EARLY BRITISH LITERATURE -- ENGL 2332 – FALL 2014
TR 8-9:30 CRN 28828
Instructor:
Professor Scott Whitebird
Spring Branch Rm 308
Office Hours: AD6 M-R 5-5:30 and by appointment
email: scott.whitebird@hccs.edu
The Norton Anthology of English Literature, 9th Edition, Volume 1
Current Stylebook
Sophomore Literature Study Guide (NW English Dept.)
Catalog Description: A course surveying British Literature from Ancient Anglo Saxon, Irish,
Anglo Norman, Medieval and Middle English, through the Renaissance.. This course is devoted
to improving the student’s critical reading of, research on, and writing about literature, including
themes, styles, the development of literary forms, and the cultural and historical contexts
important to understanding that literature.
Texts:
Core Objectives: Given the rapid evolution of necessary knowledge and skills and the need to take into
account global, national, state, and local cultures, the core curriculum must ensure that students will
develop the essential knowledge and skills they need to be successful in college, in a career, in their
communities, and in life. Through the Texas Core curriculum, students will gain a foundation of
knowledge of human cultures and the physical and natural world, develop principles of personal and
social responsibility for living in a diverse world, and advance intellectual and practical skills that are
essential for all learning.
Students enrolled in this core curriculum course will complete projects designed to cultivate the
following core objectives.
Critical Thinking Skills – to include creative thinking, innovation, inquiry, and analysis, evaluation,
and synthesis of information.
Communication Skills – to include effective development, interpretation and expression of ideas
through written, oral and visual communication
Personal Responsibility – to include the ability to connect choices, actions, and consequences ethical
decision-making
Teamwork – to include the ablity to consider different points of view and to work effectively with
others to support a shared purpose or goal
Social Responsibility – to include intercultural competence, knowledge of civic responsibility, and the
ability to engage effectively in regional, national, and global communities
English Program Student Learning Outcomes
1.
2.
3.
4.
Write in appropriate genres using varied rhetorical strategies.
Write in appropriate genres to explain and evaluate rhetorical and/or literary strategies employed
in argument, persuasion, and various genres.
Analyze various genres of writing for form, method, meaning, and interpretation.
Employ research in academic writing styles and use appropriate documentation style.
English Literature Student Learning Outcomes
1. Explain and illustrate stylistic characteristics of representative works
2. Connect representative works to human and individual values in historical and social
contexts
3. Demonstrate knowledge of Early British literature
4. Analyze literary texts of Early British literature
5. Critique and interpret representative literary works of Early British Literature
PAPERS
All out of class work, including reading log entries, must be typed or computer printed, double
spaced with title page (instructor example) and in correct MLA form. An essay package should
contain title page, final draft, rough draft, and SOURCE VERIFICATIONS for all outside
critical sources. Please staple or paperclip, and clearly label your Final Draft, and enclose
all materials in a brown clasp envelope with your name on the outside.
Paper topics and specific requirements will be discussed in class.
Copies of original critical sources quoted, paraphrased, or summarized are required, with
the REFERENCED MATERIAL CLEARLY HIGHLIGHTED. No papers accepted
without SOURCE VERIFICATIONS (Library Of Congress/Copyright page, plus page(s)
quotes, paraphrases, and summary notes highlighted; full internet printout with clear address
string identifying publisher, or web home page identifying publisher). Turn in both rough and
final drafts clearly demonstrating, proving development of your work. A draft without a clearly
identifiable student Rough Draft may not be accepted, or may incur a major deduction. Enclose
all materials in a clasp envelope with your name on it.
NOTE: A good critical source should include quotes from the primary source (work of
literature being examined) with citations (page numbers) in the text. Additionally, most
good sources also reference the work of other critics with citations in the text. A good
critical source completes documentation with a proper Works Cited or Bibliography page.
Among the kinds of sources that are NOT good would be those titled or subtitled with
Outline, Overview, Survey, Notes On, Background, Summary, and/or Excerpt. For literary
research, many to most dot.com sites are NOT good sources. Beware of student papers or
class discussions/postings from other educational institutions.
READING QUIZZES
Students should be ready for reading quizzes or in class writing on the days readings are due.
Preparation is required. Any notes you take on out of class readings and in class lecture,
discussions may be used in all quizzes, writings and activities.
LOGS
Students will write 300-500 words on each reading not covered in a paper, keep the logs until the
end of the semester, add a title page and table of contents, and turn in , stapled, as a project.
1.Anglo Saxon Literature – (Either Dream of the Rood, The Wanderer, and The Wife’s Lament
or Judith—student’s choice),2.Anglo Irish, 3.Marie de France, 4. Gawain or Chaucer, 5. Faith in
Conflict/ Women in Power, 6&7 Shakespeare’s Sonnets, Donne, Swift/Equiano (2 of 3 choices).
