UPDATED NOV 16, 2020

 

 

New York City College of Technology

The City University of New York

ENG 2001: Introduction to Fiction

Fall 2020

 

 

Course: ENG2001, section O525

Day/Time: Mondays and Wednesdays 8:30 – 9:45 am

Instructor: Professor Sean Scanlan

Office: Namm 511

Online Office Hours: Mondays 2-3pm and Thursdays 11am-12; Zoom link TBA

Email: sscanlan@citytech.cuny.edu

Phone: 718-260-5123

Course Website: https://openlab.citytech.cuny.edu/profscanlan-english2001-fiction-f2020/

 

General Introduction to the Course:

From the City Tech Course Catalog: Analysis and critical understanding of selected fiction. Exams and essays based on readings. (Prerequisite: ENG 1101)

 

Specific introduction:

In this course we will explore three genres of short fiction: gothic fiction, modern fiction, and world fiction. This variety of fiction will enable us to ask questions about the role of storytelling in human identity, the ways stories can help us solve problems, and the power that different methods of storytelling have over readers.

 

Required Books: 

Students do not have to purchase a textbook for this class. All texts for this course will be posted to our OpenLab site. Students are responsible for carefully reading all assigned texts and taking notes on the assigned readings.

In order to help us improve college-level grammar and writing, we will use a free, online grammar guide called Purdue OWL, published by Purdue University. http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/

 

Other Materials: 

I encourage students to use a physical, paper notebook for taking notes in addition to typing notes on a digital device. This blend is encouraged, but it is up to each student to decide the best way to write, organize, and review notes. Students must devise a system to record, store, and organize the course materials. It is very important to save all work for this class. Devise a filing system that allows you to maintain homework and essay drafts,  final copies of all major assignments, and research notes, outlines, and written evaluations. In addition to keeping a copy of all your work on the hard drive of your computer, save all work on a stable format such as a flash drive or on a remote hard drive/server such as iCloud, Dropbox, or Google Docs. Never throw away or delete ANYTHING until after you have received your final grade. Computer malfunctions are bound to happen–do no let them harm your grade. Be proactive and always email any issues to me well in advance of due dates (if possible). This may be a challenging semester in terms of handling technology (and life) during a pandemic, but I want to set the tone by calling for open and generous communication.

 

Grading:

Virtual Coffeehouse  (participation) (6) = 25%  (300-word reflections/journals on bi-weekly questions and/or course readings)

Quizzes (3):                     15%   (based on readings)

Midterm Essay:            25%   (3-4 page critical comparison paper; this essay grade includes homework and peer reviews)

Final Essay:                     25%   (3-4 page critical analysis paper; this essay grade includes homework and peer reviews)

Final Exam:                     10%

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100%

 

IMPORTANT NOTES:

 

  1. Attendance: Please make an effort to attend every class and please join the Zoom on time. Do not join the Zoom and then leave to do other things. I will ask questions and expect responses. Attendance is tied to participation.

 

  1. Drafts and Typing: The two major essays will require organization, honesty, and clarity. The essays may require drafts. If you have word processing questions, please ask me. All City Tech students have access to Microsoft Word. You can also use Google Docs for free (https://docs.google.com/) or Open Office for free (www.openoffice.org/).

 

  1. UPDATED: Late Papers and homework:  ****Note: If you need to turn in any work this semester, no matter how late, please email me so we can set up a timeline for submission.  Two full letter grades (20 points) will be deducted for each day that an assignment is late. After three days, the assignment will be recorded as a “0.” 

 

  1. Homework Requirement:According to Federal eligibility requirements for a college or university in the US, 3 hours of in-class contact time require approximately 6 hours of homework, study, and/or preparation per week. This is a CUNY standard. And this requirement is also referred to as a Carnegie Unit.

 

[See: https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/credits.doc]

 

  1. College Policy on Academic Integrity: “Students who work with information, ideas, and texts owe their audience and sources accuracy and honesty in using, crediting, and citing sources. As a community of intellectual and professional workers, the College recognizes its responsibility for providing instruction in information literacy and academic integrity, offering models of good practice, and responding vigilantly and appropriately to infractions of academic integrity. Accordingly, academic dishonesty is prohibited in CUNY and at New York City College of Technology, and is punishable by penalties, including failing grades, suspension, and expulsion. The complete text of the College policy on Academic Integrity may be found in the catalog.”

Plagiarism is the act of presenting another person’s ideas, research or writings as your own. The following are some examples of plagiarism, but by no means is it an exhaustive list: • Copying another person’s actual words without the use of quotation marks and footnotes attributing the words to their source. • Presenting another person’s ideas or theories in your own words without acknowledging the source. • Using information that is not common knowledge without acknowledging the source. • Failing to acknowledge collaborators on homework and laboratory assignments.

 

  1. Be on time: tardiness disrupts the entire class. Come prepared: turn off/silence all electronic gadgets, please (see page 91 of the student handbook: “Prohibited: The use of cellular phones in academic and study areas of the college including but not limited to classrooms, libraries, laboratories, learning centers and auditoriums.”)

 

  1. The Atrium Learning Center: I encourage all students to take advantage of the writing tutors at the Learning Center. This is an excellent recourse for writers of all abilities. ATRIUM LEARNING CENTER: Atrium Building LG-18: https://www.citytech.cuny.edu/alc/writing.aspx

UPDATE: The English Department is running a new Writing Center. It is open for distance learning help concerning writing and                 literature. Students needing writing help should email CityTechWritingCenter@gmail.com, and they will receive a fast                                   response.

  1. Revision Policy: Revision Policy: students may revise the first major essay. The revision must be submitted, at the latest, two weeks before the end of the semester (Dec. 9). The overall grade for the essay will be the average of the original essay grade and the revised essay grade.

 

  1. Accessibility Statement: City Tech is committed to supporting the educational goals of enrolled students with disabilities in the areas of enrollment, academic advisement, tutoring, assistive technologies and testing accommodations. If you have or think you may have a disability, you may be eligible for reasonable accommodations or academic adjustments as provided under applicable federal, state and city laws. You may also request services for temporary conditions or medical issues under certain circumstances. If you have questions about your eligibility or would like to seek accommodation services or academic adjustments, please contact the Center for Student Accessibility at 300 Jay Street, L-237, 718 260 5143 or http://www.citytech.cuny.edu/accessibility/.