Newcomb 1
English 206-01/General Honors Composition II—Dystopias
Fall 2010—Meets GE III Requirement
Class Location: Humanities 212
Time: Tuesdays and Fridays, 8:00-9:15 a.m.
Instructor: Dr. Erin Newcomb
Office Hours: Fridays, 9:30-11:30 a.m. in JFT 702a
Email: newcombe@newpaltz.edu
Description:
One of the primary purposes of fiction is to explore alternative worlds so that we can better
understand our own realities; in dystopian works of fiction, the authors imagine possible worlds
where life and society deteriorate. Often set in the future, authors of dystopian works tend to
ask questions about who we are and where our choices—in the realms of politics, relationships,
technology, and religion—might be leading us. This course allows us to speculate along with
these authors and their characters, to imagine both the best and the worst potential scenarios
for humans, and to consider the logical conclusions of our current beliefs, actions, and policies.
The course is reading-heavy and writing-intensive; you are expected to complete a number of
formal writing assignments as well as in-class writing exercises, participate meaningfully in class
discussions, and engage with the readings and the course theme in thoughtful ways.
Texts: (available at the campus bookstore; all novels are also on reserve in the campus library)
Atwood, Margaret. The Handmaid’s Tale. New York, NY: Random House, 1986. Print.
Bradbury, Ray. Fahrenheit 451. New York, NY: Ballantine Books, 1953. Print.
Dick, Philip K. Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep. New York, NY: Ballantine Books, 1968. Print.
Hospital, Janette Turner. Oyster. New York, NY: W.W. Norton & Co., 1996, Print.
Lowry, Lois. The Giver. New York, NY: Del Laurel Leaf, 1983, Print.
Orwell, George. 1984. New York, NY: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1949. Print.
Troyka, Lynn and Douglas Hesse, Eds. Simon and Schuster Handbook for Writers. 9th ed. Custom
for SUNY New Paltz. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, 2009. Print. (abbreviated as
SS)
Objectives:
 To recognize selected texts of classic and modern literature.
 To read, analyze, and interpret classic and modern literature effectively.
 To increase the ability to write well-developed, well-organized, clear essays.
 To increase the ability to write correctly, grammatically, and coherently.
 To develop the abilities to reason, to think critically (i.e., to analyze, to infer, to
synthesize, to interpret, and to evaluate information).
 To develop the ability to argue effectively (i.e., to develop a position, reasons, warrants,
and evidence).
 To analyze and evaluate arguments (i.e., premise, deductive and inductive reasoning,
forms of appeal, logical fallacies, and forms of evidence).
 To develop methods of conducting research (i.e., develop a research topic and search
strategy, use general or specialized databases, use Internet search engines; locate,
Newcomb 2




retrieve, and evaluate information sources; construct a bibliography; and organize and
synthesize information).
To evaluate sources of information using criteria such as currency, authority, objectivity,
accuracy, specificity, and relevance.
To use information ethically and legally, avoiding plagiarism.
To develop oral presentation skills (i.e., present expressive, informative, or persuasive
speeches).
To critique the oral and written discourse of members of the class.
Schedule:
Sept. 17—End Add/Drop; Nov. 5—End Course Withdrawal
Week 1
Day/Date
Tuesday, August 24
Friday, August 27
Readings Due
No Readings Due
“The Lottery,” Shirley Jackson
http://www.americanliteratur
e.com/Jackson/SS/TheLottery.
