Modern Fiction



Eng 2013.901 & 2013.902 Intro to Lit SYLLABUS

Dr. Linda Winterbottom

LWinterbottom@utsa.edu

Fall 2009

Tues-Thurs 11:00-12:15 PM DB 2.304

Tues-Thurs 12:30-1:45 PM BV 3.318

POLICIES

I expect students to:

• Buy the books

• Do the readings

• Read thoughtfully

• Come to class prepared

• Help each other

Respect our learning environment:

• Be fully present

• Listen to others

• Share ideas

• Avoid disruptions

The Important Stuff:

( Noise and Distractions: Background noise drives me nuts. Silence cell phones. Don’t let doors slam. Quiet those papers and book bags. Don’t goof around with laptop computers or anything else unrelated to our class. Don’t nap, watch the clock, or gossip. Listen and participate.

( Laptop Policy: NO LAPTOPS for the first three days of class. If you take excellent notes on paper for three consecutive days of class (e.g. detailed, substantive, at least two full pages each day) you may sign-up to use your laptop for note-taking purposes only. Any episode of misuse terminates that privilege.

( Books: Get your books right away. Bookstores return books after a few weeks.

(Attendance: Excellent attendance reflects your investment in the course, and directly promotes your overall performance. You will document all absences. After 3 absences, you are required to submit a report and schedule a meeting or phone call with me.

( DON’T tell me that you didn’t do the readinG. (

( Participation: Come to class ready to share your good ideas. Be generous with your observations about the literature. We will do our best to be positive and kind so that all can feel comfortable speaking up and sharing questions and insights.

( Building a Supportive Community: Be helpful, kind, and respectful to each other. Exchange contact information with a few other students. Help each other. Use WebCT to ask questions and advice of each other, and to share ideas. Students who help others will receive extra credit.

( Asking “What Did We Do In Class Today?” – It’s not practical for me to write personal emails summarizing what we did in class. Please ask the question of your peers on WebCT in our discussion area. I will REWARD students with EXTRA CREDIT who help answer these questions on WebCT. This centralizes the information for the benefit of others, and helps us use WebCT to build a supportive community.

( Academic Honesty (& Dishonesty): Your integrity is valuable. Do your own work. It is the height of lameness if you take material from the Web, Wikipedia, or any other source and try to pass it off as your own. Failing to properly cite your sources is plagiarism.

. . . . Besides, I am MUCH more interested in your original ideas and responses to the readings than someone else’s (possibly incorrect) summary.

DISTRIBUTION OF ASSIGNMENT GRADES (*There may be some play in these areas)

In-class Activities, Attendance, Class Discussion …………………………….. 25* (25-28) %

Quizzes & Tests …………………………………………………………………… 30* (28-30) %

Commentaries, Peer Editing, Portfolio Chapbooks ….……………………….. 30* (28-30) %

Final Exam ………………………………………………………………………… 15%

Assignments:

Tuesdays: An 80-90 word comment (5-6 lines), typed and double spaced, for Peer Review. The Tuesday comment should be very succinct – “brief but brilliant.” Do NOT exceed 90 words.

This will be one of the two commentaries that you compile for your Portfolio each week. You will incorporate corrections and revisions from the peer review on the version you show on Friday. You will turn in sections of the Portfolio as “Chapbooks” twice during the semester.)

Wednesdays: Blackboard Quizzes: Expect a Blackboard Quiz each Wednesday. (Will be open for 24 hours.) You get once chance to take the quiz. No make-ups. You are advised to use a UTSA networked computer to avoid outages. If you access the quiz from home, work, or using any other outside wireless Internet service, you accept the risk of Internet outages, time-out problems, or other computer issues. During business hours, you can contact UTSA’s Blackboard support staff for help. At midnight or 1 AM, you are on your own.

Dialectical Notebook Entry – every Thursday: You will bring to class one full page of free-writing about the readings

for that week. You will leave a blank square or rectangle on the page for a peer to insert a reflective comment. The square should be about the size of an index card. Due every Friday, these should be typed, in a standard 12 pt font, and double-spaced. You may use “Insert” and “Text Box” to create a box like the example I provide here. You will read & comment on each other’s free-writes on Fridays, and compile these along with your Tuesday comments for your Portfolio and Chapbooks.

In Class Activities, Pop Quizzes, Freewrites, etc. Expect impromptu activities at all times.

Other Homework Assignments: TBA

CALENDAR

WEEK ONE

Thurs 8/27 – Introduction to the course

WEEK TWO

Tues 9/1 – Maryse Conde, I, Tituba, Black Witch of Salem (Pp 1-50)

BRING: “Succinct Comment” for Peer Review (Typed, 80-90 words)

(Wed – Reminder: Blackboard quiz opens on Wednesday for 24 hours.)

