Essay Text

Course Description:

This course applies major literary theories to works selected by the instructor. Research in the Humanities and MLA format will be stressed. The application of literary theories, examination of subtext, introduction to literary works, and research techniques will promote critical thinking and cultural literacy, and prepare students for higher level Humanities courses. This course presents a range of literary genres that may include short story, drama, creative non-fiction, poetry, graphic novel, and/or the novel, at the discretion of the instructor, and helps students develop research and critical thinking skills that are applicable to all areas of the Humanities to being a well-rounded scholar. Prerequisite: ENG 141 (Earning a “C” or better)

Course Learning Outcomes:

By the end of the course, students should be able to:

1. separate literary components through literary analysis.

2. use appropriate research methods to substantiate literary analysis.

3. employ several different critical approaches to literature in substantive written work. Critical approaches may include:

a) text-based approaches such as formalism, structuralism, and post-structuralism

or deconstruction.

b) historical and biographical approaches.

c) sociological approaches based in Marxist and feminist thought.

d) psychoanalytic approaches deriving from Freud, Jung, and/or Lacan.

4. correctly employ MLA documentation style.

5. develop organized and coherent analytic essays with a clear thesis for a defined audience.

6. show technical control of writing skills.

Course Prerequisites/Corequisites:

ENG 141, earning a “C” or better

Required Text(s):

Meyer, Michael. The Compact Bedford Introduction to Literature. 10th ed. Boston: Bedford,

2014. [ISBN: 9781457650505]

Expected Student Behavior in Class:

All students are expected to behave in a professional and courteous manner to both the professor and other students in class, and to follow the procedures as outlined in this syllabus for this course. If the professor deems that a student has failed to adhere to this standard, the professor shall make a report to both the Dean of the School of Arts & Sciences, and the Dean of Students. Please follow all policies as written in the 2017-2018 Student Handbook.

Preparation and Active Class Participation:

Students are required to read all works for the course. Assignments must be read prior to the class in which the particular work(s) will be discussed. Papers must be written in MLA format, using and citing quotations from primary and/or secondary sources. Written work is due at the beginning of class on the due date specified on the schedule below. Major writing assignments will be submitted electronically using Moodle and Turnitin.com. Some written work may also be turned in as a hard copy. Use white paper and 12 point, Times New Roman font with one-inch margins. All papers must be stapled and (per MLA format) include name, class title, instructor name, and due date in upper left hand corner.

Note that Student Performance counts for 20% of the final grade (complete grading system described below). This is defined as how a student conducts him/herself in the class, and refers specifically to attendance, lateness, manners, and respect towards professor and fellow students. A student can expect to receive a full 20% in this category if he/she attends all classes on time, hands in all assignments on time, consistently contributes to class discussions, completes in-class exercises, and shows respect towards professor and fellow students throughout the semester. Bad manners are not tolerated, and will result in a reduced Student Performance grade. Examples of bad manners are forgetting to silence cell phones, dozing or not paying attention, leaving class early, speaking out of turn, or speaking rudely to professor or fellow students.

Attendance Policy:

Students are expected to attend all classes on time and remain until class has ended. Each student is allowed one (1) unexcused absence that will not detract from the Student Performance grade. Only documented (i.e. with a doctor’s note) absences for a situation that is outside of a student’s control (i.e. the student is hospitalized) will be excused. Any student who misses a total of four (4) class sessions for any reason may automatically fail the course. For any unexcused absence beyond the one (1) allotted unexcused absences, 5% will be deducted from the Student Performance component of the grade. Lateness is disruptive and rude. Any student who arrives in class late is expected to take a seat quickly as close as possible to the door. Ten minutes after the class begins, the door will close, and nobody will be permitted to enter. Please do not enter the classroom late if the door is closed. Students accept full responsibility for ensuring that work does not suffer from absences. If a student misses class for any reason, then it is his/her responsibility to get the notes and assignments from a classmate. It is advisable on the first day of class to exchange telephone numbers and/or email addresses with a fellow student for this purpose. Please do not call or email me for missed work - you must get it from a classmate. Quizzes, in-class work, and exams may be made up for excused absences, but not for unexcused absences. Any such makeup work needs to be completed in office hours prior to the next class. Due dates for written work are firm. Even in the case of an excused absence, students are expected to submit work electronically on time (before the beginning of class on the due date).

Attendance by Athletes:

Athletes may not miss a class for practice in any sport. If an athlete misses a class due to a game, it is completely understood that the athlete is responsible for all the work covered in that class (to include lecture notes, readings and any additional information distributed in class). The appropriate information from the Athletic Director or coach must be submitted to the professor prior to missing class due to an athletic event. Failure to do so is against athletic policy. Please follow all policies as written in the 2017-2018 Student Handbook.

Academic Honesty Statement:

Academic honesty is expected at all times. Cheating and/or plagiarism may include, but is not limited to, using the work of someone else and claiming it as your own without acknowledgment of the original source, using unauthorized assistance on in-class or take-home examinations, projects, papers, tests, quizzes, etc., and/or submitting the identical academic work on more than one occasion for credit without consent from the relevant parties.

If you have questions about how to cite a source from a reference or other data, please refer to the appropriate citation guide (in this course use the MLA guide) first, then you can contact me for any additional assistance. Any violation of academic honesty will instantly result in a zero for the assignment as well as other possible sanctions by me and/or TU. Please refer to the Student Handbook for more detailed information.

Plagiarism is the act of using another person's work - either word for word or paraphrased - without giving credit using the proper format. Plagiarism is a serious offense and will result in failure. Plagiarism is defined in the MLA Handbook as the use of another's ideas or expressions without proper acknowledgment. It is not limited to word for word copying; it includes any false assumption of authorship, including paraphrasing lines of reasoning from a printed or digital source and copying or stealing from an unpublished writer. Plagiarism includes any of the following:

- Buying a paper from a public source (such as a "paper mill" website).

- Copying material from a printed or digital source.

- Soliciting or allowing someone to write material for you.

- Submitting previously written material (material for another course)

without the consent of the faculty members involved.

- Cutting and pasting a collection of ideas from other sources without giving credit to your sources and providing your own ideas and text.

- Following the wording of a source too closely.

- Failing to cite/document source material adequately or properly, thereby

failing to acknowledge the author or authors whose ideas and work

are being used.

The lightest penalty will be automatic failure for the assignment in question, but serious offenses will result in automatic failure for the course. Penalties for plagiarism can also apply to students who voluntarily provide work of their own to be plagiarized or who provide plagiarized work for others. All incidents of plagiarism shall be reported to the Academic Dean, the student's advisor, and, if applicable, athletic coaches.

The Office of Disability Services: