Free Web Hosting Provider - Web Hosting - E-commerce - High Speed Internet - Free Web Page
Search the Web

Welcome!

Close

Would you like to make this site your homepage? It's fast and easy...

Yes, Please make this my home page!

No Thanks

  Don't show this to me again.

Close

This handout is required reading. You are responsible for all information on it. Study it carefully and refer to it frequently. If anything is unclear, don't hesitate to ask questions. Seek me out whenever you have questions about anything.

Intended Student Learning Outcomes
 

Required Text &(available in the college bookstore)

Lauter, et. al., eds, The Heath Anthology of American Literature, 4th ed., vol. two ONLY
 

Recommended Text:
Any short to Writing About Literature

Other Supplies
You will need a notebook for your journal and a 3.5 floppy disk as well as a print card for use in campus computer labs if you do not have access to a computer elsewhere.
 

The "Official" Columbia College course description

This course will introduce you to some important 20th Century American authors. The Heath Anthology was the first such textbook to treat American literature as multicultural literature. Since its first edition, virtually every other well-known anthology of American literature has been revised as a result. As you read, try to formulate your own ideas about what is "American" about American literature, and what is "literary" about all of these very different texts.

Literature Minor and/or Poetry Major

This course can fulfill part of the Literature minor or the Poetry major (if you do not also use it for General Education credit). See me for more information.
 

Reading Notes

You will keep a journal of weekly notes or responses, at least two pages in length. Select one of the assigned selections to respond to. You might respond to my study questions if you like, or create your own. Reading notes will help you understand and retain what you've read. One possible method: write a brief, accurate, unbiased summary of the selection,and then write your reaction to the text; what it implies about the world, about human nature, about American literature, or about the nature of texts. Other possible responses: Consider what experiences you may have had that are similar to experiences described in the texts. Consider how this text might remind you of other texts you’ve read or films you’ve seen or current events. Notice what is new or different for you in the reading: any surprises or discoveries? Anything that disturbs you? Anything that you don’t understand?
 

Drafts, Papers and Deadlines

You will write two 5-7 page papers (approximately 1200-1500 words; double-spaced, with 1" margins, font size 12) for this course. I require rough drafts of each paper. The drafts must be double-spaced. They are due two weeks before the final draft is due. The rough drafts are a critical part of your learning process. We will use peer review as well as instructor review of your drafts. If you fail to bring a rough draft on the date it is due, you will miss out on helpful feedback from your peers as well as forfeit your opportunity to get feedback from me. Final drafts of papers should respond thoroughly to peer review and instructor comments. They are to be formatted as double-spaced in MS Word or a similar program, and you need to be sure to use the "Insert" command to add page numbers. Attach the revised paper to the rough draft with the comments. Paper clip or staple the drafts before coming to class. Carefully proofread your work and make corrections. Papers must be turned in AT CLASS TIME on the due dates. Be sure to review my "Guide to Writing Literature Papers" both before and after writing your rough draft. You lose half a letter grade if the paper is three days late; a full letter grade if a week late. After a week, you get a zero.

Guidelines for Writing Papers about Literature

WRITING CENTER--first floor, 33 E. Congress

If you are having trouble writing a draft, it might be a good idea to visit the Writing Center, so that you can get help before you bring your draft to class for peer review. Sometimes, just talking over your ideas and planning the organization with a helpful friend or a tutor can save lots of time and diminish your anxiety.
 

ATTENDANCE

The official English Department absence policy states that "More than two absences in classes that meet once a week (and more than four in classes that meet twice a week) will affect your grade and can result in failure."

Save your two absences for emergencies only---unusual illness, visits to hospitals, funerals, and other disasters. The third absence lowers your final grade one letter. The fourth absence means you fail the course, unless you have an ‘A’ average--then you’ll get a ‘D.’ The fifth absence means you absolutely fail the course. Calling to let me know you’ll be absent is nice, but it’s still an absence. I do not give makeup quizzes. Email is an ideal way to contact me if you can’t stop by during office hours. When you are absent, you are required to turn in whatever is due that week to my mailbox by noon Thursday of that week. Keep up with the syllabus and be prepared when you return.

