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GASTON COLLEGECOURSE SYLLABUS FOR ENG 131: INTRODUCTION TO LITERATURE

DATE SYLLABUS REVISED: 11/27/2007

INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION AND OFFICE HOURS:

Instructor: Michele Domenech

Telephone: 704-922-6291

Email: domenech.michele@gaston.edu

Office Location: CAS 100B Office Hours: Mon (8-9, 10-12, 1-4, 4:30-5:30 ECC) Tues/Wed/Thurs (9-12) Fri (By Appt.)

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

This course introduces the principal genres of literature. Emphasis is placed on literary terminology,devices, structure, and interpretation. Upon completion, students should be able to analyze andrespond to literature. This course has been approved to satisfy the Comprehensive ArticulationAgreement general education core requirement in humanities/fine arts. This course is also availablethrough the Virtual Learning Community (VLC).

GENERAL EDUCATION OUTCOMES:ENG 131 addresses the following Gaston College General Education Outcomes:2. Communicate effectively through writing, reading, and speaking.

4. Examine the arts/humanities and social behavioral sciences from cultural and historic perspectives.

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

Upon completion of ENG 131, the student will be able to:1. Define important literary terminology and apply it correctly in discussions, tests, and essays.2. Define major characteristics of fiction, drama, and poetry.3. Support interpretations about a given work of literature through the analysis of important words, lines,

and passages.4. Follow MLA conventions of parenthetical references for fiction, drama, and poetry.5. Contruct properly formatted MLA syle essays designed to analyze important concepts within

representative works.CREDITS, HOURS, PREREQUISITES:

Number Semester Hours Credit:3

Number Class (Lecture) Hours Per Week: 3

Number Laboratory Hours Per Week: 0

Prerequisite(s): ENG 111

Co-requisite(s): ENG 112, ENG 113, or ENG 114 Course Format: Online

STUDENT MATERIALS NEEDED:

TextbooksKennedy, X.J. and Dana Gioia. An Introduction to Fiction, Poetry, Drama, and Writing. 10thed. Interactive Edition. New York: Pearson Longman, 2007.

Hacker, Diana. Writing about Literature, Supplement. 5th ed. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin's, 2003.

OTHER REQUIRED MATERIALS:

1GB flash drive.

Journal to write, draw and collect your ideas in

An email address and access to the internet.

Wiki

Course RequirementsWiki Participation:Weekly postings and short essays posted to wiki based on readings and discussion for the week. A good majorityof the writing will be done on the wiki. We are using the wiki to facilitate in-depth discussions of the literature aswell as to create a space where you all have the freedom to collaborate and be creative. Make the class what you

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would like it to be. You do not need my permission to start a discussion or pose a question. Simply add a page,link it to the Navigation Bar and off e go. If you need help, post it to the Help page on the wiki or send me anemail.

Essays:

Short Story3-4 typed pages, double-spaced, 12 pt., Times New Roman, MLA Style in which you criticallyanalyze, interpret, argue and support some idea/theme/symbol present in the story. More specifics tofollow on the wiki.

Poem/Collection3-4 typed pages, double-spaced, 12 pt., Times New Roman, MLA Style, in which youread a collection of poems by a single poet and formulate an argument about the writer, his technique,

content, etc. More specifics to follow on the wiki. Play3-4 typed pages, -spaced, 12 pt., Times New Roman, MLA Style in which you read and interpret a

play of your choice, speaking to specific symbols present in the play and how they represent something insociety. More specific details to come on the wiki.

Final Paper Novel: 8-10 pages, double-spaced, 12 pt., Times New Roman, MLA Style in which you readFahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury. You will formulate a thesis to represent your argument and support itwith examples from the novel as well as 3-4 outside sources. More specifics to follow on the wiki.

EVALUATION:

Wiki Participation: 40%

Essays:Critical Analysis Short Story 10%Critical Analysis Poem 10%Critical Analysis Play 10%

Final Paper 20%Final Exam 10%

Grades are based on the following scale:

A = 90-100B = 80-89C = 70-79D = 60-69I = Incomplete. (Written agreement between instructor and student is required. Work must be

completed prior to the end of the following semester.)

F = Unsatisfactory (Course must be repeated.)W = WithdrawalAU = AuditCE = Credit by Exam (Must be completed within the first 7 days of the semester.)

Arts and Science Division Policy: Grades are based on a ten-point grading scale.

ATTENDANCE POLICY:Participation on the wiki is equivalent to attendance in the class.

College Policy: The instructional work of the college is designed for class attendance. The responsibility forclass attendance is placed specifically on the individual student. At the beginning of each course, it is theresponsibility of each instructor to notify classes in writing of the attendance requirements to which the studentsmust adhere.

