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ENG 200: Critical Reading
and Writing about Literature OfficeHours:
1:30-3:00 MWF Douglass,
Frederick. Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass.
We will read and interpret literature from various theoretical perspectives. We will also learn how to write well about literature. That involves not only developing valuable ideas, but also learning how to assemble reasons and evidence on the page. An outstanding interpretation is a well-written interpretation. There is no such thing as writing. There is only rewriting. The only way to become a good writer is to rewrite, rewrite, and rewrite some more. A piece of writing is never finished, only abandoned. A writer's best friend is a trash can. I put mine on a steady diet. Be open to new ideas, new techniques, new arguments. You should become better at the challenging, frustrating, and rewarding process of thinking and writing intelligently about literature. We will read, ponder, write, discuss, rewrite, question, discover, experiment, and refine as we examine short stories, novels, speeches, and an autobiography. Everyone must make a concerted and consistent effort. The more you invest, the greater your reward--in your writing, your other courses, and your career. I expect you to come to each class prepared, and I expect you to make informed, thoughtful contributions to each class discussion. This course will challenge you. You must keep up with all reading and writing assignments. ATTENDANCE: You MUST attend regularly to pass the course. If you miss MORE THAN FOUR class meetings, you will fail the course. I do NOT judge excused and unexcused absences. An absence is an absence is an absence. Missing class is missing class is missing class. If you are in the hospital, you are still missing class. Absences severely damage the Participation portion of your grade. Because serious emergencies do arise, you should plan ahead. Do that by missing NO class--repeat, NO class--unless an absence is ABSOLUTELY necessary. Inform me as soon as possible, preferably beforehand. Talking to another professor or ASU advisor is NOT an excuse for missing class. Neither is working or going to a job interview. Also, you MUST come on time EVERY DAY. Being noticeably late or leaving early counts as an absence. DEPORTMENT: While in class you must focus on this course, not on ASU football, Manzanita Hall, George W. Bush, the Chicago Cubs, astrophysics, hamburgers, an upcoming test, Heineken beer, or your classmate's hairstyle. PLAGIARISM: To plagiarize is to present as your own any work that is not your own. Some plagiarists have someone else (such as dear Aunt Sue) write for them. Others plagiarize from published sources or the Internet. I regularly cruise the library and the Internet. In case of plagiarism, I am authorized to FAIL a student for the ENTIRE COURSE. Repeated plagiarism can also lead to EXPULSION from ASU. If you are uncertain about how to cite published or Internet sources, see me. LATE PAPERS: Don't. Late papers would drown everyone. You MUST submit a paper on its due date. Do NOT attempt to turn in a paper late. I teach many students and cannot keep track of late drafts and late papers. CLASS JOURNAL: You will write an in-class journal during the first eight minutes of each class period. Your entries will be thoughtful responses to your assigned readings. REQUIRED
PAPER DRAFTS: You will do three drafts of each paper. When you turn
in your final draft of a paper, you MUST include ALL previous drafts of
the paper. Put the final draft on top, followed by the next-to-last draft,
peer editing sheets, etc. If you turn in all drafts, I can learn about
your process of writing and how that process is working or not working.
Drafts can also demonstrate that you are making a laudable effort. If
your paper is brilliant, fine. If your paper is not brilliant, then handing
in drafts will enable me to give you credit for working hard. FORM OF PAPERS: All papers should be typed or printed on a good printer in letter-quality print. You should observe one-inch margins on the sides and bottom of the paper and a one-and-a-half- or two-inch margin on the top. You need a typeface whose size is identical or virtually identical to the size of the typeface used in this handout. GRADING: I will grade according to the following criteria: Appropriateness--Responds
intelligently and appropriately Argument--Makes a sound, interesting, AND convincing argument Presentation--Shows
evidence of good planning, research, --Presents
argument in coherent, well-organized --Uses Standard American English
You MUST complete EACH assignment in order to PASS the course. That means you need to complete all the invention work, planning materials, drafts, and revisions developed for ALL assignments. Again, I will NOT accept or grade the final, polished version of your papers UNLESS heuristics and drafts are attached. Failure to complete ANY assignment will mean failure in the course. For those who attend class with great consistency; participate actively, regularly, and thoughtfully in all class activities; and complete all drafts and assignments thoroughly, work will graded as follows: First Paper-------------------------------------15% If you choose, you can rewrite one of your first two papers yet again in an attempt to raise your grade. TIME COMMITMENT: You need to spend two to three hours outside class for every hour in class. KNOWLEDGE OF CRIMES: Such knowledge is uncommon. But in the past some teachers have read papers or held conversations in which students revealed crimes. Whether a student has knowledge of a crime as a witness, victim, or perpetrator, a teacher may be legally required to report such knowledge to the authorities.
