Prof Lieber Office: ZOOM

Spring 2023, Eng. 102ec Office Hours: via ZOOM appointment

CRN: 40702 e-mail: ronald.lieber@ncc.edu

ENG 102: Composition II

Tuesday 10:00-11:15 am; Friday 9:30-10:45 am
**This syllabus is subject to change by the discretion of the instructor**
Catalog Description
This course is an introduction to writing about literature. The course is designed for students to practice
close reading and organizing evidence to support their written interpretation and analysis of literary
texts. The course offers students continued practice in drafting, revising, and editing essays. A primary
goal for students is to produce clear, well-developed, well-organized, grammatical writing. For at least
one essay, students use research materials. SUNY GEN ED-GBCM, GHUM; NCC GEN ED-COMP, HUM:
Pre-requisites: ENG 100 or 101 or 108

Course Goals and Outcomes

Writing Competency: to produce precise, clear, grammatically-correct, well-developed, and well-
organized writing appropriate to academic, social, and occupational fields; Outcomes: Students will
produce coherent texts within common college level forms and revise and improve such texts.
Critical Thinking: to be able to question information and to use reason to determine what to believe or
what to do; Outcomes: Students will identify, analyze, and evaluate arguments as they occur in their
own and others’ work and develop well-reasoned arguments.
Informational Literacy: to locate, evaluate, and incorporate relevant source materials into the
construction of an argument or informed point of view; Outcomes:  Students will access and utilize
basic computer and internet functions, demonstrating appropriate and effective utilization of
programs and functions; use basic research techniques, demonstrating appropriate, effective research
skills;  locate, evaluate, organize, and synthesize information from a variety of sources on a specific
topic to support an argument; and apply ethical and legal standards for use of source information,
demonstrating the application of accepted ethical and legal restrictions on the use of published
works.  
Humanities Competency: to understand the conventions and practices of English Studies; Outcomes:
Students are able to analyze or interpret texts, ideas, discourse systems, and the human values they
reflect.

Instructions for First Class

Log onto the student portal and click on the icon for Blackboard. Click on ENG 102. Watch the How To
videos. Read through the rest of the syllabus and click around the system. Go to Mail Messages and
Email me to let me know you’ve completed these tasks.
General Guidelines
 The class operates as a group, as one organism. The welfare of one student affects the welfare of
the group. Thus, it is held as an ideal that each member takes interest in the academic well-being
of every other member of the group.
 Students are expected to behave in ways to achieve the learning goals of the class. Any behavior
that interferes with that mission is open to exploration.
 ZOOM rules: Log onto class with you FIRST AND LAST NAME—I will not allow anyone into class
unless so identified—at least five minutes before it starts. Put your camera on and be ready to
unmute yourself. You must appear full faced onscreen, not just a forehead, a chin, or a ceiling,
alone, not in a waiting room or in transit. Wear appropriate clothing. Sit at a table or desk or sit
upright on your couch. You are not allowed to be in bed. Anyone who doesn’t comply with the
above will be removed from class. Take notes with a notebook and pen or pencil. Use the Raise
Your Hand, Reaction, or the Chat function on the screen if you feel uncomfortable shouting out
answers. Be present and be engaged.
 Students remain seated throughout class. Permission is needed from the instructor, as would be
the case in a face-to-face class, if a student needs to get out of his/her chair for any reason.
Anyone who violates this rule will be removed from class.
 Cell phones are to be put away and out of sight. Anyone caught with a cell phone will be
removed from class.
 Each student is expected to participate. That means you are to express through words your
thoughts and feelings concerning the matters the class discusses.
 When emailing me, you must include in the subject line your name, class and section.
Otherwise, I will not open the email.
 According to the Nassau Community College Classroom Disruption Policy, “Disruptive conduct in
the classroom that interferes with the instructor's performance of his/her professional functions
or that undermines the integrity of student learning will not be tolerated.” See the Nassau
Community College Classroom Disruption Policy and Student Code of Conduct in the college
catalog for further details.
 Note: Students are required to comply with all college policies regarding vaccination, masking,
social distancing, and screening or testing. See the college’s health and safety guidelines at NCC
Next (https://ncc.edu/nccnext/) and the full guidance document available through the MyNCC
Portal (https://myncc.ncc.edu/).

We will discuss each of the above guidelines in our first class.

Texts and Materials

Class materials are available in Blackboard.
A computer and wifi. Access to Microsoft Word (docx), access to a printer, Google drive. A Word journal
notebook.
Grades
Your grade is a holistic assessment of your performance and behavior. The bulk of the grade is
determined by your essay grades, which involves in addition to your own critical analysis the inclusion of
research into the papers. However, that grade can be affected by your attendance, ability to follow
rules, and conduct. In-class letter grades are assigned with plus and minuses. However NCC policy does
not allow a minus with a final grade so if your grade averages to a minus, I have to decide whether to
bump it up to the full letter grade or drop it down to the plus, i.e, your average is a B-. You are given
either a B or a C+. To receive a grade, a student must satisfactorily complete the research paper.

Essays 80%
Class participation (to receive an A, a student 20%
has to participate and have completed all
homework), homework (completion of all
homework gives one a B), conduct, and
quizzes

Attendance
If absent more than four times, you will not receive credit for this course unless we have reached an
understanding before you exceed the threshold. Attendance is taken at the beginning of class; anyone
entering afterwards is given a lateness. If you have exceeded the allotted number of absences and have
not officially withdrawn from class, you may receive an F for a final grade. I note those who arrive late;
such behavior is taken into account when your final grade is tallied.

