posted: 12/1/2008
revised: 12/10/2008
|
Spring 2009 (session A) |
Ted Morrissey (CV) |
ENGLISH 230-70—INTRODUCTION TO WOMEN AUTHORS (3
Credit Hours)
I. Course Description: English 230 Introduction to Women Authors is a course
with a select focus on significant women authors. The course examines common
literary characteristics and the human experience described by nineteenth- and
twentieth-century English-speaking authors. A student must earn a grade of
“C” or better to receive credit toward graduation. Prerequisite:
English 111 with a grade of “C” or better. BU LITR 281. IAI H3
911D; IAI EGL 920.
II. Textbooks:
Henderson, Bill,
ed. Pushcart Prize XXXIII.
Rattiner, Susan
L., ed. Great Poems by American
Women: An Anthology.
Shelley, Mary. Frankenstein.
1818 [1831 edition]. Ed. Candace
Ward.
Ward, Candace,
ed. Great Short Stories by American
Women.
Available at SCI's Bookstore.
Note: I will go
over much of this syllabus in class but not every word. It is your responsibility to read the entire
syllabus and ask questions if you do not understand any part of it. Being familiar with the contents of the
syllabus will enhance your performance in this course.
III.
SCI: The mission of
BU:
IV. Goals, objectives
and outcomes:
A. Goals:
1. To understand and
articulate the difference between “feminine” issues and
“feminist” issues.
2. To gain a sense of the chronology and evolution of issues which have been
especially significant to women authors, especially in the
3. To become familiar with key women authors, both living and dead.
4. To make connections between various “texts,” including but not
limited to print and film.
5. To become familiar with using various critical models (e.g., feminist
theory, Marxist theory, queer theory, postmodern theory) to analyze texts.
6. 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).
SCI’s
SCI’s Resource Director: Amy Sayre-Roberts: aroberts@sci.edu
Consider using
Smarthinking Online Tutorials to assist with paper writing, etc.: http://www.sci.edu/academics/smart/index.html
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. If you attend only part of the class session,
you run the risk of being counted absent for the entire session at the
instructor’s discretion. 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).
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.
5. Conferences regarding writing assignments as needed.
6. Final project.
Academic Integrity Statement
Academic
and professional environments require honesty and integrity, and these qualities are expected of every student
at Springfield College-Benedictine University. In accordance with such
expectations, academic integrity requires that you credit others for their
ideas. Plagiarism, whether intentional
or not, is a grievous offense. Any time you use words or ideas that are not
your own, you must give credit to the author, whether or not you are quoting
directly from that author. Failure to do so constitutes plagiarism.
Any
incident of plagiarism and/or academic dishonesty may result in serious
consequences. Penalties for academic dishonesty vary depending on the severity
or extent of the problem but are always serious.
The
following are consequences you may face for academic dishonesty:
·
a
failing grade or “zero” for the assignment;
·
dismissal
from and a failing grade for the course; or
·
dismissal
from the Institution.
Please
refer to the Springfield College Benedictine University Catalog or the Student
Handbook for a complete discussion of the Academic Integrity policy.
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; and 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.
Note that there will be
frequent reading quizzes, and these grades will be counted as homework even
though they are completed in class, because you did the reading “at
home.” Also note that you must be
in class at the time the quiz is given; you cannot make up a missed quiz, even
if you attend class on the same evening that the quiz was given. That is, if you arrive after the quiz has
been collected, you will have to take a zero for that 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 or rhetorical 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.
If you do not turn in the First Critical Paper on time, you may turn it
in by the due date for the optional revision; however, you will not be able to
improve the grade you receive for this “revised” draft; also, this
draft must be submitted to Blackboard’s
SafeAssign as if it were turned in on time in the first place.
Final Grade will be based
on a percentage of the total score: A = 90 to 100%; B = 80 to 89%; C = 70 to
79%; D = 60 to 69%; F = 0 to 59%. Note that the instructor reserves the right to bump up a grade
if the student demonstrates special effort in the course. Behaviors like perfect attendance, meaningful
participation in class discussions, and in general an eagerness to learn and to
improve one’s reading and writing skills could be taken into consideration
when calculating the final grade.
Grade Appeal Process
According to the Springfield College Catalog, grade
appeals must be initiated 90 days prior to the end of one semester after the course
in question has been completed. The process for appealing a grade is outlined
below.
First,
contact the Instructor.
1.
A
student must appeal to his/her instructor in
writing (e-mail is acceptable) and provide specific reasons why his/her
grade should be changed.
