ENG 102: English Composition II

Term Length: Spring 2013 Location and Meeting Times: 12:18 and 1:11-1:54, Room 318 Instructor: Mr. Timothy McNerney Instructors Contact Information: English Office #: 620-3841, Email: mrmcnerney@gmail.com Office Hours (Extra Help Hours): 12:23-1:06 or by appointment Required Textbooks: The Theory Toolbox, Nealon and Giroux Ways of Reading: An Anthology for Writers, Bartholomae and Petrosky Signs of Life in the U.S.A., Maasik and Solomon Critical Terms for Literary Study, Lentricchia and McLaughlin The Handmaids Tale by Margaret Atwood 1984 by George Orwell Memento (film) The Royal Tenenbaums (film) Fight Club (film) The Breakfast Club (film) V for Vendetta (film) Crash (film) Selected handouts

Selected video clips

Course Description English Composition II builds upon and deepens the objectives of English Composition I. Students study selections from various forms of imaginative literature by culturally, ethnically and racially diverse writers in order to develop perception and critical insight and to exercise these skills in writing assignments. As a continuation of the study of the composing process begun in English Composition I, English Composition II is a further attempt to improve the writing ability of students so that they can become, for personal and professional uses, clear communicators. Again, as in English 101, critical thinking is encouraged in responding both to texts and ideas. In this course, we will be exploring the meaning of reading. We will examine how we read text, film, and also the world around us. As part of our study of the reading process, we will be considering how meaning is created, how our position in society affects the way we read, and how societal beliefs shape our reading. As we deal with challenging texts and explore different ways of reading, you will function as an active and critical reader and thinker. Competencies To Be Learned Students will continue to develop and refine and supplement those writing competencies begun in English Composition I, learning: 1. to write essays which are comprehensive in treatment and/or original in approach. 2. to use quotation and textual references in writing about literary texts, while avoiding unnecessary summary. 3. to write essays which are unified and well-organized (i.e. no paragraph or idea is unrelated or misplaced). 4. to deal successfully with the complexities of interpretive, analytical and research assignments. 5. to explore and develop appropriate voice and tone in writing. 6. to develop sentence patterns which are correct, fluent and varied. 7. to use a rich, precise and economical vocabulary. 8. to write essays which are free of numerous mechanical errors. Method by which grades will be determined: Formal papers- 50%

Response papers and in-class essays- 30% Informal writing, preparation, class participation- 20%

Grade Scale Grade Scale 93-100 89-93 85-89 83-85 89-83 Grade Conversion A AB+ B BGrade Scale 75-79 73-75 69-73 65-69 Grade < 65 Grade Conversion C+ C CD F

Attendance Policy: A maximum of 6 absences will be allowed for a half year course. 2 points will be deducted from your final grade for every absence above 6.

Academic Dishonesty Academic dishonesty is a serious offense and will not be tolerated. DO NOT DO IT. Below is the policy for academic dishonesty as per the SUNY Rockland student handbook: 1. Academic Dishonesty includes, but is not limited to the following: a. Cheating on examinations. b. Plagiarism, i.e.: the use of words or ideas of others, whether borrowed, purchased or otherwise obtained, without crediting the source. c. Submitting work previously presented in another course. d. Willingly collaborating with others in any of the above actions which result(s) in work being submitted which is not the students own. e. Stealing examinations, falsifying academic records and other such offenses. 2. If the instructor deems that a student is guilty of cheating or plagiarism, the instructor may initiate disciplinary action through the Dean of Students, and/ or may: a. Require that the student repeat the assignment or the examination. b. Give the student a failing grade for the assignment or examination. c. Give the student a failing grade in the course and deny the student continued access to the class. d. The instructor should advise the Dean of Students, in writing, of any of these actions. 3. If the student wishes to appeal the above decision, he/ she may request in writing a hearing before a Hearing Committee. Curriculum Map / Timeline (Note: Course content and assignment due dates subject to change) Week/Dat e 1 1/28-2/1 Topic Unit 1: Representation Review syllabus - due 1/29 Charades and Pictionary Clip from When Harry Met Sally Fish- Is There a Text?- due 1/30 Duck Amuck Read Chapter 1 of The Theory Toolbox- due 2/1

