PREREQUISITESEnrollment in any literature course requires credit for both ENGL 1301 and ENGL 1302 or their equivalents. The grade in ENGL 1302 must be at least "C." Instructor will verify. Please send me a photocopy BEFORE the second day of class of an official transcript showing that you have successfully completed English 1301 and 1302 (or any other college-level literature course). If you've received both credits through ACC, there is no need to send proof. You may send the transcript via email, fax (512-223-2046; Attention: Becky Villarreal), intercampus mail, or snail mail (Becky Villarreal, Cypress Creek Campus, 1555 Cypress Creek Road, Cedar Park, Texas, 78613). If you do not send your proof by the second day of class, I may withdraw you from my roster to make room for students who have their records on file.COURSE DESCRIPTIONEnglish 2328, American Literature: Civil War to the Present, is a survey of American literature from the Civil War period to the present. Course Objectives
COURSE REQUIREMENTS
INSTRUCTIONAL METHODOLOGYDuring this course, you will complete online activities and quizzes, participate in bulletin board discussions and peer editing, write two major papers, take a midterm exam in the testing center, and read lectures, short stories, novels, and poetry from required texts and online. The Course Website IndexI. Blackboard and ACC Email (Both are MANDATORY)Before beginning the course, you will need to activate your ACCeID and ACC Email. Establishing an ACC email account is a requirement for this course. First, you will need to set up an ACCeID. For instructions, go to: http://www.austincc.edu/acceid/step1.htm Next, you will need to set up your ACC email (MANDATORY). Without ACC email, there will be no way for us to communicate. Click here to set up your ACC email. To access Blackboard using your ACCeid, go to: You can access this course by clicking the course title located in the My Courses module. If you have problems with Blackboard, ACCeid, or ACC email, call the Help Desk at: 512-223-help. Click here for technological requirements and helpful tips on surviving the online environment. After reading this syllabus, you need to enroll into Blackboard (you will not be officially enrolled in this class until you have set up Blackboard, which will not be available until 2-3 days before the class begins). Although we are utilizing the Blackboard system, please bookmark my ACC site http://www.austincc.edu/bvillarr/ in the event that Blackboard experiences technical difficulties. Once inside Blackboard, the Course Syllabus, Reading List, Minor Assignments Guide, and Schedule can be found by clicking the Course Information button. All quizzes can be found by clicking Assignments. The Discussion Boards (BBs), Email, and Chat Room (see Collaboration) can be accessed in the Communication tab. In Tools, students can check grades. If you choose to work ahead (before the class officially begins), feel free to read all the text and online lectures. You can also plan your papers before the course begins. However, you will not be able to submit any work until Blackboard becomes available (about two days before the class starts). After that time, you can access Blackboard where you will be able to participate in the discussion boards, complete quizzes, and eventually submit papers. II. American Literature II CalendarThe schedule, linked above, provides access to reading materials and assignments. The course is divided into several learning units:
III. American Literature II Paper GuidelinesPaper assignments and guidelines can be accessed from the link above. When writing papers in this class, choose one of the topics provided (or submit an alternate topic for approval). ALL PAPERS must include analysis of at least one required work from our reading list. Even if I approve your outline and fail to see that you have not chosen a work from the reading list, this rule stands firm. Please read the Paper Guidelines for specific instructions for submitting papers. I generally grade papers and assignments within three business days of receipt. If you submit your paper on Friday after 5 p.m., the clock does not start ticking until Monday at 8 a.m.-- so don't expect your paper being graded before Thursday. If you email me before 72 hours to ask whether or not your paper has been graded, you will lose your position in line. You will also lose your position in line (and risk losing points) if you do not email your paper via Blackboard, do not include peer editing information, or do not submit your paper with the proper labels (see Paper Guidelines). On the Thursday before a paper is due, students must submit rough drafts to the appropriate discussion board thread for peer review. The papers are generally due on Sundays; the exact dates will be noted on the schedule. ***Click here for detailed guidelines and instructions on submitting your papers *** IV. American Literature II Minor AssignmentsGuidelines for quizzes, discussion, peer editing or peer evaluation, and other activities are provided in the link above. V. American Literature II Reading ListSkim the chapters but note the terminology. The focus should be on the stories, poems, and novels. Grading System
450-500
PTS 400-449
PTS. 350-399
PTS. 300-349
PTS. 299 OR
LESS Orientation, Meetings, Appointments, and ChatFor in-person orientation, meet me in the Cypress Creek Learning Lab, CYP 2108, (ph. 512-223-2045). See the schedule for the exact date and time. If you cannot attend this meeting (worth 5 pts.), you will need to schedule a face-to-face or telephone conference with the instructor within the first two weeks of the course (see details below in Office Hours). Those students who attend the scheduled orientation meeting will earn an additional five extra credit points. Students who have not completed the orientation quiz (in Blackboard) within the first two weeks of the course are subject to withdrawal by the instructor. Meeting Points (required): You will earn five points for scheduling and keeping a face-to-face conference (when I'm in the lab) or setting up a phone conference (when I'm not in the lab). You will need to email me with three prospective times and your phone number (if it's a phone conference). Please set this up EARLY in the semester. You can also earn the meeting points by attending the optional in-person orientation. See schedule for exact date and time. If you attend the optional orientation, you will earn five meeting points AND five extra credit points. Orientation QuizImportant: To get the 10 points for the quiz, you must read through the course syllabi, review the schedule, and then complete the orientation quiz located in the Assessments folder in Blackboard.
