English 112: Written Composition II
Instructor’s Supplement
Spring 2009
Dr. Gavin Richardson
PAC D-52 9:25AM - 10:40AM TR
PAC C-16 12:15PM - 1:30PM TR
Office: A-17; Office Phone: 661-5317
Office Hours: 12:00-1:00 MWF
E-mail: grichard@uu.edu
Pre-Requisites: English 111
Homepage: http://www.uu.edu/personal/grichard/
Required Texts:
Meyer, Michael. The Bedford Introduction to Literature.
8th ed.
Bedford/St.Martin’s, 2007.
Troyka, Lynn Quitman. Simon & Schuster Handbook for Writers. 8th ed. Upper Saddle
River, NJ: Prentice Hall, 2007. (On syllabus as S&S)
Shakespeare, William. Measure for Measure. Folger Shakespeare Library. New York:
Washington Square Press, 2005. ISBN-10: 0743484908.
ISBN-13: 978-0743484909.
Course Description:
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his course is designed to help you read, think, and write critically and effectively. While composition instructors differ on a few relatively minor concerns, the essentials for good writing are nearly universally agreed upon, such as an engaging thesis, well-developed paragraphs, and sophisticated prose. We’ll use short fiction, poetry, and drama as contexts within which to develop your writing skills. During this term we will read a wide range of writers and encounter critical terms which will foster a sophisticated appreciation and discussion of literature. One goal of this class is that you all become readers who enjoy literature but who also recognize that texts are always more than “just stories” to be consumed with little comment or thought, much like salted peanuts. Poems, short stories, and plays are tangible constructions of language which demand careful reading, interpretation, and criticism. Ideally, your literary research paper will reflect such an understanding.
Attendance:
You may not earn an A with
more than 2 unexcused absences.
You may not earn a B with
more than 4 unexcused absences.
You may not earn a C with
more than 6 unexcused absences.
You may not earn a D with
more than 8 unexcused absences.
If you are absent while
representing Union in an official capacity, you may have this absence excused
with a written statement from an appropriate authority. If you are absent
due to illness, I will excuse the absence provided that a physician or nurse
provides a statement saying that you were too ill to attend class.
Even excessive excused absences may prevent you from fulfilling basic
requirements of this course, so please stay healthy!
Evaluation:
Essay #1 (Short
Fiction)............................................................20%
Essay #2
Drama).......................................................................20%
Essay #3 (Research
Paper)........................................................25%
Essay #4/Final Exam
(Poetry)...................................................20%
Critical Terms
Exam...................................................................5%
Participation, Study
Questions, & Daily Work........................10%
The grading scale for this
course is detailed in the Union University Undergraduate Catalogue, (A 95-100; B
85-94; C 75-84; D 65-74; F 64 and below). All assignments are due at the
beginning of class, unless otherwise noted. Late assignments are penalized
1/3 letter for each school (not class) day late. You are responsible for
getting me your papers regardless of unfavorable circumstances such as computer
glitches. All work must be submitted in order to pass the course.
Notify me if accommodations need to be made for disabilities of any kind.
Academic Integrity:
Plagiarism can be broadly
defined as using the ideas or words of others in your paper without proper
acknowledgment. Using information from other term papers, websites, or even
standard research tools without source citation is a serious breach of academic
integrity, and ignorance of what constitutes plagiarism is no excuse. When in
doubt, please consult your instructor about the appropriate use of quotation
marks, paraphrase, and parenthetical citation. Flagrant acts of plagiarism
(e.g., downloading all or portions of a paper from the Internet without proper
citation, handing in the work of another as your own, repeated instances of
plagiarism, etc.) shall result in a failing grade for the course and possible
further disciplinary action taken by the University. Punishment for other forms
of plagiarism may range from failing the assignment to failing the course. Union
University “upholds the highest standards of honesty” (2002-2003 Undergraduate
Catalogue 22), and the English department’s policy regarding plagiarism is an
attempt to preserve these standards.
