English 1B: Introduction to Literature____________________________________
Schedule #52762
Spring 2010
CCI 202; TH 6:00-8:50pm
Ms. Apperson
Office Hours: TWTH 9:30-10:30
Office: HUM 60
Office phone: 638-3641, ext. 3223
email: eileen.apperson@reedleycollege.edu

Course description: An introduction to literature course is meant to provide an overview of literature, examining how literature communicates to us and why it matters.  To take this course, you must have passed English 1A with a C grade or better.  

Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:

A.	Demonstrate critical thinking and literary skills with literature through a variety of linked reading, writing, and discussion activities.
B.	Demonstrate connections between literary works of the same or different genres.
C.	Make connections between the situations of literature and his/her experience.

Required Text:  Meyer, Michael. Thinking and Writing About Literature: A Text and Anthology. Boston: Bedford St. Martins, 2001.

Additional materials: 8 ½ X 11, 3-ring binder and notebook paper for your Reading Journal.
	
Participation/Attendance:  Class participation is vital.  Since regular in-class writing and activities will be collected, your final grade will suffer the consequences of lack of attendance.  Being late to class is disrespectful.  You may be urged to drop the class if you are habitually late to class.  It is a good idea to check Blackboard and email regularly.  If you miss class it is your responsibility to find the information on Blackboard.
  
Reading Assignments:  We will be reading a large amount of materials every week, usually 100 pages or more.  Failure to complete these reading assignments will be detrimental to your final grade.  Always read the short author biographies prior to reading.

If you have not completed the reading assignments for the week (in whole or part) do not attempt to bluff your way through the Discussion Board and Reading Journal assignments.  This will be a large waste of your time and mine.  Life happens.  Please just admit you did not complete the reading assignments within your posts and journal.  I will appreciate your honesty.

Reading Journal: Take weekly notes on all reading assignments in a Reading Journal (3-ring binder with notebook paper) and bring this journal to class with you.  This journal will be collected at random and graded on its thoroughness.  Use this journal during class for additional notes.  Be sure the journal is clearly dated and labeled.	 Follow suggestions in pages 11-24 of our text in reading, annotating, and responding to literary texts.  Each entry in your journal may resemble a combination of the Journal Note (p. 15) and Sample First Response (p. 23-24), comprising both a critical examination of what the text is doing and how the author is getting this meaning across to the reader AND your personal responses to the text.  Expand your knowledge by using the Glossary of Literary Terms both in our textbook and the external link on blackboard in writing your journal.  The length of your Journal Responses will vary each week depending on the number of assignments.  There is no set number of pages.  Journals will be graded on your thoroughness and thoughtfulness.   
	
General Writing Assignments:  This class requires the completion of various graded writing assignments, both in-class and out-of-class.  In-class assignments must be completed within the timeframe provided.  Out-of-class assignments must be in MLA format and on time.  Please keep all of your prewriting and drafts of each out-of-class paper--I may ask to see your writing processes before I will accept assignments.  
	
Late Paper Policy:  Papers will not be accepted passed the due date.  In-class activities/exams cannot be made-up at a later time.  If you know in advance you are going to be absent, it is your responsibility to arrange exams ahead of time.  If you are absent the day a paper is due, any assignments must be emailed by the time the class begins or they will be considered late.   
	
Other Items:

Plagiarism/Cheating:  Plagiarism is the act of using another person’s words OR IDEAS as your own with no citation for their work.  Cheating includes having anyone else complete your work for you or turning in a paper you have written for another class.  You will be caught, automatically dropped from the course, and reported to the administration.  If plagiarism and/or cheating are suspected, you may be asked to show drafts of your written work and submit your paper to turnitin.com, a plagiarism-checking service.  Keep all drafts of your writing assignments or you may be dropped from the course. 

Respectful Learning Environment:  Be considerate to others—no cell phones or texting during class, come prepared to share equally with others in the class, respect the opinions of others, listen attentively.  You will be asked to leave class if you are disrespectful in any way, losing all points for that day’s class.

Instructor Contact: It is your responsibility to contact the instructor if you are going to be absent.  This may be by phone or email.  Academia is a professional environment. When addressing your instructors, refer to them as Mr., Mrs., or Ms. unless they have asked to be referred to by their first name.   Be sure that all correspondence is professional (no text-language emails) and follows all conventions of proper English usage (correct punctuation and grammar).

Grading:  You will be graded on a point system scale.  If you are failing the course at mid-term, you may automatically be dropped. 

Skills and Knowledge:  It is assumed that since you passed English 1A with at least a “C” or better, there are set skills and knowledge you have obtained.  It is assumed you know how to conduct sound research, document using correct MLA format, avoid plagiarism, complete an annotated bibliography, write a thesis-driven paper that is well-organized and supported and generally free of punctuation and grammatical errors.  Guidance on any of these foundational skills may be found at the Writing Center.    

