Course
Syllabus:
Hit the Road, Cormac:
Writing on a Novel
Writing
201, Section 608
English
Composition II
BERGEN
COMMUNITY COLLEGE, ENGLISH DEPARTMENT
Instructor:
J. DiChiara
Email:
jdichiara@bergen.edu, Phone: 551-427-6250
Course
Website: http://edfolio.fdu.edu/DiChiaraJ/
Online
Grade Book: http://www.engrade.com
Class
Meetings: Wednesday, 6:20-9:05 PM, Pitkin Education Center, Room
L-141
A.
REQUIRED TEXTBOOK AND SUPPLIES: "The Road" by Cormac McCarthy
3-ring
binder or spiral notebook; sans disc or Google Documents account;
dictionary/thesaurus
B.
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
Welcome!
English Composition II is a three-credit, general education course
continuing Composition I's emphasis on expository and analytic
writing. This writing course will teach students how to critically
evaluate, interpret, and write about their ideas involving literature
(a novel). Students will learn to more fervently read, write, and
think independently and collectively. This course aims to develop
writing skills essential for the production of persuasive,
well-supported essays. This course also aims to teach students how to
wholly think and write about reading material to clearly understand
an author's ideas. 1 research paper is required to provide
students with a potent opportunity to directly demonstrate a
semester's worth of learned and practiced writing skills. This
course's prerequisite is WRT-101: Composition I.
C.
STUDENT LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
Students
who successfully meet this course's requirements will be able to:
1.
Use critical reading skills to summarize works of literature,
understand/evaluate literary texts, and explain how the interaction
of literary elements convey meaning. 2. Develop essays that go beyond
personal response using a variety of rhetorical strategies. 3. Write
personal and academic responses to works of literature using
appropriate literary terminology. 4. Use a process approach to
continue the development of their writing style. 5. Justify a work of
literature's validity of interpretation. 6. Employ quotations and
paraphrases from primary and secondary sources in writing and
document them following MLA style. 7. Revise essays to achieve unity
and coherence. 8. Edit and proofread writing for clarity and
correctness.
D.
DAILY COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
1.
Daily attendance (please see late/absent policy); attending class on
time; permission needed to use personal electronic gadgets during
instruction time.
2.
Active class participation and enthusiastic levels of academic
effort.
3.
All assignments must be completed according to their corresponding
rubrics and the instructor's specific directions. Emergency
extensions (requiring a note of authorization from a doctor, judge,
etc.) may be granted before a due date. If an extension has not been
granted, a student will receive a 0 for a missing assignment.
Plagiarized work receives a 0 and will be reported to the dean, as
per the college's policy.
4.
Students should bring textbooks, writing utensils, and notebooks to
class each day, unless otherwise specified by the instructor.
E.
ASSIGNMENT COURSE REQUIREMENTS
Write
3 multi-paragraph, academic essays of at least 500 words
Complete
a cumulative journaling portfolio (i.e. summaries, journals, reading
responses, comprehension questions, quizzes on reading assignments,
letters, etc.).
Read,
interpret, and analyze literary works.
Comprehend
and apply various literary terms to assigned texts.
Conduct
independent research and write a 7-10 page research paper using MLA
style.
Submit
papers that adhere to MLA manuscript requirements and demonstrate
effective proofreading and editing.
Participate
in discussions and in-class activities necessary to produce quality
academic prose.
F.
GRADING:
Essay
1...20% (20/100 points)
Essay
2...20% (20/100 points)
Essay
3... 20% (20/100 points)
Journal
Portfolio...20% (5 tasks; each worth 4/100 points)
Research
Paper...20% (20/100 points)
1.
Students will be evaluated by their instructor based upon successful
completion of all activities and assignments according to rubrics.
Emailed work is preferred, please.
2.
If a student's average is "borderline" between grades, the
instructor will gladly take into consideration subjective elements to
determine if the student will receive the higher grade. These
elements may include: demonstrated enthusiasm for the subject matter;
exemplifying extra effort towards assignments; positive academic
interaction with peers, etc.
F.
ESSAYS:
Students
must utilize at least one of the following resources:
1.
BCC Writing
Center: http://www.bergen.cc.nj.us/pages/1795.asp
2.
BCC Online Writing Lab:
http://www.bergen.edu/owl
-receive
writing help via categorized online resources; email your paper to
the OWL staff; they reply with feedback within 48 hours!
3.
BCC English
Language Resource Center: http://www.bergen.cc.nj.us/pages/2184.asp
4.
BBC Online Tutoring:
http://www.bergen.edu/pages/2195.asp
5.
Smarthinking:
http://www.smarthinking.com/
-register,
submit your paper online, receive professional feedback
G.
LATE AND ABSENT POLICIES:
An
absence involving a medical, religious, or court excuse will be
excused (with a note of verification).
If
a student contacts the instructor in advance by email about being
late or absent, 1 absence will be automatically excused. 1 tardy or 1
early departure from class = 1/2 half absence.
More
than 4 total absences may result in a failing grade, according to the
instructor's discretion.
When
absent, students hold personal responsibility for material covered in
class. Each student will exchange contact information with a Homework
Buddy. When absent, a student's Homework Buddy should immediately
provide him or her with missed lecture notes, handouts, makeup work,
etc.
This syllabus is subject to change at the instructor's discretion.
Students will always be notified of such modifications and updates.
Lecture notes/outlines may be provided for students preceding
each lesson.
I
have thoroughly read and understood what the contents and
implications of this syllabus. I have talked about its contents with
my classmates and my professor; I believe it is fair and is
advantageous towards my personal academic growth and development this
semester. I agree to abide by the syllabus' guidelines and rules, in
accordance with both the instructor's and Bergen Community
College's academic guidelines.
Signed:
______________________________________________________________
Date:
_______________________________________________________________