English 111, Section B2
2008-2009
Classroom: HC L-4
Time: Mon., Wed., and Fri. 9:00-9:50 am
www.ualberta.ca/webct
Instructor: Alison Rukavina
Office: HC 4-34
Office Hours: Monday and Wednesday 10-11 am or by appointment
Phone: (780) 492-2445
Email: rukavina@ualberta.ca
Undergraduate Course Guide (Blue Book) Description
This course will focus on the specifically literary and more broadly cultural uses of the
English language in its many manifestations, through the study of a variety of genres and
forms. Students should expect to encounter fiction, poetry, drama, and non-fictional
prose, as well as film and visual media, cyber media, orature, and other forms of cultural
communication. The goals of the course are to introduce students to the discipline of
English, and to the ways in which those in that discipline think about and analyze literary
and everyday language practices. Students will learn critical skills in reading, writing,
and thinking as they relate to social and cultural experience.
Objectives of English 111
•
•
•
•
development of critical reading skills: learning to see how meanings are
produced in literary and cultural texts, and thus how humans represent
themselves in their world.
development of critical thinking skills: learning to respond analytically to
literature and culture, and thus to engage with and understand representations
of the world.
development of critical writing skills: learning how to write different types of
essays, how to use language effectively, how to make a compelling argument,
and how to use the library and its electronic resources for productive research.
development of disciplinary skills: students should be equipped to take all
higher-level English courses.
2
Required Texts
Bronte, Charlotte. Jane Eyre. 1847. Ed. Margaret Smith. Oxford: Oxford UP, 2000.
Chabon, Michael. The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay. New York: Picador,
2000.
Faigley, Lester. The Little Penguin Handbook. New York: Pearson/ Longman, 2007.
Fforde, Jasper. The Eyre Affair. London: Hodder and Stoughton, 2001.
Spiegelman, Art. Maus: A Survivor's Tale. New York: Pantheon, 1986.
Stott, Jon C., Raymond E. Jones et al. Eds. Harbrace Anthology of Literature. 4th Edition.
Toronto: Nelson, 2002.
All texts are available at the University bookstore located in the Student Union Building.
Community Service Learning
Community-Service Learning (CSL) integrates community-based activities with
classroom learning. Students can participate in a CSL component in ENGL 111 and have
part of their marks reflect their volunteer and community-based learning. Students, who
are in good academic standing, will be placed with a volunteer community-based
organization and will complete 20 hours of volunteer work in the second semester of this
course. A representative from CSL will visit the classroom to speak about the program
and all students will be given the opportunity in the first semester to decide if they want
to apply to participate in CSL in the second semester. Anyone interested in CSL can also
visit the following website (http://www.uofaweb.ualberta.ca/arts/CSLhome.cfm).
The second assignment key is for students participating in Community-Service Learning.
The assignments are the same in each stream for the first semester. The second marking
key reflects the slight changes between the assignments for students in the Exploratory
Stream and students in the CSL stream. The list at the end of the syllabus is a sketch of
upcoming assignments in the course and all students will receive more information
regarding assignments throughout both semesters. If students have any questions, they
can also speak to me or email me (rukavina@ualberta.ca).
ENGL 111 Assignments
Assignments for Exploratory Stream
Participation (5% first semester and 5% second semester) 10%
In-class assignments and quizzes
10%
Library Assignment
(Due Oct 27)
5%
3
Essay 1 (750-1000 words)
Essay 2 (750-1000 words)
Research Essay Draft
Essay 3 (2000-2500 words)
Poetry Journal
Creative Project
Midterm
(Due Oct 6)
(Due Dec 3)
(Due Jan 30)
(Due Feb 23)
(Due Mar 18)
(Due April 1)
(Dec. 17)
Total Term Mark
5%
10%
5%
20%
10%
10%
15%
____
100%
The Total Term Mark is then converted to 70% of your final grade.
