ENGL. 2327.XW3 Syllabus
Professor:
Kelly
Martin, Ph.D.
Telephone:
972-516-5050
(do
not leave voicemail; email instead)
Office:
B105
Spring Creek Campus
E-mail:
kmartin@collin.edu
(or
use Blackboard email)
All a teacher can ever do is get other people to think. Without a teacher learners may be impoverished, unable to find much to learn. The teacher sets things up, whether by enlivening familiar matter or by providing new things for the learners to think about. But, even with the most brilliant teacher, if the learners are to do any learning, they are the ones who have to do it. . . . Learners are doers, not recipients (Walter Ong, “McLuhan as Teacher: The Future is a Thing of the Past” 129).
Syllabus Outline
Course Description
Course Information
Required Textbooks
Learning Outcomes
Submitted & Graded Assignments
Assignments & Evaluation
Grading Policy
Instructor Contact
Scholastic Dishonesty
We will study major writers from the indigenous people and the early explorers through the era of Puritanism, the nationalistic period, the Transcendental movement, and early Romanticism. We will also analyze and evaluate these works in their historical, cultural, and social context as well as their contributions to the growth of American culture.
COLLEGE REPEAT POLICY: You may repeat this course only once after receiving a grade, including W. If you drop the course before the census date--(Aug. 27th)--you will not be penalized in regard to the repeat policy. If you withdraw from the course after the census date, a grade of W will posted to your transcript and count as one attempt toward the repeat policy.
Prerequisite: English 1302.
If you are unable to complete this course, you must withdraw from the class by the drop date. Withdrawing from a course is a formal procedure which you must initiate. I cannot do it for you. You may do this in Admissions or Counseling. If you stop attending and do not withdraw, you will receive an "F" on your permanent record. DROP DATE is Oct. 3rd.
Baym, Nina. The Norton Anthology of American Literature, 7th ed. PKG.1 (Vols. A & B) "Beginnings to 1865" (two paperback volumes)
1. Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of representative writers and genres from each literary period from the Colonial period to the American Civil War.
2. Demonstrate critical thinking skills in written discussion and analysis of selected literary works.
3. Demonstrate understanding of the social, political, cultural and religious overtones of representative literary texts.
4. Demonstrate an understanding of MLA documentation for both primary and secondary sources.
5. Demonstrate the relevance and influence of early American literary pieces on present day American culture.
6. Demonstrate knowledge of international influences on the developing American literature.
Submitted & Graded Assignments
All work will be submitted through Turnitin.com
Graded assignments will be uploaded, and grades posted, in Turnitin.com.
Turnitin registration tutorial: http://turnitin.com/static/knowledge_base/enrolling_in_classes_newtii.html. You will need the following Class ID 4112614 and password collin to join the class.
Out of 1000 points
Weekly Assignments: 375 points
3 Mini-Essays worth 75 points each=225 points
2 Issues Questions worth 75 points each=150 points
Midterm Essay: 225 points
Modern Issues Project: 200 points
Weekly Discussion Board Postings (in Turnitin.com): 200 points (refer to Assignments Schedule, linked from Blackboard, for info. about discussion board posts).
Extra-credit:
--16 points: visit onsite writing lab and/or send assignment to online writing lab OR to Smarthinking (info. linked from “Resources & Research” section of Blackboard) TWO times (each “visit” worth 8 points). Students are strongly encouraged to use the writing center/Smarthinking for major course assignments.
--10 points: Attend an online orientation AND complete the corresponding quiz in Blackboard. The online orientations are hosted by the Online Student Support Center. You can only get e.c. for attending ONE session and for only one of the following:
*Pre and First Time Online Student Success
*Keys to Success in Online Classes
*Helping You Avoid Scholastic Dishonesty in Online Classes
***Register here: http://online.collin.edu/WIMBINARS.html
1000-900 points=A
899-800 points=B
799-700=C
699-600=D
599 and below=F
No late assignments are accepted.
All assignments will be graded within a week of submission.
To unify grading practices and to conform to nationally accepted standards, the Collin College faculty subscribe to the following guidelines for assignments AND course grades.
· A: Work is basically flawless/superior
· B: Excellent/Above average (although A and B assignments possess many of the same features, the style, originality, and level of excellence of the A paper are exceptional).
· C: C work is clear, competent, and controlled, but its style, originality, and level of critical thinking are undistinguished. Overall, writing, depth, and sophistication of thought are average. C work at the college level represents “good,” solid work.
· D-F: Unsatisfactory (although D and F assignments may share the same problems—such as inadequate development or lack of a discernible thesis—the F essay exhibits an obvious breakdown in style and structure).
Please note that in order to make an A or a B in the course, assignments should submitted ON TIME. If your assignments are routinely late, passing the course will be difficult, as there will probably not be enough points (earned from assignment grades) in order to overcome the point deficit for late work. (In other words, unless you make perfect scores on every assignment, there will not be enough points to compensate for the late deductions.)
Finally, now that you are in college, the bar has been raised. Completing assignments and following directions is no longer enough to earn an A or a B. Good, solid work merits a C-level grade. If you struggle with writing but want to EARN an A/B on assignments AND in the course, you will need to visit the writing center and be prepared to work “extra hard” (and remember, the college provides students with free, private tutors--see the FAQ page, "How can I get help with assignments?").
