El Paso Community College
Syllabus
Part I
Instructor’s Course Requirements
Spring 2012
The readings for ENGL 2322 are not easy. They were written hundreds years ago. They present distant
worlds in antique English. As you read these selections, you will need to look up unfamiliar terms, reread complicated sentences, and maintain an open-minded curiosity. But you will not be alone. We will
read these works together, combining our resources and insights. Like Chaucer’s pilgrims, we have by
chance fallen into fellowship and are travelling together. To pass the time, we will share some stories.
As antique as these stories may seem, you may be surprised to see how well they reflect our own lives
and concerns.
I. Course Number and Instructor Information
Course: ENGL 2322: British Literature 1, CRN: 22050
Instructor: James Gonzales
My Courses webpage: my.epcc.edu
Office: A1308 Phone: 831-2254 (messages also; give phone number slowly)
Office hours: MWF 8-10, 12-1; TTh 9-10 (and by appointment)
Our 1:00 MWF class meets in A2117.
II. Texts and Materials (all required)
Greenblatt, Stephen, et. als. The Norton Anthology of English Literature, vol. 1
8th ed. New York: W. W. Norton & Co., 2006.
Reading Chaucer: An Interlinear Translation [This book should be shrink-wrapped with
Norton Anthology when you purchase book at our bookstore.]
a college dictionary
printer paper (8 ½" x 11")
blue or black pens (good quality), a red pen, a yellow highlighter, and a stapler
USB for saving text
pocket folder for keeping discussion guides
chipboard
III. Course Requirements
“The readiness is all.” Hamlet
A. The semester grade will be based on total points earned.
NOT PASSING
less than 600 = F
║
PASSING
600 — 699 = D
700 — 799 = C
800 — 899 = B
900 — 1000 = A
Minimum to pass course
[Highlight grade you are aiming for. Then take care of your points to earn the grade you want.]
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B. The coursework includes the following:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
Twenty-seven Discussion Guides X 15 = 405 points
One original poem X 15 = 15 points
Two recitations from memory X 15 = 30 points
Two paragraphs X 15 = 30 points
Five fill-in-the-blanks exercises X 15 = 75 points
One imaginative essay = 70 points
Three movie reports X 40 = 120 points
Mid-term exam = 100 points
Final exam = 100 points
Book of Your British Literature Experience = 55
1000 points
11. To succeed in ENGL 2322, students should complete all the assignments. Major and
supportive assignments should be ready at the beginning of the class when they are due.
practice late label _____________________
C. LATE WORK POLICY
Student must clearly label and initial the assignment as Late .
Student must submit assignment within ONE WEEK of the original due date.
Late work will be worth half credit.
D. Take pride in your work. Handwritten work should be easy to read. Write in blue or
black ink. Staple multiple pages at upper left-hand corner.
E. Some assignments will be word processed. Select Arial 12-point font double spaced.
Computers and printers are available in A1721 and B120. Save your documents on your USB.
F. For help on your assignments, see instructor at A1308 during office hours.
G. Plagiarism or cheating of any kind will not be tolerated and will result in a failing grade on the
particular assignment and/or the course with possible further College disciplinary action, if necessary.
IV. Instructor’s Policies
Attendance and Drop Policy
You are always welcome in class. To make the course worthwhile, you should show up on time, pay
attention, and do the assignments. You will begin the semester with FOURTEEN POINTS extra
credit. Cross out points for absences, tardiness, and neglected assignments according to this scale. If
you lose all fourteen points, you will be dropped from the course.
Each absence (excused or unexcused) = -2 points
Walking in LATE = -1 point each for first three times; additional times = -2 points each
LEAVING (or being asked to leave) before class ends = -1 point
Each assignment not done = -1 point (discussion guide, etc.)
Text messaging or other distracting behavior = -1 point
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Participation Scale and Extra Credit Points
warning
14
13
12
11
10
9
8
7
6
Excused
5
4
3
2
Unexcused
1
Drop
Promptness, Tardiness, and Courtesy
1. Points remaining on
Participation Scale at the
end of the semester will
count as extra credit. In
addition, any student with
eight points or more will
receive a coupon good for a
letter of recommendation
from the instructor.

2. Sign in before class to
document your attendance.
Do not sign for your
classmates. Class will
begin and end at the
scheduled time according to
the clock in the classroom.
If you are tardy, ask instructor after class to mark a T on the attendance sheet; otherwise, you will be
considered absent.
3. Habitual tardiness disrupts class activities and is unacceptable. If you are tardy more than three
times, you must see a counselor and write a memo to the instructor which addresses the problem and
specifies a solution. The counselor, instructor, and student will try to find a solution.
4. Our counselor is Jose Baltazar at 831-2085, SSC Room 104.
5. If you miss a class, you must go to the instructor’s office (A1308) before the next class session to
pick up assignments and submit work due.
6. Do: learn classmates’ names, respond to each other respectfully, concentrate on the business of
understanding literature better, and put the desks back the way they were for class that follows us.
7. Don’t Do: don’t carry on private conversations; don’t eat, drink, or sleep; don’t use electronic
devices.
