English 210
The Short Story
Spring 2008
Instructor: Ms. Newsome
Office: Humanities 338 Phone: 254-968-9026 or 9039 Email: anewsom@tarleton.edu Textbook (required): Charters, Ann. The Short Story and Its Writer: An Introduction to Short Fiction. 7th edition. Bedford: New York, 2003. Course Objectives This course is designed to give students the opportunity to engage the major authors of short fiction along with movements, themes, and strategies that establish short fiction as a literary genre. The course focuses on the appreciation and understanding of short stories. The course also acquaints students with major elements of fiction (plot, setting, characters, theme…) and with techniques for critical reading and writing. Specific Objectives are 1. To familiarize students with major writers. 2. To acquaint students with major themes, literary techniques, and cultural values. 3. To familiarize students with ways to analyze literature. 4. To help students become more perceptive readers of literature. 5. To provide students with vicarious experiences through literature which lead to broader perspectives useful in understanding and coping with their own past, present, and future. Course Requirements 1. Two tests and a final examination will be given during the semester. 2. One documented research paper is required. 3. You will have daily quizzes based on the reading. 4. One other response paper (not a documented paper) will be required. Course Policies 1. Attendance Policy: If you miss more than eight (8) Tuesday/Thursday classes, you cannot pass the course. 2. Assignments (including reading assignments) should be completed on the date stated. You should be present for tests on the test date. I generally do not accept late work. If you have an emergency of some sort, contact me the day you miss class. If a circumstance arises that will prevent you from meeting a deadline or which will cause you to miss a test, you should discuss the situation with me privately as soon as possible. I will then decide whether or not your situation merits an extension. (Some things which are not emergencies: extra curricular activities interfering with class, job interfering with class, printer issues, and other situations which might be inconvenient but not emergencies…) 3. There will be regular reading assignments. I will confirm reading assignments prior to the date you should read them. Though there is a tentative schedule for class, it is not necessarily exact and the readings are not necessarily in order. If you are absent, then, you need to check with someone in class to see what your reading assignment is for the next class. You will have a quiz for each reading assignment. You cannot make up daily reading quizzes. 4. Regular attendance, completing reading assignments on time, completing reader responses, group participation (when warranted), class discussions, and completing reading quizzes accurately are all important to your success in the course. (Remember, reading quizzes cannot be made up.) Completing all work and attending class regularly also speak to your professionalism, something vital to the career you have chosen. 5. Academic honesty is expected at all times. An event of plagiarism will result in one or all of the following: zero on the assignment, failing the course, and/0r University disciplinary action (which can include suspension or expulsion. 6. In order to maintain a professional atmosphere, please turn off cell phones and pagers when you are in class. (This means no texting while you are in the classroom.) In addition, do not listen to devices such as MP-3 players while you are in class. 7. ADA Compliance: Students who have special instructional needs because of a disability should discuss this as soon as possible with Trina Geye in the office of Disability Services (968-9400). Instructional accommodations cannot be made until official documentation of a disability is distributed to faculty members. Grading System Examination I………………………………………………..20% Examination II……………………………………………....20% Final Examination………………………………….............20% Daily Average/Professionalism.………………………........20% Response Paper ……………………………………………..10% Documented Writing Project…………………………........10% Note: If we are only able to have one examination and a final examination (due to time restrictions), the following Grading Scheme will be observed: Examination I………………………………………………...25% Final Examination…………………………………...............25% Daily Average/Professionalism.………………………..........25% Response Paper ……………………………………………...10% Documented Writing Project…………………………..........15% |