Introduction to Literature
MW 12:00-1:15
Spring 2008
TL 108
Professor: Laura Gray, Ph.D. Phone: 918-343-7593
Office: BH 204C Email: lgray@rsu.edu
Faculty Website: http://www.rsu.edu/faculty/LGray/
Office Hours: (appointments encouraged)
Monday,
Wednesday, Friday
9-11
Tuesday
9-1
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)
Pride and Prejudice
(Austen)
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 writings 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. Any summary/response to a particular reading must be turned in prior to class discussion over that
assigned reading.
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 sent from the RSU student
email account and signed with your full name. Otherwise, I cannot 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
for student use are available in the Stratton Taylor Library, Heath Sciences
246, and Student Support Services.
The schedule and
procedures in this course are subject to change in the event of extenuating
circumstances.
RSU English and Humanities
Department Definition of Plagiarism
The RSU Student Code defines plagiarism as “presenting
the work of another as one’s own (i.e., without proper acknowledgment of the
source or sources), or submitting material that is not entirely one’s own work
without attributing the unoriginal portions to their correct sources. The sole
exception to the requirement of acknowledging sources occurs when ideas or
information are common knowledge” (see Title 12 in the Student Code, available
online at www.rsu.edu/scode).
Integrating the words and ideas of others into your
own work is an important feature of academic expression. But plagiarism occurs whenever we incorporate
the intellectual property of others into our own work without proper
acknowledgement of whose words, ideas, or other original material we are
bringing into our work, either with quotation marks and direct mention of the
source or through other means of clear and precise acknowledgement.
Plagiarism can of course be a purely intentional
attempt at deceit, but whether or not there is conscious intent to deceive,
plagiarism occurs any time you do not
give proper acknowledgement of others’ contributions to your work. Ignorance of the responsibility of acknowledging
sources is not a legitimate defense against a charge of plagiarism, any more
than not knowing the speed limit on a given road makes a person stopped for
speeding less at fault. Since the
consequences of being charged with plagiarism are serious, the English and
Humanities Department has adopted the following definition of plagiarism to
ensure your more precise understanding of what constitutes plagiarism,
intentional or unintentional.
1. It is plagiarism to copy another’s words
directly and present them as your own without quotation marks and direct
indication of whose words you are copying.
All significant phrases, clauses, and passages copied from another
source require quotation marks and proper acknowledgement, down to the page
number(s) of printed texts.*
Source material from the “Notice” to Mark Twain’s Adventures of Huckleberry Finn: “Persons
attempting to find a motive in this narrative will be prosecuted; persons
attempting to find a moral in it will be banished; persons attempting to find a
plot in it will be shot.”
Plagiarized: Surely it is an exaggeration to say that
persons attempting to find a moral in
Huckleberry Finn will be banished
and persons attempting to find a plot in
it will be shot.
Proper acknowledgement of source: Perhaps the
author is exaggerating when he says that “persons attempting to find a moral”
in his novel “will be banished” and “persons attempting to find a plot in it
will be shot” (Twain 3).
Note that even brief
clauses and phrases copied from source material require quotation marks. Also
note that acknowledging the source without putting the quoted words in
quotation marks is still plagiarism: put all
quoted words in quotation marks.
2. It is
plagiarism to paraphrase another writer’s work by altering some words but
communicating the same essential point(s) made by the original author without
proper acknowledgment. Though quotation
marks are not needed with paraphrasing, you must still acknowledge the original
source directly.
Source material from Adolph
Hitler, by John Tolland: “Ignored by the West, the Soviet Union
once more looked to
Plagiarized: When Western nations continued to shun
the Soviet Union, the Russians drew closer to
Proper acknowledgement of source: In Adolph Hitler, John Tolland notes that
when Western nations continued to shun the Soviet Union, the Russians drew
closer to
3. Plagiarism includes
presenting someone else’s ideas or factual discoveries as your own. If you follow another person’s general
outline or approach to a topic, presenting another’s original thinking or
specific conclusions as your own, you must cite the source even if your work is
in your own words entirely. When you
present another’s statistics, definitions, or statements of fact in your own
work, you must also cite the source.
