Instructor: Dana Andrews
Section 13: T & R 2:00 pm—3:20 pm
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 appt. on any day)
Email: dandrews1@missouriwestern.edu
Required Texts: The Bedford Introduction to Literature, 8th ed., edited by Michael Meyer
“The Green Pages” MLA Style and Format—on Reserve at Library
(It is your responsibility to photocopy these “Green Pages”)
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 guidelines. First Drafts, PLUS Peer-Editing suggestions, AND the Final Draft, are ALL DUE on $$$ days.
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 requirement. Furthermore, the maximum number of absences allowed before the midterm report, October 18, for this class is three (3). Thus, when you have four (4) 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 fourth (4th) absence comes after the midterm report, your overall grade will be deducted 10%. Upon a fifth (5th) absence, your grade will be reduced an additional 10%. Six (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. OVER
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 result in failure of the course.
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.
Class Calendar: Take
note that the calendar is tentative. I’ll distribute revisions if needed. BIL=
Aug. 28 T Introduction to Course/Syllabus
30 R BIL pp.13-16 “Reading Fiction” & pp.47-50 “Writing About Fiction”; discussion
Sept. 4 T BIL, pp. 2079-2102 and 2113-2130 (sample Intro & Outline)
6 R BIL Faulkner, “A Rose for Emily” pp.74-81; discussion; Topics
*** 11 T BIL, pp.2152-2166,(thesis statements & Intro ¶.) ***1st Draft of Intro ¶ & Th. St. DUE
$$$
13 R Intro para’s.
Thesis & outlines DUE$$$; Tootsie
18 T Tootsie, discussion
25 T GP
Intro 1-29 & pp.32-38; Brainstorming for Essay #1;
*** 27 R First-draft Essay #1 due***; Peer Editing day
Oct. $$$
2 T Final Draft
Essay #1 due $$$; In-class writing; Cool
Hand Luke; (dist.
. 9 T READ Anderson’s “Hands”; In-class writing—Structure! Topics
11 R Brainstorming for Essay #2; relationship between “Hands” and Cool Hand Luke
*** 16 T First Draft Essay #2 due***; Peer Editing day
$$$ 18 R Final Draft Essay #2 due$$$; In-class writing; Harold and Maude
23 T Discussion of Harold and Maude; In-class writing
$$ 25 R BIL,
“Miss Brill” pp317-320 (topics)
30 T BIL, “To His Coy Mistress” pg. 843
15 R Bring
ALL GREEN PAGES TO CLASS (
20 T BIL
Sophocles, “Oedipus the King,” 1423-1468;
22 R Thanksgiving Holiday—No Class
*** 27 T Thesis statements, Intro Paragraphs and Sources DUE Research Paper***
*** 29 R First Draft of Research Paper due***; Peer-Edit day
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%
FINAL: TBA