 2 2/4-2/8 3 2/11-2/15 6 3/4-3/8

Discussion of Chapter 1 of The Theory Toolbox Read Representation by W.J.T. Mitchell in Critical Terms for Literary Study due 2/5 Introduction to Semiotics The parable of the six blind men and the elephant Read Chapter 2 of The Theory Toolbox- due 2/6 Thinking Paper #1- semiotic reading of an advertisementdue 2/8 Discussion of Chapter 2 of the Theory Toolbox Read The Death of the Author by Roland Bartheshandout- due 2/11 Discussion of The Death of the Author Read Daddy by Sylvia Plath- author/authority activity Read Chapter 3 of The Theory Toolbox- due 2/14 Clip from Northern Exposure View Memento Read Memento Mori by Jonathan Nolan Thinking Paper #2- How do the signs we live by define our purpose in life?- due 2/22 Introduction of Formal Paper #1- Choose a text (short story, film, TV show etc.) and analyze how meaning is constructed based on our discussions in this unit. View Seinfeld episode- journal assignment Discussion of the Seinfeld episode Read and discuss Chapter 4 of The Theory Toolbox- due 3/1 Bridging the gap: the connection between representation and subjectivity

4 2/18-2/22

5 2/25-3/1

Unit 2: Subjectivity Self-reflection concerning subjectivity and discussion Read The Story of an Hour by Kate Chopin Discussion of The Story of an Hour Read Seinfeld, Subjectivity and Sartre by Jennifer McMahon- handout- due 3/6 View an episode of Seinfeld Read and discuss Chapter 10 of The Theory Toolbox- due 3/8

 7 3/11-3/15

Formal Paper #1 due 3/11 The Handmaids Tale Reading Comprehension Exam Discussion of The Handmaids Tale by Margaret Atwood Unit 1 Reflection Paper due 3/13 Continue discussion of The Handmaids Tale by Margaret Atwood Thinking Paper #3: Discuss the role of subjectivity in the novel. What is the protagonists role in her society? What beliefs/ideas of her society led her to occupy this position?due 3/21 Read American Dreams by Kevin Jennings in Signs of Life in the U.S.A- due 3/22 Read and discuss A Rose for Emily by William Faulknerdue 4/2 Journal entry on A Rose for Emily due 4/3 Revisiting Barbie Doll and On the Subway- discussion of subjectivity in the two poems Thinking Paper #4: What version of the American Dream do you see yourself pursuing? What forces do contribute to your version of the dream?- due 4/5 Read and discuss The Semiotics of Home Dcor by Joan Kron in Signs of Life in the U.S.A. -due 4/8 View Fight Club Thinking Paper #5: Subjectivity in Fight Club- due 4/15 Read Say Yes by Tobias Wolff- handout- due 4/15 Journal entry on Say Yes-Who is right and why?- due 4/15 View The Royal Tenenbaums Thinking Paper #6: How do you read one or more of these characters in the film? Think specifically about their interrelationships and their sense of self. Why do they behave the way they do? How do they view themselves and others? How did their sense of self develop, and how does it shape their lives?- due 4/22 Discussion of subjectivity Introduce Formal Paper #2 Read and discuss Chapter 6 of The Theory Toolbox- due 4/23

8 3/18-3/22

9 4/2-4/5

10 4/8-4/12

11 4/15-4/19

12 4/22-4/26

 13 4/29-5/3

Discussion of the works in this unit in terms of ideology Read and discuss Pantopticism by Michel Foucault in Ways of Reading due 4/26

Unit 3: Ideology 1984 by George Orwell Formal Paper #2 due on 5/2 Read and discuss Ideology by James H. Kavanagh in Critical Terms for Literary Study - due 5/6 View V for Vendetta Excerpts from the graphic novel V for Vendetta by Alan Moore Unit 2 Reflection Paper due 5/7 Thinking Paper #7: Comparison of the ideologies present in 1984 and V for Vendetta and the effect of the ideology on the citizens in each work. - due 5/13 View The Breakfast Club Thinking Paper #8: Explore the ideology of high schoolchoose your high school or the high school in the film - due 5/20 Exploring the ideology of Disney Watch clips from Disney films Read and discuss Disney World: Public Use/Private State by Susan Willis in Signs of Life in the U.S.A.- due 5/20 Read and discuss Once Upon a Time Beyond Disneyhandout due 5/24 Selected Disney readings To Be Determined Thinking Paper #9: Choose Disney films, reality television, or another genre of your choice and explore the dominating ideologies. due 5/31 Introduce Formal Paper #3 Explore the ideologies at work in the creation as well as the content of the film Crash or explore the role of ideology in a topic of your choosing View Crash Read and discuss In Living Color: Race and American Culture in Signs of Life in the U.S.A.- due 6/8

14 5/6-5/10

15 5/13-5/17

16 5/20-5/24

17 5/28-6/31

18 6/3-6/7

19 6/10-6/11

Formal Paper #3 due 6/10 Unit 3 Reflection Paper due 6/11