Course Information Sheet
English 105: Introduction to Literature
Instructor:
Kathy Buckert
Email:
kbuckert@monroecc.edu (preferable means of communication)
Office Hours: By Appointment (Building 5- Room 250)
Campus Phone:
Callers outside the college can reach my mailbox following these
directions:
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Call 292-8300
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Press *
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Enter 6973 and the # key
I am so glad you are joining me this semester as we embark on a journey through English
literature. Please read this Course Information Sheet carefully and feel free to ask me any
questions for clarification
Course Description
This course is an introduction to literature and explores the genres of short fiction, poetry, and
drama. The course may also include other types of literature such as the novel and creative
nonfiction. Students will respond critically to readings of different historical and cultural
contexts through class discussion and written work. These contexts may include different
worldviews, politics, ethnicity, races, genders, and sexual orientations.
Upon Successful Completion of ENG 105, you will be able to perform the following tasks
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Explain the distinctive characteristics of short fiction, poetry, drama, novels, and
creative nonfiction
Strengthen the writing/thinking relationship
Define literary devices and techniques an author uses and analyze and interpret
each genre, such as:
- Fiction and drama: character, narrative structure, point of view, theme, symbol,
plot, setting, mood, and tone.
- Poetry: Speaker, imagery, figures of speech, symbolism, irony, tone, sound,
detail, diction and style.
Develop skills in argumentative writing to explore selected texts
Required Texts:
Literature: A Pocket Anthology (Fourth Edition) – R.S Gwynn
This book is a “diverse collection of fiction, poetry, and drama that provides a
concise yet comprehensive introduction to the study of literature. More than a
third of the selections overall represent voices of women, people of color, and
writers from cultures outside the United States, and a strong effort has been made
to include work that reflects contemporary social questions and will stimulate
classroom discussion.”
My Sister’s Keeper – Jody Picoult
This New York Times bestseller “is the story of one family’s struggle for survival
at all human costs and a stunning moral parable for all time.
The Crucible – Arthur Miller
“Based on historical people and real events, Arthur Miller's play uses the
destructive power of socially sanctioned violence unleashed by the rumors of
witchcraft as a powerful parable about McCarthyism.”
Attendance:
Regular and prompt attendance is essential. The only way to be successful is to attend
class. I recognize that life happens: however, life should not interfere with your course
work. If you choose to miss class, please be proactive. Upon request, I will forward any
assignments via email. You need to email me; I will not email you. I support the request that
students, faculty and staff stay home when they are ill. In this class, I typically allow for up to
six absences. As a result, I encourage you to be present every day. If you do become ill, you
will still have those days to cover illness-related absences.
A grade of “W” is issued for course withdrawals after the third week of the schedule adjustment
period (drop-add period). It is the student’s responsibility to initiate any withdrawal in
accordance with procedures stated in the College’s Withdrawal Policy. Failure
to attend a class does not result in an automatic withdrawal from that class, and
may result in a grade of “F “for the term.
Academic Honesty Statement
Academic Honesty is an essential component for succeeding in this class. Since this is a writing
intensive course, if I find any form of plagiarism, you will either receive an “F” on the
assignment or an automatic final course grade of “F” with the college determining continuing
penalties. Please review the policy in the MCC Catalogue and Student Handbook.
Course Requirements and Evaluation
Essays ……………………………………………………………30%
Live Poet’s Society Project and Additional Essay……………….20%
Online Reader Response Journal…..……………………………..20%
Quizzes and Final Exam…………………………………………30%
Please do not hesitate to ask how you are doing in the course. I will have an
accurate update every Friday on Angel.
Make-up Policy
Assignments are due when they are due. I will only accept assignments via email if
you arrange it with me ahead of time. You must also bring in a hard copy by the next
class. I will penalize all late work one point per day.
My Expectations
Come to class on time and be prepared to think, share, and write. Participation is the key to your
success. So do not be afraid to speak up. We can learn from each other through peer reviews,
presentations, and working in small groups. All it takes is effort.
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Expect to have at least two readings and a reader-response journal entry for every
class. This is a web-enhanced class, so expect to participate in online discussions
with your classmates. In order to be an effective participant in class, you should
have your online work done by the designated deadline and any additional work
ready for class.
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Four formal papers, consisting of 3 -4 double spaced typewritten pages, are one of
the expectations for this semester. You will also have an additional essay for our
Live Poet’s Society
What can you expect from me?
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I will arrive to class on time and prepared for an engaging class
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I will learn your names as soon as possible because it is essential to building a positive
environment
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You can plan on having timely feedback on all assignments
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I will give you clear expectations for each assignment and a course syllabus is available
with all due dates.
Learning Center
Determine whether students in the course you are teaching are likely to use the
Learning Center system at MCC in order to accomplish course objectives. Please
consider both learning centers specific to your discipline (for example, the
Psychology Learning Center) and general support learning centers (for example, the
Electronic, Writing, and Interdisciplinary learning centers). If your students may need assistance
from a learning center please insert the following statement in your Course Information Sheet.
The instructions are also available on the M-Drive at MCC/Forms/Learning Center/learning
center referral banner self-serve.pdf to facilitate electronic completion of the form.
Emergency Closings
If the College is closed due to inclement weather or some other emergency, all
Rochester area radio and television stations will be notified no later than 5:30
a.m. In addition, the homepage on the MCC website (www.monroecc.edu) will
display a message indicating the College is closed. Please do not call the
College to avoid overloading the telephone line
In the event of an emergency, such as a campus evacuation or closure, severe weather alert, fire
in a building, hazardous material incident, etc., where recommended proactive actions need to be
communicated, the SUNY NY-Alert system will be utilized to provide immediate notification to
all MCC students, employees and visitors who have opted to receive such alerts. Messages can
be received via a variety of communication technologies, such as e-mail (college and/or personal
accounts), audio, and/or text message to a campus, home or cell phone, fax, etc. For more
information, please visit http://www.monroecc.edu/depts./pstd/NYAlert.htm
Class cancellation information is available daily on the web or through the telephone. Simply go
to the MCC website (www.monroecc.edu) and under the “Quick Links” window on the
homepage, click on “Class Cancellations”. Additionally, class cancellation information is
available dialing 292-2066, press “1” for the Brighton Campus and “2” for the Damon Campus.
If possible, please use the web as there could be delays in the voice recordings based on the
number of cancellations.