Jan/Feb

March

April

May

• Shelley, Frankenstein, Norton, 3rd edition (F)
• Bullock, et al., The Little Seagull Handbook w/ Exercises, Norton, 4th edition (LSH)
  

• Students are required to bring all necessary readings with them to class. 
• On-line versions are available for many of the readings, especially at the beginning of the semester, so economic hardship, while certainly a reality for many of us, does not constitute a valid excuse in this context.  
• Students must  register with Inquizitive in order to satisfy the course requirements.
• All written assignments must be submitted through Canvas in order to received credit.
  
• Please come speak with me if you have any questions.

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

Course Requirements:
Attendance/Participation. Students are expected to attend every class. If you are forced to miss class, written verification for the reason for your absence is expected. Because of the importance of regular attendance, excessive (more than six) unexcused class absences will result in a failing grade for the course. Excessive lates will also lower your grade. Be sure to check your attendance records in Starfish regularly and contact your professor with any questions. (See Official Policy )
 

Reading Assignments. It is important to be prepared for class discussions. For this reason, you must complete all reading assignments before class and you will be expected to submit electronic responses to any assigned discussion questions for the readings. You are expected to arrive prepared to provide thoughtful discussions of  the daily readings, responding to questions from the instructor or your classmates as they arise.  Classroom discussion will involve the open sharing of ideas and interpretations of the literature.  Because every person's opinion is valid, we will demonstrate civility and respect for each other, taking turns to provide our observations and not interrupting each other.  Only raised hands will be acknowledged.

• Late Homework Assignments will receive half credit, but opportunities for "makeup" or "extra" credit will also be available.
  
• Extra Credit:
  • Each day for which questions are assigned, you may submit  responses to ten (10) other discussion questions for the text assigned for that day only.
  • Every two (2) sets of questions will give you credit for one (1) extra assignment, up to a possible total of two and a half (2.5) extra points to be added to your homework grade.
  • There is no half-credit:  fewer than 10 questions (unless there are fewer than 10 on the page) will receive no credit.
• All homework assignments must be submitted electronically in Canvas. In-person submissions will not be accepted.

• Students are responsible for all assignments, even if they are absent.
• Failure to hand in an Initial Paper on time will result in the loss of a full letter grade on the Final Paper.
  • For initial drafts of the critical response and research papers, papers must be submitted to Inquizitive by the beginning of class.
    
• Initial Papers that are less than half the required length or which do not include an outline will receive half-credit and will cause the loss of 2/3 of a letter grade on the final paper.
• Late Final papers will lose 2/3 of a letter grade for each class day.
  • Final papers are due by the end of the business 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.
  • You cannot change your topic after the due date for the library paper.

Group Presentations. Students will be required to participate in a group presentation (minimum of 30 minutes) during the second part of the course. Requirements for these presentations will be explained in class and can be found here .

Grading:

Reading List (Subject to Subtle Revision):

