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Syllabus Eng. 355 Fall 2009

Instructor Information

Instructional Materials

Textbook-Bring to each class session!

Literature: Reading, Reacting, Writing. 7th ed compact.
Kirszner & Mandell
Thomson Wadsorth

ISBN-13:978-1-4282-6295-9

ISBN-10:1-4282-6295-4

Additional Materials

Never throw anything away that you do for this class. Save everything!!

  1. A working account on www.turnitin.com (information on Projects link)
  2. STAPLER!! I do NOT accept unstapled work.
  3. A one-inch 3 ring binder with pockets in which to save all class writings: formal and informal essays, in class essays, online writing, and handouts as some of the writings will be handwritten and some computer generated; you need to keep all completed assignments in one notebook. It needs pockets because of the numerous handouts and you must have all handouts that have been distributed in class with you each class meeting. We may do an assignment, for example, based on a handout you received three weeks earlier and you will be unable to complete the assignment if you have left the handout at home, thereby lowering your grade.
  4. CSUN Data Network Account. which gives you access to email, library resources, and enables you to post on our web page onto the CSUN server. You can set up your account at one of the computers in the library and at other labs around campus. Directions on how to set up a data entry account click here.
  5. Dictionary/Thesaurus

Policies

Engl. Dept. Grading Scale (only)

Student Conduct Code

Academic Policy

My Classroom Policies

Classroom Announcements

 

Student Learning Outcomes

By the end of the class, students will be able to:

  1. Use logical support, including informed opinion and fact, as well as their interpretations, to develop ideas, avoiding fallacies, biased language and inappropriate tone (distinguish between fact and inference, develop inferences, recognize denotative and connotative language, evaluate diction),
  2. Read and write about texts in various genres and on a number of levels, including literal comprehension, aesthetic responsiveness, informed awareness of the traditions, and of the varied critical perspectives within which they may be interpreted,
  3. Demonstrate a usable knowledge of literary theory and apply it to the analysis literary texts,
  4. Base compositions upon the reading, understanding, and critical analysis of literature,
  5. Apply a variety of strategies for planning, outlining, drafting, revising, and peer editing written work
  6. Limit the topic appropriately,
  7. Create a unifying thesis or a controlling purpose,
  8. Select examples, details, and other evidence to support or validate the thesis,
  9. Use detail, example, and evidence to develop and elaborate on subtopics,
  10. Achieve coherence,
  11. Select and incorporate ideas derived from a variety of sources, such as library electronic and print resources, books, journals, the Internet, and document them responsibly and correctly using the elements of MLA presentation (including layout, format and printing),
  12. Demonstrate satisfactory competence in the conventions of edited American English.

Course Information Overview

Course Description

English 355 (Writing About Literature) is designed to teach English majors the way professionals examine and respond to literature; you will learn the tools and techniques necessary for success in upper division literature courses.

Thus, we will focus on close reading skills, learning to recognize specific literary devices and then analyze and interpret how they form and affect our understanding of the work. We will mine the genres of poetry, prose fiction and drama and will respond by practicing the skill of writing clearly and intuitively. We will also develop strong researching skills, learning how to evaluate the sources we have found and then fitting ourselves into the conversation on the topic we are researching.

COURSE OBJECTIVES:

Specific areas of concentration, and aspects by which you will be graded, are as follows:

Requirements

Essays- All must be submitted to turnitin.com with printed receipt attached for credit.

SHORT ESSAYS: 40%

Three 2-3 page essays (excluding the Works Cited page) will focus on a specific prompt geared to analyzing a particular genre. The broad topics will be as follows: (1) Short Story; (2) Poetry; (3) Drama.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS ESSAY: 20%

One 3-4 page essay (excluding Works Cited page) will capture the main point of a critical essay read and discussed in class then argue for or against this viewpoint by bringing in fresh evidence from the assigned text as support.

RESEARCH PAPER: 25%

You will write one longer paper (5-6 pages, excluding Works Cited page) that will compare/contrast two short stories, from a specific list, incorporating critical theory and individual research.

Many assignments are online as Word or pdf files. To view these files, you must have MS Word 2003 or above, OR Word Viewer & Acrobat Reader, free programs, installed on your computer. Campus computers already have MS Word & Acrobat Reader installed, and the program will automatically open when you click on a link to a pdf file.

Download Word Viewer on your home computer

Download Acrobat Reader on your home computer

Learning Resource Writing Center click here!

LRC visits are strongly recommended for all essays this semester.

Extra Credit will be given with proof of attendance for each essay!

The writing center is located in Bayramian Hall 408 and graduate students or instructor are available to assist you with various steps in the writing process such as brainstorming, revising and editing. You may call for an appointment: (818) 677-2033. You can also attend on a walk-in basis. OR you can MEET WITH A CONSULTANT ONLINE on Wednesday evening.Online cancelled due to furlough.

Participation: 15%

PRESENTATIONS-by selected groups of 2-3 students in charge of presenting an assigned short story or poem or and play. Each group will provide to instructor a handout with a short outline of points covered, along with a list of resources (2 sources outside of our text required) in order to facilitate discussion that brings NEW insight to what may have already been written or discussed.

SHORTWRITES-A short write (6-8) is exactly what it sounds like – a short piece of writing. For this class, unless otherwise indicated, out-of-class short writes should be 1-2 pages, typed, double spaced, stapled, 12-point font, and will be accepted only on the assigned due date. Short Writes should indicate active engagement with the assigned text rather than summary. You should always be prepared to discuss your short write in class even if you have posted it online in Moodle.

Short writes should follow the conventions of Standard Written English and adhere to MLA style and should have a clear position with logical explanation and support. Missed short writes can not be made up.

QUIZZES:

Unannounced quizzes on the readings are always a possibility, especially if the readings are not being kept up with by classmembers. Come to class prepared to discuss the assigned readings and you will be prepared for all quizzes. Quizzes missed due to absence cannot be made up. No quiz grades will be dropped.

ONLINE TASKS

On-line tasks such as postings on our class forum or listserve assignments on email are to be completed as assigned

CLASS PARTICIPATION will also be based on:

Since a significant part of this class will be based on active student participation in class discussion, and/or assigned presentations, it is essential that students attend class regularly, ask questions, and offer their impressions, ideas and opinions for classroom dialogue. In order to participate effectively, students must come prepared. You are assessed on how your interact with your peers and me in class discussion, individual presentations, email, bulletin board, and group work of any kind. You are expected to do all reading assignments conscientiously and in a timely fashion. The reading assignments are to be done by the day due. You are required to participate in the discussions and you cannot do so if you have not read the assignment. In order to earn full participation credit, students will need to participate every time class meets.

Assignments are due on the date stated on the syllabus during the class period. A computer problem is not an excuse for a late paper; campus labs are open late into the night and Kinko's is open 24 hours. Do your work early in the week so that you're not late to class because you're printing something out. Keep extra copies of hard copies, or duplicate flash drives or CDs, OR better yet, email your papers to yourself.

Make sure your name, my name, our course & session number, and the date, per MLA format, with 1 inch margins all around, left justified, is on "everything "you turn in.

You are responsible for obtaining assignments when you miss class either from accessing them from our course syllabus page OR asking your classmates for a copy. I am not a delivery service.