Fall Syllabus 08

Warning: this course is not for everyone. You must be VERY familiar with the finer points of how to use a computer, downloading, uploading, attaching documents, creating directories and have both Internet access at home and Microsoft Word (or know how to save in *rtf ) on your computer. If you do not know what these things mean, then this course is NOT for you. For the most successful completion of this online course, it is recommended that you received no less than a B in your ENC 1101 course. If you have questions or need further information, please contact me.


AML 2020 Ref# 355273	Term I, 20091

AML2022 AMERICAN LITERATURE (3 credits)
Selected masterpieces of American literature since 1900, including works of Faulkner, Frost, and Hemingway. Meets Area 2A general education requirements for the A.A. degree.
Meets Areas 2 or 5 general education requirements for the A.S. degree.

General Outcome: Upon successful completion of this course, the students should be able to describe the literary and cultural background that preceded twentieth centruy American literature; the status of twentieth century authors as social critics, and the various innovations and experimentation used by American authors since 1900.

This class will take students on a survey of literature from the 20th - 21st Centuries. It will encompass various themes, motifs, and genres, such as the rise of self awareness to social responsibility, to the search for one’s roots and purpose in life, through short stories, plays, poems, film, and the novel. Since this is a Gordon Rule class, a series of papers totaling 3,000 words will be written. By the end of the term, each student will have gained a familiarity with this important period in our literary history.
While this course is not necessary for any CLAST preparation, studies have shown that students who take their writing credits in the area of English and literature score higher on CLAST type exams due to the extensive reinforcement and evaluation of their writing skills.

Important Notice Starting fall 2007, faculty will report student non-attendance. If you stop attending class prior to the withdrawal date, you will be administratively withdrawn from class and receive a W or, if it is your third attempt, an F. If you stop attending class after the withdrawal date, you will receive a WF that will then be computed as an F in your GPA. To avoid this situation, you should remain an active learner in this class and always communicate extenuating circumstances to me. Ongoing communication with the instructor is critical to your course success.

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Course Prerequisites and Corequisites:

Students: To maximize your chances for success in this course, make sure that you meet the following course prerequisites:

Passing Grade in ENC 1101 and the following:
Computer Knowledge and Skills:

Students in this course should be familiar with the following computer skills.

File Management - You should be familiar with finding and saving files on your computer.

The Internet - You should be familiar with connecting to the Internet through an Internet Service Provider or Network Connection.
Web Browser Software - You should be familiar with using web browser software to navigate the Internet and locate information.
Email - You should be familiar with sending and receiving email messages.
Discussions - You should be familiar with posting and reading discussion messages in a threaded format.
Attachments - You should be familiar with sending email messages with attached files.
Word Processing - You should be familiar with creating, editing, saving, and printing documents using Microsoft Word.

Other Requirements

You'll need a Broward College email address to access the online portion of this course.
Obtain a County Library Card or University/College Library Card. You will need either a County Library Card which you may obtain at either North Campus or South Campus Library or a University/College Library Card from the Central Campus Library. These cards will allow you to use select library databases. (optional)

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Course Hardware & Software Requirements

Students: To complete the online segments of this course, you must have access to computer hardware and software that meets or exceeds Broward College's minimum hardware and software standards for e-learning courses. It is strongly recommended that you check your computer to verify that its hardware and software configuration meets or exceeds the Broward College standard.

Attention AOL Users: Students using AOL should pay particular attention to the section addressing issues related to AOL. To avoid AOL dropping your connection, set up a private chat room to suspend AOL's idle timer. See AOL's help function for more details.

Attention Windows XP Users:Users who have upgraded to Windows XP from Windows 95,98,ME,NT,2000 do not need to download any additional files. Windows XP does not include the Java Virtual Machine (JVM). The JVM is used by some tools within Blackboard. Students with new machines or who perform a clean installation of Windows XP will automatically be offered the choice to perform a one-time download of the virtual machine the first time you try to access any tool within Blackboard that uses Java.You must download the entire file before continuing to use Blackboard.

