Professor: J. Grimes
Days & Time: January 21 – May 22 online
Units: 3
E-mail: jgrimes@taftcollege.edu
Phone: 661. 763. 7721
CRN: 22461
Student Contact Hours: M/T 5:30-8:00 p.m. (Use the “Private
Message” under the Discussion and Private Message tab).
CATALOG DESCRIPTION:
This course is a study of selected works of classic British literature up to the late eighteenth century. Representative writers may include Chaucer, Shakespeare, Spenser, Donne, Milton,
Dryden, Pope, Swift, Johnson, and Boswell. This is a writing intensive class, including four analytical argument essays of 4-6 pages. The course emphasizes investigating historical and cultural contexts, applying reasoned analysis, and comparing themes and structures of different texts.
Prerequisite: Completion of English 1500 with a grade of “C” or better.
REQUIRED TEXTS AND MATERIALS:
 Greenblatt, Stephen, M. H. Abrams, et al. eds. The Norton Anthology of English Literature.
9 th ed. Vols. A-C. New York: Norton, 2006.
RECOMMENDED:
 Carlson, Kamala, and Jessica Grimes. Grammar Cards, 3 rd ed. 2012.
TAFT COLLEGE LIBRARY DATABASES:
 Academic ONefile
 Gale EBSCOhost
 JSTOR
 Gale Literature Resource Center
COURSE OBJECTIVES:
At the completion of English 2300, the student will be able to perform the following: o Investigate historical and cultural contexts of literary works throughout the ages, o Support interpretations of literary texts with detailed analysis of the text itself, o Use literary terminology and reasoned analysis to discuss the aesthetic effects of form in literary works, o Compare themes, content, and form of texts from different time periods while applying their knowledge of changing cultural and historical contexts, o Compare traditions and value systems within British culture and relate these comparisons to literary texts, o Evaluate credibility of secondary sources, o Synthesize secondary sources, whether criticism or background materials, into discussion of primary literary texts, o Apply critical thinking to literary interpretation and analysis, and o Demonstrate understanding of appropriate academic discourse and the conventions of literary analysis.
COURSE SLOs:
At the end of the course, a successful student should be able to do the following:

 Investigate literary, historical, social, political, and/or cultural significance to critically interpret texts;
 Trace the connections between literary works and the literary movement associated with their periods in essays;
 Apply literary analysis in essays;
 Integrate literary terms in essays;
 Synthesize and evaluate scholarly sources in logical, cogent essays.
COURSE POLICIES:
Academic dishonesty (plagiarism) completely undermines the learning process. Taft College defines academic dishonesty in The Taft College Student Handbook as “any type of cheating that occurs in relation to a formal academic exercise” (2). Any form of dishonesty—plagiarism, cheating, fabrication, deception, sabotage, or using and/or obtaining Teacher’s editions—will result in a “0”for the assignment without the opportunity to re-do the assignment (3).
Additionally, the Vice President of Student Services will be notified along with the incriminating evidence (3). Depending on the severity of the offense, other disciplinary measures may result in suspension or expulsion.
Course Repetition and Withdrawal: Students earning a course grade of D, F, NP, W, or FW 3 times will not be permitted to repeat the course at Taft College. No statute of limitations exists, meaning it does not matter when the grade was earned. Contact the Counseling Center at
661-763-7748 for further questions.
Attendance Policy: Since this is a distance-learning course, attendance is determined by the coursework you submit. If the first assignment is not submitted by the submission deadline posted, the assumption will be made that you do not wish to remain in the course, and you will be dropped from the class. After that date, you are responsible for dropping yourself from the course unless the deadline for dropping with a "W" has passed.
Grammar Cards (GCs): Grammar Cards are composed of academic writing models with the following templates: Anatomy of a Paragraph Outline; Anatomy of an Essay Outline; Editing
Checklist; Transition; Dissection of a Paragraph, Dissection of an Essay; MLA Format of a
Paragraph; MLA Format of an Essay; MLA Style (Citation Guide); Quote, Paraphrase, Summary, and Response; Usage/Conjunctions; Complete Sentences; and Punctuation. These templates can help you format your papers and works cited pages according to MLA standards as well as
avoid common grammar and punctuation errors.
Assignments and Tests:
Most assignments and quiz deadlines are consistent from week to week and are due by 11:59
p.m. on Sunday night. Note all dates and times. Since late work is not accepted, being on time
with your assignments and following directions are vital to your grade. If any questions or concerns arise, contact me immediately. You can contact me through Private Message. A response can be expected within a day or two at the most. Assignments are also graded within a week of submission.
Discussion and Private Messages:
Students will complete one discussion question per week and respond to one or more student responses. Responses must illustrate critical analysis, be relevant, and have six or more sentences with five or fewer errors. Additionally, students are expected to observe netiquette (online
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manners)—academic language must be used; additionally, responses to other students must be respectful and relevant. Expletives, text language, and slang will not be tolerated.
