ENGLISH 111
ENGLISH COMPOSITION I
Monstrous Sympathies: or, Our Monsters, Our Selves
Fall 2007
Knight Hall Chapel 003
Section F: MWF 1:00-1:50
Section G: MWF 2:00-2:50
Contents
I. Course Description
II. Course Requirements and Policies
III. Grading Procedures
IV. Academic Integrity
V. Accommodations for students with disabilities
VI. Course Schedule
VII. Recommended Reading and Resources Online
Instructor: Dr. Holly Barbaccia
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Office: Pawling Hall 116
Email: hbarbac0@georgetowncollege.edu
Phone: ext. 8126 |
Office Hours: MWF 12:00-12:45 + by appointment
Grades Given: A, B, C, and X
Required Texts:
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QA Compact, Lynn Troyka and Doug Hesse
Course Reader (available for purchase at The Store) |
I. Course Description
From the Georgetown College Catalog, 2007-2008:
English 111: “Develops satisfactory college-level proficiency in basic skills of composition and reading comprehension. Students must demonstrate their ability to produce a portfolio of literate, reasonably logical and perceptive short themes.”
When is a human being not a human being? What makes a person monstrous, and, by turn, what makes a monster “almost human”? What differentiates us from brute beasts, or from fantastical human-impersonators like robots and vampires – is it mind, soul, body, social role, or some other, ineffable quality? The topic for this section of English 111 is “Monstrous Sympathies.” We will study several short texts (including a medieval narrative poem, a modern re-telling of a fairy tale, and a futuristic film noir) featuring “sympathetic” monsters. Through a variety of writing exercises (including short response papers, multiple draft essays, in-class essays, and a final portfolio) you will engage closely with the language and form of texts. Along the way, you will learn to revise your writing at the sentence level, avoid major grammatical errors, define your central terms, take a stance, organize an analysis, and evaluate style and tone, while developing your own style, as well.
II. Course Requirements and Policies:
1. Class attendance and participation: I expect that you will attend all classes. Because I understand that accidents and illnesses happen, I allow three absences. Any missed classes over the three absence limit will constitute unauthorized absences, and every unauthorized absence will reduce your final grade. If you incur six or more absences, you will automatically receive an X in the course. Further, participation in class discussions and peer workshops is a very important part of this class, and I try to structure the course in ways that encourage your participation. Examples of participation include asking questions about readings, offering comments about readings, submitting anonymous drafts for draft workshops, answering questions I pose in class, and contributing in writing workshops, peer reviews, and group work. Finally, I expect that you will help to create an environment conducive to learning and meaningful discussion. To this end, please do not bring food to class (drinks are permissible), and do not talk out of turn or behave disrespectfully toward other members of the class. If you cannot follow these guidelines, points may be deducted from your attendance/participation grade, and you may be asked to leave the class.
2. Assignments:
A) Readings: You are responsible for completing all readings by the date listed on the syllabus. You are also responsible for reviewing the sections listed on the syllabus from the QA Handbook, but you are not required to complete all the assignments and questions contained in those sections. I will tell you in class what section to read from QA for each class (another reason to come to all classes). Please bring your course reader and QA Handbook to class every day.
B) Response Papers: For each text we study (excluding the Gerald of Wales selection), you will write a 1-page response the day we begin discussion. Please type up your reading responses and turn them in on the day due. Grades given for response papers are A, B, C, and X. Late responses will not be accepted and will receive a grade of X.
C) Multiple Draft Essays: You will write five multiple-draft text-based essays for this class. Each essay must be submitted in draft form and revised before it receives a final grade. The essays will be based on readings you have been assigned for class, and you will receive specific guidelines and prompts for each essay. I will evaluate your essays using a rubric based on the following six categories: Content, Organization, Support, Grammar/Mechanics, Diction, and Style. In each category, you will receive a grade of 1 through 5; these numbers are equivalent to the letter grades F to A. If all of the grades for the first four categories receive a grade of C or better, you will receive a letter grade of A, B, or C on your essay. If even one of the grades in these four categories receives less than a 3, your paper will receive a letter grade of X. I will subtract 5 points from the paper’s final grade for each day, including weekend days, that a draft or final version is late. I will not grant extensions, so please do not ask.
D) In-Class Essays: You will write five timed in-class “impromptu” essays. Prompts for the in-class essays will not be given out in advance. I will evaluate in-class essays using the same rubric and criteria as your 5 multiple-draft essays. Impromptu essays can not be revised after they have been turned in.
E) Portfolio: All the writing for this class culminates in the Portfolio, which counts 60% of your final grade. On the last day of class, you will submit a final Portfolio containing your three best essays, chosen from the eight essays I have graded. To pass, the Portfolio must include: 1) a multiple draft essay (drafts and final version); 2) an essay which analyzes a text; and 3) an impromptu essay written during class. If any one of the essays in the Portfolio has received a grade of “X,” the Portfolio itself receives an X. If the Portfolio receives an X, you automatically receive an X in the course. At the end of the semester, whether it passes or receives an X, your Portfolio will be filed with the English department. Your portfolio grade will be determined by averaging your three essay grades.
