English 2230 Syllabus - Fall 2007

Anoka Ramsey Community College -- Coon Rapids Campus
English 2230: American Literature to 1865
Fall 2007 / Section 01

Professor: Scott Stankey
Office: Humanities 131
Phone: (763) 433-1396 (voice mail)
Fax: (763) 433-1521
Email: scott.stankey@anokaramsey.edu
Website: http://webs.anokaramsey.edu/stankey/Eng2230

Office Hours:

10:00-10:50 a.m. / TH
11:00-11:50 a.m. / M, W
1:00-1:50 p.m. / M, W
Other times by appointment

Class Meetings:

Section 01 / 10:00-10:50 a.m. / M, W, F / H223

Textbooks:

The Bedford Anthology of American Literature, Volume 1, by Susan Belasco and Linck Johnson, 1st ed. (2008)

Materials:

Student I.D. / Library Card
Student MetNet Email Account and ARCC Network Access
A class notebook or loose-leaf paper
One two-pocket folder
A college-level dictionary
A stapler

Course Descriptions:

Please see the "official" course description and learner outcomes on the course home page. But more specifically, our emphasis will be on critical reading and discussion; learning how to ask good questions and how to speak on one's feet are important aspects of education. Students will be asked to contribute questions, respond to questions, give opinions, and make assessments of what they are reading and learning.
Furthermore, to satisfy the writing-intensive (WI) requirements at other institutions (should you wish to transfer this course), we will spend some time studying how to write about literature, and we will draft, receive feedback, revise, edit, and proofread one critical essay.
Please note that this course now satisfies goals 6 and 7 of the Minnesota Transfer Curriculum.
Please note also that the English Department recommends successful completion of English 1121 before taking this course.

Course Requirements:

1.) Preparation for all class meetings: Complete all assigned readings before each class session; if you haven't read the assignment, you won't fully understand the lecture and discussion, and you won't be able to participate. The reading load will vary depending on the literary genre, but a general guideline might be 4-6 poems or 20-40 pages of prose per class session. Bring your text and notebook with you to every class.

2.) Attendance at all class sessions: While I know that legitimate reasons do occur for absences, please make every effort to attend our sessions. Each class session will be primarily devoted to discussing the assigned literature. If you do not attend, you cannot participate in and learn from the lectures and discussions. If you must miss a class, due to a medical emergency or a family crisis, when a quiz, an exam, or a peer review is scheduled, or when a paper is due, please notify me before class if possible, otherwise as soon after class as possible -- documentation will be required in such circumstances to allow for any make-ups and to avoid any reduction in your grade. If you miss class, contact another student for notes and explanation of assignments, and check the website for copies of any handouts. If you have any questions about assignments or responsibilities, call, email, or come see me before the next class. If you arrive late to class, you may not be allowed to take the quiz or participate in the first activity. Ultimately, attendance factors into determining grades, since your participation in discussions is a component of calculating your final grade.

3.) Participation in all class discussions: In addition to short lectures, we will use small-group and full-group discussions during each class session to talk and write about the literature. And, this class will be more meaningful and enjoyable if we all actively participate. Participation does include active listening and note taking, but it also means contributing to class discussions and group work. Be prepared and willing to share your ideas, opinions, and questions with the rest of us. If you are naturally shy, then participate more actively in small groups and contribute to class discussions when more open-ended questions are asked. If you are naturally talkative, you will be more comfortable, but monitor yourself so that you allow time and room for others to contribute. Above all, everyone should be respectful of one another's contributions, even if you disagree; and if you agree, be sure to encourage or affirm one another. Both the quantity and quality of your participation will be considered.

4.) Completion of unannounced reading quizzes and other informal exercises: Quizzes will normally include identification and/or short-answer questions. Informal exercises may include in-class writings, small-group projects, and take-home responses. Quizzes and in-class exercises cannot be made up if you are absent or arrive late; in addition, you may not come to class, take a quiz, and then leave early.

