The School of Arts and Humanities
presents

Credit: 3 Hours
Spring 2009 Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays
Place and Time: 

Sec. 4  FO 221 - 12:40p 1:40p

Sec. 6 MO 204 - 9:10a 10:10a

Dr. Rearick's Office: Founders Hall 219G
(Within 219: Lit., Lang., & Comm. Dept.)
Office Hours: Mon, Wed and Friday 1:50-4:30 / Tues - Thurs 1:50-2:50

Office Ext. 3508

Joyce Applegarth School Secretary Ext. 3500
Home Phone 392-3738
(but please do not call after 8:00--Andy and Laura are hopefully in Bed)
email: anderson.rearick@mvnu.edu

 

I check my email at least twice a day.  However, while I will respond immediately saying I have received your message, please be patient for a day or so as far as receiving a more developed and intelligent response.

Be Aware that this is the Secondary Web Home for this Class

"Whatsoever Ye Do, Do All to the Glory of God"
1 Corinthians 10:31
Please Note: Please remember that this hypertext syllabus is just a convenience.  If there is a conflict, the hard copy you received in class is the ultimate authority!

Course Index:

Course Purpose

Class Schedule

The purpose:  The purpose of ENG 1053G, Research Writing [3],  is to teach students the skills they need to conduct research for future college courses. Instead of learning a specific body of knowledge, students will learn how to research by completing a variety of short exercises, passing in a short report, a literary paper, an oral presentation, a research proposal, and a research paper involving a more open topic than those of earlier assignments but still one which argues towards a provable point. The course will emphasize research techniques, research paper format and research writing. Special emphasis is given to library use, note-taking, summarizing, synthesizing, outlining, citing and documenting, and writing problems unique to drafting and revising longer papers. Prerequisite: ENG143G, and OAD131G or word processing proficiency. The course is required in the semester immediately following completion of ENG1043G" (2006-2007 MVNU Online Catalog).  However, while the emphasis in this class in on HOW to do research; the target for much of the first half of the semester will be on Shakespeare’s Hamlet.

Objectives: Upon the completion of this course the student will learn. . .

Texts

   

1.   What Is MLA Style?
2.   Electronic Sources: MLA Style of Citation
3.   General MLA Guidelines   

Chronological List of Assignments

Evaluation (How I Grade)

94 to 100 is an "A" Exceptional! A cut above--unusually good.

90 to 93 is an "A-" Outstanding!

87 to 89 is "B+" Very Well Done!

84 to 86 is a "B" A fine Job!

80 to 83 is a "B-" Fairly Good.

77 to 79 is a "C+" Solidly in there!

74 to 76 is a "C" Good, a concrete understanding of the subject.

70 to 73 is a "C-" Understanding of subject is workable.

60 to 70 is a "D" Passing but weak.

59 and below is an "F" Fell short of required understanding of material.

Grade Allocation (Percentile) :

 5%   Quickie Report: Due Feb. 18 - Feb. 22.

 5%   Oral Presentation on Contemporary Criticism on Hamlet March 21-April 2

10%  Tests: Five but dropping one (Feb 8, Feb. 15, March 7, April 11 , and May 9) but more may be given as needed.

10% Midterm Exam Wed. March 12

10% Exercises:

§          Opinion Paragraph due Feb. 4th

§          Biblical Truth with citation: due Feb. 11th

§          Subject and Topic with Source of Subject Headings for final paper April 9th

§          Research Question for final paper due April  14th

§          Annotated Bibliography for final paper due April 16th

§          Personal Interviews occur from April 21- May 8

10% Research Proposal for final paper Due April 21.

25% Literary paper Due Oct. 8 – March 21-25

25% Research paper Due on April 28 through Mon. May 12

------

100% Total

Power Point Available


Tests will be given throughout the semester  (Feb 8, Feb. 15, March 7, April 11 , and May 9) and will be on the assigned readings and class discussions. Make-ups will not be given unless the absence is related to a provable emergency of some sort or is caused by approved school activities. One test will be dropped.  All students involved in official activities of the school who will miss test days should speak to me ahead of time so that some adjustment may be made.

Exams The Midterm is set for Wednesday March 12th.  Your final paper will also be your final exam.

