Eng. 251 G2: Film and Literature VERY IMPORTANT: AT NO TIME DURING OUR CLASS CAN YOU USE ANY ELECTRONIC DEVICES WITHOUT PERMISSION FROM ME DURING CLASS TIME. IF A STUDENT USES ANY ELECTRONIC DEVICE WITHOUT PERMISSION FROM ME DURING CLASS TIME – 11AM TO 1:45 PM, EXCLUDING ANY BREAK TIME -- HE OR SHE WILL BE EJECTED PERMANENTLY FROM ENG. 251G2. OTHER CONSIDERATIONS: THE COURSEMEETS ONCE A WEEK. THERE IS NO TIME FOR MISSED WORK, PLEA-BARGAINING FOR MORE TIME FOR COMPLETION OF READING ASSIGNMENTS OR SUBMISSION OF WORK, OR ANY OTHER EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES THAT MIGHT IMPEDE YOUR DAY-TO-DAY PERFORMANCE IN THE CLASS. IF CIRCUMSTANCES WORK AGAINST YOU, BE PREPARED TO WITHDRAW FROM THE CLASS.

Dr. Fran O'Connor VOICE MAIL: 572-0662 ENGLISH DEPARTMENT: 572-7185 EMAIL: (discussion/inquiries only) Fran.OConnor@ncc.edu OFFICE: Y210 OFFICE HOURS: TUES./THURS. 4-5:15 P.M. Conferences by appointment only. WEBPAGE: http://faculty.ncc.edu/Default.aspx?alias=faculty.ncc.edu/oconnof MAILBOX: Y20: PUT ANY CORRESPONDENCE UNDER THE NAME O’CONNOR

MATERIAL REQUIREMENTS: Computer with reliable word processing program Printer A stapler Pens, pencils, highlighters Notebook A folder for papers and Xeroxed materials

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ENG. 251 COURSE DESCRIPTION Many of us have the impression that Hollywood has recently turned to fiction for inspiration, converting popular best-sellers into mostly successful films such as The DaVinci Code (2006), The Hours (2002), the Harry Potter series (2002-), and A Scanner Darkly (2006). But adaptation from fiction to film lies at the heart of the motion picture business. Adaptations of fiction to film coincided with the birth of the motion picture in the late 19th and early 20th c. Indeed, one of Thomas Edison’s experimentations with film occurred in 1910, a short retelling of the 1818 novel, Frankenstein. By the 1930s, studios in Hollywood and New York were continually combing popular fiction as well as classic literature for adaptations, and Hollywood has never stopped looking to popular fiction and literature for inspiration. English 251 is designed for students to explore some of the connections between fiction and film. Students in Eng. 251 will practice close reading of both written and cinematic texts and organizing evidence to support their written interpretation and analysis of literary and cinematic texts. Eng. 251 compares different techniques and effects of literature and film. We will explore genre, form, structure, symbolism, myth, and convention as well as other literary and cinematic elements in both media. In addition, the role of the remake will be discussed during our semester together. DISCLAIMER: STUDENTS ARE REQUIRED TO THINK ABOUT AND WRITE ABOUT FICTION AND FILM THAT MIGHT OFFEND, UPSET, OR DISTURB THEM. PLEASE LISTEN TO THE DESCRIPTION OF THE COURSE CAREFULLY AND READ BOTH THE POLICY AND SYLLABUS. IF YOU DO NOT LIKE WHAT YOU HEAR OR SEE TODAY, PLEASE DROP MY CLASS AND ADD A DIFFERENT ONE. THANK YOU. REQUIRED BOOKS AND MATERIALS: Packet of short stories and articles Various handouts Different Seasons by Stephen King Carrie by Stephen King Night Shift by Stephen King RECOMMENDED BOOKS: Skeleton Crew by Stephen King Misery by Stephen King A Short Guide to Writing About Film, 7th ed. by Timothy Corrigan

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READINESS FOR ENGLISH 251: • Completion of Prerequisites: Eng. 251 requires the successful completion of Eng. 102 or the transferred equivalent. If you have not passed English 101 and/or English 102, you are not ready to take Eng. 251. Withdrawal from or failure of either English 101 or 102 means you did not pass the course in question. If you have received a D or D+ in English 101 and/or Eng. 102, you are probably not prepared for the rigors of English 251. However, you are welcome to attempt the class. If you dislike reading and writing and tend to avoid assignments that require both, I encourage you to seriously rethink your enrollment in a class that requires substantial preparation on your part. For those of you who have successfully completed English 101 and 102, my assumption is that you learned how to put together a paper that has a thesis, topic sentences, a discernable main idea that offers an argument using details and specific evidence pulled from other texts. If this is not the case, you should go to the Writing Center (516-572-7195) for help in composing passing papers.

• Classroom Decorum:

Class discussion and participation means asking appropriate and pertinent reading and discussion-centered questions, initiating discussions, paying careful attention to your classmates and me, taking notes, following instructions, engaging enthusiastically in group work. The NCC catalog requires enthusiastic participation, which means active on your end. Please make sure to respond to the readings or to class discussion aloud in class during each meeting. Ask questions. Take the lead during group work. Class discussion is NOT sitting passively waiting for the class to be over; agonizing over your own standing or progress in the class during actual class time; monopolizing or dominating class discussion; being passive during group work; bringing up inappropriate topics during class time; engaging in distractive or self-absorptive behavior, or asking questions of and/or chatting with classmates outside of group work.

• Attendance, disturbances:

Attendance is defined as attending class from start to finish, that is, the entire 165 minute period.

