Ms. Floyd
Office:  Hum&SS 159
Hours:  MW 10:00-12:00
TR 9:00-11:00, 12:30-1:00
and by appointment
Telephone:  862-6246
E-mail:  efloyd@rbc.edu
 

In English 102, the student is introduced to literary criticism and the three traditional literary genres: fiction, poetry, and drama.  The student is expected to read critically and to write effectively, considering purpose and audience.  Correctness of expression is essential.

The textbooks for English 102 are Kennedy and Gioia, Literature: An Introduction to Fiction, Poetry, and Drama, 4th Compact Ed., Longman, 2005; and Fowler and Aaron, The Little, Brown Handbook, 10th ed., Longman, 2007.  The student should also have access to a recent college-level dictionary.

The student is expected to be in class.  Absence affects grades, both directly and indirectly. The student’s grade for the course may be lowered one letter grade for each absence after the third. If he or she misses class, the responsible student will get notes from at least two classmates.

The student is also expected to be on time.  Late arrivers distract their instructor and their classmates.  Students who are habitually late (more than twice) also jeopardize their final grade. The final grade for the course may be lowered one letter grade for habitual tardiness.

The student is expected to complete and to turn in all assignments when due.  Late writing assignments will be accepted; however, the grade may be lowered one letter grade for each day that the assignment is late.  Quizzes and in-class writing may not be made up.

Although the student may use a pencil (number 2 only) on quizzes and rough drafts, all other writing submitted to an audience must be doubled-spaced and printed on a typewriter, word processor, or computer (Courier New, 12-point font).  Consult LBH, pp. 687-688, for MLA document format.  Papers will be secured with paper clips.

While writing first drafts, the student should concentrate on getting ideas down on paper first and getting the meaning "right," not worrying about surface errors. Final drafts of writing submitted to the instructor should adhere to the conventions of Standard American English. Presentation is important.

The student will turn in, in folders with pockets, all prewriting, rough drafts, and final drafts of vignette, short story, and process analysis.  Critical analysis will be turned in in a large manila envelope.

There will be several quizzes on reading assignments. These quizzes have two purposes: 1) to ensure that the student reads critically and 2) to ensure that the student can apply literary terms to the work, a skill essential to any scholarly discussion of literature.

To help make the transition from the expository writing of English 101 to the more creative writing of English 102, the student will write a vignette early in the semester.

The student will also craft an original short story. The purpose of this project is to enhance the student’s appreciation of the craft of fiction, to motivate him or her to look at the world with the writer’s eye. While writing the short story, the student will study in depth the elements of fiction, the power of language, the human experience as it is transformed into fiction.

As he or she crafts this work of fiction, the student will keep a writer’s notebook. In this notebook, he or she will accumulate ideas for the short story and note problems and insights during the writing process. Then the student will write a formal essay in which he or she analyzes his or her experience as the crafter of a short story.  In this essay, the student will also analyze the short story itself.

In addition, the student will read critically a novel or drama. He or she will formulate a thesis, research the opinions of others, and write an analysis of some aspect of the work.  The project will include formal sentence outline with thesis statement, parenthetically documented essay, definitive works consulted, and neat, honest note cards.

The final examination in English 102 will include questions that require short answers, paragraphs, and a brief essay.

Students are encouraged to make appointments for conferences to discuss the student’s overall work and specific reading-comprehension and writing problems. Two conferences are required: one to discuss the short story in progress; the other, to discuss the critical analysis.

All work is expected to be the work of the student; however, he or she is encouraged to share ideas with others and to seek feedback (including proofreading) on his or her writing.  However, giving or receiving help on quizzes and examinations will result in referral to the College Honor Court. Plagiarism will result in grade penalty, most likely failure of the course, and referral to the Honor Court.

Grades for the course will be determined as follows:

A = 90 - 100
B = 80 -   89
C = 70 -   79
D = 60 -  69
F =   0 -   59

Quizzes 15%
Vignette 15%
Process analysis 15%
Short story 20%
Critical analysis 20%
Final examination 15%

Important dates to remember:

Mar. 30
Last day to withdraw from a course without academic penalty

Apr. 2
Researched critical analysis is due.

Apr. 23
Revision of researched critical analysis is due.

Final examination
English 102-02 (8:00 class)           Monday, May 7, 2007        9:00 a.m.
English 102-01 (9:00 class)           Tuesday, May 8, 2007         1:30 p.m.