English 1101 syllabus, fall 2005, Harrison

 

This syllabus is subject to change.  I reserve the right to add to or otherwise change this syllabus.  If you want to know exactly what class requirements and activities are, you should come to class every day.

 

August 23: Course policies and assignment sheet.  Prepare rough draft of Where I Stand.  Homework:  Prepare revised, second draft of Where I Stand for peer review.  Read essays that begin on pages 93 and 446.

 

Questions to consider for discussion of essays on pages 93 and 446:

 

  1. Why do you think these authors wrote these essays?
  2. What are some places in these essays where the authors use sensory details?

 

 

August 25: Peer review of Where I Stand.  Receive handouts on Essay notes, Sample Basic Essay, and Out-of-Class Essay #1.  Discuss sensory details and their role in a descriptive essay.  Discuss essays on pages 93 and 446.  Homework:  Prepare revised, third draft of Where I Stand.     Proofreading exercises on redundant, wordy and pompous writing.  Library Assignment due on September 17.  Read pages 5-24 in The Awakening.

 

August 30:  All drafts of Where I Stand are due in a pocket folder.  Pre-write for and prepare rough draft of out-of-class essay #1. Homework:  Finish rough draft and prepare revised, second draft of essay #2 for peer review.  Read selections that begin on pages 49 and 281.  Revision Checklist/Descriptive Paper (You don’t have to write anything on this handout; we’ll use it in the peer review session during the next class.  You should consider the points noted on the checklist in regards to your own paper because these points are important to writing a good paper.)

 

Questions to consider for discussion of selections on pages 49 and 281:

 

  1. Mortality is a theme in both of these selections.  What does each author have to say about mortality?
  2. Note the use of sensory details in each of these selections.

 

September 1:  Peer review of out-of-class essay #1.  Proofreading exercise.  Discuss essays on pages 49 and 281.  Handout:  Final draft checklist.  Homework:  Prepare a revised third draft of essay to turn-in.  Read pages 25-51 in The Awakening.

 

 

September 6:   All drafts and peer review sheets of/for out-of class essay #1 are due.  Discuss and write about The Awakening.  Proofreading exercise.  Review for in-class writing. Homework:  Prepare revised typed draft of reflections on the novel.  Read essays that begin on pages 249 and 597.

Questions to consider for discussion of selections on pages 249 and 597:

 

  1. Both of these are narrative essays because they use the story or narrative of a particular experience to make a point.  What point do you think each author makes in his essay?
  2. The tone of these two essays is quite different.  (Tone is the feeling an author creates in his reader).  What is the tone in each essay and what in the essay contributes to this tone? 

 

September 8: Turn-in reflections on the novel.  In-class writing. Homework:  Read pages 83-102 in The Awakening.

 

September 13:  Discuss essays on pages 249 and 597.  Proofreading exercises.  Receive handouts on out-of-class essay #2 and Mrs. Harrison’s proofreading marks.  Homework:  Read essays that begin on pages 73 and 198.

 

Questions to consider for discussion of selections on pages 73 and 198:

 

  1. Both these essays deal with clashes between classes or races.  What does each author have to say about this issue?
  2. Both these essays have to do with identity.  What does each author have to say about this issue?

 

September 15:  Write a one-minute paper on identity in the essays read for homework.  Share these essays in groups.  Discuss essays on pages 73 and 198.  Pre-write and write rough draft of out-of-class essay #2.  Handout: Revision Checklist/Narrative.  Proofreeading exercise.  Homework: Prepare a revised second draft for peer review.  Read pages 103-129 in The Awakening.

 

September 20:  Peer review of essay.  Homework:  Prepare a revised, third draft of essay to turn in.  Read selections that begin on pages 79 and 192. 

 

Questions to consider for discussion of selections on pages 79 and 192:

 

  1. Both of these selections contain mothers.  Describe the mothers in these two essays.
  2. One element that makes both these selections interesting is the use of irony.  There are many definitions of irony but one that will work here is to say that a situation is ironic when what happens in a narrative is not what one would expect to happen.  Think about how this definition of irony applies to the actions of the narrators in these two selections. 

 

September 22:  Discuss essays on pages 79 and 192.  In-class proofreading practice at one of the following websites: (only for classes that meet in a computer lab.)

http://owl.english.purdue.edu/

http://chompchomp2.com/

http://www.uvsc.edu.owl.writing.htm.

I’ll give you directions in class how to proceed through the sites.  You should note what sections you complete so that the next time we do this, you won’t end up doing  sections again.

