Introduction to Literature (Honors)
TR 9:30-10:45
Fall 2007
BH 101
Professor: Laura Gray, Ph.D. Phone: 918-343-7593
Office: BH 204C Email: lgray@rsu.edu
Office Hours: (appointments encouraged)
Monday and Wednesday
11-1
Tuesday and Thursday
11-12
Friday
10-12
Course Introduction
Catalog description: Introduction of various genres of prose (fiction, drama/film) and poetry. Includes literary terms, verse, image and the language of poetry. Also includes research techniques, critical writing exercises, and discussion.
Required Texts:
The Norton Introduction to Literature (Booth)
The Awakening (Chopin)
The Guide to College Writing (Dial-Driver)
RSU student email account
At least one computer disk dedicated to Introduction to Literature
Notebook
In this course students will read, research, evaluate, and discuss (in writing and orally) various types of literature. To aid in this, students will read primary and secondary materials, learn literary vocabulary, and understand modes of interpretation. This course consists of outside readings, lectures, in-class discussions, in-class writing and responses, viewing of films, researched essays, and exams.
Final Grades will be based on the student’s performance on the following:
· Meaningful Class Participation and Discussion 15%
Final Course Percentages:
90-100% = A
80-89.9% = B
70-79.9% = C
600-69.9% = D
0-59.9% = F
Learning Objectives
In accordance with the Rogers State University mission and the mission of the Department of English and Humanities, Introduction to Literature leads to the following outcomes:
1. Introduction to Literature is required for those students aspiring to baccalaureate degrees, associate degrees, and some certificate and associate of applied science programs.
2. Introduction to Literature is designed to build and display effective communication skills and creative and critical thinking in an atmosphere of academic freedom which encourages interaction in a positive academic climate.
3. This course is designed to create opportunities for cultural, intellectual, and personal enrichment for students.
The student should be able to demonstrate ability to--
In accordance with the Rogers State University mission and the mission of the Department of English and Humanities, this course is intended to provide the opportunity for students to develop and display effective communication skills, both written and oral; critical and creative thinking; multicultural exposure; global perspective, and a appreciation for the diverse views of art, knowledge, culture, and the world.
During the semester, you will study these literary genres: short story, drama, poetry, and film. You will
1. learn literary terms
2. learn some facts about works of literature
3. learn to analyze a work of literature
4. learn to evaluate literature in a number of ways
5. learn to write about evaluation of a literary work
6. learn to respond to questions about literature, especially in realms of synthesis and evaluation
* Assessment Tools
|
By the end of the semester students will have |
Fulfilled Objective |
|
1. passed tests on the reading and study material |
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 |
|
2. written and handed in critiques/analyses/interpretations |
3, 4, 5, and 6 |
|
3. written an acceptable, short, documented paper(s) using MLA format |
1, 2, 3, and 5 |
|
4. created/submitted a creative endeavor responding to text |
3,4, 5, and 6 |
Mid-Level (Class Assessment): Students will be assessed on their knowledge of the literary terms, criticism, analysis, and evaluation.
Exit Assessment: Students will be assessed on their knowledge of the literary terms, criticism, analysis, and evaluation.
All student work will be held to the following academic criteria:
Accuracy of information
Organization and clarity of thoughts
Depth of critical thinking and observation
Satisfaction of defined requirements (deadlines, etc.)
Acceptable writing mechanics
Fidelity of work (no plagiarism, cheating, etc.)
Evidence of creative or innovative thinking
Effective cooperative learning
Grading Scale and Academic Profiles
A 90-100% B 80-89% C 70-79% D 60-69% F 59% and below
Academic Profile
|
|
Descriptor |
Description |
|
A |
Excellent |
Students receiving an “A” can be considered to have exhibited extraordinary effort in class and scholarship exceeding the expectations of the instructor and to have exhibited most or all of the following: to have attended regularly and on time (missed fewer than the equivalent of one week of class meetings); to have participated fully in peer evaluations and in class discussion, revealing personal initiative in both; to have used well-supported and well-structured logical arguments in essay writing; to have revealed a grasp of mechanics that prevents errors; to have revealed depth of critical thought and observation; to have exhibited timeliness in turning in assignments; to have revealed strong interest in intellectual, cultural, and personal growth by reading and discussing assigned material; to have shown consistent improvement in academics. |
|
B |
Above Average |
Students receiving a “B” can be considered to have exhibited above-average effort in class, revealing noticeable improvement in academics, and showing accurate and complete scholarship. The student will have exhibited most or all of the following: have attended regularly (not missed more than the equivalent of one week of class meetings) and on time; have participated honestly and solidly in peer evaluations and in class discussion; have used supported and structured logical arguments in essay writing; have revealed a grasp of mechanics that prevents many errors; have revealed critical thought and observation; have exhibited a moderate grasp of timeliness in turning in assignments; have revealed interest in intellectual, cultural, and personal growth by reading and discussing assigned material. |
|
C |
Average |
Students receiving a “C” can be considered to have exhibited average effort in class, performing satisfactorily but not above average, with some self-direction, and have shown signs of academic progress, meeting assignment parameters accurately. The student will have exhibited most or all of the following: attended regularly (not missed more than the equivalent of one week of class meetings) and on time; participated willingly in peer evaluations and in class discussion; have used supported and structured arguments in essay writing; have revealed an average grasp of mechanics that prevents most errors; have revealed average critical thought and observation; have exhibited a moderate grasp of timeliness in turning in assignments; have revealed average interest in intellectual, cultural, and personal growth by reading and discussing assigned material. |
|
D |
Below Average |
