EWRT 1B
English Composition, Literature, and Research
5 Units
Course Description:
This is a course focused on the advanced development of reading, writing, and critical thinking. Through the process of interpretive and analytical writing about literary texts we will critically explore themes of race, sexuality, and culture. While examining all genres of literature (short stories, novels, poetry, drama, and film) you will be responsible for active class discussion, group work, presentations, outside research, and multiple forms of writing.
Green Sheet (Syllabus)
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Tentative Outline
Required Texts/Materials :
- Literature: Reading & Writing the Human Experience (7th ed.) by Richard Abcarian and Marvin Klotz
- Sula by Toni Morrison
- The Day of the Locust by Nathanael West
- An unlined journal
Recommended Texts
- A Writer’s Reference (4th ed.) by Diana Hacker
- A good dictionary and thesaurus(not just the pocket kind) or use www.m-w.com
Grading:
- 40% Essays (formal, response, and in-class)
- 20% Participation (attendance, class discussion, small-group work, research conference, and weekly on-line contributions)
- 15% Journal
- 10% Group Teaching Project
10% Final Research Essay
- 5% Exams (2)
Assignment Guidelines:
- All final drafts of all take home essays must be typed, size 12 font, double-spaced, stapled, and have an interesting title.
- Hand in all drafts and related materials (outlines) stapled or clipped behind the final draft.
- You may use the Late Paper Contract once, but after that every late assignment will lose one full grade for each class it is late.
- Missing in-class peer editing or workshops will drop your final paper grade one full grade.
- You may re-write any out of class assignment; however, it is due no later than 1 week after it is returned to you.
- With all essays you will either be given the topic, we will brainstorm topics as a class based on our discussion, or you can choose your own topic if you present it to me first.
- Response essays 1-2 pages; Formal essays 4-5 pages; Final Research Essay 6-9 pages
- You cannot make-up exams or in-class essays.
Journal:
For all reading assignments you will be expected to not only read the assignment, but also write a journal response. In a journal response you will respond to the text; in your response you will offer your interpretation/understanding, pose questions, make connections to other readings, and your own experiences, and the like. You may be as creative as you wish in your journal. I encourage drawings, collages, your own creative writing—anything that the reading has inspired for you. Because some literature will influence you more than others some journal entries may be elaborate, creative, long, and detailed, while others may be simple responses or questions. It is important to bring your journal to class because most classes will begin by sharing the journal entries due for the day in small groups. Also, in-class free writing will be done in your journal.
Group Teaching Project:
You and your group of two other students will be responsible for teaching the reading material assigned on a day you choose as a group. Individually and with your group spend time becoming “experts” on your selected piece(s) of literature and present it to the class in 30 minutes. Your objective is to help students understand and appreciate the literature assigned for that day. Please be as creative as you wish.
Attendance:
Attendance every day is required. If you have four unexcused absences, I will assume that you have Withdrawn, and give you a W. Since I cover important business in the first minutes of class, you need to be on time. If you are forced to miss a class, it is your responsibility to obtain any handout, assignment, or information I gave out in class. I suggest getting the phone numbers of a few classmates so you won’t miss any assignments.
Participation:
Collaborative learning requires your participation in group and class discussion; your class “presence” will be public and is graded regularly. Plan on being prepared and involved in class. If you remain passive, you will do poorly.
Honesty:
I am interested in your ideas as well as how clearly you can discuss the ideas of others. Plagiarized work, even a key word in a sentence or someone else’s published idea, which is not properly documented, will result in a failing grade for the assignment. A case of extensive plagiarism (full paragraphs lifted from someone else’s work), repeated plagiarism, or “recycling” a paper will result in a failing grade for the class. If you are uncertain about the rules for using a source, come to see me before you turn in the assignment. If you fail a class due to plagiarism it will appear on your academic record.
If you have any special circumstances which you feel will effect your performance in this class, please come speak to me as soon as possible.
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