Technical and Access Problems

If you attempt to use hardware or software that does not meet the Broward College standard, it is possible that you will encounter technical difficulties when accessing your online course that could interfere with your ability to view content or complete assignments.

If you encounter difficulties accessing content in Blackboard or in logging in, please submit an Online Report Form.

To avoid unforseen technical complications that can occur, even when you think everything is working well, it is strongly recommended that you complete and submit your assignments well ahead of schedule.
If you do not have access to a computer that meets or exceeds Broward College's minimum hardware and software standards, you can use an "open lab" computer at any Broward College Learning Resource Center. Check your campus for the hours of operation of the LRC Open Computer Lab at http://www.broward.edu/libraries/index.jsp Please remember that the computer lab attendants are there to ensure that the computer equipment is working properly, not to help you with your assignments. Direct all questions regarding this course to your instructor.

Lack of access to a computer that meets Broward College's hardware and software standards or difficulty connecting to the Internet are not a valid excuse for failure to complete the online portion of course requirements on time.

Additional Software Required for this Course (optional)

Any word processing documents that you may be required to submit for this course must be submitted in Microsoft Word format. (Not Microsoft Works, text, not ascii, not PDF, etc.) If you do not have proper software on your computer, you can use the Microsoft Word program on any of the "open lab" computers at any Broward College Learning Resource Center.

Only word processing documents in Microsoft Word format will be accepted. Please virus check documents before sending them.Panda Software offers a free online virus check.

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Required Course Material

Textbook: Anthology of American Literature II (McMichael, 9th Ed.)

Please be sure to check the ONLINE section for books, and if you don't see something, ask to see the bookstore manager!

Books may be ordered online at the following address: http://www.broward.edu/bookstore/shopping.jsp

All books are available in the Broward College college bookstores (all campuses).

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Methods of Instruction

Students: This is a 3 credit hour course. Normally, a three credit hour course would meet two or three times each week (during a 16 week term) for a total of 3 hours per week or 48 hours per term. See the course schedule for a detailed description of learning activities for scheduled class meetings and outside or online assignments. Students are responsible for regularly reviewing the course schedule and completing all required in and out of class assignments. Since this class does not meet at all in the traditional sense, it is therefore all the more important that you keep apprised of your deadlines and post discussions in a timely manner. Not posting on time will be like an absence, since you are then not "participating" in the class discussion on a particular topic. The Discussions are meant to be read by all the students in the class, and hopefully a "back and forth" exchange will take place, much the same as it does in a traditional class. In this manner, you will read, discuss, and share your insights and opinions with the whole class. At least FIVE responses to classmates must be included in your discussions.

