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English 1710
Leah
Michels, instructor
This handout contains the policies that will govern
this course for the semester. It is your responsibility to reread this
handout from time to time so that you remain aware of these policies at
they become applicable to specific assignments and situations affecting your
final outcome in the course.
Where to find me: I will be available to talk in
person from in G316 during office hours to be announced. You can call me or
leave messages for me by calling 522-3690. You can also leave me e-mail
messages at
lamichel@oaklandcc.edu
What this course will do for you: In this class
you will read literature, both short stories and novels. You will read
criticism of literature and develop your ability to analyze literature both
in class discussions and in essays. You will expand your understanding of
literature, its purposes and principles. You will develop your ability to
write clear, focused prose, demonstrating an awareness of audience,
organizational ability, and competence analyzing literature from a variety
of angles.
What you need to do: I would like to see each
of you succeed in this class. To that end, I recommend:
1.
regular, timely attendance;
2.
reading and comprehension of the assigned readings;
3.
substantive answers to reading questions;
4.
work and participation in class;
5.
completion and thoughtful revision of assigned essays.
Don’t hesitate to talk to me if you have any problems
with the subject matter. If you do your best to follow my minimal rules,
I’m very happy to help you succeed in here.
Grades: I will record many grades. These grades
will be my evaluation of your attendance, reading and comprehension, use of
class time, and written and oral work. Some of my evaluations will be as
simple as looking out to see if you are present and on time. Other
evaluations will be more subjective, as I assess your class participation,
knowledge of assigned readings, and the quality of your writing.
The approximate percentage devoted to each area is:
20% reading questions and discussion
20% paper I
20% paper II
20% paper III
10% quizzes and midterm
10% final exam
If I recommend that
you seek tutoring, you should consider that an assignment, and know that
failure to complete assignments carries a heavy penalty.
Attendance and punctuality, or lack thereof, while not
given a percentage of your grade, will affect your grade by missed
information or quizzes, and loss of workshop, discussion or lecture time.
Missing a single class is considerable. It is unrealistic to imagine that
you can call me on the phone or come to my office hours and I will relive
the entire class for you. I can give you handouts and briefly go over
missed information, but it is not a substitute for attendance. You can miss
two classes or be late twice with no direct averse affect to your grade;
three times, your grade is significantly lowered; four times, your grade is
lowered by one whole letter grade. If you are absent five times, you will
earn a WF. If you have missed 5 classes and do not want a WF, go to M
building and drop the class officially. I do not assess absences in terms
of excused or unexcused. Missing five classes, for any reason, will
simply make it impossible for you to complete the course.
You will be responsible for information disseminated in
class, whether you are present or not. Make up assignments are generally
not possible. I will not seek you out to give you information or demand a
late paper or remind you how many absences or lates you have. Absence does
not absolve you of your responsibility to turn in work.
Class procedures: This is a discussion-based
class. I will not tell you what a story means or how you should read it; we
will figure out what stories mean together by talking about them as we
experienced them initially and in light of the criticism we read about
them. For this reason, it is crucial that you do the reading and answer
discussion questions before the due date.
An important feature of this class is the revision of
your written work. In the past you may have written a single draft of a
paper and turned it in for a final grade. Here you will write a draft and
then I will give you advice on how to improve the paper. You must consider
all advice, and be ready to substantively change your paper.
I will write all over your papers. I will spend a lot
of time developing ideas and strategies to help you revise and write an
excellent final draft. I do not always have good handwriting, and sometimes
what I write may be confusing to you. I will not be hurt if you ask me to
explain a comment I’ve written on your paper. I will be furious, however,
if you do not seriously consider what I have written on your papers as you
make your final revisions. That fury will result in a lowered grade.
Books and materials: You will be required to
have:
Story and Structure, tenth edition;
by Thomas Arp;
Two-three novels, titles to be
announced
a good, college-level dictionary for
home use;
two folders with pockets for this class
alone, no sharing;
access to a wordprocesser—all work must
be typed.
Keep all writing you do in your folder. Keep all
handouts in the folder. Bring all materials with you daily.
After reading this syllabus, you should have a good
idea of what this class will entail and what I will expect from you. If
these expectations will not work for you, you may wish to find another
class. Staying in this class represents your acceptance of the terms laid
out in this document.
Hints: Here are some basic college
expectations:
1.
Know that in college you are expected to spend at least two
hours working outside of class for every hour you are in class.
2.
Use a planner—it is your responsibility to keep track of when things
are due. You are responsible for material covered in your absence—don’t
expect extensions.
3.
Read and annotate your assignments before they are due.
4.
Be prepared for class, be it finishing the reading, having copies of
your work, computer disks; don’t ask to get prepared during class.
5.
Attend class on time, regularly, and work until the end. Regularly
showing up late or leaving early is tantamount to insulting the instructor.
6.
Utilize the free writing tutor.
7.
Disruptive behavior will not be tolerated. Any behavior deemed
disruptive by the instructor will result in the offending student’s
expulsion from class. See student handbook.
ADA Notification: Students requiring special
assistance (including those affected by the Americans with Disabilities
Act) should contact the PASS office (see attached sheet) and inform the
instructor of any special conditions pertaining to their learning.
Note on plagiarism: Any student caught cheating
(using someone else’s work as his or her own) will fail. There is no
negotiation in such a case. Students should be aware that it is their
responsibility to prove their innocence (with previous drafts or notes).
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