2.
The
instructor must respond to the student in
writing (e-mail is acceptable) and provide a copy to the division chair.
Second, contact the Division
Chair.
3.
If
the student wishes, he/she may then appeal to the division chair in writing (e-mail is acceptable) and
provide specific reasons why his/her grade should be changed without the
instructor’s permission. The student should understand that overwhelming
evidence must be presented to the division chair to prove that the current
grade is incorrect.
4. The division chair must respond to the
student in writing (e-mail is
acceptable) and provide a copy to the academic dean.
Lastly, contact the Academic Dean.
5. If the student wishes, he/she may appeal
to the academic dean in writing (e-mail
is acceptable) and provide specific reasons why his/her grade should be changed
without the instructor’s or the division chair’s permission. The
student should understand that overwhelming evidence must be presented to the
academic dean to prove the grade is incorrect.
6. The academic dean must respond to the
student in writing (e-mail is
acceptable). The academic dean’s decision is final.
Student Withdrawal Procedure
It is the
student’s responsibility to officially withdraw from a course by
completing the appropriate form, with appropriate signatures, and returning the
completed form to the Advising Office.
Please refer to the Student Handbook for important financial information
related to withdrawals.
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. 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.
Due to the accelerated nature of the course,
should you experience a medical condition which prevents you from attending any
class(es), appropriate medical documentation must be provided immediately so it
may be determined what, if any, accommodations are reasonable or possible.
Drop Dates
January 20 - Last
day to drop with 100% refund
January 26 - Last day to withdraw with 25% refund
February 16 - Last day to withdraw from
class
See Adult Accelerated
Calendar
Directions for Written Work:
Keep all assignments,
formal and informal, prewriting, revisions, and final drafts until final grades
are received.
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))
3. Three to five pages in length (not including required Works Cited page) and
represent a “completed” paper.
4. Submitted to Blackboard’s SafeAssign feature.
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).
|
Week 1 January
14 Foundational
Issues |
Before
the first session, read: Note: It is imperative that you purchase the
texts for this course; however, if you aren’t able to get them prior to
the first class, the Woolf
and Bradstreet
readings are available on line – I’ve linked their names. Course Introduction /
Reflection on readings / Discussion /
Quick Response |
|
Week 2 January
21 Bridging
18th & 19th Centuries |
Read: *
“Author’s Introduction” (M. Shelley v-x) Reflection
on readings / Discussion / Quick
Response |
|
Week 3 January
28 Bridging
18th & 19th Centuries, cont’d |
Read: Reflection
on reading / Discussion / Quick Response Prewriting
for first critical paper: Feminist
issues in Frankenstein |
|
Week 4 February
4 Bridging
18th & 19th Centuries, cont’d |
First
Critical Paper Due: Feminist issues in Frankenstein (400 pts.) – make sure to also
upload your paper to Blackboard
(requirement) Read: *
“‘So Spake Our General Mother’: A Portrait of Mary Shelley
as a Young Novelist” (Link) * Film:
Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein
(2:03) Reflection
on readings & film / Discussion /
Quick Response |
|
Week 5 February
11 19th-
& 20th-Century Influential Authors |
Class conducted via Blackboard
Discussion (Morrissey at AWP Conference) Reflection on reading /
Discussion / Quick Response |
|
Week 6 February
18 19th-
& 20th-Century Influential Authors, cont’d |
Short class meeting then attending Better Angels reading
of Guillory, Knoepfle, and Braver Reflection on readings / Discussion / Quick Response |
|
Week 7 February
25 Bridging
20th & 21st Centuries |
Revision
of Frankenstein Paper Due (optional) Read: Prewriting for second
paper: Modern issues |
|
Week 8 March
4 Reflection
on Women Authors & Significant Issues |
Second
Critical Paper Due: Modern issues (400 pts.) – make sure to also
upload your paper to Blackboard
(requirement) In-class Final Project Due: Intertextuality (200 pts.) |
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 (
If documentation of the disability (either learning or
physical) is not already on file, it may be requested. Once on file, an
individual student’s disability documentation is shared only at that
individual’s request and solely with the parties whom the student wishes
it shared. Requests are kept
confidential and may be made by emailing aroberts@sci.edu
or by calling 217-525-1420, ext. 233.
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 230 has been approved by the Illinois
Articulation Initiative as meeting the criteria stipulated for H3
911D Literature and Gender; and EGL 920
Women’s Literature.