Reading Questions:
Students will respond to two reading questions weekly. Although students will respond to two
questions, one of them will be comprehensively graded at the professor’s discretion. Each response must be six or more complete sentences and clearly relate to the reading. It should include your critical analysis. Quotes should be used sparingly, no more than one sentence or part of a sentence. Quotes should not replace your critical analysis. In addition, summaries should not replace critical analysis.
Late Work: Since work will be turned in weekly, in some cases biweekly, assignments must be turned in on time to receive full credit—without exception; therefore late work is not accepted.
GRADE BREAKDOWN:
Essays 50% (500 points), Essay 1-75, Essay 2-75, Essay 3-100, Research Paper - 250
Reading Questions (weekly) 15% (150 points)
Discussion Questions (weekly) 7.5% (75 points)
Competencies (quizzes) (mostly biweekly) 5% (50 points)
Midterm 7.5% (75 points)
Final Exam 15% (150 points)
TOTAL POINTS: 1,000
Etudes Information:
This course is managed by the ETUDES course management system. If this is your first online course, please be patient. Read all sections listed in the Resources section. Read each screen as it comes up. Each day, before beginning an assignment, check for messages in the
Announcements area. All assignments, competencies, exams, and discussions will take place through Etudes. Etudes works well with most browsers, but Firefox (updated) has been more
consistent in allowing students to download handouts. If any technical difficulty occurs, feel free to contact the Help Desk staff or me.
Please notice the menu bar on the left side of the Etudes screen. The following should be seen:
Home, Schedule, Announcements, Syllabus, Modules, Assignments, Tests and Surveys, Discussion
and Private Messages, Chat Room, Resources, Gradebook, and Help.
 Home link is where you will enter each time you log in. If you are enrolled in multiple classes, you will be able to link to each course by clicking on the class title listed on the tool bar at the top of your screen.
 Course Map provides an overview of the course: the syllabus, modules, discussions, assignments, tests, and surveys.
 Announcements is where you will find any announcements that are posted throughout the course. Announcements may also be viewed in the Home area displayed when you first log into the class.
 Syllabus is where you will find the class syllabus, which is the document you are now reading. This provides you with an overview of the class, policy, procedures, and due
 dates .
Modules will guide you through this course. You will find chapter themes and key vocabulary from the readings in this area. When going to the Module area, click on the
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weekly Module title, read through the information given, then click the Next link at the bottom of the screen. Be sure to read through all information because sometimes pertinent information and tips will be posted.
Assignments, Tests, and Surveys is the area in which you will find your class assignments. 
All assignments must be submitted in this area by the due dates listed. Read the directions carefully, and watch the deadlines closely. If you miss a deadline, you WILL
NOT BE ALLOWED TO MAKE-UP THE ASSIGNMENT. Once an assignment has been submitted, it cannot be retaken.
 Discussion and Private Messages area is where you will be participating in weekly class discussions.
 Gradebook is the area where grades for all assignments, discussions, quizzes, and exams will be located.
 Activity Meter tracks the amount of time you have spent in ETUDES.
Statement on Disabilities: Students with disabilities who believe they may need accommodations in this class are encouraged to contact Student Support Services located in the Student Services
Building or call 661-763-7799 for an appointment. It is important to request services as soon as possible to ensure such accommodations are implemented in a timely fashion. If you have an
Accommodations Card, show it to me privately to ensure accommodation.
This syllabus is subject to change; if it does, you will be notified of changes in Announcements.
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SLO 5
SLO 5
SLOs
SLO 5
LAST DATE TO DROP
WITHOUT A “W”
(February 3 rd )
SLOs 1-5
SLOs 1-2
WEEK 1 ASSIGNMENTS DUE ON SUNDAY NIGHT BY 11:59 PM (some exceptions may apply)
January 26 MODULE 1 (Principles of Cogent Academic Writing Part 1): a). Claim, Premise, Evidence b). Induction, Deduction, Inference c). Assumption and Logical Fallacies
Skim “The Middle Ages 3-25, Timeline 26-28
WEEK 2
Beowulf 36-72
ETUDES: Discussion Questions, Reading Questions in Assignment, Tests, and Surveys
