  Read everything, both good and bad; read cereal boxes, directions for electronics, the internet, job descriptions, grocery lists, novels, essays, magazines, candy wrappers – everything.   You will gradually begin to develop a sense of identifying good writing that is detailed, organized, unified, coherent, clear, and complete. Bad writing will show you what to avoid; good writing will show you what to emulate.  This class does not meet every day, but if you truly want to succeed and develop, it is in your best interest to write and read, every day, to seek help when you need it, to do your best, whether your best is a “C” or an “A.” 

Class Policies:

1.  You must have passed English 1101 with a “C” to be enrolled in this class.

2.  You may miss two class days without penalty; if you miss more than four class meetings, your grade is up to my discretion.  Be on time.  If a student is late on a regular basis, I may advise the student to drop; I have the discretion to penalize constant tardiness by either adding a missed day to the number of absences or lowering the overall course grade.  If tardiness disrupts my class, the lab door will be locked, and you will be counted as absent.

3.  Assignments are to be handed in on time, typed. Title all assignments and use MLA format. *Do NOT title your essay as the work read in the text.  You didn’t write “A Worn Path;” therefore, your essay analysis of the story’s should not be titled by that name; it would be more appropriate to title it The Importance of Place in Welty’s “A Worn Path.”   Use the name of the work in the title, if you like, but NOT as the title.

4.  If you miss a daily assignment or one specified on the syllabus, you may not make it up; if you miss a major assignment, that grade will be based on my discretion. You must complete all major assignments to pass the class.

5.  I will give letter grades on essays; numerical grades on quizzes. if you have a question about a grade, drop by my office or ask me after class; if you wish to challenge a grade, do so in writing, no sooner than a day after getting your paper back, and no later than three class days after I return that assignment.

6.  If you plagiarize an assignment, that grade will result in a zero.  If you cheat on a test, you will get a zero.  Plagiarism occurs when a writer uses the ideas, wording, organization, etc. of another writer without proper citation, whether intentional or unintentional. This includes having someone “help” you write the paper, buying the paper online, or lifting ideas, sentences, and paragraphs from another text.  Keep an electronic copy of all assignments and be prepared to send it to me immediately if asked.  Please go to the MSC Library site for further information on avoiding plagiarism.  Students should know that failing the class is the common penalty for plagiarism.

A plagiarism prevention service is used in the evaluation of written work submitted for this course.  As directed by the instructor, students are expected to submit their assignments, or have their assignments submitted, through the service in order to meet the requirements for this course.  The papers may be retained by the service for the sole purpose of checking for plagiarized content in future student submissions.

7.  POLICY ON ACADEMIC MISCONDUCT:  “As a Macon State College student and as a student in this class, you are responsible for reading, understanding, and abiding by the MSC  Student Code of Conduct.  The Student Code of Conduct is included in the MSC Student Handbook and is available online at  http://www.maconstate.edu/studentlife/studenthandbook.pdf”

8.  POLICY ON DISABILITY ACCOMODATIONS:  “Students seeking academic accommodations for a special need must contact the MSC Counseling and Career Center (478-471-2714) located on the second floor of the Student Life Center on the Macon Campus.”

9.  If you have a D average based on the major assignments, no participation or daily grade average can bring that average up to a C. [Division Policy]

10.  I expect common sense and courtesy, including the following:

• Unless there are extenuating circumstances, please set your phones on "Manner Mode" before entering the class. 
• It is unprofessional, rude, and ill-advised to wear electronic devices either in your ears or dangling from them during lecture or class participation; in other words: DO NOT WEAR EARBUDS IN CLASS.
• Please avoid distracting other students (or me) – I am usually distracted enough for us all.

11.  REQUIRED:  You will need to keep your all of your various writings [paragraphs, drafts, revisions, and final drafts], neatly, in chronological order in a folder of your choice.  These will be submitted to me prior to the final exam.  It is the policy of this department that I keep your writing for one semester.  Therefore, should you want these returned, please see me at the end of Spring Semester 2013.  Suggestion:  I would suggest to anyone taking this course that you keep a personal folder with copies of all your writing, as it is a representative of the unique individual you are.

