ENGLISH 102 - 25511
COMPOSITION II
Spring 2009
3 Credits
Great Basin College
Instructor: Doris Bessett
Email: dorisbessett@sbcglobal.net
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
The SF Writer will assist the students in writing, language use, and presentation.
MLA format, documentation, and works cited will also be reviewed.
Supplies:
One 3.5, double-sided, high density disk
3 ring binder
Pencil, blue or black pen
The notebook will have four sections:
 Class notes
 Vocabulary development
 Literary elements
 Prewriting and organization for essays and the research paper.
Page 1 of 8
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 my 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 and the instructor’s assistance, on-line tutoring
Is available at GBCTutor.Elko.GBC@gwmail.gbcnv.edu.
Accommodations:
GBC provides equal access for students with disabilities. An advisor is available
to discuss these accommodations with students. If a student has special needs,
he/she should contact the Student Services Office for assistance.
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.
Page 2 of 8
LEARNER OUTCOMES:
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
MEASUREMENT:
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
Course Outline
English 102
1/26
Preview syllabus
Preview course outline
Preview text
1/28
Discuss elements of short story
1/30
Discuss elements of short story
Assign: William Faulkner: “A Rose for Emily”
2/2
Discuss “A Rose for Emily” – Point of View
Page 3 of 8
Notebook additions
Assign: Eudora Welty: “Why I Live at the P.O.”
2/4
Discuss “Why I Live at the P.O.” – Point of View
Notebook additions
Suggestions for essay
Assign: Katherine Anne Porter: “The Jilting of Granny Weatherall”
2/6
Discuss “The Jilting of Granny Weatherall” - Character
Notebook additions
Assign: Isaac Bashevis Singer: “Gimpel the Fool”
2/9
Discuss “Gimpel the Fool” - Character
Notebook additions
Suggestions for essay
Assign: Jack London: “To Build a Fire”
2/11
Discuss “To Build a Fire” - Setting
Notebook additions
Assign: Kate Chopin: “The Storm”
2/13
Discuss “The Storm” - Setting
Notebook additions
Suggestions for essay
Assign:
William Faulkner: Barn Burning”
Guy de Maupassant: “The Necklace”
2/16
President’s Day
2/18
Discuss “Barn Burning” – Tone and Style
Discuss “The Necklace” – Tone and Style
Notebook additions
Suggestions for essay
Assign: Stephen Crane: “The Open Boat”
Page 4 of 8
2/20
Discuss “The Open Boat” – Theme
Notebook additions
Assign: Kurt Vonnegut: “Harrison Bergeron”
2/23
Discuss “Harrison Bergeron” - Theme
Notebook additions
Suggestions for essay
Assign:
John Steinbeck: “The Chrysanthemum”
Shirley Jackson: “The Lottery”
2/25
Discuss “The Chrysantemum” – Symbol
Discuss “the Lottery” – Symbol
Notebook additions
Suggestions for essay
Assign: Brainstorm for short story essay
2-5 pages
3 sources
Due Mar. 9
Review MLA format
Review common errors
2/27
Work on essay
3/2
Work on essay
3/4
Work on essay
3/6
Work on essay – due Mar. 9
3/9
Short Story essay due
Introduce poetry – Reading a Poem
Verse
Lyric – D.H. Lawrence : “Adrienne Rich”
Narrative – Robert Frost: “Out, Out _______”
Dramatic –
Monologue – Robert Browning: “My Last Duchess”
Didactic – John Dyer: “The Fleece”
Assignment:
Read designated poems
Paraphrase one of the readings
3/11
Listening to Voice
Page 5 of 8
Tone: Theodore Roethke: “”My Papa’s Waltz”
Person in the poem: Edwin Arlington Robinson: “Luke Havergal”
Irony: W.H. Auden: “The Unknown Citizen”
Assignment: Read designated poems
3/13
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
3/15
Imagery:
Assignment: Read: Bishop: “The Fish”
3/18
Figures of Speech
Metaphor, simile: Emily Dickinson: “My Life Had Stood – A Loaded
gun”
Personification
Hyperbole
Metonymy
Read designated poem
3/20
Songs
Ballad: John Lennon, Paul McCartney: “Eleanor Rigby”
Alliteration/assonance: Alfred, Lord Tennyson: “The Splendor Falls on
Castle Walls”
Rime
Rhythm: A. E. Housman: “When I Was One-and-Twenty”
Assignment: Read designated poems
3/23
Forms:
Blank verse: “This Living Hand , Now Warm and Capable”
Couplet
Tercet
Quatrain: Robert Graves: “Counting the Beats”
3/25
Forms:
Sonnets
English/Shakespearean: “Let Me Not To The Marriage of True
Minds”
Page 6 of 8
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”
3/27
Review poetry
Review MLA format
Review common errors
Suggestions for poetry essay
3/30
Work on poetry essay
2-5 pages
3 sources
Due 4/6
4/1
Work on poetry essay
4/3
Work on poetry essay – due 4/6
4/6
Poetry essay due
Introduce Elements of play
Actors
Spectators
Watching
Reading
Drama
Dramatist
Closet drama
Chorus
Soliloquy
4/8
Continue elements
Theme
Plot
Protaganist
Exposition
Foreshadowing
Dramatic question
Climax
Conclusion/denouement
Suspense
Stage business
Rising action
Page 7 of 8
Falling action
Unities
Symbols
4/10
Continuing elements
Tragedy
Comedy
Satiric
High
Low
Burlesque
Farce
Commedia dell’ arte
Slapstick
Romantic
Assignment: Read play determined by instructor
4/13-4/17
Spring Break
4/20
Research paper on literature
Review topics
Review MLA format
7-10 pages
Due 5/11
4/22-5/8
Work on research paper
5/11
Research paper due
5/13
Research paper returned
Final grades issued
Page 8 of 8