Writing Center (HUM 58):  You are required to submit at least one major paper to the Reedley College Writing Center via their online tutorial: mailto:rc.writingcenter@reedleycollege.edu.  The importance of this service to your success in English 1B cannot be stressed enough.  Consider additional submissions or enrolling in English 272 a ½ unit Writing Center tutorial.  Web address for more information: http://www.reedleycollege.edu/index.aspx?page=127

Accommodations: Please inform me of any special circumstances you might have.  If you have special needs as addressed by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), including alternate media requests, please notify me immediately.  Reasonable efforts will be made to accommodate your needs.
	
Policies are subject to change in order to create a positive learning environment.  All assignments are subject to change.   The weight of graded materials may be modified at any time.

	Percentages are as follows:

Critical papers grade=50%
2 (5+pgs). Short, researched critical papers 	
	In-class assignments grade=20%
Comprised of exams, activities, workshops, etc. Points will vary.
Out-of class assignments=20%
	Reading journal, paper proposals, etc. Points will vary.
Participation=10%
	Willingness to engage in the class discussions, the quality of this 
engagement, presentations, etc.
Points will vary.  	
		 				
100% - 90% = A, 89% - 80% = B, 79% - 70% = C, 69% - 60% = D, 59%-50% = F

A final, important note:  Keep in mind that in this class, and for your entire academic future as well, your education is dependent upon you.  Your instructors are resources and facilitators.  It is you who is responsible for the learning that takes place.

“Ninety-nine percent of failures come from people who have the habit of making excuses.” 
–George Washington Carver

SCHEDULE—ENGLISH 1B—SPRING 2010
Bring to every class meeting:
1.	Your textbook
2.	Your Reading Journal
3.	Materials for writing (including notebook paper and jump drive)

1.	1/14—Introduction to course; annotating a text; journaling; sample paper; types of writing assignments	Take plenty of notes for future reference.	
2.	1/21—Thesis statements; critical analysis approaches	Have read pages 29-82.  Open note exam on critical approaches (turn in notes)	
3.	1/28—Reading and Writing About Fiction and Poetry	Have read pages 83-103; 137-174; 213-281
Quiz on reading assignment material.	
4.	2/4—Reading and Writing About Drama and Essay	Have read pages 282-286; 443-493; 511-544.  Quiz on reading assignment material.	
5.	2/11—“Home and Family”
Research paper #1 assigned	Have read pages 561-562, and
Alexander—Harlem Birthday Party
Barecca—Nighttime Fires
Douglass—A Slave Family’s Life
Dickenson—The Bustle in a House
Hall—Letter with No Address
Hansberry—A Raisin in The Sun
Hudgins—Elegy for My Father , Who Is Not 
Dead
Larkin—This Be the Verse
Soto—Behind Grandma’s House	
6.	2/18—(Speaker Series) Shakespeare	Have read Hamlet Act I, scene V (p. 364-8) and Hamlet’s soliloquy (p. 388).  Guest speaker at 6:00 and play from 7:00-8:30.	
7.	2/25—“Home and Family”	Have read:
Cheever—Reunion
Hemingway—Soldier’s Home
Mukherjee—A Father
Sant—Household Fires
Song—The Youngest Daughter
Wolff—Powder	
8.	3/4—“Love and Its Complications” 	Have read pages 104-134
Erdrich—I’m a Mad Dog Biting Myself for Sympathy
O’Connor—Good Country People
Hass—A Story About the Body
Marlowe—The Passionate Shepherd to His Love
Olds—Sex without Love
Shakespeare—My mistress’ eyes are nothing like the sun
Ives—Sure Thing
Roiphe—The Independent Woman
Workshop	
9.	3/11—Mid-term paper due; mid-term exam; presentations
Research paper #2 assigned

“Life and Its Lessons”	Have read:
Updike—A & P
Ellison—Battle Royal
Cofer—Common Ground
Frost—After Apple-Picking
Hughes—Theme for English B
Naylor—Taking Possession of a Word
Soto—The Childhood Worries . . .
	
10.	3/18—“Life and Its Lessons”	Have read:
Miller—Death of A Salesman
	
11.	3/25— “The Natural and Unnatural”	Have read:
TBA	
12.	4/1—SPRING BREAK	Have a safe vacation.	
13.	4/8— “The Natural and Unnatural”	Have read:
TBA	
14.	4/15— “Culture and Identity”	Have read:
TBA	
15.	4/22—“Culture and Identity”	Have read:
TBA	
16.	4/29—	Have read:
TBA	
17.	5/6—Conferences	Make an appointment—failure to meet at your arranged time will negatively affect participation grade.	
18.	5/13—Presentations; final paper due		
19.	5/20—FINAL—Final exam 	Have a wonderful summer!