posted: 1/31/2007
revised: 4/04/2007
|
Spring 2007 (session C) |
Ted Morrissey (CV) |
ENGLISH 228-70 - STUDIES IN AMERICAN LITERATURE 2 (3
Credit Hours)
I. Course Description: English 228 Studies in American Literature 2 is a
select reading of principal American post-Civil War writers. The survey
examines common literary characteristics and human experiences described in the
literature of American realism and later movements. Prerequisite: ENG 111 with
a grade of C or better. IAI H3 914.
II. Textbooks:
Cain, William. E. American Literature. Vol. 2.
DeLillo, Don. White Noise. 1985.
Available at BU at SCI's Bookstore.
III. SCI Mission
Statement: The
mission of
IV. Goals, objectives
and outcomes:
A. Goals:
1. To understand the
chronology and evolution of American literature from the end of the nineteenth
century into the twenty-first century.
2. To understand significant themes and patterns associated with writings by
American authors.
3. To become familiar with key American authors.
4. To make connections between various "texts," including but not
limited to print and film.
5. To develop analytical expression in both writing and oral presentation.
B. Common Student
Learning Objectives:
CK-1 Content Knowledge
(Lifelong learning): Know and apply the central concepts of the subject matter
CK-1 Content Knowledge (Lifelong learning): Use current research to support
assumptions and beliefs
CS-1 Communication Skills (Lifelong learning and leadership): Communicate effectively
in oral and written forms
PS-2 Problem-Solving Skills (Lifelong learning and leadership):Seek information
and develop an in-depth knowledge base, grounded in research
SR-2 Social Responsibility (Service and Leadership): Make ethical and informed decisions
SP-1 Self-Direction and Personal Growth (Lifelong learning): Develop a sense of
intellectual curiosity
GP-1 Global Perspectives (Diversity): Recognize the importance of diversity of
opinion, abilities and cultures.
C. Course Based Student
Learning Objectives: Students who have successfully completed ENGLISH 230 will
be able to . . .
1. Explore together and
individually the visions and values, the norms and the human experiences
embodied in the works of women authors. (CK-1, SR-1, SR-2, GP-1, SP-1)
2. Develop an insight into female and male roles in society as defined by
cultures and as demonstrated in fiction from the viewpoint of women authors.
(CK-1, SR-1, SR-2, GP-1)
3. Examine various techniques used by authors to create meaning in texts. (CK-1)
4. Develop the ability to listen to others' opinions, and to communicate one's
own opinion in class discussions, written work, and presentations. (CK-1, CS-1,
SR-3, GP-1, SP-1)
5. Develop the power of reflection and the ability to formulate questions in
response to literature and critical articles about the literature. (PS-1, PS-3)
6. Develop the ability to make critical judgments in response to literature and
to support those judgments through analysis. (CK-1, CK-2, CS-1, PS-1, SR-1).
V. Teaching Methodology:
The classroom is
considered a discourse community in which students collaborate in the learning
process. Students will be involved in peer work, group discussions, pre- and
rewriting activities, and projects. There will be intervention in students'
writing process, and response to student writing, by both the instructor and
other students. To be successful, students must come to class prepared, which
means having all reading and writing assignments done before they are due.
VI. Course
Requirements:
Attendance: As in every
other class, absences will negatively affect your grade. To avoid class
disruption, students must be seated by 6:00. Arriving between 6:00 and 6:05
will be considered a "late" (three lates equal one-half hour
absence); between 6:05 and 6:30, one-half hour absence; between 6:30 and 7:00,
one hour absence; etc. Missing an entire class session equals 4.0 hours. Missing six hours is an automatic F, regardless of
a student's current grade.
Your goal should be to
attend all classes and to have an absence only when it is a true emergency. If
you know you are going to be absent (or late), you should contact me as early
as possible. This will not "excuse" the absence, but it is considered
the appropriate behavior in college. College is like a job in this respect: If
you were going to miss work, you presumably would call your supervisor in
advance -- you would not simply fail to come to work, then wander in the next
time you were scheduled (if so, you would not be scheduled a next time).
You are responsible for
making multiple copies to share with the instructor and your classmates when
the syllabus requires it; and, by the same token, if you are absent on a day
when you are to distribute your work, it is your responsibility to get the
copies to your instructor and your classmates. Failure to do so will result in
your receiving a zero for the assignment. If providing multiple copies of your
work is a problem, speak to me in advance
(NOT the evening they are to be distributed).
Behavior: Be attentive to
the instructor and your classmates. Private conversations and jokes are rude
and disruptive. Turn off your cell phone too.
Work:
1. Completion of all
assigned readings and writings according to given deadlines.
2. In-class and out-of-class assignments.
3. Participation in peer activities, sharing of written work, and group
discussions.
4. Active involvement in mechanics of all writing projects, including posting
responses to the turnitin.com discussion
board.
5. Conferences regarding writing assignments as needed.
6. Final project.
VII. Evaluation
Criteria:
There are numerous
required activities for this course, and not all of them will be graded. Work
(generally described as "homework") that does not receive a numerical
score, may be given one of three grades: A check mark indicates an assignment
was completed in an acceptable and timely manner; a plus signifies that an
assignment was completed with special thoroughness and accuracy; a minus
signifies that an effort was substandard. Each check is worth one point; a plus
1.5 points, and a minus .5; the total will be multiplied by an appropriate
number determined by the instructor to establish a homework grade. Students are expected to complete all assignments,
graded or not.
Points will be deducted
for issues of misspelling and nonstandard mechanics according to the SCI English/Speech Department Guidelines for the
Evaluation of Formal Composition (unless the departures from
standard written practice are knowingly done for creative effect).
