Sample 1:
FYS101: The Art of Literature Now Fall 2011
Instructor: Grant Vecera gvecera@butler.edu Office: JH 316, Cube E
Logistics: MWF FYS101-13 10-10:50am JH338
MWF FYS101-18 11-11:50am JH338
MWF Office Hrs noon-1pm JH316
Texts: Best American Essays 2010, Atwan & Hitchens;
Best American Short Stories 2010, Pitlor & Russo;
A Pocket Style Manual, Hacker, 5th Edition.
Objectives & Overview:
In this course, we will study recently published essays and short stories from the Best American Series in order to better understand ourselves and the human condition at large. Such texts will function to some extent as models for the types of writing students will perform, but the texts will also function as artifacts we can use to make philosophical, psychological, social, religious, historical, political, & aesthetic inquiries intrinsic to the liberal arts tradition. Because the texts will be almost exclusively American, cultural criticism will pervade our intellectual investigations, and students will obtain many opportunities to reflect upon their roles and identities as members of various communities and as earthlings interconnected with a global community.
Because quality writing grows out of quality thinking, this will be a thinking person’s class. An excellent essay, whether written by a seasoned professional or a college freshman, is a pleasure to read, not merely for its grammatical competence, of course, but because it offers intellectually & emotionally compelling content. An excellent essay grips and enriches its readers and it leaves them feeling grateful for having had the opportunity to read it. Your primary goal this semester will be to write such essays.
In order to write excellent essays, a person has to possess excellent reading & thinking abilities which means she should read high quality material regularly and with a focused mind. A good reader habitually allows herself much quiet time with which to contemplate what she has been reading. In academic circles we often call this “intellectual engagement,” or “active thinking,” and it is believed to be a cultivated discipline that develops slowly and enhances the overall quality of its adherent’s life. Accordingly, much class time will be spent this semester in analyzing and discussing our intellectual & emotional responses to what we read. Each of your own essays, for the most part, will function as a vehicle with which you can analyze, develop, and refine a specific opinion or theory of your own in response to other viewpoints or theories that emerge out of our class discussions.
In order to get off on the right foot we should all recognize ourselves as members of a liberal arts community to which we all agree to contribute in order to enrich the intellectual growth of one another as well as ourselves. In my opinion, you, as an individual, will benefit in direct correlation to the extent to which you contribute to the quality of our class as a whole. In fact, this will probably hold true for most or all college classes you take and most or all cooperative activities with which you become involved throughout your lives.
After this semester is over, most or all of you will have me again as your Prof. for FYS 102. In FYS 102 we will in many ways pick up where this class left off, but in our spring class we will move away from contemporary short stories and essays and focus more upon longer texts that are more global & from the more distant past.
Requirements For Success in FYS101:
1) Four formal essays typically 4-6 pages each (one of which will require research);
2) Evidence of involvement in a writing process for each formal essay;
3) Mastery of MLA style of documentation in ALL formal writings involving sourced materials;
4) Consistent evidence of a contributory effort toward our scholarly community—i.e. regular attendance, punctuality, daily preparation, & regular, informed contributions to class discussion;
5) One formal public speaking performance (i.e. you will team-teach/facilitate a 50 minute class).
If you fail to submit any of the 4 formal essays of the semester, then you should expect to fail the course. If you are caught plagiarizing on any of the 4 formal essays, then you should expect to fail the course. If you fail to perform your required public speaking project, then you should expect to fail the course.
Grade Policy:
60%: 4 Formal Essays (including one research enhanced essay)
10%: 1 Formal Public Speaking Performance
15%: Contributory Effort (attendance, class participation, quizzes, misc. exercises, etc.)
15%: Final Portfolio (2 of your 4 essays will be substantively revised).
Generally speaking, each essay will tend to impact your overall Formal Essay Grade (that 60% of course grade listed above) a little more than the one before it in order to account for your improvement as the semester progresses. Be aware, though, that standards of quality will also gradually increase as the semester progresses. However, because your own abilities will likely also gradually improve, many of you may never actually notice the increased demands.
