ENGL 2045 (formerly ENGL 2030) Syllabus
Course Syllabus
ENGL 2045 (formerly ENGL 2030) - Introduction to Literature (formerly Experience of Literature)
3 Credit Hours
Course Information
This course provides reading and analysis of a variety of literary types as forms of cultural and creative expression. It emphasizes themes and experiences common to human existence. Specific topics are determined by the instructor, but the focus is on literary texts that reflect different historical and cultural contexts.
In order to successfully complete this course, students must demonstrate the ability to do the following:
- demonstrate a familiarity with various elements and genres of literary works from ancient literature through modern literature;
- recognize and articulate the abstract meaning as a theme of a literary work;
- define and apply the terminology used in literary analysis, including those dealing with form (plot, character, narrator, etc.) and language (metaphor, simile, symbolism, etc.);
- analyze the ways in which literature can offer insight into cultural/historical movements by examining various authors’ approaches to the overarching course theme and, thus, explaining how literature shapes the human experience;
- evaluate their own assumptions about a text and consider others’ analyses (both literary critics and students) in order to come to a conclusion about the meaning and significance of a text;
- identify key issues and themes in literary texts in order to develop ongoing cultural conversations about those texts, with a consideration and appreciation of cultural diversity from a global perspective;
- communicate their analyses of the texts through carefully written out-of-class essays and answers to essay questions on exams. These essays will include the ability to:
- assess the relationships between literary elements in one literary work and those of other literary works;
- critically assess the relationships between literary elements in works and the cultures from which the authors come;
- evaluate relationships between themes in literary works and/or cultures from which works come and the student’s own values.
ENGL 1010 and ENGL 1020 to ensure that the student has sufficient skills to effectively explore and develop arguments about new ideas and communicate them in writing.
This course will explore the overarching theme of “The Individual in Society.” Each module will focus on a different theme that relates to the course theme. Students will read a variety of genres, including fiction, poetry, nonfiction, and drama. Each module must be completed in the order presented in order to build a solid foundation for subsequent material.
- Introduction
- Growing Up
- Reading Fiction
- Reading Poetry
- Reading Nonfiction
- Family
- Advice from a Parent
- Reflecting on Our Youth
- The Self
- Self-confidence
- Self-consciousness
- Self-transformation
- Society and Its Institutions
- Status Quo and Dangers of Conformity
- Reading Drama
- Gender Roles and Justice
- Heroes and Heroines
- Defining "Heroism"
- Examining Heroism
Students should have a working knowledge of how to operate in the online/Desire2Learn environment. They should also have competent word processing skills and be capable of creating documents according to MLA style guidelines.
Textbooks, Supplementary Materials, Hardware and Software Requirements
Please visit the Virtual Bookstore to obtain textbook information for this course. Move your cursor over the "Books" link in the navigation bar and select "Textbooks & Course Materials." Select your Program, Term, Department, and Course; then select "Submit."
College Dictionary (suggested: The American Heritage Dictionary), approximately $5
Reliable Internet Access
Minimum hardware requirements can be found here.
Minimum software requirements can be found here.
Common applications you might need:
- To read a PDF file download the latest version of Adobe Reader here
- Don't have Microsoft Word? Explore an alternative OpenOffice here
- Accessing a PowerPoint file? Download the PowerPoint Viewer here
Purdue OWL Online Writing Lab (for APA, MLA, or Chicago style)
The Writing Center Online Writer's Handbook
- Technical support information can be found on the TN eCampus Help Desk page.
- Smarthinking virtual tutoring is available FREE of charge. to access Smarthinking, visit the course homepage and select Smarthinking under Course Resources. You also view sample sessions to see what Smarthinking offers and how it works.
- Information on other student issues or concerns can be located on the TN eCampus Student Resources page.
Instructor Information
Please see "Instructor Information" in the Getting Started Module for instructor contact information, virtual office hours, and other communication information. You can expect to receive a response from the instructor within 24-48 hours unless notified of extenuating circumstances.
Participation, Assessments, & Grading
All quizzes and exams will be available through the Desire2Learn interface. No proctors are necessary for quizzes or exams.
The quizzes are available for a set period of time, usually for 5-7 days. They have a specific deadline date, which will be listed on the course schedule. You will only be able to submit answers to the quizzes once, and the quizzes will be timed. All reading for the quiz should be completed before starting the quiz.
Exams will be available for a set period of time, usually 4-6 days. They have a specific deadline date, which will be listed on the course schedule. You will only be able to take the exam one time, and Respondus Lockdown Browser will be required for all exams, which will be timed. Studying and reading for the exam should be completed prior to your starting the exam.
The grade for this course will be based upon several types of assessment tools: reading quizzes, guided analysis, discussion, and essay work, which includes an annotated bibliography and several drafts of the essay.
