Literature/Freshman Composition

English 102 Syllabus

Objectives:

1. To make the pleasure and wisdom of literature available to you, largely by showing you that literature contains no "hidden meanings," rather that the meaning is what you, the reader, develop as you engage the work.
2. To help you develop your writing as both a tool of discovery as well as a tool of communication, one that you can use outside the study of literature.
3. To introduce you to both the lexicon and conventions of the three genres, short fiction, poetry, and drama.

Course Structure and Assignments:

This course consists of three units:  the short story, poetry, and drama.  There will be a midterm, which will cover short fiction, and a final, which will cover poetry and drama.  Also, you will write three papers outside of class.  Each will be an analysis of two pieces of literature, comparing and contrasting what you consider important features of both.  If you so choose, one of the three papers can be a creative work of your own – e.g., a short story, or a collection of a minimum of three poems, or a scene from a play.  All papers are to be typed and should abide by formal manuscript conventions.  A late paper will fall one grade for each class missed, and no work will be accepted after the last day of the semester.  In addition, you will develop a Response Journal – a collection of written responses, each from a half to two pages long – to readings from the text and, if you like, to a live production of a play and a poetry reading.

Texts:

1.      DeYanni, Robert.  Literature:  Readings in  Fiction, Poetry, and Drama.  6^th Ed.  New York:  McGraw-Hill, 2003.

2.      A good dictionary

Grading:

If you miss more than three classes, you will likely be dropped.  A Late paper will fall a full grade for each week late.  You are welcome to rewrite your first essay if it receives a “C” grade or less.  And as for plagiarism, there will be none.  For further discussion see "Academic Honesty" in the Cerritos College Catalogue.

Grading Criteria:

·        A:  An "A" paper commands attention because of the insightful development and mature style.  It presents a cogent discussion of its subject using valid comparisons and balanced contrasts and employs well-chosen examples and persuasive reasoning.  It shows that the writer can choose words aptly, use sophisticated sentences effectively, and observe the conventions of written English.  It acknowledges outside sources in accord with the MLA format.

·        B:  A "B" paper is clearly competent.  It presents a thoughtful dis­cussion of its subject, and it uses appropriate examples and sensible reasoning.  The comparison/ contrast may be well structured but weak, lacking validity or balance.  A "B" paper typically has a less fluent and complex style than an "A" paper but does show that the writer can usually choose words accurately, vary sentences effectively, and observe the conventions of written English.  It does not use outside sources, or it fails to abide by the MLA format.

·        C:  A "C" paper is satisfactory, sometimes marginally so.  It presents an adequate discussion of its subject and elaborates with sufficient examples and acceptable reasoning.  Just as these examples and this reasoning will ordinarily be less developed than those in "B" papers, so will the "C" paper's style be less effective.  The comparison/contrast may lack structure. Nevertheless, a "C" paper shows that its writer can usually choose words of sufficient precision, control sentences of reasonable variety, and observe the conventions of written English.

·        D:  A "D" paper is unsatisfactory in one or more of the following ways.  It may discuss its subject illogically; it may lack coherent structure or elaboration with examples; it may reflect an incomplete understanding of the subject.  Its prose is usually characterized by at least one of the following:  frequently imprecise word choice; little sentence variety; occasional major errors in grammar and usage, or frequent minor errors.

·        F:  The qualitative "F" paper shows serious weaknesses, ordinarily of several kinds.  It frequently presents a simplistic, inappropriate, or incoherent discussion of the topic, one that may suggest some significant misunderstanding of its subject.  Its prose is usually characterized by at least one of the following:  simplistic or inaccurate word choice, monotonous or fragmented sentence structure; many repeated errors in grammar and usage.  The quantitative "F" fails to arrive on time.

Update:  27 August 2003