Jan	24	Course Introduction
	26	Diagnostic/Review Test
	28	Discussion of Review Test
	31	Discussion of Writing Contexts, MLA Style and Format Writing Contexts: LSH 2-8 Formatting a Research Paper: LSH 189-200 Avoiding Plagiarism: LSH 148-49 MLA Documentation: LSH 150-89 (Just glance through this section, but see esp. MLA-c11, pp. 172-73, and MLAc19, p. 177-78) See Notes
Feb	2	Reading Strategies: LSH 9-16 Writing about Literature: LSH 94-97 Homework Questions Due in Canvas
	4	PBS, "Mutability," (F): 209 Homework Questions Due in Canvas Corrected Grammar Review Exercise due in Canvas
	7	Byron, "Prometheus," (F): 210-11 Homework Questions Due in Canvas 100-Word Summary of "Mutability" or "Prometheus,"  including Quote and Citation, Due in Canvas
	9	Mary Shelley's Frankenstein Editor's Introduction: (F),  viii-xix Author's Introduction: (F), 217-22 Author's Preface, (F), 7-8 Homework Questions Due in Canvas
	11	Frankenstein, Vol. One, (F): 9-62  Homework Questions Due in Canvas
	14	Frankenstein, Vol. One, cont.
	16	Discussion of  Critical Response Paper  Writing about Literature (Review): LSH 94-97 100-Word Summary of Vol. One, including Quote and Citation, Due in Canvas
	18	Frankenstein, Vol. Two, (F): 63-110 Homework Questions Due in Canvas
	21	Frankenstein, Vol. Two, cont.
	23	Discussion of Outlines and the Library Doing Research: LSH 116-29 Evaluating Sources: LSH 129-36 Discussion of Outlines  Read Hints for Critical Discussion Paper  100-Word Summary of Vol. Two, including Quote and Citation, Due in Canvas
	25	Frankenstein, Vol. Three, (F): 111-68 Homework Questions Due in Canvas Library Exercise Due
	28	Frankenstein Wrap-Up 100-Word Summary of Vol. Three, including Quote and Citation, Due in Canvas
Mar	2	Planning and Drafting Essays Writing Processes, LSH 17-26 Developing Paragraphs: LSH 27-39
	4	Discussion of Sample Outline and Essay Please print out the sample outline and essay and bring them with you to class.
	7	In-class Essay
	9	In-class Essay, cont.
	11	** No Class **
	14-18	** Spring Break: No Class **
	21	Discussion of Essays
	23	Discussion of the Research Process and Evaluating Sources (Review) Evaluating Sources: LSH 129-36
	25	Discussion of Samples, cont. Research Paper Topics Due in Canvas
	28	Discussion of Outlines for Critical Response Paper Critical Response Paper Outline Due in Canvas Last Day to Submit Assignments or Excuses for Absences for First Part of Class
	30	Brantlinger, (F): 451-60 Homework Questions Due in Canvas Group Presentation
Apr	1	Discussion of Critical Response Papers Read Sample Paper and bring it with you to class. Critical Response Paper Due (800 word min.) in Canvas
	4	Read Sample Paper and Answer the Questions at the End  Please bring the sample essay and your responses with you to class.
	6	Library Assignment Discussion Bring this sheet and your LSH book with you Last Day to Drop Undergraduate Classes
	8	Discussion of Sample Research Papers  Read the Sample Outline & Paper and fill out an Editing Sheet  Bring everything to Class
	11	Ten sources on your topic, presented in Works Cited Format, due Upload the document to Canvas and bring 3 copies with you to class. Also bring five of the actual sources with you to class.
	13	Moers, (F): 460-70 Homework Questions Due in Canvas Group Presentation
	15	** Wellness Day: No Class **
	18	Synthesizing Ideas/Integrating Sources, LSH 136-49 Quote Incorporation Exercise
	20	London, (F): 470-83 Homework Questions Due in Canvas Group Presentation Revised Response Paper Due (800 word min.) in Canvas
	22	Mellor, (F): 483-91 Homework Questions Due in Canvas Group Presentation Library Assignment Due in Canvas
	25	Discussion of Library Paper (See Sample Paper ) ** Deadline to Have Final Research Paper Topic Approved **
	27	Young, (F): 492-97 and Homework Questions Due in Canvas Group Presentation
	29	Library Paper Due in Canvas ** Deadline to Submit Library Assignment for Final Research Paper Topic ** No Research Paper will be accepted if a Satisfactory Library Assignment has not been submitted.
May	2	Research Paper Outline Due in Canvas In addition, bring three (3) copies to class.
	4	Butler, (F): 439-51 Homework Questions Due in Canvas Group Presentation
	6	Research Paper Due in Canvas
	9	Student Conferences: No Class
	11	Student Conferences: No Class
	13	Final Research Paper Due in Canvas Final Exam Review Last Day to Submit Assignments or Excuses for Absences for Second Part of Class Research Papers will not be accepted after this date without a documented excuse for an illness that causes an absence from the final class.
	TBA	Final Exam: Date, Place, and Time TBA