5.) Completion of three (3) in-class exams: The exams will be a mix of author and time-period information, definitions and examples of literary terminology, and identification of and commentary on passages selected from the literature assigned for that exam. More information will be provided in class (and on a study guide) before each exam. An exam can be rescheduled only under extraordinary circumstances and must be arranged before the exam; an exam not rescheduled prior to the exam will be lowered one letter grade, and after one week the grade will be a zero ("F").

6.) Completion of one (1) critical essay: The critical essay will be 4-6 pages long; more details will be provided on the assignment handouts. You will write a rough draft, you will receive feedback on your draft through in-class peer reviews, and you will revise and edit your paper before submitting it for a grade. The rough draft should be be word-processed and double-spaced; the final draft should be word-processed, double-spaced, and must conform to the formatting directions given in class, including instructions for in-text and end-of-text MLA citation and documentation conventions. If your first complete draft is not ready or if you do not attend the peer review, the essay grade will be lowered one full letter (e.g. B to C); in addition, the peer review cannot be rescheduled or made up and no excuses will be accepted -- including illnesses and computer/printer problems. Late final drafts will receive very few written comments and the grade will be lowered one full letter; after one week, the grade will be a zero ("F").

7.) Attendance at an ARCC Theatre Production and a response/connection essay: The Theatre Department is planning to produce Arthur Miller's play, The Crucible, which deals with the Puritan era we will be studying. Performance dates will be announced and all students are entitled to two (2) free tickets in the Bookstore. You will be required to attend one performance and then to write a 3-4 page paper; more details will be provided on the assignment handouts.

Course Evaluation:

Participation in Class Discussions = 15%
Quizzes, Exercises, In-Class Writing = 15%
Exam 1 = 15%
Exam 2 = 15%
Exam 3 = 15%
Essay 1 = 15%
Essay 2 = 10%

A.R.C.C. Grading System:

A = Superior achievement
B = Above average achievement
C = Average achievement
D = Below average achievement
F = Inadequate achievement

Grading Scale Using Percentages:

A (11) = 100% - 93%
A- (10) = 92% - 90%
B+ (9) = 89% - 88%
B (8) = 87% - 83%
B- (7) = 82% - 80%
C+ (6) = 79% - 78%
C (5) = 77% - 73%
C- (4) = 72% - 70%
D+ (3) = 69% - 68%
D (2) = 67% - 63%
D- (1) = 62% - 60%
F (0) = 59% and below

Participation Grading Criteria:

A	I am fully and clearly prepared for each class discussion. I have carefully and thoughtfully read all the assigned material prior to each class. I voluntarily offer thoughtful and insightful comments and questions during small-group work and full-class discussions. I encourage class discussions and small-group work, but I do not dominate them.
B	I am fully prepared for each class discussion. I have carefully read all the assigned material prior to each class. I sometimes voluntarily offer appropriate comments and questions during small-group work and full-class discussions. I try to encourage class discussions and small-group work, and I do not disrupt them.
C	I am mostly prepared for each class discussion. I have read all of the assigned material prior to each class. I rarely volunteer a comment or question relating to discussion, but I do respond when called upon and I often contribute to small-group work. I neither encourage nor disrupt class discussions and small-group work.
D	I am often unprepared for each class discussion. I do not always read all the assigned material prior to each class. I don't enter discussions and small-group work at all, either voluntarily or when called upon. I sometimes do things which discourage or disrupt class discussions and small-group work.
F	I am rarely prepared for each class discussion. I do not read all the assigned material prior to each class. I offer nothing to class discussions or small-group work. I often do things which discourage and disrupt class discussions and small-group work.

Essay and Essay-Exam Evaluation:

An evaluation sheet will be included with the essay assignment, so you will know exactly how the essay will be graded. An evaluation sheet for the essay exams will be distributed before the first exam.

Other Policies and Information

Behavior and Disruptions: This is a college class, and I expect that we will all behave maturely, responsibly, and respectfully. Any disruptive behavior -- including arriving late, packing up early, leaving early, having private conversations during lectures or discussions, eating, sleeping, receiving cell phone calls or text messages, bringing friends/siblings/children/pets to class, etc. -- will be handled first on an individual basis; if the disruptive behavior continues, or if it is very serious, I will contact the Dean of Educational Services -- see the Code of Student Conduct in the Student Handbook.