PUNCTUALITY ¿

Each time you arrive more than ten minutes late to class (or leave more than ten minutes early), this will count as half an absence.
 

ENGLISH DEPARTMENT INCOMPLETE POLICY

Incomplete grades can only be considered for students who are meeting the attendance requirements and passing the course, but are faced with an unexpected emergency beyond the last date to formally withdraw from the course. If these criteria are met, it is up to the instructor to determine whether an incomplete is issued. Work for an Incomplete Grade must be finished in the semester following the course for which it was issued.
 

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY (from the online Student Handbook, Columbia College):

"Academic honesty is a cherished principle in the life of the College community. Students must adhere to this principle by understanding the nature of plagiarism, and by not plagiarizing materials; by refraining from the use of unauthorized aids on tests and examinations; by turning in assignments which are products of their own efforts and research; and by refusing to give or receive information on tests and examinations. Persons who violate these principles of simple honesty risk

embarrassment, course failure, or disciplinary action."

(See http://www.colum.edu/student-life/handbook/page04.html#Academic%20Integrity.)

A student who submits a paper that in whole or part has been written by someone else or that contains passages quoted or paraphrased from another’s work without proper acknowledgement has plagiarized.

My advice: Avoid unintentional plagiarism by being sure that you acknowledge your sources whenever you use the words or ideas of other people, including your fellow students. Notice how I have quoted from and acknowledged the Student Handbook above. Help your fellow students with drafts by identifying weaknesses and suggesting where the development or analysis needs to be expanded, for example. Let the writer rewrite.
 

CREATING A POSITIVE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT

I invite all of you to help us create an environment of respect where different perspectives can be heard, where more outgoing classmates gently encourage quieter classmates to participate in dialogue. Please email me or see me in my office whenever you have insights to offer or suggestions for ways to enhance the classroom as a place where everyone can learn from each other. You should also get to know your fellow students and stay in touch with them.

. Of course, any behavior that interferes with learning will not be tolerated. Any student who is discourteous to another student or to the instructor, or who tries to usurp the classroom for purposes other than learning, will be given an 'F' in the course. This is the only warning.
 

HOW TO SURVIVE THIS COURSE AND COLLEGE: TIME MANAGEMENT6
For every hour in a college classroom, you need to budget TWO or more hours of study time outside of class. This class carries three credit hours. Therefore, you will be spending AT LEAST six hours per week outside of class.. That’s 9-12 hours per week for this class alone. Do the same for your other classes--for every three-credit class, budget a total of 9-12 hours. Thus, a 12-credit course load means you’ll have AT LEAST a 36-hour school and study schedule.
 

• READING NOTES/JOURNALS— about 15% of grade. I will check these about every three weeks, and you will receive 2 points per weekly entry/entries provided you write at least 2 thorough pages a week. No entries are due when rough drafts of essays are due.

• PAPERS—40 % of grade: the two papers will count 20 points each. See the tips and guidelines.

• QUIZZES—about 15% of grade: We will have 3-4 quizzes, counting about 4-7 points each;

• THE FINAL EXAM—20% of grade: it will have an essay section as well as an objective section.

• ORAL PRESENTATION: 10 % of grade. You will sign up to provide opening remarks and to lead discussion on one writer or movement or period. On that day, you will present helpful guidance to the class on one of the readings (or group of readings) for that day. See the oral presentation handout.

• CLASS PARTICIPATION is important. You can earn up to 5 points for making a significant contribution to the class’s understanding throughout the semester.

• EXTRA CREDIT is possible. Attend worthwhile literary events featuring American authors, such as the poetry readings the Columbia poetry program sponsors or fiction readings sponsored by the Fiction Writing department, and write brief reaction papers or reviews for extra credit. Watch for Columbia Poetry Review in late May!

top

back to American Authors page