Exercises will be done both during class, at the library, and out of class. Once again, make-ups will not be given unless the absence is related to an emergency of some sort or is caused by school activities. All students involved in official activities of the school who will miss library work should speak to me ahead of time so that some adjustment Dec. be made.


NOTE: All assignments described from this point on MUST BE TYPED, be in MLA Format and should be done in 14 Font. (This is larger than standard font that is 12, so you will have to alter the set up when you work with the computer. There will be NO EXCEPTIONS.   If an assignment is handed in which does not meet these requirements it will be returned without being graded and will be marked down when it is handed is as LATE. See Scott Foresman Handbook on page 822 for examples of MLA layout.  Also note that each assignment has a template available online.


The Quickie Report  (Sept. 19th - Sept. 23rd) is an exercise in which you choose an article from a respectable news magazine (such as US News and World Report, Time, Newsweek or the Christian Science Monitor) published in 2004 or 2005 and report on the article's contents. The original article must be at least one entire page in length. All citations in your report will be done in MLA format, and you must have a copy of the article to hand in with your report.

Furthermore at this point online citations have not been covered, so do NOT draw from an online magazine source.  Such sources have their own unique challenges.   I repeat NO ONLINE SOURCES for this assignment.

Remember, you are functioning as if you were a news reporter--meaning no opinions and no angles except those found in your source. The emphasis of your report will be primarily on the text and secondly on the matter it is describing.

Purpose:

This exercise is meant to help the student sharpen his or her skills in direct quotations, paraphrasing and summarizing raw information from a chosen source. Also correct MLA format must be observed. Due Sept. 19th - Sept. 23rd..

Be sure while citing from your article (in MLA forms) that you do so not haphazardly but for critical passages needed to clarify or authenticate important points in your report. This assignment will also be graded on your writing skills, clear thesis, organization, smooth transitions, and functional mechanics (grammar and spelling). Like the research paper and prepared proposal, it must be typed (14 font).

The Literary Paper (Oct. 3rd through Monday, Oct. 17th ) will be based on Charlotte Bronte's novel Hamlet. Unlike the report, conclusions beyond what is read are expected. This work must be. . . 

The entire paper will be composed in standard MLA format (no exceptions), as described in the text and with other instructions from me. Your paper must contain at least ten (10) citations (quotations and paraphrases) selected from at least three (3) different sources. One of the sources will be your primary text, the novel itself.  The conclusion should be supported by the primary text as well as by articles included in the back of your Case Studies in Contemporary Criticism. No outside research will be required.  However, for students who are interested the online resource will be also allowed. Due: Oct. 3rd through Monday, Oct. 17th

Follow this link for some Research Questions and Topics that others have developed.

Literary Paper Check List

Sample Works Cited List in Windows format, using works from Hamlet the Bedford edition using Case Studies of Contemporary Criticism 

An Oral Presentation  All students in class will be assigned to a team which will have the task of reading a critical article found in Hamlet the Bedford edition using Case Studies of Contemporary Criticism and presenting a REPORT on that article's contents in PowerPoint.  This is worth 5% of your over-all grade.  A report means that the students do not need to give their perspective on the material but should express the author's ideas in a clear and engaging manner.  Power point is encouraged but not required.

A research proposal (Due Nov. 16th)is required that will preview your final paper. It consists of three parts (and it needs to be typed):

1. A one-page (min.) summary of the major points you intend to develop, the argument you wish to make, and the conclusions at which you intend to arrive.

2. A tentative outline of two levels (at this stage) and a complete-sentence thesis statement.

3. A working bibliography of more than 10 sources, annotated with a brief statement concerning the author's central point. It will be understood that this proposal is tentative; you Dec. change your thesis or your outline, and you Dec. add more sources. Still, the proposal should serve as a general guide for you and for me to come to an understanding of your research paper while it is in the process stage.

4.  Due Nov. 16th

The Personal Interview:  It is my intention to personally meet with every research paper student this semester.  Towards the end of the semester, just after you have handed in your research proposal, you will meet with me at our classroom (or if you choose a Tuesday / Thursday meeting then my office) for about 20 minutes.  During that time you should receive back both your literary paper and your research proposal. Begins Nov. 21st  to Dec. 5th.

