"To Hell and Back"Prof. Richard F. Johnson
"To Hell and Back"This course is a special-focus section of English 102, the second-sememster composition class here at Harper College. It will focus on texts which feature voyages to the underworld, apocalyptic visions of heaven and hell, among other infernal texts. As is the case with all English 102 sections, this class continues to build on many of the writing skills students developed in English 101. It is designed to consolidate those skills through the analysis in writing of poetry, drama, the short story, and the novel. Besides covering the basic elements of each genre, the course will also provide the opportunity for group discussion of the literature studied.
Students are urged to participate enthusiastically and consistently. Attendance is mandatory at all classes. You are allowed THREE absences during the term. Upon the fourth absence, five (5) points will be deducted from your semester total of points. For every absence after the fourth, five (5) additional points will be deducted. If you have five absences before mid-term, you should strongly consider dropping the course. A pattern of unexcused absences may result in failure of the course. Failure to complete assignments on time or to prepare for class will result in lowered grades. There will be no make-up assignments except in extreme cases.
All written assignments for each paper (drafts, final papers, and homework assignments) must be submitted in class on the dates they are due. Since students who turn in late drafts miss out on classwork crucial to the revision of papers, late drafts will result in a final grade of no better that a C for that paper. Furthermore, this grade will result only if the paper is completed by the next class meeting. Written comments from the instructor will not be given on late work.
Your final course grade will be based on the following criteria:
Performance: Attendance at every class meeting. Prompt arrival to class. Regular and active participation about the reading assignments and about the student's own work consistently at every class. Papers and homework handed in on time. Demonstration of engagement in the course and in the student's own personal writing development.
Product: Completion of formal paper for each unit demonstrating an understanding and application of the writing concepts and techniques introduced in the course.
Control of Process: Completion of in-class and home assignments of a quality demonstrating serious and reflective critical thought and attention. Includes whether the student experiments with pre-writing techniques; writes perceptive and thoughtful peer and self evaluations, and reading responses; understands the concept of revision and demonstrates this understanding by revising drafts substantially; resourcefully locates necessary documents for research, and demonstrates ability to synthesize and evaluate them; carefully edits and proofreads documents.
A student's final grade will be based roughly according to the following percentages:
| Assignment | Possible Points | Your Score |
|---|---|---|
| 4 4-page Position Papers (10 pts. each) | 40 | ____ |
| 5 Reading Quizzes | 25 | ____ |
| Critical Abstract and Oral Report | 20 | ____ |
| Four-Step Process | 5 | ____ |
| Thesis Paragraph | 5 | ____ |
| "Evidence from Primary Source" Workshop | 5 | ____ |
| "Evidence from Secondary Sources" Workshop | 5 | ____ |
| Rough Draft | 5 | ____ |
| Annotated Bibliography | 20 | ____ |
| Peer Review | 20 | ____ |
| Literary Research Paper | 50 | ____ |
| Total Points | 200 | ____ |
Final Grades are computed by letter, not numerical, grades according to the following equivalents: A= - 200 points; B= points; C= points; D= points; F= anything less than points.
Finally, your success in this class is important to me. If you have a disability and may require some accommodations or modification in procedures, class activity, instruction, requirements, etc., please contact me early in the semester so we can discuss and arrange for necessary accommodations and/or modifications with the Center for Students with Disabilities (Building D, Room 119, Extension 6266).
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There are a number of useful internet resources available to you, many of them right here at Harper. The following is a very eclectic, but by no means exhaustive, list of links I think you might find useful.
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