Reading Poetry
Atteberry
Fall 2012
The primary subject of literature is and has always been
human emotion, values and beliefs.
John Gardner
General Information
Instructor
Phil Atteberry
Office: 305 McKinney Hall
Phone: 827-4458
E-mail: atteberr@pitt.edu
Office Hours:
MWF 7:30-8:00, 11:00-12:00 (Frequently 1:00-2:00)
TuTh 8:30-9:30, 11:00-12:00 (Frequently 1:00-2:00)
Also by chance and appointment.
Texts
Poems available through CourseWeb.
Course Focus
To explore the relationship between literature and life; to become better readers and wiser people.
Course Objectives
1. To build a basic vocabulary of literary terms.
2. To learn and practice the rudiments of literary analysis.
3. To consider the relationship between literature and life.
3. To strengthen writing skills (both structural and mechanical).
4. To enjoy and find value in what we read.
Attendance Policy
Attendance is important. Almost always a direct relationship exists between grades and class attendance.
Therefore, each student will have three excused (not unexcused) absences. Students who miss more than that may have
their final grades lowered. Students with seven or more absences will have their final grades lowered. Students
with ten or more absences will not pass. I will take attendance at the beginning of each class period.
If you arrive after I have taken attendance, remind me to mark you present. I reserve the right, however, to
mark absent anyone who is habitually late or extremely late.
Also, please understand that attendance is not just physical but intellectual.
If you sleep in class, catch up on your math homework, read Sports Illustrated (or even your history lesson), you will be marked absent. I will also mark you absent if you text message your friends during class or otherwise use your blackberries or phones for non-classroom purposes. Turn off your phones and blackberries. Be serious about class. Be mature. Be professional.
Late Policy
Missed quizzes may not be made up. Tests should be taken on time. Papers are due on time.
Normally tests may not be taken late nor papers turned in late.
If you have an emergency (a genuinely desperate situation), see me and explain the
circumstances before the assignment is due. I will then decide whether to make accommodations. Do
not simply send in a late paper. Late papers without explanations will
not be graded. Also, I reserve the right not to accept papers by students
who have not attended class regularly. In other words, if you are not in
class to receive the assignment or hear subsequent discussions and explanations
of the assignment, I will likely not accept the paper.
Grades
Grade distribution will be as follows: quiz grade 30%, tests 35%, papers 35%.
We will have three or four tests. (We may combine the third test with the final, or we may do them separately. We'll see how much time we have.) I will provide you with thorough study guides before each test.
We will write two short papers (three to five typed pages). They will not involve research.
Quizzes will occur frequently. Some quizzes may be made available through CourseWeb or the Internet before class. Such quizzes will be turned in electronically before class. Any quiz not turned in before class will not be accepted. Such quizzes turned in on time will not be counted unless you attend class. To access quizzes, go to my web site at www.pitt.edu/~atteberr or access them via CourseWeb. Click "Literature" and follow the path.
Advice
Remember: Teaching is my responsibility, learning is yours. You will get as much out of this course as you put into it. Coming to class is important, but coming ready to learn is even more so. Read your lessons on time; do your homework; be alert; ask questions, and you will be successful. View this and other classes as opportunities. Work hard and make the most of them.
Office Hours
My office hours are listed above and posted on my office door. Please feel free to come by and see me anytime I can help you.
Note: The daily syllabus which follows is tentative. Alterations may occur as the semester progresses. Those will be announced in class, and you are responsible for knowing about them, even if you are not in class when they are made.
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