FALL 2009

ENGLISH 2110-01—World Literature: Inventing Selves

Instructor: Dr. Lisa Propst

Office: PAF 324

Office Phone: 678-839-4155

Office Hours: Mon. 12:00-1:00, Tues. 4:00-6:30, Wed. 12:00-1:00, Thurs. 4:00-6:30, and by appointment

E-mail: lpropst@westga.edu MyUWG and WebCT serve as the only legitimate modes of university correspondence

URL: www.westga.edu/~lpropst

Course Description AND LEARNING OUTCOMES
 

This course will explore personal and cultural strategies of self-invention. It will consider how people define themselves by telling stories, building empires, and re-interpreting social norms. Tracing what Salman Rushdie describes as “the transformation that comes of new and unexpected combinations of human beings, cultures, ideas, politics, movies, songs,” the course will examine how people both consolidate and reassess their identities through encounters with others. In this process, we will cross five continents and four millennia, from Ancient Babylonia and mythic Greece to Africa, Asia, and the Americas.

General course description and relationship of course goals to program goals

COURSE MATERIALS, ASSIGNMENTS & GRADING

Required Texts:

·          The Norton Anthology of World Literature, shorter 2^nd edition

·          Electronic reserves

Other Materials:

·           A college-level dictionary

·           A stapler

·           Internet access, a UWG e-mail account, and a reliable printer

·           A flash drive to save work for class

Assignments:

·           Two 5-6 page out-of-class essays. You can read the department grading rubric for essays 2000 level and above at: http://www.westga.edu/~engdept/fr/Ruby.doc

·           Midterm and final exam

·           Short group presentation

·           In-class writing exercises, quizzes, peer editing, and short homework assignments

·           Class participation

Grading:

All essays and exams must be completed in order to pass this course. 

                  In-class writing, quizzes, and homework                             5%

                  Class participation                                                             5%

                  Group presentation                                                            5%               

      Essay 1                                                                            20%

                  Essay 2                                                                            25%

                  Midterm Exam                                                                 20%

Final Exam                                                                       20%

Numerical grade equivalents: A+ = 98; A = 95; A- = 92; B+ = 88; B = 85; B- = 82; C+ = 78; C = 75; C- = 72; D+ = 68; D = 65; D- = 62; F = 50

COURSEWORK POLICIES

Office Hours and E-mail:

I encourage you to meet with me during my office hours any time you have questions or would like to discuss the course. If you cannot make it to my office hours, set up an appointment to meet with me at another time. You are also welcome to drop by my office, outside of scheduled office hours, whenever I am there. I welcome e-mail correspondence. However, e-mail cannot replace an actual meeting. It is difficult to respond to your questions and needs solely through e-mail, especially if your questions are general. E-mail is most effective when you have specific questions that don’t require in-depth discussion.

The Writing Center:

I encourage you to visit The Writing Center at various points in the writing process. Regardless of writing skill level, one may always benefit from an intelligent discussion with knowledgeable peers. 

TLC 1201                    678-839-6513

Writing@westga.edu       www.westga.edu/~writing

Plagiarism & Excessive Collaboration (If a student violates this policy, he or she may receive an F for the assignment or an F for the course, at my discretion):

Plagiarism & Academic Dishonesty

The Department of English and Philosophy defines plagiarism as taking personal credit for the words and ideas of others as they are presented in electronic, print, and verbal sources. The Department expects that students will accurately credit sources in all assignments. An equally dishonest practice is fabricating sources or facts; it is another form of misrepresenting the truth. Plagiarism is grounds for failing the course.

See also “excessive collaboration” (below).

The University policies for handling Academic Dishonesty are found in the following documents:

The Faculty Handbook, sections 207 and 208.0401
http://www.westga.edu/~vpaa/handrev/

Student Uncatalog: "Rights and Responsibilities"; Appendix J.
http://www.westga.edu/~handbook/index.php

The department of English has assembled the following resources to help prevent plagiarism: http://www.westga.edu/~engdept/Plagiarism/index.html

Excessive Collaboration

By the end of the term in both ENGL 1101 and 1102, students should demonstrate the ability to produce independent writing (writing without collaborative assistance of peers, writing tutors, or professionals in the field) that shows an acceptable level of competence. Although classroom activities and out-of-class assignments may highlight collaborative learning and collaborative research, excessive collaboration (collaboration that results in the loss of a student's voice/style and original claims to course-related work) is considered another form of academic dishonesty and therefore will not be permitted.

Role of the Writing Center

The role of the Writing Center is to offer consultation in which tutors question, respond to, offer choices, and encourage revision in student essays. Tutors do not evaluate or prescribe solutions to problematic areas in student essays, and tutors are specifically trained to avoid appropriating the student's work. For more information, visit the Writing Center online at http://www.westga.edu/~writing.

