Aiken English 1102 Spring 2010 Syllabus

A book is a portable form of magic. ~ Stephen King

English 1102 - CRNs: 22562; 22558; 22709 -- Syllabus and Policy Statement:

Contact Information:
• Office Hours: Mon/Wed: MSC - H/SS: Rm. 248 10 AM – 12 AM & by appointment
Tues/Thur. MSC - H/SS: Rm. 248 – 11 AM – 12 AM & & by appointment
• Blog: www.AikenEnglish1102.blogspot.com
• email: sharon.aiken@maconstate.edu The best way to contact me is via email. I try to check my email first thing each morning and respond by early evening. Please check my blog and your email daily for announcements, particularly in the event of inclement weather.
• phone: 478-471-2893
 Conferencing with a teacher concerning questions regarding assignments, essays, revisions, and concerns is one of the most effective means students have of clarifying issues. I genuinely want you to be successful in this course; however, there is a high standard expected of college graduates, as there should be, and I will not inflate anyone’s grade. No matter how hard you may work or how deserving you may be, if a paper is poorly written, it will fail. Failure is an option.

Required Texts and Materials:
 Lunsford, Andrea A. The St. Martin’s Handbook. Boston: Bedford/St.Martin’s, 2008 or other collegiate grammar text
 Tim O’Brien: The Things They Carried for our study of fiction
 Mary Oliver: A Poetry Handbook
 John Patrick Shanley: Doubt
 David Auburn: Proof
 If you do not have a current blog, you will need to go to blogspot.com, create an account, and have it up and running by Monday, January 11, 2010, at which time I will ask for the web address
 pocket folder, binder, or notebook of your choice to be submitted at the end of the semester
 blue or black pens (NO hot pink, neon orange, lime green) for in-class writings—not pencils
Suggested Texts:
 King, Stephen. On Writing -- the second half of the book
 a good collegiate dictionary

Class Description: This is a composition course that develops writing skills beyond the proficiency required by English 1101; English 1102 emphasizes interpretation and evaluation based on an introduction of fiction, drama, and poetry, and incorporates a variety of more advanced research methods. An oral communication component is also required.

Class Goals: By the end of the course, each student will:
 Be able to research a work of literature using the Web and traditional library resources
 Gain further experience using MLA citation methods
 Be able to write a clear, in-class explication of a poem
 Be able to write an effective analysis of a work of fiction and a work of drama
 Gain further experience in using Web-based course assignments

Class Policies:
1. You must have passed English 1101 with a “C” to be enrolled in this class.

2. You may miss two class days without penalty; if you miss more than four class meetings, your grade is up to my discretion. Be on time. If a student is late on a regular basis, I may advise the student to drop; I have the discretion to penalize constant tardiness by either adding a missed day to the number of absences or lowering the overall course grade. If tardiness disrupts my class, the lab door will be locked, and you will be counted as absent.

3. Assignments are to be handed in on time, typed. Title all assignments and use MLA format. *Do NOT title your essay as the work read in the text. You didn’t write “A Worn Path;” therefore, your essay analysis of the story’s should not be titled by that name; it would be more appropriate to title it The Importance of Place in Welty’s “A Worn Path.” Use the name of the work in the title, if you like, but NOT as the title.

4. If you miss a daily assignment, you may not make it up; if you miss a major assignment, that grade will be based on my discretion. You must complete all major assignments to pass the class. Since all writing assignments in 1102 will be based on reading selections, there will be frequent, unannounced quizzes.

5. I will give letter grades; if you have a question about a grade, drop by my office or ask me after class; if you wish to challenge a grade, do so in writing, no sooner than a day after getting your paper back, and no later than three class days after I return that assignment.

6. If you plagiarize an assignment, that grade will result in a zero. If you cheat on a test, you will get a zero. Plagiarism occurs when a writer uses the ideas, wording, organization, etc. of another writer without proper citation, whether intentional or unintentional. This includes having someone “help” you write the paper, buying the paper online, or lifting ideas, sentences, and paragraphs from another text. Keep an electronic copy of all assignments and be prepared to send it to me immediately if asked. Please go to the MSC Library site for further information on avoiding plagiarism. Students should know that failing the class is the common penalty for plagiarism.

A plagiarism prevention service is used in the evaluation of written work submitted for this course. As directed by the instructor, students are expected to submit their assignments, or have their assignments submitted, through the service in order to meet the requirements for this course. The papers may be retained by the service for the sole purpose of checking for plagiarized content in future student submissions.

7. POLICY ON ACADEMIC MISCONDUCT: “As a Macon State College student and as a student in this class, you are responsible for reading, understanding, and abiding by the MSC Student Code of Conduct. The Student Code of Conduct is included in the MSC Student Handbook and is available online at http://www.maconstate.edu/studentlife/studenthandbook.pdf”

8. POLICY ON DISABILITY ACCOMODATIONS: “Students seeking academic accommodations for a special need must contact the MSC Counseling and Career Center (478-471-2714) located on the second floor of the Student Life Center on the Macon Campus.”

