English 110 – Introduction to Literature

Fall 2009 Section 800 Online

 

Instructor: Ms. Ashley Bissette

E-mail: bissettee@uncw.edu  

Webpage:  http://people.uncw.edu/bissettee

Office: MO 103B                                                                                               

Office Hours: MW 1:00 – 2:00 and by appointment                                

Office Phone: 910-962-2539, Cell Phone: 910-232-3652

 

 

 

COURSE OVERVIEW

 

Required Texts and Materials:

You should be able to order textbooks online through the UNCW bookstore.  You will want to obtain your books as soon as possible, as your first reading assignment will be due during the second week of classes.  The web address for the UNCW bookstore is http://www.uncw.edu/ba/bookstore/

·         Kennedy, X.J. and Dana Gioia.  Literature: An Introduction to Fiction, Poetry, and Drama. 9th ed. Portable ed. New York: Longman, 2005.

·         Atwood, Margaret. The Edible Woman

·         Microsoft Word and PowerPoint (If you do not have access to these, you can use “Tealware” offered by UNCW - http://uncw.edu/itsd/services/hardware/tealware.html)

·         Technical Requirements as listed at http://uncw.edu/ONLINE/techreq.html

·         A saving device such as a flash drive

 

Course Description:

This course is an introduction to reading and writing critically about literature in a variety of genres including short fiction, poetry, drama, and the novel.

 

Course Objectives:

Students should develop skills in analyzing, presenting, and defending interpretations and in writing thoughtfully about literary texts.  Furthermore, students should develop an appreciation and an understanding of literature achieved through practice in asserting and supporting their interpretations of a literary work.

 

Course Requirements:

Discussion Board – 10 points

Quizzes – 10 points

Journal Entries – 15 points

Analysis Essay – 15 points

Explication Essay – 15 points

Midterm Exam – 15 points

Final Exam – 20 points

 

Final Grading Scale:

93-100 points – A                73-76 points – C

90-92 points – A- 70-72 points – C-

87-89 points – B+                67-69 points – D+

83-86 points – B  63-66 points – D

80-82 points – B- 60-62 points D-

77-79 points – C+                Below 60 points – F

   

Getting Started:

We will be using Blackboard as the platform for this course.  For instructions on how to log in, go to http://www.uncw.edu/itsd/help/instructions/BlackBoardVistaLoginInstructions.html

   

Once you log in, you will be able to click on English 110.  On the Home Page for our course, you will see an icon that says, “Getting Started.”  This is a learning module containing several links to important information as well as an orientation to the course.  

 

Online Support: 

If at any point during the semester you have problems with Blackboard, you can receive assistance from the Technology Assistance Center. The email address is tac@uncw.edu and the phone number is 910-962-HELP (4357).  If you do email the TAC, be sure to put “Blackboard” in the subject line.  There is also a very useful online support center at http://uncw.edu/bbsupport.

 

General Expectations:

Because this is an online course, it is important that you keep yourself accountable for weekly assignments and deadlines.  The schedule of assignments is listed at the bottom of this syllabus.  You will find it extremely important to stay organized and to check Blackboard frequently.  It is also a good idea to maintain contact with me throughout the semester.  If I notice that you have not been logging in to Blackboard and completing weekly assignments, I will assume you have decided to drop the course.  

 

 

WEEKLY ASSIGNMENTS

 

Readings and Learning Modules:  

Each week you will be asked to complete readings and will be responsible for their content.  Readings should always be completed by Tuesday at 11:59pm of that week.  In addition, you will find weekly learning modules which will contain corresponding lectures, PowerPoint presentations, activities and/or worksheets.  Students are always responsible for this information.  Learning Modules will also contain discussion board items, journal prompts, and quizzes.

 

Completing Discussion Board Items:  

A large part of your grade for this class will be participating in a dialogue with classmates via discussion boards.  Discussion boards for each week will be located in the corresponding learning module.  To read each question, simply click on it.  Click “reply” to complete your post.  Posts should be thoughtful and well written.  Refer to “Netiquette” in the “Getting Started” learning module for a list of guidelines.  Posts should also be at least one paragraph in length.  Sometimes discussion board items will be done as an entire class, but I will often put you into small groups.  When this happens, you will see “Discussion Group” and a number listed next to the subject title.  Discussion board items are typically due by 11:59 p.m. each Tuesday, but you should refer to the Schedule of Assignments for a complete list of deadlines.

 

Replying to Discussion Board Items:

In addition to your original responses, you should reply to at least two posts from your classmates each week.  When working in small groups, you’ll respond to at least two posts just within your group. Replies are typically due by 11:59 p.m. each Thursday.  When replying to classmates, you should be sure to be polite and open-minded.  The discussion board is a place where all students should feel comfortable expressing ideas.  This does not mean that you cannot disagree with your classmates; it means that you should be conscious of your language and tone.  I will alert you if your dialogue is inappropriate, and you’ll be asked to re-do your replies for that week.  If this happens more than two times, you will lose points for your discussion board grade.

*I will often ask follow up questions to your posts.  Check for these questions when you post replies to classmates.  