Assignments and Readings

Please check Blackboard daily. This is important as all assignments are announced through Blackboard.
ALL WORK IS TYPED. I do not accept any scans of handwritten work. Homework, which may consist of a
number of tasks, each considered independently of the other, is to be submitted before class the day it
is due. Being absent does not affect handing in assignments. If I do not receive the homework, you will
not receive credit. No homework is accepted after the due date.
You may be asked to submit your essay through TURNITIN, in addition to the regular submission
portal, before class the day it is due. Late essays are handled at my discretion. I may accept it, I may not.
I may critique it, I may not. I may downgrade it, I may not. It’s completely up to me. So keep this in mind
when handing in work late—you’ve given up control of your grade. Also, the fact that an essay was
handed in late is taken into account when your final grade is tallied.
You are expected to come to class prepared. That means having read the assignment. Annotating
the text or taking notes is highly encouraged as it helps you engage more closely with the text. Students
who come to class without having read the assignment will be asked to leave in order to read the
assignment.
Essays
Essays follow the MLA format, which we will review in class.

Academic Honesty
I quote/paraphrase from a college web site: “Plagiarism is the act of presenting another person’s ideas,
research, or writings as your own. The following are some examples: Copying another person’s actual
words without the use of quotation marks and footnotes. (This applies to all sources, especially the
internet.) Using information that is not common knowledge without acknowledging the source.”
If you plagiarize, you will automatically fail the class, which can also result in dismissal from the
college. Consult the Student Handbook for further details:
https://collegecatalog.ncc.edu/current/policiesandprocedures/academic_info/ac_dishonesty.html

Classroom Behavior
See rules above for ZOOM class.
Disruptive conduct in the classroom that interferes with the instructor's performance of his/her
professional functions or that undermines the integrity of student learning will not be tolerated. Consult
the Student Handbook for further details:
https://collegecatalog.ncc.edu/current/policiesandprocedures/academic_info/
classroom_disruption_policy.html
Cell phones are permitted if they are on vibrate and on your person or purse, not in view or on
your desk. To answer a call, discreetly remove yourself from class. If the call is of a frivolous or personal
nature, end it immediately; if the matter demands your attention, deal with it then return to class.
You will conduct yourself appropriately and remain seated.

Writing Center
The Writing Center, located in Bradley Hall and the Library, offers one-on-one tutoring as well as
workshops. Telephone: BH 516 572-8195; Library 516 572-3595; email wcenter@ncc.edu

Disability Policy
If you have a physical, psychological, medical, or learning disability that may have an impact on your
ability to carry out the assigned coursework, I urge you to contact the Center for Students with
Disabilities(CSD), Building U,(516 572-7241,TTY(516) 572-7617. The counselors at CSD will review your
concerns and determine reasonable accommodations you are entitled to by the Americans with
Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. All information and documentation
pertaining to personal disabilities will be kept confidential.
Food Insecurity and Supplemental Support to Students
If you are having a difficult time affording groceries or accessing sufficient food to eat every day or if you
lack the basic necessities and believe this may affect your performance in the course, I urge you to
contact The NEST @ NCC Food Pantry. The NEST provides free groceries and personal care items to all
NCC students and their families and can assist you in accessing many other necessary resources. Please
visit the NEST’s website for further information: http://nestncc.weebly.com or email us
at foodinthenest@gmail.com.

Childcare Assistance
The Children's Greenhouse, on the NCC campus, offers high-quality, low-cost childcare for the children
of NCC students, faculty, and staff, ages 8 weeks to 7 years old on a flexible schedule. Children are
enrolled at the Greenhouse regardless of special needs and every effort is made to accommodate
them. All NCC students enrolled in online, remote, and face to face classes are welcome to contact Janet
Walsh at janet.walsh@ncc.edu or (516) 572-7614 for availability.

REMAINING in this course constitutes your acceptance of the policies, expectations, and
responsibilities outlined in this syllabus and stated in the course overview during the first
week of class.
Class Schedule
Do check your student email daily as the following schedule is more than likely to change as we assess
and fine tune our progress based on the performance and capabilities of the class. The object is to learn,
and we as a class will proceed at a pace suitable to our collective ability.

The Learning Modules, found in BlackBoard, take precedence over the schedule listed below.

Week One: Review syllabus. Review MLA format. Review handout on literary terms.

Week Two: Review handout on literary terms.

Week Three: Discuss “Ways of Looking at Texts,” “The Writing Process” and “Critical Essay Guidelines.”
Discuss the stories “55 Miles to the Gas Pump” and “Buffalo Soldiers.

Week Four: Read “Murder, Mystery.” A 500-word critical analysis is due on the story.

Week Five: Read and discuss “The Lesson” Discuss structure of a critical essay.

Week Six Critique rough drafts of “The Lesson” essay. 1500-word essay due on “The Lesson”

Week Seven: Read and discuss “Kansas.” A 500-word critical analysis is due on the story.

Week Eight: Discuss “Gryphon.”

Week Nine: Discuss “Gryphon.” Critique rough drafts of “Gryphon” essay.

Week Ten: 1500-word essay due on “Gryphon.

Week Eleven: Read and discuss the short story “A&P.”

Week Eleven: Discuss the short story “A&P.” Critique rough drafts of “A&P” essay. 1500-word essay due
on “A&P”

Week Twelve: Discuss “The Ascent” and “Those Who Are Dead Are Only Now Forgiven”

Week Thirteen: Poetry

Week Fourteen: Individual conferences

Week Fifteen: Individual conferences; Final