Wayland Baptist University
Learning Annex
Summer II, 2008 (Five Week Term 7/7-8/8)
Tuesday and Friday evenings 5:30-10:00
Instructor: Rebecca A. Powell, M.A.
E-mail: HYPERLINK "mailto:professorpowell@gmail.com"
professorpowell@gmail.com
Additional method: Telephone 429-9121 between 3:00 and 8:00 pm M-F
Office Hours: 5:00-5:30 pm Tuesday and Friday evenings at the Learning Annex
Telephone Hours: M-F 3:00-8:00 pm
ENGL 1302.1 Composition and Reading
Catalog Course Description: Readings from imaginative literature; the research paper and shorter
critical and interpretive essays. Course should be taken within first year of enrollment.
Additional Description: Students will learn how to read, interpret and appreciate written works and how
to write clearly and effectively, using the writing process. Class discussions and exercises will center on
close readings of assignments, group work, individual practice, creative writings and peer editing. All
reading assignments must be completed prior to each class meeting.
Prerequisite: English 1301 Composition and Rhetoric. Course should be taken within the first year of
enrollment.
Required Textbook:
Booth, Hunter, Mays, editors. The Norton Introduction to Literature: Shorter 9th Edition. New York:
W.W. Norton & Co., 2006
Suggested Texts:
Hacker, Diana, ed., The Bedford Handbook. 6th Edition. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin's. 2002,
or similar writing handbook.
Recommended Materials:
5 pocket portfolios or similar slender folders for submitting Critical Response Essays
Composition book for in class writing assignments
Supply of loose-leaf college ruled 81/2” by 11” paper for essay exam
Collegiate dictionary
White out
Course Outcome Competencies: Upon the conclusion of this course, students actively engaged in
learning will be able to:
1. Comprehend the importance of imaginative literature as it relates to other disciplines, the
University’s liberal arts mission, and the world at large.
2. Discuss three major literary genres: short fiction, poetry, and drama.
3. Identify and analyze basic elements of literature.
4. Use and refine reading, research, and writing skills to support a clear point of view in regard to
a piece of literature.
5. Demonstrate the ability to read critically and communicate persuasively.
The more the student puts into the course, the higher his or her outcome competencies will be.
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Course Requirements and Means of Assessment:
Points are assigned as follows:
Assignment:
Readings (approx. 20-50
pgs/class)
Critical Response Essays
Oral Presentations
Attendance and Participation
Final Exam:
Due:
At beginning of each class
Total Points Possible:
0
Classes 2, 3, 4, 6, 7
Summary and plan: Class 8
Presentation: Class 9
Each class
Class 10
40%
10%
Total percentage possible
20%
30%
100%
Grades are assigned according to the following scale:
90-100 = A ("Excellent")
80-89 = B ("Good")
70-79 = C ("Average")
60-69 = D ("Poor")
Below 60 = F ("Failing")
Critical Response Essays (40%):
These critical response essays are designed to show your competence in discussing the three genres (short
story, poetry and drama) we cover in this class. Essays are generally one to two pages in length, typed,
APA format. Responses are assessed for proper length and format and critical content. Essays are due at
the beginning of each class.
Oral Presentations (10%):
You will make a short (10-15 minutes) oral presentation on one of the three genres we cover this term:
short story, poetry or drama. An outline and typed summary or paraphrase of the text to be presented must
be submitted for review in Class 8 and must be turned in on the day of your presentation (Class 9).
Final Exam: Written (30%):
Your final exam will cover some of the elements of literature we have studied in the three genres covered
in this class.
Attendance and Participation (20%):
Attendance and participation are extremely important. Be prepared for class discussions, oral review,
reading selections from the text, providing feedback during group exercises, peer editing, and
contributing to a positive experience for classmates during this term. I generally excuse one absence if
you provide proper notification. However, I handle any absence or tardy on a case-by-case basis. Be
advised that if you have 3 or more absences, you run the risk of failing this course. Additional attendance
policies for each course, as defined by the instructor in the course syllabus, are considered a part of the
University’s attendance policy.
Tardiness is disruptive to the instructor, your fellow students and yourself. Generally, coming to class
more than half an hour late or leaving more than half an hour early means you could lose points for that
class.
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If you must miss class or will be more than half an hour late or are leaving early, please leave a message
at the Wayland office or notify me in advance. All late/make up work is your responsibility and is due
by Class 9. Unexcused late assignments will receive point deductions.
Classroom Policies:
During class meetings, no cell phones, pagers or other interruptions are allowed. Each student is
encouraged to communicate with me regarding concerns or questions about class material or expectations.
I ask that each student respect the learning environment by refraining from using profane language or
inappropriate comments in written work and in the classroom.
Academic Honesty: Plagiarism (copying another’s ideas or words and presenting them as your own) is a
serious academic offense. Be sure you have not borrowed or stolen anyone else's writing. A simple rule:
give credit where credit is due. We will cover proper source citation in this class. If I determine your
written work has been plagiarized, all or in part, you will receive an "F" for the entire assignment and
could receive an "F" for the course. No form of cheating will be tolerated.
