English
2305: Introduction to Poetry
Multicultural
Perspectives in U.S. Poetry
Instructor:
Monica E. Montelongo
Email: monica.montelongo@ttu.edu
Skype:
monicaemontelongo
Office Hours: Tuesday
and Thursday 11:00 am-12:20 pm (English 456)
Course Website: www.ttueng2305.blogspot.com
Course
Description:
This
course will familiarize students with reading and analysis of poetry through a
historical and cultural context. Students will focus on poetic language, form,
metaphor, imagery, tone, voice, style, and genre. Students will analyze issues
of ethnicity, race, class, gender, sexuality, regionalism, and elements that
help us understand cultural perspectives and identity. This course will provide
extensive practice in literary analysis, critical reading, thinking, and
writing skills. In this course, students will generate thoughtful written
analyses and practice the process of revision.
Humanities Core
Curriculum Requirement:
This course fulfills the
Humanities requirement for TTU’s Core Curriculum. The objective
of the humanities in the core
curriculum is to expand the student’s knowledge of the human
condition and human cultures,
especially in relation to behaviors, ideas, and values expressed
in works of human imagination and
thought. Students will engage in critical analysis and develop an appreciation
of the humanities. Students
graduating from Texas Tech University should be able to: think critically,
demonstrate an understanding of the possibility of multiple interpretations,
cultural contexts, and values.
Expected
Learning Outcomes:
1.) Students will practice the process of critical
reading, thinking, and writing.
2.) Students will become familiar with issues of
multiculturalism.
3.) Students will become familiar with reading and
analyzing poetry.
4.) Students practice their own writing process, and
develop techniques for revision.
5.) Students will be competent and comfortable
engaging in discussions, asking thoughtful
questions, and responding to challenging topics.
Required
Texts:
The
Business of Fancydancing, Sherman Alexie
Missing
You, Metropolis, Gary Jackson
Pity
the Drowned Horses, Sheryl Luna
Letters
to a Stranger, Thomas James
Other
Fugitives and Other Strangers, Rigoberto Gonzalez
The
Teachers & Writers Handbook of Poetic Forms, Rod
Padgett
Selected Poems provided by instructor in course
packet (See course website)
Assignments:
Participation: 10%
Response Papers: 10%
Essay 1: 20%
Essay 2: 20%
Essay 3: 20%
Essay 4: 20%
Participation:
Participation equals a total of 10% of your average. You will have a daily
participation grade. Your class participation grade will be made up of the
following:
Class Discussion
Individual in-class writing
assignments
Group activities
Reading quizzes
Book/Article Check
Book/Article Check
You should note that these
assignments will be done or due in-class, so if you miss class you will
be forfeiting a portion of your participation grade. These assignments cannot
be made-up or turned in late. Students are expected to come to class
prepared, having done both reading and writing assignments.
Response Papers:
Your response papers are meant to
generate ideas and prepare you for our class discussion. Occasionally, I may
ask you to include a discussion question in your response paper. Questions are
good ways to start thinking about what you know and what you want to know. Your
response papers should be no less than 250 words. These papers should be typed,
double-spaced, and in 12 point font. These are informal writing exercises, but
take them seriously. Some of these early response papers may turn into your
essay topic. Your response paper directions will be posted on the course
website.
Essays:
Your essays should focus on a
particular poem or poems that has been assigned for class. In your essay, you are to generate a clear
argumentative statement (a thesis) and provide thorough textual evidence and
analysis for this argument. These essays rely on your ability to do close
readings of the texts and formulate thoughtful responses. It may be helpful
for you to use a draft of your response paper as the beginnings of an essay. I highly
encourage you to do this. You will turn in two drafts of each essay. Your first
draft will be between 700-900 words. Your final draft will be between
1,200-1,500 words. You MUST turn in both drafts to receive a grade. If only the
final draft is turned in, I will treat it as a first draft and I will return it
to you. You will be penalized for each day the second/final draft is late.
These papers should be in MLA style, include a works cited page, and be typed,
double-spaced, and in 12 point font. Further instructions on essays will be posted
on the course website.
Final Exam:
Your final exam will be a revised
draft of the essay you received the lowest grade on this semester. This
draft should have substantial revisions that address the comments I have made
on the previous draft, as well as further develop the argument of your essay.
