ENG102 Spring 2012

ENG102 College Writing II
Mead Spring 2012
January
18 W Introduction (if . . . .)
20 F Review of ENG101 Essentials
23 M The Return of the Soldier, pp. 11-59
25 W In-class paragraph write-in
27 F Your Very First Grammar Friday©: commas
30 M The Return of the Soldier, pp. 59-103
February
1 W Thesis quiz
3 F GF: colons & semi-colons
6 M The Return of the Soldier, 103-118
8 W Students bring one scholarly source to class
10 F Prof off-Campus
13 M First Paragraphs
15 W Topic Sentences
17 F GF: Active
& Passive
20 M NO CLASS
22 W Edit Session
24 F Edit Session
27 M Research Paper #1 Due. Class Readings.
29 W Students Give a Grammar Quiz
March
2 F How to Read a Book, cover to cover
5 M White Noise, vii-60
7 W White Noise, 61-105
9 F White Noise, 109-163
12 M White Noise, 168-223
14 W White Noise, 224-295
16 F White Noise, 296-326
19 M NO CLASS
21 W NO CLASS
23 F NO CLASS
26 M “Contexts”
28 W “Reviews”
30 F “Critical Essays”
April
2 M “Critical Essays”
4 W Literature & The Rest of the World
6 F NO CLASS
9 M NO CLASS
11 W Library Day
13 F Library Day
16 M Class Presentations
18 W Class Presentations
20 F Preliminary Bibliographies Due.
23 M Edit Session
25 W Conferences
27 F Conferences
30 M Edit Session
May
2 W Paper #2 Due. Evaluations

Class Policies

ENG102 is designed to take student from their achievements of ENG101 (thesis, paragraphing, audience, argumentation, etc.) and to bring these skills into the activities of research. What we study matters less than what we do when we study; nevertheless, we have to study something, so I have chosen two novels—one from a woman written during the First World War and one from a man written in the 1980s—for us to explore, analyze, interpret, and write and research about. Our time in class will be divided among the various tasks of literary analysis (i.e. classroom discussion); mechanical review (grammar, yes, grammar), and research practices (a practice that does not include Google, Bing, Safari, etc.).

This is our task: to read these books carefully and more than once;
to prepare for class discussions of the books;
to interpret the books’ significances literarily, socially, intellectually, and historically;
to read broadly about the books and their contexts;
to draft, revise, edit, and polish essays that propose a new way of interpreting the books.
In this process, we shall learn to think it new ways, read in new ways, research in new ways, and most importantly write in new ways.
Attendance is expected for every class session. More than three absences in the course of the semester will lower your final grade, significantly. Tardiness will count as an absence. Students who are chronically late or who have missed a great number of classes may be asked to withdraw from the class. You are responsible for all work assigned or performed during absences.
Take notes. I don’t know how to say this any more clearly: take notes of the class discussion, of questions asked and answers offered. Of ideas, problems, quotations, opinions, observations.

Grades: A= clearly superior. B= noticeably above average. C= average, acceptable. D= passable, but lacking. F= not passable.
Paper #1 40%
Paper #2 40%
Participation 20%
Students with special needs must communicate them to the instructor, who will make all reasonable accommodations.
Office Hours: Old Main 312B tel. 4336 smead@stmartin.edu
You may leave me messages, but I cannot promise to respond before the next class session.
TR 9:30-11:00 And By Appointment
Required Texts:
The Return of the Soldier, by Rebecca West. Broadview, 2010
White Noise, by Don DeLillo. Penguin, 1998.
Please visit my blog stephenxmead.blogspot.com for the syllabus, links, class policies, and other useful materials.