Peru State College

ENGLISH 322, British Literature

Syllabus--Fall--2010

 

 

Course: British Literature, English 322

Time: 11:00-12:15, MW

Room: TJM 326

Professor: Bill Clemente

Office: TJM 315

Office Hours: MW, 2:00-3:30; TTh, 9:00-11:00; F, 10:00-11:00

Office Telephone Number: (872)-2233

E- mail:

bclemente@peru.edu;

(I check e-mail frequently and will get back to you as quickly as possible.)

Teaching Schedule:

8:00-9:15 MW (TJM 325): Non-Western Literature

9:30-10:45 MW (TJM 325): Graphic Novel

11:00-12:15 MW (TJM 326): British Literature

Creative Writing (On Line, first Eight Weeks)

11:00-11:50 Friday (TJM 325): College 101

Web page: Click here. And then click on "Bill's Personal Web Page"

 

Please pay close attention to class announcements, for the information collected here is subject to change over the course of the term.

To promote academic integrity, Peru State College subscribes to an electronic service to review papers for the appropriate citations and originality. Key elements of submitted papers are stored electronically in a limited access database and thus become a permanent part of the material to which future submissions are compared.

Continued enrollment in a course signifies your permission for this use of your written work.

Should you not wish to agree to this procedure, you may drop the course during the add/drop period before any works are completed and submitted.

 

Required Texts:

Wuthering Heights by Emile Bronte

Great Expectations by Charles Dickens

The War of the Worlds by H. G. Wells

Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf

The End of the Affair by Graham Greene

Frankenstein by Mary Shelly

 

 

Course Description and Objectives:

This course includes an historical survey of British Literature from Old and Middle English literature to the present. Major writers receive chief emphasis. This class fills an important place in the English curriculum, introducing readers to British Literature not necessarily covered in other classes that discuss poetry, the novel, Shakespeare, drama, and short stories.

While students will read Beowulf and Chaucer's Miller's Tale, this particular class will focus on the development of the novel.

The six novels introduce important areas of development in British Literature, from the sophisticated narrative of Wuthering Heights to the modern and disturbing classic, End of the Affair. The other novels include the epitome of Victorian-era accomplishment, Charles Dickens' Great Expectations and a admonitory novel that as a recent film adaptation underscores continues to resonate today, War of the Worlds by H. G. Wells and first published in 1898; Shelly's novel Frankenstein also investigates similar concerns with science, its limitations and dangers. The other novel, Mrs. Dalloway, will introduce readers to a novelist who signaled, along with James Joyce, a dramatic change in narrative technique, Virginia Woolf.

In addition to studying narrative technique, students will consider as well the social, economic, and political contexts of importance to all the novels, from the bitter political attacks against British policies and modern science in Wells to the charged emotions and social upheaval at the heart of Wuthering Heights.

The class will provide students amble opportunity to research and write about ideas (narrative technique, feminism, modernity, social systems, politics, etc.) that appeal to them. To this end, the class also emphasizes nurturing analytical and written skills.

Other Objectives:

One of the primary goals of the English Department is to graduate literate citizens who can communicate clearly and who posses the requisite experience to teach effectively. British Literature provides students not only a greater appreciation for this literature but also the confidence necessary to incorporate this important literature into their school curricula. Whether or not students choose certification, the course emphasizes the sophistication and the flexibility of language, both grammar and style, and deepens their appreciation for all forms of writing and literature.

The written assignments also emphasize research and critical-thinking and writing skills.

 

Upon completion of this course, you should be able to:

1. Appreciate the diversity of narrative techniques utilized in the various novels.

2. Continue to hone critical and written skills.

3. Continue reading and reasearch with confidence in the area of British Literature, from Beowulf to Mrs. Dalloway.

4. Understand the development of the British novel, from its roots in social conflict to the birth of Science Fiction.

5. Talk clearly and critically about the issues addressed in each of the titles examined in class.

 

Assessment Methods and Student Requirements:

Grades:

Your final grade will be based on the following (subject-to-change) percentages:

Attendance: 10%

Four Essays: 60%

Midterm Examination: 15%

Final Examination: 15%

(These percentages are subject to change; your grades on Blackboard are calculated not by point value but by weight.)

Grading Policy:

A 90-100

B+ 85-89

B 80-84

C+ 75-79

C 70-74

D+ 65-69

D 60-64

F 59 and below

Attendance and Participation:

Approach this class prepared to share your ideas and your work, for the combination will help you generate ideas for your four essays; therefore, failing to attend to class work on a regular basis will hinder your progress.

British Literature is very much a discussion and sharing class. Come to class prepared to take part in discussions, for they will help you generate ideas for your essays on the exams and for short writing assignments; failing to attend class on a regular basis will hinder your progress.

If you must miss class, contact me or a member of the class to get the assignment-you should have a class directory by the second week. Attendance counts for 10% of the final grade, and each of you begins the semester with a grade of A, 100%, for attendance. Not attending class lowers this grade at the rate of 5% for the first three absences and 10% for each subsequent non-attendance. Come to class prepared to enjoy yourself.

Essays:

This class requires, unless indicated otherwise, that students write an essay (three double-spaced pages) on four of the works covered this term. These essays require that writes use at least two sources--internet sources are allowed and must be electronically linked.

Students will write on topics of their choice. As a rule, these essays are due no later than two weeks after the class completes the readings.

Essays will be turned in electronically on Blackboard and will be returned in a similar fashion.

Students will have an opportunity to revise at least three of the essays.

Examinations:

These in-class examinations will ensure that students read all the assigned material. The tests can come in a variety of forms, from brief explanations to essay responses.

