College Writing II (42

College Writing II (42.102.266)

Spring Semester 2010

T/R 2:00-3:15

Prerequisite: Students must have passed 42.101 or its equivalent

Instructor: Dina Bozicas

Office: Pasteur 416

Office Phone: (978) 934-2518

Office Hours: T/R 1:00-1:50, and by appointment

E-mail: . I usually check my e-mail MWF in the morning. I will only read messages that clearly list the student’s name either in their address or in the subject line.

Required Texts

·  Writing about Literature, brief eleventh edition. Edgar V. Roberts. Abbreviated “Roberts” in the syllabus.

·  Measure for Measure by Shakespeare. All College Writing II students this semester will be seeing this play performed by the Off Broadway Players.

·  The Haunting by Shirley Jackson

·  Photocopies of short stories and poems

·  A college writing handbook. You may use any comprehensive college writing handbook that has an MLA section—I will order handbooks for students who do not have one.

Writing about Literature, The Haunting, and Measure for Measure are available in the UMASS Lowell bookstore in Falmouth Hall. Photocopies of stories and poems will be distributed in class.

Note: all assignments are to be read before the class for which they are due and the texts must be brought to class on the days they are to be discussed. Failure to have read the text or brought the text to class may count as an absence. Be prepared to discuss what you have read; I do call on students. Do not wait too long to buy the novel. The bookstore starts returning books to the dealers about halfway through the semester.

Course Description

This course is designed to continue the work you started in College Writing I while also introducing you to the study of literature. We will read a selection of short stories, poems, a play, and a novel, looking at elements of literature such as atmosphere, character development, dialogue and subtext, figurative language, imagery, irony, meter, plot/form, point of view, rhyme scheme, setting, speaker and tone, staging, symbolism, and theme. Many of the elements we study will help prepare you for other general education classes you may be taking, even if they are not literature classes (for instance, theme is important in a number of disciplines).

Using this fiction, poetry, and drama as a core, you will learn writing as a process, building on the skills you learned in College Writing I, and culminating in a research project. The poetry and short story papers will give you a chance to practice specific literary analysis skills (comparison, synthesis, and explication) and general writing skills (argument and development, for instance). Your drama paper will allow you to work creatively with a text. All of these skills are necessary for the documented literary analysis and final exam you will complete at the end of the semester. In addition, all the work you do this semester will prepare you for later general education classes you will be taking (both literature and non-literature classes) in that we will focus heavily on analysis and critical thought: creating a thesis, supporting that thesis with specific evidence, discussing how your evidence supports and explores the claims you are making, drawing out ideas implicit in your writing/thinking and ideas implicit in the primary work you are studying. This type of analysis and critical thinking is important to writing in any discipline. The final exam will be a preview of the types of exams you might get in subsequent general education classes, and will allow you to practice writing in a timed, classroom setting.

Assignments and Grading

Participation (10%)

In-class discussion, activities, writing, and workshops will comprise your participation grade. You must be actively participating to get credit for participation—simply being in the classroom is not enough. To get an A for participation, students must approach the class seriously, thoughtfully, and respectfully, and engage in class and group discussions as well as all other in-class activities. Carefully read “Attendance and Tardiness” and “Class Disruptions” in the Policies section below.

Quizzes, Response Papers, and Study Questions (15%)

You will be given a quiz, or response/study question assignment for each reading. If you find you are reading carefully and are not doing well on these assignments, see me. Remember, however, that it is not uncommon to need to read a work through twice before understanding it.

Poetry Explication (15%)

You will write a short explication of a poem. Explication is an important skill in that it teaches

you to read a text closely (which is helpful for any kind of text you may read). Explication of poetry will also teach you critical thinking skills.

Creative Drama Project (15%)

You will write a creative-analytical paper about Measure for Measure. This project will allow

you to imagine the performance of the play before you see it.

Short Story Comparison (15%)

You will write a comparison of two short stories, approximately 3-4 pages long. I will assign the stories and topic. You will work on this assignment in the classroom and get a chance to discuss your ideas with me, though the paper itself will be written outside of class.

Research Portfolio (20%)

Your research portfolio will consist of a finished, polished research essay, all previous drafts and notes, and any other documents listed on the research portfolio assignment sheet. This research paper will be a documented literary analysis, 6-7 pages long. You will be given specifics on the assignment sheet.

Final Exam (10%)

This will be a standard literature exam that you might get in a 200-level literature class, consisting of two parts, short answer and essay. To do well, you will need to draw on the analysis, explication, and writing skills you have practiced all semester. Students will be given an exam review. The date, time and location of final exam TBA.

Formal Essay Format

(This format must be followed for all papers (first and final drafts) written outside of class.

Papers that do not adhere to this format will be downgraded up to 10%)

·  The heading on the first page must list your name, my name, the assignment (Essay 3, for instance), and the revision (first or final).

·  All papers must have an original title (one you create—not the name of the work you are writing about and not the name of the assignment). Center it above your text. Use no special font or markers to set it off.

·  All papers must be typed and double-spaced.

·  Do not skip extra spaces between paragraphs. In American English writing, paragraphs are signaled by indenting five spaces (tab) from the left margin.

·  Use one-inch margins for all papers.

