Revised 01/11/2014
Angelina College
Liberal Arts Division
English 2328, American Literature II
Tentative General Syllabus
I.
BASIC COURSE INFORMATION
Course Description
Three hours credit. A survey of American literature from the Civil War to the present. Students will
study works of prose, poetry, drama, and fiction in relation to their historical and cultural contexts.
Texts will be selected from among a diverse group of authors for what they reflect and reveal about the
evolving American experience and character.
Intended Audience
Students who have successfully completed 1301 or its equivalent.
Instructor
Name: Valencia Edner
Office Location: Liberal Arts 102-A
Office Hours:
Wednesday, 9-11.
Thursday 11am-1pm
Office Hours through Blackboard for internet based classes
Monday 12pm—3:00 and Friday 9--1
Please make an appointment for other times.
Phone: 936.633.5380 or LA-L office 936.633.3275; SBS office 936.633.5222
Please email me through blackboard first...if it is unavailable: vedner@angelina.edu
II.
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
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.
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
 Empirical and Quantitative Skills – to include the manipulation and analysis of numerical data
or observable facts resulting in informed conclusions
 Teamwork – to include the ability to consider different points of view and to work effectively
with others to support a shared purpose or goal
 Personal Responsibility – to include the ability to connect choices, actions and consequences to
ethical decision-making
 Social Responsibility – to include intercultural competence, knowledge of civic responsibility,
and the ability to engage effectively in regional, national and global communities
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Learning Outcomes:
 Identify key ideas, representative authors and works, significant historical or cultural events, and
characteristic perspectives or attitudes expressed in the literature of different periods or
regions.
 Analyze literary works as expressions of individual or communal values within the social,
political, cultural, or religious contexts of different literary periods.
 Demonstrate knowledge of the development of characteristic forms or styles of expression
during different historical periods or in different regions.
 Articulate the aesthetic principles that guide the scope and variety of works in the arts and
humanities.
 Write research-based critical papers about the assigned readings in clear and grammatically
correct prose, using various critical approaches to literature.
III.
Assessment of Core Core Objectives
a. Critical thinking— Students will read prose and poetry critically to distinguish
between perception and inference, surface and implied meanings, fact and
opinion. Students will formulate and develop arguments and critical theories
about literature. Students will answer embedded test questions, compose written
assignments, and/or deliver oral presentations that assess their ability to think
critically. A rubric will be used to assess critical thinking skills in written
assignments and oral presentations.
b. Communication—Students will write researched essays and other written
compositions. Students will prepare visual aids to use in oral presentations over
literary works being studied. A rubric will be used to assess the effective
development, interpretation and expression of written, oral, and visual
communication.
c. Personal Responsibility—Students will answer embedded test questions, compose
written assignments, and/or deliver oral presentations that assess their ability to
connect choices and actions, and engage in ethical decision-making concerning
course policies, student behavior, and classroom conduct. A rubric will be used to
assess students’ understanding of personal responsibility in written assignments
and oral presentations.
d. Social Responsibility—Students will answer embedded test questions, compose
written assignments, and/or deliver oral presentations that assess their
intercultural competence after exposure to the milieu of literary works set in
disparate cultures and places. Students will analyze the issues of civic
responsibility and the ability to engage wider world communities as expressed in
literary works. A rubric will be used to assess students’ understanding of social
responsibility in written assignments and oral presentations.
IV.
INSTRUCTIONAL PROCEDURES:
A.
Methodologies common to all sections
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Methodologies that may be utilized in presenting course content include in class or online lecture notes,
paper and pencil or online exercises or research exercises which give immediate feedback, in person or
email workshops for student writings in progress, audio-visual presentations for view in class or outside
of class, online discussions (synchronous or asynchronous), student presentations to groups or to
instructor only, and guest participants.
B.
Methodologies determined by the instructor
These objectives will be pursued through a variety of methods, including class lectures, discussions,
research, and audio-visual presentations.
V.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS AND POLICIES:
A. Required Textbooks, Materials, and Equipment –
The American Tradition in Literature (Concise Edition in One Volume) 12th Edition
In addition to this text, the student will be required to obtain a copy of the novels or plays or any
literature assigned for reading not included in the textbook. Titles will be announced in class. Students
will also need a spiral notebook and pen/pencil for note taking. Students must listen and take notes to
be prepared for assessments. They will need textbook and notebooks every class period unless
otherwise specified. Having a highlighter would also be handy for the student. Additionally, students
may access supplemental critical thinking information on the AC website by typing in "critical thinking"
as a quick search term.
B. Assignments – See "TENTATIVE CALENDAR" document
C. Course Policies –This course conforms to the policies of Angelina College as stated in the Angelina
College Handbook.
Academic Assistance – If you have a disability (as cited in Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973
or Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990) that may affect your participation in this class,
you should see Karen Bowser, Room 208 of the Student Center. At a post-secondary institution, you
must self-identify as a person with a disability; Ms. Bowser will assist you with the necessary information
to do so.
