This document is a syllabus for an American Literature II course taught at Montgomery College in Spring 2010. It outlines the course details, including meeting times and location, the instructor's contact information, an overview of topics to be covered ranging from religious satire to sexually charged works, required materials, assignments including essays and peer teaching, grading policies, attendance policy, and academic integrity policies regarding plagiarism and classroom conduct.

1. EN212 – American Lit II
Spring 2010 Syllabus
TR 12:30-1:45 SB005
Montgomery College, Rockville
Joe Anderson
Email: via WebCT(preferred) or edward.anderson@montgomerycollege.edu
Office: CC 238 Office hours: MWF 9:30-10:30; TR 10:30-11:30 x77978
Twitter: ProfAnderson Course site accessible via WebCT
Course Overview:
This course will be a road trip through literature that is as pertinent as today’s headlines, and which has helped to shape
most of them. We will observe the perspectives, passions, and prejudices that constitute American identities, from the
religious and social satire of Lenny Bruce to the sexually charged testimonial of Annie Sprinkle, from the Counterculture
in Haight-Ashbury and New York City to the ‘Dangerous Fiction’ of Amy Hempel and Chuck Palahniuk. The texts that
we study here will be scandalous, disturbing, hilarious, shocking, exciting, and, without exception, each one will be
offensive to someone. If everything pans out, our discussions and debates will be all of these things as well. If you are of
an overly-delicate nature, socially introverted to the point of non-participation, offended by exposure to ethnic and
religious epithets, offended by bad jokes, offended by the possibility of being offended, or more concerned with being
politically correct than actually learning something, please drop this course immediately.
For everyone that’s left, we’re going to have some fun.
Textbook and other required materials:
Kaufman, Alan, et al., eds.. The Outlaw Bible of American Litarature. New York: Thunder’s Mouth, 2004. Print.
MLA writing guide, 2009 update
Daily internet access
Montgomery College English Composition Folder
Any other materials stipulated in-class or on-line
If you do not have the proper materials for the day’s class meeting, you will be booted. No exceptions.
If you need assistance regarding WebCT, call the IT Help Desk at (240)567-7222, or via email at
ithelpdesk@montgomerycollege.edu.
Assignments
 Reading: Get it done so that you know what we’re talking about... and what you’re talking about.
 Essays: You will complete at least two essays during this course in which you respond to pieces of literature from
the textbook or other reading assignments. Above all else, please remember that depth is more important than
breadth; eschew summaries or ‘everything’ papers so that you can focus on a very limited topic which can be
studied in greater detail. Further directions and guidance is provided in the assignment descriptions found
elsewhere in this packet.
 Essay Rough Draft Peer Review and Discussion: In conjunction with each of the essays, you will participate
in an informal review and presentation of your topic and its development. The purpose of these sessions is to
provide valuable feedback so that you will have the opportunity to improve your work before submitting it for a
final grade.
 Peer Teaching: Each student will be required to lead discussion during at least one class meeting, although
everyone may do this more than once depending on class size and the number of meetings. A prepared list of
clear, in-depth and original talking points is generally the easiest and most effective way to keep the class engaged
(tip: You could probably pull off a fine peer teaching session with a list of 10-15 focused, specific critical thinking
questions), but you might also prepare activities, background information, or any other relevant materials. This is
a sit-down assignment, not a speech or a PowerPoint presentation (although a PP element is an option), so don’t
feel as though you have to take center stage the whole time. A sign-up sheet will be provided.
 Discussion Questions/Participation: Bring in two copies of discussion questions for each meeting (at least one per
assigned reading), not counting the weeks that you peer teach. Although we will likely not get to everyone’s

