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** Dr. Forrest C. Helvie ** //Professor// // of Developmental English // // Coordinator, Center for Teaching & Learning // // Coordinator, ENG 088 // Office: West 209H 203-857-3301 Email (fhelvie AT norwalk DOT edu - be sure to replace AT with @ in addition to DOT with . ) **ENG 088: Foundations for College Study / Reading / Writing: MON / WED** 6 semester hours/institutional credit only This integrated reading/writing course is designed to develop reading comprehension and writing skills. Emphasis is reading selections from college subject areas, developing and using an academic vocabulary and writing essays. Students completing this course will be immediately eligible for enrollment into ENG 101: Composition or ENG 101/101W.
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 * COURSES:**

This course serves as an introduction to critical methods in popular culture studies, with a focus on the comic book as a cultural product and vehicle. Together, we will explore the ways in which meanings emerge in several celebrated texts of the graphic novel genre, as well as some contemporary classics. Our readings of these texts will be informed by a diversity of theoretical perspectives, including feminism, postmodernism, and others. We will interrogate the relationships between the concepts “graphic novel” or “comic book” and “popular culture,” with each of us bringing our lived experiences to our readings and discussions. In the context of contemporary U.S. society, we will see how critical studies of popular culture have a distinct place in the arts and humanities. We will consider the contradictory ways in which difference, power and knowledge are articulated in cultural production. Through in-depth studies of several primary texts, we will learn how graphic storytellers use and manipulate historical and contemporary social issues as the building blocks for their art.
 * ENG 274: Graphic Novel as Literature: MON / WED **

‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍One of the best ways to improve reading ability and develop a wider vocabulary is through reading! The Independent Reading Projects (IRP) are meant to encourage leisure reading--academic books are not allowed! Students will select at least one novel of their own choice during the semester--mystery, sports, romance, sci-fi, fantasy, or any novel-length book that is of personal interest. Some time will be alloted during class over the course of the week for either reading their IRP book as well as for writing some informal journal responses based on their reading. While students will receive credit for doing the reading and responses, no formal assignments will be given based on these readings. They are meant to give students the opportunity to discover the possibilities of leisure reading. ‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍
 * ADDITIONAL INFO & ‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍RESOURCES ‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍ ‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍:**
 * Independent Reading Projects (IRP):**

This section includes a nice checklist that I recommend you use to review each written assignment before submitting for a grade in addition to a key for figuring out what some of my editing / correcting comments actually mean. Additionally, it provides some information for figuring out what my comments mean so you know what changes to make! ** Grading Rubric for ENG 088: ** A rubric is a published standard for grading. We use rubrics to ensure all students will be judged on a common set of important abilities. While I will spend time reviewing these abilities with you in class, I recommend each of you spend time reviewing this rubric so you fully understand my expectations in order to successfully complete this course.
 * Editing and Revising Your Paper:**

E-Tutoring is a free program for Norwalk students to use that will provide additional feedback on your writing assignments from full-time faculty. I HIGHLY recommend submitting your drafts here before turning them into me! INSTRUCTIONS FOR SUBMITTING A PAPER: 1. Click on "Login" 2. Select "Northeast Consortium" 3. Scroll down and select "Norwalk Community College" 4. Enter your Banner user name and password. If this does not work, you may need to register for a user name and password. I recommend you make them the same so you won't forget it.
 * E-Tutoring: **