Class Syllabus: Buy Into It Today and Print One Out

English 150 Introduction to Literature Spring 2009
9:00 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. Library Techno-Classroom
Dr. James R. Hepworth, 309 Spalding Hall
Office Hours: 12:00-1:30 p.m MW 10:30-12:00 TTh and by Appointment
Email: hepworth@lcsc.edu Telephone: 792-2385

Required Text and Materials

Literature: An Introduction to Fiction, Poetry, and Drama. X.J. Kennedy and Dana
Gioia. Portable Edition 10E. New York: Pearson Longman, 2005.

• A plain file folder with your last name followed by your first name on the flap.
Prerequisite/Co-requisite: English 101

Course Description and Course Outcomes

We read, critic Harold Bloom says, to strengthen ourselves and to learn of our
own authentic interests. With that in mind English 150 introduces students to reading and
understanding literature as a method of thinking critically about historical and
contemporary aspects of the human condition and about themselves and their cultures.
We will attempt to strike a balance between an in-depth study of selected works and a general introductory survey of fiction, poetry, and drama.

We will all work to improve our critical thinking skills by reading and discussing
assignments. We will also practice analytical and imaginative writing and take advantage
of special events. By the end of the semester I hope you will have increased your
enjoyment and confidence as a reader of literature and your knowledge of literary
terminology and techniques. You should also come away from our class having clarified
cultural and individual values and better knowing how the arts affect cultures. And
finally, our work should help us to identify and to better understand social institutions
and the roles people play within those institutions.

Grading
One Exam (20 points):
Fiction Project (20 points),
Poetry Project (20 points),
Drama Project (20 points)
Blog (20 points)

A Word about Blogs
Please use your web log (blog) to record your reactions to the reading assignments. Write whatever else you like, but try your best to answer the questions at the ends of textbook reading assignments. I might only look at your blog once or twice, but I expect you to post your thoughts there at least once a week and to share your blog address with your team mates and to read and comment on their work. From time to time, I may give mandatory assignments for posting. Otherwise, students are on their own.

The Course Website

I also expect students to benefit from the various resources on our course website, including short video lectures and the diagnostic exam, which every student is required to take. Please submit your grades to me through Grade Tracker once you join the class online. Here again, however, I expect students to use the resource independently of formal assignments to supplement their reading and writing experiences.

Extra Credit: I expect all students who complete the reading and writing assignments to do well in our class, but I will also make extra credit available to everyone. These will often be assignments in research, reading, and writing, but they might also include field trips, podcasts, film and drama reviews, and photography.

Course Policies
Attendance and Participation. Students who miss a single class will suffer no reduction
in grade. For each successive unexcused absence, however, I reserve the right to substantially reduce the student’s final grade by half a step (B to B-). Five absences will result in an F for the semester. If you arrive late for class or leave early or if it is obvious that you are unprepared for class (e.g. you’re missing homework assignments or you obviously haven’t read the assignment) I might count you absent. Homework assignments are due at the beginning of class. Two tardies count as one absence.

Plagiarism (or any form of cheating) will result in an automatic F for the semester.

Formatting for Assignments: With the exception of assignments written in class, all
work must be formatted in MLA style and keyboarded using a word processing program.
Print assignments the night before they are due to circumvent printing problems. Always
print two copies and keep one on file in case your first copy is lost or stolen.

Late Assignment Policy: All written assignments are due at the beginning of class. I will
deduct two letter grades for late assignments and accept no assignments after the first
class period past the deadline (e.g. if an assignment is due on Tuesday, I will not accept it
after Thursday). I will not accept late assignments placed under my office door.

Special Needs: If you have a physical disability or a learning disability, be sure you have
registered with Disability Services (RCH 111) to verify the disability and to determine
suitable academic accommodations. Then during the first week of class, make an
appointment to meet with me in my office to make arrangements specific to this class.
Later notification may result in the requested accommodations being unavailable.

Email: I generally check my Email once a day, usually early in the morning. Please limit your
emails to three well-written sentences. College policy requires that faculty members
communicate with students by Email exclusively through WarriorMail. I will not respond
to students who use their personal Email accounts. Please use Email reasonably and
efficiently. Please do not, for example, Email me after missing a class and expect me to
“tell” you what you “missed,” and please do not submit an assignment or an essay by
email as an attachment. I will accept only hard copies of written assignments. Email me
exclusively at hepworth@lcsc.edu and only at that address.

Incompletes: I will grant you a grade of Incomplete at the end of the semester if (1) you
have completed 80% of the work and (2) if you have a documented medical or family
emergency that occurs in the last few weeks of class.