ENL 121: English Composition II -- Lit. and Comp Dr. Ed Vavra Spring 2017 Syllabus

Hamlet  and Horatio in the  Graveyard 1839 by Eugene Delacroix 1798-1863

Course Description: Continued development of the writing principles developed in ENL 111. Emphasis on writing about literature and its themes and applications of the skills learned in ENL111 to examine the purposes and styles of literary writing. Topics include the study of poetry, prose, and drama as well as the social and cultural significance of language and literature. Course work focuses on critical analysis and interpretation of literature through discussions and written assignments. Course satisfies Communications elective and General core elective course. 3 Credits (3 Lecture - 0 Lab) Prerequisite(s): ENL111. 

Instructor's Ideas about the Course In addition to their other virtues, literary works provide a good background for writing because the instructor and the students see and share the same world within the literary work. I try to use this virtue to help students systematize and organize their ideas. Click here for additional information.

Required Texts: 

Edward Bellamy's Looking Backward
William Shakespeare's Hamlet, preferably in the Dover Thrift edition
Henrik Ibsen's A Doll's House, preferably in the Dover Thrift edition

A large 3-ring notebook (or two or more smaller ones);  looseleaf paper for the notebooks (for class notes); two or three two-pocket folders;  one 9 x 12 plain brown envelope, small stapler, paper clips, pens, pencils

Course Policies and Procedures

      Attendance is required. I want you to get full value for your money. Even if you do not think you need it for yourself, your classmates will often need your reaction to their work and to what is happening in class. After you miss three hours of class (excused or unexcused), I may deduct one point per additional class hour missed from your course grade. If you need to miss more than three hours, be sure to discuss it with me.
      If two or more local school systems are closed because of weather, I do not count attendance. Do not risk your safety, or that of your children, just to come to my class. You can make up any work missed under these circumstances.
      I do not lock the door at the start of class, nor do I penalize people for being late, but I frequently give quizzes at the beginning of class. If you miss them, you will need a good reason to make them up. If you have to miss a class, e-mail me, either before or as soon as possible afterward. If you have a good reason, you probably will be able to make up a quiz or have your homework counted.

Class cancellation: I rarely miss a class, but if I need to and know well in advance, I will e-mail the entire class. If I do not know well in advance, I will ask one of the secretaries to post notices on classroom doors.

Withdrawal Policy:
     Students who miss more than two weeks of class may be withdrawn from the course. Note that this is the course policy. "Policy" is what I adhere to when I do not have good reasons for doing something else. I have had students who missed several weeks of class because of serious accidents, illness, or military service, and they have lost no credit because of it. Keep me informed.

Late submission of major papers:  Late major papers will be penalized ten points per day of the week, Monday through Friday. With the exception explained in the next paragraph, papers will not be considered late as long as I receive the paper (and envelope) by class time on the due date. Remember, however, that if you ask before the paper is due, you may be able to get an extension on the due date. 
     Papers will not be graded, however, until I receive both the paper and the electronic copy. An electronic copy that is more than one week late will be penalized three points per day (Monday through Friday) after that first week. (Note that Plato records the date and time of their submission.)

Make-up tests and homework: Late homework assignments will not be accepted unless you have notified me before the assignment is due. You can do so by phone, but I prefer that you do so by e-mail. If you do it by e-mail, I will respond with a note telling you to attach that note to the late work so that I cannot possibly forget that I gave you permission. Similarly, missed class work cannot be made up unless you have notified me in advance that you will have to miss the class.

Plagiarism:

     Plagiarism includes using sentences, phrases, paragraphs, organization or whole essays from any other person's work without formally documenting it. It also includes handing in a paper for this course that you wrote for another course without first receiving my written permission to do so. There are, obviously, different degrees of plagiarism. You are, for example, responsible for every word and every punctuation mark in your essay. If you cannot explain what a word in your paper means, you can be considered guilty of plagiarism and receive an F on that paper. On the other hand, if you hand in a paper that includes work that is clearly not your own work, you will automatically fail the course. If you have any questions about what you are doing, please ask me, and save us both grief.
     Note: Penn College is committed to preserving academic integrity as defined in College policies. Penn College and its faculty members reserve the right to use electronic means to detect and help prevent the inappropriate use of intellectual property. Students agree that by taking this course all assignments are subject to submission for review of textual similarity to Turnitin.com. Assignments submitted to Turnitin.com will also be included as source documents in Turnitin.com's restricted access database solely for the purpose of identifying sources of material. The faculty member may require students to submit their assignments electronically to Turnitin.com or the faculty member may submit questionable text on behalf of a student. The terms that apply to Penn College's use of the Turnitin.com service are described on the Turnitin.com website.
     I plan on submitting all "major paper" assignments to Turnitin, but note the following from college policy:
     Students are not compelled to submit assignments to Turnitin.com. If a student objects to the use of the service, he or she must inform the faculty member in writing. The student may transfer out of the course, or, if the faculty member agrees, the student may use an acceptable alternate method for verifying the originality and integrity of assignments (e.g. the submission of all rough work and an annotated bibliography of all sources consulted). A student's use of an acceptable alternate to Turnitin.com will not adversely affect the student's grade.
     For more on the Penn College Policy and Procedures on Plagiarism, see:

Academic Dishonesty Complaint Procedure

A. Calculation: A = 90 to 100; B = 80 to 89; C = 70 to 79; D = 60 to 69; F= below 60.

B. Distribution: 

MP # 1 Theme of a Short Story	15 %
MP # 2 Foils in A Doll's House	15 %
MP # 3 Bellamy's Looking Backward	20 %
MP # 4 Conflicts and Themes	20 %
In-class Essays	5 %
Quiz/Homework	10 %
Cornell Notes	5 %
Final Exam	10 %

Cell phones and other electronic devices: Turn cell phones and other electronic devices off during class. Except for tests and in-class writing assignments, you may use a computer during class -- for purposes of the class. If you use it for anything else, you will lose this privilege.

Student audio/video recording of class: Ask first. If you find this helpful, I have no objections to your doing so--unless other students in the class object. (Some students may be less willing to participate if they are being recorded.)

Disabilities and Special Needs

If you have a disability or special need that you think I should know about (one that might affect your getting work in on time or one that requires additional testing time), it is your responsibility to inform me of these requirements. All information will be kept strictly confidential.

 1. Define a significant topic or issue to write about

  a. select a limited topic, emphasizing responses to and critical analysis of literature
  b. use specific literary elements as focus of essays

  a. apply techniques of critique, analysis, and synthesis
  b. apply various modes of discourse within discussions
  c. identify and explain characteristics of literature
  e. synthesize personal ideas/experience with literature

 4. Revise, edit, and proofread writing

  a. use diction appropriate for formal discourse
  b. use varied coherence techniques
  c. follow conventions of writing

  a. emphasize primary sources
  b. correctly use current MLA style

  a. distinguish among various genres
  b. evaluate literature according to content, form, and style