Course Syllabus

Course Information
LIT 3304-081
Summer 2006
Office: JO 4.114
T-TH 9:00 am –12
Office Hours: 12:15 to 1:15 T-Th and by appt.

Professor Contact Information

Jamie Wheeler
Email: jwheel@utdallas.edu (Prefer Email)
Phone: 214.405.7563
Office: JO 4.114
T-TH 9:00 am -12pm

Course Pre-requisites, Co-requisites, and/or Other Restrictions

RHET 1302

Course Description

Advanced Composition aims to further student’s critical reading, writing and thinking
skills by emphasizing rhetorical strategies at all stages of the writing process. The heart
of this course is, of course, writing. But you will notice that there are many literary texts
included on your required reading list. The reason is that good writers are, almost
without exception, good readers. Therefore, every week we will be engaging in both the
reading and writing process. The writing process will also include re-establishing a firm
groundwork in the elements of style: proper grammar, sentence construction, and
overall “flow.”

Class sessions will include lecture, discussion, workshops, peer groups and
conferences, all which emphasize reading and writing as learning tools and means of
expression. By the end of this course, you will have compiled a writing portfolio that
represents your work in this class.

Student Learning Objectives/Outcomes

With each act of reading and writing, you will be engaging in a dialogue with the authors
as well as with students in our class. By careful examination of the texts we study,

Course Syllabus Page 1

(novels, essays, and style books), we will determine how different elements of the writing
process function together to create memorable, powerful writing.

Required Textbooks and Materials

Nabakov, Vladimir. Lectures on Literature. San Diego: Hartcourt, 1980.

Stevenson, Robert Louis. The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (Dover Edition)
Kafka, Franz. The Metamorphosis (Dover Edition)
Austen, Jane. Mansfield Park (Dover Edition)
Flaubert, Gustav. Madame Bovary (Dover Edition)
Lamott, Anne. Bird-by-Bird. New York: Anchor, 1995.
Strunk and White. Elements of Style Illustrated. New York: Penguin Press, 2005.

Suggested Course Materials

MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers, Sixth Edition

Assignments & Academic Calendar

ASSIGNMENTS:

During the course of the semester, you will write TWO (2) full-length essays (5-7 pgs)
and FOUR (4) one-page summary response papers. Below you will find general
guidelines for each of the major assignments. We will discuss these in more detail in
class.

Summary/Response Papers: These assignments are designed to prepare you for our
class discussions of the readings for this course, to encourage you to use writing to
explore your own responses to and ideas about the material contained in those
readings, and to hone your skills of summary, paraphrase, and synthesis. These short
papers should be NO MORE THAN ONE PAGE, should always be typed, and should be
brought to class on the day we discuss the assigned readings. You will read these short
papers aloud in class as a means of generating discussion of the readings. Do not
expect that you will have grasped everything – in fact, to try to capture a reading’s every
point and nuance is impossible in this assignment. Instead, you should work toward
summarizing the argument as a whole and reflecting on its merits as a literary work.

The first half of your summary/response should be, as the title of the assignment
suggests, a summary of the author’s argument. The second half should demonstrate
your understanding of the material, extensions and applications of the material beyond
the text, and/or your questions about particular points made by the text.

Course Syllabus Page 2

Grammar Tests: Good writers must know the rules of the road and we could all benefit
from a refresher course on writing skills. Therefore, four tests based on your mastery of
the English language will compose a portion of your grade.

Essays: For each of the two major essays, several prompts will be given to you prior to
the assignments. You will choose ONE prompt for your papers.

ACADEMIC CALENDAR

WEEK ONE

Tues 5/30 Introduction to course/Ice-Breakers/In-class writing

Homework: Nabokov on Stevenson 179-207; Stevenson, 3-112

Thurs 6/1 Discuss readings, Grammar Lecture, and Essay 1

Homework: Stevenson, 113-262

WEEK TWO

Tues 6/6 Discuss readings and Essay One

Homework: Read Lamott, Intro to 28, Strunk & White, I

Thurs 6/8 Grammar Test 1

Summary/Response Paper One Due
Discuss readings; Workshop on Essay One
Homework: Finish writing Essay One- Bring 4 copies to class on
Tuesday.