9. If you have a D average based on the major assignments, no participation or daily grade average can bring that average up to a C. [Division Policy]

10. I expect common sense and courtesy, including the following:
• Unless there are extenuating circumstances, please turn your phones on OFF before entering the class. If there are circumstances that necessitate your keeping your phone ON, please clear that with me in advance.
• It is unprofessional, rude, and ill-advised to wear electronic devices either in your ear or dangling from it during lecture or class participation.
• Don’t surf the Web, text, or otherwise use an electronic device while I’m teaching OR when a member of the class is speaking or giving a presentation.
• Work on assignments for other classes someplace else.
• Please avoid distracting other students (or me) – I am usually distracted enough for us all.

11. REQUIRED: You will need to keep your all of your various writings [paragraphs, drafts, revisions, and final drafts], neatly, in chronological order in a folder of your choice. These will be submitted to me prior to the final exam. It is the policy of this department that I keep your writing for one semester. Therefore, should you want these returned, please see me at the end of Fall Semester 2010. Suggestion: I would suggest to anyone taking this course that you keep a personal folder with copies of all your writing, as it is a representative of the unique individual you are.

12. There is always a possibility that we may be affected by inclement weather. In the event that weather conditions make travel conditions hazardous, be aware that class may be cancelled for the day and a class assignment may be given via email. Check your email or my blog, as I will typically notify you in advance, if at all possible. NOTE: I live in rural Jasper County; if schools are closed in Jasper County, it is a safe bet that MY classes at MSC will not be held.



1102 Assignments:
 Fiction Essays - 3 30% (10% each)
 Blog of written reflections and responses – 2 per week 10%
o You will be responding twice a week to specific writing prompts that I will provide
 Combined average of daily quizzes 10%
 Written explication of poem 10%
 Oral explication of poetry 10%
o You will not be asked to write poetry
o You will select a poem at random from a list provided by me
 Drama 10%
 FINAL ESSAY 20%

Tentative Schedule – Please note that unannounced pop quizzes are not listed (yes, I know that should be obvious, but . . .):

Jan.6; week 1: review syllabus, texts, policies, expectations; reflective writing; the elements of fiction

Jan. 11: Last day to make class schedule changes

Jan. 11; week 2: “The Things They Carried,” and the elements of fiction; reflective writing

Jan. 18: Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday

Jan. 19; week 3: reflective writing; discussion of stories: “Love,” “Spin,” essay #1 assigned

Jan. 25; week 4: Essay #1 DUE; reflective writing; discussion of any or all of the following stories: “On the Rainy River,” “Enemies,” “Friends,” “How to Tell a True War Story,” “The Dentist,” “Sweetheart of the Song Tra Bong,” “Stockings,” “Church,” The Man I Killed”

Feb. 1; week 5: reflective writing; continued discussion of stories; essay #2 assigned

Feb. 8; week 6: Essay #2 DUE; reflective writing; discussion of any or all of the following of stories: “Ambush,” “Style,” “Speaking of Courage,” “Notes,” “In the Field,” “Good Form,” “Field Trip,” “The Ghost Soldiers,” “Night Life,” “The Lives of the Dead;” Essay # 3 assigned (possibly with accompanying criticism)

Feb. 15; week 7: Essay #3 DUE; reflective writing; an introduction to poetry in class notes, discussion and analysis, assignments and from Mary Oliver’s A Handbook to Poetry and selected poetry TBA

Feb. 22; week 8: reflective writing; an introduction to poetry in class notes, discussion and analysis, assignments and from Mary Oliver’s A Handbook to Poetry and selected poetry TBA

Mar. 1; week 9: reflective writing; written explication of poem assigned and due, Essay # 4

Mar. 3: Last Day to withdraw from regular session class with a “W”

Mar. 8-12: MACON STATE SPRING BREAK

Mar. 15; week 10: reflective writing; oral presentation of poem, counts equally as essay – usually takes 2 weeks

Mar.22; week 11: reflective writing; oral presentation of poem, counts equally as essay – usually takes 2 weeks

Mar. 29; week 12: reflective writing; Doubt by Shanley

Apr.5; week 13: reflective writing; Doubt by Shanley; essay #5 assigned

Apr. 12; week 14: Essay #5 DUE reflective writing; Proof by Auburn

Apr. 19, week 15: reflective writing; Proof by Auburn

Apr. 26 & 27: make up days . . . just in case

April 28-May 4: Final exams for regular session classes; refer to the MSC Academic Calendar for exam date & time; NO EXAMS WILL BE RE-SCHEDULED UNLESS THERE IS A CONFLICT IN FINALS