Literature of the Western World: Neo-Classical
to Present
Engl 2333-11748 – Summer II 2014
Monday - Friday, 12noon-2pm
3 Credit Hours / 48 hours per semester
5 Weeks: 7/8/2014 – 08/06/2014
Lecture / Core Curriculum
TURNITIN Website Coordinates:
http://www.turnitin.com
(IMPORTANT NOTE: all three out-of-class essay assignments also MUST be electronically
submitted at turnitin.com; otherwise, you will receive NO CREDIT for them!):
Turnitin.com Class ID: 8208885 Password: 11748
Instructor: Dr. David Brenner
Contact Information:
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david.brenner@hccs.edu
Brenner’s HCC Learning Web = http://learning.hccs.edu/faculty/david.brenner
Office Hours: before/after classes and by appointment (no office space available)
Please contact me concerning any problems that you are experiencing in this course. You do not
have to wait until you have received a bad grade before asking for my assistance! Feel free to meet
with me before or after class, and I’ll be glad to discuss things with you. Also, be sure to take
advantage of the additional support made available by HCC for you!
Additional HCC Support:
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On-line tutoring is also available through askonline.net, an especially useful resource for evening
and weekend students. You must, however, plan in advance and submit your work well before its
due date in order to receive timely advice.
You are strongly encouraged to take advantage of the free tutoring available to you in the
Writing Centers at Northwest College. Tutors can help you organize and develop ideas for your
writing assignments and to work on problems with grammar and sentence structure. Tutors do
not write, rewrite, edit, or correct papers for you, but they can help learn to do those tasks better
yourself. (However, neither the tutor nor any person—e.g., your mother, your brother, your high
school teacher—is the final judge of your work.)
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Prerequisites: Successful completion of English 1302 or the equivalent
Instructional Materials:
I. REQUIRED BOOK: The Norton Anthology of
Western Literature, Vol. 2 (2005; 8th edition
PREFERRED) ISBN-978-0393926163 (eds. Heather James, Sarah Lawall,
Lee Patterson, Patricia Spacks, and William G. Thalmann)
II. RECOMMENDED BOOK: The McGraw-Hill
Handbook (3rd ed. preferred)
III. REQUIRED WEBSITE: Brenner’s Learning Web!
IV. REQUIRED TEST MATERIALS: TWO “blue
books” for in-class EXAMS [available at HCC
bookstores]
Course Goals:
The purpose of the English Department is to provide courses that transfer to four-year colleges; introduce
students to literature from diverse traditions; prepare students to write clear, communicative, wellorganized, and detailed prose; and develop students’ reading, writing, and analytical skills.
Course Description:
A critical study of major Western writers from the Neoclassical period to the present. Students may take
ENGL 2332 and ENGL 2333 in any order. Core Curriculum Course. Credit: 3 (3 lecture)
How Goals and Description Apply to You:
ENGL 2333 is a challenging course because it requires you to formally analyze, research, argue, and
write academic essays about major Western writers since the Neoclassical period. In addition, the summer
version of the course is highly accelerated. If you get behind, it will be very difficult to catch up again.
Student Learning Outcomes
1. Explain and illustrate stylistic characteristics of major Western writers from the Neoclassical period to
the present.
2. Connect representative works of major Western writers from the Neoclassical period to the present to
human and individual values in historical and social contexts.
3. Demonstrate knowledge of various works of major Western writers from the Neoclassical period to the
present.
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4. Analyze critical texts relating to the works of major Western writers from the Neoclassical period to the
present.
Learning Objectives
By the end of the semester, the student who passes with a final grade of “C” or above will have
demonstrated the ability to:
1.
Complete and comprehend reading assignments. Assignments vary in length, but a typical
assignment requires TWO hours outside of class for EVERY hour in class (e.g. 2 ½ to 3 hours reading to
prepare for a 1 ½ hour class session).
2.
Attend class regularly, missing no more than 12.5% (6 hours) of instruction.
3.
Participate in small group and/or class discussions in which assigned literary works are analyzed
and interpreted.
4.
