English 2110-02
TR 11:00am – 12:20pm
Course Syllabus
World Literature
Pafford 306
Spring 2013
Instructor: Crystal O’Neal
Office: TLC 1112A
Office Hours: TTh 8:00am-9:30am, W 2:00pm-5:00pm, Th 5:00pm-6:00pm
Phone: 678-839-5179
Email: crystal@westga.edu
This course utilizes CourseDen (D2L) for all course-related materials, including
announcements and other forms of communication. Please check daily for updates.
Required Materials:
Texts
You will need repeated access to your own copies of these materials for the appropriate class
meetings as well as for the duration of the semester. If you order materials for the course, make
absolutely sure that they will arrive well before we require them in class. Do not “sell your books
back” before the final exam.
Simon, Peter, ed. The Norton Anthology of World Literature: Shorter Second Edition. New York:
Norton, 2009.
A writing handbook.
Other Materials
In addition to the course texts, please make sure you have or have access to the following items:

a flash drive or some other portable electronic storage (Note: You are responsible for
producing and retaining copies of your own graded and ungraded work.)

reliable access to a word processing program, preferably Microsoft Word

reliable internet access

reliable printer access

Email: Students must check myUWG accounts regularly and clean inboxes so that they
can receive messages. (Note: I will use CourseDen for most general communication.)

CourseDen: Check CourseDen regularly for announcements, assignments, etc. While I will
attempt to keep the Course Calendar entries updated, it is your responsibility to follow the
course schedule.
Course Description:
General Course Description
A survey of important works of world literature. Required for English majors. Prerequisites:
ENGL 1101, ENGL 1102, Permission of Dept. Chair.
Specific Course Description
Because the nature of this course is so vast, our focus this semester will be the idea of the
hero throughout history and cultures. As such, we will begin with a brief look at Joseph
Campbell’s thesis regarding the concept of the hero as it applies to our studies. Through this
lens, we will examine a number of sometimes complete and sometimes excerpted texts which
present heroes in different forms. So as to not overlap with English 2120 and 2130, we will
not examine British or American works, even if they would be pertinent to our conversation.
-- 1 --
Course Objectives:
General Learning Outcomes:





Students will develop the ability to recognize and identify significant achievements in world
literature.
Students will understand the relevant social, historical, and aesthetic contexts of these literary
works.
Students will appreciate the implications of theoretical and critical approaches to such
literature.
Students will develop enhanced cultural awareness and analytical skills.
Students will demonstrate their command of academic English and of the tenets of sound
composition by means of thesis-driven analytical prose.
Attendance Policy:
This class relies heavily on student participation, so your attendance is expected, and you should
make every attempt to be present for each class.
You are encouraged to exchange contact information with a classmate to discuss what you have
missed and to check CourseDen regularly. If you know that you will miss a class, it is your
responsibility to contact me before you miss to receive any assignments or other information.
Department Attendance Policy
Students may be administratively withdrawn from class based on the following attendance
policy: For classes that meet three times a week, a student is allowed four absences. Upon the
fifth absence, the student may be withdrawn. For classes that meet twice a week, a student is
allowed three absences. Upon the fourth absence, the student may be withdrawn. Be aware
that no distinction exists between excused and unexcused absences.
If the withdrawal occurs prior to 4 March, the student will receive a grade of W. If the
withdrawal occurs after 4 March, the student will receive a grade of WF.
Department Behavior Policy
Students may be dismissed from any class meeting at which they exhibit behavior that
disrupts the learning environment of others. Such behavior includes – but is not limited to –
arriving late for class, allowing cell phones to ring, speaking disrespectfully to the instructor
and/or to other students, checking email or surfing the web, and using personal audio or
visual devices. Each dismissal of this kind will count as an absence and will be applied
toward the attendance policy above.
Make-up Assignments
There will be no make-up assignments to count toward missing daily grades or participation in
class. There is simply no substitute for actually being in class and participating in our
activities. If you must be absent on a process work day, you are required to submit your
process work in advance.
-- 2 --
Department Paperless Policy:
As of Fall 2006, the English Department implemented a “paperless” policy in its classrooms. Therefore,
all materials (handouts, assignment sheets, notes, etc.) will be made available online. Students may
print these necessary course documents, including the syllabus, on their home computers .
Academic Honesty:
Plagiarism & Academic Dishonesty
The Department of English and Philosophy defines plagiarism as taking personal credit for the
words and ideas of others as they are presented in electronic, print, and verbal sources. The
Department expects that students will accurately credit sources in all assignments. An equally
dishonest practice is fabricating sources or facts; it is another form of misrepresenting the
truth. Plagiarism is grounds for failing the course.
See also, excessive collaboration.
The University policies for handling Academic Dishonesty are found in the following
documents:
The Faculty Handbook, sections 207 and 208.0401
http://www.westga.edu/~vpaa/handrev/
Student Uncatalog: "Rights and Responsibilities"; Appendix J.
http://www.westga.edu/handbook/
Excessive Collaboration
By the end of the term in both ENGL 1101 and 1102, students should demonstrate the ability
to produce independent writing (writing without collaborative assistance of peers, writing
tutors, or professionals in the field) that shows an acceptable level of competence. Although
classroom activities and out-of-class assignments may highlight collaborative learning and
collaborative research, excessive collaboration (collaboration that results in the loss of a
student's voice/style and original claims to course-related work) is considered another form of
academic dishonesty and therefore will not be permitted.
Role of the Writing Center
The role of the Writing Center is to offer consultation in which tutors question, respond to,
offer choices, and encourage revision in student essays. Tutors do not evaluate or prescribe
solutions to problematic areas in student essays, and tutors are specifically trained to avoid
appropriating the student's work. For more information, visit the Writing Center online at
http://www.westga.edu/writing.
Consequences
Plagiarism and other forms of academic dishonesty are serious infractions. Papers found to be
plagiarized will receive a 0 for that assignment and possible failure of the course.
Writing Studio:
TLC 1201
Writing@westga.edu
678-839-6513
www.westga.edu/writing
The University Writing Center works with students and other members of the UWG community to
improve writing skills.
What We Do:

Discuss ideas, read drafts, and work through revisions of essays; we do not proofread

MLA, APA, Chicago/Turabian, and other citation formats
-- 3 --
Policies:

Please make appointments in advance. We accept walk-ins, but we cannot guarantee that a
tutor will be available.

If you cannot keep your appointment, you must call or email us 24 hours in advance to cancel.
If you do not notify us 24 hours in advance, you will be counted as a No Show.

Please arrive at your appointment on time. If you are 10 minutes late or more, you will be
counted as a No Show and will not be able to have your appointment.

If you have 3 No Shows in one semester, you will not be able to have any more appointments
for that semester.
Disability Pledge:
I pledge to do my best to work with the University to provide all students with equal access to my
classes and materials, regardless of special needs, temporary or permanent disability, special needs
related to pregnancy, etc.
If you have any special learning needs, particularly (but not limited to) needs defined under the
Americans with Disabilities Act, and require specific accommodations, please do not hesitate to make
these known to me, either yourself or through Disability Services in 272 Parker Hall.
Students with documented special needs may expect accommodation in relation to classroom
accessibility, modification of testing, special test administration, etc. This is not only my personal
commitment: it is your right, and it is the law!
For more information, please contact Disability Services at the State University of West Georgia.
Grade Breakdown:
Daily Grades and Participation: 10% (100 points)
The majority of this grade will consist of your discussion of our readings in class. However, there may also be
quizzes or other small in-class work that will be averaged into the grade. There is no make-up for missed
quizzes, in-class work or participation in our discussions.
Reading Responses: 20% (200 points)
Over the course of the semester, you will be required to submit a 300-400-word reading responses to 10 of
the works we are covering. Five of these must be submitted before the midterm, leaving five for after.
Regardless of the number of days spent discussing a work, you may only submit a single response for the
work. Please see the additional handout on information regarding reading responses. These will be due on
the day we begin to discuss that piece or section without exception. If you must miss class, please email me
an electronic copy of the response prior to class time. Please see the full assignment sheet for additional
instructions.
Presentation: 10% (100 points)
During the first week of class, each student will sign up for a day to make 10-15 minute presentation of the
work that we will be covering that day. You will cover cultural information about the context of the work
and/or biographical information about the author. You must also submit a 3-4 page written essay of your
presentation, including a bibliography of researched material. Remember to cite your sources in your essay
as well. Please see the additional handout for specifics on the presentation and essay portion of this
assignment.
-- 4 --
Essay: 20% (200 points)
By the end of the course, you will complete an 8-10 page essay. This is to give you a chance to develop an
idea that you had or rework/rethink your original ideas. The essay should be thesis-driven and must
incorporate research. Please see the additional handout on the particulars of the essay assignment.
Midterm and Final Exam: 40% (400 points)
During the course of the semester, you will complete two examinations. Your mid-term examination
will cover all material from the first half of the semester, and your final exam will cover all the
material from the second half of the semester. These exams will include a multiple choice section,
short-answer section, and an essay section. Each of these exams will be worth 20% (200 points) of
your final grade.
Grading Policies:
General Policy
All work turned in must be typed and stapled if there are multiple pages. Papers should use
MLA style documentation with 1" margins and 12 pt font. No title page is needed. This of
course excludes work done in class.
Late Assignments
All assignments must be submitted on time. If an extension is required, you must meet with
me prior to the due date to discuss the particulars.
Percentage Weights
To calculate your own grade, please use the following percentages:

A+=98%; A=95%; A-=92%; B+=88%; B=85%; B-=82%; C+=78%; C=75%; C=72%; D+=68%; D=65%; D-=62%; F=50%
Extra Credit
There are no opportunities for extra credit in this course.
Grade Queries
After final grades have been posted, if you feel I have made a clerical or mathematical error, I
will be happy to check the math again. However, requests to re-consider final grades based on
effort or eligibility (for scholarships, extracurricular activities, etc.) will not be honored.
Likewise, requests to assign or grade work after the final exam will not be considered.
All final grades will be posted on Banweb following the final exam period. No grades will be
distributed via phone or email.
-- 5 --