ENGLISH 2322: British Literature Beginnings to Neoclassical Fall 2016 CRN 10840 MW 8-9.30 San Jac 158 3 Credit Hours 3 Contact Hours/Week 16-week Term Lecture Dr. Ranjana Varghese ranjana.varghese@hccs.edu Office Hours: MW 7-8; Office: San Jacinto 215 and by appointment Course Description: A critical study of major British writers from the Anglo-Saxon period through the eighteenth century. This course requires substantial reading, writing, and research. Students may take ENGL 2322 and ENGL 2323 in any order. Core Curriculum Course. Course Prerequisite: ENGL 1301 or higher Course Goal: To present a survey of British literature from its inception through the Age of Enlightenment. This course introduces the student to the origins and development of British culture as reflected in major works of English-language from the Middle Ages to the Renaissance and through the eighteenth century. Instructional Methods: In-person lecture. Description of Course Content: Major British authors of the Middle Ages, the Renaissance, and the Enlightenment are studied. Representative major medieval texts may include Beowulf, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Piers Plowman, as well as the works of Chaucer and Malory. Students will read such major authors for the sixteenth through eighteenth centuries as Sir Thomas More, Sir Philip Sidney, Edmund Spenser, Christopher Marlowe, William Shakespeare, John Donne, Ben Jonson, Andrew Marvell, John Milton, John Locke, John Dryden, William Congreve, Daniel Defoe, Jonathan Swift, Alexander Pope, and Samuel Johnson. Readings include poetry, fiction, drama, and expository or persuasive prose. Concepts essential to the analysis of literature are studied and applied in lectures, class discussions, and written assignments. Textbooks: Required: Abrams, M. H., et al., eds. The Norton Anthology of English Literature. New York: Norton. Vol. 1. Recommended: Griffith, Kelley. Writing Essays About Literature: A Guide and Style Sheet. 5th ed. Fort Worth: Harcourt Brace, 1998. Materials: Two-pocket folders in which to keep all your homework and in-class writing assignments. A USB drive or CD. A good university-level dictionary and thesaurus. Course Student Learning Outcomes: Explain and illustrate stylistic characteristics of representative works of British writers from the Anglo-Saxon period through the eighteenth century (Neoclassicism). Connect representative works of British writers from the Anglo-Saxon period through the eighteenth century to human and individual values in historical and social contexts. Demonstrate knowledge of various works of British writers from the Anglo-Saxon period through the eighteenth century. Analyze critical texts relating to the works of British writers from the Anglo-Saxon period through the eighteenth century. Critique and interpret representative literary works of British writers from the Anglo-Saxon period through the eighteenth century. Learning Objectives: By the end of the semester, the student who passes with a final grade of C or above will have demonstrated the ability to:
1. Complete and comprehend reading assignments. Assignments vary in length, but a typical assignment requires 2 hours out of class for each hour in class (e.g. 2 ½ to 3 hours reading to prepare for a 1 ½ hour class session). 2. Attend class regularly, missing no more than 12.5% (6 hours) of instruction. 3. Participate in small group and/or class discussions in which assigned literary works are analyzed and interpreted. 4. Write at least 3,000 words in completing written assignments of varying types and lengths that are relevant to course content. At least one written assignment will include information obtained through research that is related to one or more prominent European literary works of the eras covered and is presented in current MLA form. 5. Participate in at least one oral presentation (can be a collaborative effort) of a literary work. 6. Explain and illustrate stylistic characteristics of authors and literary works included in the course syllabus. 7. Express clearly and support convincingly an interpretation or analysis of a literary text. 8. Explain similarities and differences among writers studied and/or among literary works studied. 9. Explain the characteristics of each literary period covered, with particular attention to prominent literary themes. 10. Use a word processor (available in school labs) to fulfill written assignments and use the computer as well as the library to research a literary topic. 11. Maintain an overall average of 70 or above on written assignments and tests. HCCS Literature Courses in the Core Curriculum All HCCS 2300-level literature courses satisfy the core curriculum requirement for 3 semester hours of literature (under Humanities and Arts in the Summary Distribution Requirements). A second 2300-level literature course may be taken to fulfill the core curriculum requirement for 3 semester hours in Cross/Multicultural Studies. In 2300-level literature courses, the student will gain increased capability in all six basic intellectual competencies in the HCCS Core Curriculum (reading, writing, speaking, listening, critical thinking, and computer literacy). Student progress in the core competencies will be measured in the activities outlined in the objectives and requirements section of this syllabus. Perspectives in the HCCS Core Curriculum: 2300-level literature courses help students attain the following: 1. Establish broad and multiple perspectives on the individual