WBU Statement: It is University policy that no otherwise qualified disabled person be excluded from
participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subject to discrimination under any educational program
or activity in the University. Students should inform the instructor of existing disabilities at the first class
meeting. (Documentation of disability may be required.)
Attendance: As stated in the Wayland Catalog, students enrolled at one of the University’s external
campuses should make every effort to attend all class meetings. All absences must be explained to the
instructor, who will then determine whether the omitted work may be made up. When a student reaches
that number of absences considered by the instructor to be excessive, the instructor will so advise the
student and file an unsatisfactory progress report with the campus dean. Any student who misses 25
percent or more of the regularly scheduled class meetings will receive a grade of F in the course.
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TENTATIVE INSTRUCTIONAL SCHEDULE (Note: This schedule is subject to change at the
discretion of the instructor.)
Date
Tues 7/8
Note:
Please
read prior
to Class 1:
pg. 12-30
Fri 7/11
Class
1
2
Business/Discussion/Exercises
Homework/Notes
General Business: syllabus overview and course
expectations; introductions. Review reading and
writing effectively.
Discussion: Elements of short stories: Plot, Setting,
Characters, Themes and Symbolism
Listen to a story on CD.
Readings for Class 2:
“Why I Live at the
P.O.” p. 140-153 (listen
to the story as you read
(CD track 3)
In Class written response – practice exercise:
summaries and developing thesis statements. (pp.
1686-1687; 1701-1702)
Writing for Class 2:
CRE 1: “Characters”
Write a 1-2 pg. essay
combining an answer to
questions #1 and #2
from pg. 153.
Readings for Class 3:
“The Open Boat” pp.
347-359
General Business: Collect CRE 1;
Discussion and Exercises: Review responses to
“Why I Live at the P.O.” Compare this story with
“Cathedral.”
Preparation for readings in Class 3: Begin “The
Open Boat” (pg. 343-347) in class.
In Class Exercise: Group Response to
questions #2, 3, and 4 on pg. 360.
Tues 7/15
3
General Business: Collect CRE 2. Return CRE 1;
Discussion: Whole text analysis of “The Open Boat.”
Creative Writing: In class: Draft a short story
depicting a character whose life is imperiled by
natural forces beyond his/her control.
Preparing for Poetry (use CD selections).
Fri 7/18
4
General Business: Return CRE 2; collect CRE 3
Discussion: Tone, Speaker, Situation and Setting in
assigned poems.
Tues 7/22
5
Group Exercises: Paraphrasing poetry. (p.16851686)
Preparations for readings in Class 5
General Business: Return CRE 3
Discussion and exercises: Poetic language and
structure; connotations and denotations of words.
In Class written response – practice exercise:
figurative language.
Writing for Class 3:
CRE 2: “Symbolism”
Write a 1-2 pg. essay
answering #8 pg. 361
Readings for Class 4:
pp. 595-615
Writing for Class 4:
CRE 3: “Marriage
Theme” Write a 1 pg.
essay response to #3 pg.
615
Readings for Class 5:
Language pp. 682-727;
(listen to poem
selections on the CD)
No writing for class 5
Readings for Class 6:
Stanza Forms and The
Way a Poem Looks pp.
790-802
Writing for Class 6:
CRE 4:Write paragraph
4
Preparation for Readings in Class 6
Fri 7/25
6
General Business: Collect CRE 4
Discussion: Analysis of selected poems.
In Class Exercise: Creating poetry from a visual
prompt.
responses to questions
following “Do Not Go
Gentle”, “Sestina” and
“Here I Am”
Readings for Class 7:
“Death of A Salesman”
p. 1556-1586 (Act I)
Writing for Class 7:
CRE 5: Characters:
Write a 1 pg. analysis
of a character in Act I.
Predict an outcome for
that character.
Preparing For Drama “Trifles” p. 1046-1055
Tues 7/29
7
General Business: Return CRE 4; Collect CRE 5
Discussion and exercises: Act 1 of selected play and
film clip.
Exercise: In Class Writing:
Fri 8/1
8
General Business: Return CRE 5; discuss oral
presentations.
Discussion and exercises: Act 2 and Requiem of
selected play. Film clip.
Individual work on Oral Presentations and/or
creative writing assignments.
Tues 8/5
9
General Business: Submit creative writing
assignments for extra points.
Oral Presentations: Fiction, Poetry or Drama
selection (submit outline and summary/paraphrase)
Fri 8/8
10
Review for Final Exam
General Business: Final Exam: Written,
Open Book
Readings for Class 8:
Act 2 and Requiem pp.
1586-1621
Writing for Class 8:
Prepare a summary and
outline or plan for oral
presentation.
Writing for Class 9:
Work on oral
presentations.
Finalize creative
writing assignments for
extra points.
Review material read
and discussed during
classes 1-8.
No new readings for
Class 10
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