Final Exam
(April 21)
30%
Final Grade
100%
OR
Assignments for Community-Service-Based Stream
Participation (5% first semester and 10% second semester) 15%
In-class assignments and quizzes
10%
Library Assignment
(Due Oct 27)
5%
Essay 1 (750-1000 words) (Due Oct 6)
5%
Essay 2 (750-1000 words) (Due Dec 3)
10%
Research Essay Draft
(Due Jan 30)
5%
Essay 3 (2000-2500 words) (Due Feb 23)
15%
CSL Journal
(Staggered Due Dates)
10%
Creative Project
(Due April 1)
10%
Midterm
(Dec. 17)
15%
____
Total Term Mark
100%
The Total Term Mark is then converted to 70% of your final grade.
Final Exam
(April 21)
30%
Final Grade
100%
Grading System Used
Percentage
Letter Grade
Grade Point Value
100-90
A+
4.0
86-89
A
4.0
4
82-85
A-
3.7
78-81
B+
3.3
74-77
B
3.0
70-73
B-
2.7
66-69
C+
2.3
62-65
C
2.0
58-61
C-
1.7
54-57
D+
1.3
50-53
D
1.0
0-49
F
0.0
Regulations
• Assignment Format: All essays must follow the MLA style manual. We will be
covering the main features of this style of citation and documentation in class.
Please double-space your essay assignments. All essays must be typed and
include a title page with the assignment title, your name, student number, class
section number, and date. The paper must include pagination on the top right
hand corner of the pages and be stapled. Assignments must be handed in at the
beginning of class unless other arrangements have been made with the instructor.
No emails or faxes of any of the assignments will be accepted (except for the
library assignment).
• Students can have a one-week extension on ONE assignment during the course.
Students must inform their instructor that they will be requiring an extension on
an assignment no later than 24 hours before the assignment is due. Students will
automatically be granted an extra week to complete their assignment.
• All non-justified lateness for assignments will be penalised by one grade per day
(e.g. an assignment that would have received an A-, but was two days late, will
instead receive a B grade). Justified lateness includes sickness and death in the
family. If required by the instructor, the student will have to submit proper
medical or other documentation with the late assignment.
• Participation includes preparing all assigned readings, discussion questions, and
other assignments prior to class. Come prepared to discuss that week’s readings
and to take notes during lecture. Also, keep up with readings and assignments as
you will have a minimum of four in-class writing assignments and quizzes during
the course. Moreover, participate in class discussions and workshops in a
respectful manner; i.e. do not interrupt or be rude to your fellow classmates or the
instructor—treat other people’s opinions with respect. If you are disruptive you
will be asked to leave the class.
5
• The University of Alberta Centre for Writers offers one-on-one free writing
coaching to undergraduate students enrolled in first-year English and other firstand second-year courses. The website for the Centre for Writers is
http://www.uofaweb.ualberta.ca/arts/Centre_for_Writers.cfm. Students can make
appointments with Centre writing coaches to assist with higher order concerns in
their writing, such as thesis formation, organization and idea development, as
well as more specific details, like grammar and documentation style. Students
can bring in writing projects at any stage of development—even papers already
graded.
• Please turn your cell phone off during class and refrain from using MP3
players/Ipods etc… during class.
• Policy about course outlines can be found in Section 23.4(2) of the University
Calendar. (GFC 29 SEP 2003)
“The University of Alberta is committed to the highest standards of academic
integrity and honesty. Students are expected to be familiar with these standards
regarding academic honesty and to uphold the policies of the University in this
respect. Students are particularly urged to familiarize themselves with the
provisions of the Code of Student Behaviour (online at
http://www.ualberta.ca/secretariat/appeals.htm and avoid any behaviour which
could potentially result in suspicions of cheating, plagiarism, misrepresentation
of facts and/or participation in an offence. Academic dishonesty is a serious
offence and can result in suspension or expulsion from the University.” (GFC 29
SEP 2003)
• Students can consult previous exams for ENGL 111 on the exam registry:
http://www.su.ualberta.ca/services_and_businesses/services/infolink/exams.
Students will need their CCIDs and passwords to access the exams.
• No term work will be accepted after the final exam
• The Department of English and Film Studies does not allow reconsideration of
term work after a student writes the Final Examination.