WEEK THREE

Tues 6/13 First draft of Essay #1 Due

Draft Exchange and Peer Review
Homework: Nabokov on Kafka, 251-284; Kafka, “Metamorphosis” 5-52;
Lamott, 33-39, 80-84, 93-95; Strunk and White II

Thurs 6/15 Summary/Response Paper #2 Due

Discussion of reading
Homework: Nabokov on Austen, 9-63; Austen, Ch 1-20.

Course Syllabus Page 3

WEEK FOUR

Tues 6/20 Discussion of Reading

Homework: Austen, Ch 21- 57; Lamott 96-102, 110-130, Strunk &
White, II & III

Thurs 6/22 Summary/Response Paper #3 due

Grammar Test 2
Discussion of Reading
Homework: Nabokov on Flaubert, 124-178; Flaubert, Parts 1 &2

WEEK FIVE

Tues 6/27 Discussion of Reading

Homework: Flaubert, Part 3; Lamott, 132-171, Strunk & White, IV

Thurs 6/29 Summary Response Paper #4 due

Grammar Test 3
Workshop on Essay 2
Homework: First Draft of Essay #2 Due on Thursday- Bring 4 copies to
class.

WEEK SIX

Tues 7/ 4 Relax! It’s a Holiday!!! (Don’t forget to bring your drafts on Thurs!)

Thurs 7/6 First Draft of Essay 2 Due/Peer Review

Homework: Lamott, 195-207; Strunk and White, V

WEEK SEVEN

Tues 7/11 Grammar Test 4

Conferences/Completion of work on Portfolio

Thurs 7/13 Conferences/Completion of work on Portfolio

Those who are satisfied with their portfolio may turn them in today.

WEEK EIGHT

Tues 7/18 Portfolios due

Course Syllabus Page 4

Grading Policy

Portfolio: 40 %
(2 REVISED essays and 2 REVISED summary/response papers
and an introductory letter to your portfolio)

Participation: 40%
(includes attendance, class discussions, turning in work on
time, and peer review)

Grammar Tests: 20% (4 tests, 5% each)

Course & Instructor Policies

Attendance: Because our time is already limited by the summer session in this course,
you should expect to attend every class. There is no way to make up class work, and
your consistent and substantial contributions to our in-class activities is vital to the
success of this course for every student. Expect your final grade in this course to drop
one letter grade for every absence past one. Also, 2 tardies equates to one absence.

Portfolios: Drafts of your papers will not be considered FINAL until the end of the
course. You will not receive individual grades on the written work you turn in this class.
Instead, you will revise both of the essays you compose and two (2) of the four
summary/response papers to revise into final versions. These will be placed in a
portfolio that is to be turned in on the final day of class. This does not mean, however,
that you will not turn in all written work. All work must be turned in on time in order to
receive credit. I do NOT accept late work. Also, all work MUST BE COMPLETED in
order to receive a passing grade in this course. You will receive extensive feedback
from both me and your classmates on your work. While portfolio grading makes it
impossible for me to calculate a numerical grade during the course of the 8 week
session, you should view it as an opportunity to continuously improve your work in this
class.

Peer Reviews/Workshops: Peer review in this class will take place in peer review
groups. You will be assigned to these groups directly before each peer review session.
These groups will meet OUTSIDE of class in group conferences (about an hour long),
and the peer review will be conducted during these conferences, for which I am present.
You will exchange rough drafts with your group members at the class meeting BEFORE
the scheduled conferences. So it is EXTREMELY important that you have your rough
draft on the due date. Failure to bring a draft will count as an absence and will result in
the substantial loss of participation points.

Course Syllabus Page 5

Your peer review of a classmate's paper will be a graded exercise. If you are not in
class for a peer review, you may NOT make it up for credit, though I strongly urge you to
have someone read your papers before turning them in. You will be responsible for
reading and critiquing each of your group member's papers BEFORE you come to your
conference. You will present your review to each of your group members during the
conference. I will evaluate your review during the conference; thus, careful preparation
is a must.