Frequent reading quizzes will be used to ensure the student understands the material presented in the textbook and in online materials. These quizzes will include objective questions (usually multiple choice) focused on details of the reading assignments.
The student will also participate in discussion forums to share perspectives with classmates and to evaluate the perspectives of others. Discussion questions will be provided as a starting point, but any element of the unit's reading material is acceptable discussion material. Since the most effective techniques for analyzing and learning about literature come from writing and discussing what we have read, a large portion of your grade will come from these discussions. Additionally, these discussions focus on helping students to meet several of the course objectives. Thus, the student is expected to participate in at least 9 of the 12 discussion forums; failing to participate regularly can be considered non-attendance in the course. The student's discussions will be graded on BOTH frequency of participation in each forum and quality of input (see "Grading of Discussions" and "Course Expectations" for more information on discussion guidelines). The instructor will also be an active participant in the discussion forums.
The essay work will involve researching context and criticism of the works being analyzed in the student's paper, as well as exploring the student's comprehension and interpretation of the ideas in the works read for class. The student will complete an annotated bibliography as a product of the research process in order to illustrate his/her understanding of the ongoing debates or social/historical context for the work(s) that the student will analyze in his/her essay. The essay, then, will offer an in-depth analysis of the student's comprehension and interpretation of themes, literary elements, and commonalities in the literature we have read, placing them in the context of the student's real-world environment. Specific requirements will be revealed in the individual assignment guidelines.
Two exams will assess the student's understanding of basic literary concepts and his/her ability to analyze the literature he/she has read in the course. These exams will consist of fill-in-the-blank, multiple choice, and short-answer questions.
Description | Points |
4 Guided Analysis @ 21-40 points each | Subtotal points 124 |
13 Discussion @ 10-15 points each | Subtotal points 190 |
1 Syllabus Quiz @ 14 points | Subtotal points 14 |
16 Quizzes @ 5 points each | Subtotal points 80 |
1 Rough draft @ 20 points (after sending it to Smarthinking) | Subtotal points 20 |
1 Annotated Bibliography @ 40 points | Subtotal points 40 |
1 Essay @ 100 points | Subtotal points 100 |
2 Exams @ 100 points each | Subtotal points 200 |
Total Points | Total Course Points 768 |
2 Bonus Assignments @ 5 points each | Possible extra points 10 |
Point Range | Assigned Grade |
688-768 points | A |
611-687 points | B |
534-610 points | C |
457-533 points | D |
under 457 points | F |
Details of each assignment are included on Checklists for each unit. All units include readings in the textbook and some reading in the course content.
- Introduction: syllabus quiz, discussion (with bonus opportunity)
- Growing Up
- Reading Fiction: discussion, guided analysis, 2 quizzes
- Reading Poetry: discussion, 2 quizzes
- Reading Nonfiction: discussion, 2 quizzes
- Family
- Advice from a Parent: discussion, quiz
- Reflecting on Our Youth: discussion, guided analysis, quiz (and bonus)
- Exam 1
- The Self
- Self-confidence: discussion, quiz
- Self-consciousness: discussion, quiz
- Self-transformation: discussion, quiz
- Society and Its Institutions
- Status Quo: discussion, 2 quizzes
- Gender Roles and Justice: discussion, guided analysis, quiz
- Heroes and Heroines
- Defining "Heroism": discussion, guided analysis, quiz
- Examining Heroism: discussion, quiz
- Exam 2
- Literary Analysis Essay
An essential part of the learning experience in this class is based on your participation, and your involvement affects not only you but your classmates as well. Participation includes more than just reading the assignments and completing the quizzes, homework, and essays. It involves discussing the readings with your peers and your instructor in the discussion forums. The discussion board is available to you to engage in class-wide explorations of your responses to the literature. If you don't understand something, post a question to the discussion board. In all likelihood, someone else in the course will be able to help you understand what you may not be able to figure out on your own. The weekly discussion questions are NOT optional. You should respond to the prompt in the assignment first, but that is only the first step to beginning the discussion. Read other students' responses and reply to each other's postings with your own individual insights, examples, and probing questions. A large part of learning is sharing insights. Your instructor will monitor the discussions, provide feedback to postings, and add probing questions of my own that are suggested by your own responses.
Use all resources available to you in order to learn as much as you can in this course. Communication is key, so feel free to ask questions. In addition to the graded discussion forums, there is a "General Discussion" forum where you can continue interesting discussions once the graded one is closed, or you can use it to ask questions that might not seem relevant to the ongoing discussion in one of the graded forums. You might even use it to share interesting insights or a piece of news or information you heard that is related to our course material. In addition to the discussion forums, the email system is available for you to communicate privately with the instructor. Don't forget: the instructor is a valuable resource for you to use, too!