in relationship to the larger society and world in which he or she lives and to understand the responsibilities of living in a culturally and ethnically diversified world; 2. Stimulate a capacity to discuss and reflect upon individual, political, economic, and social aspects of life in order to understand ways in which to be a responsible member of society; 3. Develop personal values for ethical behavior; 4. Develop the ability to make aesthetic judgments; and 5. Integrate knowledge and understanding of the interrelationships of the scholarly disciplines. HCC Policy Statement: ADA: Any student with a documented disability (e.g. physical, learning, psychiatric, vision, hearing, etc.) who needs to arrange reasonable accommodations must contact the Disability Services Office at the beginning of each semester. For more information, please contact the disability counselor at your college (or call 713-718-5165). HCC Policy Statement: Sexual Harassment: HCC is committed to providing a learning and working environment that is free from discrimination on the basis of sex which includes all forms of sexual misconduct. Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 requires that when a complaint is filed, a prompt and thorough investigation is initiated. Complaints may be filed with the HCC Title IX Coordinator available by telephone at 713.718.8271 or via email at oie@hccs.edu. EGLS3: At Houston Community College, professors believe that thoughtful student feedback is necessary to improve teaching and learning. During a designated time, you will be asked to answer a short online survey of research-based questions related to instruction. The anonymous results of the survey will be made available to your professors and division chairs after the end of the semester for continual improvement of instruction. Go to www.hccs.edu/egls3 for directions. HCC Policy Statement: Academic Honesty: My Webster s New World Dictionary defines plagiarism as the appropriation or imitation of the language, ideas, or thoughts of another, and the representation of them as one s original work. Penalties for plagiarism range from failure of the course to academic probation or expulsion. Intentional or unintentional plagiarism is an offense; whether it is a paragraph or an entire paper that has been plagiarized, that paper will receive a 0. A student who is academically dishonest is, by definition, not
showing that the coursework has been learned. And that student is claiming an advantage not available to other students. I am responsible for measuring each student's individual achievements and also for ensuring that all students compete on a level playing field. Thus, in our system, I have teaching, grading, and enforcement roles. You are expected to be familiar with the College's policy on Academic Honesty, found in the catalog. What that means is: If you are charged with an offense, pleading ignorance of the rules will not help you. Often students plagiarize in order to avoid doing the work that is required of them in the course. However, doing this work yourself is what will make you a stronger, more skilled writer. Using work written by someone else (whether it is another student or from a paper mill such as Cheathouse) is plagiarism. Do your own work and you ll have nothing to worry about. When consulting sources, always, always, always give credit to the source which gave you the idea and/or the words. If you did not come up with the ideas and/or the words on your own (i.e., they are your original thoughts), then you must explicitly acknowledge the source from whom you are borrowing these ideas and/or words. Other times students plagiarize without consciously intending to. Some ways in which this occurs is: (1) by not sufficiently rephrasing the ideas of the original source in their own words and style; and (2) not citing the sources correctly and consistently using parenthetical citations in correct MLA format. When the ideas from a source are represented in a work, they must be rephrased entirely in the student's own words changing one or two words or a few phrases is not enough. Also, whether the ideas of a source are summarized, paraphrased, or quoted, they must always be cited using parenthetical citations. (You will learn more about what constitutes plagiarism and how to avoid it once the semester gets started.) If you have any questions regarding plagiarism, please email me. In this case, it is better to ask permission than to ask for forgiveness. Plagiarism intentional or unintentional is a serious offense. Forgetting to cite a source is understandable, but not a valid excuse. So learn to be conscientious of the sources from which you get your information. By being aware of your sources, you will also become a critical reader of sources, learning to choose ones that are more credible than others. Other types of scholastic dishonesty resulting in similar consequences include cheating on a test (by copying someone else s paper or using unauthorized materials) and collusion (unauthorized collaboration). *** You must NOT use any work that you've done for another class in this class. All work done for this class must be work done by you during this semester, just for this class. *** In any case, all your out-of-class papers must be uploaded to Turnitin.com which catches plagiarized sections in the work. HCC Policy Statement: Student Attendance, Withdrawal Deadline: Attending class regularly is the best way to succeed in this class. Research has shown that the single