This handout is required reading. You are responsible for all information on it. Study it carefully and refer to it frequently. If anything is unclear, don't hesitate to ask questions. Seek me out whenever you have questions about anything. Also get to know your fellow students. Form a study group with two or three other students, and stay in touch with each other.

Your instructor: Karen Osborne, Ph.D. Please call me Karen.
OFFICE: 300-Y, 3rd floor, 33 E. Congress.
MAILBOX: English Department, suite 300, 33 E. Congress.
PHONE: 312-344-8123.
EMAIL:kosborne@popmail.colum.edu.
online syllabus: http://members.xoom.com/kosborne/aa/index.html
Check my office hours before you stop by.

Spring 2000 OFFICE HOURS:
Mondays: 9:00-9:20, 12:30-1:30
Tuesdays by appt.; tba
Thursdays tba; probably 1:00-1:50
Fridays by appt.

Required Text 
 Lauter, et. al., eds, The Heath Anthology of American Literature, 3rd ed., vol. two ONLY 
Recommended Text:
 Sylvan Barnet, A Short Guide to Writing About Literature, 8th edition (or any similar book)

The “Official” Columbia College course description
“Poetry, fiction, and drama in America from approximately 1877 to the present is studied. Significant writers studied may include James, Wharton, Hemingway, Cather, Chesnutt, Hurston, Stevens, Eliot, Faulkner, Welty, Wright, Bellow, and Barth. Prerequisite: 52-1101  English Composition I.”

More description:
 This course will introduce you to some important 20th Century American authors. The Heath Anthology was the first such textbook to treat American literature as multicultural literature. Since its first edition, virtually every other well-known anthology of American literature has been revised as a result. As you read, try to formulate your own ideas about what is “American” about American literature, and what is “literary” about all of these very different texts. 

Intended Student Learning Outcomes
The intended student learning outcome for the General Education Literature requirement is: 
   "Students will 1)become familiar with one or more of the major forms of literature (poetry, drama, fiction, and nonfiction) and 2) be able to demonstrate that familiarity by being able to read and write critically about one of those forms (genres)." 

This course supports that outcome, and can be substituted for Introduction to Literature in fulfillment of the General Education Requirement IF you obtain a written waiver from the chair. See me.

In addition, this course should enable you to: 

1. demonstrate an understanding of works by two American authors in some depth by writing critical essays about these works 

2. demonstrate a broad understanding of three important periods, movements, or terms in 20th Century American literature. 

3. demonstrate a knowledge of the diversity of American literature by naming and discussing at least three writers not of Euro-American heritage. 

4. recognize and discuss passages from important works of American literature 

Literature Minor 
This course does count toward the Literature minor (if you do not also use it for General Education credit). See me for more information. 

Reading Notes
 You should keep a journal of weekly notes or responses, at least a page in length. Select one of the assigned selections to respond to. You might respond to my study questions if you like, or create your own. Reading notes will help you understand and retain what you've read. One possible method: write a brief, accurate, unbiased summary of the selection,and then write your reaction to the text; what it implies about the world, about human nature, about American literature, or about the nature of texts. 

Drafts, Papers and Deadlines
 I require rough drafts of each paper. The drafts must be double-spaced. They are due two weeks before the final draft is due. If you fail to turn in a rough draft on the date it is due, you forfeit your opportunity to get feedback from me and a chance to revise in response. Final drafts of papers are to be computer-printed or typed, double-spaced, clipped or stapled before coming to class, carefully proofread, and turned in AT CLASS TIME on the due dates. NUMBER the pages. You will write TWO papers for this course. The recommended length for each is 1000 words, minimum (about 4 pages, typed, double-spaced, with 1" margins). Re-read my guide to writing literature papers handout both before and after writing your rough draft. You lose half a letter grade if the paper is three days late; a full letter grade if a week late. After a week, you get a zero. 

WRITING CENTER--first floor, 33 E. Congress
 Even the best writers almost always show their work to someone for feedback before they present it to the public. Sometimes, just talking over your ideas and planning the organization with a helpful friend or a tutor can save lots of time and diminish your anxiety. 