F) Conferences: You will meet with me during the term for paper conferences. This should be a pleasant requirement to fulfill, if all goes well. However, I ask that you show up on time and prepared for your conference. If you can’t make the conference you scheduled because of an emergency, please email or phone me in advance to let me know not to wait for you. If you miss a conference without giving me advance warning, you may lose points from your final attendance/participation grade. You may be required to attend conferences at the Writing Center if you are carrying a C or lower in the class.
III. Grading Procedures:
“Me fail English? That’s unpossible!”
--Ralph Wiggum
You, much like Ralph Wiggum, cannot “fail” English 111; the grades D and F are not even given in this course. That said, about 1/3 of all English 111 students do not pass the class on their first try. If you do not produce a passing Portfolio, or if you do not satisfy the course requirements in some other way (e.g., you miss too many classes, you do not complete all required assignments, or your final grade is lower than 70), you will receive an X in the course. An X represents a conditional incomplete to be satisfied by repeating the course.
Grading Breakdown:
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Reading Responses
Attendance and Participation
Portfolio |
20%
20%
60%
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Grade Scale:
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A
B
C
X
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90-100
80-90
70-80
below 70
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IV. Academic Integrity
Academic Honesty is governed by the Georgetown College Honor Code. According to the Georgetown College Student Handbook, Honor Code Infractions include cheating, stealing, and lying related to academic matters. I will deal with any infractions using the Procedures outlined in the Handbook.
V. Accommodations for students with disabilities
I make every effort to offer appropriate academic accommodations for students with disabilities. Please make requests for academic accommodations during the first three weeks of the semester.
VI. Tentative Course Schedule (May change to accommodate class progress and student needs)
I. Beasts in Men’s Clothing?
August 27-September 14
Workshops: X-errors; Parts of Speech; Sentence Construction; Paragraph Construction.
Chapters from QA Handbook: 4, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 23
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August 27
August 29
August 31
September 3
September 5
September 7
September 10
September 12
September 14 |
Course Introductions and Syllabus
Reading due: Gerald of Wales, from The Topography of Ireland Chapter XIX
Reading due: Marie de France, “Bisclavret”; Writing due: 1-page response
No Class (Labor Day)
Writing due: Draft #1 of Essay #1 (2-3 pp)
Draft Workshop
Writing due: Draft # 2 of Essay #1; Peer Review
Writing Workshop
Writing due: Final Draft of Essay #1
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II. Monstrous Domesticity
September 17-October 5
Workshops: Introduction Paragraphs; Thesis Statements; Organization.
Chapters from QA Handbook: 2, 3, 5, 6, 19, 24, 27, 36
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September 17
September 19
September 21
September 24
September 26
September 28
October 1
October 3
October 5 |
Reading due: Peter Beagle, “Lila the Werewolf”; Writing due: 1-page response
Writing due: Introduction Paragraph
Thesis Workshop
Writing due: Draft #1 of Essay #2 (3-4 pp)
Paper Conferences
Paper Conferences
Writing due: Draft #2 of Essay #2; Peer Review
Writing Workshop
Writing due: Final Draft of Essay #2
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III. Monstrous Desires
October 8-26
Workshops: Support; Mechanics of Quoting; Sentence Revision; Body Paragraphs.
Chapters from QA Handbook: 32, 20, 41
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October 8
October 10
October 12
October 15
October 17
October 19
October 22
October 24
October 26
October 29
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Reading due: Joanna Russ, “My Dear Emily”; Writing due: 1-page response
Writing Workshop
Writing due: Draft #1 of Essay #3 (3-4 pp); Peer Review
Writing Workshop
Draft # 2 of Essay #2
Impromptu Essay #1
No Class (Fall Break)
5-Minute Paper Conferences
Writing Workshop
Writing due: Final Draft of Essay #3
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IV. More Human than Human?
October 31-November 19
Workshops: Developing Arguments; Style; Clarity.
Chapters from QA Handbook:
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October 31
November 2
November 5
November 7
November 9
November 12
November 14
November 16
November 19
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Reading due: “How to Read a Film”; watch Blade Runner; Writing due: 1-page response
Writing Workshop
Writing due: Draft #1 of Essay #4
Writing Workshop
Writing Workshop
Writing due: Draft #2 of Essay #4; Peer Review
Impromptu Essay #2
Writing Workshop
Writing due: Final Draft of Essay #4
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V. The Beast Within
November 21-December 12
Workshops: Word Choice; Formatting; Incorporating Sources.
Chapters from QA Handbook:
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November 21
November 23
November 26
November 28
November 30
December 3
December 5
December 7
December 10
December 12
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Reading due: Angela Carter, “The Tiger’s Bride”; Writing due: 1-page response
No Class (Thanksgiving Holiday)
Writing Workshop
Writing Workshop
Writing due: Draft #1 of Essay #5
Writing Workshop
Impromptu #4
Writing Workshop
Impromptu #5
Writing due: Final Draft of Essay #5; Writing Portfolio Due by 5
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IX. Recommended Reading and Resources
Georgetown College Writing Center
The Columbia Guide to Standard American English, Kenneth G. Wilson
The Elements of Style, Strunk & White
The Nuts and Bolts of College Writing
OWL at Purdue
Writing in College from U. Chicago
Writing Resources Center at William and Mary
English Major's Handbook, Adam Potkay, W&M; see section on writing English papers.
Jack Lynch, Getting an A on an English Paper, Rutgers U.
Papers: Guidelins, Expectations, Advice from U. Toronto.
Glossary of Literary Terms
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