Plagiarism: In addition to buying or accepting a paper someone else has written, plagiarism includes but is not limited to (1) failing to cite quotations and borrowed ideas from any outside sources, even if the borrowed ideas are in your own words, (2) failing to enclose borrowed language in quotation marks, and (3) failing to put summaries and paraphrases into your own words. (This definition of plagiarism was derived from Diana Hacker's Rules for Writers, 5th edition, Boston: Bedford-St. Martin's, 2004.) Presenting another person’s ideas or writing as your own without clear, accurate, and complete citation and documentation will result in an "F" for that assignment and notification of the Dean of Educational Services -- see the Code of Student Conduct in the Student Handbook.

Record Keeping: Please make back-up copies of all your work, and keep all quizzes, exercises, exams, and papers returned to you. If questions about grades arise, you will need to produce the original documents. In addition, keep track of all your notes and other materials for each exam and paper; if questions about plagiarism arise, you will need to prove you did your own writing.

Conferences: Please see me during my office hours or schedule an appointment with me if you have questions or problems at any time during the semester.

Incompletes: Incompletes will only be granted to students who have a documented medical or family emergency in the last two (2) weeks of the semester. These students must have completed all the other work for the course with an average grade of "C" or better, must not have more than six (6) other absences, and must demonstrate the ability and willingness to complete the work before the third week of the following Spring semester.

Absences for Religious Observance: Anoka Ramsey Community College permits absences from class for participation in religious observances. Students who plan to miss class for sincerely held religious beliefs are required to (1) inform me at the beginning of the semester (within the first two weeks) of anticipated absences, (2) meet with me to reschedule any missed quizzes, exams, peer reviews, or paper due dates, and (3) obtain class notes from other students. I am required to assist you in obtaining course materials and assignments distributed during class sessions you miss and to make arrangements for taking missed examinations or making up peer review sessions.

Accessibility: My goal is for our classroom and course work to be equally accessible to everyone. I have designed the class flexibly to accommodate different learning styles and approaches. I am also eager to make reasonable accommodations to guarantee persons with disabilities access to class sessions, the course materials, and the activities of the class. Let me know as soon as possible if you have a disability for which accommodations will be requested. If you need further information about disabilities and possible accommodations, contact Scott Bay, Director of Access Services, at 763-433-1334, at scott.bay@anokaramsey.edu, or stop by C255.

Academic Support Center: The Academic Support Center (ASC), located on the second floor of the College Services (CS) building, offers free, trained writing tutors who work with writers at any stage in the writing process to improve their writing. Please meet with a tutor for an objective opinion, if you want more extensive help than I can reasonably provide during 10-15 minutes of office hours, or if I am not available when you need help. (Of course, check my office hours and/or try to contact me by phone or email.)

Credit and Workload Expectations: For undergraduate courses, one credit is defined as equivalent to an average of three hours of learning effort per week (over a full semester) necessary for an average student to achieve an average grade in the course. For example, a student taking a three-credit course that meets for three hours a week should expect to spend an additional six hours a week on coursework outside the classroom.

Pass / No Credit Option: Students may elect to take this course on a "Pass / No Credit" basis instead of receiving a traditional letter grade. An average of "C" or higher on all of the required work for the course would be considered a "passing" (P) grade. If you desire to take the "Pass / No Credit" option, you must request it in writing (or e-mail) before the second exam. Once you elect this option, you may not switch back to the letter grade option later in the semester. Think carefully about the issues surrounding this option, including transferring the course to another institution, before making a final decision.

NOTE: The course syllabus and schedule are subject to change, and changes will be announced in class; updates will also be posted on the website. You are responsible for any changes in deadlines or assignments announced during any class you miss.

Copyright � 2007 Scott R. Stankey / All Rights Reserved
Last revised on 17 December 2007 by SRS
Please address comments to scott.stankey@anokaramsey.edu