Plagiarism
 Any student found using the work (ideas or language) of another writer (including, but not limited to, other students) without giving credit to the source will receive an 'F' in the course. If you're unsure as to what, exactly, constitutes plagiarism, do not hesitate to ask. Plagiarism has its own way of cheating you out of your desired goals. Help others with drafts by identifying weaknesses. Let the writer rewrite.

Attendance
 Two absences are acceptable (but you will get zero on your quiz that day; I do not give makeup quizzes). If you are absent on the date that a rough draft or a final draft of a paper is due, YOU STILL MUST GET THAT PAPER IN BY Thursday morning of the same week. The third absence lowers your final grade one letter. The fourth absence means you fail the course.  No ifs, ands, or buts.
 When you miss class, it is your responsibility to keep up with the syllabus. If you have questions, ask other students or check with me during office hours. And remember, calling or emailing me to tell me you’ll be absent is nice, but it DOES NOT excuse the absence.

Tardiness
 Each time you arrive more than ten minutes late (or leave more than ten minutes early), this will count as half an absence. Quizzes will be given during the first 15 minutes of class, and if you miss it, you miss it. No makeup quizzes.

Classroom Behavior
 I invite you to help us create a positive learning environment. Not only should you participate in class discussions, but you should also help your classmates to participate. I will reward students who contribute to the class’s understanding. Any behavior that interferes with learning will not be tolerated. Any student who is discourteous to another student or to the instructor, or who in any way tries to usurp the classroom for purposes other than learning, will be given an 'F' in the course. This is the only warning that will be given.

What Counts For What, Or Assignments And Grading
PAPERS:  the two papers will count 20 points each. 
QUIZZES: almost every week, counting 3 points each;  I will drop your 2 lowest quiz scores, so the total possible
   will be 30.
 THE FINAL EXAM will be worth 20 points; it will have an essay section.
 CLASS PARTICIPATION is important. You can earn up to 5 points for making a significant contribution to the class’s understanding throughout the semester.
 EXTRA CREDIT is possible. Attend worthwhile literary events featuring American authors, such as the poetry readings the Columbia poetry program sponsors, and write brief reaction papers or reviews for extra credit. Watch for Columbia Poetry Review in late May!

Guidelines for Papers about Literature, and How I Grade 

When I grade the final drafts of your papers, I evaluate them according to fairly recognizable standards. The following should help you understand what I am looking for and how I will grade. The papers you write should demonstrate your ability to read, analyze, and interpret literature. Be sure to have a clear thesis, use evidence from the text to support the thesis, offer sufficient analysis and interpretation of that evidence, and follow a logical organization. I expect all papers to be well written in clear English prose. I will also consider the quality of your insights. 

Highly successful (A) papers will meet the following description: "The writer has successfully analyzed and interpreted a textual element or elements such as plot, character, point of view, imagery, setting, form, theme, irony, tone, symbols, language or any similar elements. The writer has grounded arguments in specific references to text. The essay has a clear thesis supported by sound logic and good organization. The essay is thoroughly developed."

Successful (B) papers will meet the following description: "The writer has analyzed a textual element or elements such as plot, character, point of view, imagery, setting, form, theme, irony, tone, symbols, language or any similar elements. The writer has grounded arguments in at least some specific references to text. The essay has a clear thesis, but may need one of the following: more textual support, more analytical or interpretive development, or clearer logic and/or organization."

Moderately successful (C) papers will fit the following description: "The writer has analyzed or paid some attention to texts or a textual element(s), has made an effort toward interpretation, and has some supporting references and/or evidence, but the essay does not fully develop or support its thesis in a logical fashion, or the thesis may not be sufficiently clear."

Unsuccessful (D or F) papers can be described with SOME or MOST of the following: "The writer has not sufficiently analyzed or interpreted the text; there may be textual references, but not in clear support of an interpretation; AND/OR the writer has failed to offer a clear thesis supported by sound logic; AND/OR has not responded to the assignment."