Write at least 3,000 words in completing written assignments of varying types and lengths that
are relevant to course content. At least one written assignment will include information obtained through
research that is related to one or more prominent European or American literary works of the eras covered
and is presented in current MLA form.
5.
Participate in at least one oral presentation (can be a collaborative effort) of a literary work.
6.
Explain and illustrate stylistic characteristics of authors and literary works included in the course
syllabus.
7.
Express clearly and support convincingly an interpretation or analysis of a literary text.
8.
Explain similarities and differences among writers studied and/or among literary works studied.
9.
Explain the characteristics of each literary period covered, with particular attention to prominent
literary themes.
10.
Use a word processor (available in school labs) to fulfill written assignments and use the
computer as well as the library to research a literary topic.
11.
Maintain an overall average of 70 or above on written assignments and tests.
Instructional Methods:
To fulfill my personal goal of making you the best reader, writer, and thinker I can within just five weeks,
you will experience a variety of instructional methods. Although you will be involved in collaborative
activities—discussion, group work, peer reviews, and projects—I will give you very specific guidance
whenever possible. On more difficult assignments, you will be provided guidelines to direct you through
the prewriting stages where you will be expected to reflect deeply upon an issue or an analysis. Also,
models of exemplary writing will be available for your review.
CORE Curriculum Competencies:
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This course stresses the HCC CORE Competencies of reading, writing, speaking, listening, critical
thinking, and computer literacy.
Minimum Writing Requirement:
To be good on a computer, one must spend many hours on it. To become a good shortstop in baseball,
one has to field endless amounts of grounders. To be a good writer, one must . . . . As in any other skill,
practice advances mastery: 3,000 words is the minimum amount required in this course!
II. GROUND RULES: CLASSROOM BEHAVIOR
AND ACADEMIC HONESTY
Discipline: Instructors and students in this class share the responsibility of developing and
maintaining a positive learning environment. I take my part of this seriously and will inform
students in the class if their behavior makes it difficult for me to fulfill that responsibility.
As a student, you should respect the learning needs of your fellow learners (see the HCC
Student Handbook for the complete rules). Since we want each and every student to get as
much out of class as possible, we expect of students professional, adult conduct. Please treat
everyone in the class with respect.
Disruptive behavior that interferes with teaching or learning will not be tolerated. It
can even result in an administrative withdrawal without refund. In addition, a faculty
member may temporarily suspend a student from his/her classroom for the remainder of
the class, whenever the student is disrupting the class to the point that there is no longer a
meaningful (or positive) learning environment.
Electronics in class: Please turn off all cell phones, iPods, and electronic hand-held devices
before coming into class. It goes without saying: anyone checking their email, texting,
answering their phone, playing a video game, or listening to music will be asked to leave for
the class period and may be marked absent.
If such a device sounds or is used during class, it will be considered a disruption of
the educational process (such as other forms of inappropriate behavior), and the student
may be asked to leave for the rest of the class period. If a student expects an emergency
call, he or she must speak to the instructor to receive an exception to this policy.
If personal use of electronic devices is excessive in a class, a penalty of a 10-percent
deduction on the next major assignment will be enforced! While you may be asked to use
electronic devices for in-class purposes (such as workshops), checking your
email/Facebook/etc. is ABSOLUTELY PROHIBITED. This is an issue of general
professional etiquette. Inattentiveness is distracting to both your instructor and fellow
students, and it devalues the overall course.
Official HCC policy concerning camera phones, cameras, audio/tape recorders,
video recorders and any other electronic device that is capable of recording the human
voice or image declares that the “[u]se of recording devices, including camera phones and
tape recorders, is prohibited in classrooms, laboratories, faculty offices, and other locations
where instruction, tutoring, or testing occurs. Students with disabilities who need to use a
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recording device as a reasonable accommodation should contact the Office for Students
with Disabilities for information regarding [such] accommodations.”
Food, Beverages, and Use of Tobacco Products: Please do not consume food during class.
Drinks are fine dependent upon building policy. In addition, the use of tobacco products, such as
“chew” or “snuff,” is prohibited in the classroom.
