Faculty Syllabus
ENGL-1302 English Composition II
Michael McCarter
Credit Spring 2026
Section(s)
ENGL-1302-228 (33986)
LEC MW 7:00pm - 8:20pm RRC RRC1 1314.00
Course Requirements
To succeed in Composition II, students should possess foundational skills in critical reading and textual analysis, particularly as applied to short fiction. Students are expected to demonstrate the ability to interpret literary texts, develop and support original arguments through close reading, and organize analytical essays with clear introductions, focused theses, coherent body paragraphs, effective transitions, and thoughtful conclusions. Additionally, students should be proficient in grammar, mechanics, and sentence construction, and have a working knowledge of proper citation and documentation of sources in literary analysis.
Prerequisites: Enrollment in ENGL 1302 requires credit for ENGL 1301, or its equivalent, with at least a grade of C. Student will present proof as needed, and professor will verify.
Readings
Required Literary Works
This page lists the literary works we will read and study throughout the semester. They are arranged in the order in which we’ll encounter them in the course. For specific reading dates and related assignments, please refer to the Course Plan section of the syllabus.
Unit One:
Nathaniel Hawthorne: Young Goodman Brown
Alice Walker: Everyday Use
Ernest Hemingway: Hills Like White Elephants
Charlotte Perkins: The Yellow Wallpaper
William Faulkner: A Rose For Emily
Ambrose Bierce: An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge
George Saunders: Victory Lap
Gabriel Garcia Marquez: A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings
Ray Bradbury: The Veldt
Unit Two:
James Baldwin: Sonny’s Blues
Truman Capote: Miriam
Unit Three:
Anton Chekhov: Gusev
Willa Cather: Paul’s Case
Stephen Crane: Open Boat
Tobias Wolff: Bullet in the Brain
Ursula Le Guin: The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas
Shirley Jackson: The Lottery
Unit Four:
Franz Kafka: The Metamorphosis
Unit Five:
Flannery O’Connor: A Good Man is Hard to Find, Good Country People, and The Life You Save May Be Your Own
Course Subjects
This course is designed to deepen students’ understanding of college-level analytical writing, with a particular emphasis on literary criticism and interpretative reading of short fiction. Students will engage with a diverse selection of short stories, exploring various literary styles, narrative techniques, and thematic conventions. Through close reading and discussion, students will develop their ability to craft interpretive and analytical essays that respond thoughtfully to literary texts. By the end of the course, students will have strengthened their command of the writing process, enhanced their critical thinking, and refined their skills in constructing well-supported literary analyses.
Student Learning Outcomes/Learning Objectives
This course is designed to deepen students’ understanding of college-level analytical writing, with a particular emphasis on literary criticism and interpretative reading of short fiction. Students will engage with a diverse selection of short stories, exploring various literary styles, narrative techniques, and thematic conventions. Through close reading and discussion, students will develop their ability to craft interpretive and analytical essays that respond thoughtfully to literary texts. By the end of the course, students will have strengthened their command of the writing process, enhanced their critical thinking, and refined their skills in constructing well-supported literary analyses.
Office Hours
M 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM Round Rock 2300
NOTEPublished: 01/19/2026 18:53:05