Course Syllabus

English 2302: American Literature

Wayland Baptist University, San Antonio, Texas

Summer, 2009

Wednesdays: 6 – 10:10 p.m.

Jeannine C. Foster, Ed. D.

Adjunct Professor

Phone: 826-7595 (Leave a message with a secretary ) e-mail: doctorjfoster@earthlink.net

1. Catalog Description. American Literature. Selected studies in important works in American literature beginning with Jonathan Edwards.

2. Prerequisite. ENGL 1301.

3. Required Resource Materials.

McMichael, G.M. & and Leonard, J.S. (2006). Concise anthology of American Literature. (rev.ed.). Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Prentice Hall.

Additional Materials: dictionary; ample writing materials; lined notebook paper; pens (blue and/or black) and pencils; white-out; paper clips; a loose- leaf binder; and an APA style book. No engaged cell phones or other electronic devices are allowed when classes are in session unless they are used by the professor or student(s) to present materials to the class. Therefore, disconnect all cell phones, computers, and other recording devices throughout the class time.

4. Course Outline. Organization and Development of Scholarly Writing

Research Skills, Application, and Presentation of Information Gathered

Collection of and Analysis of Primary Materials Gathered and Integrated with Secondary Sources and Scholarly Interpretation thereof

Organization of several literary papers based upon materials in the textbook and materials relevant to textbook materials but not included in the textbook

5. Course Requirements. Know the major works assigned and/or covered in the class

Analyze the materials and impact they had when they were written and the impact they have presently.

Use the APA format for all out-of-class assignments, including bibliographical references.

Know the basic modus operandi for being ethical, legal, and effective in working with the professor and colleagues.

Design a professorial-approved research paper, format it, and present parts of it to the class.

Participate in class and group discussions ascertaining empirical support when appropriate.

Present one cartoon significant and related to the course.

Relate American literature to the Old and New Testaments, documents of the Christian faith.

Be knowledgeable of the biography of the author who is assigned by the professor.

Additionally, attendance as per Wayland Baptist University’s policy as found in the Wayland Baptist University 2008-2009 Catalog is required. Also, the following are required:

Writings – three formal essays, a professor-approved research paper, several in-class essays, and a comprehensive final examination.

Presentation(s) – one or more formal presentation(s) to the class that

Include(s) supplementary materials and media usage.

Class Participation – within the classroom and as a participant in a

group.

6. Course Outcome Competencies. The student will understand and be able to explain the works of numerous American authors.

The student will analyze literary works from structural, vocabulary, and content perspectives.

The student will read materials provided by the professor and be prepared to discuss them orally and/or in writing.

The student will comprehend the literature within the time in which it was written.

The student will know how to design, execute, and present literature to the professor and/or colleagues.

The student will compare and contrast writings from the same and other authors.

The student will associate the literature within today’s environment(s).

The student will develop and effectively use an extensive vocabulary that deals with the major genre of literature.

The student will recognize age-appropriateness to present materials to active learners.

The student will write creatively comparative materials from the textbook.

The student will relate American history to the literature covered; i.e. struggles for freedom, wartimes, and more.

The student will have spent his/her time, energy, and finances productively as a student in a well-planned, purposeful course.

7. Means for Assessing Student Achievement of the Outcome Competencies.

Throughout the semester, the professor objectively will assess grades to evaluate activities. Attendance as per Wayland Baptist University’s policy will be honored. The following is suggested for percentages within the grading criterion:

Writings – three formal essays 30%

Three in-class essays 15%

In-class participation 15%

Research paper 15%

Presentation of research paper 10%

Final Examination 5%

Professor’s Assessment 10%

Because each activity is required, each of them will be completed in order to receive a passing grade for the course. Late work, if accepted, will have points eradicated from it.