8. Cell Phone Policy: Cell phones distract us from our purpose of understanding literature better.
While in class, turn phones off completely. If you want to learn and if you want to pass the class,
don’t text message.
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V. Calendar and Assignments
• A = Assignment, as in A1, A2, A3, etc. Record scores on calendar and on castle on p. 10.
• DG = Discussion Guide, due at beginning of each class. Use form at end of syllabus.
• Page numbers are for The Norton Anthology.
1000
Points
Date
Topics and Assignments
2012
1-16
Holiday
1-18
Introduction, Learning Through Discussion, Projects, Resources
1-20
Literary Terms: See p. 11 in syllabus and My Courses website.
A1: Fill-in-the-blanks exercise
1-23
British History (from Julius Caesar to Richard III) 1-7, 22-3
A2: Fill-in-the-blanks exercise
A3: DG on Bede and Cædmon’s Hymn, 24-27
15
1-25
A4: DG on Beowulf 29-69
Translated by Seamus Heaney
15
1-27
A5: DG on Beowulf 69-100
15
1-30
A6: Word-processed paragraph on the qualities of a hero. (140 words)
The Power of Myth Joseph Campbell on Arthurian Legend
15
2-1
15
2-3
A7: DG on Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
160-185
Translated by Marie Borroff
A8: DG on Sir Gawain and the Green Knight 185-213
15
15
15
2-6
The Sounds of Middle English: 15-19
A9: Fill-in-the-blanks exercise
15
2-8
15
2-10
Background for Geoffrey Chaucer 213-18
A10: DG on General Prologue of Canterbury Tales: 218-21 Opening, at
the Tabard, Knight, Squier, Yeman
(Refer to Reading Chaucer: An InterlinearTranslation as needed.)
A11: DG on General Prologue of Canterbury Tales: 221-25
Prioresse, Monk, Frere
15
2-13
A12: DG on General Prologue of Canterbury Tales: 225-27
Marchant, Clerk, Sergeant of the Law, Frankelain
15
2-15
A13: DG on General Prologue of Canterbury Tales: 227-30
Guildmen, Cook, Shipman, Doctour of Physik, Wife of Bath
15
4
15
2-17
A14: DG on General Prologue of Canterbury Tales: 230-35
Person, Plowman, Reeve, Millere, Somnour, Pardoner, Manciple
15
2-20
A15: DG on Setting out for Canterbury 235-38
15
2-22
A16: DG on Close of Canterbury Tales: From Parson’s Tale and Chaucer’s
Retraction: 312-315
15
40
2-24
A17: Recitation from memory of the first 18 lines of Chaucer’s Prologue
R1: Movie report due
2-27
The tales, read summary on My Courses website.
A18: Fill-in-the-blanks exercise
15
2-29
A19: DG on The Wakefield Second Shepherds’ Play 406-435
15
3-2
A20: DG on Everyman 463-84
A21: Word-processed paragraph on Good Deed. (140 words)
3-5
Edmund Spenser 705-07
A22: DG on selections from The Faerie Queene 719-32
15
3-7
100
3-9
Thomas More 518-21
A23: DG on Utopia, Book 2, 545-92
Mid-term Exam: Objective Test
15
15
Spring Break, March 12-16
15
3-23
R2: Movie report due
British History (from Henry IV to Charles II)
A24: Fill-in-the-blanks exercise
William Shakespeare 1058-61
Sonnets 18, 29, 30, 55, 65, 73,106, 116, 129, 130, 146 A25: DG on your
favorite sonnet, which you will
also recite from memory on 4-13
A26: DG on King Lear, Act 1, 1139-64
15
3-26
A27: DG on King Lear, Acts 2 and 3, 1164-95
15
3-28
A28: DG on King Lear, Acts 4 and 5, 1195-223
15
3-30
A29: DG on Ben Jonson 1324-6
“To the Memory of My Beloved, The Author, Mr. William Shakespeare,
and What He Hath Left Us” 1444-6
Andrew Marvell 1695-7
A30: DG on “To His Coy Mistress” 1503-4
40
15
3-19
3-21
15
4-2
15
5
15
4-4
A31: Extravagant original poem imitating features of poems we have read,
perhaps a carpe diem or insult poem: Class poetry reading
4-6
Holiday
4-9
John Milton 1585-9
A32: DG on Paradise Lost, Book 1, 1830-50
15
15
4-11
A33: DG on Paradise Lost, Book 9, 1973-98
15
4-13
A34: Recitation from memory of a sonnet of your choice from Norton
Anthology
Extra credit
(10)
4-16
Spring Arts Festival Reading: Chaucer in Middle English
40
4-18
R3: Movie report due
Imaginative Essay Assignment
15
4-20
Jonathan Swift 2301-3
A35: DG on Gulliver’s Travels, Part 1, 2323-65
15
4-23
A36: DG on Gulliver’s Travels, Part 2, 2365-405
15
4-25
A37: DG on Gulliver’s Travels, Part 4, 2418-62
70
4-27
Imaginative Essay due
Begin reading of imaginative essays
4-30
Continue reading of imaginative essays
5-2
Continue reading of imaginative essays
Summation and review for final exam
55
5-4
YOUR BOOK due, reading of introductions
100
5-7
Final exam (objective and covering entire course) Monday 1:00-3:00
(Calendar subject to change.)
