El Paso Community College
Syllabus
Part I
Instructor’s Course Requirements
Fall 2015
I. Course Number and Instructor Information
English 2322 British Literature Survey: Anglo-Saxon to the 18th Century
CRN: 14317 (8thperiod) El Paso High
Instructor: Ms. Lourdes Ramirez, M.Ed.
Office hours: Contact me for an appointment to be here during lunch or afterschool.
Location: El Paso High room 217
E-mail: MissLRamirez@gmail.com
II. Texts and Materials
Required Texts
Greenblatt, Stephen et al. Eds. The Norton Anthology of English Literature, 8th
Edition. New York: Norton, 2006. Print. (Volumes A,B, and C)
Benson, Larry D. Trans. Reading Chaucer: An Interlinear Translation of Selections in
The Norton Anthology of English Literature. 8th Edition. New York:
Norton, 2006. Print.
Hacker, Diana, & Sommers, Nancy. A Writer’s Reference. 7th Edition. Boston:
Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2009. Print.
Materials
Always bring the required book for the readings and paper and pen. All of your class
work will be done in ink. (Please do not use a pencil)
III. Course Requirements
A. Grading Scale and Course Grade
Average Grade
90 – 100
80 – 89
70 – 79
60 – 69
0 - 59
Letter Grade
A
B
C
D (keep in mind that a D is passing at the college level, but not in high school)
F
Journal (for comments and notes about reading)
Literary Research Paper
Scrapbook
Exams
Class Assignments and Homework
Readings and Class Participation
200 points
200 points
200 points
300 points
100 points
100 points
B. Journal
You will be asked to keep a journal of new information for British literature.
Using your devices, you will search for something new regarding British literature
that you did not know. It may be something about an author, the era, a story, a
play, or something about the writing at the time. Your job is to research for
something new and to write about it. Make sure you date every entry and title it
with what you are writing about. Your entries should be almost a page long at
least. You will write in your journal every time you come to class. Please bring a
composition notebook to leave here in class. Regular journal checks will count as
100 points. The final journal grade will count for 200 points.
Due on Monday Dec. 7, 2015 (200 points)
C. Literary Research Paper
You will write a literary research paper on one of the readings from class. You
will choose a work of literature that we will be studying and write a paper based
on that work. The essay must be at least 4 pages long (not less than 4 pages) and
contain opinions quoted in scholarly criticisms from the databases to support your
position. This essay is not a summary of what you read. This essay is to analyze
what you think about it and what other scholars have written about it. Essays
must contain in-text citations and must reflect the ideas of at least three different
criticisms or sources. All essays must be in MLA format, double spaced, 12 pt.
Times New Roman font.
You must have a works cited page listing all the sources from your in-text
citations. Remember you must have three sources.
Research topic with annotated bibliography due Mon. Nov. 9 (200 points)
Peer Edit Draft (your final paper ready to peer edit) due Tues. Dec. 1 (100 points)
Final paper due Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2015 (200 points)
D. Scrapbook
You will be required to make a scrapbook consisting of the varying assignments
and units throughout the semester. Your scrapbook will contain typed responses
to readings, visuals that depict characters and time periods, important themes
depicted in the literature, and anything else that you feel would relate to that time
period and literature that you have read. There will be regular grades throughout
the semester so that you are working on the scrapbook on a timely manner and not
waiting until the end to finish it. Your finalized scrapbook is due on Dec. 15,
2015. Each unit is due on the following dates:
Anglo Saxon Period/ Middle Ages
Sixteenth Century
Early Seventeenth Century
Restoration/ Eighteenth Century
due
due
due
due
Mon. Oct. 5 (200 points)
Tues. Nov. 3 (200 points)
Thurs. Dec. 3 (200 points)
Fri. Dec. 11 (200 points)
E. Exams
A multiple choice, short answer, or essay exam will be given at the end of each
major unit. Please be prepared for the exam. The units are divided as:
Anglo Saxon/ Middle Ages
Sixteenth Century
Early Seventeenth Century
Restoration/ Eighteenth Century
Exam on Wed. Oct. 7 (300 points)
Exam on Mon. Nov. 9 (300 pts.)
