INGL 3104 - Intermediate English II, Spring 2015

University of Puerto Rico - Mayagez Campus

College of Arts and Sciences
Department of English
Instructor: Mrs. Mariony Medina
Office: CH 408
Mondays 3:30pm - 5:00pm
E-Mail: marionye.medina@upr.edu
Department (CH 323)

Office Hours:
Mailbox: English

Intermediate English II
Composition and Literature
General Information:
Alpha-numeric codification: INGL 3104
Course Title: Intermediate English II
Course Schedule: MWF 2:30pm - 3:20pm
Number of credits: 3 per semester (45 contact hours)
Contact Period: 3 hours of lecture per week
Non-Contact Period: 2 hours of outside assignments for each contact hour (6
hours in total)
Course Description (according to the 2009-2010 Undergraduate
Catalogue of the University of Puerto Rico, Mayagez Campus):
English: Analysis of selected readings, such as essays, fiction, poetry or
drama, and practice in writing compositions with attention given as needed
to grammar and idiomatic expressions.
Pre/Co-requisites and other requirements:
Intermediate English II (INGL 3104) is the second course of a sequence
designed for entering students at the Mayagez Campus of the University of
Puerto Rico who have scored 570 or above on the College Board Entrance
Examination, but who have not qualified for advanced placement in the
Honors Program of the English Department by obtaining a score of 4 or 5 on
the Advanced Placement Test. Those students who receive 3 on this test are
enrolled in English 3103. Those students who successfully pass INGL 3103
must pass INGL 3104 and six additional credit hours in the English
department courses to satisfy University requirements. If you were enrolled
in Basic English in previous semesters, you should NOT be taking this

INGL 3104 - Intermediate English II, Spring 2015

course. Please see me if you have any doubts about your placement in this
course.

Course Objectives:
After completing INGL 3104, students should be capable of
demonstrating the following skills and abilities in the areas of reading
and writing:

Reacting to and interpreting works of literature through the adoption

of traditional and non-traditional modes of literary analysis such as
comparison and contrast, in-depth study of a literary work, analysis of
elements of fiction, and multimodal and multigenre interpretations
Drawing a conclusion about a selected reading and stating it as a
thesis
Demonstrating knowledge and recognition of elements of fiction,
drama and poetry in selected works of literature in analysis and
interpretation of these readings in writing.
Collecting and evaluating evidence from a text and presenting that
evidence effectively in support of the stated conclusion in writing
Arguing persuasively about the relationship between the evidence
and the conclusion drawn in writing
Continuing application of the various stages of the writing process
to written work, including drafting, peer editing, and publishing
Carrying out an elementary literature-based research project using
the campus library and the internet and including various sources
Demonstrating correct usage of MLA documentation with general
formatting, in-text citations, and the Works Cited page
Effectively writing essays from 750 to 1000 words in length.

Instructional Strategies:
Discussion Seminar with formal presentation Seminar without
formal presentation Workshop Practice Research Other (please
specify): Schoology Website
Minimum or Required Resources Available:
Routine access to computing facilities and Internet (wired classroom), digital
projector, overhead screen, speakers, TV with DVD/VHS
Grading System:
Quantifiable (letters)
Because the grading scale at our institution does not allow for the reporting

INGL 3104 - Intermediate English II, Spring 2015

of grades of - or + (A- or C+ for example), I will necessarily calculate grades
according to the following scale. Notwithstanding, students should be aware
that an A is a grade assigned for exceptional work only. If your work for the
course does not reflect this quality, do not expect an A.
Grade
90-100
80-89
70-79
60-69
0-59

Numerical Equivalent
A
B
C
D
F

Evaluation Strategies:
While a final, graded exam is compulsory for all students who entered in
INGL 3104, this course is based primarily on writing essays, not on exams;
however, I will give short quizzes over the assigned readings to assure you
have read them. The chart that follows lists the distinct tasks required by
your instructor, the quantity of each, and the percent of the total grade these
represent:
Tasks

Quanti Poin
Tentative Due
ty
ts
Date
5
50 Dates to be
announced

Reader Responses on
Schoology to novel, short
stories, poems, and/or films
watched and discussed in
class
Quizzes

Literary Analysis Essay

Dates to be
announced
100 February

Comparison and Contrast

Essay
Research Paper on an author
of fiction, poetry or drama
Final Exam

100 March

100 April

100 May

TOTAL:

Length
300 words
minimum

50

750 words
minimum
750 words
minimum
1,000 words
minimum
One full exam
booklet

500

Reader Responses on Schoology:

You will NOT be excused from postings on Schoology. This means a total of
five postings must be submitted by the date assigned. Late entries will NOT
count toward your final grade.

INGL 3104 - Intermediate English II, Spring 2015

Quizzes:
They will take place in class either announced or unannounced. Be sure you
have your assignments read for each class period.

