The official description:

Freshman English II. (3) An introduction to more advanced techniques of composition through the study of literature. The analysis and explication of literature serve as topics for discussion, study, and writing of themes. Special attention is paid to the writing of the literary review and the research paper. Those students who do not demonstrate satisfactory performance in the use of grammar and mechanics are required to attend the Writing Clinic. All degree-seeking students must earn at least a C in this course.

Prerequisite: successful completion of English 1010 with a C or better. English 1020 cannot be taken simultaneously with English 1010. Successful completion of both 1010 and 1020 are prerequisite for all 2000 and above English courses.

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The official competencies:

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Required Texts

• Springfield, Asalean, and Gloria Johnson. Touchstones: Literature and the Writing Process. 4th ed. Needham Heights, MA: Pearson Custom Publishing, 2005.
• Callaghan, Patsy, and Ann Dobyns. A Meeting of Minds: A Brief Rhetoric for Writers and Readers. New York: Pearson Education, Inc., 2004.
• Hult, Christine A., and Thomas N. Huckin. The New Century Handbook. 3rd ed. New York: Longman, Inc., 2004.
• Dickens, Charles. A Christmas Carol.   You may use any handy edition of A Christmas Carol, so long as it is not a children’s editions and unabridged.

All of these texts are available in the bookstore.

Other Equipment

• A reputable, hard-bound dictionary such as Merriam-Webster, American Heritage, or Random House. Paperback editions are incomplete and not acceptable. You may also use on-line sites by the same publishers, such as Merriam-Webster or American Heritage. Better yet, use the Oxford English Dictionary.
• Writing supplies: Pens, loose leaf or legal paper, and a notebook.
• A computer, word-processor, or (for you Luddites) a typewriter.
• An Internet browser. Assignments will be posted on-line, and some readings will be available either at e-book sites or on the Library's Electronic Reserve site.

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1. About 5000 words of formal, finished writing. The writing will be broken up as follows:
   • an undetermined number of in-class writing assignments. Note: In-class writings cannot be made up.
   • a critical review.
   • at least two (2) longer essays (about 2000 words) responding to readings, one of which will be
   • a research paper that uses outside sources and MLA documentation.


2. Drafts of these papers for workshops and conferences.


3. Reading and commenting on your classmates’ papers. Don’t worry; we’ll talk about how to do this.


4. Readings, as assigned.


5. Participation in class discussions, activities, and conferences. Your participation forms a significant part of your grade. Participation consists of:
   • Attendance of class and conferences. Yes, I give you a point every day just for showing up. If you show up late, I may give you half a point or no points. Each conference counts as three classes (and therefore three attendance points) because I will only meet each student once during conferences.
   • Preparation for class activities, such as reading the assigned texts and commenting on other students' drafts.
   • Participation in classes and conferences. For each class in which you ask a relevant question, add something relevant to the discussion, bring in information, or make a relevant comment, you gain another point--on top of the one you gained for simply attending.
   • Meeting with me in my office (or elsewhere) about classwork outside of class or conferences also earns points.
   • Attention in class. Students who sleep in class, use cell phones or other electronics, send text or e-mail messages, do work for other classes, hold side conversations, or indulge in other distractions will lose any points they gained for that day's class.
   • Perfect Attendance. Students who attend every class will earn 5 points towards their class participation.


6. Collaboration with other students.


7. Various other homework and in-class assignments.

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Final Grade Calculation

I will calculate final grades as follows:

• Critical Review: 20%
• Long critical paper: 20%
• Research paper: 20%
• In-class writing: 20% (lowest individual grade dropped, but cannot be made up.)
• Class participation: 20%

Essay Grades

I grade papers primarily on two criteria: thoughtfulness and sophistication of ideas (regardless of whether I agree with them) and quality of writing. These criteria go hand in hand: a reader cannot appreciate the brilliance of ideas if they are not expressed clearly, coherently, logically, or correctly.

A more detailed description of my grading criteria:

• Originality. Your essay must express your own ideas in your own words! Plagiarized, lifted, copied, cut and pasted, bought, and downloaded essays, or any essay not your own, will result in a ZERO grade and other disciplinary action according to university policy. Essays which merely summarize the readings or others' ideas are also unacceptable, but will not receive a zero.
• Thoughtfulness / validity of ideas. Your essay must express a legitimate, well-conceived, well-argued point of view. This specific point of view (usually voiced in your thesis) should be clear to the readers.
• Focus. Your paper should not digress from its argument or discuss more than one thesis.
• Organization. Ideas must be presented in a logical manner.
• Coherence. Readers must able to follow your ideas and logic.
• Clarity. Your readers must be able to understand easily the ideas your paper expresses.
• Conciseness. Your paper should contain no repetitions, digressions, or "padding" of sentences to lengthen the paper.
• Grammar, punctuation, syntax, and spelling. If you are having trouble with these areas, please refer to a grammar handbook, or any number of on-line grammar sites.
• Proper documentation. All information from outside sources must be cited properly, both within the paper and on a Works Cited page. Lack of citation will result in a failing grade.

