English
374 Fall 2005
Professor Willbern
REQUIREMENTS
Attendance: You have registered for the course. I expect you to attend class meetings. Generally I will pass around an attendance sheet to sign. Each absence counts as a 5% reduction in the attendance component of your grade (see Grades below). E.g., if the record indicates 3 absences, you'll receive an attendance grade of 85%; 7 absences, 65%.
Tests: There will be two tests: see Calendar for dates. There is no final exam.
Papers: Two are required: see Calendar for due dates. I will discuss topics throughout the semester and provide sample topics. See Guidelines for Papers for further details.
Projects: Students will work in groups, in person or through the course bulletin board, on specific projects related to the novels and the study questions. Each student must participate in one such project. We will use UB course management tool UBlearns, for discussion groups (see below).
Grades: Your final grade will consist of a finely tuned subjective consideration of a rigorously objective calculation of the two papers (25% each), the two tests (12.5% each), the group project (12.5%), and attendance (12.5%).
Office Hours: My office is 431 Clemens Hall; the telephone number is 645-2575 x 1009; email is willbern@buffalo.edu. Official hours are MWF 12:00-1:00. Other times can be arranged with advance notice. Plan to stop by at least once during the semester.
Course Web Site: http://www.cas.buffalo.edu/classes/eng/willbern/BestSellers/index.htm
In order to access it, you will need an up-to-date browser, and an email account. If you are not using your free UB email account, you must arrange to forward your mail. All course correspondence will go to your UBIT address. See UBlearns for more information.Software: Downloadable free software is available from iconnect@ub
UBlearns: We will use UBlearns for course announcements and communication, specifically group projects. Although most course materials will be on the Best Sellers Web site, some additional materials may be posted on UBlearns. Directions for projects and assignments are on the UBlearns site at http://ublearns.buffalo.edu
GUIDELINES FOR PAPERS
Topic: You can devise your own paper topics, with two conditions:
(1) No papers on a single novel. Link at least two (that's ideal) and no more than three books in any way that you consider important. The beginning of your paper should describe the topic you've devised.
(2) Use some of the course materials beyond the novels, from lectures or Web sites. In other words, demonstrate that you are working with the extra-literary materials provided in the course.
Other sources for topics are the Study Questions on each novel's web site, class discussion, and Discussion Board postings.Length: Papers should be between 5-7 pages, or approximately 1500-2000 words.
Format: Papers should be typed or word-processed in clearly legible print (no dead ribbons or draft dot matrix printouts). Margins should be one inch all around. Put your name at the top of each page, page number at the bottom.
Proofread your paper. I will reject any paper whose author has not bothered to inspect before submission. When resubmitted, that paper will be late.
Late Papers: Unless sanctioned by genuine emergency or prior permission, late papers are subject to a penalty of one half grade: e.g., "B" to "B-."
Rewrites: If you give me a draft of your paper a few days before it is officially due, I will comment on it and return it before the due date. The paper you submit on that date is your final paper. There are no rewrites after that.