Forms of Literature I 2342 Summer II Semester 2015 MTWTH
CRN 56445
Ms. Cathy Clay
Office and mailbox are located in faculty room 320.
Phone 713-781-2447
Office Hours: By Appointment on Mon-Thurs 10:45 AM-1:00 PM
Email: cathy.clay@hccs.edu
Please turn off all cell phones and other electronic devices and place
them out of view before class begins. Your attention is required in this course,
and progressive disciplinary actions will be taken if you fail to adhere to this requirement.
Ex: Your participation grade will be lowered by two letter grades per offense. From
there further disciplinary action will be taken.
Course Description:
The focus of this course is the study of literary interpretation, critical and rhetorical
analysis, and the research process. Students will write analytical and interpretive essays,
and a research paper with the appropriate documentation.
English 2342 Student Learning Outcomes:
1. Apply basic principles of literary interpretation.
2. Write essays that classify, explain, and evaluate rhetorical and literary strategies
employed in various forms of literature.
3. Identify, differentiate, integrate, and synthesize research materials into critical
and/or analytical essays.
4. Employ appropriate documentation style and format across the spectrum of inclass and out-of-class written discourse.
5. Demonstrate library literacy.
Textbooks:
The Story and Its Writer, 8th edition.
The Little Brown Compact Handbook 8th edition.
Materials Needed:
A dictionary
A folder for research materials
White ruled paper for in-class writing assignments and blue or black ink pens.
Course Objectives:
1. Define and identify common literary devices.
2. Advance students’ ability to develop a strong thesis.
3. Develop strong composition skills, specifically in relation to writing the critical
and analytical essays.
4. Write coherent rhetorical analyses of fiction.
5. Adhere to the documentation and writing guidelines of the Modern Language
Association (MLA).
6. Advance grammar, punctuation, and organizational skills begun in English 1301
and 1302.
7. Gain a greater appreciation for fiction forms.
Teaching Methodology
The course will include lectures and peer feedback on in-class writing assignments. Class
time will also include in depth discussions about the reading assignments and essay
preparation. Over the course of the semester, you will write 1 essay outside of class, 1 in-class
essay, and a research paper. All essays (except the in-class essays) must be typed, double spaced,
in 12-point font Times Roman. All segments of the research paper must be typed and formatted
according to the MLA Style. You will also be required to complete short essay questions on your
final examination.
Academic Dishonesty
Please see the Student Handbook for the Houston Community College System, regarding
scholastic dishonesty. Please note that cheating on a test, plagiarism, and collusion
(unauthorized collaboration) will not be tolerated. Academic dishonesty will result in
receiving a zero for the assignment in question, and may result in failing the course, or
recommendation for academic probation, or recommendation for dismissal from HCCS.
Class Practices and Procedures
1. Telephones and other electronic devices should be turned off prior to
entering class. Failure to adhere to this policy will result in disciplinary
action.
2. Attendance: College policy stipulates that any student who misses more 12.5% of
instruction is subject to administrative withdrawal (three class meetings). Four
absences of any kind will result in a performance grade of F. Your regular
attendance and on-time arrival for class are absolutely essential to your success in
this class. Additionally, attendance is a component of participation and your final
grade, and it will suffer accordingly if you do not attend class. Excessive
tardiness, running in and out of class and early departures from class may count as
unexcused absences. You are required to arrive on time.
3. Late and make-up assignments are not permitted. All out of class assignments are
due at the start of class on the due date. I reserve the right not to accept late
work. You know the due dates for every assignment in this class. Workshop
assignments will not be accepted late and they are due at the beginning of
class on the assigned due date as are all assignments. You must participate in
Workshop in order to receive credit for the assignment in addition to turning in
the written assignment. All assignments must be submitted to me.
4. Tutoring: Free tutoring is available at the Northline Campus in the Learning
Center. Tutors are available during the day and night and on the weekends. Check
for hours of operations. Also, on-line tutoring is available at
www.hccs.askonline.net; students can self-register.
5. Withdrawal: The last day for withdrawals is August 3, 2015. You must complete
the necessary forms with registration prior to this date.
6. Tardiness: Arrive on time. I will call roll at the beginning of every class.
7. Participation is required in this course. You will receive a participation
grade.
8. Classroom decorum consists of only one person speaking at a time. There
will be no conversations during the instructor’s lectures. Do not disrupt
lectures and classroom activities. Profanity is unacceptable in this classroom.
9. Assignments: Failure to attend one class does not excuse a student from preparing
for the following class. Also, I may modify assignments on the syllabus.
Therefore, I encourage you to exchange contact information with at least two
classmates, so that you can stay abreast of all assignments.
Students with disabilities
Any student with a documented disability (e.g. physical, learning, psychiatric,
developmental, vision, hearing, etc.) who needs to arrange reasonable accommodations
must contact the Disability Support Services (DSS) Counselor at the beginning of each
semester. The DSS Counselor’s phone number is 713-718-8420.
