COLLIN COLLEGE WINTERMESTER

AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT COMPLIANCE: It is the policy of Collin College to provide reasonable and appropriate accommodations for individuals with documented disabilities. This college will adhere to all applicable federal and state laws, regulations, and guidelines with respect to providing reasonable accommodations as required to afford equal educational opportunity. It is the student's responsibility to visit the ACCESS office (G200) or telephone 972.881.5898 (TDD.881.5950) in a timely manner if he or she desires to arrange accommodations.

RELIGIOUS HOLIDAYS: In accordance with Section 51.911 of the Texas Education Code, Collin College will allow a student who is absent from class for the observance of a religious holy day to take an examination or complete an assignment scheduled for that day within a reasonable time. Students are required to file a written request with each professor within the first 15 days of the semester to qualify for an excused absence. Please telephone or visit the registrar's office for additional information on procedures and rules. (You may refer to Section 2 Policies and Procedures, Sub-section 2.23 Religious Holidays in the current CCCCD Student Handbook.)

COLLEGE REPEAT POLICY: You may repeat this course only once after earning a grade, including W. Should you drop the course before the current semester's census date, you will not incur a penalty. Should you withdraw from the course after the census date, however, a grade of W will be posted to your transcript and noted as one attempted enrollment in the course.

INCOMPLETE GRADES: "Incompletes" require that you have a minimum grade of "C" and completed a minimum of 80 percent of the course requirements at the time you request an incomplete grade. Incomplete grades can occur only if the instructor deems a situation serious enough to warrant them. (A change in job schedules, for example, does not qualify for incomplete grades.)

CLASSROOM POLICIES: You may not consume food or beverages (water excepted) in the classroom. Please be courteous and turn off cell phones and beepers before entering the classroom as well. Please review "A Student's Guide to Academic Etiquette." Please note: I do not accept electronic attachments of essays as substitutes for in-class submission of work due. If you cannot attend class when an essay is due, make arrangements for someone else to deliver it to me.

PREREQUISITE: English 1302 Composition/Rhetoric II. Please see me immediately if you have not learned how to document sources using MLA style.

COURSE DESCRIPTION (CATALOG): A study of short stories, novels, and non-fiction. Analysis and evaluation of major writers in these genres, along with their techniques and their contributions to our literary heritage. Three credit hours; three lecture hours. Instructional Methods: Lecture, Lab, Web-Assisted.

COURSE OBJECTIVES: English 2342 is a critical writing/reading/thinking-intensive sophomore-level course. It is designed to introduce students to the pleasures of exploring fiction, of accepting literary conventions with a "willing suspension of disbelief" (Coleridge) or, if you will, an "eager entrance with belief" (Joyce M. Miller). It is also designed to introduce students to the pleasures and challenges of interpreting, confronting, and discovering human experience. However compelling and attractive the parts of a short story or novel may be in isolation (plot, character, theme, point of view, symbol, style, etc.), and acknowledging, certainly, that sound criticism never loses sight of any of the parts, at the completion of this course, students shall be able to evaluate the interrelationship of all of the elements for their total effect and interpretive value. In addition, students shall have gained a greater appreciation of the philosophic and stylistic diversity of a number of authors, and they also shall have strengthened their critical writing, reading, and analytic skills through instruction/review in literary analysis, writing, and research methodology.

REQUIRED TEXTS: The Norton Anthology of Short Fiction (edited by R. V. Cassill and Richard Bausch); Mary Shelley, Frankenstein (Norton Critical Edition, edited by J. Paul Hunter, 1818 first edition text); the write stuff ( 4th ed., Joyce M. Miller).

RECOMMENDED TEXTS: Edgar Roberts, Writing Themes About Literature (Prentice-Hall); Sylvan Barnet, A Short Guide to Writing About Literature, (Little, Brown); Gibaldi and Achtert, MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers.

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS: Two examinations over short stories; final examination; and critical research essay. Brief in-class literary analyses. (Even though the in-class papers are not used in the computation of total points, they are evaluated.) Oral reports must cover the salient points and research of the critical essay. Excluding the final, the examinations will consist of writing an essay in class along with interpreting as well as identifying (by author, title, and context) brief passages excerpted from our studied works. You will also be expected to answer a number of questions over the major stylistic and philosophical differences among the major authors. The final examination will consist ENTIRELY of responding in essay form to two topics relating to the novel. Because you will be expected to support your assertions with textual evidence, you may use your novel during the final exam.

CRITICAL ESSAYS: At sophomore level, your professors expect you to possess competent writing skills. If you stand on somewhat shaky ground here, please see me immediately for instruction. (I encourage you to make periodic appointments with me and with the Writing Center staff.) Because one of your critical essays will include at least three scholarly criticisms (see attached guidelines), you are expected to follow the guidelines set forth in the guides on reserve. Because using outside sources requires skills in documentation, please note that this course will follow the college's general policies on plagiarism. More specific to this course, any paper containing plagiarized work will earn a grade of zero; the student who submits plagiarized work may face additional disciplinary action as set forth in the Collin College Student Handbook. Note: Research papers require a minimum of four or five double-spaced typed pages and three secondary sources in addition to primary source(s) to prevent a failing grade. Further, papers require clear internal disclosures of sources (authors /page numbers/URL). Any paper omitting sources in the works cited page and/or parenthetically will earn a grade of zero. Students cannot, for example, credit an author’s source but fail to cite the page number(s) of the source: “The author further notes that Shelley pities the monster” (Blarney). Although you can always ask questions in class about correct documentation, you probably can locate any pertinent information you need in your handbook. Finally, please retain copies of ALL typed essays.
Please discuss your topics with me BEFORE writing your critical paper(s), and please sign and submit that portion of the attached information on plagiarism with your critical research paper.

