ENGLISH 102 SYLLABUS
Instructor: Magin LaSov Gregg
Office: TBA
Office hours: T/R 2-3:30 p.m.
E-mail: mam092@latech.edu
Phone: TBA, Skype mlgregg
Course Description and Objectives:
English 102 will introduce you to the research process through writing about literature. We will read,
poems, short stories, and drama. We will read critical sources related to these works, and we will use
critical thinking skills to analyze and evaluate what we read. We will focus on both the process of
writing academic essays and the actual writing that you will produce. This means that you will not only
be graded on the essays themselves (the final “product” of your writing and revision), but also on the
process you use in order to complete your assignments. At the end of this course, you will have gained
knowledge about what makes an effective 100-level essay. You will know of strategies that may
improve your papers on the levels of content, argument, organization, word choice, grammar and
mechanics. Additionally, you will grow more familiar with the research process, with MLA
documentation style, with a variety of literary genres and works, and with different ways of interpreting
them.
If all goes as planned, this course will enable you to :
1. Understand literary terms and concepts, and diverse theoretical approaches,
2. Read with comprehension and analyze a literary text,
3. Evaluate and communicate in class discussion (and in your writing) the effectiveness of various
arguments,
4. Research a literary topic and synthesize the information you gather into a coherent essay
5. Write a sustained argument on a literary topic, and
6. Understand and apply proper MLA documentation format in the use of integrated primary and
secondary sources.
Come to class prepared to write and speak about literature as well as the writing process. At times, I
may ask you to write essays in class, or to journal your responses to our reading assignments and share
them within the community of our classroom. Your participation in each class period will ensure a
hospitable classroom environment. Please know that I appreciate all of your efforts to bring the best of
yourself to your work in this course, as well as to our biweekly meetings.
Required Texts and Materials:
• The Bedford Introduction to Literature
• Freshmen Composition Course Packet, 2009-2010 edition
• The Modern Library Classics Edition of Hamlet,
edited by Jonathan Bate.
• A legal pad for journals
• A dictionary of your choice, online is fine
Course Evaluation:
Class participation, includes discussions, workshops, peer reviews, in-class essays, and journals: 200
points
Essay One, two pages; offers a close reading of poetry: 200 points
Essay Two, two pages; offers a close reading of a prose work: 200 points
Annotated Bibliography, includes five scholarly sources, two of which may not be found online:100
points
Research Essay, eight pages, offers a close reading and critical analysis of a literary text; may be
expanded from Essay One or Two: 300 points
Total: 1000 possible points
Keep track of your grades, so that you may follow your progress and calculate an approximate
course average. Your final score converts to a grade by this formula: 900-1000=A; 800-899=B;
700-799=C; 600-699=D, 0-599=F; ZERO for plagiarism or missed assignments.
Late essays and Turnitin.com : I expect you to turn your essays in at Turnitin.com before noon on the
due date. Late essays will be marked down automatically by five percent and will not be accepted more
than once day past due. I encourage you to make every effort to meet the deadline. That said, if you
have an extremely good reason, such as serious illness or death in your family, I am open to extending
deadlines and not marking your essay down automatically for being late. You must provide official
documentation of serious events that preclude you from turning an essay in on time; you must also
establish a new deadline with me prior to the due date. Acceptable documentation includes a doctor's
note, obituary, or funeral program.
Plagiarism will not be tolerated in this class.
Plagiarism and cheating are serious matters. At minimum you will receive a ZERO for plagiarized
work. Remember that lifting or cutting and pasting work from the Internet—even from unsigned
sources or sites—constitutes plagiarism as much as does copying passages or essays from a published
book or another student. I have no doubt that as a university student you can do any assignment in this
class without cheating. Please do all your own work: it is the only way to improve your writing and
critical thinking abilities. You must sign the Plagiarism Statement for this quarter (located in the
Freshman Composition Course Packet) and return it to me by the second day of class. Your
work (journals, in-class work, and essays) will not be evaluated until I receive the signed
Plagiarism Statement.
I fully support the new Louisiana Tech University Honor Code. I would advise you to obtain a copy of
the student handbook and familiarize yourself with the code, but above all, know that cheating in this
class will be dealt with severely. This means that transgressions will be reported to the university,
which could result in life-altering penalties, including expulsion from school.
