Spring 2017

Dr. Rhonda L. Kelley
Assoc. Professor of English

Contact:
Office: 130 Collins Hall
912-260-4303 (office phone)
912-592-1513 (cell phone; texts only, please)
email: rhonda.kelley@sgsc.edu

Office Hours:
Mondays 7:30-10:45, 12:15-1:00
Tuesdays 7:30-8:00, 12:15-1:00
Wednesdays 7:30-1:00
Thursdays 7:30-8:00, 11:00-1:00

 

Course Description

• ENGL 1102. Composition II. A composition course that develops writing skills beyond the levels of proficiency required by ENGL 1101, that emphasizes interpretation and evaluation of works of various literary genres, and that incorporates a variety of more advanced research methods.

• Prerequisite: ENGL 1101 with a minimum grade of “C”. Minimum grade of “C” in ENGL 1102 is required for graduation.

Required Texts

• You will read 4 Shakespeare plays this semester which you can buy online anywhere. However, I have linked each play below to Amazon where you can purchase the Signet Classic hard copy for around $5 or the Kindle version for 99 cents.

• All 4 plays can be found free online, but the online texts are not annotated.

• 4 plays:

  • Shakespeare, Hamlet (Signet Classics edition) ISBN: 978-0-451-52692-2

  • Shakespeare, A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Signet Classics edition) ISBN: 978-0-451-52696-0
  • Shakespeare, Othello (Signet Classics edition) ISBN: 978-0451526779
  • Shakespeare, Much Ado about Nothing (Signet Classics edition) ISBN: 978-0-451-52681-6
• Online plays and in-class Films
   

Course Overview and Objectives

Composition II’s focus is on learning to talk about and write about literature. Therefore, through various literary theoretical approaches, we will explore common themes such as sex and gender issues, social hierarchies, and religion in Shakespeare's comedies and tragedies.  Hopefully, you will leave this class with an increased ability to read and to think critically and a new appreciation for Shakespeare. I ask of you only that you come to class having read the day’s assignment and with an open mind and the intention to respect everyone’s right to be heard. Please check political correctness as well as your personal feelings about politics, homosexuality, and religion at the door. Finally, literature is supposed to be FUN; so smile and laugh at frequent intervals.

Learning Outcomes

• General education Outcome, Area A: Students will adapt communication to purpose and audience using the conventions of standard written English.
• Students will be able to write a sophomore-level essay, demonstrating their facility with:
  1.The development of an argument
  2. Supporting an argument through the use of evidence and analysis
  3. Essay-level and paragraph-level organization
  4. The conventions of standard written English (Mechanics, Usage, Grammar, and Spelling)
  5. Formal citation styles
  
   
• Critical Thinking Overlay
  • Students will analyze, evaluate, and synthesize information in order to make inferences and draw conclusions.

Grades

• 4 Essays: 30%
• 4 Annotated Bibliographies: 25%
• 4 Online Discussions: 25%
• 4 Tests: 20%
• Participation: up to negative 20% (see policy below)
• Annotated Bibliography Rubric
• Essay Rubric

Participation and Attendance

• You are allowed 4 unexcused absences. If you exceed that number prior to the midterm of the semester you will be administratively withdrawn from the class.
• Please note that if you are here, but engaged in something other than class discussion, you obviously are not participating and will be counted absent.
• Turn off all cell phones before class begins and place them out of sight. If your cell phone rings during class or if you photograph or text message during class, you will be marked absent that day.
• Positive participation is expected of everyone. Up to 20 points may be deducted from your final grade for any behaviors that negatively impact class participation. Such behaviors include, but are not limited to: cell phone use, texting, talking out of turn or disruptively, consistent or excessive tardiness, academic dishonesty, coming to class unprepared, coming to class without a book, and sleeping in class.

Tests

• All tests will be given on GeorgiaView.
• The format for tests will vary, but may include short answer, multiple choice, explications, vocabulary, and quote identifications. You should know the title, author, and dates of everything we read and the title and director of every movie we watch.

