Missouri Western State College

Division of Liberal Arts and Sciences

ENG 220-01:  Introduction to Reading Texts

Class meets 10 am MWF JGM 208

ENG 220-02:  Introduction to Reading Texts

Class meets 11 am MWF in SS/C 223

Fall 2002

Instructor Information

            Dr. Karen U. Fulton, Professor

            Tel: 271-4317(work) 1-660-582-8830 (home)

            E-mail: fulton@griffon.mwsc.edu

            Office: Eder 222-H

            Office Hours: M 2-4, T 10-12, W 2-3

Required Texts

            DiYanni, Robert.  Literature, 5th edition.  Boston:  McGraw Hill, 2002.

            Harmon, W. & C. H. Holman.  Handbook to Literature,9th ed.  NJ: Prentice Hall, 2003.

Recommended Text

            Gibaldi, Joseph.  MLA Handbook, 5th edition.  New York: MLA, 1999.

Required Supplies

·        Access to word processor with spell-checker; all written work must be word processed.

·        Access to internet.

·        A 3-ring binder (spine no greater than 1/2") for submission of end of semester portfolio.

Course Objectives and Means [and Methods]

 

English 220 fulfills Category IV General Studies requirements.

            All English 210 (and 220)sections provide practice in

            reading poetry, prose fiction, and drama.

 

Objectives:  Upon completion of English 210[ this 220] a student

            should be able to:

            1.  Recognize the major characteristics of literary genres

            2.  Discuss literature, orally and in writing, with assurance

            3. Appreciate literary works which are encountered

            4.  Understand the different ways in which literary theme may

                        be treated in literature.

 

Means:  To reach these goals, the student is expected to:

            1.  Read poetry, fiction, and drama;

            2.  Investigate various methods of approaching and understanding literature;

3.      Write papers, including themes and essay examinations;

4.      Read a variety of literary works in which a chosen theme is dominant;

5.       Prepare and submit a portfolio of written responses to the literature.

 

Course Policies

Attendance Policies

            Class attendance is critical; however, and I record absence regularly. I consider 3 recorded class absences reasonable; more than 3 absences (excused or not) may result in penalty to the overall grade. More than 6 recorded absences places the student in danger of failing the course. A student who is not prepared for class is considered absent and will be so recorded.

The final session (Section 01 11:30 am December 9; Section 02 11:30 December 6) is required. Missing it carries a heavy penalty--failure for the course. (Instead of a traditional "final," you will write to next semester's class, present your portfolio to this semester's class, and receive your copy of the class publication.)

Academic Honesty Policy

Students must submit their own work. Students who are guilty of plagiarism or cheating in any form will automatically receive a zero for the assignment involved and will place themselves in jeopardy of failing the course.

Student Disability Policy

Students who have a disability that might prevent their maximum performance in the class should make this known to the instructor immediately so that provisions may be made for any assistance needed.

Grading Policies

Mid-term grades

            Mid-term grades will be based on completed  work.

Final grade

            The final grade will be determined on the basis of a portfolio submitted on November 15, 2002. This portfolio will consist of at least three finished and revised pieces of writing (in addition to the self-reflective essay). One piece must have begun as a class assignment and be designated the class demonstration paper. All pieces may initially have been class generated.

Portfolio

            During the first two weeks of class, more detailed portfolio specifications will be handed out and previous portfolios will be brought to class. You will self-grade the portfolio when you submit it on November 15, 2002. I will meet with you individually the week of November 18 to grade the portfolio and we will tape record that conference. You then have the option of revising and resubmitting the portfolio on the last day of class (December 2, 2002).

You have only one opportunity to resubmit a portfolio.

Minimal Passing Standards for the Course

            In order to pass (grade of "D") the class the student must

Your failure to complete any one of these will result in your failure for the course.

Learning Activities and Projects

 Word Processing

            In order to facilitate publishing, all drafts of papers (including the summaries of the oral reports) must be word-processed.

Deadline for oral reports

It is your responsibility to have material by deadlines assigned. No provisions are made to incorporate missed oral reports later in the semester. It is vital you are ready to speak on the day assigned and that you have your summary ready on the following Friday.

Deadline for written work

Papers are scheduled so I can return a response to you at the next class period if at all possible. If the work does not come in at the time assigned, it may not be returned to you until the end of the semester.

Feedback Mode and grading concerns

            In addition to my written comments on the paper, I will place a grade on it.   This will be the lowest grade the paper can receive, so these are (at least initially) likely to be low.  This grade will be recorded and used to calculate the mid-term grade.  However, if the paper (s) is revised and resubmitted in the portfolio, the grade can only stay the same or go up.  The final portfolio grade will replace these paper grades.  In other words, it is possible to have “C’s” on papers throughout the semester and still receive an A on the basis of the portfolio.  The portfolio will contain an introductory self-reflective essay, which will not have been previewed or pre-graded by the instructor prior to portfolio submission.  In general I would expect a portfolio that has an adequate self-reflective essay to come up to the level of work submitted over the course of the semester.

            I will arrange to conference with each of you individually briefly after the first paper.  On all other papers and work, I would strongly urge that a grade of C or below be a signal to you to seek a conference with me.

Minimal Standards for Projects Any project will be returned unread and un-graded if correct formatting, word-processing, and spell checking have not been completed.

Oral Presentation

Beginning the third week of class on Mondays and Wednesdays, at least 1 student will be assigned a 5-minute oral report on a question, web page, or term having to do with the literature and/or literary technique we are studying.  At the beginning of class hour, the student will discuss (without notes or reference to books) the question they have explored.  They will apply it in some way to the work under discussion in the class so that all members of the class will have a clearer idea of the literary idea behind the term and also some insight into the text of the day.  Your job is to share your insights into and evaluation of this term or question; in order to facilitate this, I will ask the student presenting to address the class from the front of the room.  Remember—no notes! (although you may use the overhead or the computer if you feel that will be helpful).  You should not speak for less than 2 nor more than 5 minutes.

            By the Friday class period of that week, you must have a 1-2 page summation of your presentation to give to the instructor.  This summary must conform to the standards for publication, which will be handed out in class during the first week.  This written summary and preceding presentation will be graded on the same scale as a paper.

Papers 

            Two papers will be due over the semester; the first on September 20 after we have concluded our involvement with poetry; the second on October 25 after we have finished  “Hamlet.”  More detailed specifications for these works will be posted here and given out in class as the class progresses. 

Important Dates

            September 20 Paper # 1 due

            October 25 Paper # 2 due

            November 15, 2002  Portfolio Due

            December 2, 2002 Last day to resubmit a portfolio

            December 6 Section 02 final (11:30 am)

            December 9 Section 01 final (11:30 am)

 

General Calendar

            August 19 through September 13:  Poetry and Critical Approaches to Literature.   Beginning the week of August 26, you will need to bring the DiYanni to class; a more specific calendar will be distributed on August 23.

            September 16 through October 18:  Drama and “Hamlet.”  A more specific calendar will be distributed on September 13.

October 21 through November 1:  Short fiction.  A more specific calendar will be distributed on October 18.

            November 4 through November 15:  Portfolio preparation and Self-reflective essay.

            November 18 through November 25:  Individual portfolio conferences; classes will be shortened or on specific days, not held at all.  A more specific calendar will be distributed on November 4.

            December 2:  Last day of class; last day to resubmit a portfolio.