English 251:01 | Mary Adams, Instructor
TR 11-12:15
Coulter 104
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Sheet
TAKE
HOME MIDTERM (due after Spring Break)
Download Paper 1 Assignment
Course Objectives
Upon completion of this class, students will be able to:
- Critical Reading of Primary Texts
read critically a wide variety of works of English literature
from its beginnings through the eighteenth century;
- Critical Writing About Primary Texts
analyze and interpret in writing those works of English
literature using appropriate evidence, conventions, and
language;
- Oral Presentation and Critical Discussion
discuss and present, in an informed manner, ideas about
or relating to these works and periods.
Policies
To help you get the most out of the course, I have instituted
these policies:
- Absences: You may miss three classes
for any reason. These absences include excused or unexcused
absences, family tragedies, medical emergencies, or other
unforseeable circumstances. After the third absence, I will
lower your grade a letter for each additional absence. After
the sixth absence, you will fail the course.
- The only exceptions to this policy: school activities,
such as musical performances or athletics, if you have
a note from the instructor, and absences because of
storms or winter weather, if you live off campus and
can demonstrate that you were unable to get here. Please
budget carefully.
- Tardiness: Once I close the door, you
are tardy. After three tardies, I will mark you down for
one absence. If you arrive 15 or more minutes late, or leave
early, I will mark you absent. Please arrange your schedule
accordingly.
- Food and Drink in class. You may bring
a beverage to class, but no food. You are responsible for
cleaning up any mess caused by your beverage.
- Cell phones, Laptops, and other Electronic Devices
in class.
- Laptops. Due to frequent abuse of my laptop policy,
I am going to forbid their use unless you have a documented
disability that requires the use of a laptop.
- Cell phones: Please turn them off. I will warn the
first student whose cell phone rings in class. Subsequent
abuses by any student will result in an absence. Few
students would be so rude as to send text messages in
class. Such students are so insensitive that they only
respond to overt public humiliation.
- MP3 players, Ipods, and other gadgets: Don't be ridiculous!
I can't think of anything more rude than sitting in
a class with your headphones on.
- Academic honesty: Turning in work not
your own will result in failure for the paper without the
opportunity to revise and may also result in failure for
the course. I will also place a letter in your files and
make a formal report to the Head of the English Department
and the Dean of Student Affairs.
Assignments:
- Quizzes: I will give frequent unannounced
quizzes at the beginning of class on the reading due for
that day. These may be on the reading or the introductory
material in the Norton. You may use your notes, but you
may not refer to the textbook.
- Reading Sheets: These are due every day
with a RSnext to it on the online syllabus. I grade the
journals and return them to you, and you collect them in
a thin folder with brads (see texts). At the end of the
semester I collect your folder with the semester's graded
journals in it and give it a final grade. I will
not record the grades until then, so keep your journals!
No journals will be accepted late. No ungraded journals
will count towards your final grade.
- Paper: Students will do one 5-7 page
paper during the semester. I will require a thesis first,
then a rough draft, and then a completed draft. All parts
will receive a grade. I will not accept the final paper
without the additional parts attached.
- Oral Presentation: Each student will
do an oral presentation followed by a formal, annotated
bibliography on a topic. This presentation should involve
background reading and research, and it is a substantial
part of the grade. The due date of the presentation depends
on the topic; students will draw topics at random but will
have the opportunity to trade with other students. We will
create a class web site with the annotated bibliographies.
- Group Oral Presentation: On March 25,
we will discuss Shapiro's 1599: A year in the life of
Shakespeare. Students will be divided into 4 groups,
and each group will present a chapter to the rest of the
class. Each student should have a role. The presentation
be engaging, visually interesting, and detailed, and it
should give students enough information to take an exam
on the material.
Texts
- Greenblatt, Stephen, et. al., editors. The Norton
Anthology of English Literature, Volume I. 8th Edition.
REQUIRED.
- Purchase: Shapiro, James. 1599: Year in the Life of
Shakespeare. Harper Collins ISBN 0060088745. Buy
Used on Amazon. REQUIRED.
- One three ring notebook with dividers--strongly recommended.
- One folder with brads (reading sheets)--required.
Requirements:
Grades will be assessed as follows:
Assignment % of Grade Word Count
- Paper 1 TYPED: 5% 1200+
- Revision of Paper 1: 10% 1200 + words
- Oral Presentation and Annotated Bibliography for Class
web page 15%
- Group Presentation of Chapter of Shapiro's Year in the
Life of Shakespeare 10%
- Midterm 10%
- Final exam 15%
- Quizzes 15%
- Reading Sheet Entries: 10% (Journal
sheet attached)
- Participation 10%
TOTAL: 100%
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