British Literature I

English 241

Three Semester Credit Hours

Cheryl Saba – E-mail – csaba@capefear.cc.nc.us

http://cfcc.edu/csaba

Office Hours: MWF 2-3, TTH 10-11

Appointments Also Accepted

Semester: Fall 2000 Office: S301I

Section: 01 Telephone: 251-5931

Class Meetings: TTH 8-9:15am Mailbox: S301

Required Text:

Abrams, M.H., gen.ed. The Norton Anthology of English Literature. 7^th ed. Vol.1.

New York: Norton, 2000.

Catalogue Course Description:

This course provides a survey of selected works in British literature from its beginnings to the Romantic period. Emphasis is placed on historical background, cultural context, and literary analysis of selected prose, poetry, and drama. Upon completion, students should be able to interpret, analyze, and respond to literary works in their historical and cultural contexts.

Prerequisite:

English 112 or English 114

Course Objectives:

By successfully competing this course, you should be able to apply the following to a mastery level of at least sixty-eight percent on quizzes and essays:

Learn literary terms and conventions that pertain to each period
Study the historical, political, social, and philosophical backgrounds of the times and the authors studied
Read literary criticism beyond that provided by the textbook’s editors and incorporate literary criticism into at least one paper
Write several analytical and/or interpretive essays using as a primary source one or more of the studied texts in the various units

Official Grading Scale:

A 92-100 D 68-75 WP-Withdrawal Passing

B 84-91 F 0-67 WF-Withdrawal Failing

C 76-83 I -Incomplete NC-No Credit

Attendance:

Because your attendance is mandatory, you are allowed only three excused absences from class during the semester. Each of the two absences following your first three will result in a three-point decrease in the percentage of your grade allotted for attendance. If you incur more than five total absences, you will immediately be taken off of my role sheet, regardless of where in the semester we are. It will be your responsibility to officially remove yourself from the class by filling out the proper paperwork through the registrar’s office. Due to the emphasis on class participation, you cannot earn a passing grade if you miss more than five meetings.

If you know you will be missing class at any time, please notify me so that I can inform you of what you may be missing. Ultimately, it is your responsibility to make sure that you are always aware of assignments given when you are absent so that you will not fall behind on scheduled deadlines. Two tardies will always equal one absence. If you are ever tardy, you must request at the end of that class that I change your absence to a tardy. In addition, if you either up to fifteen minutes late or leave fifteen minutes early, you will automatically be marked absent. Hence, I strongly suggest that you reserve you absences for emergencies only.

Course Presentation:

In this course, we will be using a combination of the following methods:

lecture group work out-of-class writing in-class writing

reading conferences class discussion research/presentation activities

Essay Components (MLA Format):

four to six pages each (article summaries will be three to five pages each)
typed, double-spaced
margins of one inch
cover sheet (including name, course and section numbers, instructor, and title)

- proper works cited sheet

You will have homework due for each class meeting consisting of relative material that will be discussed in class as needed. We will take part in group activities frequently, so it is important that you always come to class prepared with your complete notes and assignments. You are expected to take notes on all important textual and supplemental information given to you in order to be sufficiently prepared for unit tests and pop-quizzes. Class participation is a necessary factor in you overall grade, so it would be beneficial for you to become involved in what the class is attempting to accomplish.

Percentage Breakdown:

Unit tests: 30% (15% each)
Unit essays: 30% (15% each)
Quizzes, homework: 10%
Presentation: 10%
Two article summaries: 15%
Attendance, participation: 5%

Additional Class Points:

All assignments are given a due-date and must be turned in on time. Since the calendar tells you exactly when a paper/assignment is due, no late papers/assignments will be accepted. Similarly, no exams or quizzes can be made up. If you have some sort of documented emergency, you must notify me immediately. If you are absent on a day a written assignment is due, make sure that the paper somehow makes it into my hands by the time your particular class period is through. You will not be required to clear essay topics with me, however, you are always welcome to run your topic by me first so that I can help guide your analysis, offer suggestions, or present you with options. I also encourage you to allow me to view rough drafts of essays before you print your final copy, if you think that you analysis or interpretation is somehow lacking. In any case, please do not hesitate to ask me any questions at any time, and enjoy!