Only two absences are allowed. More than a total of a combination of four (4) late entries and early exits from class results in expulsion from the class.

• Submission of Work:

As the assignments rely on the comparative essay, you would be wise to familiarize yourself

with the comparative structure, preferably the point-by-point (aka topic by topic, subject by subject) comparison essay. I will provide handouts very early in the semester. However, you’d be very wise to go online immediately to the following sites for tutorials. Please do not make the mistake of thinking that you know how to organize this paper. YOU DO NOT: TRUST ME. Go online as soon as you get home, read the advice, print it out and start organizing your papers – and your brain – according to the advice and models offered. Websites featuring good advice about comparison papers are the following:

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• http://www.mpcfaculty.net/essc/handouts/CmpEssayPtbyPt.htm • http://essaywriting.suite101.com/article.cfm/how_to_write_a_compare_and_contrast_essay • http://cms.cerritos.edu/browse/browse.asp?WID=20040008&DID=20050413 Papers must be submitted on time. In addition, ALL papers submitted MUST be typed, double-spaced, and STAPLED. I WILL NOT ACCEPT LOOSE SHEETS AS A “PAPER.”

REWRITES: I will indicate rewrites with an R in a circle. Many times students take the wrong turn in a paper as they’re learning how to write academic essays. A little extra motivation on your part and instruction on my part may result in a better, more focused, paper from you. Please see me briefly about the rewrite before you embark on it. Also, you must submit the rewrites along with the original paper. Revisions submitted without the originals will not be graded.

BRIEF GUIDELINES FOR COMPOSING PAPERS:

NOTE: STUDENTS WHO WRITE PLOT SUMMARIES/DESCRIPTIONS/REVIEWS/EMOTIONAL REACTIONS OR OPINIONS CAN

EXPECT TO RECEIVE AN F GRADE ON THE PAPER IN QUESTION. The excellent (A, A-) or very good to good (B+, B, B-) essay constructs an analysis of the text in terms of interpretation, has a very discernable thesis, employs topic sentences in EACH paragraph, draws conclusions throughout the paper, identifies and discusses motifs, themes, ideas present in the text or suggested by the text. This essay demonstrates a good to excellent grasp of grammar, sentence boundaries, syntax and diction. The average (C+, C, C-) or below average (D+, D, D-) essay restates the plot, describes the characters and/or action, identifies with the characters and their predicament but does not analyze either. There is no discernable thesis, only a restatement of the topic, which in turn, will prevent the use of topic sentences. This essay demonstrates assorted grammatical errors, sentence boundary weaknesses, syntax and diction errors. The failing (F) essay demonstrates a readily discernable inability to formulate a response to the topic as it will display an underdevelopment of ideas and inadequate or incoherent organization. The serious grammatical, syntactical, and diction errors, as well as sentence boundary issues, render the paper below college-level, i.e., remedial. Again, students who write plot summaries/descriptions/reviews/emotional reactions or opinions can expect to receive an F grade.

QUIZZES: I will administer quizzes periodically to make sure everyone does the reading. Depending on the material to be covered in a particular class, failure of a quiz can also result in an absence. For instance, if we are going to cover a novella for the entire class period and you haven’t read it and have failed the quiz you will also be required to leave the class that day, resulting in both a failed quiz and an absence. (See above for absence policy.) Absences and failed quizzes can quickly add up. People who fail a quiz are welcome back for the following class, but they may have to display once again that they have read the materials for both classes.

Those who have failed 3 quizzes can request a W for the semester. GRADES:

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ONLY A, B+, B, C+, or C are transferable. However, D and D+ do carry credit if your only intention is to complete an Associate’s degree. ACADEMIC HONESTY: By enrolling in Nassau Community College, you “assume an obligation to conduct yourselves in a manner compatible with the function of the College as an educational institution.” (Nassau Community College Catalog). Under Student Code of Conduct, a student can be suspended or expelled if he or she commits plagiarism or indulges in any form of academic dishonesty. (Please review NCC’s Catalog.)

PLAGIARISM:

I expect students who have completed the freshman year (Eng. 101 and 102 or the equivalent) of composition to be conversant in documenting sources. Hence any student who plagiarizes any paper submitted to me will receive an F for the course.

DEFINITION AND KINDS OF PLAGIARISM:

Plagiarism is the unacknowledged use of somebody else's words or ideas and is considered an instance of academic dishonesty that instructors must report. You commit plagiarism by doing one or more of the following: • buying, stealing, or borrowing a paper; • hiring someone to write a paper; • allowing someone to help you write the paper • building on someone's ideas without providing a citation; • copying from another source or using a source too closely when paraphrasing.

(This includes all material obtained from the Internet and WWW.)

In other words, submit only your own work. In addition, please know that submitting work from another course and submitting simultaneously go against NCC’s Student Code of Conduct. DISABILITIES:

WHAT MIGHT AFFECT YOUR OVERALL SUCCESS IN THE COURSE is an undisclosed or unacknowledged physical, emotional, learning, and/ or psychiatric disability. The Center for Students with Disabilities can help you if you suspect you have or if you have a disability. The people at CSD at NCC are wonderful: they’ll make your life easier. PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING: If you have a physical, psychological, medical, or learning disability that may affect your ability to carry out the assigned coursework, I urge you to contact the staff at the Center for Students With Disabilities, Bldg. U (behind the old College Union), 572-7241. TTY 572-7617. CSD will review your concerns and determine with you what accommodations are necessary and appropriate. All information and documentation are confidential.