Scholastic Dishonesty: A student who is academically dishonest is unable to demonstrate that
the coursework has been learned and that student is claiming an advantage not available to other
students. The instructor is responsible for measuring each student’s individual achievements
and also for ensuring that all students compete on a level playing field. Thus, in our system,
the instructor has teaching, grading, and enforcing roles. You are expected to be familiar with the
HCC’s policy on Academic Honesty found in the catalogue. What that means is: if you are
charged with an offense, pleading ignorance of the rules will not help you.
According to the Student Handbook for the Houston Community College System,
scholastic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, cheating on a test, collusion, and plagiarism.
Cheating on a test includes
 copying from another student’s test paper and using materials not authorized by the
person giving the test;
 collaborating with another student during a test without authority;
 knowingly using, buying, selling, stealing, transporting, or soliciting in whole or part the
contents of an unadministered test; and
 bribing another person to obtain a test that is to be administered.
Collusion means the unauthorized collaboration with another person in preparing written work
offered for credit.
Plagiarism is the appropriation of another’s words or ideas and the unacknowledged
incorporation of that work in one’s own written work offered for credit. DO NOT
PLAGIARIZE ANY MATERIAL: IT IS UNETHICAL, UNADULT, AND A FORM OF
STEALING. Plagiarism can also include the use of a student’s prior work in another course
and/or school to qualify as an assignment in part for this course. In order to use any pre-existing
work, a student must receive permission from both instructors in order to resubmit the
assignment for this course. In other words, all assignments must be original; do not use a paper
written in another class for this one. (For more on plagiarism, see "Plagiarism" in The New McGrawHill Handbook and in the HCC Student Handbook.)
SUMMARY OF PLAGIARISM PENALTIES: The punishments for scholastic
dishonesty such as plagiarism in this class will be either: (1) a grade of zero for the
particular assignment; (2) failing the entire course; or (3) a recommendation for probation
or dismissal from the HCC System!
III. ASSIGNMENT AND GRADING POLICIES
INSTRUCTIONAL METHODS:
I assess student performance based on the work students contribute to the course. For each
of the assignments you will be provided with detailed assignment sheets, portions of A-level
examples, and several hours of classroom instruction and guidance. In addition, there are
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also class sessions dedicated to hands-on writing workshops. You are also encouraged to ask
questions in person or via email on any of these assignments and/or seek additional
guidance at the HCC Writing Center. Both mechanics and the content of major
assignments will be evaluated in the grading process. By the end of the course, I hope you
will become more confident in your writing abilities and better able to communicate your
perspective -- and value that of others!
GRADING AND ASSESSMENT:
The quality of your work will be assessed throughout the semester. Prior to each of the major
assignments, you will receive detailed instructions on the parameters of the assignment and
how its components will be evaluated. All of the assignments listed here should be submitted in
MLA format (for such examples, see the Purdue OWL website and on the Learning Web).
Make sure to always proofread your assignments carefully. Allow yourself time to review for
not only content but also grammar, spelling, punctuation, etc.
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15% Class Participation
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20% Quizzes
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10% Critical/Rhetorical Analysis of a Text – a 1000+-word out-of-class essay
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10% Written In-Class Midterm Analysis --a 750+-word in-class midterm exam (Your blue
book must be submitted one class period prior to the exam, with your name in the top right-hand
corner.)
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20% Researched Argumentative Essay (i.e., “All Stages of Term Paper Assignment”): Four
preliminary stages, including an annotated bibliography and a rough draft
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15% Researched Argumentative Essay (i.e., “Final Draft of Term Paper Assignment”) - a
2000+ word final draft of an essay
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10% Written In-Class Final Analysis: a 750+ word in-class argumentative essay (Your blue
book must be submitted one class period prior to the exam, with your name in the top right-hand
corner.)
All of these assignments will be explained at length in class during the semester. Although I will
provide handouts that delineate the requirements and grading criteria for these tasks, I expect
students to keep up with assigned readings, to take notes, and to pay close attention in class. Work
that is off-topic or fails to follow instructions will not receive a passing grade! One complete letter
grade (10 points on a scale of 100) will be deducted for each class period an out-of-class assignment is
late. Quizzes may never be made up. There is no extra credit and no curve; rather, you will receive
the grade you earn.