Good attendance and class participation are both mandatory if you want to pass this course. The
Louisiana Tech University Catalogue’s official policy for Class Attendance is that missing more than
two classes (10% in a TTR class) is excessive and may result in your being dropped from the class rolls
or receiving a failing grade in the class (11). Doctor’s appointments, court appointments, meetings with
other faculty members should be made for times that do not conflict with our class. It is your
responsibility to keep track of your absences. If you are tardy, come see me after class if you wish to be
counted present for that day. Two times tardy equals an absence for grading purposes.
If you must miss class because you are an athlete or other official participant in university events,
please provide your schedule of absences for the quarter to me in a letter from your supervisor no later
than the second week of classes. All assignments due while you are out need to be handed in prior to
your university absence if you wish to receive credit for your work.
Journals (200 points):
You will do informal journal or “response” writing both in and outside of class in a legal pad and
should save these evaluated pages along with your essays in a folder. Your journal grade will be based
on the ratio of journal entries you complete to the total number assigned. Journal entries represent your
thoughts and/or answers to questions on the assigned literary readings and should be a minimum of two
hand-written page of a sheet of a legal pad (one side, single-spaced, with no lines skipped). Journals
must be stapled, have your name, the date, journal number, and topic written at the top of the page to
receive full credit. If your journals are 1) handed in on time—which means at the beginning of class on
the day they are due— 2) written on the assigned topic, and 3) of sufficient length, they will receive
full credit. If any journal does not meet the above criteria, it will receive no credit. Expect me to be a
stickler for these standards. I read your journals, mark them as credit/no credit, and return them to you.
If for some reason you fail to receive credit for a journal, you may hand it in on the next class day for
half credit, as long as the journal is on-topic and of sufficient length.
Journals serve four purposes:
• they give you writing practice on the course topics,
• they offer a regular forum where you can develop thoughts on the readings without worrying
about grammar,
• they inspire (or encourage) you to express (in writing) ideas which may develop into essay
topics, and they prime your brain for class discussion.
Journals won’t be graded for grammar or spelling; however, the more you practice editing your writing,
the better your writing will be.
Three Essays (700 points, total):
All essays will be started in class. Some of these in-class essays will have their revisions graded, and
some will have both preliminary and revised versions graded. All writing done outside of class must be
turned in to me in a packet that includes each significant draft of the essay, ALL revision and editing
workshop copies. You should be prepared at all times to give me an electronic copy of your essay. With
multiple-source and research essays, I will expect you to hand in highlighted photocopies of your
sources. Forgetting to include any of these parts of the essay packets may reduce your essay grade by
5% for each missing component of the essay packet. On the class day BEFORE the date that your
essays are due, you must bring a typed draft of your essay to class for peer-review. Failure to do
so will result in a lowering of your final essay grade, and a zero for that day’s participation grade.
Essay Format:
Follow these guidelines whenever you turn in a paper to me; not following them may reduce your essay
grade.
• All essays will be typed, double-spaced, and printed in black ink. Times New Roman font is
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preferable.
Follow MLA documentation style at all times. Double space your entire essay, and don’t skip
any lines.
Essays should have 1” margins on all sides, be printed in a 12-point font size, and have the
following heading in the top left-hand corner of the first page:
Student’s Name
English 102 (section number)
Date
Essay #
Your Original Title
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Essays should be stapled already when they are turned in. Please number pages using the
header page number function.
Please do not include a cover page. Your final version goes on top, followed by your most
recent draft/s.
You are required to hand in all revised drafts, and all workshop copies with each essay.
I will accept essays containing a few minor hand-written corrections.
Computing Advice:
Technical difficulties are no excuse for not having your work. Save frequently. E-mail a copy of your
paper to yourself each day when you finish working. Always print a hard copy of your work before you
shut down. If you happen to have computer trouble which results in a damaged or lost
composition, I will expect to see a recent hard copy of the previous draft with your revision
marks included. This draft will be due at the assigned date and time and will include a note
explaining your difficulty. Working ahead and saving frequently will save you unnecessary stress.
PLEASE NOTE:
• If you need special accommodations due to a disability, please provide a letter from
Disabled Student Services to me before the conclusion of Week Two. I am happy to provide
appropriate accommodations, but I should know in advance in order to accommodate you fully;
do not wait to give me your letter.
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If you are an athlete or involved in another activity that will necessitate any universitysanctioned absences from class, at the beginning of the quarter you must bring me a letter,
signed by your coach, which lists specific dates when you will be out. Failure to bring me this
letter at the beginning of the quarter will result in unexcused absences. Any assignments due
on dates when you will be out for a university-sanctioned absence must be handed in the
class day before you are absent.