List of Movies for ENGL 2322 (Movies marked with * are available at VV Library.)
Becket (1964 with Peter O’Toole and Richard Burton) *
A Knight’s Tale *
Shakespeare in Love *
A Man for All Seasons (1966 with Paul Scofield) *
King Lear (1971 with Paul Scofield; or 1984 with Lawrence Olivier *)
Gulliver’s Travels (1996 with Ted Danson) *
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Cromwell (1970 with Richard Harris) *
Beowulf *
In Search of Shakespeare *
Elizabeth *
Elizabeth: The Golden Age *
Camelot *
Man of La Mancha
Filthy Cities: London in the 14th Century
Sir Gawain and Green Knight, BBC documentary hosted by Simon Armitage
Movie Reports for ENGL 2322
Movies can help us visualize the distant worlds depicted in the selections we are reading.
Watch three movies and write reports as noted in the calendar.
Have your clipboard and paper ready so that you can make notes as you watch. Pause
the movie to make notes. Do not look up or copy anything from the Internet.
Start by telling exactly which movie you watched and how you got it. Where and
when did you watch it? Write one short paragraph, a couple of sentences.
DO NOT RE-TELL THE STORY. Don’t tell what happened.
Instead, like a good tourist who has visited an interesting place, tell what you saw.
Describe whatever caught your eye: scenery, houses, fields, roads, bridges, castles,
rooms, furniture, tools, horses, wagons, saddles, armor, weapons, cookware, food,
clothing, boots, baggage, jewelry, inns, dogs, churches, ships, etc.
If you are a builder, perhaps you will focus on brickwork, timber construction, or
arches. If you are a fashion designer, perhaps you will notice the clothing. If you are a
soldier, perhaps you will focus on the weapons.
Organize your material in unified and developed paragraphs, for example a paragraph
about clothing but another dedicated to weapons. Describe the little details of whatever
caught your attention. Write two well-developed paragraphs, about 120 words each.
Tell how the movie reflects the corresponding selection(s) or subjects from our course.
Does the movie illuminate something for you? How is the movie version different
from the original? Write one well-developed paragraph, about 120 words.
End with a short paragraph, a couple of sentences, evaluating your experience of
watching the movie.
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Write at least 400 words, word processed, double spaced, in Arial 12-point font.
Correctness and style matter in your writing for ENGL 2322. Run-on sentences,
misspellings, grammatical mistakes, and other imperfections in writing will reduce
score.
Discussion Guides
Discussion Guide Rationale: The reading selections take us to artistic realms filled with
virtual people in virtual places. The characters live in their world, just as we live in ours,
falling in love, struggling against demons, looking for salvation, regretting their mistakes, and
facing the fact of their mortality. By reading, we can visit their world. By writing down your
impressions on the discussion guide form, you will be ready to speak up in class,
Discussion Points for ENGL 2322: Much of our time will be dedicated to discussion, small
group and also full class. To have a good outcome, come to class prepared and make
contributions to our discussions.
Make copies of discussion guide form. Fill out each form as you read the selection.
Each session will count as 15 points.
Having the discussion guide filled will count as 10 points. (Last item will be written at
end of class discussion).
Being on time and ready to discuss will count as 1 point. “The readiness is all.”
Speak up in your group and in class. Sharing your researched items, comments,
questions, answers, examples, and connections will count as 1 point each. Put a star
 next to each contribution and then highlight it. Three points can be earned in small
group discussion, but last point must be earned during full class discussion.
Cultivate a classroom voice to speak to the entire group. Aim for a dynamic
discussion with plenty of interaction between classmates to help illuminate the
selection.
Show the math to note your score at top of page like this:
(If instructor has to add score for you, 1 point will be charged.)
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10 + 1 + 4 = 15
(for perfect score, also the maximum)
Your Book: Requirements
Good cover, binding, and clever title
Introduction (one page) which reflects on what you have learned, which character
reflects you best, why?
Dedication
Table of contents and continuous pagination
The three movie reviews
Your original poem
Your paragraphs
Collection of your twenty-five favorite quotes (document sources and add a sentence
to each telling why you choose it). Take these from Discussion Guides.
Collection of twenty-five interesting things you learned (document sources and add a
sentence to each telling how it illuminates a specific context). Use Discussion Guides.
Imaginative essay
Something extra, your choice, be creative
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Build Your Grade
A34
A35
A29
A30
A25
A26
R3
40
A21
A22
R1
40
A17
A18
A36
A37
A32
A33
Book
55
A27
A28
R2
40
A23
A24
A19
A20
A15
A16
A31
Extra
Credit
?
Essay
70
A13
A14
A9
A10
MidTerm
Exam
Final
Exam
A11
A12
A5
A6
100
100
A7
A8
A1
A2
A3
A4
Write down your scores on coursework. 1000 points are possible. A = Assignments worth 15
points each: A1, A2, etc. R = movie report. Build up points for the grade that you want.
Points earned _____________ + points remaining = points still possible _______________
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