The Purpose:  The purpose of this meeting is to touch base with individuals.  The interview has proven invaluable in clearing up lingering questions about form as well as allowing me a chance to gain a first hand view of where you, the author, is hoping to go with your research.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 

The Final Paper is due on Monday, Nov. 28th through to Monday,. Dec. 5th

The  final paper must . . .

For the final paper topics are open, because finding your area of interest independently is an essential part of the research process. However, the paper must be argumentative--information must be given for a purpose. The following restrictions apply:

  1. Your paper must be original; that is, not have been used previously for another  course or concurrently with one this semester. Suggestions on the type of topic best suited for this paper:

a. The subject of your paper will be easier if it falls within the general area of the humanities. This includes literature, drama, film, art, music, history (but not theory--too technical), philosophy, religion (but not theology, doctrine or praxis), and depending upon your focus some topics within history and sociology.

b. Extremely current social issues and world affairs are not appropriate because of the limited availability of sources.

c. Highly charged emotional subjects should also be avoided.  It is difficult for the most analytical of us to write logically about subjects for which we feel deep passion. Also, in most cases when writing about a subject about which the student feels strongly, usually that student already has a set opinion about the topic and therefore has a hard time giving the other side a fair chance to be represented. Plan to clear your topic with me before you get seriously involved in your project.

d. A personal request: I ask that students refrain from subjects which center on cruelty or harm to small children.  Having gone through six years of staying at various Children's hospitals where I saw many precious ones die, I find such material too emotionally charged for me to grade objectively.

e.  I reserve the right to veto any topic that does not seem promising.

2. Since this is not a passable report on the materials you will read but a creative act of using the acquired knowledge to present your own original views, it is crucial to the success of the paper that you choose a subject interesting to you.

3. Do not forget your audience. You are writing for an intelligent, college-educated reader, someone with broad insights into world affairs, the humanities, and natural sciences. Don't bore your reader with an overdose topic.

4.  Your final paper is your final exam. (Monday, Dec. 5 last day)  Get it done early and it will be one less thing to plague you during that "fun week" in December.

Attendance: You are expected to attend all classes -- even when we are in the process of meeting one on one. Three un-excused absences will mean three points off your final grade. The pattern will continue if the absences continue.

Plagiarism: One of the goals of this course is to be certain that students know how to avoid plagiarism. Therefore, as mentioned above, you will be expected to turn in one major source (photocopies of cited pages) along with your paper. 

  1. Carefully label the top of each photocopied page with the author and page number of that particular source and include them with your paper folder. 
  2. Highlight or underline the used portion.  
  3. Failure to submit one source, will make the work incomplete, even if you document all your material. 
  4. Do not wait until the last minute to photocopy your sources, for they may disappear. Books may be checked out by others, and Journals may be sent to the bindery or simply misplaced. 
  5. IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO HAVE ALL OF THE MATERIALS NECESSARY FOR TURNING IN THE PAPER PROPERLY AND PUNCTUALLY.

Furthermore, this year MVNU is initiating the use of anti plagiarism software called "Turnitin."  This will require you to submit an electric version of certain assignments (both papers and some lead in work) to be evaluated by the program.  This system constantly scans the internet for essays and data.   MVNU takes plagiarism very seriously, sometimes even to the point of failing the student who has handed in another's work.

The Nature of Assignments:  It is impossible to pass the class without handing in both major paper assignments. Furthermore it is impossible to do well on either of the papers without doing all of the assignments which lead up to conclusions of the two written projects..

Late papers: A penalty of three points will be subtracted for each day your paper is late. No exceptions.

Disability Needs:  Students who qualify for and desire accommodations in this course due to a disability, as defined by the American s with Disabilities Act of 1990, must follow the Disability Service Policies and Procedures as put forth by the office of Academic Support.  The guidelines can be accessed in electronic form at the web address http://www.mvnu.edu/academics/services/dservices.html and in a hard copy at the Academic Support office.  Call extension 4540 for further information.  On a personal note, I am disabled because of eyesight, my son is disabled by breathing complications, and so I am especially sensitive to the needs and challenges faced by otherwise qualified students.  I "toughed" it out when I was at ENC, but the world has changed for the better and there are many resources available to you I wish I had, resources I in fact presently use in my office such as a close circuit TV attached to the screen of my computer as well as speaking programs which allow text to be read to me.  Pursue these things and see me if you have any such needs. 


