English 110

 

First Instructor	Assistant Professor, Mrs. Isaac – M.A. in English with a Creative Writing Thesis from East Tennessee State University, 1993
Office Location	Old Capitol Building 112
Office Hours	M-F  9:00-9:50; 12:00-12:50; 2:00-2:30
Office Phone Number	(478) 445-1469
Email Address	[email protected]
Homepage	http://launchpad.gmc.cc.ga.us/humanities/isaac

 

 

Second Instructor	Dr. Joel Peckham —Ph.D. in English with a Dissertation on American Literature from The University of Nebraska, Lincoln, 1999
Office Location	Old Capitol Building 109
Office Hours
Office Phone Number	(478) 445-7137
Email Address	[email protected]
Homepage	http://www.geocities.com/joelpeckham

 

English 110	Creative Writing
Prerequisite	None, Completion of ENG 101 preferred
Quarter Hours	5
Final Exam Time

 

Course Description: English 110 is open to all students interested in learning how to write creatively in a variety of genres and how to critique and edit others’ works.

 

Student Learning Objectives: By the end of the quarter, students will be able to demonstrate the ability:

1. define and identify literary terms;
2. identify and discuss the elements of creative writing;
3. evaluate and critique a variety of literary genres;
4. understand and comment on the ethical issues involved in creative writing, including plagiarism, and in the literary works read and discussed in class;
5. understand and apply the major strategies of literary criticism
6. write a variety of literary works;
7. edit and format works for the college’s literary magazine.

 

Course Content: 

 

1. Poetry Writings:  Students will learn about different types of poetic forms, including free verse, and students will write a variety of poems.  Students will learn how to write poetry and some techniques for editing the poems they write.

2.Short Story Writing: Students will write a variety of short stories in different genres.  Students will learn some techniques for creating characters, finding setting, constructing plots, and integrating symbolism.

3. Short One Act Play Writing:  Students will write a one-act play focusing on dialect, staging, sets, props, characters and how they interact.

4. Exercises and Projects: Students will read about other authors’ techniques and will explore authors’ styles and techniques.  Students will also flex creative muscles with a few games.

5. Writer’s Notebook or Portfolio: Students will keep an organized notebook of all the writing they do in the class.  This notebook will be evaluated at the end of the quarter and returned to the students.

6. Writer’s Journal: Students will build a writer’s journal to further their creative mind in the future and spark ideas for poetry, stories, plays, and novels.  Students will keep a record of conversations overheard, new phrases or words heard, observations made by themselves and classmates, stories read, real incidents that occur, etc.

College’s Literary Magazine:  Students will learn about publishing as they participate in helping to design, edit, and submit material for the college’s literary magazine.  All students must submit at lest one piece of writing and must help in the creation of this project.

Midterm:  Students will write answers to discussion questions that analyze critically the pieces provided by the teacher.

Final:  Students will orally present one of your works to the class for evaluation.

 

Course Materials:

Two Required Textbooks:

Estess, Sybil and Janet McCann. In a Field of Words: A Creative Writing Text. Upper

Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, 2003.

 

You will be asked to purchase a collection of short stories or poems for your Review Project.

 

Other Materials:

Writing instruments (blue or black pens and/or pencils)

College Rule Notebook Paper

Journal Notebook

3 ½” Floppy Disk with label

Money for photocopying your Chapbook

Set up your password to use GMC’s computer lab

 

Methodologies of Instruction and Learning/Assessment:

A.       Instruction Methodology :

Assignment	Description of Assignment	Grading of Assignment
Short Stories	You will write, revise, and edit two short stories that focus on ethical dilemmas or issues. We will read other author’s works, learn terminology, and the basic skills for writing two short stories.	Final Draft - 10 points for major grammatical, mechanical, and structural errors; 5 points for minor grammatical and mechanical errors; (At least two substantial revisions for each story.)
One Act Play	We will write, revise, and edit a one-act play that focuses on dialogue, scene, and structure. We will read other author’s works, learn terminology, and the basic skills for writing one act plays.	-10 major grammatical, mechanical, and structural errors -5 for minor grammatical and mechanical errors (At least two substantial revisions for your play.)
Review Project - Midterm	You will be asked to read a collection of short stories or poems by an author of high literary standing. After I approve the book, I will teach you how to write a formal review.	-10 major grammatical, mechanical, and structural errors -5 for minor grammatical and mechanical errors
Writer’s Journal	You will be asked to keep a writer’s journal containing exercises and observations.	Your writer’s journal will be graded in two stages. Mrs. Isaac will grade the journal at Midterm, and Dr. Peckham will grade the journal at the Final Exam. Each assignment is worth 5 points.
Poems	You will write, revise, and edit a variety of poems. We will read other author’s works, learn terminology, and the basic skills and techniques for writing poetry.	Each poem will be graded on content, poetic technique, style, and structure.  At least three substantial revisions of each poem must be completed.  A handout will be provided giving a detailed grade breakdown
Chapbook	At the end of the class, you will turn in a book comprised of one short story, your best poems, and a scene from your one act play. You will receive instruction in class for creating the Chapbook	Will be graded on visual creativity, organization, editing, and format.  A handout will be provided giving a detailed grade breakdown
Literary Magazine	You will type, edit, organize, and create the Literary Magazine.	You will be graded on completing each assignment and on your level of participation.

 

 

B.        Assessing Your Grade: Students’ grades will be determined by tests and completed writing assignments.  Compositions will count 60%, research paper will count 20%, and tests and other assignments will count 20%.

