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COMPOSITION II ENGLISH 102
Course # 25511 Section# 102
Spring 2011
3 Credits
Great Basin College
Instructor: Doris Bessett
Email: dorisbessett@sbcglobal.net or dorisb@gwmail.gbcnv.edu
Course Description:
English 102 is a continuation of English 101 and is designed to reinforce the
writing skills learned in English 101, as well as to introduce students to the study
of literature. Units on the short story, poetry, and drama will focus on expanding
students’ critical thinking abilities through class discussions and essays on the
literature. An in-depth research paper will require the students to research a
topic related to the course of study and write critically about it.
The units on the short story, poetry, and drama will consist of studying elements,
reading, analyzing, discussing , and writing a documented essay on each unit.
The three units will demonstrate the use and effectiveness of the various literary
elements.
The students will review and utilize the MLA format in essays and research.
A research paper on some aspect of literature will be the final project for the class.
Text:
SF Writer, 4th edition., Ruskiewicz, Seward, Hairston
How To Lie with Statistics, Darrell Huff
The SF Writer will assist the students in writing, language use, and presentation.
MLA format, documentation, and works cited will also be reviewed.
How to Lie with Statistics will assist students in understanding statistics for use
In the research writing.
Supplies:
One 3.5, double-sided, high density disk or flash disk
3 ring binder
Pencil, blue or black pen
The notebook will have four sections:
 Class notes
 Vocabulary development
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

Literary elements
Prewriting and organization for essays and the research paper.
Grades:
Students will receive a letter grade based on essays, assignments, notebook,
attendance, and the research paper:
 Essays:
30%
 Research paper
40%
 Assignments
20%
 Attendance
10%
Grades will be based on percentages:
 A = 90-100%
 B = 80-89%
 C = 70-79%
 D = 60-69%
Attendance:
Promptness and regular attendance are encouraged. Late entrants will lose points
for the first 10 minutes. Anyone entering the class after ten minutes will be
considered as absent. Any in-class assignments that are missed may not be made
up.
Course Expectations: The student will:
 Attend class regularly
 Examine returned papers to identify errors and consider suggestions.
Recurrence of the same errors is not acceptable.
 Submit all work on time. Late work will not be accepted.
 Take notes in class.
 Make an effort to improve writing skills and vocabulary.
 Ask questions.
 Seek help.
 Participate in discussions.
 Develop objectivity in forming opinions.
Academic Success Center:
Along with in-class instruction, the instructor’s assistance, and student tutors, online tutoring is available at GBCTutor.Elko.GBC@gwmail.gbcnv.edu.
Services for Students with Disabilities
Great Basin College is committed to providing equal educational opportunities
to qualifies students with disabilities in accordance with state and federal laws
and regulations, including the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. A qualified student must furnish
current verification of disability. The ADA Officer, located in Berg Hall, will
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assist qualified students in securing the appropriate and reasonable
accommodations, auxiliary aids, and services. For more information or further
assistance, please call 775-753-2271.
Academic Integrity:
Students are expected to be honest. Acts such as cheating and plagiarism are
violations of the University of Nevada’s Code of Conduct as well as violations
of the standards of intellectual honesty. Students who violate these standards are
subject to consequences ranging from dismissal from a class to dismissal from the
academic institution.
LEARNER OUTCOMES:
The Student will:
MEASUREMENT:
Study short story elements
Read short stories
Analyze short stories
Study poetry styles
Read poems
Analyze poems
Study elements of drama
Analyze plays
Improve vocabulary
Recognize and use literary elements
Research topics for essays, research paper
Write three essays
Write a research paper
Use MLA style
Document essays and research paper
Formulate works cited lists
Participate in group activities
Notebook entries, discussion
Discussion, assignments
Discussion, assignments
Notebook entries, discussion
Discussion, assignments
Discussion, assignments
Notebook entries, assignments
Discussion, assignments
Notebook, essays, research paper
Notebook, discussion, written work
Observation, written work
Essay evaluation
Research paper evaluation
Written work evaluation
Written work evaluation
Written work evaluation
Observation
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Course Outline
English 102
1/25
Preview syllabus
Preview course outline
Preview text
Discuss statistics essay
Discuss Macbeth performance on 2/19
Introduce research paper
Assign:
SF Writer Chap. 21
1/27
Discuss Chap. 21
Assign
SF Writer Chap. 22-25
2/1
Discuss readings
Discuss Chap. 26
Review MLA format
Assign
Research paper
7-10 pagers
Min. 5 sources
Due May 9
5
2/3
Introduce How to Lie with Statistics
Assign
Chap. 1-6
Documented essay on topic requiring statistics Due 2/17 (3 sources)
2/8
Discuss readings
Assign
Chap 7-9
2/10
Discuss readings
Assign
Chap 10
2/15
Discuss reading
Work on essay
Read summary of Macbeth
2/17
Statistics paper due
Discuss elements of drama
Actors
Spectators
Watching
Reading
Burlesque
Farce
Commedia dell’arte
Slapstick
Romantic
Assign
Attend Macbeth performance 2/19 7PM
Write essay critiquing the play – due 2/22
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2/22
Discuss play
Essay on play due
Discuss elements of the short story
Discuss short story essay due 3/29
Assign: Point of View
William Faulkner: “A Rose for Emily”
Eudora Welty: Why I Live at the P.O.”
