English 8

Prof. David Holper

Office: LS100

Office Hours:

Writing Center Hours:

Telephone: 476-4370

David-Holper@redwoods.edu

Contemporary Literature

"Literature adds to reality, it does not simply describe it. It enriches the necessary

competencies that daily life requires and provides; and in this respect, it irrigates the

deserts that our lives have already become." C.S. Lewis

Welcome to English 8! I'm excited to be your teacher, and I hope that each of us will enjoy and learn a great deal during this semester. This will be an intensive course because I will ask a lot of each one of you, but in return, I hope you will find this to be one of your most memorable reading/writing classes. The primary goals of this course are to help you Beyond that--and perhaps more importantly--I want you to learn to write more powerfully, passionately, and naturally.

Your Instructor: Aside from being a teacher, Dave has done a little of everything, including taxi driver, fire fighter, cook, soldier, house painter, and teacher. He took his BA in English at Humboldt State University way back in 1983, where he also studied journalism. After his graduation, he served for four years in the Army Military Intelligence Corps and went on to take a Masters of Fine Arts in English at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, where he wrote a book of short stories. He has since taught at Christian Brothers High School, Jesuit High School, Yuba College, Solano College, and Sacramento City College. Currently he lives in Eureka with his wife and three children.

Triad:

Name: _______________________ Contact info: _______________________________

Name: _______________________ Contact info: _______________________________

Texts & Materials

A) Understanding Literature (required) by Kalaidjian, Roof, and Watt

B) Peace Like a River by Leif Enger (Book of the Year)

B) A binder for the class packet, your journals, etc.

C) The Bedford Handbook, 6th edition (recommended) by Diana Hacker

Grading:

1) Response Journals (20% of grade)

As part of the preparation and homework for each class, 1-3 questions from the assigned readings will require journal responses. Your responses, double-spaced in paragraph form, will be typed prior to the class discussion of the assigned work. Paragraphs should be 4-6 sentences long and observes the conventions of standard edited English. It's not necessary to use MLA format for journals: simply type your name and the journal number in the upper left hand corner and then skip down a line and begin.

2) Quizzes (20% of grade)

Generally, a short reading quiz will begin each class. If you've done the reading and the journal, these quizzes will be straightforward; if not, well, I leave that to your imagination.

3) Group Presentations (20% of grade)

Groups of 2-4 students will prepare 10-15 minute presentations on assigned artists. Presentations will include 1) biographical information, 2) a discussion of common themes in the writer's work, 3) a recommended reading list, 4) a typed handout of the above information for each class member, and 5) a contribution by each member of the group.

4) Term Papers (20 % of grade)

In addition to the short essay responses in the journals, there will be two longer papers assigned during the semester. These will be typed and observe MLA format.

5) Mid-term and Final Exam Essays (20% of grade)

These exams will be written. They will be open book, and you may bring a dictionary, thesaurus, and spell checkers to the exam. You'll be given a choice of essay questions, and the exam will be evaluated holistically.

Make-up Policy: You may throw out one quiz grade. Also, you can make up a missed quiz or exam as long as you arrange to do so before you return to the next class.

My Office: My office is located in Life Sciences, #100. If you're walking away from the Forum Building toward Creative Arts, Life Sciences is the next building past the old library. Please knock before entering. (Don't arm wrestle with a rattlesnake!)

My Mailbox: You'll find my mailbox in the 200 hallway of the Forum Building. The mailboxes are roughly halfway down the hall.

Plagiarism: If you copy someone else’s work, and I catch you, you automatically will fail the course.

Extra Credit: I will offer one extra credit assignment this semester for 20 points. You may attend either of the Visiting Writers readings this semester, which I will announce in class. I may offer other venues too, but you'll have to wait to hear about these. In order to quality for the 20 pts., you will need to attend the reading, take notes, and turn in a one-page journal session about your opinion of the event at the next class.