New York City College of Technology
ENG 1121: English Composition II
Storytelling
Spring 2009
Section 5436, M/W 1:00-2:15
Namm 521
Professor: Jody R. Rosen
E-mail: jrrosen@citytech.cuny.edu
Phone: 718/260-4913
Mailbox: Namm 512 (English Dept.)
Office: Namm 520
Office Hours: M 11:30-12:45, T 4:00-4:45, and by appointment
Course Description and Objectives
English 1121 is designed to develop students’ ability to write analytical essays based on a variety of literary genres to cultivate sophisticated interpretive skills. We will consider how stories are told in plays, poetry, short fiction, the novel, and visual art, and how the reader makes sense of the story. Throughout the semester, students will think and write analytically in the classroom, at home, on the course blog, in small groups, on their own, and in student-professor conferences. Assignments will require students to write in different styles, driven by interpretation supported by evidence drawn from close readings of the texts. This communication-intensive course will consider the interaction of literature and cultural values through the theme of storytelling while developing students’ writing, reading, research, and computing abilities. Students should strive for the following goals:
- to interpret meaning in literary texts through active, careful, and thorough analysis of detail, vocabulary, content, form, and style;
- to formulate questions as part of the reading process in anticipation of class or online discussion;
- to write thesis-driven arguments supported by text-based evidence;
- to use reading and writing as processes of discovery, promoting habits of critical thinking;
- to use appropriate tone and rhetorical figures for a given assignment and audience;
- to observe the conventions of standard English grammar, punctuation, and usage;
- to draft, revise, and proofread essays of various modes of writing, using sentence structure for stylistic effect and developing a personal writing style;
- to develop a library research project using good expository style, rigorous and honest research methods, and imaginative argumentation;
- to communicate professionally via e-mail and other online media;
- to demonstrate increased confidence in sharing critical interpretations with the class both orally and in writing, both in person and on the course blog;
Course Requirements:
Classroom policies: Please be respectful of everyone in our classroom and blog community. To succeed in this class, you must be present, punctual, prepared, alert, and free of distractions such as cell phones, food, or non-course materials.
Textbooks and Supplies: Please purchase the following by the end of the first week of class:
- Literature: A Portable Anthology. Gardner, Lawn, Ridl, Schakel, editors. Second edition. New York: Bedford/St. Martin’s P, 2009.
- Faulkner, William. As I Lay Dying. 1930. Vintage International: New York, 1990.
- A college-level dictionary, such as the American Heritage Dictionary.
- A folder to hold your work and course handouts. This will become your portfolio.
- A notebook for class notes and reading notes
- Access to a computer and the Internet.
Attendance: Attendance is mandatory in this discussion-based course. Arriving late or leaving early will count as a partial absence. City Tech’s policy states that four or more absences will result in a WU grade. I will not grant excused absences since three absences are permitted without penalty. Absence is not an excuse for missing or late work; you must get class notes from a classmate and keep up with your reading and written work.
Participation: To meet our course goals, student participation in each class and on the blog is essential. Come prepared to each class, bring any required books or other materials, and contribute to the day’s activity. Your presence alone is not enough! If you do not contribute to the discussion or group activity, I will assume you are unprepared. Please be respectful of other viewpoints or opinions in class and blog discussions. Distractions such as food, non-ENG 1121-materials, or cell phones are not permitted, since they will negatively affect your participation, and in turn, your success in this course.
Writing: You will be expected to write in class, on the blog, and at home. Although in-class writing will not be graded—except for the formal in-class essays—it will be counted, and since it will contribute to your essay assignments, it will influence your essay grade. Informal writing must be kept in a writing portfolio, since we will return to texts, themes, and ideas throughout the semester. Drafts and completed assignments, both hard copy and on-line submission, are due by the start of class. Late assignments will not be accepted. If you believe you have a legitimate reason for requesting an extension, do so at least 24 hours before the due date.
Revisions: Revision is an essential part of writing. Assignments in this class will involve both draft and revised versions. Please be aware that revision is not the same as correcting—true revision involves re-envisioning your essay, refashioning and rewriting it. Guidelines for revisions, as well as due dates, will be available with each assignment description.
Course blog: In addition to our meetings in the classroom, we will have a virtual community on a course blog: https://eng1121s5436.wordpress.com. Formal and informal assignments will be posted to the blog, and we will hold discussions there as well. For each reading assignment, write a reading response on the blog and comment on two classmates’ reading responses to begin conversing about the materials before class. Additionally, there will be a schedule of required posts; instructions will follow.
Grading: Your course grade will be calculated based on the following percentages. Missing in-class writing, drafts, or peer-review work will result in a lower grade for an essay or for participation.