D2L is set up so that late work will not be accepted. If you have a serious emergency and know that you will not turn in the assignment on time, you must let your instructor know in advance of the due date, or at the very least, on the date that the event occurs as long as it is before or on the due date. Your instructor will not accept any late work if you have not first discussed the problem with him/her, and he/she reserves the right to refuse late work if he/she does not deem your excuse valid. Late work will be reduced one-half letter grade per day it is late. All work must be submitted through the Dropbox in D2L to be considered for a grade (or in the proper channels; no work will be accepted through email). No late work will be accepted after four days from the time it was originally due.
Pay close attention to your course Calendar, and use the Checklist function to keep abreast of upcoming due dates. Login to the course a minimum of three times a week.
Course Ground Rules
The following two statements (1., 2.) were derived from the TBR System-wide Student Rules document, released January 2012:
RULES OF THE TENNESSEE BOARD OF REGENTS STATE UNIVERSITY AND COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM OF TENNESSEE SYSTEMWIDE STUDENT RULES CHAPTER 0240-02-03 STUDENT CONDUCT AND DISCIPLINARY SANCTIONS
Read the document in its entirety here.
1. Standards of Conduct:
- Students are required to adhere to the same professional, legal and ethical standards of conduct online as on campus. In addition, students should conform to generally accepted standards of "netiquette" while sending e-mail, posting comments to the discussion board, and while participating in other means of communicating online. Specifically, students should refrain from inappropriate and/or offensive language, comments and actions.
2. Review the TN eCampus Academic Integrity/Academic Honesty Policy:
- In their academic activities, students are expected to maintain high standards of honesty and integrity. Academic dishonesty is prohibited.
Such conduct includes, but is not limited to:
- an attempt by one or more students to use unauthorized information in the taking of an exam
- to submit as one's own work, themes, reports, drawings, laboratory notes, computer programs, or other products prepared by another person,
- or to knowingly assist another student in obtaining or using unauthorized materials.
Plagiarism, cheating, and other forms of academic dishonesty are prohibited.
Students guilty of academic misconduct, either directly or indirectly through participation or assistance, are subject to disciplinary action through the regular procedures of the student’s home institution. Refer to the student handbook provided by your home institution to review the student conduct policy.
In addition to other possible disciplinary sanctions that may be imposed, the instructor has the authority to assign an "F" or zero for an activity or to assign an "F" for the course.
Other Course Rules:
Students are expected to:
- Participate in all aspects of the course
- Communicate with other students
- Learn how to navigate in Brightspace
- Keep abreast of course announcements
- Use the assigned course management (Brightspace) email address rather than a personal email address
- Address technical problems immediately:
- Observe course netiquette at all times.
Guidelines for Communications
Email:
- Always include a subject line.
- Remember without facial expressions some comments may be taken the wrong way. Be careful in wording your emails. Use of emoticons might be helpful in some cases.
- Use standard fonts.
- Do not send large attachments without permission.
- Special formatting such as centering, audio messages, tables, html, etc. should be avoided unless necessary to complete an assignment or other communication.
- Respect the privacy of other class members
Discussions:
- Review the discussion threads thoroughly before entering the discussion. Be a lurker then a discussant.
- Try to maintain threads by using the "Reply" button rather starting a new topic.
- Do not make insulting or inflammatory statements to other members of the discussion group. Be respectful of other’s ideas.
- Be patient and read the comments of other group members thoroughly before entering your remarks.
- Be cooperative with group leaders in completing assigned tasks.
- Be positive and constructive in group discussions.
- Respond in a thoughtful and timely manner.
Library
The Tennessee Virtual Library is available to all students enrolled in TN eCampus programs and courses. Links to library materials (such as electronic journals, databases, interlibrary loans, digital reserves, dictionaries, encyclopedias, maps, and librarian support) and Internet resources needed by learners to complete online assignments and as background reading will be included within the course modules. To access the Virtual Library, go to the course homepage and select the Virtual Library link under Course Resources.
Students with Disabilities
Qualified students with disabilities will be provided reasonable and necessary academic accommodations if determined eligible by the appropriate disability services staff at their home institution. Prior to granting disability accommodations in this course, the instructor must receive written verification of a student's eligibility for specific accommodations from the disability services staff at the home institution. It is the student's responsibility to initiate contact with their home institution's disability services staff and to follow the established procedures for having the accommodation notice sent to the instructor.
Syllabus Changes
The instructor reserves the right to make changes as necessary to this syllabus. If changes are necessitated during the term of the course, the instructor will immediately notify students of such changes both by individual email communication and posting both notification and nature of change(s) on the course bulletin board.
Disclaimer
The information contained in this syllabus is for general information purposes only. While we endeavor to keep this information up-to-date and accurate, there may be some discrepancies between this syllabus and the one found in your online course. The syllabus of record is the one found in your online course. Please make sure you read the syllabus in your course at the beginning of the semester. Questions regarding course content should be directed to your instructor.