most important factor in student success is attendance. Simply put, going to class greatly increases your ability to succeed. In order to support your ability to succeed, I have made attendance a factor in your final grade (through in-class assignments that cannot be made up later). This should be the easiest outcome for you to achieve in this class. You should understand that your in-class grade will suffer as a result of unexcused absences and tardiness, and of course, your ability to do the work required in the course will also be impaired and grades on that work will naturally be lower. The Houston Community College policy on absences is that you will be dropped if you miss 12.5% of instruction time (which is equivalent to 6 hours or 4 class periods). If you know that you want to drop the class, I strongly urge you to withdraw yourself by the official class drop date (October 28 th ). Every student whose name is on my class roster by the end of the semester will receive a grade for the class. We begin class on time every period. As college students, as you chose to sign up for an 8 a.m. course, it is your responsibility to make sure that you are present and on time. Please factor in traffic and other such issues that might cause you to arrive late. This is not a lecture class. I respect the intelligence of my students and expect them to analyze, synthesize, and create. Students do critical thinking in this class individually and in collaborative groups; as each student is a valuable member of our class, it is important for you to be present and ready to think. Three tardies (arriving late to class or leaving before I dismiss class) will earn you one unexcused absence. You will be responsible for finding out what you missed in class as a result of absence or tardiness. Repeated lateness or absences reflect poorly on your professionalism, so plan around issues such as traffic and professional responsibilities. I understand that sometimes things happen that are beyond your control, so when that happens, I appreciate it if you talk to me about them as soon as possible. I will do my best to be flexible when such things occur. However, I also ask that you do your best to be in class when you are supposed to be so that you do not miss out on valuable information. If I find that you are repeatedly missing class or arriving late, then we will have to talk to figure out a solution so that you get the most out of this class. If for any reason you wish to withdraw from this course (and therefore receive a grade of W, as opposed to F), you must formally initiate the withdrawal process yourself (through the proper channels in the Registrar s Office) and/or communicate that request directly to me sufficiently in advance of the deadline designated by HCC for the current term (October 28 th ). (NOTE: A student who simply ceases attending, without formally withdrawing from this course, may be assigned a grade of F.)
Learning Web: I will post the materials for this class (such as the syllabus) on the Learning Web site for this class. You can access the Learning Web by clicking on Student Sign-ins at the top of the HCCS web page. INSTRUCTOR REQUIREMENTS: Papers and Submission Policy: All major assignments must be turned in in order to pass this class. Major out-of-class essays must be double-spaced and typed in standard Times New Roman 12-point font. They must be stapled in the upper left-hand corner, and must contain your name, final word count, and an original essay title (not Analysis Essay!). If the essay falls short of the minimum word count, the paper will lose 10 points. Papers must be turned in to me in class on the day they are due (and not left in mailboxes, under my office door, in the main English office, etc.). As you receive instructions concerning all of your required assignments at the beginning of the semester in your syllabus, late work is not acceptable. As a dedicated college student, it is your responsibility to complete your assignments on time. As discussion concerning your assignments will be ongoing during the class, you may ask questions about the projects any time during the semester. Your questions are welcome as you may not be the only student wanting the information. Make-ups are not allowed for in-class assignments. I accept neither late work (homework, papers) nor work (homework, papers) via email. You are encouraged and welcome to show me early drafts of your papers for feedback up until one week before the paper's due date. I will not look at any drafts in the week prior to the paper's deadline. In order to take advantage of this, you must plan and work ahead. Students missing the mid-term exam will be allowed to make it up with my permission. If you are ill or have an emergency on the day of the exam, you must email me that day. You and I will then discuss when you may make up the exam. Turnitin.com: Before you turn in your major papers, you must submit them to Turnitin.com. This is a website that catches any information that is plagiarized. If you don't submit your work to Turnitin.com before you hand it in to me, I will not accept it and it will be counted late when you do after you've uploaded your paper to Turnitin.com. So be sure to first upload your essay to Turnitin.com before you send your essay to me. In order to upload your essay, you need to go to Turnitin.com and create a student account. Follow these steps to do this: 1. At the top right hand side of the screen, under the email box, click on Create an Account. 