J. Graupman
English 1600
Course Syllabus
English 1600 Off-line
Fall 2008
Instructor: Janet Graupman
Contact:
Telephone (661) 763-7700 and leave message
Email: jgraupman@taft.org
Distance Learning Course
Prerequisite: English 1A (English 1500) with a grade of C or better
Catalog Description: This course focuses on critical thinking and
composition through reading of essays, poetry, drama, and fiction. It
introduces critical evaluation, develops techniques of analytical, critical and
argumentative writing, explores inference, evidence, inductive and deductive
reasoning, identification of assumptions, underlying conclusions and other
terms of logical thinking, and continues expository writing (8,000 word
minimum).
Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:
ƒ Demonstrate critical thinking skills
o Show mastery of critical thinking terms
o Recognize errors in thinking
o Distinguish opinion form fact and valid arguments
ƒ Read analytically so that they can
o Evaluation college-level material from a variety of sources
o Analyze critically and interpret and explain connotations,
denotations, and implications
o Know the major genres
o Find, evaluate and use outside sources including professional
criticism to develop their own writing
ƒ Write essays in which they
o Use a clear thesis, good organization, and logical support
o Develop an argument using persuasion, deductive and inductive
reasoning, draw inferences, and make conclusions
o Use developing and supporting details, examples, data and
evidence, and substantiate their interpretations with specific
evidence from text
o Use outside sources, carefully researched and correctly
documented
o Improve and correct logic, style and mechanics of their writing
o Revise content after considering instructor’s and peers’ written
comments
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English 1600
Textbook and Required Materials
Literature: Introduction to Reading and Writing (7th edition) by Edgar
V. Roberts and Henry E. Jacobs (available for rental from the Taft College
Bookstore) and The Color Purple written by Alice Walker (available for
purchase from the Taft College Bookstore).
Supplemental Materials
You may find a thesaurus and/or dictionary helpful. Also, feel free to use
any available online resources, just make sure to cite any references used in
MLA format.
What is Distance Learning Off-line?
Distance Learning Off-line is a mode of delivery that does not require
Internet access. The class material is available through the Taft College
Web page or by contacting the instructor. You do not have to come to
campus. Instead, you will follow the directions given in this syllabus,
complete and submit your assignments by the deadlines given, and contact
me if you have any questions, comments, or concerns. All assignments
must reach me by the deadlines given in the class calendar. You can submit
your assignments by email (best option), through the Taft College Learning
Resource Center (LRC), in person, or mail to my attention to Taft College, 29
Emmons Park Drive, Taft, CA, 93268 (posted date must be on or before due
date). Make sure all work you leave it in the LRC is date stamped. If you
would like your papers returned to you, you need to send me a selfaddressed, stamped envelop in care of the college address.
How Does This Class Work?
You will need to read this syllabus carefully. All assignments are listed with
a detail description, a class calendar and an “at a glance” format that shows
what you need to complete each week. I purposely made the due day on
Saturday, so you would have an extra “non-work week” day to accomplish
the assignment if needed. The assignment will be considered late if received
after midnight of the due date. If there are extenuating circumstances that
make it impossible to get your assignment to me by the due date, please
email or call so we can discuss it. Being on time with your assignments is
vital to your grade. Assignments will always be taken before the due date,
just please double-check to make sure you have your name and the
assignment name on each paper. Late assignments will be taken for up to
one week, but the grade will be lowered by 10% for each day they’re late.
Even though this is a distance learning class, it does not mean you are
completely on your own. You can contact me anytime you have questions or
concerns regarding an assignment or this syllabus. Email is the most
efficient way to get in touch with me. I will always send a “received” email
back to you, so you know for sure that I have received your papers.
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English 1600
Attendance Policy
Because this is a distance learning course, attendance is determined by the
coursework you submit. If you do not submit the first assignment by
the submission deadline listed on the class calendar, I will assume
you do not wish to remain in attendance and will drop you from
class. I will usually not drop you after that date. Students may choose to
drop the course unless the deadline for dropping with a “W” has passed. It
is your responsibility to notify the College if you wish to drop the course.
Plagiarism is not acceptable. Plagiarism refers to using other peoples’
words and/or ideas as your own, either verbatim or by close paraphrasing
without providing necessary quotation marks and/or citations. If you closely
paraphrase material from another source, you must use quotation marks if
appropriate and cite the source. You may cite the source by embedding it in
the text of the paper. Do this by listing, in parentheses and immediately
after the quoted or paraphrased material, the text and pertinent paper
number(s). DO NOT PLAGIARIZE; PLAGIARISM MERITS AND AUTOMATIC
“F” OR “O” ON THE ASSIGNMENT. CONTINUED PLAGIARISM MERITS AN “F’
GRADE IN THE COURSE.