Essays:
You will write three formal essays for this class; the first and second will be at
least 750 words in length, and the third will be at least 1,000 words in length,
including works cited pages. For each essay, you will engage in a process of
pre-writing, drafting, proof-reading, and revising with peers.

Research Paper:
You will research an author, poet, or play write or use a series of stories and
poems, and create a paper that shows readers that you are completely
knowledgeable of this person and his/her works by creating a work of art
yourself that represents important information about this person and the
writings he/she has done. Details and instructions will come later.
Final Exam:
The final exam will consist of a full-length composition based on a topic to be
selected and approved by all faculty members and instructors teaching the
course. You will receive detailed instructions on this exam in late April.
Bibliography:

The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman. Available in Amazon.com

($7.90)

INGL 3104 - Intermediate English II, Spring 2015

We will also use again They Say/I Say: the Moves that Matter in
Academic Writing, especially the chapter on writing about literature.
All other readings will be posted to the Schoology class website or sent
to you through email.
These are reference books and are available in the General Library or
The Writing Center:

Axelrod, R., and Cooper, C. (2009). Axelrod and Coopers Concise Guide to
Writing. 5th ed. Boston: Bedford/St. Martens.
Kennedy, X.J., and Dana Gioia. Literature: An Introduction to Fiction, Poetry,
Drama, and Writing. 11th ed. New York: Pearson, 2010.
McWhorter, K. (2009). Successful College Writing. 4th ed. Bedford/St.
Martens.
Raimes, Ann. Keys for Writers. 5th ed. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2008.1
Rosen, L. (2009). The Academic Writers Handbook. 2nd ed. Boston: Pearson
Longman.
Ruszciewicz, J. How to Write Anything. Boston: Bedford/St. Martens, 2009.
Additional Course Requirements and Resources:
For this course, computer access is required. You should check your
university e-mail account to receive information I send. We will also be
using an electronic classroom website where you will be posting your reader
responses and all the class material will be available: www.schoology.com.
The English Department counts with its very own computer lab, which can be
found at the Chardon Building, room 326, and it is open from Monday to
Friday from 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM. Please make sure to sign the lab's
1 This text is available in the General Library rather than in The Writing
Center.

INGL 3104 - Intermediate English II, Spring 2015

attendance sheet before using one of the computers. The library also
provides computers for the student body.
Online Resources:
How to Recognize Plagiarism Tutorial
http://www.indiana.edu/~istd/
This website provides a one to two hour tutorial created by the School of
Education at the Indiana University Bloomington to help you to understand
and recognize plagiarism. It also allows you to print a certificate upon
passing a related test. Your professor may require you to turn in your signed
certificate as evidence that you have confirmed your understanding of
plagiarism and how to recognize it.
The Internet Detective
http://www.vts.intute.ac.uk/detective/
a free online tutorial that will help you develop Internet research skills for
your university and college work. The tutorial looks at the critical thinking
required when using the Internet for research and offers practical advice on
evaluating the quality of web sites.
The Merriam Webster Online-Dictionary
http://www.merriam-webster.com/
The Merriam Webster Online Dictionary is an excellent all-in-one reference
tool for writing that includes a Spanish-English dictionary, thesaurus, and
audio samples for support with the pronunciation of specific words.
The Owl at Purdue
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/
The Online Writing Lab (OWL) at Purdue Universityhouses writing
resources and instructional materials.Students, members of the
community, and users worldwide will find information to assist them with
many writing projects, during any stage of the writing process.
General Course Policies:
Attendance to class is compulsory at our institution and will be verified with
an attendance sheet. Students are expected to attend and to always be on
time. You must provide the appropriate documentation for an absence to be
considered excused and the instructor will reserve the right to accept an
excuse or not. Excused absences and tardiness, as well as early departures
from their hours, count as 12 of an unexcused absence, so make a point of
being on time. After the equivalent of three unexcused absences, 10%
will be deducted from the students final grade per absence.
Students who do not submit their assignments on time will be considered
absent and any make up assignments will be at the discretion of the

INGL 3104 - Intermediate English II, Spring 2015

instructor. Refer to the below chart for a general idea of the consequences of
absences/tardiness/early departures from class.
Unexcused Absences (and equivalent
in tardiness)
1-3
4
5
6
7+