2. This will take you to a page where you will be asked to enter your email address and password. If you have used Turnitin.com for other classes, you may use the same email address and password you used for those classes. You may also choose to create a new account for this class. 3. If you are new to Turnitin.com, you would click on student under Create a New Account 4. This will take you to a page that requires some information in order to create an account for you: the class id: 13237781 and the class enrollment password: BritLit2016 (note the uppercase and lowercase and lack of spaces the password is case-sensitive). 5. Fill in the other required information on that page your name, email address, password, secret question (to retrieve your information in case you forget your password), answer to the secret question, etcetera. 6. Click I agree create profile at the bottom of the page. 7. You have successfully created a profile and you will be taken to a page that shows this class as well as my name. When you click on the class British Literature Fall 2016 you will be able to see the assignments that you are to submit to Turnitin.com over the course of the semester. Assignments will become available at a certain date and time when you will be able to upload your paper. Note that I have set up the dates so that you can upload your paper a few days before the due date. These dates will be visible to you once you click on the class. 8. You will use the email address you provided and the password you created in order to log in to Turnitin.com each time you use it. In case you forget your password, you can retrieve it by answering correctly the secret question you chose while creating your account. Be sure that when you are uploading a paper you have created your essay in a format that is acceptable to Turnitin.com such as Word and WordPerfect. I prefer Word documents, so please try to use to this format. Also, remember to save your work on an external source such as a USB or CD so that you may upload your paper from any computer. Classroom decorum: As a student active in the learning community of this course, it is your responsibility to be respectful of the learning atmosphere in your classroom. To show respect of your fellow students and professor, you will turn off your cell phone and other electronic devices, and will not use these devices in the classroom unless you receive permission from me ahead of time. This means that no electronic device (unless otherwise approved by me, such as a laptop in certain situations) should be on your desk, lap, or
anywhere in sight or hearing during class. As your professor and as a student in this class, it is our shared responsibility to develop and maintain a positive learning environment for everyone. I take this responsibility very seriously and will inform members of the class if their behavior makes it difficult for me to carry out this task. As a fellow learner, you are asked to respect the learning needs of your classmates and assist me in achieving this critical goal. We ll spend a significant amount of class time having open discussions; please be respectful of your classmates try not to interrupt, and please refrain from holding side conversations. While you are encouraged to challenge both your own opinions and those of your peers, please do so with respect for different ideas. I will promise to do my best to try to keep the classroom a safe place to share ideas, even tentative, uncertain ideas. In discussions, making connections with the readings, with topics discussed in previous classes, and with the comments that others have made in class is especially helpful to you and to everyone else and therefore is especially noted and appreciated. Inappropriate behavior can result in dismissal. I follow the guidelines in the Student Handbook closely, so please be aware that any unprofessional, discourteous, or inappropriate behavior will have its consequences. Please follow the Golden Rule and be respectful of others and their values and beliefs. I will expect you to contribute actively in class discussions (which will be a major part of each class period); in order to do that, you will have to come prepared to class. Being prepared for class includes bringing the relevant text/s, having done the assigned reading/s for the day, jotted down notes or ideas, done any assigned homework, and being prepared to contribute your thoughts and ideas to the class discussion. I am not interested in what you know, but rather, in what you think; I don't know is never an acceptable response. Support Services: Tutoring: Free tutoring is available through the English department as well as online. Check hours with the department staff. Learning Resource Center / Library: The library is located on the third floor of the Learning Hub Science Building. Check for hours. Computer lab: You are able to use various open computer labs at HCCS campuses. Check for open hours. Note that as an HCCS student you may use computer facilities at any of our colleges. Computer Labs at Central: http://learning.cc.hccs.edu/computing/complabs English office: The English office is located in San Jac 215. Hours are 8:00 am to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Thursday; and 8:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. on Friday. The English office phone number is 713.718.6671. Course Schedule (This is a tentative schedule and is subject to change. Specific excerpts and page numbers as well as any changes will be announced in class.) Week 1 Aug 22 Course intro; Diagnostic Essay Aug 24 Introduction to British Literature Old English literature: Beowulf Week 2 Aug 29 Beowulf Aug 31 Beowulf Week 3 Sep 5 *** Labor Day Holiday *** Sep 7 Middle English literature: Marie de France: Lanval Week 4 Sep 12 Lanval ; Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