The Heath Anthology of American Literature, Editor Paul Lauter, Volume 2, 6th edition, (C, D, and E) ISBN: 0547207824 OR 9780547207827 Click here for Table of Contents for Volume C; Volume D; Volume E Older Editions: Fifth edition, ISBN: 0618588949, Volumes C, D, and E, (2005) OR 4th edition (2002), ISBN: 061810920X (pictured above) Personal computer and 28.8 + modem Word processing program like Microsoft Word 3.5 computer floppy disks, C-D roms, or flashdrives (for back-up) ***If you have any problems finding your textbook via ACC, please contact Jeanette Lien at (512)480-0815. MISSED OR LATE WORKIn this class, I give all students a one-week grace period to complete all assignments, except for the final paper. If an assignment (major or minor) is 1-2 weeks late, a student may only receive half the number of points for that assignment. If you take more than two weeks to complete and assignment, you may receive a grade of zero and be subjected to withdrawal. All work must be completed by the last day of the course-- no exceptions! If you miss a quiz, you will receive a zero. If you turn in an assignment late, you will lose half the number of points given for that assignment. If you have more than two late assignments, you cannot earn an A in this course. HOW TO REACH YOUR INSTRUCTOROffice Hours: Currently, I am working in the Learning Lab at the Cypress Creek campus in room 2108 and you are encouraged to schedule an appointment at any time during the 20 hours a week that I am scheduled to work each week. Please see Staff Information in Blackboard or the ACC staff directory for detailed office hours because they change each semester. The phone number in the lab is 512-223-2045, but only call this number when I am on duty and please do not leave a message. Before making an appointment, check my office hours in Blackboard to note my availability, and then email me at bvillarr@austincc.edu. Email is the best way to contact me as I check it daily. Withdrawal PolicyIt is the responsibility of each student to ensure that his or her name is removed from the roll should he or she decide to withdraw from the class. The instructor does, however, reserve the right to drop a student should he or she feel it is necessary. If a student decides to withdraw, he or she should also verify that the withdrawal is submitted before the Final Withdrawal Date. The student is also strongly encouraged to retain their copy of the withdrawal form for their records. Students who enroll for the third or subsequent time in a course taken since Fall, 2002, may be charged a higher tuition rate, for that course. State law permits students to withdraw from no more than six courses during their entire undergraduate career at Texas public colleges or universities. With certain exceptions, all course withdrawals automatically count towards this limit. Details regarding this policy can be found in the ACC college catalog. If major assignments are not completed on time, you may be subject to withdrawal by the instructor. If you are failing the course or if you are asked to "drop," withdrawing is your responsibility. You can only withdraw in the Admissions Office. If you are unable to withdraw yourself, please ask me and I will try to do it for you. The final withdrawal date is clearly listed in the course schedule. Before you make the decision to withdraw from any course, please consult with your counselor, financial aid office, and instructor. IncompletesAn instructor may award a grade of “I” (Incomplete) if a student was unable to complete all of the objectives for the passing grade in a course. An incomplete grade cannot be carried beyond the established date in the following semester. The completion date is determined by the instructor but may not be later than the final deadline for withdrawal in the subsequent semester. Except in very rare situations, I do not give incompletes. You must be currently passing the class at the time of your request. I will review each case to determine whether I feel an incomplete is warranted or not. In general, however, barring extraordinary circumstances, and unless you have completed 75% of the coursework on time, I will not grant you an incomplete. Statement on Scholastic DishonestyA student attending ACC assumes responsibility for conduct compatible with the mission of the college as an educational institution. Students have the responsibility to submit coursework that is the result of their own thought, research, or self-expression. Students must follow all instructions given by faculty or designated college representatives when taking examinations, placement assessments, tests, quizzes, and evaluations. Actions constituting scholastic dishonesty include, but are not limited to, plagiarism, cheating, fabrication, collusion, and falsifying documents. Penalties for scholastic dishonesty will depend upon the nature of the violation and may range from lowering a grade on one assignment to an “F” in the course and/or expulsion from the college. See the Student Standards of Conduct and Disciplinary Process and other policies at http://www.austincc.edu/current/needtoknow. Any student who commits an act of scholastic dishonesty will be subject to disciplinary action which may include receiving an F in the course. If you write a paper or work on an assignment with a clear intent to cheat, disciplinary action WILL BE taken. In general, cheating includes plagiarism