Below you will find a list of the major assignments and expectations of the course as well as the percentage of your grade each of them will account for. You should also be aware that I expect you to demonstrate a mastery of basic grammar, punctuation and spelling. If you have any trouble in these areas, please talk to me as soon as possible.
| Explications (3) | 15% |
| Papers (3) | 45% |
| Tests (2) | 20% |
| Participation | 10% |
| Attendance | 10% |
Explications. The word "explication" comes from the Latin term explicare, which means "to unfold"; accordingly, an explication unfolds or unpacks the meaning and workings of a literary text. Explications typically examine a text intensively, line by line, so they are usually used to interpret either short poems or short passages from longer works of fiction or drama. You will write three explications, one for each of the three units of the class (poetry, drama, fiction). These short (2 page) papers will allow you to practice figuring out how a writer achieves a certain effect and/or what a complex poem or passage means. They will also serve as the basis for class discussion. You must turn in the explication during the class period when it is due in order to receive credit (late assignments will be accepted for credit only if you miss class and are granted an excused absence).
Formal Papers. You will write a 3-4 page for each of the three units of the semester. You will receive a detailed assignment sheet when each of these papers is assigned, and I will pass out a copy of my grading criteria when I assign the first paper. For each paper, you are required to provide a rough draft for peer review (either in class or online); your rough draft and your peer reviewers' comments must accompany the final draft when you submit it for a grade. Your final draft should indicate that you have made substantial revisions during your drafting process based on my recommendations, the advice of other students, and your own ideas for improvement.
Please note that I will not accept final drafts of papers unless you have participated in a peer response session with rough drafts . In other words, if you neglect to bring a rough draft for peer response, you will receive a failing grade for that assignment . If you are absent for the peer response session and are eligible for an excused absence, you will need to bring me proof of your excuse and provide me with your rough draft for comments in order to be able to turn in the final draft.
Tests. For our first two units (poetry and drama), we will have an in-class test to help assess your grasp of the major terms and concepts of the unit. Many of the terms and concepts used to discuss drama are the same as those used to discuss fiction, so we will not need a third test for the fiction unit.
Peer Response Sessions. To help you improve your writing and analytical skills, we will practice peer responding. This will involve each of you providing oral and/or written feedback for your classmates in response to drafts of their papers. You will not only profit from the advice your classmates give you, but you will sharpen your critical and evaluative skills through responding to the work of others. Peer response sessions may occur in class or online.
Participation. We will be engaging in a number of in-class and online exercises and discussions, and your level of active involvement in these will in large part determine your participation grade. But keep in mind that participation doesn't mean just being vocal. Just a few insightful comments or questions can go a long way. Conversely, if you are vocal but consistently detract from the quality of the course for others, it will hurt your participation grade. Your goal should be to help yourself and your classmates become better thinkers and communicators, and your participation should be targeted towards that goal.
Attendance. Because it is in the 8-week format, this class is considered intensive. Each class meeting is equivalent to two weeks' worth of a conventional, 16-week course. Thus, it is essential that you be present at every class. Any unexcused absence will result in a failing grade (of course, you will have the option to withdraw if the withdrawal deadline has not passed). If you have an unavoidable reason for missing class (such as serious illness or a death in the family), please contact me as soon as possible to find out if it can be counted as an excused absence; one such absence will lower your final grade (by one letter grade) but will not automatically result in failure. More than one absence, no matter how legitimate the reason, will result in failure; due to the intensive nature of the course, it is simply not possible to miss two weeks and still accomplish the course objectives.
Jobs, Sports, and Other Commitments. I understand that most of you have important commitments outside of this class, including jobs, sports, and Conservatory work. I understand that these are important commitments. However, you must make sure that they do not unduly interfere with your attendance or work in this course. Classes missed due to such commitments will count as unexcused absences.
Plagiarism: Don't do it!! Plagiarism is using someone else's words or ideas as your own (as opposed to citing someone else's words and ideas and giving that person credit, or getting someone to help you with your own work, which are both quite acceptable academic practices). Plagiarism is a very serious offense, and I reserve the right to fail any student (for the assignment or for the course, depending on the circumstances) found guilty of plagiarism. I reserve the right to use electronic databases, such as Turnitin.com, to assist in detecting plagiarism. If you have any doubt about whether your use of someone else's work might count as plagiarism, please talk to me.