Students receiving a “D” can be considered to have exhibited some effort in class, but not enough to show fully engagement with the subject and with the course material, showing little or no initiative and academic improvement, and not meeting the scholarship requirements of assignments. The student will have exhibited most or all of the following: have participated somewhat in peer evaluations and in class discussion; have attended somewhat regularly (missed more than the equivalent of one week and less than the equivalent of two weeks) and usually on time; have used some structured and supported arguments in essay writing; have revealed a sub-standard grasp of mechanics that prevents only some errors; have revealed below average critical thought and observation; have exhibited some grasp of timeliness in turning in assignments; have revealed below average interest in intellectual, cultural, and personal growth by reading and discussing assigned material; have not met the scholarship requirements of assignments; have not shown initiative; have not revealed academic improvement. |
|
F |
Unsatisfactory |
Students receiving an “F” can be considered to have exhibited little or no desire to pass the course. This will usually involve poor participation and attendance (missed more than the equivalent of two weeks of class meetings) and little or no effort to attempt improvement as well as scholarship deficiencies and lack of effort to complete assignments. |
[Faculty Information: This grading sheet is printed in the Guide to College Writing]
Attendance Policy
Class attendance and participation are crucial to individual student success as well as to the success of the class as a whole. Students missing 4 or more classes will have their final course grade lowered accordingly. On the rare occasion that you must miss class, you are responsible for obtaining, from a reliable classmate, any information covered in your absence. You are expected to return to class fully prepared to participate.
Reading quizzes and daily work are in-class projects and cannot be made up for any reason. If you miss class, or are late, you will receive a zero for the missed activity.
Late Papers
All work is due at the start of class by the stated due date. For each day late, five points will be deducted from the final assignment grade. No assignment will be accepted later than one week (seven calendar days) past the stated due date. Some assignments are in-class only and cannot be replicated; therefore, students missing such assignments will receive a zero for that particular activity.
Student Conduct
I encourage free and open exchange of ideas and opinions in this class. To ensure that each student has this opportunity, each of us must respect every student’s right to meaningfully contribute to the current discussions at hand. No overtly hostile, sexist, racist, or other xenophobic language or behavior will be tolerated.
Learning is a collaborative process. Each student has an important and unique role in this class and should be prepared to contribute fully throughout the semester. Arriving late, leaving early, sleeping in class, talking out of turn, or other disruptive behavior interferes with the learning experience of every student and, therefore, will not be tolerated.
It is disruptive and rude for cell phones (including text messaging!) and portable music devices to be used during class—turn them off and put them away during class time.
Cheating and Personal Misrepresentation and Proxy
Taking another person's place in an exam, placement test, or other academic activity, either before or after enrollment; having another person participate in an academic evaluation activity or evaluation in place of oneself all constitute cheating and violate the Student Code of Conduct.
Students should see and adhere to the RSU Code of Conduct, printed in Student Code of Responsibility and Conduct and online. See Title 12.
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is the representation of the words or ideas of another as one’s own, including: direct quotation without both attribution and indication that the material is being directly quoted, e.g. quotation marks; paraphrase without attribution; paraphrase with or without attribution where the wording of the original remains substantially intact and is represented as the author’s own; expression in one’s own words, but without attribution, of ideas, arguments, lines of reasoning, facts, processes, or other products of the intellect where such material is learned from the work of another and is not part of the general fund of common knowledge.
Contacting the Professor
My communication information is posted at the top of the syllabus. When sending an email, please include your name, class, and question in the subject line. All emails should be signed with your full name. Otherwise, I can not guarantee that your email will receive appropriate attention. I will make every effort to respond to emails within 48 hours. Emails received after noon on Friday will be attended to the following week. Should you wish to call or come see me, please adhere to my posted office hours. To assure that I am not in a meeting or meeting with another student, appointments are encouraged.
Each student is assigned an official University email account upon initial enrollment. The account will remain active while the student is enrolled at Rogers State University. A University assigned student email account is one of the University's official means of communication with Rogers State University students. Students are responsible for all information sent to them via their University assigned email account. All class electronic communications will be conducted through this system. When using this system, you have a right to expect that your communications will be received by me and read and acted upon in a timely fashion. You are expected to check your RSU email account on a frequent and consistent basis in order to stay current with class and university related communications. Certain of these communications may be time-critical. Email returned to me with “mailbox full” or untimely access of an email account are not acceptable excuses for missing class communications via email.
Rogers State University is committed to providing students with disabilities equal access to educational programs and services. Any student who has a disability that he or she believes will require some form of academic accommodation must inform the professor of such need during or immediately following the first class attended. Before any educational accommodation can be provided, it is the responsibility of each student to prove eligibility for assistance by registering for services through Student Affairs.
Students needing more information about Student Disability Services should contact the office of Student Development at 343-7707.
Computers are available in the UPA, Stratton Taylor Library, and Student Support Services. Computers are available for class use in BH 207.
The schedule and procedures in this course are subject to change in the event of extenuating circumstances.