The Novel

ENGL 3423

TL 117

TR 12:30-1:45

Fall 2005

Professor: Laura Gray, Ph.D.                                                Phone: 918-343-7593

Office: BH 204C                                                         Email: lgray@rsu.edu

Office Hours: (appointments encouraged)

Monday and Wednesday

9:30-11:30

1:30-3

Tuesday and Thursday

9:30-10:30

Tuesday only

2-3

Course Description

Consideration of the work of major novelists. Course will be comparative and based on concepts to include theme and artistic expression. In this course students will

• Read, discuss, interpret, and analyze novels written in the English language from the 19th and 20th centuries.

• Discover the literary, social, and historical importance of the novel genre as exemplified by the selected works.

• Examine individual literary elements of each assigned novel and understand how these elements reflect the time period in which they were written.

• Compare and synthesize the literary and historical elements of the novels as the genre evolves.

• Demonstrate critical understanding and innovative thinking by significantly adding to class material and discussion.  

• Demonstrate acquired knowledge of the individual works and the genre as a whole through analytical papers and examinations.

Required Texts

The following is a list of the required texts for this class. Discussion will be taken up in this order. Please use the required edition of each novel, so that page numbers and editorial information will be consistent.

·         Sense and Sensibility -- Jane Austen

Oxford World Classics (July 1998), 1811. ISBN:0192833588

·         The Mill on the Floss -- George Eliot

Oxford World Classics (June 1998), 1880. ISBN:0192833642

·         Portrait of an Artist as a Young Man -- James Joyce

20th Century Classics – Penguin (1993), 1914. ISBN: 0140186832

·         Native Son -- Richard Wright

Harper Perennial (June 1989), 1940. ISBN: 0060809779

·         Sula--Toni Morrison

Knopf (2004). ISBN:1-4000-3343-8

·         One Hundred Years of Solitude -- Gabriel Garcia Marquez.

Harper Perennial, 1969-70. ISBN: 0060929790

Recommended Texts

In addition to the above required texts, all students must have a good, current usage handbook. I recommend one of the following:

·         Dial-Driver, Emily. Guide to College Writing. 6^th ed.

·         Hacker, Diana. A Writer's Reference. 5^th Ed. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin's, 2003.

You will be expected to know and properly use literary terms. Two standard guides are:

·         Harmon, William and C. Hugh Holman. A Handbook to Literature.

·         Murfin, Ross and Supryia M. Ray. The Bedford Glossary of Critical and Literary Terms.

Course Policies and Procedures

Teaching Methods and Evaluation Instruments

Learning is a cooperative and collaborative activity. Each student has an important and unique role in this class and should be prepared, each class meeting, to contribute fully throughout the semester. This course will consist of lectures, weekly student participation through attendance and meaningful discussions, Reading and Responding activities, outside readings and research, abstracts, papers, presentations, and exams.

Standards of Achievement

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

A 90-100

B 80-89

C 70-79

D 60-69

F 59-Below

Grading Policy

Final Grades will be based on the following. Details for these assignments will be given in class.

Active Participation 350 points

Meaningful Class Discussion (100)

Reading and Responding Questions (200)

Class Presentation(s) (50)

Formal Papers 250 points

Abstracts (50)

Critical Analyses/Responses (200)

Exams 200 points

Mid Term (100)

Final (100)

Point Spread

720-800    =     A

640-719.9 =     B

560-639.9 =     C

480-559.9 =     D

0-479.9     =     F         

To successfully complete this class, each student must complete all major assignments. These include critical analyses/responses and the midterm and final exam. Any student who fails to submit any one of these mandatory assignments will receive an “F” in the course, regardless of the other grades.

Turning in Assignments

All outside assignments, which include weekly Reading and Responding questions and all formal papers, must be typed and adhere to MLA standards of formatting and documentation.

Reading and Responding activities are part of your weekly participation and are subject and time sensitive. For that reason, I will not accept them late. Except when otherwise noted, Reading and Responding activities are due each Tuesday, at the start of class. If you are absent or late, you will receive a zero for that particular assignment. Please have two typed copies with you each week, one to turn in and one to keep for class discussion.