8. Attendance Requirements. Because the course is a college course, it is appropriate to mention the attendance as related to the Wayland Baptist University 2006-2007 Catalog. The information to share is that the University expects students to make class attendance a priority. Faculty members must provide a copy of attendance requirements within one week of the beginning of the academic term. Any student in a program for which an outside agency (such as the Veteran’s Administration) has stricter requirements will be subject to those requirements. The Registrar’s Office or the External Campus Dean will provide each student affected a list of these regulations. Instructors will determine when an absence can be excused. When a student reaches that number of absences considered by the instructor to be excessive, the instructor will so inform the student and file an unsatisfactory progress report with the Registrar or the Campus Den. Any student who missed 25% or more of the regularly scheduled class meetings will receive a grade of F in the course. Additional attendance policies for each course, as defined by the instructor in the course syllabus, are considered a part of the University’s attendance policy. Student appeals should be addressed, in writing, to the Campus Dean or to the Vice President. Because significant information is shared throughout the class, in ENGL 2302 if a student enters any class session following the session’s beginning, an appropriate and professor-approved explanation is required at the end of the addressed class session. Otherwise, the tardy constitutes a breech of scholarly conduct and will be appropriately addressed as a possible absence. Adopted for Wayland Baptist University on April 25, 1986: three tardies may be considered as one absence. Certainly, demanding schedules at work, household obligations, and even traffic can cause tardiness for both the professor and her students. Therefore, justifiable tardiness is NEVER an excuse to miss a class and the activities that transpire. Late assignments because of tardiness or an absence may or may not be accepted based upon the professor’s discretion. Reasons to leave the class prior to the formal dismissal shall be inappropriate without the proper professorial-acceptable agreement. Because of the vast material for which the students and professor are responsible, there will be approved research time available in lieu of class time. Students are encouraged to use the time wisely.

Note: Be aware of the number of absences that constitute clarification of the 25% rule, and if there is clarification needed, please see the professor on or before the second class meeting. (After two absences, a student is subject be being dropped from the class.)

9. University Policy Statement. The Wayland Baptist University Catalog 2008-2009 states that no otherwise qualified disabled person be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subject to discrimination under any educational program or activity in the University. Students will follow procedures for the course and will fulfill the requirements. Written documentation for any modifications must be presented to Dr. Foster on or before the beginning of the second class session: no exceptions.

10. Methods of Instruction. A composite methodology to share materials may include lectures, handouts, analytical discussions, video materials, external resource persons, student-directed activities, field trips, hand-on inductive and deductive interrogatives, literature reviews and searches, reading aloud, literature-related experiments, and other appropriate pedagogical and psychological/educational activities to enhance learning at higher-order levels.

11. Grading Criteria. See Number 7 in the syllabus. Also, no so-called “extra credit” is allowed; however, optional enrichment assignments offered by the professor may be available. The assignments will be awarded points on a pre-announced maximum grading scale. Enhancing activities will be accepted only at the beginning of the class session on the dates on which they are assigned. Outside sources including electronic media data are encouraged. However, duplication of any student’s or person’s work without proper referencing is inappropriate, and, if necessary, a Wayland Baptist University administrator will be informed for proper measures to be taken.

12. Meeting Times and Dates of Assignments. Class time: from 6 to 10:10 p.m. Wednesdays at Wayland Baptist University, San Antonio, Texas. See the Wayland Baptist University 2008-2009 Catalog for the Official Academic Calendar. The professor prefers to integrate students’ input to determine assignments and activities’ specific due dates. However, the times for literary pieces and accompanying supplementary materials will be announced as tentative times of which they will be covered in class. (Prior reading of the materials before the night scheduled to cover them is required.) Therefore, a tentative, detailed calendar of activities and assignments will be determined by the end of the second class. It is significant that the dates may be changed; however, they will be announced prior to the class meeting at which they are due.

13. Office Hours/Faculty Access. Traditionally, office hours are by appointment on Wednesday evenings. Also, arrangements for conferences at other appropriate times are available. Traditionally, conferences are not held after Wednesday evening classes. However, if a student has a need for a conference, and the time to meet is mutually agreed by the professor and the student, it may be held immediately after class; i.e. a clarification on an assignment, future possible absence from a class.

14. Essential. Students are to have properly written, college-level papers. All assignments should have proper grammatical usage, punctuation, capitalization, other mechanics, and clarity in writing. Out-of-class papers are to be in a double spaced, Arial 12-point format. Citations must be given to avoid plagiarizing.

15. Summary. The course is designed for students and the professor to enjoy information and to learn more about American literature and its authors.