• Should you have any grievances concerning term work grades, protocol requires
that you discuss your concerns with me first. No official, in either the
Department of English and Film Studies or the Faculty of Arts, will talk to a
student about a grading disagreement unless the student first talks to the
instructor. If we cannot come to an agreement regarding your grievance, you
may then speak to the First Year Chair, Lahoucine Ouzgane: office HC 4-25;
phone 492-7828; e-mail louzgane@ualberta.ca. If a resolution is not reached
with the First Year Chair, students may then make an appointment with the
Department¹s Associate Chair, Instruction.
6
• Requests for reappraisals of final exams must be made in writing to the Office of
the Registrar, not the Department of English.
• Feeling overwhelmed? In need of student, social, financial or security services?
The Student Distress Centre is there to listen, offer support, supply information
and provide services:
•
•
•
•
Call:
Drop in:
Visit:
Chat:
492-HELP (492-4357)
030-N in the S.U.B.
www.su.ualberta.ca/sdc
www.campuscrisischat.com
Students should consult the attached ‘Regulations Pertaining to First-Year Courses’
for further information about appeals, reassessments, plagiarism, and external help
with assignments.
English 111 Schedule (tentative and subject to change)
Fall Semester
September
3 Introduction
5 Critical Reading and Thinking; Elements of Literature (Harbrace Anthology 875-85):
8 Critical Reading and Thinking Skills: “Young Goodman Brown” (HB 886)
10 Critical Writing: Paragraphs; “Brown”
12 Critical Writing: Process and Argument
15 Poe’s “The Fall of the House of Usher” (HB 896)
17 “Usher” continued…
19 Poe’s “The Raven” (http://www.potw.org/archive/potw60.html)
22 Alcott’s “A Whisper in the Dark” (HB 938)
24 Academic Integrity (guest speaker)
26 Quotations and MLA Format
29 Citations
October
1 Essay Workshop
3 Chopin’s “A Story of an Hour” (HB 967)
6 Mansfield’s “Bliss”
Essay One Due
8 “Bliss” continued…
10 Bronte’s Jane Eyre
13 Thanksgiving
NO CLASSES
15 Jane Eyre
17 Jane Eyre
20 Library Class (Rutherford 203)
7
22 Jane Eyre
24 Jane Eyre
27 Jane Eyre
29 Jane Eyre
31 Jane Eyre
Library Assignment Due
November
3 Satire and Swift’s “A Modest Proposal” (http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/1080)
5 “A Modest Proposal” continued…
7 Melville’s “Bartleby”
10 Remembrance Day Break NO CLASSES
12 “Bartleby” continued…
14 Kings’ “Borders”
17 TBA
19 Wilde’s “Importance of Being Earnest”
21 “Earnest”
Students Must Declare their Interest in CSL
24 “Earnest”
26 “Earnest”
28 Essay Workshop
December
1 “Earnest”
3 Literary Scavenger Hunt and Midterm Review
Second Essay Due
Midterm 9AM on Dec 17, Room TBA
Winter Semester
January
5 Writing an Academic Research Essay and Community Service Learning
7 Michael Chabon’s The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay
9 Kavalier and Clay
12 Kavalier and Clay
14 Kavalier and Clay
16 Review Citation and Academic Writing
19 Kavalier and Clay
21 Kavalier and Clay
23 Research Essay Workshop
26 Kavalier and Clay
28 Kavalier and Clay
30 Kavalier and Clay
Research Essay Draft Due
February
2 Spiegelman’s Maus
4 Maus
6 Maus
8
9 Maus
11 Maus
13 TBA
16-20 Spring Break NO CLASSES
23 Introduction to Poetry
Research Essay Due
25 Milton’s “When I consider how my light is spent” (HB 58)
27 Donne’s “The Flea”
March
2 Blake’s “The Chimney Sweeper” & “The Tyger” (HB 100,102-3)
4 Blake continued…
6 Coleridge’s “Kubla Khan” and Shelly’s “Ozymandias”
9 Keats’ “Ode on a Grecian Urn”
11 Browning’s “My Last Duchess” (HB 164-65)
13 Eliot’s “The Hollow Men”
16 Jasper Fforde’s The Eyre Affair (Chapters 1-7)
18 Eyre Affair (Chapters 8-14)
Poetry Journal Due
20 Creative Project Presentations
23 Eyre Affair (Chapters 15-20)
25 Creative Project Presentations
27 Eyre Affair (Chapters 21-27)
30 Eyre Affair (Chapters 28-31)/ Creative Project Presentations
April
1 Eyre Affair (Chapters 32-36)
3 Creative Project Presentations
6 Literary Scavenger Hunt
8 Final Exam Review
CSL Journal Due
Final Exam 9 AM on April 21, Room TBA
Assignments (Exploratory Stream)
Participation (Worth 5% first semester and 5% second semester): Prepare all assigned
reading and questions prior to class. Be prepared to discuss that week’s readings in class
discussions and workshops and to take notes during lectures. Moreover, bring two copies
of your draft essays to the essay workshops that will be held throughout the year and be
prepared to provide constructive feedback on your colleague’s papers.