 

Journal Entries:  

Another portion of your grade will be based on weekly journal entries.  Prompts for these entries will be located in the weekly learning modules.  Entries should be 3-4 paragraphs in length, and should follow the guidelines listed in “Netiquette.” These will typically be due by 11:59 p.m. each Tuesday.

 

Quizzes:  

Quizzes will be given on a regular basis. These quizzes will cover material in the weekly readings AND lectures and will be located in the weekly learning modules.  You will have 15 minutes to complete each quiz.  Refer to the Schedule of Assignments for quiz dates.  During weeks that a quiz is given, the quiz will be due by 11:59pm that Thursday.  There will be a total of 10 quizzes.

 

 

ESSAYS AND EXAMS

 

Essays:  

You will be writing two formal essays for this class.  You can find learning modules for each essay assignment on the Home Page.  Essays should be emailed to my campus email address as a .doc or .docx attachment.  Essays that are not turned in as a .doc or .docx attachment will be considered late until they are turned in correctly.

 

Conferences:

For each essay, I will be requiring students to sign up for small group conferences with me.  These conferences will occur in “Ms. Bissette’s Virtual Office” located on the Blackboard Course Homepage.  Not only will these conferences be a forum for me to discuss your progress and answer questions, but they will also be a chance for you to discuss ideas with classmates.  Failure to sign up for or attend a scheduled conference will negatively affect your essay grade, so be sure to plan accordingly.

 

The Writing Center:

I encourage all students to obtain online help from the Writing Center for their essays.  http://www.uncw.edu/stuaff/uls/writing_newconsultation.htm

 

Deadlines:  

All deadlines in this class are firm. Be sure to plan wisely and save all work in at least two places.  Formal essay assignments will always be due by 11:59 p.m. on the due date.  For each day that an assignment is late, the grade for that assignment will be reduced by 3 points.   

 

Grading Procedure:

I typically take a maximum of two weeks to return essays.  Regardless of how long it takes, I will always have essays returned before you are expected to turn in the next assignment.  Essays will be returned with comments via campus email.

 

Exams:

This course also requires a midterm and a final exam.  You must take these exams on the dates scheduled.  Exams will become available at 10:00am on the scheduled date, and must be completed by 11:59pm.  Once you begin an exam, you will have 75 minutes to complete it. Exams will be made up of short answer and essay questions.

 

 

COMMUNICATION

 

Announcements:  

For this course, you are required to access Blackboard often.  I encourage every student to click on “Announcements” under “Course Tools” each time they log on to Blackboard, as that will be the first place I will post important information such as changes in the schedule of assignments, directions for activities, and answers to common questions.  

 

Email / Phone:

Sometimes, I will send information via campus email, so you should check your email often as well. All students will be responsible for knowing this information. “I forgot to check my email” is not an excuse. Email is also the best way to contact me if you have questions throughout the course.  While I do check my email often, students should be aware that I will usually not check email on Saturdays or after 6pm Sunday through Friday.  Therefore, it is a good idea to work on assignments ahead of time in case you have questions.

My cell phone number is listed at the top of this syllabus.  Students are welcome to call or text this number in cases when email is insufficient.  Please do not call or text this number on Saturdays or after 6pm Sunday through Friday.

 

FAQ:

If you have general questions about the course or specific assignments, you should post them to the FAQ on the Homepage.  This way, if other students have the same question, they will be able to see my answer easily.  If you have questions that pertain only to you, please email me at my campus email address.

 

Office Hours:  

I will have office hours on Mondays and Wednesdays from 1:00 – 2:00 p.m.  If you’d like to discuss something with me during office hours, you have a few options.  

1.       See me in person: Morton Hall 103B

2.      Office Phone:  910-962-2539.  

3.      Email: bissettee@uncw.edu.  

4.      Ms. Bissette’s Virtual Office on the Blackboard Course Homepage

*If you are not available to contact me during office hours, you can set up an appointment with me.

 

Building Community:  

I have created a Facebook group called “Ms. Bissette's English 110 online! (Fall 2009)”.  I encourage all students to join this group.  Not only will this allow us to have a name to a face for each other, but we can also have informal discussions.  Please note that this is not a requirement. 

 

 

OTHER POLICIES

 

Disabilities:

If you have a disability and need special accommodations, you should let me know within the first week of classes.  You will also need to register with Disability Services for proper documentation. The phone number for Disability Services is 910-962-7555.

 

Netiquette:

It is important that all students follow basic rules of “netiquette” in any online course.  You can find more information on the netiquette rules specific to this course in the “Getting Started” Learning Module.

 

Academic Honesty:

Plagiarism is unacceptable and is grounds for failure for this course.  Simply put: don’t do it.  If you are unsure of what constitutes plagiarism, feel free to see me.  You can also read the entire policy in the Code of Student Life, which can be found at the following website: http://www.uncw.edu/stuaff/doso/documents/Code.Of.Student.Life.pdf  

 

I’ve included an excerpt here:

 

I-1 ACADEMIC DISHONESTY OFFENSES

Students who violate any of the following standards will be subject to disciplinary action:

A. PLAGIARISM

Plagiarism means the appropriation, buying, receiving as a gift, or obtaining by any means another person’s work and the unacknowledged submission or incorporation of it in one’s own work. Plagiarism is doubly unethical, since it deprives the true author of his/her rightful credit and then gives that credit to someone to whom it is not due.