·  Each subsequent page after the first must be numbered and have your last name on it.

·  Papers must be stapled. Papers that are clipped together or have “dog-eared” corners will not be accepted.

·  First and final drafts must be carefully spell-checked and proofread for careless errors. Read your papers aloud to find careless errors—sloppy first drafts will not be accepted; sloppy final drafts will automatically drop one full letter grade.

·  You must submit all supporting material requested for each paper. Required supporting material will be listed on each assignment sheet.

Class Policies

Attendance and Tardiness

Consider this class too important to miss. This is a workshop/activity/discussion-based course, so you need to be here to make the class work. Since sometimes circumstances get in the way of your being able to attend class, having up to two absences won’t hurt your participation or course grades (unless you are absent on a day a draft is due—see “Deadlines,” below). However, you should not think of these as two “free days”: These two absences are what you use if you’re ill, you have an accident, you have jury duty, etc. Three to four absences will have a significant impact on your participation grade. For five absences you will get a zero for participation and your course grade will drop a letter in addition. Having six or more absences means you fail the class, since you will have missed a substantial portion of the course. Missing this much class time means you have not fulfilled the course requirements. In addition, not bringing the necessary book or reading to class, not being prepared, or being more than 20 minutes late may also be considered absences. Leaving the class early is considered the same as coming in late. Students who know they will need to leave early or come in late for a particular class should let me know. Repeated lateness can accumulate into absences.

Class Disruptions—turn off all cell phones before class begins (students who text in class will receive automatic course grade reductions)

Any student who is disrupting the class through repeated lateness, excessive talking or whispering, texting, inappropriate comments or insults, or disrespectful, aggressive, or threatening behavior will be asked to leave the room. This will count as an absence whether or not the student leaves, and will affect the student’s participation grade. Any student who continually disrupts the class (even through whispering or coming in late) will be given a warning. If the student continues to disrupt the class he/she will receive a failing participation grade. If the disruptions continue after this, the student will be advised to drop the class and will need to meet with me and the chair and/or dean.

Deadlines

All written work will be collected at the beginning of class on the day it is due. I do not accept late first drafts at all. Students who don’t bring in a first draft on the day it is due will lose process points (lowering the final paper grade) and will lose any options for revision. Students who don ‘t write a first draft often end up with a superficial final draft which has a significant impact on the paper grade as well. Late final drafts will be marked down 10% percent for each class they are late. If I do not have a final draft within a week of the due date I will not accept it and the student will receive a zero for the assignment. This cannot be made up. If you are having trouble completing an assignment, talk to me before the due date. If you know in advance that you will be out on the day a first or final draft is due, hand in your paper early.

Plagiarism

Plagiarism includes directly copying a source without acknowledging that source, summarizing or paraphrasing someone’s ideas without acknowledging the source, or submitting a paper that has been written by someone else. Papers that are intentionally plagiarized will receive a zero and the student will be required to meet with me. Students who accidentally plagiarize from our readings will need to work with me extensively to correct their papers, and to make sure they understand how not to plagiarize, but their papers will not automatically fail. Note: The only paper you will be asked to use outside secondary sources in writing is the research paper. For all other assignments, do not consult sources—do not look on-line, do not consult other college textbooks or library books, unless I specifically ask you to do so. These papers are supposed to be based on your own ideas and the readings we have done in class. Students who draw on outside secondary sources to write one of these non-research essays may fail the paper and will need to meet with me. I will discuss this in class.

Writing Assistance

The Write Place, located in the Centers for Learning, Southwick 321 (x2292) and the 3rd floor of O’Leary Library (x2942)

Tutors are available (for free) to help you at any stage in the writing process. They will help you generate ideas, organize and revise, understand grammar, avoid plagiarism, or with any other difficulties you may have with your writing. (The one thing they won’t do, however, is simply proofread/edit your paper for you.) Everyone from freshmen to graduate students uses this service, and tutors will help you with any writing; it need not be a class assignment. If you think you will need help with a paper, make an appointment as soon as you can—The Write Place tends to fill up quickly.

Daily Schedule

(Subject to change. You will be notified in advance of changes.

All assignments are to be read before the class for which they are due.)

Introduction: Poetry and Explication

Week One

1/26 Introduction to course and syllabus, write diagnostic essay

1/28 Assignment given: Poetry Explication

Reading due: Roberts 4-12, and 16-33

In class: reading actively and understanding assignments; essay overview

Week Two

2/2 Reading due: Roberts 53 to 56 and 59 to 61, and “Ozymandias” and “When I Have Fears” (poetry packet)

In class: practice explication

2/4 Writing due: First draft of poetry explication—bring two copies

Also due: Your college writing handbook

In class: workshop

Week Three

2/9 Reading due: Roberts 119-124, and “Sympathy” and “We Wear the Mask” (poetry packet)

In class: writing about theme

2/11 Reading due: Roberts 129 to the top of 135; also read “My Last Duchess” in Roberts, pages 246-247 and “The Road Not Taken” in Roberts on page 249

In class: tone and figurative language, metaphor, symbolism, and allegory

Drama and Creativity

Week Four

2/16 Monday Class Schedule

2/18 Writing due: Final draft of poetry explication—include first draft with my comments