This class exists on Mount Vernon Nazarene University's Blackboard platform.   We will have the option to have email as well as threaded discussions as we work through several issues.  However, since Blackboard is not able to deal with short answers and grammar questions, the options of to have exams run through it will not be used.


PowerPoint Viewer software (free for Windows) This link will allow you to download a program which will enable you to view power point presentations even if you do not own Microsoft Office or if your version is obsolete. Microsoft offers this free: PPVIEW97.EXE( 2904240 Bytes )

Sample Blackboard instructions for students 

This course will utilize the Blackboard online course system. Important class information, including announcements, reading assignments, lecture outlines and study objectives, will be posted electronically. Instructors’ expectations/requirements for using the Blackboard site: Of course the frequency of use and quizzes that you expect for your course Dec. vary. You are responsible for accessing the Research Writing site at least once each weekday and at least once during each weekend. You Dec. access using any available computer in a campus computer laboratory; using your personal computer if it is connected to the campus network in your residence hall; or via the World Wide Web from off-campus. Brief quizzes will also be administered electronically via Blackboard. Quizzes can only be taken online. Each quiz can only be taken once. A time limit (usually five minutes) is automatically enforced; and the quiz must be completed before the posted deadline to receive credit.

Access Instructions 

Open a web browser. Internet Explorer version 6.0  or better is preferred, but Netscape and Mozilla Firefox should also work.

Go to the MVNU students’ homepage: labs.mvnu.edu

If you have not already visited your student information page since arriving for the fall semester, click on the link Access to my Personal Information. Then click on the button labeled Setup Access to set your password for both Blackboard and to access your personal information in the MVNU database. You only need to setup access once, even if you are taking multiple courses that use Blackboard. Your Blackboard user name should be the same as your network login and email name.

From labs.mvnu.edu, click on one of the three links to Online Courses… in the middle of the page. Use the appropriate link depending on whether you are in a classroom (including campus labs), in the residence halls, or off-campus. From off campus, you Dec. also go directly to courses.mvnu.edu, and bypass the labs page.

Click on the Blackboard Login button on the left side of the page.

If you are enrolled in more than one class that uses Blackboard, you will see a course menu from which you can choose

After finishing a Blackboard session, be sure to log off by closing your browser. If you do not log off, unauthorized persons could gain access to confidential information (including your grades and any currently-active quiz).

Online Documentation 

A Blackboard user’s manual is available online. After you have logged in to any course, click on the Tools button along the left side, and then click on the link to Manual.

Computer System Requirements 

Hardware: Your computer (Windows or Macintosh) must be connected to the campus network or internet. Software: a web browser, either Internet Explorer 4.0, Netscape 4.0, or later versions. Optional (if your course includes attached documents, such as PowerPoint): Microsoft PowerPoint 97 or newer, or Windows users can download a free PowerPoint viewer from here.  Or you can download if from this address:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=7C404E8E-5513-46C4-AA4F-058A84A37DF1&displaylang=EN

Technical Assistance 

If you encounter problems with access to the Blackboard site, please contact the help desk at MVNU extension 5555 (Mon-Thu 7:30 AM -10 PM, Fri 7:30-8:30, Sat 11-10). At other times you may send email to bbadmin@courses.mvnu.edu. If you will be unable to complete course requirements on time due to technical difficulties, also send a copy of your email describing the problem to your instructor.

Navigating in the course web site

The Blackboard course environment is viewed by single clicking on any of the buttons, folder titles and underlined links. There are two types of navigation that you will need to be aware of:

1.Moving between content areas

2. Moving within a content area

To navigate between areas, click on the desired button on the navigation bar along the left side of the browser window.

To navigate within a content area, click on any underlined link to open a folder or document. You can move out of a folder by clicking on one of the underlined links that appear in brackets at the top of each page. The [Top] button will take you to the first or top page of the area you are currently viewing, such as Course Documents.
 

As we make our way through the readings you may wish to visit my web page,
Dr. Rearick's Readers' Corner located at. . .

http://nzr.mvnu.edu/faculty/trearick/english/rearick/readings/re_intro.htm

This address is reachable both on and off campus.  Those of you who are local and do not have a computer should remember that the Knox Public Library offers web access for a limited time, and--of course--the labs of the campus library and computer labs are available to you.

