English 209

Summer 2008

Susan Spangler

Welcome to English 209.  According to the Undergraduate Catalogue, this course entails the “study of long and short fiction of several kinds, including myth, fable, and realistic narrative, from a variety of places and times, and their relation to their different cultures.”   This means that we will be doing a lot of writing, reading, and thinking about literature, concentrating in this section on graphic literature.

Website:  <http://www.fredonia.edu/faculty/english/spangler/209.html>.  Check this for current information about the assignments and schedule.

Class Web Board: www.nicenet.org  Class Key: 8239244250  Use the class key to add yourself to the roster.  Go to the Nicenet URL to join the class.  Be sure to enter a name and e-mail address.  You will use this web board to post your reading responses, check the schedule, and more.

Office hours:        

            Virtual:           SusanSpangler1 (AOL Instant Messenger), pretty much anytime my

computer is on and I’m available to chat.  Email is the best way to

contact me.

Required Texts and Materials:

Texts:

Hinds, Gareth.  Beowulf.   Cambridge, MA:  Candlewick, 2007.

Poe, Edgar Allen et al.  Graphic Classics Volume 1:  Edgar Allen Poe.  3^rd ed.  Mount Horeb, WI:  Eureka, 2006.

Gaiman, Neil et al.  The Sandman Volume 1:  Preludes and Nocturnes.  NY:  Vertigo, 1993.

Pekar, Harvey.  American Splendor:  The Life and Times of Harvey Pekar.  NY:  Ballantine, 2003.

Satrapi, Marjane.  Persepolis:  The Story of a Childhood.  NY:  Pantheon, 2004.

Materials

Your FSU email account.

Internet access.

Several ways to back up material:  jump drive, home server, cyberspace

Course Goals and Objectives

• To develop an appreciation for literature of various times, places, and cultures
• To improve literacy skills

Course Requirements

1.  ENGAGEMENT WITH COURSE MATERIAL AND ACTIVITIES.  Part of your obligation to this class is to participate vigorously in the ongoing written dialogue we will have about literature.  Engagement includes sharing the work that you produce this semester as well as commenting on others' work. 

2.  ELECTRONIC CLASS PORTFOLIO.  Your grade for the class will be based on the completion of a portfolio, which will contain:

·         Reading reflections

o   Reading Journal

o   First impressions

o   Second thoughts

o   Is that your final answer?

·         A paper/project to share with others  (1500 words or equivalent work)

Do not throw anything you do for class away.  Everything will go into your portfolio, and it is your only grade for this class.  See the rubric for more information on its assessment.

General Policies

I hate grades.  There, I said it.  I try to do as little grading as possible, but I DO love reading your writing.  Basically, I'll assign a grade for your portfolio, which counts for 100% of your grade, at the end of the semester, but I’ll look at drafts of your work throughout the semester to give you feedback.  Any time you want to talk about your progress in class, talk to me.  We won't necessarily talk about your grade, but we will talk about what you are learning in class.

Sadly, computers don’t always work the way we want them to.  It’s an unfortunate fact of life.  You are ultimately responsible for your work, even if the computer fails.   Please avoid saying things like, “My disk broke,” “I couldn’t get online,” “I swear I e-mailed it to you” to me.  Ways to avoid computer problems include 1) printing everything, 2) backing up on disk/jump drive, at home, in cyberspace.

I will expect you to act in a professional manner.   Such behavior means, among other things, always doing your best work, remaining positive in the face of adversity, showing integrity in your actions.  Acting in a professional manner also means solely taking responsibility for your actions.  While your parents may be an integral part of your personal life, they should not be part of your professional life.  That is, they may privately rejoice with you or grieve with you in your professional successes or disappointments, but they should not take an active role in discussing these events with your colleagues or supervisors.  Acting in a professional manner also means being academically honest (i.e. not plagiarizing anything).  The lines are often blurry, but in general, when in doubt of whether or not you are plagiarizing something, either ask me or cite it.

If you are having problems with the class, PLEASE talk to me.  That’s what learning is about, people helping people.  You can be sure I will not hesitate to talk to you if you are having problems.   Other sources of help to consider:

The Learning Center                          4^th Floor, Reed Library                       673-3550

Disability Support Services               in The Learning Center                       673-3270

Counseling Center                             LoGrasso Hall                                       673-3424

Any student needing to arrange a reasonable accommodation for a documented disability should contact Disability Support Services at 673-3270 (Voice) or 673-4763 (TTY).