Students who believe they may need accommodations in this class are
encouraged to contact Student Support Services at (661)763-7927 as soon
as possible to better ensure student accommodations are implemented in a
timely fashion.
GENERAL FORMAT OF CLASS
The textbook is divided into four distinct areas:
ƒ
ƒ
ƒ
ƒ
Reading and Writing About Fiction
Reading and Writing About Poetry
Reading and Writing About Drama
Special Writing Topics About Literature
You will be required to read each section (or parts of it), write a personal
review of the material and write an essay evaluating a piece of literature
from that particular genre (i.e., fiction, poetry, drama, literature). There will
not be any tests in this class and the final essay will act as the final test for
the class.
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English 1600
Essays: Each essay should be 3-5 pages, double-spaced with one inch
margins, size 12 font, Times New Roman or Ariel. Each essay should reflect
a close reading of the text concerned, revealing greater meaning than a
mere synopsis or rehashing of the plot. The best writing will always quote
some part of the text and analyze its meaning or connect it to important
theories or establish its current social or cultural relevance. The critical
thinking part of the course is where the student comes up with his or her
own perspective on the texts studied in class. A person’s perspective is
NEVER wrong, AS LONG as it is backed up with some type of proof (i.e.,
examples, analogies, etc.)! Each essay must be intelligent and thoughtful,
demonstrating an effort to provide insight beyond a basic summary of plot
and theme. Remember it is the QUALITY of the essay, not the QUANTITY
that you’re graded on. Longer papers will not necessarily receive a higher
grade. Be as concise as possible. Since an essay is assigned at the end of
each section of the text, you may want to read ahead to better manage your
time with assignments. PROOFREAD every assignment! Having another
person proofread for you is always helpful.
Personal Reviews: Each personal review is not expected to be just a
summary of the information you were asked to read, but rather, a collection
of personal insights for you. In other words, you will tell me what you got
from the reading and how it helped or possibly confused you and why. The
main purpose of the review is for me to know that you actually read the
assignment and have taken the opportunity to assimilate and process the
material and how it relates to your learning. You may review the chapters
assigned individually or together, but each review should be no more than
one page in length per chapter (e.g. 2 chapters assigned, two pages; 3
chapters assigned three pages, etc.). REMEMBER: It’s quality not quantity!
Reading Assignments: This is a very large textbook that uses a very
small font. Literature examples are included throughout the book, so please
don’t feel you have to read every page! You need to read enough to get a
basic understanding of the concepts addressed, and as much as you need to
help you write competent reviews and essays. The final assignment will be
based on the book, “The Color Purple.” Even though it will not be due until
the end of the semester, you might want to start reading it earlier to make
sure you have time to focus on the assignment rather than the reading of
the text.
Important Note About Assignments: ALL assignments must have a
proper heading (your name, class, date, and assignment name – essays
should also have a title) to receive credit.
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J. Graupman
English 1600
ASSIGNMENT SCHEDULE
Week 1: Due by August 30th (will be considered late on Aug. 31st)
Read Chapter 1: Introduction: Reading, Responding to, and Writing About
Literature and write a one-page summary on the chapter. Remember a
summary just gives the basic facts in narrative format. There are many
online sources on summary writing if you need help. Points will be taken off
if the paper is longer than one page. In a separate paper, answer the
questions: What is literature to you? and What is your favorite
genre? These questions can be answered in a couple sentences or a couple
paragraphs, but should be no more than one page for the two combined.
Separate the two questions on the paper and type the question above each
answer.
READING AND WRITING ABOUT FICTION
Week 2: Due by September 6th
Read Chapters 2, 3, and 4 (pages 47-224) and write a Personal Review.
Week 3: Due by September 13th
Read Chapters 5, 6, 7, and 8 (pages 225-392) and write a Personal Review.
Week 4: Due by September 20th
Read Chapters 9, 10, 11, and 12 (pages 393-605) and write a Personal
Review.
Week 5: Due by September 27th
Write an essay on the short story “The Curse” by Andre Dubus (pages 586589 in the textbook). Remember: Your job is to critically analyze the text,
not to write a summary of it. Re-read the “Essays” section above if you
need to.
READING AND WRITING ABOUT POETRY
Week 6: Due by October 4th
Read Chapters 13, 14, 15, and 16 (pages 609-724) and write a Personal
Review.