February 2 MODULE 2 (Principles of Cogent Academic Writing Part 2): a). Argumentative writing about literature b). Literary interpretation and analysis c). Identification and Application of Cultural Context(s)
Beowulf 72-108,
ETUDES: Discussion Questions, Reading Questions in Assignment, Tests, and Surveys Competency 1
WEEK 3
February 9 MODULE 3 (Principles of Cogent Academic Writing Part 3): a). Literature Databases b). Weaving Sources in Essays c). Research Strategies d). Evaluation of Sources
Sir Gawain and the Green Knight 183-238
ETUDES: Discussion Questions, Reading Questions in Assignment, Tests, and Surveys
WEEK 4
February 16 Geoffrey Chaucer—Introduction, “The General Prologue” and “The Wife of Bath’s Prologue and Tale” in
The Canterbury Tales 238-264, 282-310
ETUDES: Discussion Questions, Reading Questions in Assignment, Tests, and Surveys, ESSAY 1 DUE,
Competency 2
WEEK 5
February 23 Skim “The Sixteenth Century” 531-561, Timeline 562-3
Sir Thomas Wyatt 646-8, “Whoso List to Hunt” 649, “Farewell Love” 650, “They Flee from Me” (BOTH
WEEK 6
POEMS) 653-4
The English Bible: I Corinthians 13 674-676 (all versions)
From The Book of Common Prayer: The Form of Solemnization of Matrimony 689-692
ETUDES: Discussion Questions, Reading Questions in Assignment, Tests, and Surveys

SLOs 1-2
SLOs 1-2
SLOs 1-5
SLOs 1-2
SLOs 1-2
SLOs 1-2
LAST DATE TO DROP WITH
A “W” (April 7 TH )
March 2
WEEK 7
March 9
Queen Elizabeth I 749-750 “The Passage of Our Most Dread Sovereign Lady Queen” 751-2, “Speech to the House of Commons…” 753-4, “A Speech to a Joint Delegation…” 754-6, “The Doubt of Future Foes”
758
Edmund Spenser 766-9, From The Faerie Queene Canto 1 777-795,
ETUDES: Discussion Questions, Reading Questions in Assignment, Tests, and Surveys, Competency 3
Sir Walter Raleigh 1023-4, “The Nymph’s Reply to the Shepherd” 1024, “The Lie” 1026-7, “Nature, That
Washed Her Hands in Milk” 1029-30,
Christopher Marlowe 1106-1107, “The Passionate Shepherd to His Love” 1126, The Tragical History of
Doctor Faustus 1128-1161,
ETUDES: Discussion Questions, Reading Questions in Assignment, Tests, and Surveys, Competency 4
WEEK 8
March 16 Shakespeare 1166-170, King Lear 1251-1339 (Act 2.3),
Skim “The Early Seventeenth Century” 1341-1368, Timeline 1368-1370
ETUDES: Discussion Questions, Reading Questions in Assignment, Tests, and Surveys, MIDTERM, ESSAY 2 due
WEEK 9
March 23 Shakespeare Sonnets 18, 29, 30, 55, 60, 65, 73, 94, 106, 116 (1172, 1174-7, 1179, 1181-2),
John Donne 1370-2 “The Flea” 1373, “The Sun Rising” 1376, “The Indifferent” 1377, “The Canonization”
1377, “A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning” 1385, “The Ecstasy” 1386, “The Relic” 1390, Holy Sonnet 1, 5,
10, 14 (1410-13),
ETUDES: Discussion Questions, Reading Questions in Assignment, Tests, and Surveys, Competency 5
WEEK 10
March 30 Aemelia Lanyer From Salve Deus Rex Judaeorum “Eve’s Apology in Defense of Women” 1433-40
George Herbert 1705-7, From The Temple “The Altar” 1707, “Redemption” 1708, “Affliction (1)” 1710,
WEEK 11
April 6
“Jordan (1)” 1712, “The Windows” 1713, “Man” 1715, “The Bunch of Grapes” 1718,
ETUDES: Discussion Questions, Reading Questions in Assignment, Tests, and Surveys, Competency 6
Andrew Marvell 1789-91, “The Coronet” 1791, “Bermudas” 1791, “A Dialogue between the Soul and
Body” 1792, “To His Coy Mistress” 1796, “The Definition of Love” 1798,
John Milton 1897-1900 Paradise Lost Books 1, 2,
ETUDES: Discussion Questions, Reading Questions in Assignment, Tests, and Surveys, Competency 7
SPRING BREAK APRIL 14-18 GET AHEAD ON YOUR READING  !
WEEK 12
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SLOs 1-5
SLOs 1-2
SLOs 1-2
SLOs 1-2
SLOs 1-5
April 20
WEEK 13
April 27
WEEK 14
May 4
WEEK 15
May 11
WEEK 16
May 18
John Milton 1897-1900 Paradise Lost Books 9 & 10 (1943-1986, 2091-2116, 2160-2175)
ETUDES: Discussion Questions, Reading Questions in Assignment, Tests, and Surveys, Competency 8,
ESSAY 3 DUE
Skim “The Restoration and the Eighteenth Century” 2177-2205, Timeline 2205-7
Anne Ingram “An Epistle to Mr. Pope” 2780-3,
Alexander Pope “The Rape of the Lock” 2685-2705, From An Essay on Man 2714-2721, “Epistle 2. To a
Lady” 2772-278
ETUDES: Discussion Questions, Reading Questions in Assignment, Tests, and Surveys,
Jonathan Swift “A Modest Proposal” 2633-2641, “The Lady’s Dressing Room” 2767-70
Lady Mary Wortley Montagu 2759-60, “The Reasons That Induced Dr. Swift…” 2770-2
ETUDES: Discussion Questions, Reading Questions in Assignment, Tests, and Surveys, Competency 9
Samuel Johnson 2841-3, “A Brief to Free a Slave” 3032
Aphra Behn “Oroonoko” 2313-2359
Oloudah Equiano The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Oloudah Equiano 3033-3043
ETUDES: Discussion Questions, Reading Questions in Assignment, Tests, and Surveys, Competency 10
RESEARCH PAPER DUE and FINAL EXAM
The syllabus is subject to change. If it does, you will be notified.
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