English 225: 30155
Short Story
Summer Session B, 2012
Professor:
Office Location:
Office phone:
Fax:
Email:
Dr. Mary Baumhover
206 Bowden Hall
(575) 538-6627
(575)538-6535
baumhoverm@wnmu.edu
Office Hours: Monday 12:00-12:30
Tuesday 12:00-1:00
Thursday 12:00-12:30
and by appointment
Course Catalog Description: Detailed study of short stories. (NMCCN Engl 2343) (Area V).
Required Text:
Pickering, James H. Fiction 100: An Anthology of Short Fiction. 13th ed. Boston: Pearson,
2012. Print.
.
Course Instructional Objectives:
Students will read a wide variety of literature.
Students will engage in discussion about the literature, and will present and support
interpretations.
Students will convey their understanding and appreciation of literature through writing short
daily essays, a formal essay, and two take-home essay exams.
Course Outcomes or Competencies: Students will give analyses and critical interpretation of
short stories, and compare
modes of thought and expression, and processes across a range of historical periods
and/or structures (such as political, geographic, economic, social, cultural, religious,
and intellectual)”;*recognize “the diversity of human experience across a range of
historical periods and/or cultural perspectives”;* use “historical and/or cultural
perspectives to evaluate any or all of the following: contemporary problems/issues,
contemporary modes of expression, and contemporary thought”;* and demonstrate
evidence of “an understanding of the present that is informed by an awareness of past
heritages in human history, arts, philosophy, religion, and literature, including the
complex and interdependent relationships among cultures.*
* Quotation from the New Mexico Core Competencies Assessment 2007-2008.
Disability Services at WNMU:Services for students with disabilities are provided through the
Academic Support Center’s Disability Support Services Office in the Juan Chacon Building,
Room 220. Some examples of the assistance provided are: audio materials for the blind or
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dyslexic, note takers, readers, campus guides, audio recorders, a quiet testing area, and
undergraduate academic tutors (available to all WNMU students). In order to qualify for these
services, documentation must be provided by certified health care professionals. Disability
Support Services forms are available in the Academic Support Center. The Disability Support
Services Office, in conjunction with the Academic Support Center, serves as Western New
Mexico University’s liaison for students with disabilities. The Academic Support Center’s
Disability Support Services Office can be contacted by phone at (575) 538-6400 or e-mail at
dss@wnmu.edu.
Communication Policy Statement regarding official email :WNMU’s policy requires that all
official communication be sent via Mustang Express. As a result, all emails related to your
enrollment at WNMU and class communication – including changes in assignments and grades –
will be sent to your wnmu.edu email address. It is very important that you access your Mustang
Express e-mail periodically to check for correspondence from the University. If you receive
most of your email at a different address you can forward your messages from Mustang
Express to your other address.
Example: Martin Classmember was assigned a WNMU email address of
classmemberm12@wnmu.edu but Martin would rather receive his emails at his home email
address of martinclass@yahoo.com
Martin would follow the direction provided at
http://www.wnmu.edu/campusdocs/direction%20for%20forwarding%20email.htm
WNMU Policy on Email Passwords: WNMU requires that passwords for access to all of the
protected software, programs, and applications will be robust, including complexity in the
number of characters required, the combination of characters required, and the frequency in
which passwords are required to be changed. Minimum complexity shall include:



Passwords shall contain at least six (6) characters.
Passwords shall contain at least one capital (upper case) letter, and at least one symbol
(numbers and characters such as @ # $ % & *).
Passwords shall be changed at least every 90 days. (8/6/08)
Academic Integrity Policy and Procedures: Each student shall observe standards of honesty
and integrity in academic work as defined in the WNMU catalog. Violations of academic
integrity include “any behavior that misrepresents or falsifies a student’s knowledge, skills or
ability with the goal of unjustified or illegitimate evaluation or gain” (WNMU Faculty
Handbook, 2008). Generally violations of the academic integrity include cheating and
plagiarism. Refer to the catalog pages 60-61 for definitions.
Penalties for infractions of academic integrity in this class are as follows:
Plagiarism: “the intentional or unintentional representation of another’s work as one’s own
without proper acknowledgement of the original author or creator of the work” (WNMU Faculty
Handbook, 2008).
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Cheating: “using or attempting to use unauthorized materials…and unauthorized collaboration
with others, copying the work of another or any action that presents the work of others to
misrepresent the student’s knowledge” (WNMU Faculty Handbook, 2008).
My Policy
Plagiarism and/or cheating will result in a lowered grade on the assignment, a lowered
grade for the class, or failure of the class, depending upon circumstances.
Class Procedures for Inclement Weather: I will notify students of class cancelation through
Mustang Express email and an announcement on the Mustang Express course page.
Assessment/Evaluation and Grading Scale
Daily writing: Each answer is worth two points.
Midterm and final exam rubric:
A: The questions are answered thoroughly, covering most or all of the major points.
They are supported by examples. The answers are organized, and the language is clear. There
are very few mechanical errors.
