Course Syllabus

English 245: American Literature II                                                               

Daily ll:30-12:20 in Room R-201

Winter 2014

 

Instructor Sean Allen

sallen@bellevuecollege.edu

Phone 425-564-2413

Office: R-230H

Office hours: Monday-Friday 12:30-1:20.

 

Course Description:

 

English 235: Is There a War in the Heart of Nature? An exploration of stories written during the Realistic Period (1865-1914) by authors such as Kate Chopin, Charles Chesnutt, Sui Sin Far, Mark Twain, Sarah Orne Jewett, Jack London, Zitkala-Sa, and Charlotte Perkins Gilman. Texts represent a spectrum of writers from various socio-cultural perspectives. Themes viewed through books and films include realism, naturalism, changing attitudes about nature, and humanity’s relationship to it.

 

Course Outcomes:

 

After completing this class, students should be able to:

 

• Demonstrate an awareness of American history, philosophy, and culture as reflected in the literature.
• Identify major themes and ideas
• Recognize how style relates to content in various writers’ works
• Apply the analytical process to literary works
• Apply writing skills to analyzing literature

 

Materials:

 

The Bedford Anthology of American Literature, By Susan Belasco & Linck Johnson

 

Course Requirements:

 

This class requires you to engage in ten in-class reading discussion assignments, write 5 seminar papers, provide one group presentation on one author, complete one final in-class exam, and engage actively in all classroom discussions and activities.

 

Attendance: The BC Arts & Humanities Division’s policy regarding tardiness stipulates that any student missing more than twenty percent of total class time for a course may receive an “F” grade for the course. Since this class meets 5 days a week for a total of 54 meetings, any student missing more than 10 class meetings will automatically receive a failing grade.

 

Lateness: I take attendance at the beginning of each class.

 

Late papers: All papers and other assignments are due at the beginning of class on dates specified in this syllabus. Each student can turn in one paper late without losing points, after which all other later papers or journals will be assessed -10 points for every day they are late.

 

Grading procedure

 

10 in-class Reading

 Discussion assignments                     20 points each=200 points

Five 2-3 Page Seminar Papers 40 points each=200

Group Presentation                            100 points

Final In-class Essay Exam                  100 points

Class Participation                              100 points

                                                            ______________

                                                            600 points possible

                                                           

Arts & Humanities grading procedure:

 

100-93%         A

90-92%           A-

87-89%           B+

83-86%           B

80-82               B-

77-79               C+

73-76               C

70-73               C-

67-69               D+

63-66               D

60-62               D-

59%---             F

 

Plagiarism:

 

Plagiarism, or academic dishonesty, is the act of using another writer’s words or ideas as your own. According to the BC Arts & Humanities website, plagiarism “may take many forms, including, but not limited to, using a paper written by someone else, using printed sources word-for-word without proper documentation, and paraphrasing or summarizing the ideas of others without acknowledging the source.  Plagiarism can also occur when non-written ideas are taken without documentation--using someone else's design or performance idea, for example.  In short, plagiarism is passing off someone else's ideas, words, or images as your own; it amounts to intellectual theft--whether or not it was your intention to steal.” Plagiarism in this course may result in a paper’s failing grade, or further disciplinary action from the Dean of Student Success. Consecutive acts of plagiarism may result in a failing grade for the class.

 

Cell phones or other electronic communication devices:

 

During class time, please turn off your cell phones.

 

Values Conflicts:

 

Essential to a liberal arts education is an open-minded tolerance for ideas and modes of expression that might conflict with one’s personal values.  By being exposed to such ideas or expressions, students are not expected to endorse or adopt them but rather to understand that they are part of the free flow of information upon which higher education depends.

 

To this end, you may find that class requirements may include engaging certain materials, such as books, films, and art work, which may, in whole or in part, offend you.  These materials are equivalent to required texts and are essential to the course content.  If you decline to engage the required material by not reading, viewing, or performing material you consider offensive, you will still be required to meet class requirements in order to earn credit.  This may require responding to the content of the material, and you may not be able to fully participate in required class discussions, exams, or assignments.

 

Bellevue College’s Affirmation of Inclusion

 

Bellevue College is committed to maintaining an environment in which every member of the campus community feels welcome to participate in the life of the college, free from harassment and discrimination.

 

We value our different backgrounds at Bellevue College, and students, faculty, staff members, and administrators are to treat one another with dignity and respect.

 

This affirmation of inclusion shall be printed in the college catalog and quarterly schedule and shall be posted prominently throughout the campus.

 

Classroom Behavior

 

What follows is the Arts & Humanities Division’s policy on classroom behavior:

 

The college's “Affirmation of Inclusion” is posted in each classroom and sets forth the expectation that we will all treat one another with respect and dignity regardless of whether or not we agree philosophically.  This expectation is in line with the principle of free speech in a free society:  we have the right to express unpopular ideas as long as we don't show disrespect for reasonable people who might believe otherwise.  In an on-line course, you will be expressing ideas through the medium of the course site rather than face to face in the classroom.  In that case, these expectations refer to the courtesy with which you communicate with one another through e-mails and e-discussions.

 

Part of this respect involves professional behavior toward the instructor, colleagues, and the class itself.  Disruptive behavior is disrespectful behavior.  The Arts and Humanities Division honors the right of its faculty to define "disruptive behavior," which often involves such things as arriving late, leaving early, leaving class and then returning, talking while others are trying to hear the instructor or their group members, doing other homework in class, wearing earphones in class, bringing activated beepers, alarm watches, or cellular phones into class, inappropriate comments or gestures, etc.  In on-line courses, “flaming’ anyone in the class is also considered disruptive behavior.  Such behavior interrupts the educational process.  When you are in doubt about any behavior, consult your instructor during office hours:  we recognize the judgment of the instructor as the final authority in these matters.

 

When disruptive behavior occurs, instructors will speak to or e-mail the students concerned.  Those students are then responsible for ending the disruptions at once.  Failure to do so may result in removal of the students from class.”

Important Links

 

All students registered for classes at Bellevue College are entitled to a network and e-mail account.  Your student network account can be used to access your student e-mail, log in to computers in labs and classrooms, log into Canvas and MyBC.

 

BC offers a wide variety of computer and learning labs to enhance learning and student success. Find current campus locations for all student labs by visiting the Computing Services website.

 

 

 

The Disability Resource Center serves students with a wide array of learning challenges and disabilities. If you are a student who has a disability or learning challenge for which you have documentation or have seen someone for treatment and if you feel you may need accommodations in order to be successful in college, please contact us as soon as possible.

 

If you are a person who requires assistance in case of an emergency situation, such as a fire, earthquake, etc, please meet with your individual instructors to develop a safety plan within the first week of the quarter.

 

The DRC office is located in B 132 or you can call our reception desk at 425.564.2498.  Deaf students can reach us by video phone at 425-440-2025 or by TTY at 425-564-4110.   .    .  Please visit our website for application information into our program and other helpful links at www.bellevuecollege.edu/drc

 

 

The Bellevue College (BC) Public Safety Department’s well trained and courteous non-commissioned staff provides personal safety, security, crime prevention, preliminary investigations, and other services to the campus community, 24 hours per day,7 days per week.  Their phone number is 425.564.2400.  The Public Safety website is your one-stop resource for campus emergency preparedness information, campus closure announcements and critical information in the event of an emergency. Public Safety is located in K100 and on the web at: http://bellevuecollege.edu/publicsafety/