ENG221 American Literature I

Middlesex Community College                                      Fall 2007

Professor: Dr. D. Bontatibus

Item #/CRN: 3154                                           3 credits/3 lecture hours           

Class Day & Time: On-line Class

Office: 520 Snow Hall

Voice Mail: 860-343-5802                               Main # to MxCC: 860-343-5800

Office Hours: M & W 12:30-2 p.m.

Email: www.commnet.edu (WebCT Vista) (See email policy on p.5.)

dbontatibus@mxcc.commnet.edu (alternative)

Course Description

This course will provide a survey of American literature from the 1600s to the 1800s through prose, poetry, drama, and the novel. Attention will be given to general concepts of a literary and historical nature.

Texts

McMichael, George. Anthology of American Literature. Vol. 1. 9^th edition. New Jersey:

Pearson-Prentice Hall, 2006/7. (If needed, there is a copy of this text placed on reserve at the MxCC library.)

General Objectives

Students will learn to read and interpret the full range of American literature, covering select periods and genres.

Specific Objectives

The student will

Reading Matter

· read works of recognized merit in American prose and poetry;

Discovery

· learn to recognize the distinguishing characteristics of significant literary periods and movements;

· learn about the historical, social, cultural, and creative contexts that influence the writing of literature from period to period;

· learn about the relationship between the literature and the lives of the writers;

Analysis

• learn to interpret on the basis of textual evidence;
• learn to recognize and understand the value of standard literary elements and devices within literary works;
• learn to recognize conventional themes within and among literary works;

Writing

• write examinations and/or papers that demonstrate a grasp of the elements listed above, and will do so in acceptable prose.

Attendance

• Attendance has a strong relationship with learning, but it is especially important in a class aimed at helping you learn. It is difficult to learn and impossible to participate when absent—even from the on-line classroom.
• Discussions and assignments that do not meet the deadlines are given a zero. Zeros affect your final grades.

Behavioral Decorum

The on-line classroom is a place of learning. To maximize learning, please do the following:

• Treat each other with respect and consideration.
• Keep up with the course work.
• Use appropriate tone and language in emails, essays, discussions, and other work. Emails, discussions, essays, etc., that do not use appropriate college-level language will result in a zero for the assignment, discussion, etc., in question. Your name will also be forwarded to the dean. In other words, no swearing, slang, deviations from course focus, etc.—these behaviors undermine your credibility as a participant and invalidate your work.
• Special Note: Please use Standard English in essays, discussions, emails, etc. Text messaging abbreviations are unacceptable for any English course, especially a 200-level one.

Assignments                                                              

All work is due on the dates indicated on the syllabus or announced by the professor. Each student is responsible for the material assigned.  Those who miss deadlines will receive a zero. Zeros affect your grade.

Assignment Format 

• Assignments must be word processed (Word, Times New Roman, 12 pt. font), double spaced with margins, as defined by the MLA style (Modern Language Association). Assignments must also contain Work(s) Cited and in-text citations (quotations with page/line references). For more information on the MLA format, refer to a writing handbook or the lecture notes under the “Writing” icon on home page.
• Name, instructor name, class, and date will be placed in the upper left corner of page one of essays. Page numbers will be placed in the upper right corner.
• When you upload your papers, please list it under your last name with the essay number (bontatibusessay 1).
• Please submit essays in MS Word. Use Rich Text (.rtf) as an alternative.

Plagiarism and Academic Honesty

Please submit work that is original to our class and in which you are the sole author.  Document your work with the MLA format. Work that violates college policy will result in an automatic zero. As stated in the catalog, “Both plagiarism and cheating are grounds for a student’s immediate dismissal from the college.”

Board of Trustees’ Policy 5.2.1

“At Middlesex Community College, we expect the highest standards of academic honesty. Academic dishonesty is prohibited in accordance with the Board of Trustees’ proscribed Conduct Policy in Section 5.2.1 of the Board of Trustees’ Policy Manual. This policy prohibits cheating on examinations, plagiarism, and other proscribed activities. Plagiarism is defined as the use of another’s idea(s) or phrase(s) and representing that/those idea(s) as your own, either intentionally or unintentionally.”