In-class writing assignments and quizzes (Worth 10%): Keep up with readings and
attend class as you will have a minimum of four “surprise” writing assignments and
quizzes during the course. Both the writing assignments and quizzes will test
comprehension of the material covered in class.
9
Library Assignment (Worth 5%): Using resources in the library complete a literary
scavenger hunt. The assignment will draw on what you have learned in the library class
(scheduled for October 20), and involve you using both online and in house library
resources. The assignment is due October 27 in class. More details about the assignment
will be provided a couple of weeks before the assignment.
Essay 1 (Worth 5%): The first assignment is to develop a close reading of 750 to 1000
words of either Poe’s “The Fall of the House of Usher” (HB 896) or Alcott’s “A Whisper
in the Dark” (HB 938). I want students to utilize some of the critical reading strategies I
will review in September and the historical and biographical background provided in
lecture and in the Harbrace Anthology, if applicable. This assignment does not require
external research or the use of other academic sources. I will review in the September 26
class how to use quotations in a close reading and MLA format. The paper must be
double-spaced and include a works cited, a title page, and pagination. The paper is due
on October 6 in class and may not be handed in via email. Please bring two copies of the
draft essay to the in-class workshop on October 1. More details about the assignment
will be provided in the second week of September.
Essay 2 (Worth 10%): Pick one of the provided topics and write an argumentative essay
of 750-1000 words on Jane Eyre, “The Importance of Being Earnest” or one of the other
satire readings. The paper must be double-spaced and include a works cited, a title page,
and pagination. The paper is due on December 3 in class, but remember that you must
bring two copies of the draft essay to the in-class workshop on November 28. Topics
will be discussed and a handout provided no later than the end of October.
Essay 3 (Worth 20%)/ Research Essay Draft (Worth 5%): Write a 2000-2500 word
research essay. You will be expected to do academic research for this paper and consult
at least six articles or books, as well as other types of research materials (historical
documents, websites etc…). Further details will be provided at the beginning of the
second semester. A complete draft is due January 30 and the final paper is due February
23 in class. The possible topics for the research essay will be provided, along with
further details regarding the assignment at the beginning of January.
Poetry Journal (Worth 10%): Students will write close readings (roughly 250-400
words) for at least five of the poems that the class is reading following the February
Reading Week break. The five journal entries are due March 18 in class. More details
regarding this assignment will be provided at the end of February.
Creative Assignment (Worth 10%): Develop a creative project relating to The Eyre
Affair or one of the other texts from the class for which you have not already written an
essay. Students will have the option to write a more formal academic essay if they wish.
The assignment whether creative or academic will include a short presentation on either
March 20, 25, or 30 and/or April 3. The assignment is due the same day you do your
presentation. Further details will be provided at the beginning of March.
10
One-Hour Midterm (Worth 15%): The midterm will be one hour long and will consist
of identification and short answer questions relating to the first semester’s readings.
Students will be provided with example midterm questions during the midterm review
December 3. The midterm is December 17 at 9 am.
Final (Worth 30% of the final mark): The final will be a two-hour exam consisting of
identification, definitions, short answers and essay questions. The questions will draw on
all the readings, lectures and work of both semesters. Students will be provided with
example questions during the final exam review on April 8 and can find old exams on the
exam registry http://www.su.ualberta.ca/services_and_businesses/services/infolink/exams.
Students will need their CCIDs and passwords to access the exams. The final exam is
April 21 at 9 am (Room TBA).
