English 1301: Composition and Rhetoric I - Van Piercy's Blog

Fall 2010 LSC-Tomball--English, Education, and Mathematics Division Van Piercy
and cultural mysteries through close reading, class discussion, oral reports, and written analyses. 4) Ask what literary
techniques astonish us, making a story stand out among others in its subgenre.
By the end of the semester, you will be able to
Trace, interpret, and evaluate the cultural and literary development, and relations between, the subgenres of
“gothic,” “horror,” and “ghost” fiction, both in form and content, from the late 18 th century through to the present.
Interpret and evaluate a literary work through understanding its theme, situation, tone, structure, and style.
Recognize the aesthetic, moral, and intellectual values of the literature by applying and comparing relevant
cultural contexts.
Recognize some of the major themes of the literature.
Understand the distinguishing characteristics of various subgenres of “gothic,” “horror,” and “ghost” fiction.
Analyze texts logically in the context of writers’ diverse cultural backgrounds, values, and intertextual
relationships.
Write logical, well-organized, well-supported critical responses to literary works and show show a familiarity with
important scholarly commentary on those works.
Follow MLA guidelines in documenting sources
Required Materials
Baldick, Chris, ed. The Oxford Book of Gothic Tales. New York: Oxford, 1992, 2001, 2009.
Cuddon, J. A., ed. The Penguin Book of Horror Stories. New York: Penguin, 1984.
Olson, Danel, ed. Exotic Gothic 3. Ashcroft, British Columbia: Ash Tree Press, 2010.
Ryan, Alan. The Penguin Book of Vampire Stories. New York: Penguin, 1987.
Evaluation and Letter Grade Assignment
Two in-class papers = 10%
Draft of research paper = 5%
Research paper = 25%
Midterm Exam = 25%
Final exam = 25%
Quizzes and in-class work = 10%
Total = 100%
A = 90-100 B = 80-89 C = 70-79 D = 60-69 F = 0-59
Late Work
Essays are due at the beginning of class. If the essay is not complete and printed out, you will have to turn in the essay at
the beginning of the next class period; the essay will be considered late. Only under special circumstances and only then
if you make prior arrangements with me, will I consider accepting essays e-mailed to me or turned in to my mailbox.
Regardless of the reason, five (5) points per class period will be deducted from late out-of-class papers unless, no later
than the day before the paper is due, you make arrangements for an extension. Unless I indicate otherwise, an essay
granted an extension must be turned in the following class period, after which the essay will be counted late. Finally,
UNLESS YOU MAKE SPECIAL ARRANGEMENTS WITH ME AHEAD OF TIME, EXAMS AND QUIZZES CANNOT BE
MADE UP OR TURNED IN LATE I.E. YOU WILL RECEIVE A ZERO FOR THAT ASSIGNMENT.
Research paper
A student who does not hand in a complete and acceptable research paper may receive a zero for the
assignment. The requirements for the research paper are provided in more detail on the course website linked from
http://faculty.lonestar.edu/vpiercy, but part of what constitutes a complete and acceptable paper is that it is a minimum
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