1102

Dr. Elizabeth Howells
English 1102
Spring 2008
TR 2:30-3:45
Office Hours: T and Th 11:15-12, 1:30-2:30, and by appt.
Email: Beth.Howells@armstrong.edu
www.llp.armstrong.edu/howells
Office: 108b Gamble Hall, 927-5218
Mailbox: 108a

Narrative is as necessary to us as air. We use the story to transmit information as well as to while away the time. In periods of stress and change, the story becomes even more important. In the telling of it we discover or affirm who we are, why we exist, what we should do. The story brings order and delight. Its form is inherently pleasing, and deeply satisfying to us. Because it has a beginning, middle, and end, it gives a recognizable shape to the muddle and chaos of our lives.

Lee Smith, preface to New Stories from The South, 2001

Among the many goals of this class, it will attempt to argue for the above: the value and necessity of narrative. This class, for some of you, your last literature class, will attempt to make a final plea for the worth of telling stories. It will begin by defining the genres or forms stories might take whether they be short stories, poems, or dramas. We will try to examine how these forms address themes as diverse as work, love, family, or death. Finally, we will build on the three earlier papers derived from each of these units in a culminating research project.

While this class will introduce literature as its subject matter, it will also focus on writing. We will examine our processes for writing textual analyses, comparison essays, and research papers. We will reflect on how close reading and critical thinking are necessary tools for superior writing. Finally, we will investigate how strategic research practices can enhance are reading, writing, and thinking abilities.

TEXTS
You will need these texts in these editions-no exceptions.
John Schilb and John Clifford, Making Literature Matter. 3rd Edition. Bedford (0312436114)
Toby Fulwiler and Alan Hayakawa. The Blair Handbook. 5th Edition. Prentice Hall (0131935364)
A good dictionary.

Note: Students must have earned a grade of C or better in ENGL 1101 in order to be eligible for this class. Unqualified students must retake ENGL 1101.

REQUIREMENTS
1. Informal Writing: Reading Responses and Quizzes. In order to encourage you to keep up with the reading and to ensure your preparedness to participate in class discussions, you should expect to be asked to respond to your reading (textbooks or handouts) in class every day. These in-class reading responses will sometimes take the form of quizzes, sometimes they will be a written response to a particular prompt, and sometimes they may be more creative or experimental. They will require that you read the assigned texts in order to be successful. Informal Writing will be worth 20% of your final grade.

2. Formal Writing. You will be required to write three 5 page typed double-spaced essays based on your textual analysis of a work from each of the three genres: poetry, fiction, or drama. At the end of the semester, you will turn in a final research project in which you expand one of those earlier arguments with research. That final project will be 7-9 pages in length. You will receive a formal assignment sheet with instructions on how to successfully complete each essay. These papers must be turned in on time. Failure to complete one of these essays will constitute failure of the course. The first three will be worth 15% apiece. The final project will be worth 30% and will consist of a prospectus worth 5%, an annotated bibliography worth 5%, and a research paper 20%. Your formal writing will constitute 75% of your final grade.

ATTENDANCE
This is a class that depends on your being there. Your participation, readings responses, and quizzes cannot be made up. Therefore, you must be in class. You are allowed four absences. No excuses. No penalties. After four your grade will be dropped a letter per absence; you will be dropped from the course with seven absences.

WRITING CENTER
The Writing Center located in 109 Gamble Hall can be a good resource for revising your essays if you would like a little extra help with your writing. It is a free service. Please consider taking advantage of it.

PLAGIARISM
All students at AASU must agree to abide by the Honor Code and Code of Conduct found in the appendix to the catalog. Be aware that plagiarism can result in dismissal from the university, failure of the course, or failure of an assignment. Cite any sources you use at any time in this class whether you are quoting directly or paraphrasing. See me or consult the Armstrong Atlantic State University Handbook if you are ever uncertain about the issue. Plagiarism will not be tolerated. You will be required to take and submit the Plagiarism Tutorial to me by the end of the second week of classes for two RR grades:
http://library.armstrong.edu/plagiarismtutorial.html

FINAL GRADES will be based on the following scale:
A=90-100
B=80-89
C=70-79
D=60-69
F=GRADES BELOW 59
Individual grades will be determined on a plus minus scale.

Syllabus:
All reading assignments are in Making Literature Matter unless otherwise indicated.
T1.10 Introduction

T.1.15 PRACTICE REGENTS' TEST
Th.1.17 Ch. 4 Writing about Stories 96-130 and Ch. 5 Writing about Poems 131-156

T.1.22 Ch. 6 Writing about Plays 157-176
Th.1.24 Father poems, 313-320 and Plath "Daddy" 323-326

T.1.29 Olsen, "I Stand Here Ironing" 340-346; Tan, "Two Kinds" 346-355; Walker, "Everyday Use" 355-363
Th.1.31 Hansberry, A Raisin in the Sun, Act I, 485-513

T.2.5 Hansberry, A Raisin in the Sun, Act II and III, 514-552
Th.2.7 WORKSHOP, DRAFT DUE

T2.19 Updike, "A&P" 641-646; Kate Chopin stories, 683-694; Faulkner, "A Rose for Emily" 696-703
Th.2.21 Shakespeare, Othello Act I

T.2.26 Shakespeare, Othello Acts II and III
Th.2.28 Shakespeare, Othello Act IV and V

T.3.18 Hughes poems 1094-1105
Th.3.20 Gilman, "The Yellow Wallpaper" 917-929; Browning, "My Last Duchess" 1177-1180; Bambara, "The Lesson" 1107-1113