COURSE:                     ENGL 203, Section 2 (3hrs)

Major British Authors--Spring 2011

MW 9:30-10:45, Dinkins Auditorium

PROFESSOR:              Dr. Jack DeRochi

                                    Office: Bancroft 256, Phone: 323-4577

                                    Email: derochij@winthrop.edu

OFFICE HOURS:         MW 11-12; and by appointment.

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, 8^th 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 Proposal                                                                                  10%
Analytical Paper (6 pages)                                                                                 20%

Group Presentation                                                                                            5%

Reading Quizzes                                                                                                5%

            (quizzes will be taken via WebCT and are due before class begins)

***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.

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 and various homework assignments. I will not be grading each individual contribution; instead I will be evaluating your participation in all community assignments.  At the end of the semester, I will grade your participation according the following scale: exceeds expectations, meets expectations, or fails to meet expectations.  In terms of grading, your final class average will be affected in the following manner by your class participation performance: Exceeds Expectations: your final average will be increased by 3%; Meets Expectations: final average will not be affected positively or negatively; Fails to Meet Expectations: final average will be lowered by 3%.

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 WebCT online interface (http://online.winthrop.edu). 

This service will be used primarily for quizzes, powerpoints / podcasts on historical contexts, assignment schedule, and course calendar.

To access WebCT, go to online.winthrop.edu and enter the following:

      WebCT ID: wu_first half of your Winthrop email address.

Password: wu_first half of your Winthrop email address.

For example, if my Winthrop email address is: smithj25@winthrop.edu, my login information would be as follows:

               WebCT ID: wu_smithj25

   Password: wu_smithj25 (The password may be changed following the   

   initial login)
 

2)   Turnitin.com (www.turnitin.com). 

This site will be used for submitting Textual Response 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 3757924; 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: Tuesday, May 3^rd, 3:00.     

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 your work for one of the earlier passage papers and requires you to closely analyze a specific text, incorporating quotes and secondary sources.

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 online Student Handbook.  (http://www2.winthrop.edu/studentaffairs/handbook/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: March 9^th 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. 

Academic Success Center: Winthrop’s Academic Success Center is a free resource for all undergraduate students seeking to perform their best academically.  The ASC offers a variety of personalized and structured resources that help students achieve academic excellence, such as tutoring, academic skill development (test taking strategies, time management counseling, and study techniques), group and individual study spaces, and academic coaching.  The ASC is located on the first floor of Dinkins, Suite 106.  Please contact the ASC at 803-323-3929 or success@winthrop.edu.  For more information on ASC services, please visit www.winthrop.edu/success.

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.

Working Schedule

*Dates and assignments subject to change

**Students are responsible for each author’s biographical information

N = Norton Anthology   P = Practical Introduction to Literary Study