Participation in these peer reviews is vital to your success in this class. Not attending a
peer review workshop or a draft exchange hurts you in numerous ways: you will not
have the benefit of someone else reading over your paper before turning it in; you will
not receive the participation points for the peer review workshop; you will not get the
benefit of reading how your classmates have responded to the assignment. I will not
comment on your paper if you do not attend your peer review group session.

Field Trip Policies

Student Conduct & Discipline

The University of Texas System and The University of Texas at Dallas have rules and regulations
for the orderly and efficient conduct of their business. It is the responsibility of each student and
each student organization to be knowledgeable about the rules and regulations which govern
student conduct and activities. General information on student conduct and discipline is contained
in the UTD publication, A to Z Guide, which is provided to all registered students each academic
year.

The University of Texas at Dallas administers student discipline within the procedures of
recognized and established due process. Procedures are defined and described in the Rules and
Regulations, Board of Regents, The University of Texas System, Part 1, Chapter VI, Section 3, and
in Title V, Rules on Student Services and Activities of the university’s Handbook of Operating
Procedures. Copies of these rules and regulations are available to students in the Office of the
Dean of Students, where staff members are available to assist students in interpreting the rules and
regulations (SU 1.602, 972/883-6391).

A student at the university neither loses the rights nor escapes the responsibilities of citizenship.
He or she is expected to obey federal, state, and local laws as well as the Regents’ Rules,
university regulations, and administrative rules. Students are subject to discipline for violating the
standards of conduct whether such conduct takes place on or off campus, or whether civil or
criminal penalties are also imposed for such conduct.

Academic Integrity

The faculty expects from its students a high level of responsibility and academic honesty. Because
the value of an academic degree depends upon the absolute integrity of the work done by the
student for that degree, it is imperative that a student demonstrate a high standard of individual
honor in his or her scholastic work.

Scholastic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, statements, acts or omissions related to
applications for enrollment or the award of a degree, and/or the submission as one’s own work or

Course Syllabus Page 6

 material that is not one’s own. As a general rule, scholastic dishonesty involves one of the
following acts: cheating, plagiarism, collusion and/or falsifying academic records. Students
suspected of academic dishonesty are subject to disciplinary proceedings.

Plagiarism, especially from the web, from portions of papers for other classes, and from any other
source is unacceptable and will be dealt with under the university’s policy on plagiarism (see
general catalog for details). This course will use the resources of turnitin.com, which searches the
web for possible plagiarism and is over 90% effective.

Email Use

The University of Texas at Dallas recognizes the value and efficiency of communication between
faculty/staff and students through electronic mail. At the same time, email raises some issues
concerning security and the identity of each individual in an email exchange. The university
encourages all official student email correspondence be sent only to a student’s U.T. Dallas email
address and that faculty and staff consider email from students official only if it originates from a
UTD student account. This allows the university to maintain a high degree of confidence in the
identity of all individual corresponding and the security of the transmitted information. UTD
furnishes each student with a free email account that is to be used in all communication with
university personnel. The Department of Information Resources at U.T. Dallas provides a method
for students to have their U.T. Dallas mail forwarded to other accounts.

Withdrawal from Class

The administration of this institution has set deadlines for withdrawal of any college-level courses.
These dates and times are published in that semester's course catalog. Administration procedures
must be followed. It is the student's responsibility to handle withdrawal requirements from any
class. In other words, I cannot drop or withdraw any student. You must do the proper paperwork
to ensure that you will not receive a final grade of "F" in a course if you choose not to attend the
class once you are enrolled.

Student Grievance Procedures

Procedures for student grievances are found in Title V, Rules on Student Services and Activities,
of the university’s Handbook of Operating Procedures.

