Fall – 2015
English 2322 – British Literature: Beginnings to Neo-Classical
CRN: 70988
Mondays & Wednesdays;
8:30 - 10:00 P.M.. Rm. SJC 171
About Your Teacher:
Professor P. Stevenson
Phone: (To leave message in English Department) 713.718.6671
Office Hours: By Appointment
E-Mail: philonis.stevenson@hccs.edu
Catalogue Description
English 2322 – British Literature: Beginnings to Neo-Classical: A critical study of major British
Writers from the Anglo-Saxon period through the eighteenth century.
Prerequisite: ENGL 1301 Credit: 3 (3 lecture)
Required Text

The Norton Anthology of English Literature, Volume A, B, and C. Stephen Greenblatt,
General Editor, Ninth edition. W. W. Norton & Company. 2006.

A pocket-sized dictionary – one with at least 50,000 entries. Please, if you don’t own one,
get one. Also, get (and learn how to use) a thesaurus. There is simply no reason to repeat
or use a word imprecisely when there are a plethora of options to choose from that can
make your writing come alive.
_____________________________________________________________________________
***HCC is committed to providing a learning and working environment that is free
from discrimination on the basis of sex which includes all forms of sexual misconduct.
Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 requires that when a complaint is filed, a
prompt and thorough investigation is initiated. Complaints may be filed with the HCC
Title IX Coordinator available at (713) 818.8271 or email at oie@hccs.edu.
English Program Student Learning Outcomes
(Composition, Literature, Creative Writing, and Technical Writing)
1. Write in appropriate genres using varied rhetorical strategies.
2. Write in appropriate genres to explain and evaluate rhetorical and/or literary strategies
employed in argument, persuasion, and varied genres.
3. Analyze various genres of writing for form, method, meaning, and interpretation.
4. Employ research in academic writing styles and use appropriate documentation style.
5. Communicate ideas effectively through discussion.
English Literature Student Learning Outcomes
1.
2.
3.
4.
Explain and illustrate stylistic characteristics of representative works.
Connect representative works to human and individual values in historical and social context.
Demonstrate knowledge of critical reading skills
Analyze literary text by identifying characteristics, conventions, and techniques of particular
literary genres of the period.
5. Critique and interpret representative literary works within their cultural and historical context.
Description of oral report:
The assigned student will introduce, read, briefly explicate, and lead a discussion of a
particular text. Perhaps it will be prose or one of the poems in the Norton that was not
assigned. It must be explained how the particular text chosen advanced your appreciation for
British literature, or at least helped make for a better understanding of it. There is a ten
minute time limit for the presentation, not including the discussion that comes afterward.
Format for oral report (ten minutes):

In order to avoid unproductive behavior from students in relation to the presentations,
such as comparing grades, competing, or performing to the teacher, this assignment
will be graded silently—that is, your grade will not be revealed until the end of the
semester. You will be graded for the quality of your work and in general class
participation.
Reader – Response Journal:

Each student is required to keep a reader-response journal for this course.

Each week, before coming to class, you must type 1 or 2 pages (250 to 500 words)
about the assigned reading for the week. Your journal entry must be turned in at
the beginning of each class.
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
The responses to what you’ve read may be observations about the reading
material, reactions to it, or a discussion of problems you find in the story itself. You
can of course compare it to any other reading we do as well.

Construct it as you see fit—as you read, or after, just do it before coming to class.
You’ll find that what you write can also help you contribute to class discussions.
Since this is a journal, you can write in first person.

Entries will be judged by their thoroughness and by indications that you dealing
with the reading assignments in a serious manner. I want to see originality,
sensitivity to the way literature handles theme, sensitivity to style, understanding
symbolism, characterization, use of setting, representations of complex social
realities, and any other aspect of a genuine response to literature.

The entries will be averaged for the final grade.
So, as you can see this class is a participatory/process one. It is not designed as a series of
lectures. You are to actively participate. You don’t need to be extremely well-versed in
ancient British Literature, poetry or prose. All you really need is a healthy curiosity, the
ability to read, interpret and analyze various works and a willingness to learn. As you read,
you’ll need to keep in mind several questions: What “British experience” is depicted in a
particular work? And who is depicting this experience and to what end/purpose?
We will do a considerable amount of “close reading” of Norton material in order to discover
and analyze the author’s purpose (meaning), as well as the methods used to excite our
interests and imaginations.
Course Requirements
Two Literary Analysis Papers (topics to be decided later)
each - minimum of 1,000 words (approx. 4-5 pages); use MLA “style”
15%
Two test – a Mid-Term and Final Exam
each
- Final Exam will MIGHT be comprehensive
20%
An Oral Report (10 min.)
15%
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A Response Journal
10%
- Journals will be collected and examined several times during semester; collection dates are
in the schedule and therefore might be unannounced.
Attendance and In-Class Participation (exercises/cooperation, preparedness)
5%
100%
Course Guidelines
Class Attendance:
Houston Community College requires regular attendance for all level courses. Excessive
absence will have a negative impact on the final grade. If a student has four (4) or more
absences, the students will more than likely fail the course. Three counts of tardy will be
considered as one (1) absence. Attendance will be taken on a daily basis. Students are
expected to attend class regularly, and are responsible for material covered during their
absence. The responsibility of withdrawing from a course lies with the student.
Course Structure:
Students must do well in every aspect of the course to pass. That means on the oral report,
essays, test, journals, and/or any other work. Failing to do or doing poorly on any part of
your work can be detrimental to your grade and cause failure, so do your work. Reading
assignments will be discussed at each class meeting. Class participation is required. All
essays will be typed or written from the class readings, discussions. Also, all essays must use
MLA format without a title page.
Scholastic Dishonesty/Plagiarism:
According to the Student Handbook for the Houston Community College System, scholastic
dishonesty includes cheating on a test, plagiarism, and collusion. Since you will be writing
essays in this class, the theft of someone else’s intellectual property and assimilating it into
your own written work without quotation marks or appropriate acknowledgement will be a
major concern of mine. Plagiarism will result in a grade of 0 for the assignment. You will
not be allowed to rewrite plagiarized work.
Reasonable Accommodations
Students who require reasonable accommodations for disabilities are encouraged to report to
LHSB, Suite 202 or call (713) 718.6164 to make necessary arrangements. Faculty are only
authorized to provide accommodations requested by the Disability Support Services Office.
****No food or drinks in SJAC class rooms
Essay Format:
In addition to the following information, students must adhere to the instructions from the
essay guidelines that will be provided prior to writing the assignment. The guidelines may be
given in lecture (take notes) or handed out.
Out of Class Essays:
Both essays will be written outside of class and are due when entering the class room. Don’t
spend valuable class time in the computer lab or at home typing your essay. Get ahead of the
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game. Please use the Askonline tutorial service. Papers should be taken to at least two drafts
before turned in. Essays should be 3-4 pages, double spaced, 12 point font, with one inch
margins. Do not use script fonts or all or small caps. Times, Times New Roman, and Ariel are
examples of suitable fonts.
NO LATE WORK WILL BE ACCEPTED UNLESS THE STUDENT HIM OR HER SELF WAS HOSPITALIZED OR
INCERCARETED. HOWEVER, THERE WILL BE A PENALTY OF 10 POINTS PER DAY (NOT PER CLASS PERIOD)
BEGINNING WITH THE DAY THE ASSIGNMENT IS DUE. FOR THOSE WITH PREVIOUSLY SCHEDULED
APPOINTMENTS SUCH AS COURT APPEARANCES OR DOCTORS VISITS, WORK MAY BE TURNED IN EARLY;
THEREFORE, COMMUNICATION BETWEEN US IS KEY. THERE IS NO MAKE UP OR EXTRA CREDIT WORK. BY
THE VERY NATURE OF IT, WORK DONE IN CLASS CAN NOT BE MADE UP—IT’S IN CLASS WORK. ALSO,
If you experience a work
schedule change or encounter some other unexpected class conflict (personal, familial),
inform me of your dilemma. I‘m not unreasonable, or without feelings; it may be possible to
work out something. Otherwise, it is up to you whether or not to drop the class before the
applicable drop date.
WORK DONE IN PENCIL OR COLORED INK WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED—PERIOD.

Use the following format instructions for the Literary Analysis papers and the
Oral Report

A separate cover page is not necessary; it wastes paper. Instead, include your
full name, the course title (English 2322), the assignment’s description and its
due date at the top of the first page.

