Course Syllabus for ENG 108, Fall 2007

Instructor: Dana Andrews

Section 1 @ 8am—8:50am MWF, Sect. 2 @ 9am—9:50am MWF, Sect. 8 @ 11am—11:50 am MWF

Office:  Eder 212 D (Phone: 271-5814)

Office Hours: MWF 10à10:50 and MW 12à12:50 p.m. and Tues: 1à1:50 p.m. (and by appointment on any day)

Email: dandrews1@missouriwestern.edu

Required Texts:         The Bedford Introduction to Literature, 8th ed., edited by Michael Meyer

“The Green Pages” from the New St. Martin’s Handbook—MLA Style and Format—on Reserve at Library

 

Other requirements:  A working diskette, CDR, or Flashdrive/USB (no excuses like, “I couldn’t print from my disk.”)

            A good college dictionary (use it while reading), a good attitude & an open mind

 

COURSE OBJECTIVE: I want your writing skills to improve significantly by the end of the semester.  We’ll achieve that in various ways, but everything we do will be geared toward writing a major, solid-to-excellent research paper.

 

The Papers: Each paper will be approximately 2-4 pages in length, except for the RESEARCH PAPER, which will be 10 pages. You’ll learn to develop an original thesis on an assigned topic, support your argument with examples from the text AND from outside sources, then build to a strong conclusion.  The papers must be typed in essay format according to MLA Style and guidelines.  First Drafts, PLUS Peer-Editing suggestions, AND the Final Draft, are ALL DUE on $$$ Final Draft due dates.

 

Films: We will view a few films during the semester.  If you miss class and aren’t able to see one of our films in its entirety, it’s your responsibility to rent (DO NOT BUY) the film or arrange for a loan through me.  Please don’t pass my film along to your classmates.  If I let you have my film, then it’s your responsibility to return it to me.

 

Participation: We’ll concentrate mostly on writing, less on reading/viewing, but please come to class prepared (i.e., reading assignments read for discussion for that day and/or essays typed, pages numbered and stapled and ready to hand in on due dates).  It’s important to be here on Peer-Edit days.  If you’re absent on any Peer-Edit day, then you may lose a full letter grade in Peer Editing.  Being absent on that day will also affect your Participation grade. 

 

Peer Editing: We’ll think of writing as a collaborative process.  You’ll be required to revise, revise, revise.  You’ll learn to edit your work and the work of your classmates.  You must come to class with a TYPED copy of all your essays, first drafts, outlines, etc.  If you come to class without a copy of your work, OR if it’s hand written, you’ll be unable to participate in the process—this means that you’ll be marked absent in Participation AND Peer Editing for that day—and I will ask you to leave. 

 

Attendance policy: In order to improve student learning and to achieve compliance with federal financial aid policies, Western has a mandatory attendance policy for all 100 and 200 level courses.  A student will be given an excused absence when acting as an official representative of the university, provided the student gives prior written verification from the faculty/staff supervisor of the event; however, there are no other excused absences, exceptions or “makeups” for this attendance require-ment.  Furthermore, the maximum number of absences allowed before the midterm report, October 18, for this class is five (5).  Thus, when you have six (6) before October 18th, you will be reported to the Registrar’s Office, who will automatically withdraw you from this class.  The Financial Aid Office will reduce financial aid as appropriate.  Please note that I have my own attendance policy for the rest of the semester—beyond the midterm report.  If your sixth (6th) absence comes at any time, your overall grade will be deducted 10%.  Upon a seventh (7th) absence, your grade will be reduced an additional 10%.  Eight (OR MORE) absences for the semester results in failure of the class.  If you know of any circumstances likely to make this policy difficult for you this semester, you may wish to consult with your advisor to review your options.  If you miss a class session, you are responsible for all material covered and assignments given during your absence. 

 

Quizzes: We’ll have unannounced quizzes on the readings and the films at various times throughout the semester. 

 

Final Exam:  You must take the Final Exam in order to pass the course.  It will be written in class.

 

REALITIES: Cell Phones should be completely turned off BEFORE you walk through the door.  This means that they should not be on vibrate or silent.  They should be OFF.  NO TEXT MESSAGING ONCE YOU ENTER THE CLASSROOM.   NO MP3 PLAYERS OR OTHER MUSIC—NO HEADPHONES/EARPHONES—ONCE YOU WALK IN THE DOOR.

 

Make up work: Athletes and other performers, it’s your responsibility to arrange for work to be turned in early if you’re going to miss class because of school sanctioned travel.  Such travel must be documented by faculty or staff and turned in to me at least two class periods before the event.  I don’t accept late work.  Meet your deadlines.                                  