POLICIES
ATTENDANCE AND WITHDRAWAL
Attendance is required. You are responsible for ALL materials covered in class. In addition, HCCS has
an attendance policy. You may miss no more than 12.5%, or six class hours, or the instructor may drop
you for non-attendance or require makeup work. Should you have to miss class, you are still responsible
for all material covered. As soon as you can, be sure to get the name and phone number of a fellow
student to contact. You may also leave me a message on my voicemail at 718-5678 – although we
should see each other regularly at class. Should you stop attending class, it is your responsibility to
withdraw from class, or you may receive an “F.”
TARDINESS AND LEAVING EARLY
Anything more than occasional tardiness is not acceptable. Students arriving late must make sure that
class roll is correct by seeing the teacher after class. Leaving early should be cleared/explained to
instructor prior to leaving in the middle of class. Questions already answered and topics covered will
not be repeated during class time and remain the student’s responsibility.
CLASS PREPARATION
Preparation is also required. Students should know calendar and syllabus information, and should bring
their syllabi to class. Assignments should be read and considered prior to class, and re-read if necessary
so that you can participate in class. Expect occasional quizzes. Take notes in class; review them
regularly.
LATE WORK
Late work costs points. Ten points off for each day (not class period) late; 20 points off for a weekend.
No papers accepted more than ONE week late. Unusual lateness caused by illness, death in the family,
and/or other emergencies must be explained in writing, and documented if possible. Papers will be
collected at the beginning of class and are late after that. Papers turned in on the specified date but
after papers have been collected will be penalized 5 points
MAKE-UP WORK
If you know you must miss an exam for a good reason, we can schedule a make-up time. Quizzes
generally CANNOT be made up.
SCHOLASTIC DISHONESTY (PLAGIARISM, COLLUSION, CHEATING)
The student handbook lists cheating, plagiarism, and collusion as scholastic dishonesty. It defines
plagiarism as “the appropriation of another’s work and the unacknowledged incorporation of that work
in one’s own written work offered for credit.” It defines collusion as “ the unauthorized collaboration
with another person in preparing written work for credit.” Possible punishments are “a grade of 0 or f
on the particular assignment, failure in the course, and/or recommendation for probation or dismissal
from the College System.” See Student Handbook. NOTE: Teachers use computers regularly, and
advanced searches make it quick and easy for us to check phrases, sentences, keywords,
paragraphs, etc. Be HONEST, and be careful – GOOGLE RULES.
3-PEAT RULE
Students who enroll for most credit CEU classes for a third time or more will be charged an additional
$50.00 per semester credit hour and $3.00 per contact hour.
SPECIAL ACCOMMODATIONS
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 ADA Support Services Office.
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.
ENGLISH 2322 – Early British Literature – Fall 20124 – Whitebird – CRN 28828
Aug. 26,28
Sept 2,4
9,11
16,18
23,25
30, Oct 2
7,9
14,16
21,23
28,30
Nov 4,6
11,13
18,20
25,27
Dec 2,4
9,11
Anglo-Saxon –Dream of the Rood 32,
Wanderer 117, Wife’s Lament 120
Beowulf 36-41, 41-55
Beowulf 72-88
Irish and Anglo-Norman 123-140
Judith 109
Beowulf 55-72
Beowulf 88-108
Marie de France 164-179
PAPER #1(Beowulf) DUE.
Gawain…(183-238) FITT i 186-196
Gawain…FITT ii 196-209
Gawain…FITT iii 209-227
Gawain…FITT iv 227-23
Chaucer (238-242), General Prologue 242
The Miller’s Tale 264
The Wife’s Tale 282
The Pardoner’s Tale 310
PAPER #2 (Gawain or Chaucer)
Faith in Conflict 671
Women in Power 721
Shakespeare’s Sonnets 1166
Shakespeare’s Sonnets
Twelfth Night, Intro. And Act I
Act. II, III
Act IV
Act V
Donne 1370
Donne
PAPER #3 (12TH Night) DUE.
Marvell 1789,Peps 2260-64,Swift 2633, Addison-Steele 2639
Boswell 2959-62,Locke 3014-16, Equiano 3033-44, Gray 3047-54
FINAL PAPER #4 DUE.
Final Paper Returned.
PAPERS
Paper #1 – Beowulf
3-4 pgs.(1000-1250 words)
Paper #2 – Gawain or Chaucer
4-5 pgs.(1500-1800 words)
Paper #3 – Twelfth Night
4-5 pgs.(1500-1800 words)
Paper #4 – Shakespeare’s Sonnets, 3-4 pgs.(1000-1250 words)
ADDITIONAL WORK
Activities, Quizzes, Daily Work
Reading Logs
(Anglo-Saxon, Anglo-Irish, Marie de France, (Gawain or Chaucer),
Faith in Conflict/ Women in Power,( Shakespeare’s Sonnets,
Donne, Swift/Equiano – 2 of 3)
GRADING SCALE
Papers
Additional work
60%
40%
100%
10%
20%
20%
10%
60%
20%
20%
40%