from another source such as the Internet; copying from another student is a form of plagiarism. When it comes to cheating, I have a no-tolerance approach. Student Rights and ResponsibilitiesStudents at the college have the rights accorded by the U.S. Constitution to freedom of speech, peaceful assembly, petition, and association. These rights carry with them the responsibility to accord the same rights to others in the college community and not to interfere with or disrupt the educational process. Opportunity for students to examine and question pertinent data and assumptions of a given discipline, guided by the evidence of scholarly research, is appropriate in a learning environment. This concept is accompanied by an equally demanding concept of responsibility on the part of the student. As willing partners in learning, students must comply with college rules and procedures. Statement on Students with DisabilitiesEach ACC campus offers support services for students with documented disabilities. Students with disabilities who need classroom, academic or other accommodations must request them through the Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD). Students are encouraged to request accommodations when they register for courses or at least three weeks before the start of the semester, otherwise the provision of accommodations may be delayed. Students who have received approval for accommodations from OSD for this course must provide the instructor with the "Notice of Approved Accommodations" from OSD before accommodations will be provided. Arrangements for academic accommodations can only be made after the instructor receives the ‘Notice of Approved Accommodations’ from the student. Students with approved accommodations are encouraged to submit the "Notice of Approved Accommodations" to the instructor at the beginning of the semester because a reasonable amount of time may be needed to prepare and arrange for the accommodations. Additional information about the Office for Students with Disabilities is available at http://www.austincc.edu/support/osd/. Safety StatementAustin Community College is committed to providing a safe and healthy environment for study and work. You are expected to learn and comply with ACC environmental, health and safety procedures and agree to follow ACC safety policies. Additional information on these can be found at http://www.austincc.edu/ehs. Because some health and safety circumstances are beyond our control, we ask that you become familiar with the Emergency Procedures poster and Campus Safety Plan map in each classroom. Additional information about emergency procedures and how to sign up for ACC Emergency Alerts to be notified in the event of a serious emergency can be found at http://www.austincc.edu/emergency/. Please note, you are expected to conduct yourself professionally with respect and courtesy to all. Anyone who thoughtlessly or intentionally jeopardizes the health or safety of another individual will be immediately dismissed from the day’s activity, may be withdrawn from the class, and/or barred from attending future activities. Use of ACC EmailAll College e-mail communication to students will be sent solely to the student’s ACCmail account, with the expectation that such communications will be read in a timely fashion. ACC will send important information and will notify you of any college related emergencies using this account. Students should only expect to receive email communication from their instructor using this account. Likewise, students should use their ACCmail account when communicating with instructors and staff. Instructions for activating an ACCmail account can be found at http://www.austincc.edu/accmail/index.php. Testing Center PolicyUnder certain circumstances, an instructor may have students take an examination in a testing center. Students using the Academic Testing Center must govern themselves according to the Student Guide for Use of ACC Testing Centers and should read the entire guide before going to take the exam. To request an exam, one must have: • ACC Photo ID • Course Abbreviation (e.g., ENGL) • Course Number (e.g.,1301) • Course Synonym (e.g., 10123) • Course Section (e.g., 005) • Instructor's Name Do NOT bring cell phones to the Testing Center. Having your cell phone in the testing room, regardless of whether it is on or off, will revoke your testing privileges for the remainder of the semester. ACC Testing Center policies can be found at http://www.austincc.edu/testctr/. Student And Instructional ServicesACC strives to provide exemplary support to its students and offers a broad variety of opportunities and services. Information on these services and support systems is available at: http://www.austincc.edu/s4/. Links to many student services and other information can be found at: http://www.austincc.edu/current/. ACC Learning Labs provide free tutoring services to all ACC students currently enrolled in the course to be tutored. The tutor schedule for each Learning Lab may be found at: http://www.austincc.edu/tutor/students/tutoring.php. For help setting up your ACCeID, ACC Gmail, or ACC Blackboard, see a Learning Lab Technician at any ACC Learning Lab. GROUP WORKEveryone in this class will be required to peer edit papers. See Paper Guidelines for information about completing the final paper as a group project (optional).
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