Western Nevada College
ENG 102 – Composition II
Dr. Ryan Stryffeler
Ryan.Stryffeler@wnc.edu
Number of Credits:
3
Transferability of Course within Nevada:
This course transfers within Nevada.
Course Description
Continues the study of expository writing. Students read and analyze writing and
discursive techniques of interpretation, argument, and research.
Course Objectives
The purpose of this course is to provide a foundation of knowledge that allows students to further
their study of Literature and/or apply knowledge to meet their personal and professional needs.
The information in the parentheses after a course objective refers to the specific general
education (GE) learning outcome that the objective meets. Objectives without this information
are not linked to WNC’s general education program.
Upon completion of this course the student should be able to:
1. Present substantially error-free prose suitable in style and content to the purpose
of the document and the audience. (GenEd 2)
2. Recognize, analyze, and apply the elements of various genres (types) of literature.
3. Understand and use critical thinking and creativity to select and apply terms used
to analyze literature suitable for arguments regarding literary texts. (GenEd 9)
(Gen Ed 7)
4. Discuss, research, and write about literature with critical insight, precision and
clarity. (Gen Ed 4)
Course Topics
1. Short Stories
2. Poetry
3. Literary Research and/or Criticism
REQUIRED TEXTS:
Clifford, John and John Schilb. Making Literature Matter: An Anthology for Readers and
Writers. 4th Edition. Bedford/St. Martins: Boston, 2009.
Microsoft Office or Open Office word processing program (free from
http://www.openoffice.org/)
INSTRUCTOR AVAILABILITY:
Instructor: Dr. Ryan Stryffeler (pronounced Dr. Streef-ler)
Office: BRIS 350 M
Phone Number: 775-445-4284.
Email: Ryan.Stryffeler@wnc.edu Please use to contact me.
My office hours for student concerns are:
Monday:
12:00-1:00 pm
Wednesday: 12:00-1:00 pm
These are the times that I should generally be available to meet with students. Please feel free to
stop in any time during these designated hours. Other office hours are by appointment only; I
am willing to make time for you, but please talk to me in advance.
COURSE ASSIGNMENTS:
Literary Opinion Essay (150 pts.)
Short Story Analysis (150 pts.)
Poetry Analysis (150 pts.)
Abstract (50 pts.)
Research Paper (300 pts.)
Daily Reading Comprehension Quizzes (200 pts. total)
= 1000 pts total.
EVALUATION METHODS AND GRADING CRITERIA:
For average work, you will earn an average grade, which is a "C". A further important item of
note: in general, papers that do not meet the minimum page/word count requirements will earn a
grade no higher than a "C-". Major assignments (the 3 essays and the research project,) must be
completed in order to pass the class. Finally, Students will be expected to submit certain papers
via Turnitin.com.
Participation weighs in more heavily in this course than in most others - you are expected to
contribute to class discussions regularly. I am here to guide you. When you have questions,
ask. But I also place great responsibility on your shoulders. You must take an active role in
your education. Sitting here, trying just to "absorb" what is going on is not likely to help
you much. Learn to read carefully and ask questions as soon as you feel lost.
I encourage any student needing to request accommodations for a specific disability to contact
the DSS coordinator, Susan Trist (445-3275), at your earliest convenience to ensure timely and
appropriate accommodations.
ROUGH DRAFTS:
I am willing to look at rough drafts via email or in person, provided they are submitted to me at
least 1 week prior to the due date of essay. However, I will only provide commentary and
feedback - I will not engage in grade speculation.
REVISIONS:
Students will often be given the opportunity to rewrite their essays for a higher grade. I will
announce these opportunities in class and give you a timeframe for completion (generally one
week after the paper has been returned to you). Please note that revision does not simply mean
correcting a few sentence errors here and there. Revisions should show significant rethinking of
your essay. Also, be aware that I do NOT mark every single error on your papers, especially
grammar and mechanical errors. I will point out major and recurring errors, but there will be
others that I will not mark. Revised essays must be turned in with the original essay(s) - NO
EXCEPTIONS. Revision scores REPLACE the original scores unless lower than the original (in
which case there is no change).