 

I-3 RESPONSIBILITY OF UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY

A. GENERAL RESPONSIBILITY

It shall be the responsibility of every faculty member, student, administrator and staff member of the university community to uphold and maintain the academic standards and integrity of the university. Any member of the university community who has reasonable grounds to believe that an infraction of the Academic Honor Code has occurred has an obligation to report the alleged violation.

 

SCHEDULE OF ASSIGNMENTS (Tentative)

 

WEEK 1               WEEK 1

Thurs. 8/20           Read the Syllabus carefully

                                                                Complete all items in the “Getting Started” Learning Module.

                                                                Quiz #1 - Syllabus

                             *Obtain all necessary texts and materials for the course if you have not already done so.

 

 

FICTION

 

WEEK 2

Tues. 8/25             Read:     “Godfather Death” p9-11

                                “A&P” p14-19

                                “Cathedral” p98-108

                                “Writing About a Story” p2075-2083

                                Complete Week 2 Learning Module

Thurs. 8/27           Reply to Discussion Board Items

                                Quiz #2

                                * Essay #1 Prompt Available

 

WEEK 3

Tues. 9/1               Read:     “A Rose for Emily” p28-34

                                                “Critical Casebook- ‘A Tell-Tale Heart’” p412-423

                                Complete Week 3 Learning Module

Thurs. 9/3              Reply to Discussion Board Items

                                Quiz #3

 

WEEK 4

Tuesday 9/8         Read:     “Harrison Bergeron” p 221-225

                                “The Lottery” p239-245

                                Complete Week 4 Learning Module

Thursday 9/10     Reply to Discussion Board Items

                                Quiz #4

 

WEEK 5

Tues. 9/15             Work on Essays

 

Wed. 9/16             Email Rough Draft to Peer Editing Group

                 

Thurs. 9/17           Peer Reviews Due

 

 

POETRY and DRAMA

 

WEEK 6

Tues. 9/22             Read:     “Writing about a Poem” p2101-2114

                                “Monologue for an Onion” p684

                                                “Her Kind” p687

                                “Word Choice and Word Order” 714-716

                                                “Upon Julia’s Clothes” p716-717

                                                “Saying and Suggesting” p731-732

                                                “London” p733-734

                                Complete Week 6 Learning Module

                                Fiction Essay Due

 

Thurs. 9/24           Reply to Discussion Board Items

                                Quiz #5

 

WEEK 7

Tues. 9/29             Read:     “Imagery” p743-744

                                                “The Fish” p746  

                           “Figures of Speech” p766-768

                                                “The Sonnet” p856- 860

                                                “How Do I Love Thee?  Let Me Count the Ways” p1091

                                                Complete Week 7 Learning Module

 

Thurs. 10/1           Reply to Discussion Board Items

                                Quiz #6

                                *Essay #2 Prompt Available

 

WEEK 8

Tues. 10/6             Fall Break

 

Thurs. 10/8           Read:     “Emily Dickinson” p1013-1019

“Poetry and Personal Identity” and “Lady Lazarus” p933-936

Complete Week 8 Learning Module

 

WEEK 9

Tues. 10/13           Complete Midterm Review Learning Module

                               

Thurs. 10/15         Midterm Exam

 

WEEK 10            

Tues. 10/20           Work on Essays

 

Wed. 10/21           Email Rough Draft to Peer Editing Group

                                               

Thurs. 10/22         Peer Reviews Due

 

 

WEEK 11

Tues. 10/27           Read:     “Reading a Play” and “Trifles” p1223-1237

                                Complete Week 11 Learning Module

                                Poetry Essay Due

 

Thurs. 10/29         Reply to Discussion Board Items

                                Quiz #7

 

 

WEEK 12

Tues. 11/3             Read:     “Tragedy” p1249-1251

                                                “Comedy” p1257-1259

                                                “Sure Thing” p1259-1269

                                Complete Week 12 Learning Module

                               

Thurs. 11/5           Reply to Discussion Board Items

                                Quiz #8

 

 

THE NOVEL

 

WEEK 13

Tues. 11/10           Read:     The Edible Woman chapters 1-9

                                Complete Week 13 Learning Module

 

Thurs. 11/12         Reply to Discussion Board Items

                                Quiz #9

 

WEEK 14            

Tues. 11/17           Read:     The Edible Woman chapters 10-20

                                Complete Week 14 Learning Module

 

Thurs. 11/19         Reply to Discussion Board Items

                                Quiz #10

 

WEEK 15

Tues. 11/24           Read:     The Edible Woman chapters 21-31

                                Complete Week 15 Learning Module

Thurs. 11/26         Thanksgiving Break

                 

 

WEEK 16            

Tues. 12/1             Reply to Discussion Board Items

                                Complete Final Exam Review Learning Module

 

Fri. 12/4 Final Exam