Email and The Web

• Student E-mail
  • Your student email address is available from Self-Service Banner. Your initial password should be your six-digit birthday (MMDDYY).
  • You MUST use this account to contact me via email, because non-campus emails frequently wind up in my Junk Mail.
• Course Web Page (no username/no password required)
  • Our course web page can be found at http://faculty.sgc.edu/rkelley/index.htm and can also be accessed through SGSC’s main web page (www.sgsc.edu) by clicking on "Academics" and then “Faculty Web Pages” and then my name, "Rhonda Kelley."
• GeorgiaView Course Web Page (username/password required)
  • Our GeorgiaView page can be found at https://sgsc.view.usg.edu/. Your username is the part of your student email address prior to the @ sign. From the GeorgiaView logon screen, click on the “Forgot Password?” link, you’ll be asked to enter your username, and then click submit. There will now be a note about sending your reset information to your student email account. Check your email after two or three minutes for the reset link. Please submit a Trouble Ticket if you have difficulties with Self-Service Banner, student email, or GeorgiaView.

Caveats

• Assignments may be made up only at the discretion of the instructor.
• Late essays and other late assignments will be accepted on a case by case basis, and I reserve the right to refuse to accept late work.
• The reading schedule is subject to change.
• Occasionally, the subject of sex and/or sexuality may come up during our discussions, and we may discuss portions of the Bible as literature (not absolute truth); if you cannot participate in (or at least listen to) such discussions, this is not the class for you.
• I respect and listen to all points of view, but I will not tolerate intolerance, disrespect, or close-mindedness in my classroom. BE NICE.

Academic Dishonesty

Definition

“Academic dishonesty … is any type of cheating that occurs in relation to a formal academic exercise. It can include:

• Plagiarism: The adoption or reproduction of original creations of another author (person, collective, organization, community or other type of author, including anonymous authors) without due acknowledgment.
• Deception: Providing false information to an instructor concerning a formal academic exercise—e.g., giving a false excuse for missing a deadline or falsely claiming to have submitted work.
• Cheating: Any attempt to give or obtain assistance in a formal academic exercise (like an testination) without due acknowledgment.”

Penalties

• 1 instance of academic dishonesty: Student will receive a 0 on the assignment. I will decide on a case by case basis whether or not said assignment may be redone and under what conditions.
• 2 or more instances of academic dishonesty: Student will receive an F for the course.
• Violations of academic honesty will be reported to student conduct personnel through the SGC maxient system.

Special Needs

If you have a disability and require reasonable classroom accommodations, please see me after class or make an appointment during office hours. If you plan to request accommodations for a disability, please register with the Office of Disability Services in Room 118, Powell Hall, phone number 912-260-4435. Also, if you find that any content in this course is inaccessible because of your disability, please contact me as soon as possible.

Mental Health Counseling Services

Counseling services are confidential and available upon request. If you would like to schedule a session, referral forms are located online or outside the counselor’s office. Please complete and submit the referral form to the counselor. Do not submit by email. Once you have submitted your form you will be contacted by phone to set up an appointment. The Counselor’s Office is located in Powell Hall, Room 119, phone number 912.260.4438.

Academic Support

Academic Support offers various resources to assist SGSC students with their academic success. These resources are available to SGSC students at no charge and are found at several ASC locations: the Academic Support Center in room 148A of the Dye Building on the Waycross campus, the Academic Support Center in room 216 of Powell Hall on the Douglas campus, and the STEM Center in room 125 of Stubbs Hall on the Douglas campus. All locations offer course-specific peer tutoring, academic skills workshops, and resources on study skills, time management, note-taking, and learning strategies. Live, online tutoring is also available 24/7 in GeorgiaVIEW through tutor.com. For more information about any of the resources available, contact Amber Wheeler, Academic Support Director, at amber.wheeler@sgsc.edu or visit our webpage at http://www.sgsc.edu/current-students/academicsupportcenter.cms.

Essays

• Since this is a composition course, you will receive the most benefit if you learn from your writing mistakes and successes. Therefore, if you miss class the day I hand back essays, you must make a special effort to collect your essay as soon as possible. I expect each essay to be better than the one before and will grade accordingly.
• All essays and first drafts are to be typed or word-processed and double-spaced. Absolutely no emailed essays or essays on computer disc will be accepted.
• Rewrites: You must attach the “marked up” previous draft to the rewritten draft, or I will not grade it. The new grade will replace the old grade.
  

Schedule

updated: 01/09/2017