Study Questions:
In lieu of quizzes, I will
assign a study question per class meeting to help guide your reading and make
sure all students are keeping up. On occasion I will ask to see your responses,
which will be graded on a √-, √, and √+ basis, roughly equivalent to a C, B, and
A. However, the Study Question is not merely a policing measure; often the
question will deal with a core concern, a critical term, or a key passage which
will help you better engage the text and which you will see again on an exam or
as part of a writing assignment option. Study questions also serve as
springboards into class discussion. If you are absent on the day I take up these
questions, you may only hand in a late assignment if your absence is excused.
The Learning Center:
Union University’s Hundley
Center for Academic Achievement is designed to assist motivated students in
achieving their academic goals by exploring possibilities, weighing
alternatives, and answering questions with a trained peer tutor. The
Hundley Center for Academic Achievement provides free assistance to all Union
University students in a variety of disciplines. Students can usually be seen on
a walk-in basis, but appointments are recommended. To schedule an appointment,
please stop by or call The Hundley Center receptionist at 661.5123. See
also:
http://www.uu.edu/studentservices/learningcenter/
Email:
I often use email to communicate information regarding this course to the class
at large, and I email the class via a Webadvisor option that allows me to send a
note to all student accounts at once. You should regularly check your student
email account, or you should make sure that all Union email is forwarded to an
account you do check (e.g., Hotmail, Yahoo, etc.). See computing services on how
to forward email.
About Our Texts:
A required text means precisely that—required. Each student is required to have
his or her own copy of the required textbook in the appropriate edition. The
admittedly high cost of textbooks has prompted some students to consider book
sharing. However, in an English course, such a plan is not good in theory, and
even worse in practice. I am skeptical that a shared book can serve two students
well, especially when one student has it at midnight on Tuesday and the other
hasn’t finished his/her reading yet for the next day. Furthermore, your course
text provides you with more than just the subject matter. Each student ideally
will engage in dialogue with the textbook, jotting notes, questions, reactions
in the margins, not merely highlighting passages. If your textbook pages are
clean and blank, you’re doing something wrong. A shared book does not allow for
this individuated engagement with the text.
While I am sympathetic to the cash-strapped student (I was one too not long
ago), I do require each student to have his or her own textbook. After the third
day of class, failure to possess your own copy of the required text will result
in a 5 point participation grade penalty for each day you do not have a book.
Miscellany:
As per a departmental requirement, I keep all exams and papers for one year. You
should also keep a copy of all out-of-class work in case I lose anything. This
syllabus and first-day handout may be revised as necessary. I encourage you to
call me in my office or at home (668-4888; 8:00 am-10:00 pm, please) if you need
anything. If you have any concerns about this course, don’t wait until the last
minute to voice them—talk to me while we can take steps to make this course a
positive experience for you. My office, A-17, is located in PAC in the
glassed-in Humanities Vestibule near the art gallery and wellness center, across
from the language lab. Once you enter the humanities area my office is down the
second corridor to the left, the last office on the left.
English
112: Written Composition II Syllabus
Spring
2009; Dr. Gavin Richardson
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DAY |
ASSIGNMENT |
STUDY QUESTION |
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WEEK 1 |
INTRODUCTION; PLOT |
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Thursday, Feb. 5 |
Introductory comments.
Kate Chopin, “The Story of an Hour.” |
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WEEK 2 |
SHORT FICTION: SETTING |
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Tuesday, Feb. 10
LAST DAY TO ADD A CLASS |
Kate Chopin, “Désirée’s Baby,” (supplied).
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Setting can be defined as “the time, the place, and the social
environment (i.e., ‘cultural codes’) that frame the characters and
influence their action.” To what extent are the characters of this
tragic tale free to act on their own accord? To what extent are
their actions and attitudes determined by their setting? |
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Thursday, Feb. 12 |
Class Canceled.