                       

Assignments for Mrs. Isaac
Your Grade	Total Possible Points	Assignments
	100	First Short Story - Ethics
	100	Second Short Story - Ethics
	150	1 One Act Play
	100	Review Project
	50	Writer’s Journal – First Half
	500 pts. Possible	FINAL CALCULATION

 

 

Assignments for Dr. Peckham
Your Grade	Total Possible Points		Assignments
	200		Poems
	150		Chapbook
	100		Literary Magazine
	50		Writer’s Journal – First Half
	500 pts. Possible		FINAL CALCULATION

 

 

Add your two scores

                                    For Grade See Chart Below

 

Grade Calculation Chart

GMC Grade Distribution	Letter Grade	Course Grading Scale (Add your total points earned to find your grade)
90-100	A	900-1000
80-89	B	800-899
70-79	C	700-799
65-69	D	650-699
64 and below	F	649 and below

 

Any grade review must be initiated with the faculty member, division chair, or assistant dean within thirty days of the end of the grading period in which the grade was reported.

 

 

Students with Disabilities:

Students with disabilities for which accommodations may be required must notify the instructor during the first week of class if they wish to benefit from any accommodations.  Arrangements for accommodations are made through the Disabilities Officer in Student Personal Services.

 

Administrative Procedures: 

A.     Completion of the drop/add process and the withdrawal process is the responsibility of the student. Remember, if you drop after the drop/add period, then you will be billed for the class.

B.     Students are expected to attend all classes! Regardless of the circumstances, students who miss (5 days of for a 5 hour, 5 day class; 4 days for a 5 hour, 4 day class; and 2 days for a 5 hour, 2 night class) will be dropped from the class with a “W” or “WF” or “F” depending on whether or not the absences would be excused or unexcused. If you have an emergency that causes you to miss these days, then it is up to you to make sure that I am notified, so that I won’t drop you with a “WF”.

C.    Students are expected to be on time to class. Three times late to class will result in one absence. If you come into the classroom, after five minutes, then you are considered tardy. If chronic tardiness occurs, then I will have a conference with the student.

D.    I do not allow makeup work for exercises, tests, or papers without written documentation. If you know you won’t be in class when an assignment is due or when a test will be given, then see me ahead of time, and I will try to accommodate you. However, No FINAL EXAMS will be given early without permission of the Dean.

E.     A student who is caught plagiarizing or cheating will receive a zero on their work and a conference. All students involved in a cheating or plagiarizing incident will receive a zero. Every student should cover and protect their work. If a student is caught cheating more than once, then the student will receive an “F” for the course and will be required to meet with the Departmental Chair and/or the Dean. There is also a possibility that the case could go before the Honor Council.

 

Ethics:

GMC emphasizes character and ethical behavior in all aspects of the curriculum.  During the quarter, ethical issues/dilemmas will be discussed as they pertain to ENG 110.  The students will write two ethical short stories and an ethical dramatic monologue.

 

GMC HONOR CODE:

Since the primary goal of education is to increase one’s own knowledge, academic dishonesty will not be tolerated at GMC.  Students and faculty are expected to abide by the GMC Honor Code:  I will neither lie, cheat, steal, nor tolerate those who do.

 

 

 

Behavioral Policy:     WELCOME TO THE COLLEGE CLASSROOM!

It is my job as the instructor to make sure that the class you are attending runs smoothly and is an environment conducive to learning. I expect all my students to behave as ladies and gentlemen. I expect all students to have a proper respect for not only me, but for their fellow students. If you like to be the center or attention, then you can do so somewhere else.

 

CLASSROOM BEHAVIOR FOR GMC and MRS. ISAAC:

Appropriate Posture:        Do not slouch, put your feet on the furniture, or lay your head down on your desk. If you are ill, then you need to see the nurse. Also, do not lean back in the chairs.

 

NO Eating and Drinking:  There will not be any eating and drinking in the classroom. It is disruptive. Please plan your schedule to allow yourself time to eat.

 

NO Sleeping in Class:       Do not fall asleep in class or put your head down in class. It is disruptive and embarrassing for me as well as for you. If you are afraid of falling asleep, then stand up.

 

Proper Attire:           Please come to class wearing appropriate attire. I do NOT allow hats or any type of headgear to be worn in class. They obstruct the view of other students, and I cannot see your face. This includes ball caps. Also, do not wear sunglasses in class without a formal explanation and a note from a doctor as to why you have to wear sunglasses indoors. (NOTHING SHOULD BE ON YOUR HEAD BUT HAIR!)

 

Electronic Devices:           Turn off all electronic devices. I will not have cell phones ringing in class, or math calculators being used.

 

Leaving Class:                    You are never to get up and walk out of my class without talking to me before class starts. You cannot get up and go to the bathroom during class. Please take care of all your bodily needs before class starts. If you are suddenly ill, then that is another matter.

 

Disruptions in Class:        I will not tolerate any behavior that disrupts the flow of class. I find any interruption of my lectures or students’ speeches rude and disrespectful. This includes raising your hand to ask inappropriate questions or irrelevant questions. If you feel the need to ask a question that only pertains to yourself, then please wait until class is over to ask me that question.

 

Consequences:      If I have to correct you on any of these behavioral problems, then I will automatically take ten points off of your FINAL grade for every offense committed. If the President, Dean, or another Faculty Member corrects your behavior while you are in my class, then it is twenty points off your final grade. If you seem to be a problem, then I will talk to you myself outside of class. If this does not work, then we will schedule a meeting with my departmental chair and possibly the Dean. Please be aware that you can be removed from my class for causing excessive behavioral problems.