Final Grades

50%                 Essays #1 and #2 (Save everything on disk.)

30%                 Research Essay (essay #3)

10%                 Final Exam

10%                 Discussion (9 in total), Behavioral Decorum, Misc., etc.

Final grades will be noted A through F. You may inquire, though, at any time about your grades. Review Grade book.

Discussion Grading

Individual discussion responses per week will be graded 0-3 (3=check plus; 2=check; 1=check minus; 0=no points).

Discussion topics will open on a Monday and close on a Sunday.

At the end of the term, the discussion points will be tabulated and translated to the following letter grades.

A=22-27 pts.

· Uses complete, grammatically correct sentences (Standard English) arranged in unified, coherent paragraphs. No text messaging abbreviations are acceptable for an English course. Also, use third-person point of view. Avoid use of first and second-person pronouns (e.g., I, me, we, use, you, your).

· Formulates thoughtful responses directly (on topic) and insightfully.

· Includes accurate use of literary terms.

· Quotes directly (evidence) and accurately from text using the MLA format for page and line references.

B=17-21 pts.

· Offers good responses with some evidence but does not fulfill the criteria of an “A.”

C=12-16 pts.

· Offers a response. The response needs to be more than agreeing or disagreeing with another student, repeating what another student has said, or restating what has already been stated in the lecture notes.

· The response does not meet the criteria (refer to “A”) fully, accurately, coherently, or insightfully.

D=11-7 pts.

· Attempts to discuss topic. The response does not meet the criteria (refer to “A”) fully, accurately, coherently, or insightfully.

·  The response needs to be more than agreeing or disagreeing with another student, repeating what another student has said, or restating what has already been stated in the lecture notes.

F=6-0 pts.

· Fails to participate altogether or in a meaningful, coherent way.

· Use of slang, inappropriate language, or inappropriate address will result in a zero for the discussion.

General Criteria for Essays

• A and B papers are well above average in critical analysis, development, style, mechanics, and support with evidence. They include accurate use of the MLA format for Works Cited, quotation integration, and page/line referencing. These papers are framed in third-person point of view. The introduction ends with a succinct opinion-based thesis. Topics sentences contain transitions and directly advance the thesis. Paragraph discussion is thoughtful, organized, unified, and coherent. Discussion is also backed with credible, accurately documented evidence and employs literary terminology to frame the discussion as a critical analysis. Lastly, these papers follow the directions to the assignment fully and also apply the writing strategy tips documented in the lecture notes.
• C papers contain issues with grammar, organization, development, and/or support. The essay may also be more summary than critical analysis. Problems may exist with adequate support and accurate MLA documentation.
• D or F papers are those that do not meet the assignment, contain numerous errors, lack logical organization, and/or focus on generalities rather than development. These essays may also be predominately summary and do not contain adequate evidence as support.

Withdrawals

Students who wish to initiate a “W” (withdrawal) must submit the appropriate form to Records. The final date to withdraw with an automatic notation of “W” is Sept. 28, 2007. For more information on this procedure, refer to the catalog and the college calendar. Please also consult with your advisor and the Financial Aid Office (if applicable). 

Students with Disabilities (catalog)

“Students with disabilities who may require special accommodations should contact the Office of Disability Support Services (D.S.S.) at 860-343-5879. Students are also encouraged to disclose their disability to the Learning Specialist upon notification of admission to the college. Instructors are under no obligation to provide accommodations unless the student has disclosed the nature of the disability to the designated service provider on campus. The college reserves the right to determine the nature and extent of the accommodations provided.” For more complete information, refer to the catalog.

*Email Policy: I will answer emails once a day Monday-Friday.

*Special Note: Please use Standard English in essays, discussions, emails, etc. Text messaging abbreviations are unacceptable for any English course, especially one that is at the 200 level.