Required Texts :
Shelley, Frankenstein, Broadview, 2nd Edition (F) [available as a pdf in Canvas]
Bullock, et al., The Little Seagull Handbook, 5th Edition (LSH) [available as part of the Bear Books Program]

Required Technology:
Computer with microphone and camera
Software:

• Microsoft Word (available in Office 365 for Morgan students: Visit http://portal.office.com and enter your MSU email to get it. Office 365 may be installed on personal devices only.)
• All written assignments must be submitted through Canvas in order to receive credit.
• Pdf-reading Software (such as Adobe). Most of the files for the course are presented as pdf's, so reading them will require the proper software.
  
• Respondus Lockdown Browser: Instructions for the acquisition and use of this software can be found here.
• We will have two separate assessments, including the final exam, that must be performed using this program.
  
• Please email or call me (or come speak with me) as soon as possible if you have any questions or concerns.

Purpose of Course:
This course will help you develop your writing skills, which, as we shall see, is intricately linked to the reading process. This course will allow you to apply these skills to the critical and analytical discussion of texts, from a wide variety of perspectives.

Course Requirements:
Participation. Because writing can be a troublesome task, it is useful to discuss it with other people who may be having similar problems or who may have helpful advice to share. Because ours is an online course, it is especially important for students to engage with their colleagues and instructor through discussion sessions and message boards on Canvas. There will specific assigned peer-interaction assignments, participation in which is required. Students will also be required to attend, either online with cameras on or in person in Dr. Mekler's office, two conferences to discuss their progress in the course.

Reading Assignments. It is important to be prepared for class discussions. For this reason, you must complete all reading assignments before the posted deadlines and to submit all assigned discussion questions for the readings in a timely manner.

• Homework responses must be submitted through Canvas to receive credit.
  
  • Late Homework Assignments will receive half credit, but opportunities for "makeup" or "extra" credit will also be explained.

Writing Assignments. There will be one (1) brief essay, 3-4 pages long (minimum 800 words) and one (1) research paper, 8 to 10 pages long (2000 word minimum), that also includes a list of works cited consisting of at least 8 documented sources, 6 of which are secondary sources. Students may use the same topic for both papers, but they are not required to do so.

• Students are responsible for all assignments, even if they have not been checking in on Canvas.
  
• Late papers will lose 1/3 of a letter grade for each calendar day.
• ** Plagiarism on any assignment will have dire consequences. **
• Please familiarize yourself with the policy and let Dr. Mekler know if anything is unclear.
• In order to have your final research paper accepted, you must have submitted a complete library assignment for the same topic as your paper. If your topic changes following submission of your initial library assignment, a new assignment must be completed for your new topic.
  

Other Assignments. There will be a collection of grammar exercises available through our class home page in Blackboard. Although completion of these assignments is not required, it is strongly recommended. Individual students may have particular groups of exercises recommended for them.

Assignment List (Subject to Subtle Revision):

Jan	21	Course Introduction
	23	Self-Introduction Video Due Departmental Syllabus Receipt Form due Memorandum of Understanding Acknowledgement Form due
	26	Grammar Review Exercise due
	28	Format Guidelines Rhetorical Contexts, LSH:  2-8 Formatting a Paper, LSH: 197-210 Watch Video discussing the Annotated Grammar Review Exercise
	30	Avoiding Plagiarism, LSH: 143-54 MLA Documentation, LSH: 156-96
Feb	2	Reading Strategies, LSH: 9-17 Writing About Literature, LSH: 91-99 Responses to the HW Questions due in Canvas as an MS Word document Corrected Grammar Review Exercise due in Canvas as an MS Word document
	3	** Last day to drop a class without a "W" grade **
	4	Doing Research, LSH: 121-33 Evaluating Sources, LSH: 133-41 Watch Video Discussion of Doing Research
	6	Library Exercise due
	9	Frankenstein, Editor’s Introduction, ix-xviii F, Author’s Preface, 47-48 F, 1831 Introduction, 353-59 HW Questions due
	11	Discussion Postings due Sample Responses: Introduction to Mary Shelley Questions ** Literary Terms Quiz **
	13	F, Vol. I, 45-115 HW Questions due
	16	** Wellness Day **
	18	Discussion Postings due Sample Responses:  Volume 1 Questions
	20	F, Vol. II, 117-74 HW Questions due
	23	Discussion Postings due Sample Responses:  Volume 2 Questions
	25	F, Vol. III, 175-244 HW Questions due
	27	Discussion Postings due Sample Responses:  Volume 3 Questions Research Paper Topics due
Mar	2	Synthesizing Ideas/Integrating Sources, LSH: 141-54 Quote Incorporation Exercise
	4	Lipking, 416-34 HW Questions due
	6	Discussion Postings due Sample Responses: Lipking Questions
	9	Mellor, (F): 355-68 HW Questions due
	11	Discussion Postings due Sample Responses: Mellor Questions
	13	Read the Sample Outline and submit your responses to it.
	16-20	** Spring Break: "No Class" **
	23	Critical Response Paper Outline due
	25	Read Sample Critical Response Paper and submit editing sheet Last Day to Drop Undergraduate Classes
	27	Annotated Sample Critical Response Paper
	30	Critical Response Paper with Revised Outline due
Apr	1	** Student Conferences **
	3	** Student Conferences **
	6	MLA Documentation Sample Library Assignment
	8	Library Assignment due
	10	** Wellness Day **
	13	Quote Incorporation Exercise due Peer Editing Sheets for the Library Assignment due
	15	Sample Critical Response Paper with Secondary Sources Discussion Postings due
	17	Revised Critical Response Paper due
	20	Sample Library Assignment, Part 2 (Library Paper)
	22	Library Assignment, Part 2 (Library Paper) due Final Deadline for Research Paper Topic Approval
	24	Peer Editing Sheets for the Library Assignment pt. 2 (Library Paper) due
	27	Discussion Postings due
	29	Research Paper with Revised Outline due (2000 words min.)
May	1	Student Conferences #2
	4	Student Conferences #2
	6	Student Conferences #2
	8	Final Research Paper and Outline Due ** Last Day to Submit Assignments**
	11	Final Exam