B: The answers cover most of the major points and are supported by examples. They are
organized and clearly worded. There may be some mechanical errors.
C: The answers make points, but may not discuss one or more important points. Support
may be lacking. There may be some problems with organization and/or clarity of language.
There may be quite a few errors.
D: The answers may not deal with major points, and/or lack support. There may be some
problems with organization and/or clarity of language. There may be too many errors.
F: The answers miss the major points, are unclear and/or disorganized, and/or may have
too many errors.
Formal essay rubric:
A: The essay offers an interpretation that gives the reader insight into the work(s); it is
sharply observant. Assertions are persuasive and supported by evidence from the text. It is
logically organized, and the language is clear, concise, and may be notable for its distinctive (but
appropriate) style. Research (if included) contributes, but does not overpower or become the
primary content of the essay. Quotations and paraphrases are incorporated smoothly. There are
very few mechanical errors and MLA format is correctly followed.
B: The interpretation shows some original thought and goes beyond plot summary and
class discussion. Assertions are persuasive and supported by evidence from the text. The
organization is logical and the language is clear. Research (if included) does not overpower or
become the primary content of the essay. Quotations and paraphrases are incorporated smoothly.
There may be a few problems with errors and MLA format. The essay may be of “A” quality, but
has too many errors.
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C: The essay deals with major elements of the work, although there may be reliance on
plot summary, class discussion, and/or research. Most assertions are supported by the text,
although there may be some misinterpretation of the text. There may be some problems with
organization and/or clarity of language. Quotations and paraphrases may not be incorporated
smoothly, and/or there may be problems with MLA format. Errors do not distract or interfere
with comprehension. The essay may be of “A” or “B” quality, but has too many errors.
D: The essay may make assertions that aren’t supported by the text. Some interpretative
points are made, but they may not be supported and/or their significance may not be developed.
Organization is weak, and/or transitions are missing. MLA format is not correctly followed.
The essay may have too many errors.
F: The essay shows no insight into the work, and/or violates major principles of
composition. The essay may have too many errors.
Assignments/Due Dates
30% Daily writing
15% Midterm; due June 15
30% Formal essay; due June 25
15% Final; due July 3
10% Class participation (including attendance)
Due Dates: See the tentative schedule (below).
Daily Writing: At the beginning of each class, I will ask a question about the reading assigned for
that day; you will be given five to ten minutes to write a short essay in response. If you are
late, you miss your chance to write that day's essay. If you have an excused absence, you may
make up the essay, but it is your responsibility to make arrangements with me.
Midterm and Final: The class will vote on the formats for the midterm and final. This process
may change the grading standards.
Formal Essay: The essay should be approximately three-to-five pages (typed, double-spaced,
with standard margins) and should be submitted through Turnitin in Blackboard (provided the
service is functioning). It should focus on at least one work from our texts. Support your claims
with quotations from the text, and include page numbers. If page numbers are missing, the
assignment is incomplete. You may include research, but your essay must show original thought. If
you use research, follow the MLA format and cite all references. For more information, see the
formal-essay handout. I will be happy to work with you on the rough draft of your essay; you can
see me during office hours or make an appointment with me. Late papers will drop one grade for
every day they are late.
Class Participation: Since this is primarily a discussion class, you must contribute. At the end
of the semester, I will ask you to evaluate your own contribution to class discussion (although I
reserve the right to determine the final grade). Talking with the person next to you does not
contribute. Disruptive behavior will not be tolerated; I will give one warning, and if negative
behavior persists, I will drop you from the class.
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Attendance: Four hours of unexcused absence will flunk you. Let me know if you run into
problems.
Late Work: The midterm, formal essay, and final exam will drop one grade for every day they are late,
and late papers will go into my late pile, which means I may not get to them before the end of the
semester.
Other Expectations: Since this is primarily a discussion class, you must contribute. At the end of the
semester, I will ask you to evaluate your own contribution to class discussion (although I reserve the right
to determine the final grade for discussion). Talking with the person next to you does not contribute.
Disruptive behavior will not be tolerated; I will give only one warning, and if negative behavior persists, I
will drop you from the class.
Tentative Schedule
Your reading selections will be plugged into the blank spots in the schedule.
June 4: Introduction
5: “Young Goodman Brown,” 585; “Hills Like White Elephants,” 595; “The Lottery,” 638
6: “The Things They Carried,” 951; “The Catbird Seat,” 1108; “The Garden of Forking Paths,” 152
7: “Lost in the Funhouse,” 95; “Cathedral,” 184;“The Lesson,” 69; reading selections due
8: “The Girls in Their Summer Dresses,” 1036; “The Cask of Amontillado,” 985; “A Very Old Man with Enormous
Wings,” 478; “This Is What It Means to Say Phoenix, Arizona,” 15
11:
12:
13:
14:
15: Midterm due
18:
19:
20:
21:
22: Rough-draft workshop
25: Essay due
26:
27:
28:
29:
July 2:
3: Final due
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