2/24
Discuss
“A Rose for Emily” – Point of View
“Why I Live at the P.O.” – Point of View
Suggestions for essay
Assign: Character
Katherine Ann Porter – “The Jilting of Granny Weatherall”
Isaac Bashevis Singer – “ Gimpel the Fool”
3/1
Discuss
“The Jilting of Granny Weatherall
“Gimpel the Fool”
Assign: Setting
Jack London – “to Build a Fire”
Kate Chopin – “The Storm”
3/3
Play critique due
Discuss : Setting
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“To Build a Fire”
“The Storm”
Assign: Tone and Style
William Faulkner – “Barn Burning”
Guy de Maupassant – “The Necklace
3/8
Discuss Tone and Style
“Barn Burning”
“The Necklace”
Assign Theme
Stephen Crane – “the Open Boat”
Kurt Vonnegut” – “Harrison Bergeron”
3/10
Discuss Theme
“The Open Boat”
“Harrison Bergeron”
Assign: Symbol
John Steinbeck – “The Chrysanthemum”
Shirley Jackson – “The Lottery”
3/15
Discuss Symbol
“The Chrysanthemum”
“The Lottery”
Assign: Essay on Short Story due 3/29
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Discuss topics
Review MLA format
3/17
Work on short story essay
3/21-3/25 Spring Recess
3/29
Short Story essay due
Introduce Poetry – Reading a Poem
Verse
Lyric – D.H. Lawrence “Piano”
Narrative – Robert Frost “Out, Out…”
DramaticMonologue – Robert Browning “My Last Duchess”
Didactic – John Dyer – “The Fleece”
Assign:
Read designated poems
Paraphrase one of the readings
3/21
Paraphrasing due
Discuss readings
Present Listening to Voice
Tone: Theodore Roethke- “”My Papa’s Waltz”
Person in the poem – Edward Arlington Robinson – “Luke Havergal”
Irony: W. H. Auden – “The Unknown Citizen”
Assign: Read designated poems
4/5
Discuss readings
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Present Writer’s Perspective
Literal meaning – William Carlos Williams “This Is Just to Say”
Value of dictionary – Henry Wadsworth Longfellow “Aftermath”
Allusion – Carl Sandburg “Grass”
Neoclastic period/Augustan Age – Thomas Hardy “The Ruined Maid”
Assignment: read designated poems
4/7
Discuss readings
Present Imagery
Assign: Rea: Elizabeth Bishop: “the Fish”
4/12
Discuss “The Fish”
Figures of Speech
Metaphor, simile: Emily Dickinson: “My Life Had Stood – A Loaded
Gun”
Personification
Hyperbole
Metonymy
Read designated poem
4/14
Discuss “My Life Had Stood a Loaded Gun”
Songs
Ballad: John Lennon, Paul McCartney: “Eleanor Rigby”
Alliteration/assonance: Alfred, Lord Tennyson: “The Splendor Falls on
Castle Walls”
Rime
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Rhythm: A. E. Housman: “When I Was One-and-Twenty”
Assignment: Read designated poems
4/19
Discuss assigned readings
Forms:
Blank verse: “This Living Hand , Now Warm and Capable”
Couplet
Tercet
Quatrain: Robert Graves: “Counting the Beats”
4/21
Discuss assigned readings
Forms:
Sonnets
English/Shakespearean: “Let Me Not To The Marriage of True
Minds”
Italian/Petrarchan: Edna St. Vincent Millay: “What Lips My Lips
Have Kissed, And Where, And Why”
Epigram: E.E. Cummings: “A Politician”
Open Form:
Free verse: William Carlos Williams: “The Dance”
Symbol: Emily Dickinson: “The Lightning Is a Yellow Fork”
Assign: read assigned poems
4/26
Discuss assigned readings
Review poetry
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Review MLA format
Review common errors
Suggestions for poetry essay
11/24
Work on poetry essay
2-5 pages
3 sources
Due 5/3
5/3
Poetry essay due
Discuss research paper
Review topics
Review MLA Format
Length 7-10 pages
Due 5/9
5/5
Work on final paper
5/9
Final Paper due
5/11
Final paper returned
Grades issued
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