Syllabus

English 1302 Syllabus

Instructor: Ms. Jean Smith
Phone: 903-530-3358
Email: adj-jsmi1@tjc.edu or smithj@whitehouseisd.org
Course Name: Composition and Rhetoric
Section: 61
Room: Jenkins 218
Meets: Monday and Wednesday 5:35 to 6:50 PM
Blog: http://english1302spring2010.blogspot.com

Course Description: This course amplifies writing principles by emphasizing critical and analytical thinking through the study of various genres of literature. Several analytical papers will be produced, along with a research paper utilizing outside sources.

Textbook: McMahan, Elizabeth et al. Literature and the Writing Process. 8th edition.
Upper Saddle River: Pearson, 2007.

Students are encouraged to use a college level dictionary and thesaurus also.

Grades:
Major grades through the semester will be several essays, essay tests, and the research project which will count as two major grades. An average of daily work including: quizzes, homework, and short writing assignments will also count as a major grade. All major grades will be averaged together and will comprise three-fourths of the semester average. The remaining one-fourth of the semester grade will be the comprehensive final exam.

Classroom Policies and Etiquette:
• Students are expected to be in class every day. Therefore, students must be present in order to participate in academic activities such as: collaborative work, quizzes, and lecture. Students are also to be in class on time for each class session and stay for the entire class period. Students with more than 3 absences may not be successful in this course.
• Students are expected to be attentive, polite, and cooperative. Please refrain from idle chatter or use of electronic devices during class time. Cell phones and other electronic devices, other than those needed because of a learning disability, must be turned OFF during class.
• I do not accept late work, so please keep up with deadlines as outlined on the syllabus. If a student needs to make up a quiz or test, please make arrangements to arrive early for the next class meeting so the work can be made up in a timely fashion. Students who are absent due to a school sponsored activity need to make arrangements to turn in work or makeup tests and quizzes prior to the absence.
• TJC’s English Department policies are posted on the TJC website also.
• The last day to drop this class is April 23rd.
• Please contact an academic advisor or the course instructor in an attempt to find a way to stay in the course if at all possible.
• Syllabus may be modified by the instructor if needed.
• Students are expected to complete all assignments prior to each class meeting.

Week One: Orientation

Wed. Jan. 13 Orientation, syllabus overview, review
Writing process, complete an in class essay.

Assignment: Read Chapters 1-3 p. 1-54.
Expect quizzes on this and all other reading
assignments.
Begin a reading journal with written
responses to questions on p.11. Use
complete sentences for all written work.
Complete the exercises on style on p.45,
46, and 47.
Set up Turnitin account before Tuesday’s
class meets (class ID 3068255 , password
apache2010).
Week Two: Drama

Monday, Jan. 18 Holiday – Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

Wed. Jan. 20 Quiz over readings, discuss assignments.
Set up reader response journal, first
section will be called “Drama.”
Review Handbook p. 1147-1175
Collaborative activity: C. 15 p. 731-35, C.16
p. 736-7, 774-83, C. 17 p. 786, 834-37.
Discuss argument (workable thesis p. 775-7)

Assignment: Read p. 839-844; compose
“Responses to the Critics” p. 843 in your
reading journal. Read C. 18 p. 845-94.
Compose responses to “Exploring Cultural
Themes” questions 1, 2, and 3 p. 894.
Select one “Idea for Responsive Writing,”
and one “Idea for Critical Writing” p. 896;
and complete prewriting and a first essay
draft for each. These will NOT be in the
reading journal.
Week Three:Drama

Mon., Jan. 25 Reading quizzes, peer and instructor review
of essay drafts. Collaborative activity
“Trifles” p. 1090-1100. Brainstorm potential
arguable paper topics from the play. Write
responses to questions p. 1099-1100 in
journal.

Assignment: Read “Tender Offer” p. 1126- 31. Respond to questions p. 1131-32. Read “The Cuban Swimmer” p. 1132-42, respond
to questions p. 1142-3. Complete a final
draft of one of your prewriting activities.
Submit in standard MLA style. Turn in all
drafts, as well as the final copy.
Study for test.

Wed. Jan. 27 Turn in papers (beginning of class). Debrief
assignment.
TEST-Drama, Writing Process, Handbook

Assignment: Read C 5-7, p. 91-137. Begin
a new section in journal for “Short Fiction.”
Respond to “Finding Patterns” p. 111, do
exercise on “Integrating Questions” p. 114.
Respond to “Responsive Writing” p. 125,
and questions 1 and 2 p. 125-6. Essay should
be a first draft. Read C. 8 p. 139-150.
Respond to questions 1-4 p. 148 “Ideas for
Responsive Writing.”

Week Four: Short Fiction

Monday Feb. 1 Quiz over readings, class discussion on
short fiction elements. Collaborative
activity “Desiree’s Baby” p. 223-7,
“Story of an Hour” p. 227-9.
Discuss “Critical Approaches” p. 1175-80.

Assignment: Read C. 9 and 10, p. 151-205.
Respond to “Responsive Writing” p. 164,
and question 1 and 2 “Critcal Writing” p.
164. Do sentence imitation p. 166-7. Journal
“Topics for Discussion” p. 204. Read “The
Revolt of Mother” p. 229-39, and complete
discussion questions p. 239-40 in journal.
Read “ Paul’s Case” p. 257-70, journal
questions p. 270.

Wed. Feb. 3 Reading quiz, discussion. Chart story
elements as a collaborative activity.
Compose responses to prewriting
activity p. 162-3.

Assignment: Make notes in your journal
about cultural conflicts, stereotypes, and
context in each of these seletions.
Read “Spunk” p. 310-14.
Respond to questions 1-4, p. 314. Read
“Hills Like White Elephants” p. 321-25,
Complete questions p. 325.

Week Five: Short Fiction

Mon., Feb. 8 Quiz and discussion. Read “Love in L.A.”
p. 432-4. Prepare a list of prewriting
analyzing point of view, setting, and theme
for each short story. Select one story other than “L.A.” and and prepare a thesis and outline for a major paper.

Assignment: Complete major paper, usual
format. Study stories from this unit for a
major test.

Wed., Feb. 10 Turn in papers and debrief assignment.
Major Test over short fiction.

Assignment: Read C. 4 p. 55-87. Read
critical analyses on three potential literary
works that you may want to select for
your research paper. Print the analyses,
and include a works cited entry for each.
Include your progress, questions, and
concerns in your journal. You may select
from any of the literary selections in the
text.

The rest of the semester assignments will be given to you at a later date.