Course Syllabus for English 242: British Literature II

Transcription

1 Course Syllabus for English 242: British Literature II Instructor Information Instructor: Lori Beth De Hertogh Office Hours: T/TH 5:30-6:00 & by appointment Office Location: Behind front desk Course Information English 242: British Literature II Time: T/Th 6:00-7:15 Section: 800 Location: 116 Class/Lab/Credit Hours: 3/0/3 COURSE DESCRIPTION This course covers selected works in British Literature from the Romantic Period to the present. Emphasis is placed on historical background, cultural context, and literary analysis of selected prose, poetry and drama. Upon completion, you should be able to interpret, analyze, and respond to literary works in their historical and cultural contexts. This course is designed with the expectation that you are familiar with basic literary interpretation, the library databases, and MLA format. I will dedicate only a small portion of class time to working on these areas. Furthermore, I expect you to take responsibility for your own learning as a college student. If you are struggling with an assignment or course expectations, please seek me out for help. I am more than happy to help you out. Also note that this course is designed around group discussions and collaboration. You will be regularly asked to work in small groups and to share your ideas and opinions with others. PREREQUISITES Completion of English 111 and 112, 113, or 114 RELATED PROGRAM OUTCOMES General Education Competencies Students will demonstrate communication skills that include the abilities to read, comprehend, and analyze information; and to express ideas effectively through written and oral communications. Students will apply critical thinking strategies to think logically and solve problems using analysis, synthesis, and evaluation. 1

2 A.A./A.S. Program Outcomes Graduates will demonstrate and articulate knowledge of historical and cultural contexts. Graduates will apply written and oral communication principles in a variety of academic contexts. COURSE OUTCOMES At the conclusion of this course with a C average or better, students will be able to: Identify and trace the development of British literature from the beginning of the Romantic period to the present time by explaining key historical, philosophical, social, theological, and literary movements and exploring how these movements are reflected in the representative literature of the time. Demonstrate understanding of literary terms, major themes, and critical principles by using them to analyze specific works of British literature from the time period covered. Provide insight and understanding into the literature and culture of each time period studied through clear expository prose. ASSIGNMENTS & REQUIREMENTS Attend all class meetings Prepare all out-of-class assignments before class Actively participate in workshops and other scheduled class activities Write three literary analyses one for each genre studied; each one will include a research component and documentation Complete three tests, covering the three genres Complete a variety of formal and informal writing activities REQUIRED MATERIALS 1. Greenblatt. Stephen. The Norton Anthology of English Literature. Vol. II. 8 th ed. 2. A reliable method of storing and backing up electronic files 3. Daily access to the internet, Blackboard & 4. A portable stapler ATTENDANCE POLICY You are allotted four free absences. On your fifth absence, I will drop you from the class and you may receive an F as your course grade unless you withdraw yourself by the last drop date. If for some reason you are experiencing extenuating circumstances that are beyond your control, we may negotiate the possibility of you receiving a withdraw rather than an F for the course. If, by the end of the term, you have missed no classes, I will award you a bonus in the form of points added to your final grade. 2

3 In addition, you will be counted absent if you: Arrive more than 15 minutes late Leave early Sleep Use unapproved electronic devices (laptops, cell phones, ipods, etc.) Read outside materials or do work for another class Disrupt class this includes chatting, text-messaging, or generally disrupting the flow of class. If you do any of the above, I will ask you to leave class and you will be counted absent. Dismissal from class will count toward your allotted class absences. I m certainly not a Luddite, but I do have a bit of a beef with personal electronic devices in class, so please leave them at home or tucked away in your book-bag. If you use them, or if they vibrate incessantly, I ll ask you to leave class. I do not differentiate between excused and unexcused absences. Once you are tardy 3 times, it will count as one class absence. You are tardy after class has begun. If you come in late, it is your responsibility to notify me or you may be marked as absent instead of tardy. ABSENCES FOR RELIGIOUS OBSERVANCES Students requesting excused absences for religious observances as required by their faith must complete the Absence for Religious Observance form available in Student Services. I have also posted a copy of this form on Blackboard under the course documents tab for your convenience. *Be aware that you must submit the completed form within 10 business days after the first class. BLACKBOARD I will post major class assignments on Blackboard. If you experience technical difficulties with Blackboard, you will need to contact Blackboard Technical Support in one of the following ways: Office Visit (located by computer lab room 102) Phone: Online: Please do not contact me as I am unable to remedy technical problems with Blackboard. CLASS CANCELLATION AND INCLEMENT WEATHER INFORMATION If the college cancels classes, I will post a make-up assignment on Blackboard which you will be required to respond to. You will have until the second school day after classes 3