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In the event of a question regarding a final grade, it will be the responsibility of the student to
retain and present graded materials that have been returned for student possession during the
quarter.
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EMERGENCY CONTINGENCY PLAN: If for any reason we were not able to meet as a class,
we would continue with this course through our Blackboard website. Please check Blackboard
daily, and always before class.
This syllabus is a contract between you (as the student) and me (as the instructor). By taking
this class, you are agreeing to follow all the guidelines given above and to be responsible for
your actions. If you have a question, please ask! I cannot help if I don’t know that there is
a problem. This should be a wonderful quarter for you, and I’m delighted to be teaching
you.
Do reading and assignments before class on the day where they are listed! Journals are due
at the beginning of class. Please do not write journals in class on the day that they are due.
Thanks.
COURSE SCHEDULE AND READING LIST
DAY ONE: POETRY
Thursday 3/11: Introduction and beginning of our poetry unit. We will read Billy Collin's “Marginalia”
in class. We will divide into groups to map the images of the poem, as well as define connotation,
denotation, imagery, figure of speech, and metaphor (and provide examples of each from
“Marginalia.”)
WEEK ONE: POETRY
Tuesday 3/16: In Meyer: reading poetry (769-82), writing about poetry (820-828) Mapping
the Poem (962-969). Also read: Emma Lazarus'“The New Colossus' (1338); Langston Hughes'
“Harlem” (1180).
Free-write two-full, handwritten pages in your legal pad before class. Discuss at least two of the
poems as well as how three of the literary terms defined on Thursday manifest in the poem(s).
Bring this journal entry to class. We will spend the beginning of Tuesday's class period
discussing your experiences of free-writing; our larger goal is to work on transforming your journals
into more coherent pieces of writing. We will use the handout I provide from Gerald Graff's Clueless in
Academe to begin learning how to craft arguments from your free-writing homework.
Thursday 3/18: Before class, read FCCP “How to Construct a Critical Essay” (92); Read
Tony Hoagland's “America” (1291), Julia Alvarez's “Sometimes the Words Are So Close” (120)
and Kanye West's “My Way Home” (805).
Journal three full, handwritten pages in your composition notebook in response to one of three
questions I will provide in class. Bring your response to class and be prepared to discuss what you have
written during the first 45 minutes of class time.
Also read, “Developing a Thesis and Organizing the Paper” (2152). The remainder of this
class is devoted to helping you learn how to transform your journal entry into a coherent reader
response essay with an effective thesis. You will write in-class during the final 30 minutes that we
meet, so bring your legal pad.
WEEK TWO: POETRY
Tuesday 3/23: Peer workshop of poetry essay. Please bring a 600-word draft of your close
reading of a poem(s) read during Week Two.
Thursday 3/25: ESSAY ONE DUE before the beginning of class on Turnitin.com. We will
begin our unit on short stories after you turn in your essays. Before class read, in FCCP Advice for
Readers (86); How To Do A Close Reading (89). You will divide into groups and read the first page
of Flannery O'Connor's “A Good Man is Hard to Find” (445). Using “How to Do a Close Reading”
each group will offer a response to the class based on questions I provide.
WEEK THREE: SHORT STORY
Tuesday 3/30: Finish reading O'Connor's “A Good Man is Hard to Find.” Read Martin
Amis, “The Last Days of Muhammad Atta” (644-58) and Alice Walker “Roselily” 266-69. Also
read “Reading and Writing” in Meyer (2113-21146), “Writing about Fiction” (47-66), and
“Combining the elements of Fiction: A Writing Process” (374-387). Free-write two full, handwritten
pages in response to one of the short stories that you read and bring this journal to class on Tuesday.
Thursday 4/1 : Read Andre Dubus' “Killings” (107-122) and “How to Construct a Critical
Essay” (FCCP, 92). Free-write two full pages in response to “Killings.” We will spend this class
period using the Graff Handout and FCCP “How to Construct a Critical Essay” to construct a thesis for
Essay 2. We will also discuss integrating and evaluating sources.
WEEK FOUR: SHORT STORY
Tuesday 4/6: Read “Professorly Picky's 'A Series of Unfortunate Occurrences” (FCCP,
95-96). Come to class with a 400 word draft of Essay 2. Your essay should include at least two
citations from an acceptable scholarly source from a peer-reviewed journal accessed through J-STOR
or the MLA Database. These citations should not discuss points of plot, but should focus on
character, theme, symbolism, or imagery. Your draft should have a fully formed works cited
page. Peer Review of Essay Two.