Ø
In lieu of class, read James
Joyce’s “Eveline” and email me your thoughts on the study question by
noon today. |
To what extent does the Irish Catholic setting affect the decisions made
by the character Eveline in this short story? |
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WEEK 3 |
SHORT FICTION: CHARACTER & SYMBOLISM |
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Tuesday, Feb. 17 |
Follow up: James Joyce, “Eveline”
Martin Amis, “The Last Days of Muhammad Atta.” |
In this short story Martin Amis imagines the thought processes of 9/11
hijacker Muhammad Atta. A
writing adage asserts that characterization is determined by what a
character does, what he says, and what is said about him. Which means of
characterization is most effective in this story? Why? Are there other
means of characterization more effective than the ones mentioned? |
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Thursday, Feb. 19 |
Nathaniel Hawthorne, “The Birthmark.” |
A symbol can be defined as “a person, object, image, word, or event that
evokes a range of additional meaning beyond and usually more abstract
than its literal significance.” Discuss the birthmark as a symbol.
Why is it a hand? What kind of symbolic power does the text invest
it with? |
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WEEK 4 |
SHORT FICTION: POINT OF VIEW & STYLE |
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Tuesday, Feb. 24 |
Amy Bloom, “Hold Tight,” (supplied).
“Writing about Fiction,” pp. 47-53; skim 54-66.
Lecture: Writing Essays about Fiction; review
of sample fiction papers. |
After reviewing the supplied sample essays on fiction, write a paragraph
discussing the strengths and weaknesses of both, and provide a letter
grade for both. |
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Thursday, Feb. 26 |
Tim O’Brien, “How to Tell a True War Story.”
Ø
5 Questions from pp. 48-50 due.
Ø
Essay 1 due tomorrow by noon. |
Style can be generically described as “the distinctive manner in which a
writer arranges words to achieve particular effects.” What makes
O’Brien’s style distinctive?
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WEEK 5 |
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Tuesday, March 3 |
Measure for Measure,
Acts 1-2. |
Measure for Measure
quiz. |
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Thursday, March 5 |
Measure for Measure,
Acts 2-3. |
In 3.1 Isabella and Claudio debate Angelo’s offer. Does Isabella put too
great a price on her chastity in refusing to consider offering it as a
means of saving Claudio’s life? |
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WEEK 6 |
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Tuesday, March 10
LAST DAY TO DROP A CLASS |
Measure for Measure,
Acts 4-5. |
Samuel Taylor Coleridge once wrote, “Measure for Measure is the
single exception to the delightfulness of Shakespeare's plays. It is a
hateful work, although Shakespearian throughout. Our feelings of justice
are grossly wounded in Angelo’s escape. Isabella herself contrives to be
unamiable, and Claudio is detestable.”
Do you agree or disagree with Coleridge? Why? |
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Thursday, March 12
[CREATIVE WRITING WORKSHOP]
[Measure for Measure will be
performed on March 12-14, 17 (evenings at 8:00 pm) and March 15 (matinee
at 2:30). Some performances will be held at Jackson State.] |
TBA.
The Union University Department of English is pleased to welcome poet
Claude Wilkinson as our visiting writer at the Creative Writing Workshop
on Thursday, March 12. He
will read from 1:00-2:00 in Harvey Auditorium, with a book signing
immediately afterward. The reading is free and open to the public.
Essay 2 due tomorrow by noon. |
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WEEK 7
M16 |
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Tuesday, March 17 |
Library Instruction. Meet at library circulation desk. |
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Thursday, March 19
F20 |
Lecture: Using research; the appropriate use of quotations; integrating
quotations. Bring S&S. Read S&S §33.
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Homework: S&S exercise #33-2, numbers 1-2 only.
Note: Failure to turn in a thesis/bibliography/outline and a substantial
rough draft on their due dates will result in 5 points being taken off
the final RP grade for each incomplete assignment. |
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WEEK 8 |
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Tuesday, March 24 |
No Class: Spring Break |
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Thursday, March 26 |
No Class: Spring Break |
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WEEK 9 |
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Tuesday, March 31
PROGRESS REPORTS DUE TODAY |
Lecture: Using research; the appropriate use of quotations; appropriate
paraphrase; avoiding plagiarism. Bring S&S. Review
S&S §33.