Exam on Thurs. Dec. 3 (300 pts.)
Exam on Fri. Dec 11 (300 pts.)
F. Week’s Readings, Class Assignments, and Homework
You are expected to read the week’s readings before you come to class at the
beginning of the week. You will work on class assignments regarding the
readings. These assignments are done in class and you must be in class to work on
them. You will have quizzes regarding the readings for that week. You will also
have some homework assignments regarding the readings and what we discussed
in class.
Total points for Class Assignments, Discussions, Homework (100 points)
E. Readings and Class Participation
Reading homework is a key element to participation and understanding of
lectures. You must always be prepared for class discussions because you will be
called on to participate. If you are not prepared in class it will be hard to
participate with class discussions.
Total points for Reading and Class Participation (100 points)
IV. Instructor’s Policies
A. Attendance
A critical element of learning in this course is the interaction between student, instructor,
and classmates. Absences prevent the effective implementation of this process.
Assignments are due on the date assigned regardless of whether you are in attendance on
that date. You are still held responsible for your own work when you do not attend. You
are allowed three absences for the class (school sponsored events do not count).
B. No Late Work
Assignments are due on their due date even if you are absent. Make plans ahead of time
so that you get your assignments done.
If you have a true emergency, please contact the instructor immediately.
C. Remediation
If you receive a low grade on one of your exams you may retake the exam for a higher
grade of up to a 70. Please keep in mind that it will not be the same exam you already
took. You cannot make up a grade for an assignment or test you never submitted or took.
Please see your instructor.
D. Cheating/Plagiarism
Plagiarism is absolutely never allowed. You will receive an automatic zero for the
assignment. If it happens a second time your name will be referred to the assistant
principal for further action. Cheating consists of copying and/or submitting someone
else’s work under your name (plagiarism). You must cite the source for any information
you have written on your paper, even if it is just one small sentence. Forgetting to cite
the source is not an excuse! This also includes copying answers from another student.
E. Written Assignments
Any papers must be typed with 12 pt. Times New Roman font, double spaced.
The format will be MLA style for anything regarding the Final Literary Research Paper.
F. Electronic Submission of Assignments
You will be e-mailing your Final Literary Research Paper to your instructor on the due
date. All assignments must be saved as a Microsoft Word Document and sent as an
attachment. Please do not write your paper within the body of the e-mail, you must send
it as an attachment. If you submit your paper through a different program and it cannot be
opened, you will have to face the consequences regarding late assignments. E-mail to:
MissLRamirez@gmail.com
G. Other Policies
You will be required to abide by high school policies regarding the dress code, cell phone
use, and behavior. Please do not use your cell phone or other electronic device during
class because it will be confiscated and turned in.
Class time is important. There is no such thing as a “free period” since you have plenty of
reading to do and assignments to work on. Therefore, do not request to go work on
something else or to go help another teacher unless you can prove that you have
completed the entire semester’s work required.
While this is a college class and should be treated like one, you are still high school
students and still need to learn the norms of college classes. Please adhere to the syllabus
and be responsible about due dates and class work. Please leave childish remarks and
play out of the classroom.
Remember, your grade is going to be on your record for college classes. Please do not
mess up by not caring about this grade. It is very important that you keep up with your
work.
English 2322 Calendar – Ramirez
Calendar is subject to change due to unforeseen school events.
Week One (Aug. 24 to Aug. 28)
Check student schedules and online enrollment for EPCC. Have students check
books out from bookroom.
Go over syllabus with students and have them take a copy home for parents to
read and sign.
Week Two (Aug. 31 to Sept. 4)
Readings:
Norton A: Anglo Saxon Literature, Intro to Beowulf (pg. 36-41); “Beowulf” ( pg.
41-108), “Judith” (read in class pg. 109-117), “The Wanderer” (read in class pg.
117-120)
Activity:
Stories in song- Students will identify songs that tell a story. Choose one and
discuss what they reveal about worldviews and of those who sing or listen to these
songs.
What are Beowulf’s qualities? Why are heroes important to personal identity?
Define a hero and give an example of what you believe a hero is. Identify who
your hero is and tell how your hero compares to the epic heroes such as Beowulf.
