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Course Description  ♦ Course Objectives ♦ Course Policies ♦  Grading Policy

Grade Distribution  ♦  Late Policy  ♦  Plagiarism  ♦  Required  Books

Students shall achieve the ability to write complete essays that demonstrate advanced proficiency in all of the following:

1. Read closely in a variety of forms, styles, structures, and modes, and articulate the value of close reading in the study of literature, creative writing, or rhetoric.

2. Show familiarity with major literary works, genres, periods, and critical approaches to British, American, and World Literature.

3. Write clearly, effectively, and creatively, and adjust writing style appropriately to the content, the context, and nature of the subject.

4. Develop and carry out research projects, and locate, evaluate, organize, and incorporate information effectively.

5. Articulate the relations among culture, history, and texts.

• Beckett, Samuel. Nohow On: Company, Ill Seen Ill Said, Westward Ho: Three Novels. New York: Grove Press, 1995. (ISBN 978-0802134264)
• Ellis, Bret Easton. American Psycho. New York: Vintage, 1991. (ISBN 978-0679735779)
• King, Stephen. The Shining. New York: Pocket, 2002. (ISBN 978-0743437493)
• Lee, Vernon. Hauntings & Other Fantastic Tales. 1890. Ed. Catherine Maxwell. New York: Broadview, 2006. (ISBN 978-1551115788)
• Lewis, Matthew. The Monk. 1794. Ed. Emma McEvoy. New York: Oxford World Classic, 2008. (ISBN 978-0199535682)
• Oates, Joyce Carol, ed. American Gothic Tales. New York: Plume, 1996. (ISBN 978-0452274891)
• Polidori, John William. The Vampyre and Ernestus Berchtold; or The Modern Oedipus. 1819. Eds. D.L. Macdonald and Kathleen Scherf. New York: Broadview, 2007. (ISBN 978-1551117454)

• Shelley, Mary. Frankenstein. Ed. J. Paul Hunter. Norton, 1996. � FREE BOOK! Print or e-copy

• Stevenson, Robert Louis. The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde. 1886. New York: Oxford UP, 2008. (ISBN 978-0199536221)
• Stoker, Bram. Dracula. 1897. Ed. Nina Auerbach. New York: Norton, 1996. (ISBN 978-0393970128)
• Email & Turnitin accounts

• A Research Guide for Undergraduates in English & American Literature. MLA, 2006. (ISBN 9780873529242)
• Harmon, William and C. Hugh Holman. A Handbook to Literature.
• MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers. 7^th ed. New York: MLA, 2009. (ISBN 9781603290241)
• Hacker, Diana. A Writer�s Reference (or other writing handbook)

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This course studies the evolution of a particular genre. Since we will build on our definition of �gothic� and �horror� from the first day of class, your participation in each class meeting is imperative. This class is largely discussion-based; arrive to class prepared with the proper readings. Our meeting space is the technology-rich environment of a Smart Classroom complete with Smart Board, video projector, sound system, VCR, and DVD player. If you find something relevant to our readings, please bring it in or put it on the screen at the beginning of class. This type of engagement will only enhance your participation grade. For further tips on performing well in class, see below.

A student�s participation is assessed by his/her contribution throughout the semester. Use the following as guidelines for this portion of your final grade:
 

There are no make-ups for an ICE/OCE; you simply receive a zero for that essay. An OCE needs to be emailed by the date and time specified in order to receive credit; a late OCE will receive a zero. Please be aware that missing even a few of these essays will cause your final grade to drop significantly. The lowest grade in this entire group of essays will be dropped.

See tips for writing effective Reading Responses.
 

See detailed instructions here for presentation. See your group members here! or check the online schedule for the most recent list.

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In English Department courses, instructors will comment on and grade the quality of student writing as well as the quality of the ideas being conveyed. All student writing should be distinguished by correct grammar and punctuation, appropriate diction and syntax, and well-organized paragraphs.

For your final grades, 100-90 is an A, 89-80 is a B, 79-70 is a C, 69-60 is a D, and below 60 is an F. Pluses and minuses are the middle of each range. In calculating the final grade, a set number will represent each letter grade; for example, B+ is 87.5, B is 85, and B- is 82.5.
 

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Academic Integrity
Your commitment as a student to learning is evidenced by your enrollment at San Jose State University. The University�s Academic Integrity policy, located at http://www.sjsu.edu/senate/S07-2.htm, requires you to be honest in all your academic course work. Faculty members are required to report all infractions to the office of Student Conduct and Ethical Development. The Student Conduct and Ethical Development website is available at http://www.sa.sjsu.edu/judicial_affairs/index.html.

Instances of academic dishonesty will not be tolerated. Cheating on exams or plagiarism (presenting the work of another as your own, or the use of another person�s ideas without giving proper credit) will result in a failing grade and sanctions by the University. For this class, all assignments are to be completed by the individual student unless otherwise specified. If you would like to include your assignment or any material you have submitted, or plan to submit for another class, please note that SJSU�s Academic Policy S07-2 requires approval of instructors.

A Word about Plagiarism & Turnitin
Plagiarism checks will be performed by asking students to submit various written exercises or essays to Turnitin.com, a service which scans documents for all references to Web sources and other essays. To sign up for Turnitin use the Class ID 4254840 and Password goth11. You may see your Turnitin report when you submit your assignment; if there are any discrepancies, I will request a meeting with you; if plagiarism is indicated, there is a possibility that you could fail the course.

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