The Official Grading Rubric describes the qualities of A, B, C, D, and F papers.

More often than not, a poor grade reflects not a failure of ideas but poor writing quality. Don't despair; writing well takes years of practice.

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Attending University is a job, an internship which prepares students for their careers. I therefore expect my students to treat the class as a professional commitment, rather than a pastime or a hobby. My class policies emulate the expectations of professionals in the workplace.

1. Attendance is mandatory.
   • Sick / personal absences (not excused) correspond to sick and personal days at work. Use these absences to cover sickness, emergencies, car troubles, unavoidable conflicts, child care, elder care, appointments, and anything else not covered under “Excused Absences” below. Each student is allowed two (2) sick / personal absences without penalty.
   • Excused absences. I will excuse absences only for the following circumstances and only with proper documentation.
     1. Death in the immediate family. “Immediate family” includes (step-)parents, parental guardians, (step-)sons, (step-)daughters, (step-)siblings, and spouses. All other funereal absences count under the normal sick / personal absences.
     2. Serious and extended illness or injury lasting a week or more (such as mononucleosis).
     3. University business (team travel, band travel, the Rising Junior exam but not practices, meetings with your advisor, or requirements for other classes).
     4. Court appearances required by sub poena or otherwise mandated by the court.
   • Students missing more than one week's worth of classes (3 for a MWF class, 2 for a TR) will fail class participation.  
   • Students missing more than two weeks' worth of classes (6 for a MWF class, 4 for a TR) will fail the course.

   See page 29 of the Undergraduate Catalogue for official university policy.

    

2. Be on time.
   
3. Electronics: Do not send e-mail, text, or instant messages, or surf the Web, or use your cell phone or blackberry.


4. Assignments are due at the beginning of class on the due dates.
   • I do not accept late work except with prior arrangement.
   • If you need an extension, you must request it one class day in advance.
   • Each student is allowed one (1) 24-hour emergency extension to cover true emergencies such as computer melt-down, printer failure, or vehicular mishaps. Students must tell me that they are using the extension when the paper is due and must deliver the paper to my mailbox (in Humanities 104) or my e-mail within 24 hours.


5. Make-ups: Class work must be done in class.
   • Quizzes and in-class writing work cannot be made up. Students who are excused for the day are excused for the work; all others who miss the class earn a zero for the assignment.
   • I may allow a student with convincing documentation to make up a major test.
   • The final exam must be taken during the exam period, and I cannot change the date of a student's exam. This is university policy.


6. Do your own work.

   The TSU Undergraduate Catalogue says this about academic fraud:

   Plagiarism, cheating, and other forms of academic dishonesty are prohibited. Students guilty of academic misconduct, either directly or indirectly through participation or assistance, are immediately responsible to the instructor of the class. In addition to the other possible disciplinary sanctions which may be imposed through the regular institutional procedures as a result of academic misconduct, the instructor has the authority to assign an ‘F’ or a zero for the exercise or examination, or assign an ‘F’ in the course. (29)

   Students submitting any fraudulent work—copied, plagiarized, stolen, bought, cheated, etc.—will receive a ZERO for the assignment, and may receive an F for the course.

   And don't buy or copy papers from the Internet. I know where the sites are and how to use search engines, and can therefore prove fairly easily that the paper is copied. But if I don't manage to catch you, keep in mind that you will probably get a bad grade anyway; most of the term papers posted on the Internet suck.

   An important clarification: collaboration is not plagiarism. A person who plagiarizes claims someone else's work for his or her own; people who collaborate on a project claim that they have done the work together and that the work they have done together is their own. You need not credit collaborating colleagues if they proofread, critique, or make suggestions on your work.

    

7. E-mail: Treat e-mail professionally.
   • I check my e-mail once daily on weekdays during the semester.
   • All e-mails must be:
     • polite and professional.
     • well-spelled and grammatically correct.
     • brief.
   • You may e-mail me to:
     • request an extension (at least 48 hours before the assignment is due).
     • make an appointment with me.
     • ask about thesis statements or paper topics.
     • request recommendation letters.
     • hand in an assignment (with permission).
   • I will not respond to e-mails regarding:
     • grades or comments on your papers. (Come to my office to discuss these issues.)
     • missed assignments or notes. (Ask your classmates and / or check the schedule.)
     • technical support. (Call the technical support folks at extension 7777.)
     • questions on assignments, material covered in class, grammar, or citation formats. (Ask in class, so that you get credit for it and everyone gets the answer.)
     • complaints of any sort.

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