html
Writing Due
In-Class Writing
In-Class Writing
Readings Due
1984 (Part 1)
1984 (Part 2)
Writing Due
In-Class Writing
In-Class Writing
Readings Due
NO CLASSES—ROSH
HASHANAH
NO CLASSES—ROSH
HASHANAH
Writing Due
NO CLASSES—ROSH
HASHANAH
NO CLASSES—ROSH
HASHANAH
Day/Date
Tuesday, September 14
Readings Due
1984 (Part 3)
Friday, September 17
The Giver (Chapters 1-7)
Writing Due
Rough Draft, Dystopian
Narrative and Cover Letter
Due
In-Class Writing
Week 2
Day/Date
Tuesday, August 31
Friday, September 3
Week 3
Day/Date
Tuesday, September 7
Friday, September 10
Week 4
Week 5
Day/Date
Tuesday, September 21
Readings Due
The Giver (Chapters 8-14)
Writing Due
In-Class Writing
Library Session—
Newcomb 3
Friday, September 24
The Giver (Chapters 15-23)
Meet in STL-18
In-Class Writing
Week 6
Day/Date
Tuesday, September 28
Readings Due
The Handmaid’s Tale
(Chapters 1-11)
Friday, October 1
The Handmaid’s Tale
(Chapters 12-23)
Writing Due
Final Draft, Dystopian
Narrative and Cover Letter
Due
In-Class Writing
Week 7
Day/Date
Tuesday, October5
Readings Due
The Handmaid’s Tale
(Chapters 24-35)
The Handmaid’s Tale
(Chapters 36-Historical Notes)
Rough Draft Research Essay
Due
Readings Due
NO CLASSES—FALL BREAK
Review Readings to Date
Writing Due
NO CLASSES—FALL BREAK
Mid-Term Exam
Readings Due
Fahrenheit 451 (Part 1)
Fahrenheit 451 (Part 2)
Writing Due
In-Class Writing
Final Draft, Research Essay
Due
Readings Due
Fahrenheit 451 (Part 3)
Oyster (Pages 1-86)
Writing Due
In-Class Writing
In-Class Writing
Day/Date
Tuesday, November 2
Readings Due
Oyster (Pages 87-149)
Friday, November 5
Oyster (Pages 150-232)
Writing Due
Rough Draft, Literary Analysis
Due
In-Class Writing
Readings Due
Oyster (Pages 233-304)
Writing Due
In-Class Writing
Friday, October 8
Writing Due
In-Class Writing
Week 8
Day/Date
Tuesday, October 12
Friday, October 15
Week 9
Day/Date
Tuesday, October 19
Friday, October 22
Week 10
Day/Date
Tuesday, October 26
Friday, October 29
Week 11
Week 12
Day/Date
Tuesday, November 9
Newcomb 4
Friday, November 12
Oyster (Pages 305-400)
In-Class Writing
Readings Due
Do Androids Dream of Electric
Sheep (Chapters 1-7)
Do Androids Dream of Electric
Sheep (Chapters 8-14)
Writing Due
Final Draft, Literary Analysis
Due
In-Class Writing
Readings Due
Do Androids Dream of Electric
Sheep (Chapters 15-22_
NO CLASSES—THANKSGIVING
BREAK
Writing Due
Rough Draft, Book Review
Due
NO CLASSES—THANKSGIVING
BREAK
Readings Due
Individual Reading
Individual Reading
Writing Due
Presentations 1-7
Presentations 8-14
Readings Due
Individual Reading
No Readings Due
Writing Due
Presentations 15-20
Final Draft Book Review Due
Week 13
Day/Date
Tuesday, November 16
Friday, November 19
Week 14
Day/Date
Tuesday, November 23
Friday, November 26
Week 15
Day/Date
Tuesday, November 30
Friday, December 3
Week 16
Day/Date
Tuesday, December 7
Friday, December 10
Grade Distribution:
Dystopian Narrative and Cover Letter—10%
Research Essay—20%
Literary Analysis—15%
Book Review—20%
Book Review Presentation—5%
Reading Quizzes, Participation, and Attendance—5%
Library Session—5%
Mid-Term Exam—10%
Final Exam—10%
You must complete all major assignments (those listed above) to pass this course. Late work
can be reduced by up to one letter grade per day late. Due dates are listed for rough drafts as
well as for final drafts; you must submit your rough drafts for commenting, but I will not put a
grade on your rough draft. I will do my best to return rough drafts with comments within 1-2
class periods. If you miss the class where I return drafts, it is your responsibility to secure your
Newcomb 5
rough draft and make the necessary revisions before submitting your final draft. Rough drafts
need to be resubmitted with final drafts, both in hard-copy form.
Statement on Academic Integrity: “Students are expected to maintain the highest standards of
honesty in their academic work. Cheating, forgery, and plagiarism are serious offences, and
students found guilty of any form of academic dishonesty are subject to disciplinary action”
(SUNY NP Faculty Handbook 33).
Plagiarism is the unacknowledged (intentional or unintentional) use of summary,
paraphrase, direct quotation, language, statistics, or ideas from articles or other information
sources including the Internet. A student must cite according to the Modern Language
Association (MLA) format (which is outlined in the Simon and Schuster Handbook and other
locations).
Accommodation and Disability: “Students with disabilities are entitled to the right to
accommodation under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Ace and ADA of 1990. ADA students
are responsible for self-identifying to the Disability Resource Center, who will inform me of your
needs of accommodation related to the structure of the course” (Faculty Handbook 30).
Attendance: Students are expected to be in class, on time, every day. Much of the work will
involve in-class writing and discussion, so the class time is important. Students are allowed
three total absences for any reason. This is the general composition program policy, so please
don’t try to push it; you need to be here to get credit for the course. For significant health
issues or family emergencies, we will work out what to do on an individual basis. The key is to
communicate with me in absence situations (before you miss class if at all possible). Also, class
will start and finish on time. Excessive lateness will lead to being counted as absent (three days
late equal one absence).
Classroom Decorum: Students are expected to engage respectfully in our classroom
community. Please do not use your cell phones during class. If you need to eat during class,
plan to bring something unobtrusive, and be sure to clean up after yourself. Failure to comply
with general standards of collegiality in the classroom will affect your participation grade.