Course
Description
English 15B provides an overview
of the pivotal themes in British Literature and is designed to acquaint
students with major British writers. Emphasis
will be given to representative works in poetry, fiction, and drama from the
late eighteenth century to the present.
Course Objectives
This course is designed to help
students in understanding critical/analytical thinking and writing as they apply
to various texts of British literature. This
course will explore the most prevalent conflicts/themes of British literature
from the following periods: Romantic Literature (1780-1830), Victorian
Literature (1830-1900), Modern Literature (1900-1945), and Postmodern Literature
(1945-present).
Required Text
Norton
Anthology of British Literature: The Major Authors. Volume B. 8th
Edition.
Seacole, Mary. Wonderful
Adventures of Mrs. Seacole in Many Lands. Oxford Edition.
Shelley, Mary. Frankenstein.
Norton Critical Edition.
Waugh, Evelyn. A Handful of Dust.
Assignments/Grading
Three Socratic Exams, each
worth one letter grade.
One Research Paper, worth two letter grades.
Attendance
In
order for you to maximize your understanding and appreciation of British literature, you must attend class faithfully.
According the El Camino College Catalog, an instructor has recourse to
drop a student after three (3) hours of instruction for a three (3) unit class.
Keeping this in mind, a total of ONE (1) absence—excused or
otherwise—is allowable without penalty; however, exceeding this limit may
result in your being dropped from the course.
This is meant as an incentive to keep you coming to class.
Do not expect me—under any circumstances—to automatically drop you
just because you quit coming to class. That
is not the intent of this rule. If
you wish to drop this course, you must be responsible for it yourself.
I will not be responsible for dropping you from this course.
If you have not withdrawn from class before the final drop deadline
requiring the Dean’s signature for withdrawal from this course, you will
receive a grade for this course—no exceptions.
Whether you come to class every day is your business; however, you should
remain aware that there are consequences to your actions.
Class Participation
Class participation is absolutely essential to your
enjoyment of this class. I will try
to vary class activities so that everyone will be able to participate actively.
It is also crucial that you read all assignments by the dates given to
you so that you will be able to fully participate.
We may not always be able to cover everything assigned for reading in our
class discussions, but you will still be responsible for all of them.
Late Work
Research
Projects handed in late shall be marked down one letter grade per class that
they are late—no exceptions. If
you know that you are going to miss class when the Research Project is due, make
sure that you hand it in early. There
will be no exceptions to this policy. Makeup
dates for the exams are possible, but the same rule applies: you will be
marked down one letter grade for each class after the exam period that you delay
the test. Again, if you know that
you are going to be absent on the date of an exam, schedule a time to take the
test ahead of time. Please
Note: there is no way to make up the final examination.
It must be taken on the date posted on the syllabus.
Special
Needs
Unless
I am provided with a signed note from DSS dated for this semester, I will assume
that you have no special instruction/testing needs for this class. I
expect any such note to be provided at the beginning of the semester, or at the
earliest possible opportunity. I am
not required to consider any such information not delivered to me in a timely
fashion. Please note: the day of the exam is not timely. I am more
than willing to accommodate students with special needs; however, you need to
identify your needs up front so that I can plan for them in my
instruction.
Academic Dishonesty
Cheating on exams or
quizzes is considered academic dishonesty, and it is unacceptable. The use of someone else’s words or
ideas without acknowledging the source is plagiarism, another form of academic
dishonesty; it is likewise unacceptable. Because you will be working with many readings in your writing
assignments, you must be careful to cite other people’s words and ideas that
you incorporate—by way of quotation, paraphrase, and summary—into your
essays. If you fail to do this, it is
plagiarism. If you plagiarize on one of your assignments, you will receive
an "F" grade on that assignment. If you plagiarize on your
Research Project, you will receive an "F" grade for the course.
If I find you committing Academic Dishonesty (e.g., cheating on a test, turning
in someone else's work, or plagiarizing), I will immediately report you to the
Director of Student Development, and I will ask for the harshest sanction
possible, which may include: a notation of Academic Dishonesty on your
transcripts, removal from my class, or even expulsion from the college. I
have zero tolerance for cheating and plagiarism.
Cellular Phones
In an era of
increasingly prevalent mobile technology, cellular phones and other electronic
devices (laptop computers, PDAs, IPODs, MP3 players, etc.) have become an interruptive nuisance in
the classroom. As such, these devices are not allowed to be turned on or
used on in
our classroom unless you have cleared it with me first. Here are some
examples of inappropriate electronic activity (this list is not exhaustive):
your cell phone rings or vibrates in class; you answer your cell phone or leave
to make a call on it; you are text messaging in class; or you listen to your
IPOD or MP3 player in class. The first time
your electronic device interrupts the class, I will give you a verbal warning.
Upon the second interruption, I will remove you from the class for the day, give
you a written reprimand, and report you the Director of Student Development for
the appropriate disciplinary procedures. Upon the third interruption, I
will suspend you from class for two class periods (including the current one),
and I will file another report with the Director of Student Development.
Any subsequent interruptions, and I will seek your immediate and permanent
removal from my class. Depending on other Code of Conduct violations, this
may further result in your expulsion from the college. Please reference
the El Camino College Student Code of Conduct and Discipline for further
information. The bottom line is that I am attempting to create an
atmosphere in the classroom that is conducive to learning. If you cannot
discipline yourself, I will do it for you.
Code
of Conduct
We shall
adhere to the following rules in order to maintain a positive and productive
classroom environment:
