College Composition 2 Spring 2015, Burlington County College

Course Number: ENG 102-101

Hours: Wednesday/Friday, 11:00 a.m. 12:20 a.m.
Location: Acad. 119
Instructor: Mr. Christopher Hornyak
E-mail: chornyak@bcc.edu
Tumblr: http://thatwritinginstructor.tumblr.com/ (or http://chrishornyak.com)
Twitter: @cmhornyak
Office Hours: By appointment (usually before or after class)
-- Texts:
Robert DiYanni, Literature: Approaches To Fiction, Poetry, and Drama, McGraw Hill, 978-0-07-312445-2
-- Course Overview:
The purpose of English 102 is to enhance the students skills as a writer and as a critical thinker. The course
combines several teaching techniques: lecture, seminar, verbal communication, student collaboration, and testing. It
will incorporate the reading and discussion of fiction, poetry, and drama with written essays and informal oral
presentations. Essays will be based on class discussions and critical commentary, and most will be completed at
home. Upon completion of English 102, the student should be capable of expressing thoughts logically, clearly and
succinctly in writing. Successful students will effectively evaluate literature using various critical theories and the
stages of the writing process learned in English 101. Critical literary interpretation both oral and written will be
expected.
-- Course Objectives:

Demonstrate your ability to recognize and analyze the major elements of literature in fiction, poetry and
drama;
Write clear and coherent essays which analyze these literary elements;
Identify the methods used by authors, poets and playwrights to achieve their desired outcomes, while
evaluating these methods for effectiveness;
Demonstrate through written and oral response your ability to participate actively in the reading process by
asking and responding to questions; and
Present your interpretations to the class in an informative manner.

-- Class Policies
Attendance: Students must not only attend every class, but also be on time, be prepared (all reading and/or writing
assignments complete), and take an active part in class. Entering class late or leaving class early (without prior
notification) is considered disrespectful and will not be tolerated.
Students unable to attend class should notify the instructor by e-mail prior to or within 24 hours of the missed class.
As of the Fall 2014 semester, Burlington County Colleges attendance policy has changed. As of this semester, your
grade may be penalized due to attendance issues. If you have any questions, please see the appropriate pages in the
BCC Student Handbook.
Plagiarism and Cheating: Plagiarism will not be tolerated under any circumstances. Plagiarism includes copying or
paraphrasing anothers words, ideas, or facts without crediting the source; submitting a paper written by someone
else, either in whole or in part, as ones own work; or submitting work previously submitted for another course or
instructor. Academic honesty is taken very seriously in this course. Be advised of the automatic consequences for
plagiarism:
1.
2.
3.

You will receive a zero for the assignment. No exceptions. This grade cannot be changed.
You will potentially (at the instructors discretion) fail the course.
You will face possible suspension or expulsion from Burlington County College.

Please refer to the BCC Student Handbook for more information about plagiarism.
The instructor reserves the right to change the syllabus as needed.

As an additional note, please understand that ignorance is not an excuse. As a college student, you should
understand what plagiarism is.
Class Courtesies: Students are expected to remain attentive until the end of class. This means no wrapping up early
and/or leaving until the class is finished. (Once again, if you need to leave early, please let me know prior to class
begins). Also, please turn off all cell-phones and mobile devices and keep them out of sight during class.
Computer/laptop/tablet/etc. use is acceptable during class but only for class-designated activities.
Discipline and attitude problems will not be tolerated and offenders will be asked to leave the class without prior
warning. In addition, they may be subject to additional academic punishment.
Finally, please be respectful of your classmates and the viewpoints expressed during this course its entirely
possible to strongly disagree with someone elses stated position without making your reply an inappropriate
personal attack.
As a note: I do not tolerate homophobic, misogynistic, transphobic, ableist, or racist language in the classroom.
Making Up Assignments/Late Work: The syllabus in the class is quite detailed regarding due dates of
assignments, so there should never be an excuse for late work even in the case of absences. Late work is only
accepted in extreme, documented cases. Remember, a certain level of maturity is expected at the college level it is
up to you to remember when work is due and plan accordingly.
Note Partners: During the first day of class, all students are required to find at least two (but preferably more)
students in the class to act as note partners. Should a student be absent for any reason, contacting a note partner
allows them to catch up quickly on what they have missed. It is not the instructors responsibility to give you notes
for a missed class; please refer to your note partner with such questions.
A Note on E-mail: Please only use your BCC-assigned e-mail in this class. E-mail spam filters tend to be finicky, so
if you send an e-mail from another account I may not get it. Likewise, students are expected to routinely check their
BCC e-mail while they are enrolled in this class. I typically send grades, class updates, and other information via email.
Questions: Please feel free to ask questions! Ask your questions early and frequently it is always better to make
sure you understand something sooner rather than later. When not in class, please e-mail me your questions. College
policy dictates I must respond to all e-mails within 48 hours, however I try to respond much quicker than that.
-- Assignment Explanations
Essays: Students will complete a number of well-developed, coherent, and thoughtful expository essays during the
semester, in a variety of rhetorical modes. Essays must be at least five paragraphs, but not more than five pages. All
essays should be typed (in 12-point Times New Roman font), double-spaced, and e-mailed directly to the instructor.
Essays also must have an appropriate, original title (titling something Essay #1 is boring likewise, if your essay
title is longer than a Tweet, youre probably being a tad obnoxious). Every essay is expected to have a well-defined
introduction, body, and conclusion. In addition, every essay should have a clear, explicit, assertive, objectivelyworded thesis statement.
Reader Responses: Students are expected to submit regular reader responses during the course. Reader responses
are short (1 2 pages) reactions to a particular piece, chosen by the student. Responses shouldnt be plot summary
instead, they should be a reaction to a piece. By response, I mean not just I loved it, or I hated it, but also the
specifics to why you liked or disliked a certain reading. I also encourage students to connect readings to outside
media. Does a piece remind you of something? Why? Have you read or seen another piece of media that acts as a
response? Share it. While reading responses should be e-mailed to me, students should also bring a copy to class, as
they may be referred to during our daily discussions.
Research Paper: Students will be required to write a 1250 word comparative research essay on two of any of the
works discussed in this class. Students must reference both works equally and must also cite at least two critical
secondary sources (found through an online database). Appropriate MLA documentation is required, including intext citations and a works cited page.

The instructor reserves the right to change the syllabus as needed.

Research Presentation: Students are also required to complete a research presentation in this class. This is a
flexible assignment, so try not to panic! More information on this assignment can be found at the end of this
document.
-- Work Submission Guidelines
All work submitted in this class should be error free. You are expected to proofread for spelling, mechanics, and
grammar. I will mark down for these errors on all assignments, so please read and proofread often. All papers must
be typed (in 12-point Times New Roman font), titled, double-spaced, and given page numbers.
All papers (and other work) must be submitted to me by e-mail before class on the date that they are due. I do not
accept print copies of papers. Documents must be submitted in Microsoft Word-friendly formats (.doc, .rtf, .docx). If
you use a Mac, understand that I cannot read .pages documents, and so I will not accept them.
For my convenience and yours, please submit e-mails to me with your name in the subject line along with the name
of the assignment. So, for example, if David Tennant was submitting his narrative essay to me, his subject line
would look like this: David Tennant (Narrative Essay). Likewise, please follow the same formatting for file names.
After receiving an assignment, I will always reply within 24 48 hours. If you do not receive a reply, then I
probably have not received your document. It is your responsibility to make sure I receive your papers on time.
-- Grades
Assignment grades will be determined as follows:
Final
Percentage
90 - 100
87 - 89
80 - 86
77 - 79
70 - 76
60 69
59 or below

Final Grade
A
B+
B
C+
C
D
F

The standards for the above numerical/letter grades are as follows:

A: Meeting course goals by demonstrating perceptive understanding of readings and course concepts;
excellence and originality in compositions; superior scores on exams and other assigned work; active
participation in class discussion and small groups; and compliance with attendance and assignment
requirements.
B: Meeting course goals by demonstrating mastery of subject and concepts; above average quality in
compositions and exams; good participation in class and small groups; and compliance with attendance and
assignment requirements.
C: Meeting course goals by demonstrating a satisfactory level of understanding of subject material and
concepts; acceptable quality in compositions and exams; adequate participation in class and small groups;
and compliance with attendance and assignment requirements.
D: Not meeting all of the course goals; minimal knowledge of subject material and concepts; marginal quality
in compositions (poor quality of development, support, or grammar); poor performance in exams; passivity
in class and small groups; non-compliance with attendance and assignment requirements.
F: Not meeting course goals; unsatisfactory progress in understanding and applying subject material and
concepts; incomplete or unacceptable work in compositions (gross grammatical, developmental, and
structural errors); failure of exams; non-compliance of attendance and assignment requirements.

The instructor reserves the right to change the syllabus as needed.

Grading Percentage Breakdown:

Narrative Paper
Participation
Short Story Paper
Choice Assignment
Reading Responses + Quizzes
Final Project/Presentation
Final Paper

10%
10%
10%
10%
20%
10%
30%

-- Assignment Schedule and Guidelines for Spring 2015

Homework readings and assignments are due the day they are listed. Work that is received after that point
will be marked late and graded accordingly. Lateness penalties increase with time. Turn in work promptly
to avoid a sharply reduced grade. There is a chance that I will not accept late work.
Be prepared to discuss readings, especially essays, short stories, and poems. That means not just reading
them, but giving yourself enough time to think about such topics as what meanings might be gained from
the reading, why that particular piece was chosen in the first place, how it connects to what youve learned
so far, and more. Remember, participation is a significant part of your grade, so dont hesitate to speak up!
Written homework should always be typed.
Please make sure your name is on all of the work you e-mail to me.
Pace yourself! A lot of the reading isnt nearly as scary as it might look at first most readings are quite
short. If you pace yourself and do a little bit of reading each night, you should get everything done just fine.

Date:

Class stuff:

Week 1

1/16

Syllabus, Introduce Narrative

Essay, Citation

Week 2

1/21

Discussion, Short Story Intro,

Group Activity, Potential
Quiz

Gilman's The Yellow

Wallpaper (379)

Discussion, Group Activity,

Potential Quiz

John Updike's A&P (32)

Week 2

1/23

Due:

Citation (1521)

Critical Thinking (1-23)

Reading Response

Week 3

1/28

Discussion, Group Activity,

Potential Quiz

Poe's The Cask Of

Amontillado (144)
Plot (49)

Week 3

1/30

Paper Readings

NARRATIVE PAPER
DUE

Week 4

2/4

Discussion, Group Activity,

Potential Quiz, Introduce
Short Story Paper

Borges' The Garden Of

Forking Paths (263)

Discussion, Group Activity,

Potential Quiz

Hawthorne's Young
Goodman Browne (391)

Week 4

2/6

Point of View (77)

The instructor reserves the right to change the syllabus as needed.

Theme (90)
Reading Response
Week 5

2/11

Discussion, Group Activity,

Potential Quiz

Borges' The Gospel

According To Mark
Symbolism (97)

Week 5

2/13

Discussion, Group Activity,

Potential Quiz

Joyce's Araby (86)

Irony (97)
Reading Response

*Week 6

2/17

Discussion, Lecture, Potential

Quiz, Intro to Lenses

Intro to Lit Theory,

Critical Lenses

*Week 6

2/20

Discussion, Lecture, Potential

Quiz

Humes Of the Standard

of Taste
Barthes Death of the
Author

*Week 7

2/25

Discussion, Lecture, Potential

Quiz

Mulveys Visual Pleasure

and Narrative Cinema
Reading Response

Week 7

2/27

Peer Review / Workshop

Bring a draft of your short

story paper to class!

Week 8

3/4

Discussion, Group Activity,

Potential Quiz, Choice Paper
Discussion,

SHORT STORY
PAPER DUE
Read A Raisin in the Sun
(Act 1)

Week 8

3/6

Discussion, Group Activity,

Potential Quiz

Read A Raisin in the Sun

(Act 2)

Week 9

3/11

Discussion, Group Activity,

Potential Quiz

Read A Raisin in the Sun

(Act 3)
Reading Response

Week 9

3/13

Discussion, Group Activity,

Potential Quiz

Samuel Taylor
Coleridges Kubla Khan

Week 10

3/18

NO CLASS

NO CLASS

Week 10

3/20

NO CLASS

NO CLASS

Week 11

3/25

Discussion, Group Activity,

Potential Quiz, Final Paper
Discussion

Wordworths The World

is Too Much For Us

The instructor reserves the right to change the syllabus as needed.