Drama Essay: 10%
Short Fiction Essay: 10%
Short Fiction Revision: 5%
Art Essay: 5%
Poetry Explication: 5%
Annotated Bibliography: 5%
Research Essay: 10%
Research Presentation: 5%
Final Exam I and II: 15%
Quizzes and In-class writing: 10%
In-class participation: 10%
Blog participation: 10%
Support: Please do not hesitate to come speak with me during my office hours or by appointment—meeting with me is one of the most direct and effective ways to improve your work or to seek advice! You must meet with me outside of class at least once during the semester. There are other avenues of support at City Tech, such as the College Learning Center, the Academic Advisement Center, and the Counseling Service Center. Students with disabilities should consult with Student Support Services for support, and should speak with me to coordinate appropriate accommodations.
Academic Integrity:
New York City College of Technology Policy on Academic Integrity:
“Students and all others who work with information, ideas, texts, images, music, inventions, and other intellectual property owe their audience and sources accuracy and honesty in using, crediting, and citing sources. As a community of intellectual and professional workers, the College recognizes its responsibility for providing instruction in information literacy and academic integrity, offering models of good practice, and responding vigilantly and appropriately to infractions of academic integrity. Accordingly, academic dishonesty is prohibited in CUNY and at New York City College of Technology and is punishable by penalties, including failing grades, suspension, and expulsion.”
Plagiarism, the act of presenting another person’s ideas, research, or writing as your own, whether intentionally or unintentionally, is not tolerated at City Tech. Using proper documentation and thorough textual analysis will help you avoid plagiarism. We will use MLA style to format all in-text citations and all bibliographies. Any cases of plagiarism or other forms of academic dishonesty will result in a failing grade and appropriate measures taken. Please familiarize yourself with City Tech’s policies on academic honesty at http://www.citytech.cuny.edu/files/students/handbook.pdf (pp. 76-77). If you are confused or have any questions about what plagiarism is and how you might avoid it, please talk to me before your assignment is due.
Schedule of Classes (subject to change): Readings and assignments are due by the beginning of class on the dates shown
M 8/31: Course Introduction, critical reading of a text Painting Picasso, Guernica
W 9/2: Guernica, continued. In-class writing.
M 9/7: No Class
W 9/9: Drama Glaspell, Trifles (958) (also available online). Dramatic reading. In-class writing: Pick one detail that the women notice and examine why it is an important clue. For homework, post this response to the blog!
M 9/14: Trifles; Drama Essay thesis statement draft due
W 9/16: Trifles; Drama Essay draft due; peer review
M 9/21: Short fiction Chopin, “The Story of an Hour” (66); Hemingway, “Hills Like White Elephants” (200). Drama Essay due
W 9/23: Faulkner, “A Rose for Emily” (701)
M 9/28: No Class
T 9/29 (Monday schedule): Glaspell, “A Jury of Her Peers” (online)
W 9/30: Cisneros: “The House on Mango Street” (414)
M 10/5: Alexie, “What You Pawn I Will Redeem” (438)
W 10/7: final discussion on short fiction; choose questions for in-class essay exam
M 10/12: No Class
W 10/14 (Monday schedule): Short Fiction Essay: In-class exam on short fiction
M 10/19: Poetry Collins, “Introduction to Poetry” (handout); Moore, “Poetry” (560, and additional materials)
W 10/21: Hughes, “Harlem” (577); Keats, “Ode on a Grecian Urn” (506); Poetry/Art Research Essay project announced: follow due dates according to assignment schedule.
M 10/26: Dickinson, “Because I could not stop for Death” (679); Komunyakaa, “Facing It” (673);
W 10/28: Blake, “The Lamb” (485); “The Tyger” (486); Art Essay due
M 11/2: Williams, “The Red Wheelbarrow” (557); Brooks, “We Real Cool” (593); Pound, “In a Station of the Metro” (online);
W 11/4: library work; Short Fiction Essay Revision due
M 11/9: Novel Faulkner, As I Lay Dying (3-40); workshop on working with sources;
W 11/11: research project workshop;
M 11/16: As I Lay Dying (41-74); Poetry Explication due
W 11/18: As I Lay Dying (75-104)
M 11/23: As I Lay Dying (105-140); Research Questions due
W 11/25: As I Lay Dying (141-168)
M 11/30: As I Lay Dying (169-213); annotated bibliography due; Research Project drafts due; peer review
W 12/2: As I Lay Dying (214-261); Presentation of research projects
M 12/7: As I Lay Dying; Presentation of research projects
W 12/9: review for final exam;
M 12/14: Final Exam I: Departmental essay exam
W 12/16: Final Exam II: Class-specific essay exam—this will certainly include As I Lay Dying Research Project due
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