Angelina College (AC) admits students without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex,
disability, or age. Inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies of AC should be directed to:
Dr. Patricia McKenzie, Vice President and Dean of Instruction, 3500 South First St, Lufkin, TX 75904,
telephone 936.633.5201.
Attendance –From the Angelina College Policy Manual:
Students are required to attend all lecture classes regularly and punctually. Responsibility for work
missed because of illness or extracurricular activity is placed upon the student.
A true evaluation of the teaching-learning situation involves a correlation
between attendance and progress. It is the responsibility of the student to attend all classes and a
record
of attendance will be kept for all classes by the instructor.
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It is the responsibility of the student to withdraw officially in the
College District admissions and registrar’s office from a class the student
no longer desires to attend.
College District instructional standards allow the instructor to set the
educational objectives and requirements for each course. The student who
does not meet these requirements because of excessive absences may be
dropped by the instructor on a notice to the College District admissions
office using either a first or second drop slip. The position of the
instructor on submitting a non-attendance drop should be stated in the
course syllabus.
Excessive absences are defined as three or more consecutive absences or four
or more cumulative absences from regularly scheduled class periods. The
summer terms call for two or more consecutive, or three or more cumulative
absences. A three-hour night class counts as two class periods.
Students will not be dropped and will be allowed to make up work for
absences because of (1) College District authorized and sponsored
activities, and (2) religious holy days. It is the student’s responsibility
to arrange for make-up work with the instructor and to complete it within a
reasonable time.
In accordance with the Texas Education Code, each student is allowed to be
absent from a class for the observance of a religious holy day. A
“religious holy day” means a holy day observed by a religion whose places of
worship are exempt from property taxation under Section 11.20, Tax Code.
The student must notify the instructor of each class of the anticipated
absence not late than the 15th calendar day after the first day of the
semester. A student who is excused under this section must complete all
assignments or missed examinations at the direction of the instructor.
The form for notification of absences is in the office of admissions and
will include the following:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Student name and identification number;
Name of religious institution and tax code number;
Name and date of holy day(s);
Classes to be missed;
Schedule for delivery of form by student to instructor(s);
Conditions and deadlines for completing missed assignments;
Instructor’s signature and date; and
Student’s signature and date.
A student dropped because of excessive absences will be notified by mail by
the College District admissions office and will be directed to obtain a
readmit form and seek the approval of the instructor for admission. All
students in developmental education must obtain approval of the instructor
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and the vice president and the dean of instruction.
A student who fails to contact the College District admissions office within
one week of the date the notice was mailed will be dropped permanently from
class.
All make-up work is at the discretion of the instructor.
Additional Policies Established by the Individual Instructor –
If this course is a hybrid, these in- class policies apply as usual, and they apply when interacting with
other students or faculty on-line.
You should attend class regularly. IF YOU MUST LEAVE CLASS EARLY, YOU MUST DISCUSS YOUR
DEPARTURE WITH ME BEFORE CLASS STARTS!!!! ; DO NOT GET UP AND DISCUSS YOUR LEAVING WITH
ME AS YOU ARE LEAVING; DO IT BEFORE I START CLASS. Class is over when I dismiss the class.
It is your responsibility to be prepared for and to be informed about class assignments. IF YOU MISS A
CLASS, BE PREPARED WHEN YOU RETURN TO CLASS. Your Tentative Calendar IS the document I use to
organize the class, so look at YOUR copy of it to know what you need to do to be prepared for class
when you come back. This syllabus and the calendar are both on Blackboard in the information area.
Do not return to class and explain that you were absent as your excuse for not being prepared. Look at
the calendar, check Blackboard and BE PREPARED WHEN YOU RETURN TO CLASS. Do not ask me if we
are doing anything important in class; look at the calendar and make your own judgment, and of course,
suffer your own consequences.
If you have more absences than allowed by the student handbook, you will be dropped and you will not
be readmitted. There are no "excused" absences; there are just absences. If you return immediately to
class after you have reached your limit, we can discuss a plan to readmit you; if you do not return the
immediate class period following your last absence, you have no option to readmit. PLEASE KEEP THIS
INFORMATION IN MIND WHEN YOU DECIDE TO MISS CLASS. EXCEPTIONS ARE AT THE DISCRETION OF
THE INSTRUCTOR.
If you have any work to make up because of an absence, that work must be completed within one week
of your return to class. Please be sure to initiate contact with me to make your arrangements. You
cannot make up work after you have acquired four (two for one day per week classes) absences, and
there will be no make-up work allowed during the last week of classes. DO NOT COME TO CLASS TO
TAKE THE QUIZ AND THEN LEAVE. THAT QUIZ WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.
ANY INSTANCE OF PLAGIARISM, WHICH IS THE UNACKNOWLEDGED USE OF ANYONE ELSE'S WORK-PUBLISHED OR UNPUBLISHED--OR CHEATING OF ANY KIND, WILL RESULT IN IMMEDIATE AND
IRREVOCABLE FAILURE FOR THE ENTIRE COURSE.