Pop quiz points will simply be averaged at the end of the semester then transposed into a letter grade (using Butler’s official departmental grade scale). Your accumulative quiz grade will document at least some portion of your “Contributory Effort” grade this semester. If our class goes well—i.e., I sense that at least 90% of you are in fact keeping up with your reading—then we might have only a few or no quizzes at all this semester. Getting high scores on quizzes does not necessarily compensate for a generally lackluster performance in overall class participation. In order to get an excellent grade in the class, you’ll need to contribute to class discussion in an informed and meaningful way at least several times per week if not just about every day.
Academic Policies:
For a satisfactory grade in this class, consistent quality participation is required, and one can’t have anything intelligent to offer if one doesn’t keep up with his or her reading. Although pop reading quizzes may occur at any time and without warning, successful students will contribute to our daily conversations on a regular basis. I suggest developing the habit of highlighting key passages & jotting down your own ideas as you read. Active vocal contributions to our on-going discourse will implicitly influence all aspects of your course grade. However, merely talking a lot in an uninformed, counterproductive, or mean spirited way does not constitute quality participation. For example, declaring something like, “This story sucks!” is not likely to be regarded as helpful. If you are not caught up on the reading for the day (or simply think it was stupid, boring, or beneath you), your best bet might be to simply listen with an open mind.
You can miss class three times this semester, no questions asked, without penalty. After 3 absences, you will be penalized one half of a letter grade from your final semester grade for each subsequent absence. There is no need to ask to have an absence excused. You get 3 free (no excuses needed) absences. After 3 absences, you begin to accrue penalties. If, when you do miss a class, you miss something important—such as a reading quiz, an important lecture, or important special instructions regarding an assignment—please check with a reliable classmate (w/out disrupting class) to find out what you have missed and to acquire any important written materials you need.
I am not obligated to give students an opportunity to make up quizzes, exams, or other assignments missed due to absence or lateness (regardless of the excuse). I am not obligated to re-explain any special instructions on written assignments. I am not obligated to review a class lecture or discussion for the benefit of any one student who may have missed something important due to absence or lateness. However, if asked nicely, I will likely be glad to help with most attendance or lateness related problems that might arise, especially when asked by students that I surmise to be well-intended contributors.
If you are late to class, it is your responsibility, preferably after class, to make sure I have not marked you absent. It is also your responsibility to find out what you may have missed, preferably from another student.
Highly disciplined reading habits are necessary in order for this class to go well. Our texts tend not to make for lite reading and will require a focused mind. If you maintain a sensible work ethic & establish yourself as a contributor to our classroom community, then you will probably do quite well on the whole.
Throughout the semester you should assume that all late formal essays will be penalized one full letter grade per class day late unless otherwise notified. If you miss class on a day that an essay is due, the essay will still be penalized as just described. If you request an extension and I say something like “no problem,” that does not necessarily mean you will not be penalized. It only means that I will accept your late essay. I do, however, reserve the right to grant penalty-free “extensions” at my own discretion. But, I am not obliged to offer any explanation for why I might arbitrarily grant one student an extension but not another. The best way to avoid conflict over this matter is to simply avoid procrastination, submit your work on time, and avoid the error of assuming you are entitled to special treatment.
Ethics/Plagiarism:
One form of plagiarism is cheating or fraud—that is, handing in work that someone else has written and passing it off as your own. Downloading papers or portions of papers from the Internet or any other source and handing them in as your own, paying someone else to write a paper for you, and/or submitting as your own an essay written by someone else are all forms of fraud, and if you are caught committing any of these acts of academic misconduct, you will fail the course and likely suffer more lasting consequences.
But plagiarism also refers to other matters—for example, the improper use of quotation marks to indicate words quoted from a source, or inadvertently presenting a borrowed idea as though it were your own. Here we get into an important course goal: learning how to credit others’ ideas in one’s own work. If you make mistakes in this area while in the process of writing an essay, a fellow student or I can help you repair the problem. If you make such a mistake in an essay that has been submitted for a grade, then you should expect your grade to reflect the damage incurred to the overall quality of your essay, & that could very likely mean “F”. Because it is my intent to walk us through MLA style of documentation together as a formal part of our curriculum this semester, MLA style must be masterfully implemented in any essay that uses sourced material this semester in order for that essay to receive an acceptable grade.