Course Schedule and Assignments

Content Area	Learning Outcome	Assessment
Read Writing About Literature Read Fiction Review - - Read all the pages that are linked starting from CHARACTER, including POETRY ANALYSIS	Literature Perspective and Background The students should be able to analyze and write about representative works of twentieth century American literature.	Various essays and written responses to readings
Read Intro to Twentieth Century	The students should be able to: discuss the nineteenth century novelist and poets who set the scene for the twentieth century, the social, economic and political milieu of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, and twentieth century critical approaches to literature, such as the psychological, the archetypal, the feminist, and the sociological criticism.
Reading assignments: (There is a list of which ones to read under READING ASSIGNMENTS in COURSE CONTENT)	Twentieth-Century American Poetry Upon successful completion of this unit, the students should be able to: discuss fiction and poetry by emerging 20thC authors	Formal Essay and written discussions
Mark Twain - Read: The Notorious Jumping Frog..." and "How to Tell a Story" - Rent the film AGE OF INNOCENCE , Henry James - "Daisy Miller": There is a formal essay on this story and the film, Age of Innocence due Edith Wharton -	Social Criticism by Twentieth-Century Authors Upon successful completion of this unit, the students should be able to: Describe the literary influences of such authors as Samuel Clemens, William James, Stephen Crane and Theodore Dreiser. Explain the social, economic and political milieu of the late l9th century and early 20th century as they affected literature. Explain the historical events of the late l9th and early 20th centuries as they affected American literature.	Formal essay & written Discussions
Read Intro to 20th Century Literature	Upon successful completion of this unit, the students should be able to: analyze representative works of twentieth century American literature which have social criticism as their overriding purpose.
"The Awakening," (Chopin) Joyce Carol Oates	Upon successful completion of this unit, the students should be able to: explain the characteristics of twentieth century American poetry as demonstrated in the works of Robert Frost, Carl Sandburg, T.S. Eliot, Sylvia Plath, Gwendolyn Brooks and others.
Gertrude Stein "Gentle Lena" e.e. cummings - There is a formal essay on Cummings and Frost Wallace Stevens William Carlos Williams Nora Zeale Hurston - Ernest Hemingway - - Follow the link on the ASSIGNMENTS page and read "Hills Like White Elephants" and write formal essay. Langston Hughes -	Innovation and Experimentation General Outcome: The students should be able to describe the characteristics and contributions of authors of the mid twentieth century, including writers such as Stein, Cummings, Faulkner, Fitzgerald, Hemingway, and Steinbeck.	Formal essay and written discussions
Tennessee Williams -Rent (check out or READ) A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE. Gwendolyn Brooks Toni Morrison Julia Alvarez Billy Collins Bernard Malamud -"The Magic Barrel" Sylvia Plath Louise Erdrich - Leslie Marmon Silko	American Authors of the Mid-Century General Outcome: Upon successful completion of this unit, the students should be able to:The students should be able to describe the literary directions and contributions of American writers since the l950s, to demonstrate the stylistic and thematic similarities and differences of these authors with each other and with American authors of the first half of the twentieth century.	A formal synthesis as a final exam of all themes and topics read and discussed

Papers must be your own work and except when specifically requested, not use any outside sources whatsoever. You must use Microsoft Word, attach any supporting information or Works Cited at the end, use your authorship statement as your coverpage, and emai assignments to me as an attachment through Blackboard. All late papers will be accorded a full grade point penalty. Please use a standard 12 point font. All papers must be submitted by 6 pm. on the day they are due. Anytime after this time and date and the paper will be accorded one full grade point penalty. ALL late papers must be made up within 3 days of the due date or they will not be accepted at all. Please be sure you follow the instructions and are comfortable with the attachment of your essays. I cannot accept the excuse that you sent the paper, but I didn't receive it. The responsibility for making sure you attached your paper is on you. Instructions for assuring that attachments were made is under COURSE INSTRUCTIONS in the DISCUSSION area. I will make every reasonable attempt to at least look at what is sent and let you know immediately if I see that an attachment did not actually come through. I will notify you via Blackboard and home email. In the interest of fairness to your fellow students, I cannot forgive the late penalties for improper or incompleted attached essays.

PLAGIARISM: It has become necessary (unfortunately) to take a very hard line attitude toward intentional plagiarism (defined as turning in a paper not your own either from the internet or another source). All work must be the work of the student, and when material is borrowed in whatever form, it must be documented as borrowed. Any student who knowingly turns in a paper that is taken from somewhere other than his/her own brain and NOT documented as such, will automatically fail the entire course and be brought up on disciplinary charges with the administration (which usually leads to administrative withdrawal from Broward College. PLEASE DO NOT RUN THE RISK OF BEING ONE OF THOSE STUDENTS!!!!

Grading Policy :

Grade Points

Discussion Grade

Essays: 100 pts each

Total: 300 pts.

34+ postings = 170 points

At least FIVE responses to classmates must be included in your discussions.

Postings: 5 pts. each.

Total: 170 pts.

10 pts for the orientation

Total points: 480

Extra credit = 5 points, up to three extra credits can be done, as long as they are different events. In other words, you can't do two essays, but you can attend two different events.

