COURSE:
ENGL 203, Section 2 (3hrs)
Major British Authors--Fall
2014
TR 8:00-9:15, Kinard 215
PROFESSOR:
Dr. Jack DeRochi
Office: Tillman 211, Phone: 323-4653; Office Hours: W 8-10; R 9:30-10:30 and by appt.
Email: derochij@winthrop.edu;
web: http://faculty.winthrop.edu/derochij
Twitter: @WUGradDean; #WUBritAuth
Course Description and
Goals: Specifically, the major goals
for this course will be to become familiar with representative works of major
British authors and to appreciate the interrelationship of literature and
society for any given historical period. To accomplish this, we will study
not only the texts but also the historical and social contexts of the literature
in order to comprehend the shifting values of British Society from medieval to
modern times. Specifically, English 203 is constructed so as to meet the
following:
English
Department Goals
1. Knowledge of Literature:
Within the literature area majors
will demonstrate knowledge of various forms of written texts, major periods in
the history of English, American, and world literature, and standard terminology
of literary analysis.
3. Composing and Communications Skills:
To develop advanced communication skills, majors will write thoughtful,
well-organized essays conforming to standards of grammar, mechanics, and usage,
including research papers on appropriate language and literature topics, that
demonstrate correct use of standard reference tools and methods, and of primary
and secondary sources and providing proper documentation of sources.
5. Technology Skills:
English majors in all tracks will demonstrate their ability to use technology in
the study of language, literature, and communication by demonstrating effective
use of existing technologies to research, prepare, and present information.
In addition, English 203:
Major British Authors meets several of the
General Education / Touchstone Goals:
Those are as follows:
General
Education / Touchstone Goals
Goal One:
To communicate clearly and effectively in standard English.
Goal Three:
To use critical thinking, problem-solving skills, and a variety of research
methods.
Goal Four:
To recognize and appreciate human diversity (both past and present) as well as
the diversity of ideas, institutions, philosophies, moral codes, and ethical
principles.
Goal Six:
To understand aesthetic values, the creative process, and the
interconnectedness of the literary, visual, and performing arts throughout the
history of civilization.
Goal Seven:
To examine values, attitudes, beliefs, and habits which define the nature and
quality of life.
Based on our
departmental goals and the goals of the entire Touchstone program, English 203
has the following anticipated Student Learning Outcomes:
Student
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge:
By the end of the semester, students will be able to
· Identify
the variety and development of literary forms and themes in selected major works
of British literature from its beginnings through postmodernism.
· Describe
how the selected literature reflects and reinforces “the diversity of ideas,
institutions, philosophies, moral codes, and ethical principles” (General
Education Goal #4).
Skills: By the end of the semester, students will be able to
· Demonstrate
their ability to read critically and to write analytically about literature
through
successful completion of tests, papers, and other graded work.
· Apply
the skills of literary research, including MLA documentation and research
sources (e.g., the MLA bibliography online and the OED).
· Incorporate
appropriate literary terminology in discussions of assigned literary works.
Attitudes: By
the end of the semester, students will be able to
· Recognize
literature as a source of wonder and insight.
Texts:
Norton Anthology of English Literature: The
Major Authors, 8th ed.
W.W. Norton, 2001.
Brown and Yarbrough. Practical Introduction to Literary Study.
Prentice Hall, 2005.
Harmon and Holman. A Handbook to Literature. Prentice Hall.
optional
Course Content:
| Midterm Exam | 20% |
| Final Exam | 25% |
| Passage Papers | 15% |
| Analytical Paper: Final | 30% |
| Group Presentation | 5% |
| Discussion Questions/Class Participation | 5% |
***Grading Note
We will be using the
University’s plus / minus grading scale, with all grades calculated on a 10-pt
scale. The following breakdown for B’s applies for all grades (please
remember there is no A+): B+ (87-89), B (83-86), B- (80-82). As for
individual grades on individual assignments, the following model will apply to
all grade ranges: B+ (88), B (85), B- (81). For a complete breakdown of
all the averages and values used in this class, go to
http://faculty.winthrop.edu/derochij.
Discussion Questions/Class Participation:
Active class participation is a requirement in this course, requiring all
students to engage in all "community" aspects of this course. These
activities include our in-class discussions, twitter exchanges, participation in
groupwork, and various homework assignments. I will
not be grading each individual contribution; instead I will be evaluating your
participation in all community assignments.
As for the “Discussion Questions” assignment,
each week 2 students will 1) send via twitter (#WUBritAuth) an engaging question
based on the readings for that particular day; 2) the rest of the class are
expected to reply and engage with their classmates that week. We will use some
of these questions and comments to begin our discussion; I will frequently call
on students to expand on their questions and, in effect, lead the class
discussion. In addition, we’ll make sure
to have our twitter feed up during class, so students can continue to pose
questions and continue to expand our class conversations.
Course Technology
As for the main technological apparatus for this
course, we will be using the following web interface programs, for which
students are required to establish accounts:
1) Winthrop’s Blackboard
online interface (http://online.winthrop.edu).