What does “alone” mean and how does isolation (such as that in “The Wanderer”
affect personal identity?
Discussion:
Week Three (Sept. 8 to Sept. 11) (Sept. 7 Holiday)
Readings:
Norton A: The Middle Ages and Oral Traditions (14th and 15th Centuries) “Sir
Gawain and the Green Knight” (pg. 183-238)
Activity:
Compare modern versions of film adaptations of Beowulf (Star Trek, Heroes and
Demons). Explain how Gene Rodenberry uses the story of Beowulf in a future
context and contrast his use of a female warrior (Frea) to the socially accepted
roles of women during the Middle Ages and Anglo-Saxon time frames.
Class discussions of readings.
Discussion:
Week Four (Sept. 14 to Sept. 18)
Readings:
Medieval love and romance – Federigo’s Falcon from the Decameron by
Giovanni Boccaccio (classroom handout)
Norton A: Introduction to Geoffrey Chaucer (pg. 238-243)
Activity:
Characterization activity: select a movie or book and identify the different
characters and list all the words you can think of as you would describe them in a
characterization.
Literary elements: satire, romance, conflict, irony, humor, cause and effect.
Discuss the romantic aspect of life in medieval society. Define what you think
love is. Explain how romance and love relate to each other. Tell how romance and
love are important for your personal identity.
Discussion:
Week Five (Sept. 21 to Sept. 25)
Readings:
Reading Chaucer: Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales – “The Prologue” (read in
class pg. 6-39), “The Wife of Bath’s Tale” (pg. 68-116)
Activity:
Discussion:
Paraphrase lines 1-12 from the Prologue.
Middle English Norton A pgs. C-1 through C-8. What are the moral lessons and
chivalric traditions and codes present in The Wife of Bath’s Tale and Sir Gawain
and the Green Knight?
Week Six (Sept. 28 to Oct. 2)
Readings:
Reading Chaucer: “The Pardoner’s Tale” (pg. 122-141)
Activity:
Write what you know about the seven deadly sins – pride, avarice, lust, anger,
gluttony, envy, and sloth. Which one is the Pardoner’s vice that he acknowledges
himself?
Discuss The Pardoner’s Tale and the use of point of view, tone, and dramatic
irony used in the story. Discussion of the seven deadly sins.
Discussion:
**Scrapbook Unit One- Anglo Saxon/ Middle Ages due on Monday Oct. 5
**Unit 1 EXAM on Anglo Saxon/ Middle Ages on Wednesday Oct. 7
Week Seven (Oct. 5 to Oct.9)
Readings:
Norton B: Introduction to the Renaissance; The Sixteenth Century (pg.531-563);
Sir Thomas Wyatt The Elder (pg. 646-648); “Farewell Love” (pg. 650); “I Find
No Peace” (pg. 650-651); “Faith in conflict” (pg. 671-672); John Calvin (pg. 681684); “Book of Common Prayer” (pg. 689-692)
Activity:
Poems will be examined line by line for understanding. Remember to focus on
religion, rituals, themes, and love.
Discussion of poems. Explain how romantic themes are used in poetry to identify
the narrative voice of the speaker.
Discussion:
Week Eight (Oct. 12 to Oct. 15) (Friday Oct. 16- Teacher Prep day)
Readings:
Norton B: Sir Walter Raleigh (pg. 1023-1024), “The Nymph’s Reply to the Shepherd”
(pg. 1024-1025); Christopher Marlowe (pg. 1106-1107), “The Passionate Shepherd to
His Love” (pg. 1126); Edmund Spenser (pg. 766-768), “Sonnet 37” (pg. 986), “Sonnet
64” (pg. 987), “Sonnet 75” (pg. 989); William Shakespeare (pg. 1166-1169), “Sonnet 18”
(pg. 1172-1173), “Sonnet 29” (pg. 1174), “Sonnet 116” (pg. 1182), “Sonnet 130” (pg.
1184)
Activity:
Discussion:
Students will write a sonnet of their own in class.