Late Work:

I will deduct 1/3 of a letter grade (ex. from a B to a B-, or from a B- to a C+) for each day (not each class period) that an out-of-class essay is late. An essay is late if it is not submitted to me at the beginning of the class period. This means that a B level essay submitted up to 24 hours late will go from a B to a B-, a B level essay submitted between 24 and 48 hours late will go from a B to a C+, etc. I will not accept assignments more than one week past the deadline. If you find it necessary to miss class on a day that work is due, you should submit your work to me before the class period in order to avoid losing marks. All assignments must be submitted in hard copy unless I specifically approve e-mail submission in advance. Extensions may be granted, at my discretion, only under exceptional circumstances (for example, medical emergencies) and should be arranged in advance. If you have a serious problem that will affect your ability to complete your work on time, talk to me about it as early as possible. Short homework assignments will not be accepted late.

Make-Up Work:

Missed midterm or final exams may be made up, at my discretion, under exceptional circumstances (ex. medical emergencies). If you miss a quiz or a short in-class writing exercise because of lateness or absence, it cannot be made up.

Revision Policy:

You may revise and resubmit any out-of-class essay that earns a C- or lower, provided that you originally submitted your essay on time and that you participated fully in peer editing (i.e. you had a full-length essay on peer editing day, you peer edited someone's essay, and someone peer edited yours). Your revision is due one week after you receive your graded paper, and you should submit the original essay along with your revision. The revision can receive no higher than a C+. Some revisions may result in a lower grade. In this case, I will count the higher of the two grades. If you choose to revise and resubmit a paper, I encourage you to consult me AND go to the Writing Center during your revision process.

Format for All Papers:

All work should be typed and stapled, in 12-point Times New Roman font, with 1-inch margins, and should use MLA format.

Extra Credit and Previous Work Policy

·          There is no extra credit work in this course

·          Work completed for another class will not be accepted for fulfilling the requirements of this course.

Department Paperless Policy:

As of Fall 2006, the English Department implemented a “paperless” policy in its classrooms. Therefore, all materials (handouts, assignment sheets, notes, etc.) will be made available online. You may print these necessary course documents, including the syllabus, on your home computer.

IMPORTANT DATES:

Due Dates:

Tues. Sept. 22                                   Essay #1: Final Draft

Thurs. Nov. 12                                  Essay #2: Final Draft

Tues. Oct. 6                                       Midterm Exam

Tues. Dec. 1                                      Final Exam

Holidays:

Thurs. Oct. 15                                    No class: Fall break

Thurs. Nov. 26                                   No classes: Thanksgiving holiday

CLASSROOM POLICIES

Attendance Requirements:

You are expected to attend every class, arrive on time, and be prepared to discuss the reading. Because attendance and participation are important to your success in this course, students will be allowed only four absences; any student who misses five classes will be withdrawn from the course. There will be no distinction between excused and unexcused absences.

If the withdrawal occurs prior to October 6, the student will receive a grade of W. If the withdrawal occurs after October 6, the student will receive a grade of WF.

Communication Policy:

The official communication method for this class will be through campus e-mail (MyUWG). You will be responsible for checking your MyUWG email, since I will be using that address to correspond with you. You should also look under “My Courses” on your MyUWG for relevant files, announcements and so on.

Disruptive Behavior:

Students may be dismissed from any class meeting at which they exhibit behavior that disrupts the learning environment of others. Such behavior includes – but is not limited to – arriving late for class, allowing cell phones to ring, speaking disrespectfully to the instructor and/or to other students, checking email or surfing the web, and using personal audio or visual devices. Each dismissal of this kind will count as an absence and will be applied toward the attendance policy above. If you are sleeping during class, you may be counted as absent.

Participation:

Participation is essential to your success in this course. Five percent of your grade is based on it. Participation does not mean right answers or brilliant comments; it includes any productive contribution to class discussion. Making thoughtful comments on the class material, asking questions, and responding supportively to your classmates all count.

Special Needs:

I pledge to do my best to work with the University to provide all students with equal access to my classes and materials, regardless of special needs, temporary or permanent disability, special needs related to pregnancy, etc. If you have any special learning needs, particularly (but not limited to) needs defined under the Americans with Disabilities Act, and require specific accommodations, please do not hesitate to make these known to me, either yourself or through Disability Services in 272 Parker Hall at (770) 839-6428.

Students with documented special needs may expect accommodation in relation to classroom accessibility, modification of testing, special test administration, etc. This is not only my personal commitment: it is your right, and it is the law. For more information, please contact Disability Services at the State University of West Georgia.

COURSE CALENDAR

While this syllabus is carefully planned, I may occasionally change portions of it (for example, readings, assignments, and due dates). I will announce changes in class. You are responsible for periodically checking the online syllabus for modifications, particularly if you have been absent. Unless otherwise noted, all readings and assignments are due the day they are listed on the syllabus.