This service will be used primarily for quizzes and PowerPoints / podcasts on
historical contexts.
To access Blackboard for the first time, go to online.winthrop.edu and
enter your username (first
half of your email) as both your Blackboard ID and Password.
(derochij for example).
2) Turnitin.com (www.turnitin.com).
This site will be used for submitting Passage Papers, certain homework
assignments, and all
drafts of final papers; turnitin.com will be where you receive feedback
on all of your writing
assignments and can monitor your grades throughout the term.
Visit www.turnitin.com and establish your
student account (if you have not already done so for
another course). Next, enroll in our class: our class ID is
8450992; our password is derochi.
Other Important Info.
Midterm and Final
Examinations: We are covering
over a thousand years of literature this semester—a daunting task to say the
least. As a result, we do not have time for multiple examinations because
we must devote as many days as possible to discussions of readings. The
format of both your midterm and final exams will be a combination of objective
and essay questions; your final exam will be comprehensive in nature as well.
Final
Exam: Wednesday, December 10, 8:00.
Attendance during this final exam is required.
Make sure travel plans for Winter break does not interfere with this
requirement.
Passage Papers:
Due three times this semester, these short (1-2 page)
papers require you to analyze a passage of 15-20 lines from one our texts.
Your task will be to give a brief plot summary of the situation, establish the
significance of certain lines as they pertain to other parts of the play, and
comment on specific moments of figurative language. These
short papers are intended to help you in two ways: first, they will give you
experience in close reading which will help both your papers and your exams;
second, they will help you practice writing about literature, which will help
you immeasurably for your larger papers.
Oral Presentation:
Once during the semester, each of you will work with a group of classmates and
prepare a 30-minute presentation on some piece of cultural history—i.e. music,
theater, art, philosophical writing—that helps illustrate an important idea in a
specific work of literature from a specific time period.
Analytical Paper: The largest writing assignment, the analytical paper (6 pages) builds upon the foundational skills developed during your passage papers. On this assignment, you will be required to closely analyze a specific text, develop a thesis based on your analysis, and incorporate quotes and secondary sources to prove your argument.
Policies
Syllabus change
policy:
This
Policy Statement, calendars, and assignments posted on my class webpage are the
most up-to-date ones and will be the ones we use to resolve any questions or
issues.
Late Work:
Late work will be severely penalized. Turnitin.com deadlines are firm.
Anticipate computer problems--"trouble" with turnitin.com will not be an excuse
for a late paper. I am generally reasonable about extending deadlines if you
have extenuating circumstances and if you approach me
before the due date. However,
unexcused late papers will be penalized one letter grade per day, including
weekends. In addition, all work must be completed in order to
receive a passing grade.
Attendance:
See official Winthrop University
Attendance Policy for more information, but obviously regular attendance is
required. Let me know in advance for illness or personal emergency.
As per university policy, you will automatically fail this course if you miss
over 25% (7 classes) of all scheduled classes. Tardiness will affect your
class participation grade and if you arrive late to class, it is your
responsibility to make sure I’ve marked your attendance.
Student Code of Conduct:
As noted in the Student Conduct Code: “Responsibility for good conduct rests
with students as adult individuals.”
The policy on academic misconduct is outlined in the “Student Conduct
Code Academic Misconduct Policy” in the Winthrop Student Handbook.
(http://www.winthrop.edu/uploadedFiles/studentconduct/StudentHandbook.pdf).
Academic Integrity:
Academic dishonesty, such as cheating and plagiarism, will not be tolerated, and
WILL result in an automatic “F” for the course. It is your responsibility
to read, understand, and follow the Code of Student Conduct outlined in the
Student Handbook.
A Note on Class
Participation: As a literature
course, this class focuses on writers who give voice to various issues of
humanity: war, death, love, lust, and greed (to name only a few). Given
that, you may encounter ideas that are contradictory to your own values, either
in the texts or in your classmates’ comments. I strongly encourage your
involvement in discussing these issues and expect courteous and respectful
dialogue at all times.
A Note on “N” Grades:
October 24th is the last day to drop a course for this semester:
students who drop before this date will receive an automatic “N”; students who
drop after this date will receive an automatic “F.” Extenuating
circumstances must be addressed directly to the registrar.
Students with
Disabilities: If you have a
disability and need classroom accommodations, please contact Gina Smith,
Coordinator of Services for Students with Disabilities, at 323-3290 as soon as
possible. Once you have your “Professor Notification Letter,” please
notify me so that I am aware of your accommodations well before the first test,
paper, or assignment.
Other Requirements and
Notes:
~Cell phones must be kept
in backpacks and on “vibrate.” (I will always have my cell phone in case of an
emergency on campus.)
~Students are expected to
use standard reference tools, methods, and forms of documentation in scholarly
research.
~Students are required to
review the English Department’s plagiarism policy at
www.winthrop.edu/english/plagiarism.htm.
~Goals for all English
Department courses can be found at
www.winthrop.edu/english/goals.htm. There is a link to NCATE and NCTE
standards on the department’s web page, and those students who are preparing to
teach will want to visit the site.