4 resume to complete the assignment. All posts must be made by 11:59 p.m. of the due date to be considered for attendance/credit. Make-up assignments will be taken up on the second day after classes resume. Late assignments will not be accepted. The make-up assignment will count as your attendance for the missed class and will count towards your attendance for the course. Check the school s website ( and snow line ( ) for information on closings. You can also go to Ray s Weather ( for a complete list of all school closings. If the college has cancelled all day classes, then you are not expected to be on campus for classes meeting between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. A separate notice is issued for the cancellation of evening courses beginning after 4 p.m COURSE GRADING SYSTEM The final grade you receive in this class is based on a 100 point scale. Grade Point Scale A B C D Below 70 F Course Assignments Final Essays: 45% Exams: 30% Journal: 12% Draft Work: 8% Other Assignments: 5% ASSIGNMENTS OVERVIEW Essay #1 (15 points): In this essay you will show that you have a working knowledge of selected literary works from the Romantic Period. Essay #2 (15 points): This essay will require you to critically analyze works of literature from the Victorian Age. Essay #3 (15 points): In this essay you will show that you have a working knowledge of selected literary works from the Twentieth Century to the present. Exams (30 points): You will complete 3 essay-based exams for the course and each exam is worth 10 points. Exams require you to call upon your knowledge of course content and analytical writing skills. 4

5 Journals (12 points): Throughout the semester, you will regularly work on a journal that reflects your thoughts, feelings, and critical analyses of the readings we do throughout the course. Your journal will be a typed, electronic document that you will print out and hand in on assigned due dates. I do not accept handwritten journals. Drafts (8 points): For each major essay you write, you will complete one draft and then a final essay. Each draft is worth 2.5 points. All drafts must follow the guidelines of the assignment in regards to length, format, and focus in order to be considered for credit. Points may be deducted for poor draft quality or failure to follow assignment guidelines. Other (5 points): This includes, but is not limited to: in-class activities, presentations, take-home assignments, quizzes, etc. Please make note that continual non-participation may affect your grade. This means that you are expected to actively participate in anything we do throughout the entire class period. ESSAY RUBRICS & HANDOUTS I will provide a handout and grading rubric for each essay assignment specifying the general focus of the essay, page length, and how many secondary sources are required. Many students use the rubric as a checklist to ensure they have covered all aspects of the assignment. LATE WORK POLICY Major essays (with the exception of your final essay) are the only work that will be accepted beyond the prescribed due date unless we have made prior arrangements. Assignments not turned in during the specified date/time are considered late. Late essays will receive a 15% deduction for each day they are overdue. Essays will not be accepted more than 3 days after the due date (including weekends) unless we have made prior arrangements. Other assignments such as your final essay, exams, drafts, journals, quizzes, in-class writings, etc. not turned in during the class period on which they were assigned will not be accepted for credit. Submission of electronic documents is also prohibited and will not count toward an assignment grade unless we have made prior arrangements. CLASS READINGS To perform well in this course, you must read the assigned texts and have your books in class every day. I have structured the syllabus in such a way that readings should not be overwhelming, and your knowledge of the material will be integral to class discussions as well as to writing assignments. 5