WITHDRAWAL PROCESS AND RESPONSIBILITY:
In order to withdraw from a class, a student must fill out the requisite paperwork before the final
withdrawal date. I will not withdraw you from this course; you must do it yourself! You will not
be given a grade of “W” if you stop attending class. You will earn a grade for work completed
during the semester unless you properly drop the course through the registration office. If a
student simply stops attending class, or fails to turn in major assignments, a grade of “F” will be
issued as the final grade. LAST DATE TO DROP: March 27th, 2015.
COURSE POLICIES AND EXPECTATIONS:
Attendance
While the temptation to skip class is a common one, I would strongly advise against that
mentality. Each day of class is worth 10 points, which are awarded for your performance on the
quizzes or activities you may be given for homework. You cannot make up missed quiz points.
Most days you will be given a reading activity or a homework sheet to complete before the next
class. When you arrive to class, you will have a 10 point quiz over the reading assignment (or I
will assess your completed homework sheet, etc.). Quizzes cannot be made up; you must be in
class when the quiz is given in order to have a chance to earn those points. No Exceptions!!! I
will not go back and review questions for those who arrive late, so make sure you are on time
and remain for the entire period; otherwise you will miss many easy points. You are responsible
for the material covered in class. If you miss a class, make sure to get the information, notes,
announcements, etc. from a classmate.
Late Work
I will not accept late work. There are absolutely no exceptions to this policy!
If an emergency arises, please contact me ASAP. Communication with me before an assignment
is due provides you the only means to explain unforeseen circumstances and exercise other
options. PLEASE NOTE: Print out your work at least the day before and/or email it to yourself
so that you are able to retrieve it anywhere. Computer and/or printer failure are NO excuse. If it
is not turned in during the class period in which it is due, you will earn zero points for the
assignment. But all major assignments (the 3 essays and the entire research paper,) must be
completed in order to pass the class. This means that if you choose to not to complete an
assignment by the due date and receive zero points, you will still need to complete it before the
end of the semester in order to attempt to pass the course via the points you have earned.
Cell Phone/Electronic Devices:
While Cell phones and iPods are convenient, their presence in the classroom can be distracting to
your fellow colleagues and myself. All devices of this type should be turned off or switched to a
vibrate setting while you are in class. Failure to do so will initially result in a warning;
subsequent violations of this policy may result in an absence for the day, a loss of the daily quiz
points, and dismissal from class. This policy includes texting during class, headphones covering
the ears, or using laptops for entertainment purposes, such as Facebook!
Common Civility
Entering a college classroom demands that you treat others in a manner that is supportive of
academic inquiry, curiosity, and shared learning. By respectfully acknowledging your
similarities and differences with other students, you will learn a great deal about yourself.
Consequently, if you are able to argue and discuss topics in a civil and reasoned manner (even
those you feel most passionate about), you will have empowered your own voice and increased
the likelihood that you will be heard and taken seriously by a professional audience.
Furthermore, common respect involves being adult enough to not disturb others with side
conversations. In this class, only one person should be talking at a time. Whether it is the
instructor or a classmate, please give the individual speaking your full attention, as we will do
when you wish to speak. Failure to be civil and courteous to your colleagues and/or professor
will result in a loss of attendance/quiz points or dismissal from the course.
ACADEMIC HONESTY STATEMENT:
The College is committed to academic integrity in all its practices. Cheating on papers, tests or
other academic works is a violation of College rules. No student shall engage in behavior that, in
the judgment of the instructor of the class, may be construed as cheating. This may include, but
is not limited to, plagiarism or other forms of academic dishonesty such as the acquisition
without permission of tests or other academic materials and/or distribution of these materials and
other academic work. This includes students who aid and abet as well as those who attempt such
behavior. BUYING an essay or willfully submitting someone else's work as your own are
instances of academic dishonesty that will result in failure of the class, at the very least. In a
word – do not even consider it. In addition, you may not turn in papers written for another class
to fulfill the assignments for this one. Acts of academic dishonesty will result in an F grade for
an assignment or for the course, based upon the discretion of the instructor. Please refer to the
student handbook for more information of the College’s academic dishonesty policies.