Example 1: Say that you read Paul Goodman’s “A Proposal to Abolish
Grading,” in which he claims that an emphasis on grades results in students’
caring more about grades than learning subject matter, causing them to have a
bad attitude when their grades are low and sometimes even leading them to
cheating. In order to make these same
essential points in your own work without plagiarizing—even if your development
of these ideas differs markedly from Goodman’s in examples and order of
presentation—you must still acknowledge Goodman as the basis for your approach
to the topic.
Plagiarized: Abolishing grades at the college level
would allow students to focus on subject matter instead of grades, it would
prevent students from getting a bad attitude towards a class when they receive
low grades, and it would virtually eliminate the temptation to cheat or
plagiarize.
Proper acknowledgement of source: As Paul Goodman
argues in “A Proposal to Abolish Grading,” doing away with grades would allow
students to focus on subject matter instead of grades, it would prevent
students from getting a bad attitude towards a class when they receive low
grades, and it would virtually eliminate the temptation to cheat or plagiarize.
Example 2: If you found a source indicating that Americans consume
more beer on Friday than on any other day of the week, to make this claim in
your work you must cite the source to avoid plagiarism. If the source indicated that American
beer-drinking on Fridays accounts for 21% of the whole week’s total
consumption, mentioning this statistic, or even approximating it, requires
acknowledgement of the source.
Plagiarized: Americans consume more beer on Fridays
than on any other day of the week.
Proper acknowledgement of source: Americans
consume more beer on Fridays than on any other day of the week (Cox 31).
Plagiarized: Beer consumption on Fridays accounts for
more than 20% of total
Proper acknowledgement of source: Beer
consumption on Fridays accounts for more than 20% of total
4. Plagiarism includes
allowing someone else to prepare work that you present as your own.
Allowing a friend, parent, tutor, or
anyone else to compose any portion of work you present as your own is
plagiarism. Note that plagiarism
includes copying, downloading, or purchasing an essay or any other material in
part or in whole via the Internet. Note
also that plagiarism includes using online “translator programs” in foreign
language classes.
5. Plagiarism applies
in other media besides traditional written texts, including, but not limited
to, oral presentations, graphs, charts, diagrams, artwork, video and audio compositions,
and other electronic media such as web pages, PowerPoint presentations, and
postings to online discussions.
Conclusion:
·
If you are uncertain about any portion or aspect of this definition of
plagiarism, ask your instructor to clarify or explain immediately. If at any point later in the semester you
have questions about potential plagiarism issues, talk to your instructor about
them before submitting the work in question.
·
Students who plagiarize often feel pressured into submitting
plagiarized work because they have either struggled with the assignment or
waited until the last minute to get the work under way. You will always be better served discussing
your situation with your instructor, however grim it seems, rather than
submitting any work that is not entirely your own.
*The
examples of proper acknowledgement of sources above follow the MLA (Modern
Language Association) conventions for in-text parenthetical citation used in
English classes and many other courses in the humanities. The parenthetical references point the reader
to a list of “Works Cited” at the end of an essay. Other courses and disciplines may follow
different conventions, such as footnotes, endnotes, or a variety of other
methods of documentation (APA, Chicago Style, etc.).
Course and section:___________________________
I understand and accept the following definition of plagiarism:
1. It is plagiarism to copy another’s words directly and
present them as your own without quotation marks and direct indication of whose
words you are copying. All significant
phrases, clauses, and passages copied from another source require quotation
marks and proper acknowledgement, down to the page number(s) of printed texts.
2.
It is plagiarism to paraphrase another writer’s work by altering some words but
communicating the same essential point(s) made by the original author without
proper acknowledgment. Though quotation
marks are not needed with paraphrasing, you must still acknowledge the original
source directly.
