Citrus College
ENGL 103
English 103- Composition and Critical Thinking
Spring 2013
Instructor: Jamie Ray
Email: jray@citruscollege.edu
Time: 8:10-11:20
CRN: 31546
Location: AN 101
Class Site: www.engl103.pbworks.com
Course Description: English 103 uses rhetorical persuasion & literature as a basis for the teaching of
critical thinking and composition. The emphasis is upon analysis of issues, problems, and situations
represented in literature and on the development of effective written arguments in support of the
analysis.
What prerequisites do I need for this course?
English 101. A student taking English 103 should already be familiar with the terms of short story
analysis and the requirements of papers that use secondary sources for support.
What is this course about?
This class involves analysis and synthesis of reading material (poems, short stories, plays), and you will
be reading extensively. ALL READING MUST BE DONE BEFORE THE DISCUSSION SESSION. Class
assignments include group work, in-class work, writing homework, essays, a research paper, and quizzes.
What materials do I need for this course?
 Barnet, Sylvan, et al., eds. An Introduction to Literature: Fiction, Poetry, and Drama. 16th ed. Boston:
Longman, 2011.
 Access to a computer with Internet and word processing software
 Folder and notebook (to keep your work and notes organized)
 stapler (because your work won’t be accepted if it’s not stapled!)
What are the goals for this course?
• Analyze texts in different literary genres as they represent various social, historical, aesthetic, and
linguistic cultures according to their structure, organization, and purpose in order to appreciate
connections between literature and cultural expression
• Read and analyze works of non-fiction, fiction, poetry and drama, and form an interpretive position on
their cultural expressions in order to demonstrate college-level understanding of literary expressions
• Demonstrate in writing an understanding of the importance of assigned works as expressions of
various time periods, cultures and literary traditions in order to express how literature reflects and
influences these aspects
• Analyze literary texts for their implicit and explicit themes derived from cultural patterns in order to
critically examine expansion of the literary canon to include voices throughout history from women,
ethnic and cultural minorities.
• Assessment: Accomplishment of these outcomes is demonstrated in class discussions,
presentations, quizzes, essay exams, analytical essays and research projects that utilize standard
methods of essay development and proper English syntax and mechanics.
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How will I be graded in this course?
Assignment
Essay 1
Essay 2
Essay 3 (In-Class)
Research Paper (6-8 pages)
 Annotated Bibliography
Homework/Class Work/Participation
Midterm
Reading Quizzes
ENGL 103
Points
100
100
100
150
“Instructors don’t give grades. Students
earn them.”
200
200
150
What kind of assignments will I complete?
Because this course requires such an immense amount of reading, you will have a great deal of it. In
addition to the reading, however, you will also respond to what you read in written form. That will be
through essays, class discussions, and posts on the class site. What you’ve read will also be assessed
through quizzes. You will always know what the homework is since I update the class site’s homework
section after each class meeting.

Reading: The text for this course is divided into sections: fiction, poetry, and drama. We will read portions
of each of these sections in addition to other parts of the book and handouts given in class. Using effective
reading strategies while you read will help you to recall what you’ve read so that you can better analyze
and respond to it in written form. Therefore, you will need to annotate in your texts as much as possible.
These annotations will also help you when reviewing what you’ve read before quizzes, as there will be
quizzes for almost each class meeting on what we’ve read.

Essays: Three take-home essays, one research paper, and two in-class essays (as part of the midterm and
final) are required for this course. Handouts will be posted on the class site for each assignment. The inclass essays will need to be written in Citrus College Blue Books. The take-home essays and research paper
+ annotated bibliography must be formatted in MLA standards. That is 12-point font, double-spaced, with 1inch top, bottom, and left, right margins. Your last name and the page number should be on the top-right
header of each page. Your name, your instructor’s name, the course title, and the date should appear on only
the first page. The title should be centered, but everything else should be right aligned. The take-home essays
and research paper will also need to be submitted on Turnitin.com before they are turned in on they day
they are due. Failure to submit your assignments on Turnitin.com will result in your essay not being read or
given credit. More information about the specifics of each essay will be given in class and posted on the
class site.

Class/Website Discussions: In this course, we will be reading literature that reflects a variety of
perspectives, experiences, and cultures. To get the best out of this, approach what you’re reading with an
open mind and then bring what you’ve understood and not understood to class for our discussions.
Through these discussions, we will co-create knowledge rather than having come in the form of a lecture
from an authority. We will be using our class website for responding to everything that we read through
discussion posts. For your posts, you will need to answer the questions that are posed as well as respond to
what the person before you has written. If you’re the first to begin the discussion, you only have to answer
the question and not respond to anyone.