The college reserves the right to sever its relationship with any student who fails to maintain the respectiveattendance requirements. Such a student can be dismissed from a given class upon recommendation of theinstructor. A student may be withdrawn by the instructor, prior to the withdrawal deadline, for having absences.Under no circumstances will children or other non-enrolled individuals be allowed to attend class

MAKEUP POLICY:I do not accept late or make-up work!

College Policy: The student is responsible for all material covered in each course for which he is registered. Inno instance does absence from class relieve the student from the responsibility for the performance of any part ofthe course work. The student is further responsible for initiating any request to make up work because of classabsence. The decision to assist the student with makeup work, including tests, in every case rests with theinstructor. The instructor may require verification of medical or personal circumstances presented by the student

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to influence this decision. Course work not made up may cost a student grade advantage in the final evaluationsince the instructor is not required to offer the student an opportunity to make up course work. Course work thatan instructor accepts late may result in the student receiving a lower grade for the work.

TARDINESS POLICY:No policy necessary in an online class.

COURSE WITHDRAWAL PROCEDURE:I will not withdraw you from the class.

College Policy: It is the students responsibility to withdraw from class. Withdrawal from a course for academicreasons must be initiated by the student prior to the eleventh week of the semester. The student must completeand submit an official withdrawal form available in the Office of the Registrar. (Note: A student who stopsattending classes for any reason should not expect the instructor to drop him or her.)

STUDENT BEHAVIOR POLICIES:Since the class is online, I expect all of you to have respect for everyone in the class.

College Policy: According to the Student Handbook, All students have the right to a safe, peaceful and honesteducational environment. Therefore, when in the judgment of college officials a students conduct disrupts orthreatens to disrupt the college community, appropriate disciplinary action will be taken to restore and protectthe safety, peace, and integrity of the community. Certain behaviors are prohibited, including, but not limited toacademic dishonesty, theft or damage to property on college premises, violation of the drug and alcohol policy,lewd or indecent conduct, violation of the sexual harassment policy, intentional obstruction or disruption of

teaching, mental or physical abuse of any person on college premises, and violation of the computer resourcesacceptable use policy. The student code of conduct, disciplinary procedures, and policies listed above appear inthe Student Handbook.

ELECTRONIC DEVICES STATEMENT:College Policy: To minimize classroom disruptions and protect the integrity of test-taking situations, electroniccommunication devices such as telephones and pagers are generally not permitted in instructional areas atGaston College. See the Gaston College Student Handbook for emergency personnel exceptions. Cell phonesmust be turned off before entering classroom. Pagers must be silent.

ADA STATEMENT:College Policy: In order to receive services under the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504, studentsare responsible for supplying appropriate documentation of a disability to the Counseling Center well in advanceof class registration. Students should also schedule a meeting with a counselor in the Counseling Center todiscuss individual needs regarding reasonable accommodations. The Counselor for Special Needs may be reached

at (704) 922-6224 or in Myers Center Room 231. See the Gaston College Academic Catalog for details.

CAMPUS SAFETY ANNOUNCEMENT:Gaston College is very concerned about protecting our students, employees, and visitors at all campuses. You canhelp the College to protect everyone by reporting any suspicious activities or threats to your instructor, CampusPolice, or any other college official. The College takes steps to protect anyone who has reason to believe thathe/she is in danger. Also, remember to keep your belongings in secure places at all times. The College offers freeand confidential counseling services to students with personal concerns. Students may be referred to localcommunity resources when warranted.

"Together, we can help our campus to be a safer place.

Important Contact Information

Campus Police/SecurityDallas Campus, Pharr Trade and Industrial Building (PTI), Room 125, 704-922-6480Lincoln Campus, Room 119, 704-748-1049

Counseling CenterDallas Campus, 2nd Floor Myers Center, 704-922-6220Lincoln Campus, Room 201, 704-748-1051

East CampusDean of the East Campus, ECC 207, 704-825-3737, Ext. 341

ACADEMIC COMPLAINTS PROCEDURE:College Policy: Most academic matters generally will be left to the discretion of the faculty member. Instructorshave the academic freedom to cover the material on the departmentally approved syllabus in a variety of ways.

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Some instructors may have primarily lecture formats while others may have class discussion/participation drivenformats. Some classes, by nature of the course, cover controversial topics. This does not mean the instructorpersonally espouses a particular point of view (lifestyle, religious affiliation, ethnic view, etc.). Any complaintsabout your academic experiences (other than final grade) may be addressed informally or formally. Academiccomplaints are defined as complaints regarding course design and content, teaching performance, and instructorconduct. No retaliation or adverse action will be taken against the student for filing the complaint. If possible, talkdirectly to your instructor in a professional, courteous manner about your issue, and make a good faith effort toresolve the issue. If this approach does not work to your satisfaction, you may wish to make a formal, writtenacademic complaint. The Academic Complaint Form may be obtained from an administrative assistant in anyDeans office. The form asks you to put your complaint and your proposed resolution in writing, and it guides youthrough a step-by-step process. If you inappropriately attempt to register your complaint to a higheradministrator in the organization, you will most likely be directed to follow the Academic Complaint processthrough the supervisory chain unless you have an urgent issue of health, safety or welfare that warrantsimmediate attention.

