Spring 2011: MWF 11-11:50 am, Jackson Hall 113
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Welcome to a tradition: Centenary has long required its students to take English 101 here, as we have designed the course to equip you with skills that will serve you well throughout your college career and beyond. In particular, English 101 is about rhetoric, by which we generally mean "argument" that is practiced individually. And it is about culture, or the stuff that makes us who we are.
So in this class we read texts critically: not just opening books, saying surface things, and declaring ourselves done. Rather, we must ask what's going on, and how, and why? To read critically, then, means interpretation and real understanding. And we will consider more than traditional texts: not just books but film, poetry, essays, lectures, ads, people.
The English faculty here assume that writing and thinking are inextricably linked, so in this class, we emphasize grammatical and mechanical precision as well as analysis and production of sophisticated arguments. The readings provide cultural information as well as rhetorical models from which we write.
All aspects of the course are participatory and interactive; this is not a "lecture" course. So, come to class prepared to participate. By the end of the course, students should be able to
You may purchase these required texts at the college bookstore:
Use complete and accurate MLA documentation for all sources. Late or incomplete assignments receive one letter grade less than their worth for each day they are late.
Unless otherwise indicated, all work must be individual. Evidence of unauthorized collusion (working with another student or tutor) or plagiarism (use of another's ideas, data, and statements without proper acknowledgment) violates the college Honor Code and results in serious penalty. Additionally, all work you produce for this class must be original, produced by you for this class only: multiple submissions will not be tolerated. In all cases, handwrite, sign, and date the Honor Code on all assignments (papers, exams, in-class work).
As members of this College community, you are obliged to personally uphold the Honor Court Constitution; expect me and your classmates to do the same.
It is the policy of Centenary College to accommodate students with disabilities, pursuant to federal law, state law, and the College's commitment to equal educational opportunities. Any student with a disability who needs accommodations, for example in seating placement or in arrangements for examinations, should inform me at the beginning of the course. Students with disabilities should contact Disability Services (a division of Counseling Services) to obtain services.
During the course of this semester, you must write reviews of at least four campus or community events or experiences. We will attend some scheduled events together because they are integral to the course itself; you may choose those events for your reviews or you may choose others. Appropriate events and experiences include
It should go without saying that your behavior at such events and locations will reflect your social and intellectual maturity, so behave like the Centenary student that you are: pay attention, even if you do not quite understand or enjoy what you are experiencing, and help your neighbors to do the same by turning your cell phones off when you arrive and not chatting or texting with others while you are there. Actively participating, and asking questions as appropriate, will not only befit you as a student but will also help you write good reviews.
A good review does not merely report on the event and react to it but also relates it to other experiences you have had, as pertinent, and reflects on the importance of the event to life in general as well as your experience in this class and your own life. Use reviews from national newspapers or magazines as models. For this class, each review should be about 2 double-spaced pages long, formatted according to the MLA manuscript style and submitted via email, attached as Microsoft Word or iWork Pages documents. You may write one additional review for extra credit.
You will write three 750- to 1250-word essays addressing assigned topics and using MLA manuscript form (see The St. Martin's Handbook). Submit your essays via email attached as Microsoft Word or iWork Pages documents. You may significantly revise each first draft for another grade no more than two weeks after I return your initial draft; your final grade will be the higher of your two submissions. At any point in your composition process, feel free to contact me or visit the Writing Lab for writing assistance.
Read each assignment in its entirety before the class meeting for which it is assigned. You may not always understand the assignments, but you will be expected to make a bona fide effort at understanding them and articulating your confusions or misgivings. For each assignment, your preparations should include taking careful notes and marking your texts.
Regularly attending in-class and out-of-class required meetings is essential to this course. Your final grade will reflect lack of participation if you are not here (or if you merely stare glassy-eyed through class), but regular attendance also has long-term benefits as you exercise your thinking and writing here. Official college events are excused absences, as are serious illnesses or family crises (ie deaths), but you must always make up the work you have missed; see me ahead of time if at all possible for how to do this. Additionally, due dates for papers do not change: unless we make other arrangements, turn in a paper early if you will miss class on the due date.
As per departmental policy, after nine absences of any kind you fail this course.
Your final grade (A = 100-90, B = 89-80, C = 79-70, D = 69-60, E = 59-0) is divided into the following categories:
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