Thurs 9/3 – Conde, I, Tituba (pp 51 - 100)

BRING: “Dialectical One-Page Freewrite” for Peer Response (Typed, w/a text box)

WEEK THREE

Tues 9/8 – Conde, I, Tituba (pp 101 - 150)

BRING: “Succinct Comment” for Peer Review (Typed, 80-90 words)

(Wed – Reminder: Blackboard quiz opens on Wednesday for 24 hours.)

Thurs 9/10 – Conde, I, Tituba (pp 151 - 190)

BRING: “Dialectical One-Page Freewrite” for Peer Response (Typed, w/a text box)

WEEK FOUR

Tues 9/15 – Conde, I, Tituba (pp 190-end)

BRING: “Succinct Comment” for Peer Review (Typed, 80-90 words)

(Wed – Reminder: Blackboard quiz opens on Wednesday for 24 hours.)

Thurs 9/17 – Conrad, Heart of Darkness (first ¼) (53-83)

BRING: “Dialectical One-Page Freewrite” for Peer Response (Typed, w/a text box)

WEEK FIVE

Tues 9/22 – Conrad, Heart of Darkness (to mid-point) (84-113)

BRING: “Succinct Comment” for Peer Review (Typed, 80-90 words)

(Wed – Reminder: Blackboard quiz opens on Wednesday for 24 hours.)

Thurs 9/24 – Conrad, Heart of Darkness (to ¾ point) (114-143)

BRING: “Dialectical One-Page Freewrite” for Peer Response (Typed, w/a text box)

WEEK SIX

Tues 9/29 – Conrad, Heart of Darkness (to end) (144-170)

BRING: “Succinct Comment” for Peer Review (Typed, 80-90 words)

(Wed – Reminder: Blackboard quiz opens on Wednesday for 24 hours.)

Thurs 10/1 – Lai, When Fox is a Thousand (1-54)

BRING: “Dialectical One-Page Freewrite” for Peer Response (Typed, w/a text box)

WEEK SEVEN

Tues 10/6 – Lai, When Fox is a Thousand (55-108)

BRING: “Succinct Comment” for Peer Review (Typed, 80-90 words)

(Wed – Reminder: Blackboard quiz opens on Wednesday for 24 hours.)

Thurs 10/8 – Lai, When Fox is a Thousand (109-162)

BRING: “Dialectical One-Page Freewrite” for Peer Response (Typed, w/a text box)

WEEK EIGHT

Tues 10/13 – Lai, When Fox is a Thousand (163-216)

BRING: “Succinct Comment” for Peer Review (Typed, 80-90 words)

(Wed – Reminder: Blackboard quiz opens on Wednesday for 24 hours.)

Thurs 10/15 – Lai, When Fox is a Thousand (217-end)

BRING: “Dialectical One-Page Freewrite” for Peer Response (Typed, w/a text box)

WEEK NINE

Tues 10/20 – Loud Sparrows (Sections I-IV, pp 1-66) (choose 4 stories from each section = 16 shorts)

BRING: “Succinct Comment” for Peer Review (Typed, 80-90 words)

(Wed – Reminder: Blackboard quiz opens on Wednesday for 24 hours.)

Thurs 10/22 – Loud Sparrows (Sections V-VII, pp 67-116) (choose 5 from each section = 15 shorts)

BRING: “Dialectical One-Page Freewrite” for Peer Response (Typed, w/a text box)

WEEK TEN

Tues 10/27 - Loud Sparrows (Sections VIII-X, pp 117-170) (choose 5 from each section = 15 shorts)

BRING: “Succinct Comment” for Peer Review (Typed, 80-90 words)

(Wed – Reminder: Blackboard quiz opens on Wednesday for 24 hours.)

Thurs 10/29 – Loud Sparrows (Sections XI-end, pp 171-end) (choose 4 from each section = 16 shorts)

BRING: “Dialectical One-Page Freewrite” for Peer Response (Typed, w/a text box)

To be continued . . .

REQUIRED BOOKS

Conde, Maryse. I, Tituba, Black Witch of Salem

Lai, Larissa. When Fox is a Thousand

Conrad, Joseph. Heart of Darkness

Cuddon. The Penguin Dictionary of Literary Terms and Literary Theory

Shakespeare. The Tempest (Cambridge School Shakespeare, paperback)

Mu & Goldblatt. Loud Sparrows: Contemporary Chinese Short Shorts

Caplan, David. Poetic Form: An Introduction

Seriously…

GET THE BOOKS

These bookstores are most likely to carry the books.

|UTSA Bookstore, 1604 and/or |Should have our books right away. |

|UTSA Bookstore, Downtown |Can order more. |

|L&M at Babcock & 1604 and/or |Should have our books right away. |

|L&M near SAC | |

GET YOUR BOOKS EARLY.

