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Walt Whitman

Introduction
Syllabus

Assignments
Handouts
Resources

 

English 242

Text

·        Anthology of American Literature Volume II (seventh edition)
edited by George McMichael

Introduction 

Survey of American Literature is comparable in content, methods of instruction and academic standards to courses offered by most four-year colleges and universities. Therefore, it is very transferable. It is a two-semester study of representative

American writers from the seventeenth century to the twentieth century. Attentive students will learn how American literature reflects the changing perceptions of reality, concerns and values of the American people. Very attentive students will also learn to appreciate the aesthetic qualities of the great works of American literature. Inattentive students will be merely confused and frustrated. Therefore be attentive; listen; ask questions, and--above all--read the assignments before class.

In taking this class, students should improve their ability to read critically and to express themselves in oral and written work. They will be able to demonstrate their competence by participating in class discussions, by writing two papers, by writing mid-term and final essays, and by taking four unit tests.

General Information

1.      Papers are due at the beginning of class on the dates indicated on the syllabus. Late papers will be penalized one grade per day late.

2.      Students are expected to attend class. If a student misses more than nine classes, the instructor may drop him or her from the course.

3.      Plagiarism will not be tolerated. If the instructor determines that the student has plagiarized, the student will receive a grade of 0 and will be subjected to further disciplinary action.

4.      Please use the following format for papers. Use a word processor if you possibly can. Computers, printers and expert instruction are available in room 253. If you absolutely cannot use a word processor and must submit hand-written papers, please skip every other line. Use standard 8 and one half by 11 composition paper. Place your name, class, and paper number on the top right hand corner of the paper. Submit all themes and assignments BOUND in a composition folder with bendable brads. Keep all themes and class assignments in this one folder in the order in which you submitted them. Themes should be at least two pages long but not longer than five pages. Assignments not submitted in such a manner will not be accepted.

5.      Your grade for English 242 will be based on two long essays, and four unit tests.  Although I do not give a specific grade for class participation, a student who has attended class regularly, kept a journal, read his or her assignments, and made contributions to class discussions may increase his or her grade up to two points. Thus a student with a 78 (C+) average may improve the average to 80 (B-). On the other hand, a student with poor attendance may lose up to two points.

6.      STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES who may need disability-related classroom accommodations should see me as soon as possible. Also, if you have not already done so, you should visit the office of Students With Disabilities to register for support services. The office is in room 201 Griffin Hall, and the phone numbers are 825-2827 and 825-2853.

STUDENT CODE OF CONDUCT FOR DR. THOMPSON’S ENGLISH CLASSES

  1. Attend every class. If you miss more than nine times for classes that meet three times a week or more than six times for classes that meet twice a week, I may drop you from the class.
  2. Be on time for the class. If you are more than ten minutes late, do not come in.
  3. Read the assignments before class. If you do not, I will give pop quizzes and require you  to keep a reading journal.
  4. Do not talk to fellow students during class unless I have put you in a group or asked for your comments. If your talking is a constant annoyance to me and to the other students, I will ask you to leave and mark you absent.
  5. Do not leave class before I have dismissed you. Remain seated with your book open and look interested until the full 50 minutes or 75 minutes have expired. Do not schedule appointments during class time. If you must leave early, tell me ahead of time or stay home.
  6. Turn in papers in folders at the beginning of class on the dates the papers are due. Do not put them in my mailbox later in the day or e-mail them to me. If you have a legitimate reason to be late with your papers, tell me why in writing ahead of time. I will grade papers that have been turned in on time immediately. The others I will grade eventually. Late papers without acceptable excuses will be penalized one letter grade per day late.
  7. Do not plagiarize. If you claim credit for someone else’s work, you will receive a failing grade for the course and may be dismissed from the college. Do not purchase papers or take them from the Internet. I have ways of finding your sources and have a long track record of catching and punishing plagiarists. 

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