COMP 290: Writing about Literature (CRN 257)
MWF 11:00-11:50, SCHU 112

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Instructor: Dr. Amie A. Doughty
Office: 313 Netzer Administration Building
Office Hours: MWF 9:00-10:30; and by appointment
Phone: 436-2493
E-mail: doughtaa@oneonta.edu

Required Text and Materials:
Levithan, David. The Realm of Possibility. New York: Knopf, 2004. ISBN 9780375836572
MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers. 7th ed. New York: MLA, 2009. ISBN 9781603290241
Wells, H.G. The Time Machine. Norton Critical Ed. New York: Norton, 2008. ISBN: 9780393927948.
Supplementary readings to be distributed in class.

Course Description:
This course teaches students to apply college writing skills to the discipline of literary studies. Students will increase proficiency in writing, researching, organizing, and revising skills in order to write successful papers in upper-division literature courses. Course builds on the skills learned in LITR 100 or LITR 150 and is only open to English majors/minors. Should be taken in the sophomore year. Prerequisites: COMP 100 and LITR 100 or LITR 150; SoS; ENGL majors only.

Translation: The focus of this class is on moving from critical discussions of literature to writing critical analyses, with and without secondary sources for support. Students will learn both the basic mechanics involved in writing about literature (how to quote, paraphrase, summarize, and cite correctly) and different means of writing analytical essays about literature, from basic explications to research-informed essays.

General Education Attributes: LA, WS2

SUNY General Education 2 Attribute Student Learning Outcomes: Writing Skills (WS2) and Oral Communication Skills (OS2) These courses involve effective exchange of ideas through appropriate use of written or oral language.

Course Policies:
Attendance: You are expected to attend class and to be prepared to discuss the assigned reading as well as to participate in in-class writings and workshopping. Because much of this class involves in-class writing, chronic absences will negatively affect your grade. If you are unable to come to class, it is your responsibility to make up the work you missed and to get notes, handouts, and announcements from a classmate or from me (during my office hours). See below for the University Policy on WIs due to excessive absences.

Class Discussions: I like to make my courses student-centered, so I try to limit lectures. There will be times that I need to present materials in lecture format, but you are always welcome to ask questions as they occur to you. Much of this class will involve discussion of the literature we’re reading, and I expect you to be prepared to talk about that literature. This class is very small, so it is even more important that you participate in class discussions than in larger literature courses. Please leave your discussion inhibitions at the door.

Critiquing Work: This class works under the assumption that no writing is perfect, no matter how many times it has been revised, and the best way to figure out how to revise your work is to have it critiqued. Therefore, much of this class will require you both to critique others’ work and to submit your work for critiquing. You should expect both positive and negative comments about your work. If you have written something that you are unwilling to revise, do not submit it for critiquing.

Assignments: You will have 5 main assignments for this course, and they are each worth the percentage indicated in parentheses. Specific guidelines for the major writing assignments will be distributed in class on the days indicated on your syllabus.

• In-Class Writings, Critique Exchanges, and Miscellaneous (20%)—A large portion of the class will be devoted to the practice of writing. As a result, you will complete various in-class and out-of-class writing assignments. In addition, you will offer critiques of your classmates’ work throughout the semester and attend several individual conferences. In addition to the writings and critiques, I may also assign quizzes or other assignments if I am dissatisfied with the level of class participation.
• Poetry Explication (20%)
• Short Story Explication (20%)
• Research Argument (25%)
• Essay Exam (15%)—This assignment will be your final exam.

Assignment Formatting: All assignments must be submitted according to MLA formatting guidelines. For this class, do not use a title page for any of your papers unless instructed to do so in class. Use a 12-point font (yes, I can tell the difference) in Times New Roman (no fancy fonts in this class and no use of Courier). Failure to follow formatting instructions will result in your paper’s grade being lowered. I will explain what MLA formatting looks like to the class before the first paper is due, and a sample of an MLA first page is available in your MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers, page 117.

Late Work: I will accept work no more than one week late. All late work will lose 10%. If you know that you won’t be able to get work in on time, see me before the due date, and we may be able to make arrangements for an extension.

Grading Scale: The number percentages will be calculated as follows for letter grades:

Plagiarism: Plagiarism is the passing off of another's work (whether quoted, paraphrased or summarized) as your own without proper documentation. If you are caught plagiarizing, you are subject to a variety of punishments, including expulsion from the university. Do your own work. See the University’s policy below for details on the Academic Dishonesty policy.

Cell Phones, Pagers, and Portable Music Players: These devices must be turned off for the duration of the class period. If your phone rings in class, you will be asked to leave. Do not use class time to text message. If I catch you texting in class, you will be asked to leave. If you believe you should be excluded from the cell phone restriction, see me individually.