Thursday 4/8: Essay 2 DUE on Turnitin.com. We will continue to discuss the collection and
evaluation of research, as well as ideas you may have for expanding essays one or two into your final
research essay. Please come to class ready to brainstorm ideas.
WEEK FIVE: DRAMA AND RESEARCH
Tuesday 4/13: We will meet in the library for a LIBRARY RESEARCH TOUR. You will
learn how to find scholarly sources for the annotated bibliography due in week eight.
Thursday 4/15: Read “Reading Drama” (1393-1399) Read Bate's “Introduction” (vii-xxx)
and “Hamlet in Performance” (166-213). Gather articles for the annotated bibliography. This class
will provide you with an introduction to reading and watching Hamlet; we will also continue to discuss
the evaluation of research and brainstorm ideas for the research paper.
WEEK SIX: DRAMA AND RESEARCH
Tuesday 4/20: Read Hamlet Act 1 in Bate (4-34). Journal two pages in your legal pad in
response to the character of Prince Hamlet (and to prepare for the essay question below). We will watch
Act 1 of Kenneth Branagh's production of Hamlet in class. Take notes on the film and be prepared to
answer this question for an in-class essay: How does Branagh's version of Prince Hamlet differ
from your interpretation of Prince Hamlet, after reading Act 1?
Thursday 4/22: Read Hamlet Act II in Bate (35-59). Journal two pages in your legal pad in
response to the characters of Polonius and Claudius. We will watch Act II of Kenneth Branagh's
production of Hamlet in class. Take notes on the film and be prepared to divide into groups and discuss
how Branagh's interpretation of Polonius and Claudius differs from your own.
WEEK SEVEN: DRAMA AND RESEARCH:
Tuesday 4/27: Annotated bibliography due. Read Hamlet Act III in Bate (59-92). Write a
150-word paper proposal and bring it to class. Make sure to quote from the primary text at least once
and to reference at least one article from your annotated bibliography. We will workshop your
proposals in class.
Thursday 4/29: Read Hamlet Act IV in Bate (92-112). Come to class with a one-page
introduction to your research paper written. This introduction should be two paragraphs. Your thesis
should appear as the last sentence of your first paragraph. Also, journal two full-pages on Acts III and
IV of Hamlet, and respond to the questions I will provide on 4/27. Be prepared to spend one hour of
class time discussing your responses and one hour of class time reading your introductions aloud.
WEEK EIGHT: DRAMA AND RESEARCH
Tuesday 5/4: Read Hamlet Act V in Bate (112-136). Journal two-full pages on the final act of
Hamlet and respond to the questions I will provide on 4/29. Come to class with four total pages drafted
of your research paper. Remember, the “introduction” you wrote in Week Seven counts for page one,
although you must revise in order to receive full credit. We will divide into groups and workshop your
essays in class.
Thursday 5/6: No reading, except research for your paper. Come to class with two more pages
of your research paper drafted; you should now have a total of six pages of your research paper drafted.
Today will be a Q & A day, where we will discuss your research/writing process for the first 30 minutes
of class. I will also be available for 10-minute conferences during the remainder of class and during
office hours to answer specific questions you may have about your writing or research. I will provide a
sign-up sheet for conferences on 5/4.
WEEK NINE: DRAMA AND RESEARCH:
Tuesday 5/11: No reading, except the research for your paper. Come to class with a total of
eight pages drafted and a full works cited page in MLA format. PEER REVIEW OF RESEARCH
ESSAYS.
Thursday 5/13: Research Essays DUE. We will watch the remainder of Hamlet in class. Take
notes on how Branagh's interpretations of Ophelia and Gertrude differ from your interpretations.
WEEK TEN: DRAMA AND RESEARCH:
Tuesday 5/18: No reading! You deserve a break! Come to class with two full journal pages
written in response to how your interpretations of Ophelia and Gertrude differ from those of Branagh's.
We will wrap up Hamlet and conduct course evaluations.
Thursday 5/20: We will meet to synthesize your experiences reading and writing in this course.
Be prepared to talk about strategies you learned in English 102 that may prove useful throughout your
time at Tech. I will ask you to journal on this topic for the first 30 minutes of class. We will spend the
remainder of the class discussing your responses. I will return your graded research essay at the end of
class.