DEPARTMENT CHAIRS IN THE ARTS & SCIENCES DIVISION:

Department ChairOffice

LocationOfficePhone Office Email

Language &Literature Dr. Joe Argent CAS 218

704.922.6354 argent.joe@gaston.edu

Dean of Arts &Sciences Dr. Dewey Dellinger CAS 104

704.922.6310 dellinger.dewey@gaston.edu

FINAL EXAM INFORMATION:There will be an objective final exam for this class to be administered at Dalpiaz the week of finals. You will have2 hours to take the exam, and you may use a 5x7 note card to assist you in completing the exam.

FINAL EXAM SCHEDULE:The final exam will be placed in Dalpiaz beginning May 1st, and it will be available until May 5th.

COMPUTER ACCESSUpon registration and payment for a course, students will be given access to campus computer labs. Studentsshould refer to the GC Student Handbook and review the "Acceptable Use Policy" before using any campuscomputers. To monitor use of the campus computers, each student has been assigned a user name and apassword.General Log-in Instructions:

1.User name: Type in the first six letters of your last name plus your first and middle initial. If your lastname is shorter than six letters, just type in your entire last name and first and second initial. Example:Mary Ann Smiths user name would be: smithma. (Note to women: Know how the registrars office hasyour name recorded if you are married. Your initials may or may not include your maiden name.)

2. Password: Type in the last five digits of your social security number plus all three of your initials.Example: If Marys social security number is 123-45-6789, her password would be: 56789mas.

On some computers, a second login window pops up. If this happens, just press enter and it should go away. Ifyou experience problems getting logged in, try clicking the box that says workstation only. Also, make sure thenumbers lock key is depressed.Be sure to log out when finished. Students are allowed 125 sheets of paper per week. Technology Services keepstrack of this through login records. Always save paper when possible and always log out so that the next studentdoes not printyourpaper.

BlackboardBlackboard is the name of a Website designed to assist teachers in course management. Students can log intoBlackboard and review lessons, print copies of documents, get links to Websites, etc. Login instructions are:

1. Go online to www.gaston.edu.2. Click on the Login link under the Blackboard Icon3. Click on User Login and enter your username and password. Your username and password are the

same as for the general login instructions.

* Note: if there is a time when the college web page is down, Blackboard can be accessed through the followinglink: http://gcvlc.gaston.edu .* Note: Gaston College Technology Services recommends the use of "Internet Explorer when working fromhome. Difficulties with Netscape used by AOL have been reported on numerous occasions.

mailto:dellinger.dewey@gaston.eduhttp://www.gaston.edu/http://gcvlc.gaston.edu/mailto:dellinger.dewey@gaston.eduhttp://www.gaston.edu/http://gcvlc.gaston.edu/

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The North Carolina Community College System has contracted with Presidium Learning to provide onlineassistance to students using the Blackboard Course Management System. If you have any difficulty with theGaston College Blackboard System, contact Presidium Learning toll-free at 1-866-829-9690 or accesstheir online helpdesk at http://d2.parature.com/ics/support/default.asp?deptID=4308

WebAdvisorWebAdvisor is the name of the data management system used by the college. Students can log into WebAdvisorand access their semester grades, print an unofficial transcript, contact their advisor, print their schedule, andperform many other tasks. Login instructions are:

1. Go online to www.gaston.edu.

2. Click on the Login link under the WebAdvisor Icon3. Students will follow the directions printed on this page to access their WebAdvisor account.

Student EmailStudent NETMAIL is an email account designed for students. The purpose of this account is to communicate withyour instructor(s) at Gaston College. You can check this email account from any internet connection

Your email address will be "username@nmail.gaston.edu" (for example - "Mary Ann Smith"s emailaddress would be "msmith@nmail.gaston.edu")

Login instructions are:

1. Go online to www.gaston.edu.2. Click on the Login link under the Student NETMAIL Icon3. Enter your username and password. Your username and password are the same as for the general

login instructions.

4. You will be given access to your student email account at this time. Please take time to explore thefeatures of this email tool such as composing emails, creating folders, building an address book andmuch more!

http://www.gaston.edu/http://www.gaston.edu/http://www.gaston.edu/http://www.gaston.edu/