Maximum Grade for Course

A
B
C
D
F

Incompletes:
Refer to University policy in relation to incompletes. Incompletes will not be
assigned in this course unless there is a valid and documented reason (i.e.,
medical problems). Poor work in the course is not a valid reason. The grade
earned by the student will be the grade s/he is assigned. There will be no
extra-credit option in this course to improve grades.
Electronic Devices:
While we live in a technologically advanced society, cellphones, music
players, and other electronic devices are distracting and should not be used
in class. If your phone goes off in class, you can either bring chocolates,
pizza, or pastries for the entire class for our next meeting, or the entire
class has to write a 5-page essay about cellphone etiquette, which will count
towards the reader responses grade.
By-law 06-33 (Institutional Policy on Partial Exams Offered Outside
of Regular Class Hours):
According to article 6 of by-law 06-33 (Institutional Policy on Partial Exams
Offered Outside of Regular Class Hours), Partial exams offered outside of the
established course period should not conflict with other classes, laboratories,
or departmental exams in the program of studies of the students registered
for a course. If it is not possible to accommodate students at the same time,
or if a valid excuse is submitted by one or several students in a timely
manner prior to the exam, the principle of equity demands that these
students be tested at another time, in conditions equivalent to those of other
students in the section. Article 7 indicates that scheduling conflicts that
cannot be resolved between the student and the professor can be directed to
the attention of the director or the directors of the corresponding
departments, programs, or offices. Contrary to what some professors have
indicated to students, there is no reason why they should miss classes when
they confront situations like this. As such, an absence from a class due to an
exam in another course will not be excused.

INGL 3104 - Intermediate English II, Spring 2015

According to Law 51:

All reasonable accommodations according to the Americans with Disability
Act (ADA) will be coordinated with the Dean of Students and in accordance
with the particular needs of the student. Any student needing such
accommodations should contact the Office of the Dean of Students in the
Decanato de Estudiantes building, Office DE-6 (in front of the Jos de Diego
building). For more information, please call (787) 265-3862 or (787) 8324040, exts. 3258 or 3274. Consult the Servicios a Estudiantes con
Impedimentos website (http://www.uprm.edu/sei/index2.htm) for more
details.
NB: The Dean of Students notifies the professor of accommodations that
must be made for a student via a formal letter, however students disabilities
are NOT disclosed to the professor.
Departamento de Orientacin:
On the first floor of the Decanato de Estudiantes (across from the Jos de
Diego building), you can access counselors who can advise you on managing
your stress, your time, and the various pressures that you might be
confronted with in your first year (or future years) at the Colegio. Don't be
timid about seeking help when you need it. Recognizing your need for help
and actively seeking resources to support you is a sign of maturity. For
further information, link to http://www.uprm.edu/orientacion/index.html or to
schedule an appointment, call (787) 832-4040, extensions 2040, 3372, or
3864. This department is open Monday-Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
The Writing Center:
Students should take responsibility for obtaining help as needed. In addition
to the instructors office hours, the Arts and Sciences Writing Center,
located in Celis 323 Mondays-Fridays from 8:00 a.m. 4:00 p.m. The Writing
Center supports all reading and writing needs including the reading of texts,
vocabulary development, pre-writing, drafting, content development,
organization, and the preparation of final drafts. Contact Dr. Jocelyn Gliga if
you have any questions or concerns about the Writing Center. Dr. Gliga is
the Writing Center Administrator.
Academic Honesty:
As per Cert. 45, 2005-06, it is the institutional policy of the Mayagez
Campus to observe the highest standards of intellectual and scientific
integrity and to pursue the prosecution of all violations. Violations include
plagiarism (using the work, processes, ideas, and results of others without
proper credit). Moreover, Article 14(A)(2) of the UPR General Regulations for
Students identifies cheating as a punishable conduct.

INGL 3104 - Intermediate English II, Spring 2015

As such, a professor may present a formal complaint to the Campus
Disciplinary Board if she or he believes a student has committed plagiarism.
If the professor pursues this line of action, Article 15 of the UPR General
Regulations for Students stipulates that the repercussions may be the
following:

A written warning which will be included in the students official record

Probation for a determined period of time
Suspension for a determined period of time
Administrative permanent withdrawal from the UPR system
Other sanctions provided by special regulation

In this class, the instructor will assign an automatic 0 (F) for an assignment if
plagiarism is detected. Make-up assignments will not be allowed. Your grade
for that assignment will remain a 0 (F).
Additional Requirements:

Students should bring their required texts (or copies of the assigned
readings) to class and be prepared to discuss these. If they do not bring
their texts to class, they should be able to discuss both the homework
assigned for the previous class as well as the readings on the agenda for
the day with detailed annotated notes.

It is expected that students will submit assignments on the due date

upon the start of class. For each day of class that an assignment is late,
the grade for that assignment will be lowered one full grade. In case of
an emergency, contact the professor so that your circumstances may
be taken into consideration and necessary arrangements may be made.

In wireless classrooms or Internet connected classrooms, students should

not engage in web activity that is not course related.

All work for the course will be word-processed on a computer. No handwritten work will be accepted.

The professor will only utilize her UPR account and the Schoology website
to communicate with students.

Students should only use their UPR accounts or Schoology website to

access and share documents in this class. It is the responsibility of the
student to routinely check this account and the Schoology website to
stay informed about the course.

INGL 3104 - Intermediate English II, Spring 2015

* This document may be amended over the course of the semester

in order to meet course objectives and correct unintended errors.

10