While you are in my classroom, I expect you to conduct yourself in a polite and considerate manner at
all times. If you fail to do so, if you disrupt the class in any way, you will leave. If you disrupt the class a
second time, you will be dropped, and you will not be readmitted. I do not mean to imply that you
cannot interrupt a lecture to ask a question or add a comment, and I encourage participation in class
discussion; that is an integral part of any course, but constant comments or interruptions to a lecture
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are a distraction to your classmates, and I cannot allow that. For that reason, you may not have your cell
phone going off in class. Please mute your phone. Again, texting is a distraction; don't do it.
I also require that as a courtesy to me and your classmates and to avoid distraction that you ensure your
personal hygiene is appropriate for close quarters in a learning environment and that you not engage in
personal hygiene-related activities that should be accomplished in private.
It is the policy of Angelina College that you not bring children to class.
These are issues of basic courtesy for which you are accountable.
I encourage you to talk to me about the course, and please stop me during a lecture if you do not
understand the material. If you are having difficulties or you have special needs, please bring them to
my attention right away. I CANNOT GIVE YOU HOPE OF INCREASING YOUR AVERAGE OR YOUR
UNDERSTANDING IF YOU WAIT UNTIL THE DAY OF OR THE DAY BEFORE AN ASSIGNMENT IS DUE TO ASK
FOR HELP OR CLARIFICATION, OR IF YOU WAIT UNTIL THE END OF THE SEMESTER TO EXPRESS YOUR
CONCERNS ABOUT YOUR GRADE.
These policies are applicable to everyone throughout the entire semester. Please do not embarrass
both of us by asking for exceptions to be made for you.
VI.
COURSE CONTENT:
A.
Required Content/ Topics
Emphasis on developing all four genres, prose, poetry, drama, and fiction, in American literature
after the Civil War; students will study works in relation to their historical and cultural contexts. Texts
will be selected from a diverse group of authors and traditions. Students should continue to apply and
improve their writing skills.
B.
Additional Content (as required by the individual Instructor)
Emphasis on these genres: short story, novel, poetry, and drama. The course should include
readings by major or significant authors of this time period and movements in American literature, such
as the shift from the Romantic Movement to Realism and Regionalism, Naturalism, the Lost Generation
and the Jazz Age, the Harlem Renaissance and Hard-Boiled fiction
VII.
EVALUATION AND GRADING:
A.
Grading Criteria
Grades are based on the following:
Average of quizzes/participation
Three major reading comprehension exams
One documented essay
One class project
Final Exam
10%
60% (20% each)
10%
10%
10%
*Quizzes may be given either before or after discussions. They will cover readings previously assigned,
but not necessarily previously discussed, or lecture or film content from a previous class period, so it is
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important that you attend class, pay attention and take notes, watch films, and keep up with your
reading assignments, reading carefully and thoroughly. If you are late to class, you may not take the
quiz if everyone is almost finished. If you are late to an exam, you will have only the amount of time
until the last "on-time" student finishes; then you must turn-in your exam, WHETHER YOU ARE FINISHED
OR NOT. Please do not make this situation embarrassing for all of us by trying to disregard the
consequences of your actions.
These evaluative components require the need to carefully read and critically evaluate the works we
have studied and to demonstrate the ability to write informative essays with correct facts and
information; any work you hand in done outside the classroom must be computer generated; its
assessment will include not only correct content, but also correct grammar and mechanics, and a proper
format that indicates computer literacy and knowledge of research skills and documentation methods.
All essays MUST follow MLA format. You will be given complete and detailed instructions on those
components before your work is assigned or assessed.
B.
Determination of Grade (assignment of letter grades)
A (90-100)
Excellent
B (80-89)
Good
C (70-79)
Average
D (60-69)
Minimum passing
F (50 or below) Failure
Standard Grading Policy for the English Department for all Essays Assigned:
A–above average. Good organization, exceptional content, No more than one major Error.
A+ = 98, A = 95, A- = 92, A- - = 90
B–above average. Good organization, exceptional content, and only one or two major errors.
B+ = 88, B = 85, B - = 82, B - - = 80
C–average. Organization, clear content, no more than 3 major errors.
C+ = 78, C = 75, C - = 72, C - - = 70
D–below average. Either lacks content and/or organization or has many major errors. More
than 4 major errors drops the grade to an F.
D+ = 68, D = 65, D - = 62, D - - = 60
F–failing. Shows little or no effort. Contains 4 OR MORE major errors. F = 50.
0–no grade. Did not turn in work, plagiarized an essay, or did not write on the assigned topic.
Please Note: In the case of a plagiarized essay or research paper, a student may be dismissed from this
course with an F.
Examples of major errors:
CS - comma splice
Frag - fragment
Frag error - fragment error
RO - run on or fused
S/V - subject/verb agreement
The boy ran, he fell down.
Crying as he fell on the sidewalk.
Although he was hurt; no one stopped to help him.
He hurt his knee it was bleeding.
Everyone laugh at him.
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VIII.
SYLLABUS MODIFICATION:
The instructor may modify the provisions of the syllabus to meet individual class needs by informing the
class in advance as to the changes being made.
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