Discussion of definition of carpe diem. Discussion of imagery used in Marlow’s poem. In
what way is the speaker offering the suggestion to “seize the day”? (Marlowe). How does
Raleigh satirize this theme? Analyze the structure, rhyme, and scheme in both poems.
Week Nine (Oct. 19 to Oct. 23)
Readings:
Norton B: Shakespeare’s King Lear Act One and Two (pg. 1254-1293)
Activity:
Write a characterization on King Lear and his daughters. Check progress on student’s
topics for literary research paper and sources.
Act one and two of play, King Lear.
Discussion:
Week Ten (Oct. 26 to Nov. 30) (Oct. 28 is early release)
Readings:
Norton B: Shakespeare’s King Lear Acts Three, Four, and Five (pg. 1293-1339)
Activity:
Discussion:
What are the different themes in King Lear?
Discuss King Lear and the Shakespearean tragedy.
** Scrapbook Unit Two- Sixteenth Century due on Tuesday Nov. 3
**Exam #2 Sixteenth Century on Monday Nov. 9
Week Eleven (Nov. 2 to Nov. 6)
Readings:
View the movie “A Thousand Acres”
Activity:
Discussion:
Write a compare/contrast of A Thousand Acres and King Lear.
Themes and tones of A Thousand Acres. Discuss the comparison to King Lear.
**Turn in research topic with annotated bibliography on Thurs. Nov. 12
Week Twelve (Nov. 9 to Nov. 13)
(Tuesday Nov. 11 is a holiday)
Readings:
Norton B: Seventeenth Century Poets: Early 17th Century (pg. 1341-1369); John Donne
(pg. 1370-1372), “Mediation 17” (pg. 1420-1421), “The Flea” (pg. 1373), “Love’s
Alchemy” (pg. 1382), “The Canonization” (pg. 1377-1378); Ben Johnson (pg. 14411443), “On My First Son” (pg. 1542), “Song to Celia” (pg. 1548-1549)
Activity:
Discussion:
Identify literary devices – theme, tone, metaphors, and hyperbole.
Discuss the readings, and compare the spirit and fervor of Donne’s verse with the
emotions expressed in Tallis’s composition.
Week Thirteen (Nov. 16 to Nov. 20)
Readings:
Norton B: Sir Francis Bacon (pg. 1662-1663); From Essays, “Of Truth” (pg. 1663), “Of
Marriage and Single Life” (pg. 1664-1665); John Milton (pg. 1897-1901), “Doctrine of
discipline and Divorce” (handout)
Activity:
What is truth? What were the social and cultural expectations for men and women during
the Seventeenth Century?
Discuss readings and life for men and women during the 17th Century.
Discussion:
** Peer Edit Draft for literary paper due Tues. Dec. 1
**Scrapbook Unit Three- Seventeenth Century due on Thurs. Dec. 3
** Exam #3 on Seventeenth Century – Thurs. Dec. 3
Week Fourteen (Nov. 30 to Dec. 4)
Readings:
Norton C: The Restoration and Eighteenth Century (pg. 2177-2207); Alexander Pope
(pg. 2665-2668), “An Essay on Man” (pg. 2713-2720); Jonathan Swift (pg. 2464-2466),
“A Modest Proposal” (pg. 2633-2639)
Activity:
Discussion:
Describe how the use of satire was used to criticize the human condition. Did it work?
Discuss the readings and satire as it is used today.
** Final Literary Research Paper due on Wed. Dec. 9, 2015
**Completed Journal will be turned in on Wed. Dec. 9, 2015
Week Fifteen (Dec. 7 to Dec. 11)
Readings:
Norton C: John Locke (pg. 2279-2280), “An Essay Concerning Human Understanding”
(pg. 2280-2283); Aphra Bhen (pg. 2307-2309), “The Disappointment” (pg. 2310-2313);
Sor Juana (handout)
Activity:
Discussion:
Write about personal injustices and indignity.
Discuss the readings and more on Sor Juana.
**Finalized scrapbook due on Friday Dec. 11 with all four units
**Exam #4 on the Eighteenth Century will be Friday Dec. 11, 2015
Week Sixteen (Dec. 14 to Dec. 18) (Friday Dec. 18 is early release)
Final Exam Week at the high school