Each student will give at least one oral presentation. These presentations are subject and time sensitive—do not miss your assigned presentation.

Late Work

Formal papers are due on the designated day at the start of class. For each day they are late, five points will be deducted from the final paper grade. No papers will be accepted later than one week (seven calendar days) past the original due date. Remember that each student must turn in the critical analyses/responses to pass the class. The midterm and final will be taken at the assigned time. I will not offer makeup exams.

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.

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.

It is disruptive and rude for cell phones 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 a form of academic dishonesty. Plagiarism is representing someone else's ideas or work as your own. To avoid plagiarism, when you use someone else's data, arguments, designs, words, ideas, project, etc., you must make it clear that the work originated with someone else by citing the source. Please review the Student Code of Responsibilities and Conduct published by Rogers State University for a full discussion of “Code of Academic Conduct” and plagiarism penalties. A link to the “Code” is on the RSU web site.  

Rogers State University ADA Statement

Americans with Disabilities Act

Rogers State University is committed to providing students with disabilities equal access to educational programs and services.  Before any educational accommodation can be provided, any student who has a disability that he or she believes will require some form of accommodation must do the following:  1) inform the professor of each class of such need; and 2) register for services to determine eligibility for assistance with the Office of Student Affairs, located in the Student Union.

Students needing more information about Student Disability Services should contact the Director of Student Development in the Office of Student Affairs.

Computer Writing Labs

Computers are available in the UPA, Stratton Taylor Library, and Student Support Services. Computers are available for class use in BH 207.

Closure Statement

The schedule and procedures in this course are subject to change in the event of extenuating circumstances.

An Open Letter to Students

            Attending college is analogous to being employed. Success on the job is achieved only with hard work and effort. This is also true of college.

            Your employer expects you to be on the job every day, on time, and prepared to work. You are allowed only a specific number of sick days each year after which your pay is “docked.” This is also true in composition classes. Regular and prompt attendance is essential.

            Meetings are an essential part of the workplace culture, and everyone is expected to attend regularly and to contribute to the discussion. If you miss an excessive number of meetings and/or do not share information, your employment success is in jeopardy. The same holds true for this class. You are not only expected to attend all of our “meetings,” but you are expected to contribute to the discussion. This requires that you come to each class prepared to discuss the assigned material. Failure to do so will put your success in jeopardy.

            Your employer requires you to submit all reports on time. Failure to do so will endanger your employer’s business and your success. The same is true for this class. All “reports” (papers, etc.) are due at the scheduled time (see syllabus). If, for a justified reason, you will not be able to meet the time schedule, you must notify me, just as you would contact your employer if you needed an extension. However, as in the workplace, such extensions do not come without a cost. Extensions result in a decrease in your “salary” (grade).

            Performance reviews occur periodically in the workplace, and your employer determines the degree of your success during these reviews. Such is the case in this class. The “performance reviews” for this class are papers and other assignments. These reviews require you to show not only your knowledge of the material, but also your ability to use this knowledge. Your “pay” (grade) depends on the quality of your performance.

            If you attend class regularly, participate in class discussions, and submit all materials, well prepared and in a timely fashion, you have the potential to excel in this class. I am looking forward to working with you and to learning with you. I am always available if you need assistance.

adapted, with permission, from Bremer, Joyce C. “The Responsible Student.” Innovation Abstracts 20.17 (4 Sep. 1998): 1.

Name:   ___________________________

Date:    ___________________________

Student Contract for The Novel

Initial each statement and turn this contract in. This contract must be on file for you to attend the class.

_____  I have read and understood the guidelines and requirements in the syllabus.

_____  I understand that this class is for three hours college credit; this implies three hours of class

meeting.

_____  I understand that each hour of college credit usually requires two or more hours per week study time outside of class.

_____   I understand what plagiarism is, and I understand that strict penalties will incur if I plagiarize material.

_____   I understand that peer critiquing may be required in this class; this means that any work I do for this class may be subject to peer review by my classmates.

_____  I understand that attendance is required.

_____   I understand literary selections for this class may contain controversial or “offensive” material; this is the nature of some academic works.

_____ I understand that I must submit all major papers and take the midterm and final exam to pass this class.

                                                                                                _____________________________        

(signature)