Course Title: Introduction to American Literature Summer 2, 2017 Course Number and Section: English 2326-91L, 70154 Instructor: Professor Steven Schneider Contact Information: Office: ARHU 325 Office Hours: T & R 2-4 p.m. and by appointment Phone: 665-5327 Email: steven.schneider@utrgv.edu (Note: The best way to contact me is by email or through the Course Messages link on the course menu. I am available seven days a week.) Course Description: Introduction to American Literature (3 credits) Emphasis on critical methods of reading, writing, and thinking; at least three genres and three authors considered. The focus of this course will be on a variety of literary responses to living and working along the U.S.-Mexico border and in the Southwest. We will read works of fiction, poetry, and non-fiction in our attempt to comprehend the border region as a site of linguistic and cultural diversity. Through short stories, poems, novels, and non-fiction essays students will become more familiar with the art, culture, and politics of this vibrant region of the country. Course Pre-requisites: Students should complete ENG 1301 and ENG 1302 before registering for this course. Or by permission of the instructor. Required Texts for the Course Hunger of Memory, Richard Rodriguez The Devil s Highway, Luis Urrea Bless Me, Ultima, Rudolfo Anaya Brownsville, Oscar Casares Crazy Loco, David Rice Course Outline and Schedule Unit One: Unit One Hunger of Memory by Richard Rodriguez
Unit Two Unit Two: The Devil s Highway by Luis Urrea Unit Three Unit Three: Bless Me, Ultima by Rudolfo Anaya Unit Four Unit Four: Crazy Loco by David Rice and Brownsville by Oscar Casares Assessment / Grading Information Four quizzes: 50 % (highest quiz score will be counted twice) Mid-term: 20% Final Exam: 30% Note: There will be four quizzes, a midterm and a final exam. Questions You May Have Q & A: Most of your general questions about the course will be answered in the Q & A that you will find on the Course Menu. Please check these first before emailing me any question you may have. Email the Professor If you have a personal question that cannot be answered by th Q & A, then please send me your question by email through the Messages link in Blackboard Learn (BBL). I will also be communicating with you directly through BBL. Normally, I will respond within 24 hours. Course Announcements Please pay close and frequent attention to Course Announcements, which is the main way I will let you know about deadlines, upcoming quizzes and exams, as well as course assignments. Instructor s Policies Online discussion postings must be submitted regularly as announced Your online class participation in a timely way is important. You are encouraged to respond to at least three of your classmates postings to facilitate discussion. If you fall behind, it is okay to go back and post, but you are strongly encouraged to keep up with these in each course unit.
Feedback I will read all discussion postings, usually within 24 hours of your post and respond to the majority of them. Because you will normally have 24 hours to take and submit a quiz or exam ( assessments ), there are no makeup quizzes or exams. You must submit your quiz or exam online within the 24 hour posting period. All quiz and exam dates will be sent as announcements. Failure to submit a quiz or exam within the 24 hour posting period will result in an F for that quiz or exam. Attendance Policy While this is an online class, you are strongly encouraged to log in each day and participate in the course activities. The performance dashboard in Blackboard Learn does keep a log-in record of your course participation. Student Academic Integrity Policy This concerns committing an act of academic or scholastic dishonesty. Scholastic dishonesty includes but is not limited to cheating, plagiarism, collusion, the submission for credit of any work or materials that are attributable in whole or in part to another person, taking an examination for another person, any act designed to give unfair advantage to a student or the attempt to commit such acts. See H.O.P. 5.5.2(19 a-c) for more details. Instructor s Course Goals and Objectives: to introduce students to great writers and great works in imaginative literature through a variety of genres and forms of literary expression (THECB 1, 7; SLO 1,2, 3) to develop students literary tastes and their aesthetic pleasure in reading (THECB 6; SLO 1, 2, 3) to introduce students to literary studies and the specialized terminology of these studies (THECB 1, 2, 3, 5, 7; SLO 1, 2, 3) to develop critical thinking and critical reading skills (THECB 3, 4; SLO 1, 2, 3) to develop students ability to analyze texts, generalize, and think abstractly about a variety of issues that impact border culture and life (THECB 4, 5; SLO 1, 2, 3) to further improve writing competencies acquired in English 1301 and 1302 (THECB 3, 4, 5; SLO 1, 2, 3) Exemplary Course Objectives
To ensure consistency in instructional approaches throughout Texas pubic institutions, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board devised in 1998 exemplary objectives for all courses required in universities core curricula. Institutions throughout the state, including UTPA, have used the THECB exemplary objectives to define objectives for required core curriculum courses. In addition, all UTPA major programs of study now have Student Learning Outcomes (SLO s) which promote consistency and accountability in preparation of majors. Finally, within each program, individual courses have curricular objectives that reflect and support state and institutional educational goals and reflect accepted theories and practices in that discipline. This section of your syllabus demonstrates how these various sets of goals are implemented in your specific sophomore English course through your individual instructor s course objectives. State/Institutional Goals: Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) Exemplary Objectives for Humanities and Performing Arts: 1. To demonstrate awareness of the scope and variety of works in the arts and humanities. 2. To understand those works as expressions of individual and human values within an historical and social context. 3. To respond critically to works in the arts and humanities. 