English 102
Fall 2011
Section Number: 0247. Class Meetings: MW 9:05-10:30. Class Location: CBS 101. Instructor: Dina Abdel Hady. Office Hours: MW 8:30-9:00am
Introduction:
Welcome to English 102, a course where we analyze literature, drama, and poetry. In this class, we create a community where we approach fiction critically and go on adventures as readers, thinkers, and writers. While we focus mostly on literature, English 102 is a transferable class that will assist you in future classes and in life after college as we work on being more critical, analytical, and aware of fallacies in arguments.
Course Description:
This course is designed to develop critical thinking, reading, and writing skills beyond the level of English 101. Students will develop critical thinking by writing strong arguments based on poetry, drama and fiction, as subject matter. Students will learn to identify premises and conclusions and recognize patterns of faulty logic in developing arguments. They will learn to distinguish between deductive and inductive reasoning and will demonstrate this and utilizing research strategies. Acceptable for credit: UCLA, CSUN: English 255.
Student Learning Objectives:
1. Produce a 3-5 page essay demonstrating the ability to use literary analysis
2. Produce a 3-5 page essay comparing and contrasting two literary work
3. Produce a 3-5 page essay analytical research paper on a literary work
Grade Breakdown:
Three out of class essays: 100 points each
Midterm and final: 100 points each
Participation: 100 points
Assignments: 5-20 points depending on length and complexity
Materials:
Writing Essays About Literature—Kelley Griffith
The Hunger Games—Suzanne Collins
Policies:
In order to make this class a successful experience, I have a few policies to keep in mind:
Attendance:
Or: Did I Miss Anything Important in Class?
Writing, reading, and thinking critically are all skills that need to be developed over time. Every day in this class is of the outmost importance. Your grade will be lowered if you miss three classes or more.
Class starts at 9:05 am. Be here, be on time, and be ready to participate. This is a class about communication. It is hard to communicate if four or five people are doing all the talking; speak up in class and in your group work. Participation helps you grasp the material we discuss in class. So, do not be shy. We are all here to help one another.
Tardiness: It is absolutely important that you come to class on time. I take roll at the beginning of each class and try to engage everyone in class. If you arrive after I take roll, you will be marked tardy. Three tardies will count as one absence.
Missing Classes:
One of my goals in this class is to train you for college and the post-collegiate world as well. It is your job to make sure you turned in everything on time. The syllabus has a schedule that outlines our progression, as a plan. Looking it over is always a good idea. However, you should also email your classmates so they fill you in on what you missed. Moodle allows you to contact anyone in the class.
Email:
In your emails, please be respectful and courteous, regardless of whether the emails are to me or to your classmates. If you have any questions for me, please make sure you check the syllabus first and then feel free to ask for clarifications should there be any confusion. Finally, please make sure you use proper spelling and full sentences to avoid any misunderstanding (usually, I understand what you are saying. It is good practice, though. This is a writing class after all).
Avoiding Late Assignments:
If you know you are not going to be in class on a specific day, you can turn in your assignment early. If you do need the time, email it to me by 9:00 AM the day it is supposed to be due. Regardless, please let me know what is going on so I can help (if I can).
Conduct:
Please be respectful to every person in this classroom. I will not allow any racist, sexist, homophobic or any form of offensive language or attitudes in class. Be respectful and mindful of other people. Allow your classmates share their opinions. Encourage the shy ones to do so as well. Bring in a positive attitude into this classroom to both learn and teach, because we all have unique experiences that are worth sharing. This is what makes a classroom fun and makes learning enjoyable.
Disability and Accommodations:
If you have a disability or a special circumstance that you would like me to know about, please do. Anything you tell me will be kept confidential
Laptops, Cell Phones, and Side Conversations:
Please note: There will be no laptops in my classroom unless you need it for a disability. I will also not allow texting in our classroom either. Finally, should you have any questions, please speak up and ask me in class. Side conversations are very distracting and disrespectful. Rather than ask your peer, just raise your hand and ask me. Chances are, if you have this question, others may also be wondering about it as well.