Sep 14 Sir Gawain and the Green Knight Week 5 Sep 19 The Canterbury Tales: General Prologue; The Wife of Bath's Prologue and Tale Sep 21 The Wife of Bath's Prologue and Tale Week 6 Sep 26 Everyman Sep 28 Mid-term Review Week 7 Oct 3 In-class Mid-term Exam Oct 5 The Renaissance: Sir Thomas More: Utopia Week 8 Oct 10 Wyatt (595 Whose list to hunt, 599 They flee from me ); Surrey (608 The soote season, 610 So cruel prison how could betide ); Mary Tudor (664, 666) Oct 12 Lady Jane Grey (670, 672, 674); Mary, Queen of Scots (679, 681); Elizabeth I (688, 690, 692, 694, 697, 698) Week 9 Oct 17 Research Oct 19 Research Week 10 Oct 24 Marlowe (1022 The Passionate Shepherd... ); Sidney (975 1, 2, 7, 72 ) Oct 26 Poetry (continued) Week 11 Oct 31 Shakespeare Nov 2 Shakespeare Week 12 Nov 7 Donne (1263 The Flea, 1275 A Valediction... ); Philips (1691 A Married State, 1693); Marvell (1703) Nov 9 The Metaphysical Poets (continued) Week 13 Nov 14 Restoration and the Enlightenment: Aphra Behn (2183 Oroonoko ) Nov 16 Research Essay Due Swift (2462 A Modest Proposal ) Week 14 Nov 21 Burney (2811 The Journal and Letters) Nov 23 Presentations
Week 15 Nov 28 Presentations Nov 30 Course wrap-up Final Exam: 8-10 a.m. on Wednesday, December 7 th (If you miss this exam date, NO makeups will be allowed.) HCC Grading Scale: A 90-100%: Sophisticated level of understanding; exceptional written work (superior in mechanics, style and content). B 80-89%: Above-average level of understanding; excellent written work (superior in one or two of mechanics, style and content). C 70-79%: Average understanding of basic concepts; good written work. D 60-69%: Below average understanding; written work noticeably weak in mechanics, style or content. F 0-59%: Failing; clearly deficient in understanding, mechanics, style and content. Student Assignments: In addition to reading assignments to be prepared for each class meeting and brief written homework and in-class assignments, students will complete one analytical essay, one longer essay project requiring research, one presentation, a midterm and a final exam. Responses & in-class writing: 20% Research Essay: 20% Presentation: 20% Midterm: 20% Final: 20% Student Assessments: I will administer exams, in-class writing exercises, homework exercises, analysis and research papers that you can use to determine how successful you are at achieving the course learning outcomes (mastery of course content and skills) outlined in the syllabus. If you find that you are not mastering the material and skills, you are encouraged to reflect on how you study and prepare for each class. I welcome a dialogue on what you discover and may be able to assist you in finding resources on campus that will improve your performance. While there is a specific due date for the research essay, it should be an ongoing project throughout the semester as it requires research. The sooner you start thinking about and working on it, the less stressed and more successful your project will be. Responses and In-class writing: For every reading assignment, you are required to write a critical response and I may ask you to do this as homework or in class. I will give you at least one question which will require you to think about that reading and which you will answer in the required number of words. You will turn in this response on the day that we discuss that particular reading. I will NOT accept late reading responses. Your response may be informal, and it must be what you think about the reading and the question/s that I provide that pertain to it. You do NOT need to do any external research or write about what others think about the reading. The questions that I give you regarding each reading are meant for you to think about what you read and how you respond to it. I am interested in what you think about what you read and how you analyze and understand it, not in what you know about it. These questions and your responses may form a part of class discussion. Your responses must be thoughtful, and any questions you raise must not be ones that are answered by a simple yes, no, or a researched fact. Rather, your questions must invite further reflection and discussion. I will collect your responses at the beginning of each class period. Research Project The research project consists of the research essay as well as the research presentation. You will work in groups over the course of the semester. (We will create these groups during the first weeks of class.) Each group will either choose or be assigned one of the four major time periods of English literature that we will cover in this course Old English, Middle English, Renaissance, and Restoration and the Enlightenment. Even though this is a group project, the research essay that each of you will write will be your own. Each member of each group will be responsible for researching a specific aspect of that time period (history, culture, literary style, etc.) and writing about it as a research essay. You will put your research together in the form of an engaging presentation and present it as a group. I will give you more information on the project over the first few weeks of class.