6 COURSE ETIQUETTE Throughout this course we will be reading literary works that reflect a variety of ethnic, socio-economic, and cultural backgrounds as well as texts that explore gender and sexual orientation issues. In light of this, it is important that during our class discussions and in your writing assignments that you approach these issues and texts in a respectful, professional, and academic manner. While you are certainly not expected to agree with or enjoy everything we read and discuss in class, you should always demonstrate cultural sensitivity and awareness toward the text, your instructor, and your classmates. EXTRA CREDIT Extra credit points may be available during the term for a variety of activities. The exact number of points will be determined by that particular activity or assignment. AVAILABLE RESOURCES The Broyhill Learning Resource Center s collection includes many books, journals, and videos/dvds relating to our course work this semester. I may periodically show videos/dvds from the collection in class. Please take a moment to explore the LRC resources available to you. The Writing Center is an invaluable resource where all CCC & TI students can receive assistance from trained writing consultants with any type of writing at any stage of the writing process. Please contact the Writing Center Coordinator for further information. SPECIAL NOTES If you require an accommodation for a disabling condition, please contact personnel in Disability Services in Student Services within the first three weeks of class. Students are expected to adhere to all college policies and procedures outlined in the CCC & TI Student Handbook and College Catalog which are available on the college s website or in Student Services. These policies and procedures include information regarding the student code of conduct, grievance procedures, disciplinary procedures, academic integrity, and emergency preparedness procedures. The Writing Center is an invaluable resource where all CCC & TI students can receive assistance from trained writing consultants with any type of writing at any stage of the writing process. In addition, the website, located on the CCC & TI website under student services, is an excellent resource for writing handouts. The Writing Center is located in the Academic Support Center, and no appointment is necessary. Please contact the Writing Center Coordinator for further information. 6

7 TENTATIVE SCHEDULE It is your responsibility to use the tentative schedule to keep up with assignment due dates. While we may deviate at times from the tentative schedule to accommodate unforeseen conflicts or your learning needs, assignment due dates rarely change. If I choose to reschedule a due date for an assignment or essay, I will let you know in advance. If you are absent, you will need to catch up on what you have missed before the next class period. All assignments are due at the beginning of the class period to which they are assigned and are considered late after class has begun. The following schedule outlines basic class assignments such as draft, essay, journal, and exam due dates. A separate handout will be posted on Blackboard at the beginning of each unit outlining course readings and journal assignments. Please be aware, however, that additional readings may be assigned in class and some readings may occasionally be replaced by others. It is therefore in your best interest to regularly attend class so that you are up-to-date on reading assignments. The Romantic Period Week One 8/18: Syllabus Review, Review power-point Etiquette for homework Week Two 8/23: TBA 8/25: Journal Entry #1 Due Week Three 8/30: Review website Writing About Literature, Review Essay #1 Handout 9/1: Journal Entry #2 Due Week Four 9/6: Draft #1 Due 9/8: Journal Entry #3 Due & Take Home Exam Handout Week Five 9/13: Journal Entry #4 Due 9/15: Exam #1 Due The Victorian Era Week Six 9/20: Essay #1 Due 9/22: Journal Entry #1 Due 7

8 Week Seven 9/27: TBA 9/29: Journal Entry #2 Due Week Eight 10/4: Review Essay #2 Handout 10/6: Journal Entry #3 Due Week Nine 10/11: Fall Break No Class! 10/13: Draft #1 Due & Take Home Exam Handout Week Ten 10/18: Journal Entry #4 Due 10/20: Exam #2 Due Contemporary Literature Week Eleven 10/25: Essay #2 Due 10/27: Journal Entry #1 Due Week Twelve 11/1: TBA 11/3: Journal Entry #2 Due Week Thirteen 11/8: TBA 11/10: Journal Entry #3 Due Week Fourteen 11/15: Review Essay #3 Handout 11/17: Journal Entry #4 Due Week Fifteen 11/22: Draft #1 Due & Take Home Exam Handout 11/24: Thanksgiving Holiday No Classes Week Sixteen 11/29: TBA 12/1: Exam #3 Due 8

9 Week Seventeen 12/6: TBA 12/8: Essay #3 Due *Late Essays Will Not Be Accepted!* Week Eighteen Exam Period NOTE: This syllabus is tentative and may be amended at my discretion. Every effort will be made to cover the material identified herein, but occasional changes may be made for educational purposes or scheduling reasons. 9