FINAL EXAMINATION (verify the times in your schedule of classes): The final examination will consist ENTIRELY of responding in essay form to questions over Frankenstein. Because you will be expected to support your assertions with textual evidence, you will be able to use your text during the final exam.

COURSE GRADES: Based on my experience along with my objective professional judgment, I shall assign grades that mirror your ACTUAL academic achievements, not your potential and effort. To do otherwise would result in the unjust practice of devaluing superior academic work by inflating the grades of less meritorious work. Please review departmental grading standards.

ATTENDANCE AND MISC. POLICIES: Attendance in a course that meets four hours daily is critical. Naturally, you can only gain the vital instruction you need to achieve the course objectives by attending class in a timely and regular fashion (tardiness always disrupts classroom instruction). The perspective of others, moreover, is an integral part of one's education. Therefore, please note carefully the following course policies and information. An absence from class on the date an essay or other work is due does not automatically excuse the timely submission of your work. I do not give make-up exams or "extra credit" assignments. An essay will lose one letter grade for each day it is late (weekends included); I will not, however, accept work after the third late day. Three late arrivals (five minutes or more) equal one absence. Note also that you will lose ten points for each absence beyond the second one, and if you miss five classes, regardless of the cause(s), I may not accept any work you submit. Please keep a record of your tardiness and absences to compare with my record at any point during the semester. Your contribution to class discussion, along with your timeliness and participation in the writing assignments, will be noted and thus considered in the event your total grade points border narrowly between an A and B, a B and C, etc. Finally, you are responsible for notifying the registrar should you withdraw from this course. (The last day to withdraw with a W is January 3, 2007, and you, not I, are responsible for initiating a withdrawal.) Because the successful completion of this course is important to both you and me, I will do my best to help you to resolve the difficulties, academic or otherwise, that may lead you to consider withdrawing. Please see me first.

Day 2   Readings for discussion: The Lottery, p. 406; A&P, p. 864; Snow, p. 46; The Chrysanthemums, p. 800; and The Story of an Hour, p. 106. On reserve: The Cask of Amontillado, The Tell-Tale Heart, and The Masque of the Red Death. Read pp. Xiii-xxx completely in preparation for class discussion of the reading.
Day 3     The Use of Force, p. 904; Hills Like White Elephants, p. 400; Araby, p. 427; Girl, p. 505. Also read critical
commentary (p. 404). On reserve: A Domestic Dilemma; The Destructors; The Boarding House; Tears, Idle Tears; Her First Ball; Miss Brill. (Link here for an on-line copy of The Destructors .
Introduction to Frankenstein FOLLOWS today's class discussion; please complete reading the novel before you return to class.

Week 2 (following winter break)
Day 1    (January 2) EXAM #1, PART I, short answers; PART II, in-class essay (bring blue book). Exam for both parts CONCLUDES at 9:30 (no exceptions—even for tardy arrival). You will then have a 20-minute break to review the work due today in preparation for a full discussion.
Barn Burning, p. 230; Everyday Use, p. 875; The Man Who Was Almost a Man, p. 923. On reserve: A Rose for Emily.
Day 2    How I Contemplated the World, p. 664; A Good Man Is Hard To Find, p. 689; Paul's Case, p. 67. Also read the critical commentary following it (p. 82). On reserve: The Guest; Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?
Today is the LAST DAY TO WITHDRAW WITH A W. Please see me first if you are considering a withdrawal from this course.
Day 3   The Horse Dealer's Daughter, p. 507; The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas, p. 520; The Handsomest Drowned Man in the World, p. 681.
On reserve: The Rocking-Horse Winner; A Very Old Man With Enormous Wings; Balthazar's Marvelous Afternoon; Cockroaches; The Birthmark.
Available for conferences from noon till 1pm.
Day 4   EXAM #2, PART I. Identification of authors/titles/passages/terms. Identification of authors' achievements/philosophies. EXAM #2, PART II. Bring blue book for in-class essay.
GROUP WORK ON FRANKENSTEIN starts at 9:30am.   Available for conferences following class.
Day 5     CONTINUATION OF GROUP WORK; ORAL REPORTS BEGIN.

Week 3
Day 1      CRITICAL RESEARCH ESSAY DUE. PLEASE REVIEW REQUIREMENTS. ORAL REPORTS COMPLETED.
Day 2    FINAL EXAM, 2-hour time limit.   Attach your signed slip re: plagiarism (CUT-OFF PORTION ONLY).
                Bring text, blue book, the write stuff, and dictionary/thesaurus.

Return to Home Page Return to Instructional Menu