 

Homework:  Read pages 130-151 in The Awakening.

 

September 27:  Discuss/write about The Awakening. Homework:  Prepare a revised second draft of reflections on the novel.  Read essays that begin on pages 86 and 112.

 

Questions to consider for discussion of selections on pages 86 and 112:

 

  1. Describe the narrators of these two selections.
  2. What points are the authors making in these selections?

 

September 29:  In-class writing.

 

October 4:  Discuss essays on pages 86 and 112.  Proofreading exercise. Homework:  Read pages 152-190 in The Awakening.

 

October 6:  Discuss The Awakening.  Handout:  Assignment sheet for out-of-class essay #3 (which will be about the novel).  Prepare a rough draft/outline of out-of-class essay #3.  Homework:  Finish rough draft and prepare a second draft for peer review.

 

October 11.  Peer review of second draft.  Revision Checklist/Persuasive. Homework: Read essays that begin on pages 146 and 274.  Prepare a third, and final, draft of out-of-class essay #3 for October 20. 

 

Questions to consider for discussion of selections on pages 146 and 274:

 

  1. Both these narrators describe a moment that for them was life-changing.  What was this moment and how did it change these narrators?
  2. The essay by Alice Walker describes several different scenes and times.  How does she tie all these disparate moments and places together?   

 

October 13: Discuss essays that begin on pages 146 and 274.  Proofreading exercises.  Handout:  Revision Checklist for Writing about Literature.

 

OCTOBER 13 IS ALSO THE DEADLINE TO WITHDRAW FROM A FULL SESSION CLASS WITH A “W.”

 

October 18:  Fall break.  No class.

 

October 20: Turn-in out-of-class essay #3.  Write reflection on essay #3.  Catch-up day.

 

October 25:  In-class writing.  Homework:  Read essays that begin on 810 and 525. 

Questions to consider for discussion of essays on pages 810 and 525.

 

  1. These essays could be classified as persuasive.  Of what are the authors trying to persuade their readers?
  2. Do you agree with these authors?  Why or why not?

 

 

October 27:  Write a response to “Hate Radio.”  (I’ll give you a sheet with questions you need to answer.)  Read in peer groups.  Proofreading.  Homework:  Read essays that begin on pages 493 and 776.   

 

Questions to consider for discussion of selections on pages 493 and 776.

 

  1. Do you agree with Pollitt’s thesis?
  2. See handout on Swift.

 

November 1:  Discuss essays on pages 493 and 776. Handout on out-of-class essay #4.  Brainstorm for topics and turn in a topic to me. Homework:  Read selections that begin on pages 837 and 878.   

 

Questions to consider for discussion of selections on pages 837 and 878.

 

  1. These selections are fiction.  In the Carver story, what is happening between these three people?  Why do we not know the characters’ names?
  2. What does Tan mean by the title “Two Kinds”?

 

 

November 3:  Return topics for essay.  Discuss selection on pages 837 and 878.  Handout:  Documenting Sources.  Homework:  Prepare an outline and rough draft of essay for class on November 11. 

 

November 8:  Work day for essay.  I’ll be in my office to answer questions.

 

November 11:  I’ll check to see if you have your outline and rough draft.  Peer review of rough draft.   Homework:  Prepare a revised, solid second draft of essay for November 17. 

 

November 15:  Work day for essay.  I’ll be in my office to answer questions.

 

November 17:  Peer review of revised draft.  Handout:  Checklist for documented essay.  Homework:  Prepare third, and final, revised draft of out-of-class essay #4.  Proofreading. 

 

November 29:  Collect all drafts of out-of-class essay #4.  Homework:  Read both selections by or about O’Connor that begin on page 854.     

 

Questions to consider for discussion of O’Connor story?

 

  1. Why might this be called a “Christian” story?
  2. Why does O’Connor select the title “A Good Man is Hard to Find”?

 

 

December 1:  Discuss selections that begin on page 854.  Proofreading.  Homework:  Read selections that begin on pages 870 and 888.  Write two questions that could go with each selection.

 

December 6:  Discuss selections on pages 870 and 888.  Proofreading.

 

December 8:  Discuss final exam.    

 

 

 

Grades:

 

 

Library assignment:                            15 points

 

First three out-of-class essays:            30 points

 

Fourth out-of-class essay:                   20 points

 

Three Regent’s practice essays:          15 points

 

Final Exam:                                         10 points

 

Daily grades and class participation:  10 points

 

 

Total:                                                 100 points