WELCOME TO ENG 214

sections i01 and i02, spring 2008

Here are the course syllabus (books, objectives, grading), links to orientation materials for the new WebCT 6.0, and directions for accessing the course website. Since familiarity with the new WebCT is essential to succeeding in this online class, you should review all the linked materials before the semester starts. Contact me at the email address given below if you have any questions. You are responsible for knowing

INSTRUCTOR

Travis Gordon, travisgordon@mindspring.com, 738-7785

ORIENTATION

The college will be using a new version of WebCT for the spring 2008 semester. It is important that you learn about the new procedures for setting up your account before then. You are responsible for following the directions given in the following links:

Creating my WebCT Account

Adding courses to my WebCT account

The Office of Online Learning offers WebCT training for students. To register and see a list of available training dates, go to http://www.midlandstech.com/distance/WebCT Workshop FormTest.htm

You should review the Distance Learning Frequently Asked Questions.  This module will provide you with some answers to common problems, some troubleshooting tips, and some ways to access some help. If this is your first time using the new version of WebCT, it is highly recommended that you review the What is WebCT.

During the first week of classes, we will complete additional orientation activities online to familiarize you with specific course requirements.

ACCESSING
THE COURSE

The website for this course is set up for self-registration. After you have followed the directions for setting up your WebCT account, you can add the course to your account. Currently there is no material on the site, but I will be adding a few orientation exercises in a few weeks if you would like to begin working on them. The complete course site will not be available until the first day of the spring semester. Email me at my mindspring account if you have questions.

TEXTS

The following texts will be available at the MTC bookstore on Beltline (NOT Airport) or via the Web on sites like Amazon.com [http://www.amazon.com] or ECampus [http://www.ecampus.com/homepage_html.html]. There are other textbook sites. If you are ordering your books from an online textbook website, you are responsible for getting the books by the time classes start. You must pay for fast delivery if ordering at the last minute.

Arana, Marie. Cellophane.

Chopin, Kate. The Awakening

McCarthy, Cormac. The Road.

Pickering, James. H. Fiction 100: An Anthology of Short Fiction. 11th ed.

Pickering, James H. Reader's Guide to the Short Story to Accompany "Fiction 100: An Anthology of Short Fiction." 11th ed. [ISBN 0-13-173391-5] This 100-page booklet usually ships with the Pickering anthology. It is a required textbook for this class. 

Proulx, Annie. Close Range: Wyoming Stories. (We will be reading selections from this anthology. Not all the stories are required reading.)

You will be reading an additional novel and reporting on it in your analytical paper.

PREREQUISITES

English 102

COURSE
DESCRIPTION

This course introduces you to narratives from several cultures and will help you develop appropriate strategies for reading fiction. We will concentrate on the nature of genres and on analytical reading and writing.

OBJECTIVES

Upon completing Eng 214, you should be able to:

• identify and describe different genres of narrative fiction.

• analyze the literary elements of various genres of narrative fiction.

• understand and evaluate some of the cultural factors that determine the conventions of certain genres.

• increase your understanding and appreciation of narrative fiction through research (using both traditional print and web sources).

You will also gain experience in collaborating with others to design and create web pages and in contributing to online discussion boards and chat rooms.

MINIMUM
REQUIREMENTS

The student is required to:

• Submit all reading responses.

• Participate in asynchronous, online discussions of readings (a minimum of two substantive posts weekly). You should check the discussion boards for new posting daily if at all possible.

• Attend and participate in one 30-minute, small-group chat session each week. You will have a choice of times.

• Take all quizzes.

• Write one 3-5 page analytical essay and revise if necessary.

• Work as part of a group to design and produce a website incorporating traditional paper and web research. The group will use small group discussion boards, email, and chat rooms to collaborate on this project. This project will require access to a large college library.

• Submit two essay exams

COURSE
GRADE

Your grade for the course will be calculated as follows. For the role of participation, check the course FAQ on the course website on your first visit.

Your course grade (in course points): A (270-300 points), B (240-269 points), C (210-239 points), D (180-209 points). F (179 points and below)

COURSE
OVERVIEW

Here's a quick overview of the course. We begin the semester by looking at the terminology we'll be using to discuss narratives--with special focus on the concept of genres. The Pickering Reader's Guide will be our focus.

We will read and discuss a selection of stories from the Pickering anthology and several of the stories in Proulx's Close Range. We then read three novels reflecting different social classes, values, and beliefs. Each student will read a fourth novel selected from a list and write an analytical paper.

Writing assignments? Throughout the course, you will be submitting reading responses (or microthemes). These average 300-400 words each. You will also contribute to discussions on the class bulletin board. You will complete one analytical paper of approximately 1,200 words. In the last month of the course, you will work in a group to produce a term project, a webquest or web-based research project.

Quizzes and exams? I'll be posting quizzes on the web site frequently. The questions I ask are not demanding. I give these reading quizzes only to encourage you to complete the readings on time and to focus the discussion that follows. Doing well on them will help your course grade considerably.

The class is conducted entirely online. However, students who don't seem to be reading the assignments may be required to come to campus for reading quizzes in the testing center in order to remain in the class.

OTHER
HELPFUL
RESOURCES

MTC Distance Learning
MTC Bookstore
Tuition Information
Distance Learning Frequently Asked Questions