Grades:

A = 445+ pts.

B = 398 pts.

C =350 pts.

D =302 pts.

F = under 302 pts.

Total Possible points including extra credit: 505
Letter grade equivalents to points on essays:
A=93-100 pts

B=83-92

C=73-82

D=63-72

F= under 63

I may also take into account the quality of your emails and discussions in determining your final grade.

As this course carries a writing credit, there will be three formal essays of approximately 750 words apiece. Writing credit can only be given to grade C or higher. Included in your writing will be your informal, written discussions on the selected readings. All of the selections are detailed in the course assignments page as well as individual essay assignments. Please see the CALENDAR for specific due dates, and the DISCUSSION area for specific questions to be answered on all the assigned readings.

Assorted Policies and Procedures

Special Needs: Students having special needs as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act should:

Notify the Office of Disability Services as early in the term as possible. It is the student’s responsibility to contact the Disability Support Office prior to document disability prior to receiving services.
Notify the instructor after you have contacted the Office of Disability Servicves so that the instructor can consult with the Office of Disability Services to discuss what reasonable accomodations would be appropriate for your situation.

Academic Honesty (Cheating):

Each student's academic work must be the result of his or her own thought, research, or self-expression.
Cheating includes, but is not limited to: copying the work of another person (plagiarism) or permitting your work to be copied by another person, discussing test answers or questions with people who have not completed the test, distributing assignment materials to other students, posessing course materials that have not been formally released to students in the course, and collaborating on the completion of assignments not specifically designated in the syllabus as being "group projects".
Cheating will be considered a breach of Broward College's Code of Conduct Policy and may result in academic penalties (zero points on the assignment/test in question, a failing grade for the course), disciplinary action, and/or a referral to the Dean of Student Affairs. Examples 1) If it appears that two or more students have submitted the same material for any solo assignments, each student involved will receive zero points for that assignment. 2) If it appears that a student has copied an assignment from published material (including Internet sites), the student will receive an zero points for that assignment

Critical Event Procedure

In the event of a school closing due to weather or other major event that might impact class schedules, the instructor will post an annoucement indicating what changes (if any), the event will have on the course schedule and due dates.

Copyright:

Information in this course is covered by copyright law. Course content located inside this Blackboard course should not be duplicated for distribution or use by anyone other than the students who are registered in the course, unless prior, written permission is given by the instructor.

Withdrawals:

It is the student's responsibility to withdraw from this class by the withdrawal deadline if you are not earning the grade you want or will not be able to complete the course. To view important dates (including withdrawal deadlines) for this semester, visit the college calendar online.

Logging Off Blackboard

Blackboard does not require you to log off to exit Blackboard. Security Warning:If you don't close your browser or log off, a person using that machine after you will have access to your course materials, could send e-mail to me in your name, and view your confidential student record. Protect your password.

Changes to the Syllabus

The instructor reserves the right to make changes to this syllabus. In the event that changes become necessary, students will be notified through Blackboard Email.

Faculty Contact Info	Methods of Instruction
Course Description	Grading and Exam Policy
General Course Outcomes	Atttendance and Participation Policy
Course Prerequisites	Communication
Course Hardware & Software Requirements	Other Policies & Procedures
Required Course Materials	Student Success Tips
Course Schedule and Assignments

	Grade Points	Discussion Grade
	Essays: 100 pts each Total: 300 pts.	34+ postings = 170 points At least FIVE responses to classmates must be included in your discussions.
	Postings: 5 pts. each. Total: 170 pts.	10 pts for the orientation

	Total points: 480
		Extra credit = 5 points, up to three extra credits can be done, as long as they are different events. In other words, you can't do two essays, but you can attend two different events.
Grades: A = 445+ pts. B = 398 pts. C =350 pts. D =302 pts. F = under 302 pts.	Total Possible points including extra credit: 505	Letter grade equivalents to points on essays: A=93-100 pts B=83-92 C=73-82 D=63-72 F= under 63