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Where to Find Copies of Specific Assignments and Written
Support for this Class:
On my HCC Learning Web site (as noted above), you will find this syllabus, the course
schedule/calendar, assignments, handouts, and other materials concerning this class. Read them, re-read
them, download and/or print them.
Instructor Grading Criteria:
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Graded Papers and Essays: All of these will be graded by common standards in the
discipline of English. These standards include critical thinking, grammar, sentence
structure, punctuation, word usage, tone, and mechanics.
Midterm and Final Exams: In addition to the average of grades on out-of-class writing, a
student must obtain a passing average (70 - 100) on in-class written exams to make at least a
C in the course. If the average of your in-class writing is a D (60 - 69), you must receive a D
in the course. If the average of in-class writing is an F (0-59), the student must receive an F
in the class. (The average of in-class essays is formed by counting the first in-class essay
once and by counting the last one twice.)
The HCC Grading Scale:
Grading will be reflected by traditional letter grades, A through F. The number equivalents are:
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A (90-100%): The student demonstrates superior ability and originality. Thorough knowledge of
the material is displayed. The quality of submitted work is consistently high with minimal,
superficial stylistic or rhetorical errors.
B (80-89%): The student demonstrates above average ability. Knowledge of the material
exceeds basic requirements: moments of strong insight and/or creativity are demonstrated. The
quality of submitted work contains few stylistic or rhetorical errors.
C (70-79%): The student presents work that adequately treats the assignment. A “C” paper may
also include minor erroneous evaluation of the material and/or sources and/or minor
misinterpretations of the assignment. Errors in proofreading, mechanics, style, and rhetorical
devices appear throughout less than 50 percent of the essay.
D (60-69%): The student submits below average work. This typically indicates that a student has
erroneously evaluated the material and/or sources AND/OR has misunderstood the assignment. In
addition, the work may also contain repeated mechanical and stylistic errors that compromise the
clarity of the student’s writing.
F (0-59%): The student submits sloppy, poorly organized work containing excessive stylistic and
rhetorical errors. The work displays little student effort and interest and/or does not reflect the
assignment.
Out-of-Class Assignments: You are responsible for keeping up with the reading and homework.
Throughout the semester there will be daily quizzes. Readings are from both printed and online
materials. When the readings are online, you should bring printouts to class. It is way more
difficult to annotate the readings from cellphones/smartphones!
Out-of-Class Essay Submission Formats: All out-of-class essays (three) must be submitted at
the beginning of class on their due dates in the following HARD COPY format:
 Typed on white paper (8.5 x 11) in black ink (handwritten assignments not accepted)
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Double-spaced, with 1” margins, 12-point plain font (e.g., Times New Roman)
MLA format (if you need a review of MLA paper format, visit:
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/01/ )
Points will be deducted from papers that do not meet requirements.
The final drafts of your out-of-class essays must also be electronically submitted via
TurnItIn.com (information for each section can be found above, on page one of this
syllabus), or else you will receive NO CREDIT for them:
Revision/Rough Draft Policy: If the student opts to revise her essay, she is encouraged to read
carefully through the instructor’s comments, discuss revision strategies with the instructor,
and/or also seek additional guidance from a tutor. A student has ONE WEEK from the day
she has received her graded paper back from the instructor to resubmit a revised version
(both a printed copy to the instructor and an electronic copy at turnitin.com). That said,
rough drafts are always required on the major out-of-class writing assignments. These are a great
opportunity to address the overall direction and organization of your essays. Also take advantage
of the in-class peer reviews/evaluations, the instructor’s suggestions, and HCC tutoring services
to ensure that your work is of a “passing” caliber or higher.
IV. ATTENDANCE, TARDINESS, AND LATE
WORK POLICIES
Attendance (roll is taken at the beginning of class): You should understand that your course
grade will suffer as a result of absences. And of course, your ability to do the work required will
also suffer, and thus grades on that work will be lower. If you miss more than SIX (6) hours of
class, excused or non-excused absences, you should be withdrawn from the course
(dependent upon communication with the instructor and/or reasons for absences). That
means: if you have missed THREE classes, anything beyond this point exceeds the
designated HCC limit of absences. If a student stops attending the class, it is his or her
responsibility to withdraw formally.
