English 109: Introduction to Fiction (Composition II)
Instructor: Aleksondra Hultquist
Email:hultquis@uiuc.edu
Office:Eng 332 (3rd floor, street side)
Mailbox:(Eng. Bldg, 2nd floor, quad side)
Office hours:by apt.
Office Phone:244-1136 (no voicemail)
Course Objectives:
The main goal for you this semester is to understand how to talk and write about fiction. To that end we will read novels and short stories, discuss the details in those texts that lead to your interpretation of the text, and learn how to “close read” in order to analyze a text. We will also:
- Learn the vocabulary of fiction
- Learn how to “unlock” texts by using basic literary theory
- Talk about and practice how to transfer ideas and discussions about fiction into well-composed essays. (I assume that you have the knowledge of an introductory composition course, such as Rhetoric 105.)
Required Texts:
The Seagull Reader, ed. Joseph Kelly
Course packet
Persuasion, Jane Austen
Like Water for Chocolate, Laura Esquivel
The Alchemist, Paulo Coelho
Recommended Texts:
Prentice Hall Guide to Writing About Literature, Edward A. Shannon
A Pocket Style Manual, fourth edition by Diana Hacker (or some equivalent)
A good dictionary
Course Requirements and Policies:
Attendance and Participation. Coming to class on time and actively participating in discussions and activities are expected. Participation includes chiming in during class discussion, but also actively taking part in in-class work, and coming to my office hours for discussion and help. If you miss a class, you are responsible for making up any and all work that you missed; please contact a classmate for the information, notes, and assignments, then come to my office hours with any remaining questions that you have. (Your attendance and participation grade is affected for every class you miss.) After six absences, your final grade may drop by 1/3 of a letter grade per absence (See the Life Happens Clause).
Readings. You will have an assigned amount of reading to complete before each class period so that we can have productive discussions. Please read the selection more than once. Please keep up with the reading so that we have the benefit of each other’s ideas.
Quizzes. I reserve the right to implement pop quizzes if people are not keeping up with the reading. If you keep up with the homework, there will be no need to fear them or have them.
Homework Assignments. As we struggle with the meaning and vocabulary of fiction, you will write various assignments which are designed to help you practice using the vocabulary of literature. These will be graded on a check plus, check, check minus scale. You are always welcome to come and talk to me about these assignments and I encourage you to use them as prewriting for your papers.
Presentations and Group Work. In order to augment our readings, you may be asked to present information to the class, or lead a group discussion. These can include handouts o other presentation accoutrements and will count as part of your homework grade.
Papers.* There will be three 3-4 page papers, amid-term paper (3-4 pages), and a final project. These paper will be graded on their clarity, coherence, use of literary critical voice, ands the correctness (that is grammar, spelling, mechanics). All written assignments are due at the beginning of the class period on their due dates. Late papers will receive 1/3 of a letter grade off for each day they are late. (See the Life Happens Clause)
*All written assignments must be typed and formatted to MLA standards (1 inch margins, 12-point Times New Roman font, double-spaced, stapled together, no title page, properly documented, works cited). Refer to A Pocket Style Manual (or another grammar handbook) to answer questions about format, citations, and mechanical issues. If you are having trouble with written assignments, it is best that you make an appointment with the Writer’s Workshop.
Peer Review. Before the final draft of a paper is due, you will have the opportunity to have you peer read and comment upon a draft. Always bring thee copies of your paper to peer review: one for each member of your group and one for yourself. You must participate in all peer review sessions. Missed peer review sessions will result in the loss of 1/3 of a letter grad on your paper (so a B becomes a B-).
Mid-term. Your midterm will be a take home paper. You will not sit for an exam.
Cliffs Notes Project. You will research and write your own Cliffs Notes. You will not sit for a final exam.
Performing all of these tasks is a minimum for passing the course.
Big Scary Plagiarism Paragraph
Article 1, section 4 (d), of the University of Illinois Student Code defines plagiarism as “Representing the words or ideas of another as one’s own in any academic endeavor. This includes copying another person’s paper or working with another person when both submit paper without authorization to satisfy an individual assignment.” Also note that section 4 (b) states that: “Students have been given notice of the rule by virtue of its publication…Ignorance of a rule is never a defense.” A full copy of the Student Code is available on line at http://www.admin.uiuc.edu/policy/code/.
The university considers plagiarism and other forms of academic dishonesty to be a serious breach of academic ethics. Please do not plagiarize. I will find out, we will have to have an ugly conference, I have to fill out incriminating paperwork, recriminations will be severe and can include failure of the assignment, failure of the course, or expulsion from the university. And everybody has a bad day.
Life Happens Clause
Because life happens, you are allowed one late paper, one tardy, one absence, no excuse necessary, no questions asked. (The Cliffs Notes Project may not be turned in late.) A late paper means that it gets turned in the next class period. If you are turning in an assignment late, on the day that the paper is due, I need a hard copy of a typed note from you telling me you are aware of your obligation and clearly stating the due date. Please note that I do not accept any assignments electronically. If you find you are not able to make deadlines or if you have a crisis in your life that prevents you from keeping up in class, please come see me immediately so that we can decide together what is the best mode of action for you.
Courtesy, Safety, and Emergencies
This is a safe academic environment in which to share ideas. Please treat each other with respect. If you have a disability and need accommodation, please let me know as soon as possible. If there should be an emergency, we will leave the building as a class and I will dismiss you once we are all accounted for. Please note that cell phones should be turned off and that text messaging during class is disrespectful.
Grading Breakdown
15% Homework (presentations, group work, readings, short assignments)
15% Attendance and participation ( adding to discussion, attending conferences, peer review)
| 70% Papers: | 10% first paper |
| 20% Midterm | |
| 20% Cliffs Notes Project | |
| 20% Final Paper |
Tentative Reading Schedule
| Week 1: | Intro to course and class |
| “Story of an Hour” Kate Chopin | |
| Diagnostic essay due | |
| Week 2 | “Hills Like White Elephants” Earnest Hemmingway |
| “Rappacini’s Daughter” Nathaniel Hawthorne | |
| Week 3 | Persuasion Jane Austen |
| Week 4 | Persuasion and conferences |
| Week 5 | Fantomina Eliza Haywood and peer review |
| Week 6 | “The Hunger Artist” Franz Kafka |
| The Alchemist Paulo Coelho | |
| Week 7 | The Alchemist Paulo Coelho, Cliffs Notes Proposal due, presentation |
| “Where are You Going? Where have You Been?” Joyce Carol Oates | |
| Week 8 | “The Tiger’s Bride” Angela Carter |
| Peer review | |
| Week 9 | Midterm due, library day, computer lab |
| “Guests of the Nation”, presentation | |
| Week 10 | The Things They Carried, presentation |
| Week 11 | “The Jilting of Granny Weatherall” presentation |
| Conferences re: Cliffs Notes Project | |
| Week 12 | “Yellow Woman” Leslies Silko Marmon |
| “An Old Man with Enormous Wings” Gabriel Garcia Marquez, presentation | |
| Week 13 | Peer review, Cliffs Notes Project due |
| Week 14 | Like Water for Chocolate |
| Week 15 | Like Water for Chocolate, peer review |
| Exam Week | Final Paper due |