WRITING CENTER--1st floor, 506 S. Wabash/33 E. Congress (SW corner of Congress and Wabash)-

Even the best writers show their work to someone for feedback before they present it to the public. Just talking over your ideas and planning the organization with a helpful friend or a tutor can save lots of time and diminish your anxiety. Consider signing up for weekly noncredit tutoring.

I If the total points possible is 100, then you need at least 90 points for an ‘A,’ 80 for a ‘B,’ 70 for a ‘C,’ and 60 points to pass. The exact final numbers will be determined by the quizzes and by any adjustments I may need to make to reflect the needs of this particular class.

You can earn extra credit (a maximum of 5 points total all semester) by attending worthwhile literary , theater performances, or museum exhibits and writing brief reaction papers or reviews. I especially encourage you to attend readings at Columbia and to write reviews of any plays produced by the Columbia Theatre Department. Many local theaters also have discount rates for students.
 

Tips for writing papers about literature

The papers you write should demonstrate your ability to read, analyze, and interpret literature. Your paper should have a clear thesis, use evidence from the text to support the thesis, offer sufficient analysis and interpretation of that evidence, and follow a logical progression.

I. The paper is an analysis of a text and an interpretation based on that analysis. The audience is readers who have already read the text. IF YOU MERELY REPEAT WHAT THE STORY SAYS, WITHOUT INTERPRETATION, YOU WILL NOT RECEIVE A PASSING GRADE. A thesis statement is a debatable proposition, that is, a statement (a complete sentence containing a subject and verb) about which reasonable people might disagree. ("Alienation in Story X" is a title, not a thesis. A possible thesis: "The alienation character Y feels in Story X is a logical response to the crass materialism of her environment." (For evidence you might cite the high number of references to stores, money, valuable material objects, etc.) Your paper must have a clear thesis supported by evidence in a logical progression of sufficiently developed and well-written paragraphs. Show me, show me, show me. Show me exactly where and exactly how (refer to SPECIFIC words, phrases, lines, events, characters, etc.) the story, poem or play does what you are saying it does. The thesis should make an interesting point ABOUT the story, poem or idea (not merely to repeat what the story says) and should be clearly stated, preferably at the end of the first paragraph. I also expect a strong conclusion that does more than simply restate the thesis. Show why the thesis was worth proving, after all. 

II. Make sure the topic is NARROW enough and that you say enough about it. Say something--show us what your mind can do with the text. Select one aspect of the literary work and discuss how it functions and connects with the WHOLE work. Show that you have read closely, and that you can ANALYZE the significance of CONTENT and FORM--the two are inseparable, so by analyzing carefully how something is written, you are also analyzing meaning. Be sure to SAY ENOUGH about the part you've chosen. Most drafts need more DEVELOPMENT--you need to SHOW the reader exactly what your point is, what evidence supports it, and WHY your point is so important. I will take points off for fuzzy thinking, vague language, insufficient development, and poor transitions. Read the chapter on literature papers in your Comp I or II handbook (you did save your handbook, didn’t you? asked the concerned teacher...) 

III. Read your draft aloud, have friends or fellow students read it, and rewrite it, cutting redundancy and adding new material to strengthen weak paragraphs. Ask "so what?" at the end of every paragraph--then write at least two more sentences to answer the "so what." Sometimes you'll need to add much more than just a few sentences to actually pursue the answer. You must turn in your ROUGH DRAFT two weeks ahead of the date the paper is due. The rough drafts MUST be double-spaced. 

AFTER REVISING, BE SURE TO PROOFREAD CAREFULLY. I will take points off for grammatical mistakes, inconsistent/inaccurate punctuation, or any obstacles that prevent the paper from achieving its purpose. 

Let your natural voice come through, to the extent possible in standard English. Aim for clarity, economy, conviction: cut away as much phoniness and verbal confusion as you can. No "Englishteacherese." When you finish a draft, read it critically and revise, revise, revise. Papers must be typed or computer-printed, 3-5 pages minimum, double-spaced, with 1" margins. Pages must be numbered.