Elizabeth Barrett
Brownings How Do I
Love Thee
Week 11

3/27

Discussion, Group Activity,

Potential Quiz

Hughes Theme for

English B
Reading Response

Week 12

4/1

Discussion, Group Activity,

Potential Quiz

Dickinsons I Heard a Fly

Buzz When I Died
Dickinsons I Felt a
Funeral in my Brain

Week 12

4/3

NO CLASS

NO CLASS

Week 13

4/8

Discussion, Group Activity,

Potential Quiz

Edna St. Vincent Millays

I Being Born A Woman &
Distressed
e. e. cummings Seven
Poems

Week 13

4/10

Discussion, Group Activity,

Potential Quiz

Elizabeth Bishops One

Art
Reading Response

Week 14

4/15

Meetings

Week 14

4/17

Meetings

Week 15

4/22

Presentation

Week 15

4/24

Presentation

Week 16

4/29

Peer Review

Week 16

5/1

Last Class/Potential Final

CHOICE
ASSIGNMENT DUE

Digital/Trad.
Presentations Due

FINAL PAPER DUE

The instructor reserves the right to change the syllabus as needed.

-- Research Presentation (Additional Guidelines)

In addition to the research paper, you are required to create a research presentation. The research presentation
will involve you picking a critical lens (a literary theory) and explaining it (to the best of your ability) to the class.
You will have your chance to pick a theory in class during week 6.
You will also have to choose between doing a digital presentation or a traditional presentation. Confused? Keep
reading
NOTE: YOU MUST TELL ME WHAT TYPE OF PRESENTATION YOU ARE DOING WHEN YOU PICK
YOUR TOPIC.

Traditional presentation:
o Traditional presentations are 6 8 minutes long.
o For this assignment, I want you to teach the class about your topic. In addition, you will also be
required to have a handout for each student that outlines the details of your presentation.
In order to get an A, your presentation must be between 6 8 minutes long. If you go
over (or under) this target, you will lose points.
It is okay to use PowerPoint, Presi, YouTube, Wordpress, etc. just let me know
beforehand so I can make sure our class has the relevant technology in order for your
presentation to go smoothly.
You may or may not be expected to field questions about your topic.
Your performance will be judged by your fellow students (in addition to the instructor).
Your handout should have a brief overview of your presentation. It should not, however,
be a copy of your PowerPoint slides (if you are using PowerPoint), nor should it be a
copy of your essay.
Your handout should have your name on it, your topic on it, and your thesis.
Digital presentation:
o Students that decide to do a digital presentation will be required to create a Tumblr page that gives
an overview of the specific literary theory they have chosen. If you choose to present digitally,
you will not be required to give a presentation to the rest of the class. With that said, you
should expect your colleagues to see your work, as your page will be shared with the rest of the
class. See below for more info.
Every week you will be required to repost (reblog) at least one article on your page. Your
repost should be relevant to your project somehow.
You will be required to post TWO specific content posts during the semester:
Theory Introduction
o Summarize it!
Who Digs It?
o Tell me some names that are associated with that theory.
Youll notice the above is vague that is intentional. You are expected to be creative
with this assignment. Use whatever pieces of internet content you can get your hands on
in order to make your point: memes, YouTube clips, songs, music videos, song lyrics,
links to other sites, Twitter, Instagram, etc.
Keep in mind that you can always add more than Ive asked for. These requirements are
the minimum, not the maximum.

Additional Notes

Once you decide on a presentation type, you are stuck in that format.
In both cases, your fellow colleagues opinion of your work will have an impact on your grade.
Keep in mind that you are expected to know how to use any technology that you decide to use: this
includes Tumblr. It is not my responsibility to teach you how to use the Internet, Tumblr, Word, etc. that
is on you.
The instructor reserves the right to change the syllabus as needed.