12.  There is always a possibility that we may be affected by inclement weather.  In the event that weather conditions make travel conditions hazardous, be aware that class may be cancelled for the day and a class assignment may be given via email.  Check your email, as I will typically notify you in advance, if at all possible.  NOTE: I live in rural Jasper County; if schools are closed in Jasper County, it is a safe bet that MY classes at MSC will not be held.

At the collegiate level, students are expected to take responsibility for a large part of their education.  Examples:  all papers must be submitted in MLA format.  If you do not remember what MLA format consists of, look it up.  Assignments should be read in advance of class, not in class, unless specified.  When a student is absent, he/she should check the blog first, before emailing me.  Students should assume that when the instructor is discussing the elements and nature of literature, they should be noting terms in relation to the up-coming assignments.  Students are expected to have the presence of mind to look and plan ahead to avoid scheduling conflicts.  Final exams will be given only during the scheduled time, indicated on the MSC Academic Calendar.

1102 Assignments:

Combined average of quizzes, exercises
and class participation*                                             20%

Fiction Essays  - 2                                                          20%  (10% each)

Written & oral explication of poem                     20% (10% each)

Research Paper (Essay)                                              20%

FINAL  Exam                                                                    20%

*Active Class Participation:

Criteria	25 pts.	20 pts.	15 pts.	0-10 pts. & below
Attendance	Attends class regularly – with no more than 1 absence at mid-term; usually prompt & professional	Attends class regularly; no more than 1 absence at mid-term; professional & seldom tardy	Attends class regularly; may have more than 2 absences at this point; professional	Has missed more than 2 days and often presented as unprofessional
Level of Active Engagement	Proactive in class; contributes with ideas, questions, observations; answers questions; treats classmates & professor with courtesy	Contributes to class; frequently offers comments, answers & asks questions; treats classmates & professor with courtesy	Offers some observations and answers questions now and then or when called on; treats classmates & professor with courtesy	Rarely contributes to class by offering ideas or asking questions. primarily a non-participant. Does not add to class discussion, but sits silently.
Listening Skills	Listens when others talk; builds on others’ ideas; involves others in class by asking questions or seeking others’ responses	Listens then others talk; frequently builds on ideas of others.	Listens when  others talk, but does not respond to ideas	Often does not listen when others talk; often distracted by his/her own agenda—e.g., the internet, studying for another class, talking to peers, when inappropriate
Preparation	Almost always prepared for class, with assignments and required class materials	Usually prepared for class	Frequently prepared for class	Seldom prepared

Tentative Schedule:

Week 1/ Jan. 7: Review syllabus; discuss books, genres, elements of fiction; reading for literal vs. figurative meaning, including symbolism & theme; reading & discussion over "All Summer in a Day" by Bradbury; story online
Week 2/ Jan. 14: the importance of storytelling; elements of fiction, storytelling, symbolism and theme in "Young Goodman Brown" (80) and "Good Country People" (100)
Week 3/ Jan. 23: Quiz #1; Essay #1 assigned
Week 4/ Jan. 28: Essay #1 DUE; selection and discussion of "The Things They Carried" (1036) and "How to  Tell a True War Story" (story online)--both by Tim O'Brien; 
Week 5/ Feb. 4: Discussion of "Sonny's Blues" by James Baldwin and Quiz #2
Week 6/ Feb. 11: Essay #2 DUE; reading selection: "The Yellow Wallpaper" (729)
Week 7/ Feb. 18: discussion and research on "The Yellow Wallpaper"
Week 8/ Feb. 25: discussion and research on "The Yellow Wallpaper;" Essay #3 (Counts 20%) DUE
Week of Mar. 4 - 8: SPRING BREAK
Week 9/ Mar. 11: Mid-Term; Last Day to withdraw from a Regular Session Class with a "W."  Introduction to poetry and study of select poems (TBA)
Week 10/ Mar. 18: In class study of poetry
Week 11/ Mar. 25: Quiz #3 and Individual explication of poem and Essay #4 over poetry
Week 12/ Apr. 1: Individual explication of poem and Essay #4 over poetry (individual explication typically takes several days; the in-class essay over poetry will take only one)
Week 13/ Apr. 8: Begin Study of Drama & Shakespeare's Othello
Week 14/ Apr. 15:  Shakespeare's Othello
Week 15/ Apr. 22:  Shakespeare's Othello & Quiz #4
Week 16/ Apr. 29: Last Day of Class

FINAL ESSAY WILL BE OVER OTHELLO