Disability Accommodations:
It is the policy and practice of Butler University to make reasonable accommodations for students with properly documented disabilities. Written notification from Student Disability Services is required. If you are eligible to receive an accommodation and would like to request it for this course, please discuss it with your instructor (me) and allow one week advance notice for each occasion in which the accommodation will be needed . Otherwise, it is not guaranteed that the accommodation can be received on a timely basis. If you have questions about Student Disability Services, you may contact Michele Atterson, JH136, ext. 9308.
Self, Community, and World
Excellent literature, whether it is authored by Shakespeare or David Sedaris, insists that intelligent readers engage in self-examination, consider their interconnectedness with larger communities, and reflect upon their place in the world. Therefore, the theme of “self, community, and world” will be an intrinsic and, at times, overt aspect of our course work.
First Year Program Assessment Requirement:
Toward the end of the semester, a random sample of students enrolled in FYS101 will be required to upload one essay submitted for a grade in the course for the purpose of the FYS Program Assessment, a task required for university accreditation. If you are a part of the random sample, then the essay you select should demonstrate your best work in the following areas: focused thesis; clear and logical development that demonstrates critical thinking and sound reasoning; control of language & its conventions, including grammar, sentence structure & syntax; & the ability to work well with at least one source using MLA style of documentation.
Additional Statement on Plagiarism:
One important task of FYS101 & FYS102 is for you to master integrating source material correctly & ethically into your own writing. One key component of proper integration of sourced material with your own is in knowing how differentiate sourced material from your own ideas or viewpoint. Any time a reader cannot tell whether or not an idea or some other material in an essay is paraphrased from a source or whether it is the student-writer’s own idea, a kind of plagiarism has been committed. Offering sourced material as though it is your own constitutes plagiarism—whether intentional or not.
All FYS101 students are required to take the “Plagiarism Tutorial” on the Libraries website as well as to complete the “Plagiarism Quiz” available on Blackboard. An essay plagiarized in part or in full will receive an F. Deliberately plagiarized work also places the offender in jeopardy of failing the entire course (my preference). Repeated incidents of Academic Dishonesty can result in a student’s suspension from the University. Refer to the Butler University Student Handbook http://www.butler.edu/student-conduct/ for a full discussion of student rights and responsibilities regarding “Academic Integrity.”
Texting, Laptop, & Other Handheld Device Policies:
Texting during class is forbidden. If you have a handheld internet device and wish, for example, to Google for some class related info online, or use it to take notes, then you should ask permission first. If any student is caught texting during class (without permission, as just described) then I will document the disturbance in my grade book and penalize the offender one-third of a full letter grade (per disturbance) from his or her course grade. This may occur even 1 minute before class has been dismissed.
Use of laptops in class is, in fact, encouraged, but students should use their laptops for appropriate class related purposes only. If I discover otherwise, that student will, from that moment on, be banned from using a laptop in class until further notice. Also, I will document the disturbance in my grade book & penalize the offender one-third of a full letter grade (per disturbance) from his or her course grade. This may occur even 1 minute before class has been dismissed.
The above policies hold true throughout an entire class session (from noon-1:15pm for section 15192, & from 1:30-2:45pm for section 17522) regardless of whether or not students are actually in the classroom & regardless of whether or not students are involved in collaborative or writing process activities.
If you are involved in a collaborative or writing process activity & finish early & would like to take a few minutes to, for example, text a friend or update your Facebook status, then ask first and don’t assume I will say, “Yes, go ahead.”
If you use a laptop in class, then no longer need it for awhile, then you should turn it away from yourself or put it in “sleep” mode &/or shut the cover until you need to use it again. Basically, laptops & handheld devices should be used as tools appropriate to our work, not for entertainment. As in all things, if you are reasonable, courteous, mature, and acting with good, scholarly intentions, then there should be no problems.
All of the above policies are also true for use of cell phones in class. Please take measures to minimize the likelihood that your phone will disturb class due to an incoming call. If that does happen, no harm done, but having phone conversations during class is forbidden (excluding legitimate emergencies).