Late
papers will not be accepted, and each will be scored as a zero. Assignments are due
even if you are not physically in class.
Plagiarism -- presenting
the ideas or words of another as if they are one's own -- is literary dishonesty
and will not be tolerated. Nor will others forms of academic dishonesty be
tolerated. If the instructor deems that the plagiarism is a willful attempt to
cheat, the student will receive a zero for the paper with no opportunity to
revise, and the SCI administration will be notified.
Midsemester grades will
be based on work completed and graded at that time.
Final Grade will be based
on a percentage of the total score: A- to A+ = 90 to 100%; B- to B+ = 80 to
89%; C- to C+ = 70 to 79%; D- to D+ = 60 to 69%. Note that plus and minus will
be affixed to the letter grade as deemed appropriate by the instructor based on
various factors, including attendance, work ethic, attitude, and overall
participation.
Incomplete
grades: According to the SCI catalog, students requesting an incomplete
grade for a class must have completed at least 75% of the course work. It
is my policy that students must make a request to me in writing no later than
one week before final exams explaining in detail why they cannot finish the
remainder of the coursework. Acceptable reasons are student illness
requiring bed rest or hospitalization, major family crisis, or circumstances
beyond the student’s control. I will only issue an incomplete grade
at my discretion.
Directions for Written
Work:
Keep all assignments,
formal and informal, prewriting, revisions, and final drafts until final grades
are received.
On the first out-of-class
literary analysis, students may earn back all points deducted for errors by
making the appropriate corrections and submitting the revised story along with
the previous draft within one week of its being returned to the student.
Out-of-class Paper
Requirements:
Each paper must be . . .
1. Typed (printed) in
12-point, Times New Roman font, double-spaced.
2. Presented in MLA style and format (see A
Writer's Reference (from ENG 111 or 112)), or another printed or
online MLA source, like the following:
http://www.library.ilstu.edu/assets/pdf/handouts/mlaprint.pdf
(print sources)
http://www.mlb.ilstu.edu/ressubj/subject/intrnt/mla.htm
(electronic & online sources)
3. Three to five pages in length (not including required Works Cited page) and
represent a "completed" paper.
4. Submitted to turnitin.com
Class ID: 1805131
Enrollment Password: english22870
Three Keys to Success:
* Attend all classes and
be on time.
* Turn in all assignments on time.
* Ask for help when you need it.
One or More of the
Following Will Lead to Failure:
* Miss class and/or
consistently be late.
* Fail to turn in assignments or to turn them in on time.
* Not asking for help when you need it.
VIII. Weekly
Assignments:
(Note: Syllabus is subject to change. All page numbers refer to American Literature, except those
specific to White Noise in
weeks 4, 5, 6, and 7)
|
Week 1 May 8 |
Before
the first session, read the following: Note: It is extremely important that you purchase
the textbooks for this class and that you do the readings each
week—including this first week! If you are unable to purchase the American Literature text before the
first session, make every effort to find the stories elsewhere. “Chicamauga”
is online; “The Pupil”
can be downloaded in various formats from Project Gutenberg; and “The Other Two”
is also online. Otherwise, the stories
are readily available through libraries and bookstores. Course Introduction / Reflection on readings / Discussion / Quick Response |
|
Week 2 May 15 |
Read
before class: Reflection on readings / Discussion / Quick Response |
|
Week 3 May 22 |
Read
before class: Reflection on readings
/ Discussion / Quick Response Prewriting for First
Critical Paper: Issues in American Literature, Post-Civil War to Post-World
War II |
|
Week 4 May 29 |
First
Critical Paper Due: Issues in American Literature, Post-Civil War to
Post-World War II (400 points) Read before class: In class: Reflection on readings
& film / Discussion / Quick Response |
|
Week 5 June 5 |
Read
before class: Reflection on reading /
Discussion / Quick Response |
|
Week 6 June 12 |
Read
before class: Reflection on reading /
Discussion / Quick Response |
|
Week 7 June 19 |
Revision
of First Critical Paper Due (optional) Read before class: In class: Reflection on readings
& film / Discussion / Quick Response Prewriting for Second
Critical Paper: Issues in White Noise |
|
Week 8 June 26 |
Second
Critical Paper Due: Issues in White Noise (400 points) In-class Final Project & Presentation Due: Tracing a Theme through Intertextuality (200 pts.) – this project will be very informal – concentrate on your paper, not this presentation. If you’ve read the material this session, this project will take care of itself during class. |
Grades:
First Paper 400 pts.
Second Paper 400 pts.
Final Project & Presentation 200 pts.
"Homework" 100 pts.
Total 1,100 pts.
IX. Americans with Disabilities Act (
X. Assessment:
Assessment will be an on-going part of the
course. In addition to providing feedback on essays and homework assignments,
the instructor will ask that you complete a Quick
Response form at the conclusion of each class period. Your responses may be
shared with the class if the instructor determines that it would be useful to
do so.
Instructor assessment:
You are invited to visit RateMyProfessor.com,
and give your instructor an informal evaluation. This is purely for the
instructor's own use; your rating has no bearing on his employment with the
college; nor will it affect your grade since it is completely anonymous.
XI. Illinois Articulation Initiative: ENG 228 has been approved by the Illinois
Articulation Initiative as meeting the criteria stipulated for H3 915:
Survey of American Literature II (3 semester credits)
This is a continuation of Survey of American Literature I. See the Illinois
Transferable General Education Core Curriculum (iTransfer Gen. Ed.) number H3
914. (H3 914: Survey of American Literature I (3 semester credits)
Development of literature of the