23--Wed.: Discuss Gilman; assign Wharton 25--Fri.: Discuss Gilman and Wharton; discuss writing as process, nature of revision, writing as a way of knowing, writer-based prose vs. reader-based prose; assign Chopin, "Desiree's Baby," "Story of an Hour," "Pair of Silk Stockings," and "Lilacs"; assign first paper Aug. 28--Mon.:
Discuss writing as process and revision; discuss 30--Wed.:
Discuss Chopin 4--Mon.: NO CLASS -- LABOR DAY 6--Wed.: FIRST DRAFT OF FIRST PAPER DUE FOR PEER EDITING 8--Fri.: Discuss Crane; discuss Eagleton; assign Chesnutt 11--Mon.: Discuss Chesnutt; assign Eagleton, pp. 45-60, for next Mon. 13--Wed.: Discuss Chesnutt; assign Hurston 15--Fri.: SECOND DRAFT OF FIRST PAPER DUE FOR TEACHER CONFERENCE; 18--Mon.: Discuss Chesnutt and Hurston; discuss Eagleton; assign Eagleton, pp. 60-75, for Fri. 20--Wed.: Discuss Hurston 22--Fri.: Discuss Hurston; discuss Eagleton 25--Mon.: FINAL DRAFT OF FIRST PAPER DUE; assign second paper; assign Eagleton, pp. 75-90, for Fri. 27--Wed.: Discuss Douglass, Narrative 29--Fri.: Discuss Douglass, Narrative Oct. 2--Mon.: Discuss Douglass; assign Eagleton, pp. 90- 105, and Faulkner for Fri. 4--Wed.: FIRST DRAFT OF SECOND PAPER DUE FOR PEER EDITING 6--Fri.: Discuss Faulkner; discuss Eagleton 9--Mon.:
Discuss Faulkner; assign Eagleton, pp. 105- 11--Wed.: Discuss Faulkner; assign Cather 13--Fri.:
SECOND DRAFT OF SECOND PAPER DUE FOR TEACHER 16--Mon.: Discuss Cather; discuss Eagleton; assign Eagleton, pp. 120-135, for Fri. 18--Wed.: Discuss Cather 20--Fri.: Discuss Cather; discuss Eagleton; assign King 23--Mon.: FINAL DRAFT OF SECOND PAPER DUE; assign Eagleton, pp. 135-150, for Fri. 25--Wed.: Discuss King 27--Fri.: Discuss King; assign Malcolm X; discuss Eagleton 30--Mon.: Discuss Malcolm X; assign Eagleton, pp. 150-165, for Fri. Nov. 1--Wed.: FIRST DRAFT OF THIRD PAPER DUE FOR PEER EDITING; discuss Malcolm X; assign Frost 3--Fri.: Discuss Frost; discuss Eagleton 6--Mon.: Discuss Frost 8--Wed.: Discuss Frost; assign Eagleton, pp. 165-180, and Roethke for next Wed. 10--Fri.: NO CLASS -- VETERAN'S DAY 13--Mon.:
SECOND DRAFT OF THIRD PAPER DUE FOR TEACHER CONFERENCE discuss Eagleton;
assign Eagleton, pp. 180-205 for Fri.; assign Roethke, Bishop and 15--Wed.: Discuss Roethke, Bishop, Wilbur 17--Fri.: Discuss Roethke, Bishop, and Wilbur; discuss Eagleton; assign Rich 20--Mon.: Discuss Rich; assign Neruda (not in anthology); assign all remaining pages of Eagleton for next Mon. 22--Wed.: Discuss Rich and Neruda 24--Fri.: NO CLASS -- THANKSGIVING 27--Mon.: FINAL DRAFT OF THIRD PAPER DUE; discuss Neruda; assign Hongo discuss Eagleton 29--Wed.:
REWRITE OPTION DUE; discuss Hongo; discuss Dec. 1--Fri.: JOURNAL DUE; discuss Hongo; discuss Eagleton 4--Mon.: Discuss Final Exam 6--Wed.: NO CLASS 8--Fri.: NO CLASS 11--Mon.: 12:20-2:10: FINAL EXAM NOTE: THIS
SYLLABUS IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE AS CONDITIONS DICTATE. |
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