Ann Tippett, Assistant
Professor of English
Monroe Community College, Rochester, NY
Course
Information Sheet
English 105
Introduction to Literature
WR (Writing Intensive)
“Learning to value literature… makes us love and respect language because it allows us to smuggle out, and send one another, our urgent, eloquent dispatches from the prison of the self.”
Francine Prose
Course Description/Objectives: "Readings, discussions, and written responses about fiction, drama and poetry: focus is on selected persistent themes concerning human experience: for example, loss of innocence, death, conformity and rebellion." (MCC Catalog)
Welcome! I think the whole glory of reading literature lies in the fact that it forces us out of ourselves. I am nourished and challenged by reading and experiencing literature; it allows me to appreciate language and learn about people different than myself. It also helps me understand what it means to be human. I hope by the end of the course you will feel nourished and informed also. We’ll talk about ways to read and understand fiction, poetry and drama and then explore how a wide variety of authors deal with experiences that are common to all our lives.
Participation: This is an interactive class; by that I mean we are all here to learn from each other so the focus will be on discussion, not lecture. So, to do well in this class, you must keep up with the reading. You will be asked to respond to all readings, complete formal and informal writing assignments, work in small groups, lead discussions, prepare presentations for the rest of the class, watch and respond to videos, and maybe even play Jeopardy! Periodic quizzes will be given on the readings.
Journals:
Each of you will be keeping a response journal in which you will make
an entry for each work we read, record specific homework assignments and
take class notes. Bring it to every class You can use your journals for
all the quizzes and the mid-term. Your success in this class will be in
direct proportion to your effort in this journal as it also counts towards
your Class Participation grade.
Requirements/Evaluation:
| Midterm essay exam | 15
pts |
| Fiction paper | 10 pts |
| Final paper: anthology | 20 pts |
| Group project/presentation | 10 pts |
| (5) Quizzes/ (1) Poetry reading | 30 pts |
| Vets Memorial visit/study guide | 5 pts |
| Class participation/journal | 10
pts |
100 pts |
100 - 93 = A |
86 - 83 = B |
76 - 73 = C |
66 - 65 = D |
92 - 90 = A- |
82 - 80 = B- |
72 - 70= C- |
64 - 0 = F |
89 - 87 = B+ |
79 - 77 = C+ |
69 - 67 = D+ |