Classroom Etiquette: You are expected to comport yourself politely in class. I expect you to refrain from talking to your classmates during class lectures and discussions unless you are asked to work in groups. If you have a question about what is being presented, ask me. Students whose behavior disrupts the class will be asked to leave the classroom.

Emergency Evacuation/Shelter-in-Place Procedures: In the event of an emergency evacuation (i.e., fire or other emergency), classes meeting in this building are directed to reassemble in the IRC Lobby so that all persons can be accounted for.  Complete details of the College’s emergency evacuation, shelter-in-place and other emergency procedures can be found at <http://www.oneonta.edu/security/>.

University Policies: The following policies can be found in your Student Handbook or the Code of Student Conduct (both available online) and are particularly applicable to this class.

Flagrant Non-Attendance
• Students missing 25% or more of class, any time from the second week of class up until the last day to withdraw from an individual course (see Keydates and Deadlines or Faculty Reference Guide for specific dates) may be removed from the course by the instructor.
• The Registrar will assign a “WI” (Involuntary Withdrawal) grade.
• Students appearing on the final grade sheet will be assigned a final grade (not a “W”, Incomplete or Pending grade), regardless of student’s class attendance.

Final Exams
Instructors must follow the final exam schedule as posted in Keydates and Deadlines (www.oneonta.edu/registrar). The final exam week is part of the 15 class weeks required by the State Education Department. If an instructor does not hold a final examination, the final examination period must be used as the final class day. Exceptions to this may be made only in an emergency and only with prior approval of the department chair and the division dean. Under no condition shall a study day be used to administer a final exam. Students are held responsible for selecting a course schedule with the final exam schedule in mind. There is no policy preventing a student from having exams in one day.

Student Disability Services (SDS)
SDS provides a base of personal and academic support for students with a documented history of disability. The office provides consultation, advocacy, referral, testing and classroom accommodations. Students should call for an appointment (607) 436-2137. Located at 209 Alumni Hall.

All individuals who are diagnosed with a disability are protected under the Americans with Disabilities Act, and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. As such, you may be entitled to certain accommodations within this class. If you are diagnosed with a disability, please make an appointment to meet with Student Disability Services (SDS), 209 Alumni Hall, ext. 2137. All students with the necessary supporting documentation will be provided appropriate accommodations as determined by the SDS Office.
It is entirely your responsibility to contact SDS and concurrently supply me with your accommodation plan, which will inform me exactly what accommodations you are entitled to. You will only receive accommodations once you provide me with an SDS accommodation plan.

ACADEMIC DISHONESTY
Academic dishonesty is defined as any act by a student that misrepresents or attempts to misrepresent to an instructor or any College official, the proficiency or achievement of that student or another student in any academic exercise for the purpose of influencing a grade on a piece of assigned work, on an examination or quiz or in a Course as a whole, or that is intended to alter any record of a student's academic performance by unauthorized means.
A Student deemed guilty of an act of academic dishonesty may, depending on the nature of the offense, be subject to one or more of the following measures: failure of the assignment or examination, failure of the course, or dismissal from the College. Furthermore, for a second offense, referral of the case to the Standing Disciplinary Board is mandatory. The penalties that may be assessed by the Board are listed under the Procedures of the Standing Disciplinary Board as published in this publication; however, the normal penalty is suspension or dismissal.
It is the Student's responsibility to read and understand the policy on all aspects of academic dishonesty as published in this publication and the Undergraduate Catalog. However, individual faculty members may wish to explain the policy as it relates to their courses. It is emphasized that a student who has any questions about what constitutes academic dishonesty has the responsibility of clarifying them by conferring with his/her instructors.

Examples of Academic Dishonesty:
The following examples, although not all-inclusive, are intended to help students understand what constitutes academic dishonesty. Other acts should not necessarily, be considered as falling outside the scope of this policy because of their absence from this list.
• Plagiarism that is, using materials from another's work without acknowledgment, using quotations without  identification as such or paraphrasing without specific identification of the source.
• Copying and/or modifying another person's computer file, program, printout, or portion thereof for use in an assignment without permission of the instructor.
• Knowingly permitting one's computer file, program, printout, or portion thereof to be copied or modified by another student for use in an assignment without permission of the instructor.
• Unauthorized giving or receiving of information on an examination, laboratory procedure, or other exercise.
• Taking an examination for another student or allowing another student to take an examination for you.
• Altering or attempting to alter a grade on any piece of graded work, a grade written in an instructor's personal records, or a grade written on any College form or transcribed in any official College record.
• Submitting a College form with a forged signature.

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