Other web pages relating to works of literature which might be of interest to the student can be accessed from this index page by title, author, genre, sub-genre, time period, or nationality.

I have tried to place some ideas and even sometimes some test questions connected with our class readings within these files.  Also in several cases there are links to study guides, e texts, and even connections to relevant web pages on the net.

Note that every work is connected to a page which gives biographical information about the author taken from the Encyclopedia Britannica.

One special point of note:  Please do not print off my pages until you find out how long the document is and have asked yourself if you really need a hard copy.  You can check the document size  by going into print preview and then zoom in so you can read the text.  At the bottom of the first page will be the page number in comparison with the total pages.  For example, my "Dickens’ Christian Carol in Prose" article has at the bottom  ‘1 of 13.’  This tells you that there will be 13 pages of text printed.  Not bad, but my Pride and Prejudice study guild developed by Monarch Notes is 75 pages!  Librarians and computer lab assistants have been close to despair to find piles of such text flowing from their printers.  Please do not abuse this resource!  Furthermore, this year students will be charged for printing, so now its your wallet that will take the hit.


Extra Help:

Academic support, located next to the Cougar den in the old Home Economics building, has several tutors to assist students build their study skills. Also on staff is Emily Stice, an English tutor, who will be available for consultations and will be running workshops and study groups to aid in composition difficulties. The Extension for Academic Help is 4540.  She will keep regular hours.   There is absolutely no disgrace in getting still another reader for one's work. Whenever I write I look for outside readers. Finally, while it's impossible to promise that the student will receive an "A," going to see her is an superb way to improve one's writing.


Class Calendar Spring 2008

Some General Academic Dates to Recall

Text Book Key

Dees-- Writing the Modern Research PaperWriting and Modern Research Paper by Robert Dees

SFHW --  The Scott Foresman  Handbook for Writers
HAM-CSCC -- Hamlet by William Shakespeare, (Case Studies in Contemporary Criticism) Edited by Susanne Wofford Bedford St. Martins (Remember this text contains a lot more than just the novel itself.)  This is the text you must have for class.  However, for ease of reading, this e-text of Hamlet with summaries is also available.


Week One:
Week One Jan. 30 - Feb. 1
By the end of this week you should have read
pages 3 - 14 in Hamlet: Introduction

Wed. Jan 31

Classes Begin: Introduction --

  • What to Expect and When to do it
  • A Comparison of Video and Textual Storytelling
  • Perhaps the Beginning of a film version of Hamlet

Fri. Feb. 1


Week Two:
Feb. 4-8
By the end of this week you should have read
pages 24 - 100 in Hamlet: Chapters 2 through 10

Mon. Feb. 4

  • SHW Chap. 1 pp. 1-15  "What Does Writing Involve?"
  • SHW Chap. 52 770-779 "What is Documentation?"  
  • HAM-CSCC pp. 15-19 (“The Text”)

  • Watch Hamlet Video  Read Hamlet even in Spanish

     

Opinion Paragraph due

For the opinion paragraph all that is required is that the student express an opinion about ANY subject.  There should be a declarative statement (like a thesis) and support.  However this does not need to be lengthy (about a page).  Remember to hand this in in MLA format, typed and in 14 font. (See SHW 822 for MLA opening page)  Have some fun with this.

The Purpose of this task is to emphasize the difference between facts and opinions, the need for sound support of opinions, and the continued practice in MLA style.

Wed. Feb. 6

  • SHW Chap. 1 pp. 15-29  "How Do You Find and Explore a Topic?"
  • HAM-CSCC pp. 19-24 (“Sources and Genre” and “Shakespeare’s Audience”) 

Click Here for a Windows Version of this Biblical Truth Assignment

Fri. Feb. 8

  • Dees Chap. 3 "Planning the Focus of Your Research" pp. 30-46
  • HAM-CSCC pp. pp. 51-79 (Act 1, Scene 5- Act 2, Scene 2) up to but not beginning Act 3
  • JE-CSCC  pp. 77-100 (Chaps 8-10)

Biblical truth with citation due

Remember, all work handed in to me must be typed, in 14 font, double spaced, and in MLA format.  Check the back of your Scott Foresman Handbook, page 822, for an example of an MLA heading which does not require a title page.