2. questions in a period, you may be called upon at any time to contribute, so you should be prepared. Participation
will also encompass other aspects of your in-class performance, and may be counted as a separate grade or in
combination with another assignment (such as the Peer Teaching experience), weighted at my discretion.
 Additional assignments will be described as they arise.
Grading:
It is expected that all students in EN212 are able to write at a college level. Papers which receive a below average grade
(C) may be failed outright or returned for total revision.
Essays and other assignments will be evaluated based on the Pennsylvania Writing Assessment Domain Scoring Guide,
which may be found elsewhere in these introductory materials and on the course WebCT page. Some assignments may be
graded for all of the domains, others for a single domain, any combination of domains, or by some other means.
Familiarize yourself with this resource.
I will read your essays carefully and make suggestions for improvement. However, I will not mark every error. You
must assess your own writing and use what you learn from teacher and peer feedback to improve your subsequent essays.
100-90 A
89-80 B
79-70 C
69-60 D
59 & below F
← ‘C’ is AVERAGE, or the minimum expected level of quality. If your work possesses the standard
level of sophistication that is to be expected from a college student, this is the grade you will earn. If
you believe that you should be earning better than an average grade, it is contingent on you and you
alone to do better than average work. By comparison, a ‘B’ indicates superb work, while an ‘A’
paper is near-flawless. Accordingly, the higher the grade is, the more rarely it is earned.
Please note that opportunities for re-submitting any assignment for a better grade will be severely
limited, if available at all. It is expected that you will submit the best possible version of each essay, so please take the
time to proofread, revise, and have your work peer reviewed before turning in a final copy. Visiting the Writing Center
would be great, too.
Formatting:
All pieces of writing, whether submitted via hardcopy or through course website will be formatted in the following
manner:
 Page size: 8 ½ x 11 inches
 Double-spaced
 12-point font size
 Times New Roman font type
 1-inch margins on every side
 Page numbers
E-mail messages, discussion board submissions, and other electronic pieces should be formatted in a similar fashion when
possible (double-spacing in Word is not the same as hitting ‘Enter’ at the end of every line!) Aside from worksheets and
assignments completed in-class, all pieces of writing must be typed; handwritten submissions will not be accepted.
Your name, my last name, and the course number must be posted at the top of each page.
Attendance:
Since you have paid for the course, you should get the most out of your money. Accordingly, you are expected to attend
all class meetings. A student who misses more than a week’s-worth of class meetings throughout the semester, for
whatever reason, may be dropped from the class with a grade of “W” or receive an “F”. This could affect veterans’
benefits and financial aid.
Students should not assume they would be dropped if they stop attending class. The student is responsible for
withdrawing by the drop date to avoid receiving a failing grade for the course. See the MC homepage for this semester’s
deadline.

3. Also, please get to class on time. A late arrival invariably causes disruptions and can have a chilling effect on a student’s
grade.
Missed or Late Work/Test Make-Up Policy:
Late assignments will not be accepted unless the student makes arrangements with me before the assigned due date. Only
in the case of an extreme documented emergency will any other considerations be made.
If technical problems prevent you from submitting a paper to the WebCT site, you may submit a hard copy. To do that,
you must either hand it to me personally before the deadline, or:
1. Hand the paper to an administrative aide in the English office (MT526), and
2. Ask that aide to write the date and time on the paper, sign it, and put it in my mailbox
I will not accept any paper submitted outside of class unless an English department aide vouches for the time and date it
was submitted. Be aware that the English office is only open from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday; that
means you can submit hard copies of papers outside of class only during those hours!
Academic Dishonesty/Plagiarism –or- ‘Big Brother is Watching’:
Plagiarism, whether intentional or unintentional, is a very serious academic and ethical offense. It is a form of cheating
and is grounds for failure on an assignment, in the course, or referral to the appropriate dean for additional sanctions. In
your assignments, give proper credit to borrowed material, whenever you:
 Directly quote another person’s actual words, whether oral or written;
 Paraphrase the words, ideas, opinions, or theories of others;
 Use another person’s ideas, opinions, or theories;
 Borrow facts, statistics, or illustrative material;
 Offer materials assembled or collected by others in the form of projects or collections without acknowledgment.
(adapted from Indiana University Code of Student Rights, Responsibilities and Conduct)
For the College’s policies on plagiarism, please refer to the student handbook under the heading, “Academic Dishonesty
and Misconduct” or consult the MC Code of Student Conduct at:
http://www.montgomerycollege.edu/departments/academicevp/Student_PandP.htm.
I reserve the right to submit any assignment for analysis by any plagiarism software or service at my disposal.
Classroom Etiquette -or- ‘Big Brother is Watching’:
Disruptive behavior or non-cooperation of any kind is not permitted. Students who violate classroom decorum and do not
respect the rights of their fellow students to enjoy an atmosphere conducive to learning will be asked to leave and will be
counted as absent. This may be expanded to a permanent removal from the class at my discretion. Please consult the
Student Code of Conduct for more information.
Withdrawals:
Students may choose to audit a class at the time of initial registration, or they may change to audit at any point prior to
completion of 20% of the class. Faculty permission is not required to register for audit. However, permission is required
to change to audit after classes begin.
An official last day to withdrawal from a course with a grade of “W” is established each semester and can be found by
contacting the registrar’s office. It is the student’s option and responsibility to withdraw from the course by this date.
Students with Disabilities:
Any student who may need an accommodation due to a disability should make an appointment to see a Disability Support
Services (DSS) Counselor. A letter from DSS authorizing your accommodation will be needed.
Any student who may need assistance in the event of an emergency evacuation must identify him/herself to the Disability
Support Office; guidelines for emergency evacuations for individuals with disabilities are found at:
www.montgomerycollege.edu/dss/evacprocedures.htm.

