I.          COURSE DESCRIPTION

This course consists of three goals.  The first goal teaches students how to identify the difference between a summary and an analysis and ultimately and have them apply this skill to explain the meaning in literature, instead of using description or summarization.  The second helps students identify different types of arguments and errors in logical reasoning in order to develop strong support for their papers.  The third goal introduces students to various literary concepts and terms in order to better interpret literature. 

II.        TEXTS

This course will utilize Writing about Literature: A Portable Guide by Janet E. Gardner and The Everyday Writer by Andrea Lunsford.   

III.       CLASSROOM PROCEDURES 

Essays:  You must come prepared to class to write your individual and group essays that are assigned on given days.  Each will count 10 pts, which will total 40pts of your final grade   

Papers:  There is one research paper required for this course. You MUST bring typed drafts of this paper on assigned for peer editing sessions.  Otherwise, you will lose points. 

Late Papers:  For every day that it is late, your paper will be lowered one letter grade. 

Absences: You are allowed three unexcused absences.  Attendance your performance, and active participation is expected during peer review sessions and group exercises. You are also responsible for all the assignments.  More than three absences will constitute failure in this course, except for extreme circumstances or academic-related reasons. 

IV.       GRADING

90-100pts          A                                

80-90pts            B                      Essays                                      40pts

70-80pts            C                      Peer Review                             20pts

60-70pts            D                     Research Essay                         40pts   

Below 60pts      F                                                                      100pts                                                                                              

V.         STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES

If you need to have special arrangements made due to a physical or learning disability, please notify me as soon as possible.   

VI.       PLAGIARISM

Copying, inaccurately documenting, or misrepresenting any source as your own will constitute failure in this course.

 VII.     Tentative Schedule 

Week   1:         Tues.    Aug.     30^th –Syllabus review; Diagnostic Essay

Thurs   Sep.      1st –Summary vs. Analysis (Online Handout); “Harlem” p. 539

Week   2:         Tues.    Sep.     6^th –Summary vs. Analysis; “Chinese Villanelle” p. 671;

       Thesis and Arguments (Online Handouts)

Thurs.   Sep.     8^th –No Class 

Week   3:         Tues.    Sep.     13^th – Essay 1; The Analytical Paragraph (Lecture); pp.1278-1295

                        Thurs.   Sep.     15^th –The Analytical Paragraph; “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock”

                                                p. 525-529  

Week   4:         Tues.    Sep.     20th –The Analytical Paragraph; Prufrock Continued

                        Thurs.   Sep.     22nd –Intro. to Literary Criticism pp. 1302-1314

Week   5:         Tues.    Sep.     27^th – Intro. to Literary Criticism; “Civil Peace” p. 266-270

                        Thurs.   Sep.     29^th –“A Very Old Man..” pp. 260-265

Week   6:         Tues.    Oct.     4^th –; Intro. to Literary Criticism; Garcia Marquez continued

                        Thurs.   Oct.     6^th – Essay 2

Week   7:         Tues.    Oct.     11th – Quoting Literature pp. 1296-1301

                        Thurs.   Oct.     13^th – Death of a Salesman pp. 1012-1027

Week   8:         Tues.    Oct.     18th – Death of a Salesman PP. 1028-1042

                        Thurs.   Oct.     20th –Group Essay 1

Week 9:           Tues.    Oct.     25th – Death of a Salesman pp. 1043-1057

                        Thurs.   Oct.     27^th – Death of a Salesman pp. 1058-1072;

Week   10:       Tues.    Nov.    1st – Death of a Salesman pp. 1073-1090; Movie

                        Thurs.   Nov.    3rd ^– Movie

Week   11:       Tues.    Nov.    8th – Group Essay 2

                        Thurs.   Nov.    10^th – Library Session; Research Proposal Due

Week   12:       Tues.    Nov.    15th – Peer Review Session (2 pages); pp. 1338-1349

                        Thurs.   Nov.    17th ^– Peer Review Session (2 pages)

Week   13:       Tues.    Nov.    22nd  – Peer Review Session (2 pages); pp. 1350-1361

                        Thurs.   Nov.    24rth – Holiday: University Closed

Week   14:       Tues.    Nov.    29^th – Peer Review Session (1 page); pp. 1362-1369

                        Thurs.   Dec.     1st ^– Peer Review Session (1 page)

Week 15:         Tues.    Dec.     8^th- MLA Works Cited Online Handout

                        Thurs.   Dec.     10th- Research Paper due