In attempting to resolve any student grievance regarding grades, evaluations, or other fulfillments
of academic responsibility, it is the obligation of the student first to make a serious effort to
resolve the matter with the instructor, supervisor, administrator, or committee with whom the
grievance originates (hereafter called “the respondent”). Individual faculty members retain
primary responsibility for assigning grades and evaluations. If the matter cannot be resolved at
that level, the grievance must be submitted in writing to the respondent with a copy of the
respondent’s School Dean. If the matter is not resolved by the written response provided by the
respondent, the student may submit a written appeal to the School Dean. If the grievance is not
resolved by the School Dean’s decision, the student may make a written appeal to the Dean of
Graduate or Undergraduate Education, and the deal will appoint and convene an Academic
Appeals Panel. The decision of the Academic Appeals Panel is final. The results of the academic
appeals process will be distributed to all involved parties.

Copies of these rules and regulations are available to students in the Office of the Dean of
Students, where staff members are available to assist students in interpreting the rules and
regulations.

Incomplete Grade Policy

Course Syllabus Page 7

 As per university policy, incomplete grades will be granted only for work unavoidably missed at
the semester’s end and only if 70% of the course work has been completed. An incomplete grade
must be resolved within eight (8) weeks from the first day of the subsequent long semester. If the
required work to complete the course and to remove the incomplete grade is not submitted by the
specified deadline, the incomplete grade is changed automatically to a grade of F.

Disability Services

The goal of Disability Services is to provide students with disabilities educational opportunities
equal to those of their non-disabled peers. Disability Services is located in room 1.610 in the
Student Union. Office hours are Monday and Thursday, 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.; Tuesday and
Wednesday, 8:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.; and Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

The contact information for the Office of Disability Services is:

The University of Texas at Dallas, SU 22
PO Box 830688
Richardson, Texas 75083-0688
(972) 883-2098 (voice or TTY)

Essentially, the law requires that colleges and universities make those reasonable adjustments
necessary to eliminate discrimination on the basis of disability. For example, it may be necessary
to remove classroom prohibitions against tape recorders or animals (in the case of dog guides) for
students who are blind. Occasionally an assignment requirement may be substituted (for example,
a research paper versus an oral presentation for a student who is hearing impaired). Classes
enrolled students with mobility impairments may have to be rescheduled in accessible facilities.
The college or university may need to provide special services such as registration, note-taking, or
mobility assistance.

It is the student’s responsibility to notify his or her professors of the need for such an
accommodation. Disability Services provides students with letters to present to faculty members
to verify that the student has a disability and needs accommodations. Individuals requiring special
accommodation should contact the professor after class or during office hours.

Religious Holy Days

The University of Texas at Dallas will excuse a student from class or other required activities for
the travel to and observance of a religious holy day for a religion whose places of worship are
exempt from property tax under Section 11.20, Tax Code, Texas Code Annotated.

The student is encouraged to notify the instructor or activity sponsor as soon as possible regarding
the absence, preferably in advance of the assignment. The student, so excused, will be allowed to
take the exam or complete the assignment within a reasonable time after the absence: a period
equal to the length of the absence, up to a maximum of one week. A student who notifies the
instructor and completes any missed exam or assignment may not be penalized for the absence. A
student who fails to complete the exam or assignment within the prescribed period may receive a
failing grade for that exam or assignment.

If a student or an instructor disagrees about the nature of the absence [i.e., for the purpose of
observing a religious holy day] or if there is similar disagreement about whether the student has
been given a reasonable time to complete any missed assignments or examinations, either the
student or the instructor may request a ruling from the chief executive officer of the institution, or
his or her designee. The chief executive officer or designee must take into account the legislative
intent of TEC 51.911(b), and the student and instructor will abide by the decision of the chief
executive officer or designee.

Course Syllabus Page 8

Off-Campus Instruction and Course Activities

Off-campus, out-of-state, and foreign instruction and activities are subject to state law and
University policies and procedures regarding travel and risk-related activities. Information
regarding these rules and regulations may be found at the website address given below.
Additional information is available from the office of the school dean.
(http://www.utdallas.edu/Business Affairs/Travel_Risk_Activities.htm)

These descriptions and timelines are subject to change at the discretion of the Professor.

Course Syllabus Page 9