North Central Texas College
Ponder High School
Christopher Harold, M.A.
charold@nctc.edu
Course Name & Number – ENGL 2323-0880 | British Literature II
Semester & Year – Spring 2026 | 21 January- 17 May 2026
Catalog Description:
A survey of the development of British literature from the Romantic period to the present.
Students will study works of prose, poetry, drama, and fiction about their historical and cultural
contexts. Texts will be selected from a diverse group of authors and traditions.
Prerequisite:
ENGL 2322
Office Phone # - 940-479-8352
Instructor’s Office # - 229
Office Hours by appointment.
I am always available via email. I will do everything possible to meet with you electronically or
before/after class. My goal is your success, and I will help however I can. Just contact me and let
me know how.
Important Dates
https://www.nctc.edu/catalog/academic-calendar.html
Textbooks & Materials:
Online content is provided on Canvas.
Evaluation Criteria
Course Discussions/Quizzes/Unit Reflections
Reading/Writing/Reflection Journal
Cultural Questions
Conceptualism with the Classics (poetry project)
Correlative Research Project
Rewriting Shakespeare (become a playwright)
Print Magazine Project
Final
Learning Outcomes
Identify key ideas, representative authors and works, significant historical or cultural events, and
characteristic perspectives or attitudes expressed in the literature of different periods or regions.
Analyze literary works as expressions of individual or communal values within different literary
periods' social, political, cultural, or religious contexts.
Demonstrate knowledge of the development of characteristic forms or styles of expression
during different historical periods or regions.
Articulate the aesthetic principles that guide the scope and variety of works in the arts and
humanities.
Write research-based critical papers about the assigned readings in clear and grammatically
correct prose, using various critical approaches to literature.
Foundational Component Area: Language, Philosophy, and Culture
Critical Thinking Skills (CT) - to include creative thinking, innovation, inquiry, analysis,
evaluation, and synthesis of information
Communication Skills (COM) - to include effective development, interpretation, and expression
of ideas through written, oral, and visual communication
Social Responsibility (SR) - to include intercultural competency, knowledge of civic
responsibility, and the ability to engage effectively in regional, national, and global communities
Personal Responsibility (PR) - to include the ability to connect choices, actions, and
consequences to ethical decision-making
Institutional Learning Goals
A quality general education curriculum in all associate degree programs. Quality freshman and
sophomore-level courses in arts and sciences parallel the lower-division offerings of four-year
colleges and universities.
Quality technical programs lead directly to careers in semi-skilled and skilled occupations, and
quality technical education programs up to two years in length lead to certificates and associate
degrees.
Quality programs and services in support of adult literacy and essential skills development as a
means of workforce enhancement and expanding access to higher education.
Program Purpose Statement
NCTC seeks to implement its goal of providing quality freshman and sophomore-level courses in
arts and sciences that parallel the lower division offerings of four-year colleges and universities
by offering a coherent sequence of courses with appropriate breadth and depth to prepare a
student for transfer to a university.
Departmental Purpose Statement
The Department of English, Speech, and Foreign Language provides quality instruction to
students pursuing academic and career goals.
Grading Policy & Procedures
All grades taken will be weighted equally and entered into Canvas under the same category.
Everything we do is important to me (and hopefully to you). The average reflected in Canvas
will be the accurate and sole average for the course as it develops. Everything will be graded on
a 100-point, percentile-based scale. At the end of the semester, your grade in Canvas will be your
final average for the course. It is your responsibility to keep up with your grades in Canvas.
Don't hesitate to get in touch with me first with any issues/discrepancies you might come across.
There will be no extra credit given at any time. Here is a basic explanation/summary of what
your grades mean:
A (90-100) level work: What you submitted is filled with your voice, maturity, and academic
prowess. You practiced a writing process, planned your work out, thought about your audience,
revised, and put forth great effort. Your words are carefully chosen, and your sentences are
rhetorically strong. The hope of the work is clear, and your development/organization is on
point. You have exceeded my expectations.
B (80-89) level work: What you submitted shows signs of your voice, maturity, and academic
prowess. You likely practiced a writing process, planned your work out, revised, and put forth
effort. Your word choice is sharp, but your piece lacks rhetorical consideration. The hope of the
piece is explicitly stated, and the development/organization needs some attention. Your work has
met my expectations, and I can see potential.
C (70-79) level work: What you submitted shows minimal signs of voice, maturity, and
academic prowess. It seems like your piece was only created once and/or not revised enough.
The work has an undeveloped point, and it is not developed well enough. You’ve accomplished
the minimum. The base level of expectations has been met, but I can tell that you have more to
give.
D (60-69) level work: What you submitted doesn’t show signs of voice, collegiate work, or
academic prowess. The piece feels rushed and is not at the college level. I cannot see the hope in
your work, and there isn’t much development or organization. The base level of expectations was
not met.