RIGHT OF REVISION STATEMENT:
The instructor and Western Nevada College reserve the right to make reasonable changes to this
syllabus and/or schedule as necessary.
Continued enrollment in this course indicates that you have read and agree to follow the
course policies and procedures discussed herein.
*This schedule is just a rough estimation of our activities this semester and may change
substantially and for any reason as the semester dictates*
**All assignments refer to the Making Literature Matter textbook, unless otherwise noted**
Tuesday, January 20th – Introduction to the Course: review of syllabus, course expectations,
and policies.
o Read Chapter 1
Thursday, January 22nd – Introductory remarks: What is Literature???.
o Read Chapter 3
Jan. 27th – Review of academic language, formal tone, and MLA documentation.
o Read Chapter 4
Jan. 29th – Assign 1st essay: Short Story Analysis.
o Read Chapter 2
Feb. 3 – Final discussion and review
rd
Feb. 5th – Opinion Essay Due!! Assign Short Story Analysis
o Read Chapter 5
Feb. 10 – Discuss the Elements of Short Fiction
th
o Read the Journey to Experience: all three “Little Red Riding Hood” stories.
Feb. 12 – Discussion of the reading assignment. Identifying, digesting, and critiquing themes
th
o Read Gilman “the Yellow Wallpaper”
o Read all stories by Kate Chopin: “Desiree's Baby,” “The Story of an Hour”
th
Feb. 17 – What are themes and how do we recognize them? Analysis of stories based on Short
Story structure.
o Read O’ Brian “The Things We Carried”
o Read Dubus “Killings” on
th
Feb. 19 – Discuss theme analysis through short story structure. Lecture on converting
structural aspects into “points” to support thematic interpretations.
o Read Faulkner “A Rose for Emily”
o Read Carver “What We Talk about When We Talk about Love”
Feb. 24th – Discuss the reading selections
o Read all three stories by E.A. Poe “The Cask of Amontillado, “Tell-Tale Heart,”
Feb. 26th – Theme-based Writing: “Reading between the lines”. Discuss assignment and
analyze themes. Grammatical concerns and common paper errors.
o Read Hemingway “Hills like White Elephants
o Read Marquez “The Handsomest Drowned Man in the World” p. 584-588
rd
March 3 – Discuss reading assignments. Q & A over paper topics, format, structural
concerns, and MLA style and works cited pages.
March 5th– Short Story Analysis Due!!! Assign Poetry Analysis.
o Read Chapter 6
March 10th– Introduction to Poetry Analysis- Elements of poetry, word/image interpretation, and
visualization.
o Read Plath
o Read Roethke
o Read Clifton
March 12th – Visual clues of descriptive language. The power of image-based language.
March 17th & March 19th – Spring Break! No class!
o Read Arnold
o Read Marvell
o Read de Vries
o Read Shakespeare
th
March 24 – Discuss the metaphoric value of poetry. Symbolism of pervasive metaphors and
the themes they illuminate.
o Read T.S. Eliot
o Read Wright.
th
March 26 – Poetry discussion wrap up.
o Read all by Frost
March 31 – Final Poetry wrap-up discussion
st
April 2nd- Poetry Analysis Due!!
o Read Chapter 9.
April 7 - Brainstorm Paper topics. Introduction to synthesis paper writing and analytical styles.
Discuss individual articles and paper topics.
th
o Think up three possible research topics and bring them to a meeting time you
signed up for previously in class. Find one academic journal article about one of
the topics and bring it in to share with me.
April 9th – Individual meetings with me in my office.
April 14th – Individual meetings with me in my office.
o Homework TBA
April 16 –Library day?
th
o Reading/ Homework TBA
April 21st – Final discussion of appropriate secondary sources for literary research
April 23rd – Abstract Due!!
o Reading TBA
April 28 – discussion of Literature. How do you define literature?
th
o Reading TBA
April 30 – Organizing longer papers
th
o Complete a rough draft of your essay and bring it to class
May 5th – Peer review of Research Essay
May 7th – Final Research Essay Due!!!!
May 11th – Pick up graded essays and farewells. Have a great summer break!
May 13th – No Class.