Give a truth you believe is soundly based and revealed in the Bible: (Jesus Loves You, God Created the Whole Universe, or something like such) and support it.  The point is that you are not to prove this with scripture.  Instead you are to demonstrate with a legitimate written Christian authority (commentary, study bible and so on) that the way you have been taught about this truth is a legitimate scriptural interpretation.  I am not expecting more than a paragraph for this.

After you have quoted the source give me the following

  • the source's author,
  • what book or article the work was found in,
  • city and publisher
  • the work's date (only the year if it is a book), and
  • the page number.

The citation is reaching for the MLA format.  You can look up the way to cite your source (See Scott Foresman Handbook on page 787-791).  Remember: FORM MATTERS!

Purpose:

This exercise is meant to demonstrate to students that in academics--even in subjects which they feel they know well--they must not interpret sources on their own.  Instead scholars must support themselves with recognized authorities.

Power Point presentation on Dees Chap. Three


Week Three:
Sept. 18-22

By the end of this week you should have read
pages 100 - 207 in Hamlet

Mon. Sept. 18  

  • SHW Chap. 7 "How Do Write for College?" pp. 102-104 
  • Dees Chap. 3 "Planning the Focus of Your Research" pp. 29-54
  • JE-CSCC  pp. 100-134 (Chap. 11-13)
  • How to Think Literary

Wed. Sept. 20

  • Dees Chap. 7 "Reading and Recording Information" pp. 141 -149
  • SHW Chap. 8  "How Do You Use Course Web Sites and Campus Writing Centers?" pp. 119-127
  • JE-CSCC  pp. 134-165 (Chap. 14-16) End of Vol. I Beginning of Vol. II

Fri. Sept. 22

  • Dees Chap. 7 "Reading and Recording Information" pp. 150-170
  • JE-CSCC  pp. 165- 207 (Chap. 17-19)

Power Point on Charlotte Bronte

Test # Two

For next time

  Click here for a scanned Sample Article (A" jpg" file; might take a while to download)

  Click here for Hypertext Version (Easier than scanned version to download and read since it is mostly text and can be shared)

Click here for Windows version of Article (Although the same windows format as that required for class, this document can NOT be accessed by more than one user at a time: Might be busy)

Click Here for a Windows Version of the Quickie Report Assignment


Week Four:
Sept. 25 - 29

By the end of this week you should have read
pages 207 - 332 in Hamlet

Mon. Sept. 25

   Initial Quickie Report due date

  • SHW Chap. 3 "How Do You Focus and Organize a Writing Project?" pp. 30-36
  • JE-CSCC   pp. 207- 246 (Chap. 20-22)
  • JE-CSCC "A Critical History of Hamlet" 445-458

Wed. Sept. 27

  • SHW Chap. 3 "How Do You Focus and Organize a Writing Project?" pp. 37-50
  • JE-CSCC  pp. 246 - 283(Chap. 23-25)

Fri. Sept. 29

  • JE-CSCC  pp. 284- 332 (Chap. 26-28) End Vol. II Beginning of Vol. III

Final Quickie Report due


Week Five: :
Oct. 2 - 6

By the end of this week you should have read
pages 332- 441 in Hamlet

Mon. Oct. 2

  • SHW Chap. 9 "How Do You Read and Think Critically?" pp. 142-148
  • JE-CSCC  pp. 332 - 358 (Chap. 29- 31)

Wed. Oct. 4 

  • SHW Chap. 9 "How Do You Read and Think Critically?" pp. 149-155
  • JE-CSCC  pp. 358 - 400 (Chap. 32- 34)

Power Point presentation on Brontes

Fri. Oct. 6

  • SHW Chap. 12 "How Do You Write Powerful Arguments?" pp. 168-172
  • JE-CSCC  pp. 400 - 441 (Chap. 35- 38)

PowerPoint on Argument and Critical Thinking


Week Six:

October 9-13

By the end of this week you should have read
pages 322 -431 in Hamlet

Mon. Oct. 9

  • SHW Chap. 12 "How Do You Write Powerful Arguments?" pp. 173-184

First due date for Literary paper

How to do an outline Power Point presentation of Dees Chap. Eight:
An Windows document demonstration of a title page and an outline for a paper on
Hamlet (Note MLA citation):

