Objectives

Composition II has a dual purpose: to help you sharpen your compositional skills and to introduce you to literature. In this course, you will learn basic literary terminology, analyze imaginative works, and develop the ability to read closely. You will also be taught to write short essays that responds to the works you read. This response will involve summary, evaluation, and analysis--critical habits valuable in your other college courses.

Texts and Materials

There are two books for this course. Please purchase them immediately from the University bookstore or on-line.

Literature and the Writing Process, 8th edition. Elizabeth McMahan, et al., Prentice-Hall, 2007.

This is a new edition. Be sure to buy the 8th edition.

Writing about Literature. 11th edition. Edgar Roberts. Prentice-Hall, 2006.

Please note that you are using different texts from the in-class version of Composition II.

Requirements

• four major papers: the first is 600 words (typed and double-spaced) and last three are 750 words (typed and double-spaced) (20% for each final draft)
  • for the first and third papers, you will submit required first drafts. If you do not turn in a first draft, you will be penalized one letter grade on the final draft.
  • for the second and fourth papers you will only submit the final draft.
• a response and homework journal to be mailed (by regular mail and not e-mail) at the end of the semester (15%)
• multiple choice questions coordinated with Literature and the Writing Process, 8th edition (5%)
• all work, with the exception of the journal, must be submitted by e-mail attachment. I will not accept work simply pasted into an e-mail message.
  
• you must use Microsoft Word or some other compatible word processing program. Do NOT use Microsoft WorKs (with a "k").
  

Late Papers

I expect the papers to be submitted (by e-mail or regular mail) on time. If they are two days late, I will penalize you one grade. If they are submitted after this point, you will receive a zero. You must turn in a first draft for for the first and third papers; if you fail to do so, I will penalize the final draft one letter grade. Please note that I will mark the papers within a day or two after I receive them, and will send them back to you immediately. If you do not receive a paper back, within a few days, it is your responsibility to contact me. Lost papers, or other assignments, are your responsibility. So check your email on a regular basis.

Typing

The final drafts of the papers must be typed (double-spaced), neat, and free of error. Sloppiness counts off.

Academic Integrity

Any work that you submit must be your own; in addition, any words, ideas, or data that you borrow from another person(s) must be properly documented. Failing to do either of these things is considered plagiarism. If you plagiarize, you will receive a zero and will be immediately dropped from the class with an "F". Re-taking the quizzes also constitutes cheating and, again, you will be immediately dropped from the class with an "F."

Syllabus (weekly activities)

Grade Standards

Response and Homework Journal

Submitting Files by E-Mail

 E-Mail Attachments