Your final exam draft should be between 1,500-1,800 words, in MLA style,
include a works cited page, typed, double-spaced, and in 12 point font. I will not
accept any final exam draft if earlier drafts were not turned in. I will replace the original grade of your
essay with the final exam grade. Further instructions on final exam essays will
be posted on the course website.
Grading Scale
A
= 100-90, B = 89-80, C = 79-70, D = 69-60, F = 59 or below.
Submission of
Late Work:
A
10-point reduction will be applied for each day an assignment is
submitted late. (For example, 1 day= 10 points off, 2 days equals 20 points
off). Assignments are due at the beginning of class. Note that I do not wave
late penalty due to technological problems, i.e. “My printer wasn’t working.”
Plan ahead and be prepared.
Occasionally,
students do require an extension on an assignment. I do give extensions,
however, they are rare and I require documentation. Examples for when you
should ask for an extension on an assignment include, but are not limited to:
illness, hospitalization, family emergency, etc. I require some sort of
documentation indicating the reasons why you required an extension. I will be
happy to accommodate you if such a situation occurs. Please email me ASAP. I
require you to contact me before the
assignment is due to request an extension.
Attendance:
Attendance is an important component
to succeeding in this course. If you must miss class, you are required to email
me at monica.montelongo@ttu.edu
as soon as possible. Written assignments must still be completed on time
if you miss class. If you are more than 15 minutes late to class you will be
counted absent. Students are not allowed to leave early. If you are
required to miss more than four consecutive days of class, you might want to
consider dropping the course. Students are permitted three absences
without grade penalty. Upon the fourth absence, you will receive a 5%
reduction on your final course average. For each continual absence you will
receive another 5% reduction.
Behavior:
Students are expected to use language
appropriate for the academic setting and show respect to the classroom
instructor and the students, both in-class and during on-line
correspondence. I encourage an open class discussion. During these class
discussions, keep in mind that you need to use discretion with your language
and respect disagreements with myself and other classmates.
Technology:
When you come to class your cells
phones and other electronic devices (including laptops) should be turned off
and remain off for the time spent in class. Texting, checking Facebook, and
other uses of electronic devices are a distraction, so these activities are not
allowed in class. If you break any of the preceding technology policies,
you will be asked to leave and counted absent for that day.
Correspondence:
Please include your section number
in your correspondence. You can expect a response within 48 hours. Keep in mind that I may not respond until 48
hours later, so if you have questions concerning an upcoming assignment it is
better to do it as soon as possible.
Office Hours:
Office
hours are intended for you to get help with your writing assignments, your
readings for class, or any other issue that might pertain to this course. If
you are unable to meet with me during regular office hours, we can set up a
Skype appointment, or I am always available to help you via email. Please do
not hesitate to contact me if you have questions or concerns over an
assignment.
Contesting a Grade:
If you choose to contest a grade you
must wait 48 hours from the time the grade was submitted to contact me.
You may wait no longer than 5 days from when the grade was submitted to contact
me. This only gives you a 72 hour time period to contest a grade. When you
contest a grade you must write and submit to me via email a 400 word essay
explaining why your grade is inaccurate and how your assignment achieved or mastered
the assignment requirements. Keep in mind, if you choose to contest a
grade there is a possibility that I may in fact lower the score
previously submitted. A grade contest does not guarantee a higher
grade. Please consider this before you contact me.
Students with
Disabilities
“Any student who, because of a
disability, may require some special arrangements in order to meet course
requirements should contact the instructor as soon as possible to request
necessary accommodations. Student should present appropriate verification from Student
Disability Services. No requirement exists that accommodations be made prior to
the completion of this
approved university process (TTU
OP 34.22, p.2).”
For more information, you may
visit Student Disability Services in 335 West Hall, call at 742-2405, or visit:
http://www.depts.ttu.edu/students/sds/
Plagiarism/Academic
Integrity
I do not tolerate plagiarism in
this course. If you are found to have plagiarized someone else’s work, you will
fail that assignment, and may be subject to failing the entire course. Note
that plagiarism includes self-plagiarism, i.e. recycling materials you may have
written for another course. For more on the university’s policies on plagiarism
see:
http://www.depts.ttu.edu/studentconduct/academicinteg