 A valid reason for missing class is an unavoidable emergency. If you wish to have the
absence excused, you must provide documentation for it. If you have a cold or travel
plans, they do not qualify as emergencies.
 If students stop attending the class, it is their responsibility to withdraw formally. If they
do not, they will receive an FX grade (a “failing” grade) for the course.
 You are responsible for all assignments even if you are absent or tardy. Do not ask the
instructor what you have missed! Instead, you are still responsible for what happens in
class, including:
o any work due the day you miss class is still due even if you are not there;
o any announcements still apply to you if you are not there; and
o you should contact another student in your section to find out what you missed. I
am glad to meet with you during office hours to answer questions, but I won’t
email a summary of the class to you or re-teach that day’s class to you
individually.
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Tardiness: Attendance, participation and your full, undivided attention are the components that
most enhance your educational experience. Tardiness limits the above. In addition, it is
distracting and often creates logistical issues in the way a class is run. For example, time has to
be taken away from the class if you do not understand what everyone else is currently working
on. Not only is lateness disruptive, but it is also a breach of professionalism and mature etiquette.
Students who make a habit of arriving 10 to 15 minutes late will also miss quizzes and other
assignments given at the beginning of class.
Late and Missed Assignments:
 You cannot make up quizzes, in-class assignments, group work, and/or peer editing
workshops.
 There are NO makeups on major exams unless arranged in advance.
 In-class papers must be handed in at the end of class. Failure to hand in any major paper
or essay will result in a grade of 0 for the assignment.
 All papers, rough drafts and assignments will be reduced by a full letter grade (10
full points!) for every calendar day past their due date. (By the same token, essay
assignments submitted in advance will be eligible for an increase of a full letter
grade.)
 Unlike in other courses, in this course it is always better to turn in an assignment late
than not at all. However, students who are late on one of the major out-of-class
assignments typically receive final course grades of C or lower.
V. EQUALLY IMPORTANT REQUIREMENTS, RULES,
AND POLICIES
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Class Participation/Homework: This is a discussion-based course, requiring lots of reading
and talking. You are expected to come to class having carefully read and analyzed the
assigned texts. Your ability to participate thoughtfully in large and small group discussions
will determine your class participation grade.
Quizzes/Homework: Students should be prepared for quizzes every day. Quizzes will be
short (20-30 minutes) and may require short answers or brief essays. I will drop two quiz
grades a semester, no questions asked.
Writing / Revision Workshops: We will workshop required essays extensively, and
students are required to attend these classes. You must be prepared to participate thoughtfully
since your fellow students depend on your collaboration!
Out-of-class Essays: In order to be accepted, the final drafts of each of these assignments
must be submitted to Turnitin.com as well as printed out in hard copy. We will discuss the
procedures for submitting papers to Turnitin.com before the first major essay. Furthermore,
you should format these essays according to MLA manuscript guidelines. If you do not
complete each of these three assignments satisfactorily, you will FAIL the class!
In-class Essays (i.e., midterm and final exams): Blue books are required for each of the two
exams. There will be no make-ups unless the student provides timely, written, and verifiable
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documentation of a grave illness or other emergency within 48 hours of the scheduled exam
date.
Passing / Success: To successfully complete this class, your coursework will demonstrate
that you can: analyze the arguments of others and respond appropriately, locate and evaluate
credible sources of information, develop reasoned positions in arguments, and demonstrate
intellectual integrity by appropriately attributing sources.
Professionalism / Etiquette: All class members are expected to treat each other in a
courteous and professional manner. This class will mimic, in many ways, a “real-world”
working environment, and students are expected to participate professionally: that is, to be on
time, arrive prepared, meet deadlines, collaborate with others, and contribute to a positive
learning environment. Professionalism includes all of these behaviors as well as regular
attendance and voluntary participation in all facets of classroom life.