Homework: Homework will be assigned after every class meeting. There will be various types of
assignments, but the majority will consist of readings and discussion posts on the class site. When we study
drama, you will have the opportunity to attend a play on campus. (Almost, Main
http://tickets.haughpac.com/single/EventListing.aspx). If you attend this play, you will need to write a short
response about it, but if you do not, you’ll have to read another play from our text (Los Vendidos) and
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ENGL 103
respond to that in a longer response. Information for each homework assignment will be given on the
website as the course continues.
What is plagiarism?
Plagiarism happens when someone steals someone else’s ideas and acts like it is his or her own. In other
words, it is academic theft. Just like it is wrong to go to a store and take milk without paying for it, it is
wrong to take someone else’s ideas and not acknowledge where they come from. Plagiarism is a serious
offense. It results in a zero grade for the assignment and an appointment with academic affairs. It is such
a serious problem that you could even be dismissed from this college. In this class, I have no tolerance for
plagiarism, so if it happens, you will be reported to academic affairs and receive a zero on the assignment.
In order to avoid plagiarizing, you need to educate yourself on how to properly explain others’ ideas
without making them look like they are yours. There is information about how to do this in MLA format
at the back of your books. Continuing to stay in this course after the first day signifies that you
understand the consequences of plagiarizing.
What will happen if I miss class?
Most people have busy lives and things happen, but missing class is missing class. No matter the reason
for the absence, if you are not in class, it will be a disadvantage to you. Also, even if you miss class, you are
still responsible for the work we did. Please write the name and phone number of a classmate that you
can contact in case you miss any classes or assignments. You can also check the website’s homework
section.
Name
Phone Number/Email Address
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
What happens if I disrupt the class?
Disruptive behavior is any behavior that interferes with the ability of the students in the course to benefit
from the classroom experience. It includes talking with classmates while the instructor or a student is
leading a discussion, reading material not related to the course, doing homework for another class,
frequently leaving the classroom during class, sleeping in class, aggressive behavior toward
classmates/instructor, and offensive comments. Citrus College policies concerning disruptive behavior
will be enforced.
Techniquette: Although I understand that technology can benefit us in terms of education, it is
important that you silence your phones when you come to class. In addition, you will need to put your
phones away unless we are doing an activity that requires a dictionary, in which case if you have a
dictionary on your phone, you can use it. If you are caught texting or having your phone ring, you may be
asked to bring a treat for everyone at the next class meeting!
Important Dates:
 Last day to drop this course without a W: _____________
 Last day to drop this course: ____________
(If you decide to drop after these date, your grade will be an F, and this will be on your transcripts.)
Citrus College
ENGL 103
Support Services:
If you need further assistance you should take advantage of the services offered by The Learning Center
in ED 216. There, you can make one-on-one appointments in the Writing Café with qualified tutors to
help you with your writing. All appointments can be made online.
If you are a student with special physical or developmental needs for testing, reading, or essay
production, please contact me as soon as possible. Verification with DSP&S will allow you to get special
consideration for such tasks. It is the student’s responsibility to inform both the instructor and other staff
of these needs.
Tentative Schedule (Subject to Change)
All due dates and assignments will be posted on class website.
Dates
Week 1
 Feb. 22nd
Week 2
 March 1st
Week 3
 March 8th
Week 4
 March 15th
Week 5
 March
22nd
Week 6
 March 29th
Week 7
 April 5th
Week 8
 April 12th
Week 9
 April 26th
Week 10
 May 3rd
Week 11
 May 10th
Week 12
 May 17th
Week 13
 May 24th
Week 14
 May 31st
Week 15
 June 7th
Week 16
 June 14th
Focus
Introduction to course and literature
Poetry- One Art, Hay for the Horses, On
Being Brougth from Africa to America,
Poetry- Funeral Blues, Evenin’ Air Blues,
A Noiseless Spider,
Poetry- We Real Cool, Metaphors,
Baseball, Red Wheelbarrow, Barbie Doll
Poetry- I Saw in Louisiana a Live Oak
Growing, Dream Boogie, Tony Went to the
Bodega
***1st Essay Due
Fiction/Critical Theory– Story of an
Hour, Everyday Use, Cathedral, Where are
you Going . . .?
Fiction- Who’s Irish?, The Lottery, Barn
Burning
Fiction- A Good Man Is Hard to Find, The
Secret Life of Walter M.
Fiction- Hunters in the Snow, Senior
Picture Day, AP
***2nd Essay Due
Midterm
Drama- Fences, Los Vendidos, Almost
Maine, Death of a Salesman
Drama
Drama
***3rd Essay- In Class
***Research Paper Due
Class Wrap-Up
Research Paper Conferences
STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES
Upon completion of this course, students
will be able to do the following:
1. Creative, Critical, and Analytical
Thinking
OUTCOME: Critically analyze,
interpret, and evaluate the style,
structure, and themes of significant
works of literature
ASSESSMENT: through deductive
and/or inductive forms of writing and
discussion
2. Community/Global
Consciousness and
Responsibility
OUTCOME: Critically analyze,
interpret, and evaluate historical,
cultural, and artistic content of
significant works of literature
ASSESSMENT: through deductive
and/or inductive forms of writing and
discussion
3. Communication (personal
expression and information
acquisition)
OUTCOME: Demonstrate scholarly
behavior
ASSESSMENT: in all class activities.