Use no more than 1 inch margins at top/bottom, on left/right-hand sides.

After the first page, place page numbers in the upper right-hand corner.

Use double spacing or space and a half..

Use 12 point type

Excessive mistakes (AKA: “surface errors”) are most often the result of
carelessness due to being in a hurry, otherwise known as procrastination!
Always allow enough time to Spell and Grammar Check your work, as well as
re-read it.
By the second assignment, I’ll be able to easily recognize your writing. So, do your own
work. I closely follow the school’s policy on plagiarism. Therefore, plagiarism will not be
tolerated. It’s defined as the unacknowledged use of ideas (whether they are paraphrased,
summarized or directly quoted) by a writer who seeks to pass off those ideas as his/her own original
thoughts. Remember the rules on Plagiarism because as stated, is a serious offense; so, when
applicable, document your sources carefully, using the MLA citation method.
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Tentative Course Calendar
Week 1
Eng. 2322 Assignments
8/24
Overview of literary period
8/26
Class member introductions, overview of syllabus
Over the weekend, read in Norton (N), The Wanderer
Week 2
8/31
9/2
Discussions and responses to weekend reading material (The Wanderer)
Continue discussion of the Wanderer.
Over the weekend, start reading in (N), Beowulf
Week 3
9/7
Monday 9/7 Labor Day; College Closed (get your reading done!)
9/9
Begin discussions and responses to Beowulf
Week 4
9/14
Beowulf continued
9/16
Week 5
9/21
9/23
Week 6
9/28
9/30
Finish Beowulf; For homework over the weekend in (N) read Geoffrey of
Monmouth: The History of the Kings of Britain; Wace : From Le Roman de Brut (The
Roman Challenge) & Layamon: From Brut (Arthur’s Dream)
Discussions and responses to weekend reading material
Discussions and responses continued. First set of journals due for reading up
to this point. Discuss the tenants of literary analysis. Over the weekend read
in (N) Geoffrey Chaucer’s The Wife of Bath’s Prologue
Discussion and responses to Wife’s prologue--For homework tonight read The
Wife of Bath’s Tale
Discussions and responses to Wife’s tale; Weekend reading in (N) read all of Sir
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Thomas Mallory
Week 7
10/5
10/7
Week 8
10/12
10/14
Discussions and responses to Mallory;
Literary analysis essay # 1 due.
Mallory continued. Over the weekend in (N) read, Everyman
Note** Last Day to Withdraw is Saturday, October 10th
Discussions and responses to Everyman
Everyman continued. Study guide for Midterm. Over the weekend in (N) read
Utopia Book 1 by Sir Thomas More
Week 9
10/19
Discussions and responses to Utopia Book 1
10/21
Finish discussing Utopia Book 1; Over the weekend read Utopia Book 2
Week10
10/26
Discussions and responses to weekend reading
10/28
Finish Utopia Book 2; Over the weekend in (N) read The History of Richard III
Week 11
11/2
11/4
Week12
11/9
Online/email assignment. No class. Finish up second set of journals and email
them to me. Journals must reach me before midnight in order to be considered
as today’s assignment and to get credit for it. No journals will be accepted after
midnight.
Also, tonight start reading King Lear by William Shakespeare
Discussions and responses to The History of Richard III and last night’s reading
of King Lear. Tonight for homework, finish King Lear
Final discussion of King Lear - For homework read in (N) Chapter IV. Of Slavery
by John Locke, and A Brief to Free a Slave by Samuel Johnson
11/11
Discussions and responses to readings
Week 13
11/16
Oral Reports and final set of journals due
11/18
Literary analysis - Essay # 2 is due today
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Week 14
11/23
Oral Reports
11/25
Oral Reports (???)
Thursday, November 26th Thanksgiving Holidays; College closed
Week 15
11/30
Prepare for Final Exam
12/2
Final prep continued. Our Last Day of Class
College Last Day of Instruction Sunday, 12/6
Week 16
12/7
Final Exam Week
Final Exam Schedule TBA
Syllabus Statement
By signing this statement, I acknowledge that I have read the syllabus, it has been explained
by my professor, and that I am responsible for adhering to its rules, regulations, dates, and
guidelines.
Student Signature:___________________________________________
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