Students will not have an opportunity to revise this work.

Revisions:

The grade you receive on a revision replaces the original--a revision will never lower your grade. As a general rule, you will have approximately a week to revise your work. See me with questions and concerns.

Bear in mind, however, that "revision" does not mean "automatic grade elevation."

Turning In Assignments:

You will turn in all class assignments electronically using Blackboard's Assignment Page; I will comment on this work and return it to you via Blackboard. We will discuss this method in class.

Unless otherwise indicated, all work is due by midnight Sunday of the week in which the work is assigned. Assignments will be posted by Monday morning of each week and usually on Sunday.

Late Assignments:

Turn in all work on time. The grade for unexcused late work will be lowered at the rate of 1/4 a letter grade for each day after the original due date. If you need additional time, please see me before the date on which work is due.

Meet your deadlines!

 

Incomplete Coursework Policy:

To designate a student’s work in a course as incomplete at the end of a term, the instructor records the incomplete grade (I). Students may receive this grade only when serious illness, hardship, death in the immediate family, or military service during the semester in which they are registered prevents them from completing course requirements. In addition, to receive an incomplete, a student must have completed substantially all of the course’s major requirements.

Unless extenuating circumstances dictate otherwise, students must initiate requests for an incomplete by filling out an Incomplete Grade Completion Contract, which requires the signature of the student, instructor, and Dean. The Incomplete Grade Completion contract cites the reason(s) for the incomplete and details the specific obligations the student must meet to change the incomplete to a letter grade. The date by which the student agrees to complete required work must appear in the contract. The Dean, the instructor, and the student receive signed copies of the Incomplete Grade Completion Contract.

Even if the student does not attend Peru State College, all incomplete course work must be finished by the end of the subsequent semester. Unless the appropriate Dean approves an extension and if the student does not fulfill contract obligations in the allotted time, the incomplete grade automatically becomes an F.

Academic Integrity Policy

The College expects all students to conduct themselves in a manner that supports an honest assessment of student learning outcomes and the assignment of grades that appropriately reflect student performance. It is ultimately the student’s responsibility to understand and comply with instructions regarding the completion of assignments, exams, and other academic activities. At a minimum, students should assume that at each assessment opportunity they are expected to do their own original academic work and/or clearly acknowledge in an appropriate fashion the intellectual work of others, when such contributions are allowed. Students helping others to circumvent honest assessments of learning outcomes, or who fail to report instances of academic dishonesty, are also subject to the sanctions defined in this policy.

Instances of academic dishonesty may be discovered in a variety of ways. Faculty members who assign written work ordinarily check citations for accuracy, run data base and online checks, and/or may simply recognize familiar passages that are not cited. They may observe students in the act of cheating or may become aware of instances of cheating from the statements of others. All persons who observe or otherwise know about instances of cheating are expected to report such instances to the proper instructor or Dean.

In order to promote academic integrity, the College subscribes to an electronic service to review papers for the appropriate citations and originality. Key elements of submitted papers are stored electronically in a limited access database and thus become a permanent part of the material to which future submissions are compared. Submission of an application and continued enrollment signifies your permission for this use of your written work.

NSCS Board of Trustees Policy 4220 states that each College “. . . will establish a distance learning assessment policy that will include, at a minimum, a substantial culminating experience that is proctored.” Peru State College’s policy is that each course that is offered entirely online will feature a proctored final exam that substantially measures the extent the course’s stated learning objectives are achieved. Online course syllabi will clearly state that, regardless of grades earned previously, the proctored final exam must be passed in order to receive credit for the course. Courses which feature graded site-based activities (e.g., teaching demonstrations) and/or video-taped presentations that occur near the end of the term, and that are designed to substantially assess the achievement of learning objectives, can be considered in compliance with this policy. Project-based capstone and graduate courses utilizing real-time discussions held by web- cam, phone or in person with the faculty member as part of the assessment process can also be considered in compliance with this policy.

Should an occurrence of academic misconduct occur, the faculty member may assign a failing grade for the assignment or a failing grade for the course. Each incident of academic misconduct should be reported to the Dean and the Vice President for Academic Affairs (VPAA). The VPAA may suspend students for two semesters found to be responsible for multiple instances of academic dishonesty. The reason for the suspension will be noted on the student’s transcript.

A faculty member need present only basic evidence of academic dishonesty. There is no requirement for proof of intent. Students are responsible for understanding these tenets of academic honesty and integrity. Students may appeal penalties for academic dishonesty using the process established for grades appeals.

Title IX Compliance Notice

Peru State College is an equal opportunity institution. PSC does not discriminate against any student, employee or applicant on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, religion, or age in employment and education opportunities, including but not limited to admission decisions. The College has designated an individual to coordinate the College’s nondiscrimination efforts to comply with regulations implementing Title VI, VII, IX, and Section 504. Inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies and practices may be directed to Eulanda Cade, Director of Human Resources, Title VI, VII, IX Compliance Coordinator, Peru State College, PO Box 10, Peru, NE 68421-0010, (402) 872-2230.

Students requesting reasonable accommodation and tutoring services should contact the Center for Achievement and Transition Services (CATS).

TENTATIVE COURSE SCHEDULE FOR BRITISH LITERATURE

General Outline

We will read the books in the following order, spending approximately two weeks on each work:

Beowulf

The Miller's Tale

Wuthering Heights

Great Expectations

Frankenstein

The War of the Worlds

Mrs. Dalloway

End of the Affair

As a rule, reading and other assignments will be posted on the class web page.