4. To engage in the creative process or interpretive performance and comprehend the physical and intellectual demands required of the author or visual or performing artist. 5. To articulate an informed personal reaction to works in the arts and humanities. 6. To develop an appreciation for the aesthetic principles that guide or govern the humanities and arts. 7. To demonstrate knowledge of the influence of literature, philosophy, and/or the arts on intercultural experiences. Departmental Goals: Student Learning Outcomes for English (SLO s) SLO 1 Students will be able to interpret and analyze a text using different approaches from literary, rhetorical and/or linguistic theories. SLO 2 Students in certification tracks will demonstrate knowledge and skills in the areas of writing, literature, reading, oral communication, media literacy and English language arts pedagogy SLO 3 Recent graduates who majored in English will demonstrate satisfaction with the programs in the English Department. SLO 4 Students will be able to use discipline-appropriate technology applications (such as library databases, computer applications, Internet research, non-print media, multimedia applications, desktop publishing etc.) in preparation and presentation of course projects. Department Goals for Sophomore English: In sophomore literature courses, students will 1. amplify reading, writing, and critical thinking skills developed in English 1301 and 1302. (THECB 3; SLO 1, 2, 3,4)
2. understand and appreciate great writers and great works in imaginative literature in a variety of literary genres and literary periods. (THECB 1; SLO 1, 2, 3) 3. understand the basic principles of literary language and analysis (THECB 4, 6; SLO 1, 2, 3) 4. understand that literary study may be directed by a variety of analytical approaches, including but not limited to historical, psychological, biographical, social, and feminist approaches; (THECB 2, 5, 7; SLO 1, 3) 5. understand the influence of literature on intercultural understanding and on appreciation of the individual s culture (THECB 7; SLO 1, 3) 6. develop an aesthetic appreciation of literature (THECB 5, 6; SLO 1, 2, 3) Technical Requirements and Support To Access Blackboard You will need a user name and password to access ENG 2303.90L (summer 2 2015) on the Center for Learning, Teaching and Technology Web site Blackboard uses the same username and password as your UTPA email username and password so if you are having password problems or you forgot your username and or password you need to contact email support. Due to security concerns, it has become imperative to have a strong password policy for all systems that support complex password policies. Strong passwords will need to conform to password policies set on: Active Directory - logging into your computer and other computers in the UTPA Domain, Oracle E-Business - logging into Oracle Web Application for your time cards, self-service, etc. Oracle OID - logging into Oracle File Workspaces where files are shared out. The passwords will need to be complex, with alphanumeric characters, different cases, and must meet the character length requirement. Password Requirements: Character length - Minimum of 10 characters Complex - a word not found in a dictionary Alphanumeric - numbers and characters Case - mixture of upper and lower case Here are some hints for choosing a strong password: Think of a sentence (phrase/favorite lyrics) you can remember and use the first letter of each word as part of your password, i.e.: lyrics from Kaiser Chiefs Ruby: Let it never be said, That romance is dead. KCl1nbstr1d Substitute numbers for letters and mix up case-instead of meowmeowmeow use M30wm30wm30w. Remember, it is important to remember your new password without having to write it. Also, do not use personal information as part of your password ie Driver s License Number, Social Security Number, first name, and last name. Please spend some time choosing a strong password so when the policies are set in place, you will be ready to enter your new password. The effective data will be November 5,
2007. Please note that the changes will occur so that once you change your password, it will be synched for all systems. If you have any questions, please call Helpdesk at 956-665-5327 or email questions to helpdesk@utpa.edu For Students with Disabilities If you have a documented disability which will make it difficult for you to carry out the work as I have outlined and/or if you need special accommodations assistance due to the disability, please contact the following offices: Brownsville campus: Student Accessibility Services is located in Cortez Hall Room 129 and by phone at 956-882-7374 or by email at accessibility@utgrv.edu. Edinburg campus: Student Accessibility Services is located in 108 University Center: 956-665-7005 or by email at accessibility@utrgv.edu Blackboard Assistance - If you have questions about providing these accommodations in the online medium, please contact the Center for Online Learning, Teaching and Technology. You can call the office at 665-2979 or e-mail them at colthelp@utpa.edu. Their staff will be happy to share ideas and options for individual courses. Mandatory Course Evaluation Period Students are required to complete an online evaluation of this course, accessed through your UTRGV account; you will be contacted through email with further instructions. Online evaluations will be available Nov. 18=Dec. 9, 2015. Students who complete their evaluations will have priority access to their grades. Sexual Harassment, Discrimination and Violence In accordance with UT System regulations, your instructor is a responsible employee for reporting purposes under Title IX regulations and so must report any instance, occurring during a student s time in college, of sexual assault, stalking, dating violence, domestic violence or sexual harassment about which she/he becomes aware during this course through writing, discussion, or personal disclosure. More information can be found at www.utrgv.edu/equity, including confidential resources on campus. The facility and staff of UTRGV actively stirve to provide a learning, working, and living environment that promotes personal integrity, civility, and mutual respect in an environment free from sexual misconduct and discrimination.