Work Schedule: Fall 2011
Brief though easy (for the righteous) pop reading quizzes may occur w/out warning. The following work schedule will likely be modified as the semester progresses. TBA=to be announced; BAE=Best American Essays; BAS=Best American Short Stories.
8-24 Intro, overview, info, etc.
8-26 Follow-up Q&A on syllabus, etc. Be prepped to discuss Forward & Intro to BAE.
8-29 Discuss Orwell’s http://orwell.ru/library/articles/Poor_Die/english/e_pdie (“How the Poor Die”).
8-31 Essay 1 (Analytical Response) assigned.
Discuss Orwell’s http://www.george-orwell.org/A_Hanging/0.html (“A Hanging”).
9-2 Discuss “Down the Mine” & “North & South” from THE ROAD TO WIGAN PIER:
http://gutenberg.net.au/ebooks03/0300011h.html#part5
9-5 No Class
9-7 Discuss James Woods “A Fine Rage” (BAE 237-256).
9-9 Discuss John Summer’s “Gettysburg Regress” (BAE 210-217) & Colin Tudge’s “Science, EPCOT, & the American Dream”:
9-12 MLA Day: Have read student essay samples (they will be emailed to you on F/9-9).
9-14 Follow-up MLA Q&A. Rough Draft of Essay 1 due for collaboration session.
9-16 Essay 1 Due. Essay 2 (Autobio-Narrative) assigned. Discuss McCorkle’s “Cuss Time.”
9-19 Discuss Isenberg’s “Lunching on Olympus” (BAE 60-74).
9-21 Discuss Ron Rindo’s “Gyromancy” (156-168) &/or Ryan Van Meter’s “First”: http://www.gettysburgreview.com/selections/essays/index.dot?inode=2616195&pageTitle=First&crumbTitle=First&author=Ryan%20Van%20Meter&story=true
9-23 Discuss Sedaris’s “Guy Walks into a Bar Car” (BAE 169-179).
9-26 Collaborative draft of Essay 2 due for collab session.
9-28 Essay 2 Due. Essay 3 (Lit Interp) assigned. Have read BAS Frwrd & Intro (possible quiz).
9-30 Discuss Lasdun’s “The Hollow” (BAS 160-173).
10-3 Discuss Obreht’s “The Laugh” (BAS 246-263).
10-5 Discuss Rash’s “The Ascent” (BAS 279-288).
10-7 Discuss Wayne Harrison’s “Least Resistance” (BAS 145-160).
10-10 Discuss Charles Baxter’s “The Cousins” (BAS 42-63).
10-12 Discuss Brendan Matthews’s “my Last Attempt…” (BAS 198-213).
10-14 NO CLASS/READING BREAK.
10-17 MLA Review. Collaborative draft of Essay 3 due. Collaboration session.
10-19 Essay 3 Due. Essay 4 (Research Enhanced Interp) assigned.
10-21 Discuss McCorkle’s “PS” (BAS 213-225).
10-24 Discuss Ostlund’s “All Boy” (BAS 263-279).
10-26 Discuss Egan’s “Safari” (BAS 63-81).
10-28 Discuss Almond’s “Donkey Greedy, Donkey Gets Punched” (BAS 1-19).
10-31 Discuss Barton’s “Into Silence” (BAS 19-42).
11-2 Discuss Ferris’s “The Valetudinarian” (BAS 99-118).
11-4 Collaborative draft of Essay 4 due for collaboration session.
11-7 Public Speaking Projects explained/discussed. FPs explained/discussed. Essay 4 Q&A.
11-9 Essay 4 Due. PSPs further discussed.
11-11 Team 1 PSP into class discussion.
11-14 Team 2 PSP into class discussion
11-16 Team 3 PSP into discussion.
11-18 Team 4 PSP into discussion.
11-21 Thanx Break
11-23 Thanx Break
11-25 Thanx Break
11-28 Team 5 PSP into discussion.
11-30 Team 6…
12-2 Team 7… (Course Evaluations?????)
12-5 Team 8…
12-7 Team 9…
12-9 Last day of Class. Team 10… (FP’s accepted/optional).
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12-12 No Class but FPs Due on my desk in JH316 or in my office mailbox (2 doors down) by 5pm.
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