Assignments (CSL Stream)
Participation (Worth 5% first semester and 10% second semester): Prepare all assigned
reading and questions prior to class. Be prepared to discuss that week’s readings in class
discussions and workshops and to take notes during lectures. Moreover, bring two copies
of your draft essays to the essay workshops that will be held throughout the year and be
prepared to provide constructive feedback on your colleague’s papers. Students who
participate in Community-Service Learning will be assigned an additional participation
mark of 5% in the second semester for actively contributing to all class discussions that
relate to their placement and that reveal their reflections on the linkages between their
community work and the course.
In-class writing assignments and quizzes (Worth 10%): Keep up with readings and
attend class as you will have a minimum of four “surprise” writing assignments and
quizzes during the course. Both the writing assignments and quizzes will test
comprehension of the material covered in class.
Library Assignment (Worth 5%): Using resources in the library complete a literary
scavenger hunt. The assignment will draw on what you have learned in the library class
(scheduled for October 20), and involve you using both online and in house library
resources. The assignment is due October 27 in class. More details about the assignment
will be provided a couple of weeks before the assignment.
Essay 1 (Worth 5%): The first assignment is to develop a close reading of 750 to 1000
words of either Poe’s “The Fall of the House of Usher” (HB 896) or Alcott’s “A Whisper
in the Dark” (HB 938). I want students to utilize some of the critical reading strategies I
will review in September and the historical and biographical background provided in
lecture and in the Harbrace Anthology, if applicable. This assignment does not require
external research or the use of other academic sources. I will review in the September 26
class how to use quotations in a close reading and MLA format. The paper must be
double-spaced and include a works cited, a title page, and pagination. The paper is due
on October 6 in class and may not be handed in via email. Please bring two copies of the
11
draft essay to the in-class workshop on October 1. More details about the assignment
will be provided in the second week of September.
Essay 2 (Worth 10%): Pick one of the provided topics and write an argumentative essay
of 750-1000 words on Jane Eyre, “The Importance of Being Earnest” or one of the other
satire readings. The paper must be double-spaced and include a works cited, a title page,
and pagination. The paper is due on December 3 in class, but remember that you must
bring two copies of the draft essay to the in-class workshop on November 28. Topics
will be discussed and a handout provided no later than the end of October.
Essay 3 (Worth 15%)/ Research Essay Draft (Worth 5%): Write a 2000-2500 word
research essay. You will be expected to do academic research for this paper and consult
at least four articles or books, as well as other types of research materials (historical
documents, websites etc…). Students will also be expected to draw on their CSL
experiences. Further details will be provided at the beginning of the second semester. A
complete draft is due January 30 and the final paper is due February 23 in class. The
possible topics for the research essay will be provided, along with further details
regarding the assignment at the beginning of January.
CSL Journal (Worth 10%): At the beginning of January students can choose to
participate in Community-Service Learning, which involves volunteering for 20 hours,
writing a directed journal, and taking the knowledge gleaned during the volunteer
experience and applying that knowledge to ongoing discussions of the novel Kavalier
and Clay and the graphic novel Maus. The directed/self-directed journal is due at the end
of the second semester and is worth 10% of the term mark. More details regarding
Community-Service Learning will be provided in the first semester.
Creative Assignment (Worth 10%): Develop a creative project relating to one’s CSL
experience. Students will have the option to write a more formal academic essay if they
wish. The assignment whether creative or academic will include a short presentation on
either March 20, 25, or 30 and/or April 3. The assignment is due the same day you do
your presentation. Further details will be provided at the beginning of March.
One-Hour Midterm (Worth 15%): The midterm will be one hour long and will consist
of identification and short answer questions relating to the first semester’s readings.
Students will be provided with example midterm questions during the midterm review
December 3. The midterm is December 17 at 9 am.
Final (Worth 30% of the final mark): The final will be a two-hour exam consisting of
identification, definitions, short answers and essay questions. The questions will draw on
all the readings, lectures and work of both semesters. Students will be provided with
example questions during the final exam review on April 8 and can find old exams on the
exam registry http://www.su.ualberta.ca/services_and_businesses/services/infolink/exams.
Students will need their CCIDs and passwords to access the exams. The final exam is
April 21 at 9 am (Room TBA).