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Contemporary North American Fiction University
of Denver, Spring 2001 Welcome! Writing About Literature is the third course in the First-Year English sequence. The course provides an introduction to working with literature and an opportunity for you to continue your critical reading and writing activities. Required Texts: The Scribner Anthology of Contemporary Short Fiction: Fifty North American Stories Since 1970 (Lex Williford and Michael Martone ) and Breaking Ground: Guide to First-Year English (Margaret Whitt, Janet Black, and Bryan Walpert, 12th ed). For information on course policies, click here. SCHEDULE You will draw names to determine your two presentation dates. When you are presenting on an author and a story, you are responsible for beginning our discussion—your author introduction should give us a good sense of who the author is and what he/she is "about." What you choose to write about in your response paper will focus our attention on some aspect of the story worthy of discussion, and we will go from there. Please bring enough copies for everyone in the class of the following: Handout with introductory information (e.g., life and times, texts published, notable writing characteristics, etc.). Do research online &/or at the library (see especially Contemporary Authors). List sources at the end of your handout (in MLA format). You may check with others presenting on the same day and divide the material up to create one author introduction together, or you may each do your own handout. (Note: if you do an introduction with another person, you will both receive the same grade for that portion of the assignment).
Assignments: Please bring your textbook to class every day. If you have a question about any assignment, ask me—I'm happy to help. Assignments are due in class, at the beginning of class, on the due date. Late work will NOT be accepted unless you have received permission for an extension. Extensions must be requested before class begins on the due date (email requests are acceptable). Please do not email assignments. Academic Responsibilities: All work must be your own, generated this quarter. Turning in work that you have completed for another class is academic dishonesty. Plagiarism involves using all or part of a source (words or ideas) without correctly citing the source (this would include representing another person's work as your own or using a source without correct documentation). You are responsible for asking me if you are not sure how to document something. Academically dishonest or plagiarized work will receive an "F" and may be grounds for further disciplinary action (see Guide 39 for more information). Response Paper Guidelines: Response papers should be 1 page long and typed (double-spaced). A response paper should reflect your critical reading of a text: after reading the text (at least twice), take a position on something or explore one specific aspect of the text in detail (you can assume that your readers have also read the text, so you do not need to provide a summary of the plot). The following list may help you focus on a direction for discussion:
Workshop Guidelines: We will be working as a community of writers in this course, and you will take part in several workshops. Workshops provide the important opportunity for you to give and to receive feedback within a group of writers familiar with your writing goals. In order to receive full credit for workshops, you must bring the requested amount of copies of your draft in progress and give written feedback to all of your group members: you will receive 40 points if you have 3 copies of your draft and you give feedback to others, 30 points if you have 1-2 copies of your draft and you give feedback to others, and 20 points if you only give feedback. If you are not here for workshops, you cannot make up the points. Critical Essay Guidelines: Workshop drafts and final versions of your essay should be word processed in a 12-point standard font (e.g., Times New Roman, Garamond, Arial, etc.); see Guide for manuscript format guidelines, standards for grades, and a revision checklist (41-46). Aim for the length requirement; half a page over or under is acceptable. Please proofread carefully. I am looking for a clear original thesis supported by specific and relevant evidence discussed in a well-developed and well-organized essay. You should integrate some paraphrases and/or short quotations where appropriate—documented, of course, with parenthetical citations and a works cited list in MLA format (see Guide 179-183). Keep all materials used throughout the quarter (drafts, article, and workshop comments), as you’ll need them for the portfolio. Final Grade
Framework: You
determine your grade from this day forward, so do ask me if you have
any
questions about the assignments or anything else. To earn the most
possible
points, come to class prepared and on time, do your own work to the
best
of your ability, turn in the work on the due date, and participate in
class—your
grade will reflect your efforts! Your final grade will be based on the
following framework (adjusted for absences/lates if necessary).
GOOD THINGS TO KNOW Extra Credit Opportunities: A visit to the Write Place (other than for an "R") is worth five extra credit points (up to three times). To receive extra credit, (1) ask the the writing center tutor to sign his/her name legibly on the draft and to note the date and duration of your visit then (2) write "Write Place Copy" across the top of the draft. In addition, you may attend two literary readings during the quarter and write a one-page (typed) review for five points each—readings are offered at various places around town: at DU (see the English department web calendar for more information), at Tattered Cover, and at many other places (Westword provides a list each week). Include your Write Place draft(s) and review(s) in your portfolio to receive extra credit (see portfolio handout). Some Important Dates: Memorial Day holiday (university closed): May 28, 2001; last day to drop without signature: May 7, 2001; last day to drop with signature: May 21, 2001.
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