HCC Student Services Information: Student Services provides masters- and doctoral-level
counseling for the Northwest College student body. Advisors are also available at each campus
to assist students in creating class schedules, evaluating college transcripts, and completing
degree/certificate plans. Student Services regular business hours are the same at the Spring
Branch and Katy campuses: Mon-Thu 8:00am-7:00pm; Fri-Sat 8:00am-1:00pm. Locations and
phone numbers are: Alief/Hayes Campus, Room A-111, 713-718-5669; Katy Campus, Suite 150,
713-718-5751; Spring Branch Campus, The Welcome Center, 713-718-5669.
Tutoring: You may receive a tutoring recommendation at any point during the semester based
on your writing performance. The recommendations are for your benefit; please take them
seriously. HCC offers free tutoring in Room 703, South Hall (at Spring Branch Campus; phone
is 713.718.5889). You do not need to make an appointment for these services. Visit the Writing
Center page for the Northwest Campus on the HCC website at:
http://northwest.hccs.edu/programs/english/writing-center/ . On-line tutoring (almost 24/7) is
also available at http://hccs.AskOnline.net. To reach the helpdesk for IT/computer-related
issues at HCC, one should call 713.718.8800.
The HCC Libraries offer assistance in finding and documenting resources. If you would like
help with research, you may contact the librarians. For locations and times, see
http://library.hccs.edu/about/locations.php. “Ask a Librarian” services are available at
http://library.hccs.edu/learn_how/askalib.php. See your “Student System Sign-In” records if you
cannot find your library barcode.
HCC Course Withdrawal Policy: If you feel that you cannot complete this course, please take
the time to meet with me to discuss why you feel it is necessary to do so. I may be able to
provide you with suggestions to enable you to complete the course. Your success is important to
us.
Beginning in fall 2007, the Texas Legislature passed a law limiting first-time entering
freshmen to no more than SIX total course withdrawals throughout their educational career in
obtaining a degree. To help students avoid having to withdraw from any class, HCC has
instituted an Early Alert process by which your professor may alert you and HCC counselors that
you might fail a class because of excessive absences, poor academic performance, and/or in-class
behavioral problems. It is your responsibility to visit with your professor or a counselor to learn
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about what, if any, HCC interventions might be available to assist you – online tutoring, child
care, financial aid, job placement, etc. – to stay in class and improve your academic performance.
If you plan to withdraw from the course, this must be done PRIOR to the withdrawal
deadline in order to receive a "W” on your transcript.
Last day for Administrative/Student Withdrawals: TBA***
If a student stops attending the class, it is his or her responsibility to withdraw formally.
If he or she does not, he or she will receive an FX grade for the course.
Students who enroll for most credit CEU classes for a third or more times will be charged
an additional $50.00 per semester credit hour and $3.00 per contact hours.
International Students: Receiving a W or an F in a course may affect the status of your student
visa. Once a W or F is given for the course (after you have formally submitted a withdrawal
form), it will not be changed to an F because of any visa considerations. Please contact the
International Student Office at 713-718-8520, if you have any questions about your visa status
and other transfer issues.
HCC Policy Statement – ADA Accommodations / Services to Students with Disabilities:
Any student with a documented disability (e.g. physical, learning, psychiatric, vision, hearing,
etc.) who needs to arrange reasonable accommodations must contact the Disability Services
Office at the respective college at the beginning of each semester. Faculty are authorized to
provide only the accommodations requested by the Disability Support Services Office. For
questions, please contact Donna Price at 713.718.5165 or the Disability Counselor at your
college (at Northwest, 713.718.5422).To visit the ADA Web site, log on to www.hccs.edu, click
“Future Students,” scroll down the list and click on the words “Disability Services.”
EGLS3 – Evaluation for Greater Learning Student Survey System: At Houston Community
College, professors believe that thoughtful student feedback is necessary to improve teaching
and learning. During a designated time, you will be asked to answer a short online survey of
research-based questions related to instruction. The anonymous results of the survey will be
made available to your professors and division chairs for continual improvement of instruction.
Look for the survey as part of the Houston Community College Student System online near the
end of the term.
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