Jan/Feb

March

April

May

• Coleridge, Rime of the Ancient Mariner, Bedford/St. Martin's ed. (AM)
• Shelley, Frankenstein, Bedford/St. Martin's, 2nd edition (F)
• Winkler & McCuen-Metherell, Writing the Research Paper (WRP)

• Hodges, et. al., Harbrace College Handbook

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. (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. 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.

• There are sets of questions listed on the web site as "Homework Questions."  Submission of responses to these questions is not required, but they will be used as the basis for classroom discussion.
• There will also be periodic quizzes based on these discussion questions. You will be able to use your responses to the questions, but not the text for these quizzes.

• 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 are due at the beginning of class. Students who arrive more than five minutes late to class or who do not have a sufficient number of copies will be subjected to the full letter grade penalty.
• Students may not email papers before class on these days. Dr. Mekler will not be able to check his messages before 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 business. If you do not hand the paper in directly to Dr. Mekler, you may submit it to him during his office hours or place the paper in his mailbox in Holmes 202.  Dr. Mekler does not assume any responsibility for papers left in his mailbox.  You may also email papers as MS Word attachments, but it is strongly recommended that you still bring a hard copy of the paper with you to the next class, especially if you do not receive confirmation of receipt from Dr. Mekler.
• Untyped papers will NOT be accepted.
• ** 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 during the second part of the course. Requirements for these presentations will be explained in class and can be found here .

Grading:

Homework and Quizzes	5  %
In-Class Essay	10 %
Group Presentation	10 %
Critical Response Paper	10 %
Library Assignment, Part 1	10 %
Library Paper (Library Assignment, Part 2)	10 %
Final Examination	20 %
MLA-style Research Paper	25 %

Reading List (Subject to Subtle Revision):

Jan	26	Course Introduction
	28	Diagnostic/Review Test
	30	Discussion of Review Test
Feb	2	Discussion of MLA Style and Format WRP, Ch.4, 35-50 WRP, Ch.6f., 88-91 WRP, Ch. 7, 93-119 WRP, Ch. 9, esp. 9a to 9b-1, 9b-2g (p. 154), 9b-3, 9b-5 to 9b-6 See Lecture Notes for Today
	4	STC, "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner" "Biographical and Historical Contexts": (AM), 3-24
	5	Mitchell-Quarles Convocation
	6	"The Rime of the Ancient Mariner," 1817 text: (AM), 27-75 (odd pages only)
	9	"Critical History": (AM): 79-96 Last Day to drop without a "W" Grade
	11	Mary Shelley's Frankenstein Contexts: (F),  3-18  Introduction: (F) 19-25  Preface, (F), 26-27
	13	Frankenstein, Part One  Letters 1-4, (F): 28-40  Chapters 1-8, (F): 40-85
	16	Frankenstein, Part One, cont.
	18	Frankenstein, Part Two  Chs. 9-17 (F): 86-132
	19	Frederick Douglass Convocation
	20	Frankenstein, Part Two, cont.
	23	Discussion of Outlines and the Library WRP, Ch. 3, 19-33 See Outline Images  and Handouts Read Hints for Critical Discussion Paper
	25	Frankenstein, Part Three  Chs. 18-24, (F): 132-89
	27	Frankenstein, Part Three, cont.
March	2	Frankenstein Wrap-Up Library Exercise Due
	4	Discussion of Sample Essay  Please print out the sample essay and bring it with you to class.
	6	In-class Essay
	9	In-class Essay, cont.
	11	Critical History (F): 237-61
	12	Women's History Month Convocation
	13	Getting Started, etc. WRP, Chs. 1-2, pp. 1-18
	16	Discussion of  Critical Response Paper  Quote Incorporation Exercise
	18	Discussion of Critical Response Papers Read Sample Paper and Answer the Questions at the End  Please bring the sample essay and your responses with you to class.
	20	Critical Response Paper Due (800 word min.)  Peer Group Discussion Bring 3 copies of Editing Sheet with you  Last Day to Submit Assignments or Excuses for Absences for First Part of Class
	23	** Spring Break **
	25	** Spring Break **
	27	** Spring Break **
	30	Discussion of the Research Process Research Paper Topics Due
April	1	Reader-Response Criticism (AM): 97-113 Ferguson, (AM): 113-30 Group Presentation
	2	Honors Convocation
	3	The New Historicism (AM): 168-86 Modiano, (AM): 187-219 Group Presentation
	6	Library Assignment Discussion WRP, Chs. 5-6, 51-91 Bring this sheet with you
	8	Psychoanalytic Criticism (F): 262-79 Collings, (F): 280-95  Group Presentation  Last Day to Drop Undergraduate Classes
	10	Quote Incorporation Exercise Revised Response Paper Due (800 word min.)
	13	Feminist Criticism  (F): 296-313 Smith, (F): 313-33 Group Presentation  Library Assignment Due
	15	Quote Incorporation Exercise
	17	Gender Criticism  (F): 334-49  Michel, (F): 349-67  Group Presentation
	20	Quote Incorporation Exercise
	22	Marxist Criticism  (F): 368-83  Montag, (F): 384-95 Group Presentation  Library Paper Due  **Deadline to Change Research Paper Topics**
	24	Research Paper Outline Due (3 copies) Failure to Submit an Outline Will Result in the  Loss of a Full Letter Grade on the Final Paper Peer Group Discussion Bring 3 copies of Editing Sheet with you
	27	Cultural Criticism  (F): 396-415  Zakharieva, (F): 416-31  Group Presentation
	29	Discussion of Sample Research Papers  Read the Sample Outline & Paper and fill out an Editing Sheet  Bring everything to Class
May	1	Research Paper Due Peer Group Discussion Bring 3 copies of Editing Sheet with you
	4	Student Conferences:  NO CLASS
	6	Student Conferences:  NO CLASS
	8	Student Conferences:  NO CLASS
	11	Final Research Paper Due 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  unless you have a Documented Excuse for an illness that causes you to miss class.

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