 

Other Realities & Plagiarism: All course work must be completed to pass this class.  Academic dishonesty—plagiarism, copying or presenting another’s work as your own, etc.—will not be tolerated and will result in failure of the course.  OVER

Students with Special Needs: If you are in need of test-taking, note-taking, or other accommodation, help is available through the Disability Services Coordinator, Michael R. Ritter, at 271-4330.

 

GRADING: Quizzes 10%;  Participation 5%; Peer Editing 5%; 2 Intro Paragraphs with Thesis Statements and outlines 10% each (20% total); 3 Papers worth 10% each (30% total); Research Paper 20%; Final Exam 10%

 

Class Calendar: Take note that the calendar is tentative and could change.  Revisions distributed as needed.  BIL=Bedford Intro to Lit.; GP=Green Pages from the New St. Martin’s Handbook.  Readings and written assignments are to be completed for the days listed.  ***=1st Draft due date AND Peer Edit day; $$$=Final Draft of paper due. 

 

Week 1                       Monday, Aug. 27th                 Wednesday, Aug. 29th                                    Friday, Aug. 31st                          Introduction to Course/Syllabus            BIL pp.13-16 “Reading Fiction”                       BIL, pp. 2079-2102 and 2113-2130

& pp.47-50 “Writing About Fiction”     (sample Intro&Outline)

 

Week 2                         Monday, Sept. 3rd                Wed., 5th                                             Friday, 7th  ***             

No Class                      BIL Faulkner, “A Rose…”95-101                    BIL, pp.2152-2166,(thesis statements       

                                      (topics)                                                                       & Intro para’s.)                                              

Week 3                       Monday, 10th ***                     Wed., 12th $$$                                    Friday,  14th   

***1st Draft of Intro ¶ & Th. St. DUE          Intro para’s. Thesis & outlines DUE$$$      Tootsie                       

                                               

Week 4                       Monday, 17th                          Wed., 19th                                           Friday, 21st                 

Tootsie, cont’d.                                   BIL Minot, “Lust” pp.349-355             In-class writing (PIE—topics)

 

Week 5                       Monday, 24th                          Wed., 26th  ***                                   Friday, 28th  ***                    

     GP Intro 1-29 & pp.32-38                   ***1st Draft Essay #1 DUE—Peer Edit             ***2nd Draft Essay #1Due—Peer Edit

 

Week 6           $$$      Monday, Oct. 1st                    Wed., 3rd                                             Friday, 5th                       

$$$ Final Draft 1st Essay DUE                      Cool Hand Luke                                               CHL, cont’d. (distr. “Hands”)

 

Week 7                       Monday, 8th                            Wed., 10th                                           Friday, 12th                

   Read Handout: “Hands” discussion      “Hands,” & Relationship to the Films (topics)        No Class

 

Week 8                       Monday, 15th ***                     Wed., 17th   ***                                  Friday, 19th  $$$        

***1st Draft Essay #2 DUE               ***2nd Draft Essay #2 DUE        $$$ Final Draft Essay #2 DUE (H&M)

 

Week 9                       Monday, 22nd                         Wed., 24th                                           Friday, 26th                

            H&M, cont’d                           H&M, cont’d.                                BIL, “Miss Brill” pp317-320 (topics)

 

Week 10                     Monday, 29th                          Wed., 31st ***                                     Friday, Nov. 2nd         ***

BIL, “To His Coy Mistress” pg. 843     ***1st draft essay #3 DUE                       2nd draft of essay #3 DUE ***

 

Week 11      $$$         Monday, Nov. 5th                   Wed., 7th                                             Friday, 9th                  

$$$Final Draft Essay #3 DUE                       BIL, Kincaid, “Girl,” 719-720     BIL, 339-345 & Carver, “Popular Mech.”

 Class Held in Library!!!                                   (distr. Tolstoy)

 

Week 12                     Monday, 12th                             Wed., 14th                                        Friday, 16th                

Read: Tolstoy, discussion                             Bring ALL GREEN PAGES TO CLASS       BIL, Sophocles, Oedipus, 1423-1468

(Ind. Conf. for Res. Paper)                              (Leon’s paper)                                     (Ind. Conf. for Res. Paper)

 

Week 13                     Monday, 19th                          Wed., 21st                                            Friday, 23rd                

Individual conferences for Res. Paper                      No Class                                                   No Class

           

Week 14                     Monday, 26th ***                     Wed., 28th ***                                    Friday, 30th ***                     

***Intro ¶. & Th. St. & Sources DUE    ***1st FULL Draft of Res. Paper DUE        ***2nd Draft of Research Paper DUE

           

Week 15         Monday, Dec. 3rd $$$                        Wed., 5th  $$$                                     Friday, 7th                  

         $$$ FINAL DRAFT RES. PAPER DUE   Paradise Lost II (to be a topic for final)       !!!Last Day for Extra Credit

 

DATE OF FINAL TBA