EGLS3 — Evaluation for Greater Learning Student Survey
System
At Houston Community College, professors believe that
thoughtful student feedback is necessary to improve teaching
and learning. During a designated time, you will be asked to
answer a short online survey of research-based questions related
to instruction. The anonymous results of the survey will be
made available to your professors and division chairs for
continual improvement of instruction. Look for the survey as
part of the Houston Community College Student System online
near the end of the term.
Grading Standards
Your final course grade will be determined in accordance with the following
recommendations as set forth by the Sophomore Discipline Committee:
A (90-100) = exceptionally fine work: superior in mechanics, style, and content.
B (80-89) = above average work: superior in one or two areas of mechanics, style, and
content.
C (70-79) = average quality work: good but not exceptional.
D (60-69) = below average work: noticeable weak in mechanics, style, and content.
F (0-59) = failing work: clearly deficient in mechanics, style, and content. Evidence of
plagiarism is an automatic F.
Distribution of final grade:
One in-class essay
One out of class essay
Research Paper
Participation
Final Essay
Reflections
Presentation
Short Story
15%
15%
20%
10%
15%
10%
10%
5%
Total
100%
I reserve the right to make changes to the syllabus as needed. Readings with an *
require reflection.
Course Calendar and Assignments
7/13
Introduction to the course.
Writing sample and Literary devices.
7/14
Thesis statements. Stories: “An Act of Vengeance,” “Happy Endings,”
“Sonny’s Blues,” and “The Lesson*”. Emphasis: The Convergence of
Reality and Fiction. Literary Analysis. LB: pgs. 377-86. Literary Theory
and Critical Perspectives.
Run-on sentences and sentence fragments. LB: pgs. 245-48.
7/15
Stories: “The Werewolf,” “Cathedral,” “What We Talk About When We
Talk About Love*,” “Paul’s Case,” and “The Swimmer.” The Comma.
LB: pgs. 261-72. Writing About Literature.
LB: pgs.104-19. Planning and shaping the entire essay. Transitional
phrases. LB: pgs. 44-45.
7/16
Stories: “Désirée’s Baby*,” “The Story of an Hour,” and
“Barbie-Q.” Emphasis: Theme. The Elements of Fiction.
Assign Research Paper Topics. Research paper will consist of five
MLA formatted pages.
Library Orientation.
7/20
LB: Drafting Paragraphs, 45-49.
Complex Sentence Structure. LB: pgs. 192-93. Stories: “Night Women,”
“Television,” “Battle Royal,” and “The Red Convertible*”.
LB: Revising and editing pgs. 370-71. The Sentence Outline. LB: pgs.4849.
7/21
Essay 1 in class.
Documentation and Plagiarism. LB: CH. 58, pgs. 402-25. Emphasis:
Magical Realism: Stories: “A Rose for Emily,” “That Evening Sun,” “The
Moths,” and “A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings*”.
7/22
LB: Chapter 58, pgs. 426-58. Thesis statement and preliminary outline
of research paper are due for workshop. Stories: “Look on the Bright
Side,” “Bartleby the Scrivener*,” “The Yellow Wallpaper,” with its
Related Casebook, “The Bride,” and “Rappaccini’s Daughter.” Emphasis:
Characterization. Balanced sentences.
Assign essay 2.
7/23
Class activity.
Intro and sources for term paper are due for workshop. Two books
and one article required. Maximum of four sources. Stories: “Church
Cancels Cow,” “In the Cemetery Where Al Jolson Is Buried,” “The Gilded
Six Bits,” and “Sweat*”.
.
7/27
Film.
7/28
Stories: “The Real Thing,” “The White Heron” and Related Commentary,
“Dirty Wedding,” “Bad Neighbors,” “Araby*,” and “Girl.” Emphasis:
Imagery.
Typed rough draft of research paper is due: Workshop.
Active versus passive voice. LB: Pgs. 212-14.
7/29
Stories: “A Woman on a Roof,” “Shiloh*,” and “The Necklace.”
Emphasis: Plot. Stories by Flannery O’Connor: “Everything That Rises
Must Converge,” “Good Country People” and “A Good Man Is Hard to
Find*.”
7/30
Presentations. Class activity.
8/3
Final draft of research paper is due. Late papers will not be accepted.
Emphases: Horror and Fantasy. Stories by Edgar Allan Poe: “The Cask of
Amontillado,” “The Fall of the House of Usher*,” and “The Tell-Tale
Heart.”
8/4
Emphasis: Moral. Stories: “The Girl with Bangs,” “A Worn Path,” “The
Use of Force,” and “The Man Who Was Almost a Man.*” Reflections
are due.
8/5
View film adaptation of a dramatic play.
8/6
Film cont’d. Class activity: Composing fiction.
8/10
Composing fiction.
8/11
Workshop
8/12
Final essay.