The bookstore under-orders and they ship the books back after several weeks. Once the university bookstores run out of a book, your job becomes harder.

Other Options

| |Might have some books cheaper |

| |Standard shipping can take 2-3 weeks |

|Half Price Books |Might have a few of our books. Call ahead. Sometimes willing to set a |

| |book aside for you if they have it. |

|UTSA Library |Check UCAT |

|Local Libraries |Check Worldcat, or the SAPL online catalogue |

|Borders, Barnes & Noble |Maybe… Can order if you ask. |

ORDERING BOOKS

• Order two to three weeks in advance

You can order books …

• from the UTSA bookstore, or another bookstore (might take 10-12 days – ask).

• from Amazon or another online service, but standard shipping (media mail) can take up to three weeks.

Be resourceful. Call the bookstores. Use the Internet. Talk to a librarian.

( Don’t tell me that you didn’t get the books.

ATTENDANCE: I consider 1 or 2 absences to be typical, although whatever work you miss is your own responsibility. Missing 4 or more classes is not consistent with passing the course. You will keep track of your own attendance. If you miss 4 or more classes, you will complete the memo below and schedule a conversation with me.

MEMORANDUM

TO: Dr. Winterbottom

FROM: __ __ __ __

RE: Acknowledging Four or More Absences

DATE: __ __ __ __

I wish to acknowledge that I have missed four or more classes, for the following reason(s):

__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __

My completion of this memo indicates that: [please initial each]

1. I care about my performance in the class. _________

2. I respect my colleagues, the course, and our policies. _________

3. I wish to contribute to our group learning in a fair way. _________

4. I still want to be regarded as “active” in the course. _________

5. I’d like you to continue grading my work. _________

7. I am addressing the problem in the following way(s):

__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __

__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __

__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __

Choose one of the following:

A. I am fixing the problem on my own. I don’t require a meeting at this time.

B. I would like to meet with you. Here are three possible times when I can meet:

1. ______________________; 2. ______________________; 3. ______________________

C. I could use some additional support or resources, but a phone call would work best for me.

My best phone number is: __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __

My best email address is: __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __

For purposes of helping me (and the department) better understand students’ needs, please check off some or all of the following conditions that apply:

__ I am overextended.

__ I work full-time (or close).

__ I am sleep-deprived.

__ I can change something to get more sleep.

__ Transportation is a problem.

__ I can improve transportation.

__ My major is very demanding.

__ I am someone’s caregiver.

__ There was an emergency.

__ A personal, family, or health matter takes priority right now.

__ I’m doing the best I can.

__ I need to revise my schedule.

__ I need support.

__ I have someone who can support me if I ask.

__ There are too many demands on me.

__ I need better time management skills.

__ Organization is an issue.

__ I have trouble saying “no” to others.

__ I’m under too much stress.

__ I have trouble getting quiet alone time to study or do my work.

__ I am now setting aside more time to do my work.

__ I feel overwhelmed.

__ There are too many distractions. __ I am too busy.

__ My schedule is a nightmare.

__ My schedule is a little crazy right now, but I can adjust it.

__ My schedule is awful, but it’s hard to change it now.

__ I can carve out more time for myself.

__ I need to take better care of myself.

__ I need to be more firm with others about my needs or my work.

___ I need to cultivate better work habits.

__ I need to learn how to be more efficient.

__ I am a very slow, careful reader.

___ I am meticulous and spend a lot of time focusing intensely on each project.

__ Because I’m overwhelmed, tired, and stressed-out, I find that I procrastinate a lot. I need more rest and more enjoyment in my life.

___ I could be more effective if my life was more balanced.

__ I am currently doing my best work.

__ I’m not doing my best work right now, but I really want to.

__ I’m doing my best work in other classes, but not in this class.

__ I’m frustrated because current conditions are stopping me from doing my best work.

__ I haven’t been feeling well.

__ I am currently trying to modify my workload or schedule.

__ I have already made some positive changes. Things are getting better now.

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[For a peer’s comment]

I clicked on “Insert” then “text box” to put this box here.

Then I looked at the rule bars to make this box about 2-2 ½ inches wide and about 3 or 3 ½ inches tall.

Then, I selected the lines of text that are next to the box and used the little blue arrow on the right side of the upper ruler to pull the right margin over to the edge of this box.

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