3.
Plagiarism includes presenting someone else’s ideas or factual discoveries as
your own. If you follow another person’s
general outline or approach to a topic, presenting another’s original thinking
or specific conclusions as your own, you must cite the source even if your work
is in your own words entirely. When you
present another’s statistics, definitions, or statements of fact in your own
work, you must also cite the source.
4.
Plagiarism includes allowing someone else to prepare work that you present as
your own.
5.
Plagiarism applies in other media besides traditional written texts, including,
but not limited to, oral presentations, graphs, charts, diagrams, artwork,
video and audio compositions, and other electronic media such as web pages,
PowerPoint presentations, and postings to online discussions.
My signature below indicates that I have
read and do understand and accept the “RSU English and Humanities Definition of
Plagiarism,” which contains examples and explanation of the various types of
plagiarism listed above.
Print your name
here: Sign
your name here:
__________________________________
_________________________________
Schedule at
a Glance
The following outlines the readings and projects for this term. Students should be prepared to answer questions, in writing and orally, every class period—reading quizzes and in-class writings will seldom be announced ahead of time. I have listed the formal, out-of-class projects; however, I will also ask you to respond, interpret, and analyze the assigned works throughout the term. Come prepared, each class period, to do so.
I will make every effort to follow this schedule. If changes are necessary, I will make them in class. It is the responsibility of each student to stay apprised of any changes.
**Students will use “Writing about Literature” (2239)
throughout the term
Week 1
First Class Meeting—Review syllabus and texts
Discuss Elements of Fiction
Introduction (all)
“The Yellow Wallpaper” (667)
Week 2
Students prepare for class:
“Sonny’s Blues” (91) —Literary Interpretation due for this reading
“Flight Patterns” (49)
Week 3
Students prepare for class:
“Girl” (543)
“A Rose for Emily” (594)—Literary Interpretation/Analysis due for this reading
Week 4
Pride and Prejudice
Week 5
Unit I Exam
Week 6
Poetry Vocabulary
Students prepare for class:
“Poetry: Reading, Responding, Writing” (811, 817, 825)
“Tone” (835); “Metaphor and Simile” (941); “Symbol” (955)
“How Do I Love Thee” (811)
[“Let not to the marriage of true minds”] (827)
“On Her Loving Two Equally” (828)
“She Dwelt among the Untrodden Ways” (871)
[I celebrate myself, and sing myself”] (881)
“To His Coy Mistress” (896)—Literary Response due for this reading
[“I dwell in Possibility—“]
Week 7
Students prepare for class:
“The Twenty-third Psalm”
“The Negro Speaks of Rivers” (1176)—Literary Interpretation due for this reading
“I, Too” (1177)
“The Sonnet” (1022)
[“My mistress’ eyes are nothing like the sun”] (1034)
“A Sonnet Is a Moment’s Monument” (1025)
Week 8
Students prepare for class:
Creative Response and Presentation I
Lyrics as Poetry—A Salon
Week 9
Unit II Exam
After the exam,
students will receive their assignments for the researched, documented essay,
which is due for the next Unit.
Stage
Week 10
Students prepare for class:
Oedipus the King (1840)
Week 11
Students prepare for class:
A Midsummer Night’s Dream (1690)
Week 12
Students prepare for class:
A Raisin in the Sun (1942)
Week 13
Creative Response and Presentation II
Student Dramatic Productions
Film (this is a tentative list of films—highly subject to
change)
Week 14
Narrative point-of-view
Memento
Week 15
Researched, documented essay due
Characterization
Casablanca
Week 16
Tone
Third Man
Week 17
Theme
The Day the Earth Stood Still
Week 18
Unit III Exam (Final Exam)—Wednesday May 7 11:30 AM to 1:30 PM
All students will take the exam at this time—no exceptions.