4. The Disability Support Services office is located in CAB 122, and a DSS counselor can be reached at 301-279-5058. For
those who may be deaf or hard of hearing, the TTY line is 301-294-9672.
Class Cancellation Policy:
On occasion, Montgomery College will announce a late opening or early closing of a specific campus or the entire college
because of weather conditions or other emergencies. Since classes begin at various times throughout the day, a late
opening or early closing will occur during a scheduled class period.
 If the College opens or closes at a time when more than 50% of a class period will be missed, that class will be
cancelled for the day. For example, if the College is closing at 5pm, a class that begins at 4:45pm would not meet.
 If less than 50% of a class will be missed, that class will meet for the remaining portion of its regularly scheduled
time. For example, in the College opens at 11am, a class that begins at 10:55am would meet starting at 11am.
For the most up-to-date information regarding College openings, closings, or emergencies, you are encouraged to sign-up
for email and text alerts via the Montgomery County MC ALERT at
https://alert.montgomerycountymd.gov/index.php?CCheck=1
Tentative Weekly Schedule
The following is subject to change, and very likely will.
Week 1: Jan 26, 28 Intro
Bierce – An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge (1890) Hand-out
Poe – The Cask of Amontillado (1846) Hand-out
Week 2: Feb 2, 4 What is ‘American Lit’ Anyway?
Lahiri – The Namesake (2003) WebCT
Miller – Tropic of Cancer (1934) 25
Nabakov – Lolita (1955) WebCT
Week 3: Feb 9, 11 Alien Nation
Ellis – American Psycho(1991) WebCT
Hemingway – Hills Like White Elephants (1927) WebCT
Holmes – Go (1952) 125
Week 4: Feb 16, 18 Race Relations (or Lack Thereof)
Alexie – Jesus Christ’s Half-Brother… WebCT
Ellison – Invisible Man (1953) WebCT
Roth – Portnoy’s Complaint (1969) WebCT
Week 5: Feb 23, 25 Pissing Contest
Rand – Man’s Rights (1961) WebCT
Churchill – On the Justice of Roosting Chickens (2003) WebCT
Coulter – This Is War (2001) WebCT
Week 6: Mar 2, 4 Mid-term Essay Rough Draft Peer Review and Discussion
Week 7: Mar 9, 11 Filth, Smut, and Other Fun Stuff
Max – The Night We Almost Died(2006) WebCT
Mueller – Ask Dr. Mueller (circa 1980) 31
Southern and Hoffenberg – Candy (circa 1960) 557
Sprinkle – Hardcore from the Heart (2001) 553
MID-TERM ESSAYS DUE MAR 9.
Mar 16, 18 Spring Break
Week 8: Mar 23, 25 How to Spot a Stoner
Cooper – The Scene (1960) 290
Lippman – The Crack Cocaine Diet (2005) WebCT
Thompson – Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1971) 624
Week 9: Mar 30, Apr 1 Runnin’ and Gunnin’
Braly – On the Yard (1967) 512
Solanas – SCUM Manifesto (1968) 198
Vachss – The Getaway Man (2003) 467

5. Week 10: Apr 6, 8 Beaten…
Bukowski – Post Office (1969) WebCT
Gaiman – American Gods (2001) WebCT
Schrader – Taxi Driver (1976) 436
Sexton – poems WebCT
Week 11: Apr 13, 15 …and Bloody
Goines – Never Die Alone (1974) 280
Palahniuk – Swan Song (2005) WebCT
Wojnarowicz – Close to the Knives (1991) 39
Week 12: Apr 20, 22 Pretty Things
Dunn – Geek Love (circa 1980) 390
Eggers – A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius (2000) 382
Fitzgerald – The Great Gatsby (1925) WebCT
Goldbarth – poems WebCT
Week 13: Apr 27, 29 Out the Other Side
Brautigan – The Abortion (1966) 618
Butler – Kindred (1979) WebCT
Hempel – The Harvest (1997) WebCT
Wolff – Bullet in the Brain (1995) WebCT
Week 14: May 4, 6 Where We’ve Come To
Harris – Red Dragon (1981) WebCT
Meyer – Twilight (2005) WebCT
Patterson – Along Came a Spider (1993) WebCT
Week 15: May 11, 13 Final Essay Rough Draft Peer Review and Discussion

7. PLEASE SIGN, DATE, AND RETURN THE FOLLOWING BY THE 2ND
CLASS MEETING. YOU WILL NOT BE
READMITTED OR COUNTED ON THE CLASS ROSTER UNTIL THIS SLIP IS COMPLETED AND RETURNED.
EN212 Syllabus Contract
I have read and understood the policies described in the EN212 Syllabus, including the information regarding plagiarism
and other forms of academic dishonesty. I agree to work and produce material in a responsible and ethical manner, as
defined by the Montgomery College Student Code of Conduct, and to adhere to all other guidelines stated in the syllabus.
Name (printed):____________________________________________________
Signature:_________________________________________________________
Course meeting days, times:___________________________________ Today’s date:____________________________