Research Paper Thesis Due. |
Homework: S&S exercise #33-4, number 2. A paragraph
in the textbook is fine to use for this assignment, unless you wish to
use some outside research source. |
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Thursday, April 2 |
Lecture: MLA Style; Bring S&S. |
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WEEK 10 |
POETRY |
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Tuesday, April 7
W8 |
IMAGERY: Anne Sexton, “For My Lover, Returning to His Wife,”
supplied.
Andrew Hudgins, “Seventeen.”
Ezra Pound, “In a Station of the Metro.”
Research paper outline and bibliography of at least 7 items due in MLA
format. |
An image can be defined as a word, phrase, or figure of speech
(especially a simile or metaphor) that addresses the senses, suggesting
sights, sounds, smells, tastes, feelings, or actions. After
reading “For My Lover, Returning to His Wife,” divide your paper into
two columns and make a list of all the images associated with the wife
and all the images associated with the (speaking) mistress. |
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Thursday, April 9 |
SOUND: Creative writing student poems (supplied).
Wilfred Owen, “Dulce et Decorum Est.”
DVD Presentation.
John Updike, “Player Piano.”
Susan Donnelly, “Eve Names the Animals” (supplied).
Sign up for conferences! |
Review the Wilfred Owen poem and discuss how the sounds of the poem
help to convey the wartime horror which is the subject of this poem. |
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WEEK 11 |
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Tuesday, April 14 |
CLASS CANCELED IN LIEU OF CONFERENCES.
You must bring at least a five-page research paper draft to conference. |
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Thursday, April 16 |
MEET IN THE COMPUTER LAB TO COMPOSE ESSAY #3, THE RESEARCH PAPER.
ÜCompleted
final draft of research paper with all required materials
(working bibliography, outline, notes, Internet printouts, first draft,
and any other materials used) due. |
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WEEK 12 |
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Tuesday, April 21 |
RHYTHM: William Shakespeare, “That time of year thou mayst in me
behold.”
Theodore Roethke, “My Papa’s Waltz.”
Gerard Manley Hopkins, “God’s Grandeur.”
DVD Presentation.
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Review the discussion on foot and meter on pp. 980-86. Now try to scan
the first line of “That time of year thou mayst in me behold.” What foot
and meter is this poem in? (HINT: Scan mayst as one syllable.) Some
further hints for scansion:
1) Don’t make scansion harder than it is; read the line naturally and
record your impressions, even if you have to skip around to words you
are sure about. Scan these words first.
2) Most words over two syllables have a natural pattern of stress that
is rarely violated (e.g., PAT tern; no one says pa TERN). If you are
having trouble scanning a word, try to scan it by itself without
reference to the rest of the poem.
3) Suffixes are rarely stressed (e.g., RARE ly). |
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Thursday, April 23
F24 |
FORMS; BALLAD: “Queen Jane” (supplied).
Dudley Randall, “Ballad of Birmingham,” (supplied).
FORMS: SONNET: Mark Jarman, “Unholy Sonnet.” |
Discuss why ballad forms (abab) are especially suited to convey
narrative stories. |
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WEEK 13
M27 |
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Tuesday, April 28 |
FORMS; VILLANELLE: Dylan Thomas, “Do not go gentle into that good
night.”
FORMS; SESTINA: Ronald Wallace, “Grandmother Grace” (supplied). |
The villanelle often forces repetition simply by means of its structure.
How does Dylan Thomas make that forced repetition work in his favor? |
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Thursday, April 30 |
Writing about poetry. |
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WEEK 14 |
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Tuesday, May 5 |
TBA. |
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Thursday, May 7 |
TBA. |
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WEEK 15 |
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Tuesday, May 12 |
TBA. |
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Thursday, May 14 |
TBA. |
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WEEK 16 |
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May 18-21 |
ÜFinal
Examination.
Meet in Computer Lab. |
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