F (59 and below) level work: What you submitted fails to meet any expectations or you didn’t
offer something complete enough for me to evaluate at the collegiate level.
Again, don't hesitate to contact me first with any questions or concerns about a grade you
receive. I am more than happy to go into further detail about my reasoning and philosophy
behind the decision.
Attendance Policy
Regular and punctual attendance is expected of all students in all classes for which they have
registered. All absences are considered unauthorized unless the student is absent due to illness or
emergencies as determined by the instructor. The students are responsible for providing
documentation as to the emergency for approval and judgment by the faculty
member. Approved college-sponsored activities are the only absences for which a student
should not be held liable and only when provided by a college official ahead of the absence.
Valid reasons for absence, however, do not relieve the student of the responsibility for making
up the required work. Students will only be allowed to make up an examination missed due to
absence if they have reasons acceptable to the instructor. A student who is compelled to be
absent when a test is given should petition the instructor in advance, if possible, for permission to
postpone the exam. Students will be dropped from a class by the Registrar upon recommendation
of the instructor who feels the student has been justifiably absent or tardy a sufficient number of
times to preclude meeting the course’s objectives. Persistent, unjustified absences from classes or
laboratories will be considered sufficient cause for College officials to drop a student from the
rolls of the College. From Board Policy FC (LOCAL).
Prompt attendance is an expectation for this course. Please be ready to start class at the intended
time if it is a face-to-face course. Please prepare time daily to work online. Don’t make a habit of
being late to scheduled classes or commit time online. I understand that unavoidable instances
arise in life, but through all action, a reaction is born.
After four (4) absences or two weeks of missed assignments, we will talk about your
performance thus far and your likelihood of success in the future. All decisions will be made by
first consulting with one another. Each issue concerning absences will be handled individually
and ALWAYS after discussing everything. If you remain in the course with an exceptional
number of absences or late work, please continue to do work and give more effort than you
previously have. I will only force drop a student who has excessive absences and will not/cannot
communicate with me. I will do this only in cases where all other efforts have been made toward
your successful completion of the course.
Work will only be accepted with a formal letter explaining the late assignment. Please do not
include a personal address in the letter. The content is what I’m after. In a face-to-face course,
the letter and the late assignment must be printed off and brought to me during class time. A
separate email must be sent online, including both documents in a digital format. It will be
considered late if work is not turned in to me at the previously posted/discussed date. I will
accept late work over one week only in dire circumstances, and it is at my discretion whether it
will be formally graded. After two late assignments, we will discuss how to solve whatever
environmental stressors have arisen. I reserve the right not to evaluate late work and
administratively drop students who do not meet our attendance expectations and late work policy
as defined above.
If you will receive a zero for an assignment, I still expect to read and view your work. Please
keep going if you miss a due date. Have grit. Again, all situations will be evaluated
independently, and acceptance for a grade is up to my evaluation of the reasoning provided. I am
here to help and will do so in whatever way(s) I can.
ADA Statement
North Central Texas College does not discriminate based on disability for admission or program
access. The College is committed to providing equal access to its students with disabilities by
providing appropriate accommodations; a variety of services and resources are made available
through the ACCESS Department. Students are responsible for notifying the ACCESS
Department of their need for assistance. Students with documented disabilities, such as mobility
impairment, hearing or visual impairment, learning, and/or psychological disorders are eligible
for services.
Disability Accommodations
The Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD) accommodates students with a documented
disability. A disability can interfere with learning, such as a learning disability, psychological
challenge, physical illness, or injury. Accommodations may include extra time on tests, tests in a
distraction-reduced environment, volunteer note-taking in class, etc.
North Central Texas College is on record as being committed to both the spirit and letter of
federal equal opportunity legislation, including the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of
1990, ADA Amendments Act of 2009, and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (P.L.
93-112).
http://www.nctc.edu/StudentServices/SupportServices/Disabilityservices/DisabilitiesFacultyReso
urces.aspx
Scholastic Integrity
Scholastic dishonesty shall include, but not be limited to cheating on a test, plagiarism, and
collusion. See Student Handbook “Student Rights & Responsibilities: Student Conduct [FLB-
(LOCAL)]” #18.
Disciplinary Actions [Student Handbook, #5] “When cheating, collusion, or plagiarism has
occurred beyond any reasonable doubt, the instructor may give the student or students involved
an “F” on a particular assignment or in the course. [See Scholastic Dishonesty FLB (Local)] The
instructor shall make a written report of the incident and the planned action to his Department
Chair. The Department Chair shall report the incident and action to the appropriate instructional
dean who shall review the case, notify the student and, if necessary, take further action. This
may involve either probation or suspension of the student or students in question. If such
disciplinary action is deemed necessary, the Dean of Student Services shall be notified, and the
action shall be taken through that office.”