Tentative Class Schedule:
Unless otherwise stated, please bring a copy of the readings that we will be discussing for the day. Make sure you read and annotate them. I expect you to summarize every reading on this list. I will tell you explicitly if I am expecting a specific word count for these summaries. Please remember to bring the readings and summaries to the classroom. This includes our textbook.
Remember that this is a tentative schedule and that changes can come up. I will always tell you about these changes in a timely manner.
Week 1: Reading and writing about literature
M-Aug. 29: Analysis and critical reading. Review of 101
HW: post introduction on moodle
W-Aug. 31: Writing about literature. Chapter 1 “Strategies for Interpreting Literature” and chapter 2 “What’s Literature?”
HW: post literacy narrative on moodle (a short, 300 word paragraph on your experience with literature. Maybe mention your favorite works or genres?)
Week 2:
M-Sep. 5: Labor Day, no Class.
W-Sep. 7: Analysis 101. On moodle: “The Veldt” and “Snow, Glass, Apples.” Watch Snow White (both the Disney version or Snow White: A Tale of Terror).
Week 3:
M-Sep.12: Chapter 4 “Interpreting Drama,” A Doll’s House.” Watch 500 Days of Summer.
Feminism and Gender. Post sample outline of your analysis of either “The Veldt,” or “Snow, Glass, Apples” on moodle and bring it to class.
W-Sep. 14: On moodle: “Young Goodman Brown” and “Shitty First Drafts,” Writing process: chapter 7 “Writing about Literature” and chapter 8, “Choosing topics.” Paper 1 assigned.
Week 4:
M-Sep. 19 Draft 1 due. Chapter 9 “Drafting the Essay.” On moodle “Peer Review.”
W-Sep 21: Peer Review.
Week 5:
M-Sep 26: Draft 2 due. Conferences
W-Sep 28: Conferences
Week 6:
M Oct 3: Chapter 5 “Interpreting Poetry” (read only parts I and II; stop at page 148). Poems to read: “Not Waving But Drowning,” “Don’t Go Gently into the Good Night.” and “Ozymandias”
Watch “Pretty” and “What’s Genocide”
W Oct 5: “We Ain't Got No Money, Honey, But We Got Rain,” “This Be The Verse,” Chapter 5 (from part III, page 148 onwards). Paper 1 due. “I heard a fly buzz,” and “Greek Myths Haiku” Paper 2 assigned.
Week 7:
M Oct 10: Writing Day. Draft 1 due. Bring it with you to class. On moodle: “Strategies for Timed Writing” and Chapter 12, “Taking Essay Exams.”
W Oct 12: Midterm prep. Peer Review and reading day!
Week 8:
M Oct 17: Midterm
W Oct. 19: Conferences
Week 9:
M Oct 24: Conferences
W Oct 26: Paper 3 prep. Chapter 3 “Interpreting Fiction.” Hunger Games : Chapter 1-3 (page 3-48). Paper 3 assigned.
Week 10:
M Oct. 31: Paper 2 due. Hunger Games: Chapter 4-7 (page 48-102)
W Nov. 2: Hunger Games: Chapter 8-10 (page 102-147)
Week 11:
M Nov. 7: Hunger Games: Chapter 11-15 (page 148-207)
W Nov. 9: Hunger Games: Chapter 16-19 (208-261)
Week 12:
M Nov. 14: Hunger Games: Chapter 20-23 (262-302). Paper 3 assigned.
W Nov. 16: Hunger Games: Chapter 24-26 (303-374). Paper 3 brainstorming. Bring thesis and work research questions.
Week 13:
M Nov. 21: Library Day.
W Nov. 23: Draft 1 due. Peer review
Week 14:
M Nov. 28: Conferences
W Nov. 30: Conferences
Week 15:
M Dec. 5: Paper 3 due. On moodle: “This is Water” transcript (and watch the video) and all listed reflection letters!
W Dec. 7: Read reflections in class
Week 16:
M Dec. 12: Final
The end. Have a wonderful winter break!