Week 7: Due by October 11th
Read Chapters 17, 18, and 19 (pages 725-844) and write a Personal Review.
Week 8: Due by October 18th
Read Chapters 20, 21, and 22 (pages 845-954) and write a Personal Review.
Week 9: Due by October 25th
Read Chapters 23, 24, and 25 (pages 955-1160) and write a Personal
Review.
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J. Graupman
English 1600
Week 10: Due by November 1st
Write an essay on T.S. Eliot’s poem “The Love Song of Alfred Prufrock”
(pages 1092-1095). Remember: Your job is to critically analyze the poem
not to write a summary of it. Make sure to discuss any general concepts the
poem may convey as well as any personal issues it might invoke.
READING AND WRITING ABOUT DRAMA
Week 11: Due by November 8th
Read Chapters 26 and 27 (pages 1163-1483) and write a Personal Review.
Week 12: Due by November 15th
Read Chapters 28 and 29 (pages 1484-1730) and write a Personal Review.
Week 13: Due by November 22nd
Read Chapters 30 and 31 (pages 1731-1883) and write a Personal Review.
Week 14: Due by November 29th
Write an essay on Tennessee Williams’ “The Glass Menagerie” (pages 16741723). Be sure to check out page 1727 for a “Demonstrative Student Essay”
on this play. If it would help with understanding, and you can find it, check
out the video before writing your paper.
SPECIAL WRITING TOPICS ABOUT LITERATURE
Week 15: Due by December 6th
Read Chapters 32, 33, 34, and 35 (pages 1887-1952) and write a Personal
Review.
Week 16: Due by December 16th
Read “The Color Purple” and re-read “Everyday Use” (pages 86-92) in the
textbook) by Alice Walker. Critically analyze each text and compare the two.
You may separate your essay into different sections, if that helps (e.g.,
analysis of first piece, analysis of second piece, and a comparison of the two
pieces) *Take note of the almost ten year time span between the writing of
“Everyday Use” and “The Color Purple” and try to determine if Walker’s
writing changed over time.
Week 17: Final Essay must be completed by December 16th
Total Number of Assignments:
ƒ 4 essays
ƒ 11 Personal Reviews
ƒ 1 Chapter Summary
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J. Graupman
English 1600
Assignment Schedule at a Glance
Week
Assignment
Due Date
Chapter 1
Summary & Question Paper
August 30th
Chapters 2, 3, & 4
Personal Review
September 6th
Chapters 5, 6, 7, & 8
Personal Review
September 13th
#4: September 15-19
Chapters 9, 10, 11, & 12
Personal Review
September 20th
#5: September 22-26
Essay on “The Curse”
September 27th
Chapters 13, 14, 15, & 16
Personal Review
October 4th
#7: October 6-10
Chapters 17, 18, & 19
Personal Review
October 11th
#8: October 13-17
Chapters 20, 21, & 22
Personal Review
October 18th
#9: October 20-24
Chapters 23, 24, & 25
Personal Review
October 25th
#10: October 27-31
Essay on “The Love Song of
Alfred Prufrock”
November 1st
#11: November 3-7
Chapters 26 & 27
Personal Review
November 8th
#12: November 10-14
Chapters 28 & 29
Personal Review
November 15th
#13: November 17-21
Chapters 30 & 31
Personal Review
November 22nd
#14: November 24-28
Essay on “The Glass
Menagerie”
November 29th
Chapters 32, 33, 34, & 35
Personal Review
December 6th
#1: August 25-29
#2: September 1-5
#3: September 8-12
#6: Sept. 29-Oct. 3
#15: December 1-5
#16: December 8-12
#17: December 15-19
Final Essay on “The Color
Purple” and “Everyday
Use”
Final Essay on “The Color
Purple” and “Everyday
Use”
December 16th
December 16th
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J. Graupman
English 1600
Grading System
Essay One
=
Essay Two
=
Essay Three
=
Final Essay
=
Personal Reviews =
15%
15%
15%
25%
30%
of
of
of
of
of
your
your
your
your
your
grade
grade
grade
grade
grade
Grade Scale: 90%-100%=A; 80%-89%=B; 70%-79%=C; 60%-69%=D; 59% or below=F
Checking Grades
To check your grades at anytime (give me about a 3-5 day window from the
due date to get them posted) you may access www.eClassInfo.com from the
Internet. Your ID is your last name and your password is the last four digits
of your social security number. If this is not an option for you, or you have
problems with the program, please contact me so we can discuss other
options.
Looking forward to working with you.
Janet Graupman
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