Plagiarism, which should be avoided at all costs, includes the following student actions:
Turning in someone else's ideas, opinions, theories, or work as your own, including AI writing:
Unintentionally or inadvertently turning in someone else's ideas, opinions, theories, or work as
your own as the result of failing to document sources both internally and in the Works Cited;
Copying words, ideas, or images from someone without giving credit; Failing to put a quotation
in quotation marks;
Giving incorrect information about the source of information, quotations, or images;
Changing words but copying the sentence structure of a source without giving credit;
Copying so many words, ideas, or images from a source makes up most of the student's work,
whether or not the student gives credit.
Please do not cheat on an assignment. Ever. If you are struggling, contact me, and we can work
through any issue together. You've gained nothing even if you get away with it and fool me.
Email me if you’re feeling the urge to cheat on any assignment, big or small.
EEOC Statement
North Central Texas College does not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, gender,
religion, age, or disability in the employment or the provision of services.
Etiquette/Professionalism Policy
We will read material from a diverse group of thinkers and writers. There will be a constant
sharing of ideas and values, many with which you may not agree. A polite debate is welcome
and will be required from time to time. Insults and denigration of the ideas shared is not welcome
and will not be tolerated. Any student who mocks, scoffs, or is aggressive in any way towards
another student or me will be promptly dismissed, counted absent, and may not return to class
until said student has experienced a conference with the chair of the Department of English,
Speech, and Foreign Language and me. Please conduct yourself as a professional in our
classroom. Consider your academic audience, purpose, and occasion at all times. Listen and be
kind to one another.
Support Services
Counseling and Testing staff offer a variety of services to current and prospective students, such
as College 101, placement testing, academic advising, and course registration, transfer
assistance, and College Success seminars (Time Management, Study Skills, Test Anxiety,
Choosing a Major, Learning Style Strategies, Career Exploration), and much more.
http://www.nctc.edu/StudentServices/CounselingTesting.aspx
Student Success offers academic coaching and tutoring, including a Writing Center, a Math Lab,
free 24/7 online tutoring through Grade Results, and assist new students in acclimating to college
by providing computer lab services for prospective students. First-generation students can also
participate in TRIO, which offers specialized support services.
http://www.nctc.edu/StudentServices/SupportServices.aspx
Financial Aid offers financial resources for qualified students; visit the financial aid offices for
more information. http://www.nctc.edu/FInancialAidHome.aspx
Early Alert/CARES
The NCTC Early Alert program has been established to assist students who are at risk of failing
or withdrawing from a course. Your instructor may refer you to this program if you need to
complete assignments, failing tests, excessively absent, or have personal circumstances
impacting your academic performance. If submitted as an Early Alert you will be notified via
your NCTC e-mail address and then contacted by a Counseling and Testing advisor or counselor
to discuss possible strategies for completing your course successfully. The NCTC CARES
(Campus Assessment Response Evaluation Services) Team addresses behavior that may be
disruptive, harmful, or pose a threat to the health and safety of the NCTC community-such as
stalking, harassment, physical or emotional abuse, violent or threatening behavior, or self-harm.
As a student, you can report concerning behavior that could impact your safety or the safety of
another NCTC student. Just click the NCTC CARES Team logo posted on MyNCTC, or e-mail
CARESTeam@nctc.edu. As always, if you feel an immediate threat to your safety or welfare (or
to another student), please call 911 immediately.
Student Life!
At NCTC, we are working hard to provide an array of fun opportunities for students to come
together in a social setting with their classmates and other members of the college community.
These opportunities range from student organizations, student activities, leadership retreats,
service-learning trips, intramural sports, outdoor pursuits, and everything in between. It’s all
aimed at providing a place for students at NCTC to learn and grow outside of the classroom.
Contact Brisa Chavez in Room 173 (bchavez@nctc.edu) for more information. Get connected
with Student Life on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram “lifeatnctc” or Snap Chat “lifeatnctc5.”
I reserve the right to change dates, assignments, and topics at my discretion. Please note that I
will only move things to benefit your hard work and needed extension of time, should that need
arise.QUESTIONS, CONCERNS, or COMPLAINTS The student should first contact the instructor to deal with any questions, concerns, or complaints specific to the class. If the student and faculty ar
student may proceed to contact the instructional dean.
For general course questions, please contact your instructor, whose contact information can be found above in the "Instructor Information" section.
Name of Chair/Coordinator: Lisa Smart
Office Location: Corinth 171
Telephone number: (940) 498-6282, ext. 4961|
E-mail address: Ismart@nctc.edu
Name of Instructional Dean: Mary Martinson
Office Location: Gainesville
Telephone number: (940) 668-7731, ext. 4377
E-mail address: mmartinson@nctc.edu