Instructor Contract read carefully
Email is the most efficient means of communication; you may contact your instructor with/through the Blackboard email tool or with/through the school email.
You should receive a response within 24 hours.
Office hours:
--M/W from 12:15-1:00 except on the following dates: 9/14, 9/19, 11/7, 11/9, 11/14, 11/16, 11/30
--T/Th from 11:15-11:45 except on the following dates: 8/23, 8/25, 8/30, 9/8, 9/13, 10/25, 10/27, 11/29
--T/Th: for dates not listed above, office hours will be 11:00-11:30
**Online chat appointments are available—refer to the Assignments section of Blackboard.
Academic Ethics: Every member of the Collin College community is expected to maintain the highest standards of academic integrity. Collin College may initiate disciplinary proceedings against a student accused of scholastic dishonesty. Scholastic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, statements, acts, or omissions related to applications for enrollment or the award of a degree, and/or the submission of one’s own work material that is not one’s own. Scholastic dishonesty may involve, but is not limited to, one or more of the following acts: cheating, plagiarism, collusion, use of annotated texts or teacher’s editions, use of information about exams posted on the Internet or electronic medium, and/or falsifying academic records. While specific examples are listed below, this is not an exhaustive list and scholastic dishonesty may encompass other conduct, including any conduct through electronic or computerized means:
Plagiarism is the use of an author’s words or ideas as if they were one’s own without giving credit to the source, including, but not limited to, failure to acknowledge a direct quotation.
Cheating is the willful giving or receiving of information in an unauthorized manner during an examination; collaborating with another student during an examination without authority; using, buying, selling, soliciting, stealing, or otherwise obtaining course assignments and/or examination questions in advance, copying computer or Internet files, using someone else’s work for assignments as if it were one’s own; or any other dishonest means of attempting to fulfill the requirements of a course.
Collusion is intentionally or unintentionally aiding or attempting to aid another in an act of scholastic dishonesty, including but not limited to, failing to secure academic work; providing a paper or project to another student; providing an inappropriate level of assistance; communicating answers to a classmate about an examination or any other course assignment; removing tests or answer sheets from a test site, and allowing a classmate to copy answers.
See the current Collin Student Handbook for additional information.
Plagiarism has disrupted and destroyed political careers as recently as the 1988 presidential election. It has cost professional writers thousands and, in some cases, millions of dollars in court awards or settlements resulting from lengthy lawsuits. In some businesses, plagiarism can result in a loss of respect or can be the grounds for dismissal. In college courses, plagiarism's penalties can range from failure on a particular assignment to failure in a course to expulsion from college. PLAGIARISM IS A SERIOUS MORAL OFFENSE.
According to the MLA Style Manual, the origin of the word plagiarism is the Latin for "kidnapper"; thus, a plagiarist kidnaps another writer's sentences, words, ideas, or organization and presents the material as his own. When the plagiarist uses his stolen material, he may do so knowing that the work is not his own.This is the most blatant form of plagiarism. MANY CASES OF PLAGIARISM, HOWEVER, ARE THE RESULT OF CARELESS DOCUMENTATION OR FAULTY NOTETAKING. Unfortunately, the reader who finds the error, not knowing the writer's intent, can only assume the plagiarism is intentional. Intentional or not, plagiarism in any paper will still carry serious penalties.
You can avoid plagiarizing if you remember that when you quote, use quotation marks; when you paraphrase, use only your own words. IN EITHER CASE, YOU MUST DOCUMENT. Proper paraphrasing does not mean changing a few words here and there, nor does it mean omitting a few sentences or scrambling their order. For a more complete explanation of proper paraphrasing, see your textbook.
Many students overreact when they learn what plagiarism means. They either assume that they should not use any sources (thus avoiding the problem entirely), or they assume they should document every word they have written. Both reactions are in error, for good writing involves the synthesis of your own ideas with the ideas of others. Documentation serves the purpose of clearly indicating which ideas are yours and which are those of other writers. If you are in doubt about that dividing line, ask your instructor or the Writing Center tutors for guidance.
Plagiarism, because it is a form of theft, burglary, kidnapping, or dishonesty that interferes with the goals of education, must carry severe penalties. The Collin College English Department's policy is that an assignment containing plagiarized material receives an automatic "F." An instructor may have other penalties in the course syllabus and may choose to initiate disciplinary proceedings against any student guilty of plagiarism.
Instructors are advised to report cases of plagiarism, collusion, and/or any scholastic dishonesty to the Dean of Students.
Religious Holy Days:
In accordance with Section 51.911 of the Texas Education Code, Collin College will allow a student who is absent from class for the observance of a religious holiday day to take an examination or complete an assignment scheduled for that day within a reasonable time. Students are required to file a written request with each professor within the first 15 days of the semester to qualify for an excused absence.
Americans With Disabilities Act Compliance:
It is the policy of Collin College to provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals who are students with disabilities. This College will adhere to all applicable Federal, State and local laws, regulations and guidelines with respect to providing reasonable accommodation as required to afford equal educational opportunity. It is the student's responsibility to contact the ACCESS office, SCC-G200 or 972. 881.5898 (V/TTD: 972.881.5950) in a timely manner to arrange for appropriate accommodations.
The assignments, point values, and dates are subject to change. Changes will be posted via Blackboard and/or email.