Literary Paper Check List

Sample Works Cited List, in Windows format, using works from the Bedford edition of Hamlet Case Studies in Contemporary Criticism

Wed. Oct. 11

  • SHW Chap. 14 "How Do Write About Literature?" pp. 203-214
  • SHW Chap. 52 "What is Documentation?" pp. 770-77

Fri. Oct. 13

  • SHW Chap. 14 "How Do Write About Literature?" pp. 215-228
  • SHW Chap. 53 "How Do You Use MLA Documentation?" pp. 780-833 

Test # Three


Week Seven:
March 10-14

Mon. March 10

  • SHW Chap. 13 "How Do You Design an Oral or Multi-Media Report?" pp. 191-200 

Literary Paper Check List

Citing Shakespeare for Lit Paper

Sample Works Cited List in Windows format, using works from the Bedfored Case Studies in Contemporary Criticism of Hamlet

Beware of Logical Problems

Wed. March I2  Midterm Exam 

 

Friday. March 14

Initial due date for Literary paper


Week Eight:
October 23-27

Mon. Oct. 23

Last due date for Literary paper

  • Dees Chap. 2 pp. 15-28  "Using a Library for Research"

Power Point presentation on Dees Chap. Two

 

 

Wed. Oct. 25

Special Lecture on the Library by Prof. Paul Nixon--Reference Librarian. 

PowerPoint on MVNU Library by Prof. Nixon

Note: material from this lecture will be included on the next test.

Internet Access Workshop:
Follow this link to page of Search Engine Links for On Line Research

Resources from Allyn and Bacon 

Search Engine Submission Tips

This area covers search engine registration and submission tips, such as using meta tags, improving placement and how to submit URLs. Formerly called "A Webmaster's Guide To Search Engines"

Web Searching Tips

Learn how to search better and how the major search engines work from a searcher's perspective. Also see how people search and other fun stuff.

Search Links: Search Engines Worldwide

Find all the major search engines; popular meta search engines; MP3 search engines; kid-safe services and much more

Fri. Oct. 27

Hamlet Criticism Class Reports

  • Group One: "Plain Jane's Progress'" by Sandra M. Gilbert pp. 475-501
  • Group Two: "The Father, Castration, and Female Fantasy in Hamlet" by Dianne F. Sadoff.  pp. 518-534

Week Nine:
March 24-28

Mon. March 24 No Class Travel Day

Wed. March 26  -- Note our schedule is slightly off because of the final being postponed

Literary Paper final due

  • Dees Chap. 2 pp. 15-28 "Using a Library for Research"

  • Power Point presentation on Dees Chap. Two

  • Review the Oral Power Point presentations for Fall 2007 and other Pointers

  • Special Lecture on the Library by Prof. Paul Nixon--Reference Librarian.

 

Fri. March 28

 


Week Ten:

March 31 - April 4

Mon. March 31

Special guest from the Library Prof. Amy Rice  

Wed. April 2 Can Spring be far?

Hamlet Criticism

Hamlet Criticism Class Reports  

Power Point presentation on Dees Chap. Four

Fri. April 4

Internet Access Workshop:
Follow this link to page of Search Engine Links for On Line Research

Resources from Allyn and Bacon

Search Engine Submission Tips

This area covers search engine registration and submission tips, such as using meta tags, improving placement and how to submit URLs. Formerly called "A Webmaster's Guide To Search Engines"

Web Searching Tips

Learn how to search better and how the major search engines work from a searcher's perspective. Also see how people search and other fun stuff.

Search Links: Search Engines Worldwide

Find all the major search engines; popular meta search engines; MP3 search engines; kid-safe services and much more

April 6-10

Mon. April 6

Back to the texts:

 

Follow this link for a Windows document version of the assignment 

Wed. Nov. 8

Subject and Topic with source of Subject Headings

Subject Headings

NOTE:    For space concerns only applicable here, the document accessible above is not double spaced but is set for "space and a half" (I wanted to fit it on a single page).  However, students should continue to obey the MLA standard of double spacing.  Also much more is included in the above document than my assignment requires.  All the student needs is the over-arching subject of his topic.  Additional info like sub topics or parallel topics (see also) are elements which go beyond the requirement.  Don't forget to include your credible source, the best is the Subject Headings for the Library of Congress or THE RED BOOKS in the library--There are other sources which will also work BUT DO NOT MAKE THIS UP!

Purpose:  This exercise is meant to help the student get a clearer sense of where in the vast tree of human knowledge his or her topic is located.  Students should come out of this exercise with several headings under which they Dec. look both in library catalogues as well as periodical indexes.


Power Point presentation on Dees Chap.. Seven (Review)

Fri. Nov. 10

Test # Four


Week Eleven:
November 13 - 17

Mon. Nov. 13

Wed. Nov. 15

Research Question due

Follow this link for a Windows document version of the Research Question assignment.

Note: Once again please follow the standard MLA format described thus far and demonstrated in this handout. Of course this means it must be typed. However, very little needs to be done. Identify the exercise and give you research question. If should be framed in such a way that a complete answer will give a thesis.

Purpose: This exercise is meant to help the student differentiate between a research question and the answer which will become his or her paper's thesis.

Power Point presentation on Dees Chap. Eight

Fri. Nov. 17

Power Point presentation on Dees Chap. Nine


Week Twelve:
April  14 - 18

Mon. Nov. 20

Power Point presentation on the Nature of Argument

Annotated Bibliography due

Follow this link for a Windows document version of the assignment on Annotated Bibliography (or an Annotated Works Cited) page.

Annotated Bibliography:

Note:    Please follow the standard MLA format described thus far and demonstrated in this handout.  Do not be surprised if this should run into several pages since there is a great amount of space used in citation format.  Also include the dead end works, ones you have examined but found did not help you research.  I am expecting at least five entries and want to see that you have been doing research even if it has taken you in a less than ideal direction.  This annotation is NOT required for the final paper.

One last point which I mentioned during Prof. Nixon's lecture.  You will please be sure to include in your annotated list at least one encyclopedia entry.  This assures me that you have indeed looked over the general topic and learned what is going on in your chosen field.

Purpose:  This exercise is meant to help the student begin to get an overview of the basic themes and problems in his or her research topic.  Since these annotations can and should at times include quotes and paraphrases, the exercise helps strength the same skills the Quickie Report first developed.  Finally it is one bit of practice in the required MLA format.


Week Thirteen:
April 21-25

Mon. Nov. 27

Research Proposal Due: Click here to review requirements

Follow this link for a Windows document version of the Research Proposal assignment

Follow this link for a Windows document of what your cover and thesis & outline pages should look like.

Tues. Nov. 28

Interviews Begin -- During class time interviews will be held in regular classroom

Note that interviews on Tuesday and Thursday will be held in my office at 8:30 through 10:20.while interviews on Monday, Wednesday and Friday will be held in class at the usual time.  Students wishing to hand in work early should come to class at the appointed time to drop off materials.

Wed. Nov. 29


Week Fourteen:
April 28 - May 2

Mon. April 28  Initial Due Date for Final Paper

Interviews Continued

Tues. April 29

Wed. April 30

Thurs. May 1   Blue Green Day

Fri. May 2

 


Week Fifteen:
May 5 - 9

Last Week of Classes

 Mon. May 5 Interviews Continued

Tues. May 6

Wed. May 7

Fri. May 9

 Test # Five

Final Due Date for Final Paper : May 12 = Your Paper is Your Final


Week Sixteen:
May 12-16

Final Week of Exams

Mon. May 12 - Reading Day 

Have a Wonderful Summer Season!


Syllabus Notes
 

Be aware that appointments will become more tight towards the end of the semester during personal reviews with Research Students   (Please note that in foul weather Prof. Rearick must catch the 4:00 MOTA bus since he does not drive--eyesight.)


Why only one third sources for the final paper from the internet?

My reason for not wanting more than a third of your material to come from the Internet is because I remember what it was like to be in your shoes.  As the semester draws to a climatic close there is great pressure to cut as many corners as possible.  Thus the great temptation for students is to sit in front of a computer monitor and do all the research from there whether the sources are the strongest or not.  I want you to obtain the best sources relevant to your topic and that means going to the library.  Please note this is not a law written in stone.  If the student finds a source beyond the third I allow and just feels it must be included come to me and show me the working bibliography.