Research Essay: 1000-1250 words Your purpose is to write a well-researched, well-documented essay on the specific aspect that you have chosen within the time period of literature assigned to your group. You must do research for this assignment, and all the information that you present must be properly documented in MLA format. You must show me your drafts and your research before you submit your final draft. You need to have at least 3 academic sources which you get from the HCCS library catalog and/or the HCC libraries' databases or another academic library catalog or academic database. (More specific information on the research essay will be provided.) Presentation: Your group will present your project everything that you have researched over the course of the semester in a coherent and interesting way. Each group will have 30 minutes to present their semester-long project in a professional, informative, and creative fashion. It can be a multimedia presentation, you may use notecards, etcetera. However, you must not read from the essays. You must PRESENT. (More specific information on the presentation will be provided.) Midterm Exam: The midterm exam will cover all the material we have discussed from the beginning of the semester until the day before the midterm. It will consist of short answer questions and one essay question. You will have choices for both parts of the exam. Final Exam: The final exam will cover all the material we have discussed since the midterm. It will consist of short answer questions and one essay question. You will have choices for both parts of the exam. Extra Credit: You will keep a language journal for this class, in which you will record vocabulary that you have newly acquired, make corrections to grammatical errors that you see (anywhere in a book, a poster, etc.). For every correct use of a new vocabulary word you must use it in your writing (either in your reading responses or in any of your other work that you turn in for this class, and you must highlight it, demonstrating that it is a word that you have newly acquired) you will get 0.5 point added to your lowest grade. The same goes for every correct correction you make in something that is grammatically incorrect. Expectations: WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT OF ME: I am here to help you succeed and grow in any way you can in this course. I am interested in your ideas and thoughts and I am always willing to listen to them. Please come talk to me if you have any concerns or apprehension; I am here to help and offer support to you in any way I can. You do not need to wait until you have received a poor grade before asking for my assistance. Email is the best way to reach me between classes. I am available during my listed office hours to meet with you to help you with anything that will ensure your success in this course and enrich your experience as a student. I want you to succeed in this course and I know that with hard work and effort, you can do that. Please talk to me about anything that you need help with so that I can best help you. I am available to hear your concerns and just to discuss course topics. If you are unable to meet with me during my listed office hours, we can schedule an appointment that will work with both our schedules. I have high expectations of you, but I am a fair teacher. I want you to excel, so I will challenge you in an effort to help you expand your horizons. Hard work and effort pay off, and this will be reflected in your outlook as well as your final grade. I am sympathetic to things that are out of your control, so never hesitate to let me know what is going on with you that may affect your experience as a student. WHAT I EXPECT OF YOU: I expect you to be familiar with all the policies that are described in my syllabus and keep up with the assignments listed in the course calendar. I expect you to be responsible for your learning and for the grade you earn in this course. I expect you to come prepared and on time to class. I expect you to challenge and push yourselves. I expect you to think critically, to speak up in class, and to interact not only with the texts, but also with your peers and me in an intellectual and professional manner. I expect you to speak with me as soon as possible if you have any concerns. I expect you to do all the work assigned in a timely and industrious manner. I expect only your very best work. Your success in this course depends on your effort and attitude!