Course Name & Number

ENGL 2327.500

American Literature I

Semester & Year

 Spring 2017

Catalog Description

The study of major writers and their works from the colonial period through the Civil War Period, including the philosophical and cultural background to the works; reports and essays.

Prerequisite:  ENGL 1301 or equivalent  

Instructor’s Name

Erica C. Thompson

Office Phone #

972-899-8337

Instructor’s Office #

FM 107

Office Fax #

--

E-mail Address

ecthompson@nctc.edu

Office Hours

MWF 8-9 am

MW 12-2 pm

TR 8-9:30 am

Textbooks &  Materials

Required / Recommended

American Tradition in Literature, Vol. 1, Perkins, McGraw-Hill, 12^th Ed

Learning Outcomes

Students who successfully complete English 2327 will meet the following learning outcomes:

1. 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.
2. Analyze literary works as expressions of individual or communal values within the social, political, cultural, or religious contexts of different literary periods.
3. Demonstrate knowledge of the development of characteristic forms or styles of expression during different historical periods or in different regions.
4. Articulate the aesthetic principles that guide the scope and variety of works in the arts and humanities.
5. Write research-based critical papers about the assigned readings in clear and grammatically correct prose, using various critical approaches to literature.

Core Objectives

Foundational Component Area:  Language, Philosophy, and Culture

*Critical Thinking Skills (CT)- to include creative thinking, innovation, inquiry, and 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-

Grading Policy & Procedures

LO = Learning Outcomes; FCA = Foundational Component Area

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 of the planned action to his Department Chair.  The Department Chair shall report the incident and action to 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:

1. Turning in someone else's ideas, opinions, theories, or work as your own;
2. 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;
3. Copying words, ideas, or images from someone without giving credit; Failing to put a quotation in quotations marks;
4. Giving incorrect information about the source of information, quotations, or images;
5. Changing words but copying the sentence structure of a source without giving credit;
6. Copying so many words, ideas, or images from a source that it makes up the majority of the student's work, whether or not the student gives credit.

Also, please be aware that you are the student, and it is your writing I expect to see.

·         DO NOT have another person write, type, or “edit” any part of your writing assignments.

·         DO NOT have another person revise any part of your writing assignments outside of instructor or writing center help.

·         DO NOT use someone else’s writing assignment or buy one from a “professional” source.

·         DO NOT use material on the internet or from print sources without documenting it in the essay.

Consequences: An assignment in ENGL 2327.500 that the instructor considers to be in whole or in part intentionally plagiarized will receive a zero, and the student must meet with me to discuss their future in the course. The student will also be reported to the department chair and division dean.  

Attendance Policy

**Students who miss more than three weeks of class (6 class days) must drop the class or they will earn an F. **

• Note: There are no “excused” or “unexcused” absences in college; an absence is an absence.
• If you must be absent, you are expected to be prepared for class in the same manner as those students who were present.

• DO NOT email or phone me to get homework or missed assignments. Get contact information for a classmate and request information from that classmate.
• Note that the reading calendar, assignments, and due dates may change at the instructor’s discretion. It is the student’s responsibility to be prepared for class.

Make-Up Work Policy

• There will be NO make-ups or late acceptance of any class work, analytic responses, quizzes, presentations, or essays.

• All writing assignments are to be turned in online by the due date.

Punctuality and Professionalism

• Class begins on time. Please pay your classmates and me the respect of coming to class on time.
• Use the restroom before class starts. Once class starts, do not leave to use the restroom.
• You may bring drinks (WITH LIDS) to class, but leave the food outside.
• If cell phone/tablet/laptop use becomes distracting to me or your classmates, I’ll ask you to put your device away and may ask you to leave the class, at which point you will be counted absent.
• If you leave class early without approval, you will be counted absent.
• NOTE: If you find your social media more engaging than class, then you need to consider what you hope to get out of the class.

ADA Statement

The Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD) provides accommodations for students who have a documented disability. On the Corinth Campus, go to room 170 or call 940-498-6207. On the Gainesville Campus, go to room 110 or call 940-668-4209.  Students on the Bowie, Graham, Flower Mound, and online campuses should call 940-668-4209.

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.aspx

Student Success Center

The Student Success Center is designed to help all students at NCTC develop tools to achieve their academic goals. This program also links students to FREE tutoring, including a Writing Center, a Math Lab, and free 24/7 online tutoring, and helps new students acclimate to college by providing computer lab services for prospective students. All students are invited to visit the Student Success Center. On the Corinth Campus, go to rooms 170, 182, or 188; on the Gainesville Campus, go to rooms 114 or 111; on the Flower Mound Campus, go to room 111; on the Bowie Campus, go to room 124.

Early Alert and NCTC 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 are missing 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 which may be disruptive, harmful or pose a threat to 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 have the ability to report concerning behavior which could impact your own safety or the safety of another NCTC student. Just click the NCTC CARES Team logo posted on MyNCTC, or send an e-mail to CARESTeam@nctc.edu.  As always, if you feel there is an immediate threat to your own safety or welfare (or to another student), please call 911 immediately.

Tobacco-Free Campus

NCTC restricts the use of all tobacco products including cigarettes, cigars, pipes, electronic cigarettes, and smokeless tobacco on campus property. NCTC is aware that tobacco use influences underage students, which cumulates unsightly tobacco litter and interferes with assuring clean air for all who come to NCTC. NCTC recognizes the health hazards of tobacco use and of exposure to second hand smoke. Information on a tobacco cessation program is available for students, faculty, staff who wish to stop using tobacco products. We would like to "thank you" for your help in making our campuses Tobacco-Free. For questions or concerns, please contact the Office of Vice President of Student Services at 940-668-4240.

Course Calendar

The class meets TR, 9:30-10:50 am

Assignments are DUE on the day posted. So, your first reading assignments are DUE on Tues, 1/24. Be prepared to defend your reading in a quiz and discuss the texts with the class.

Week of Jan 16: Course Intro

Tues

·         Discussion of expectations; overview of course, attendance, and grades

Thurs

·         Analyzing and writing about literature.

·         Essay 1 assigned; due Feb 13

Week of Jan 23: Native American Literature

Tues

·         “The Origin of Stories” (PDF on Canvas)

·          N. Scott Momaday—“The Arrowmaker” (PDF on Canvas)

Thurs

·         Natives and Explorers, 9-10

·         Native Literature: The Oral Tradition, 11-17

Week of Jan 30: Exploration Literature

Tues

·         Exploration and the Colonies, 1-8

·         Christopher Columbus, 17-19

·         Giovanni da Verrazzano, 20-24

·         Alvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca, 24-28

Thurs

·         Richard Hakluyt, 28-30

·         Samuel de Champlain, 30-34

·         Essay 1 Q&A

Week of Feb 6: Colonial Literature

Tues

·         John Smith, 35-48

·         William Bradford, 49-50 and 58-64

·         Iroquois Constitution (PDF on Canvas)

Thurs

·         John Winthrop, 72-80

·         Bring draft of Essay 1 to class to discuss

·         Essay 1 due on Canvas by Monday, Feb 13 @ 11:59 pm

Week of Feb 13: Puritan Literature

Tues

·         Puritanism, 86-88

·         Anne Bradstreet, 89-90; “The Flesh and the Spirit,” 92-95; “Contemplations,” 95-102; “To My Dear and Loving Husband,” 103; “In Memory,” 105

·         Michael Wigglesorth, 107-118

·         Edward Taylor, 155-156; “The Preface,” 156-157; ‘Upon a Spider Catching a Fly,” 162-163

Thurs

·         Crosscurrents: Puritanism, Indians, and Witchcraft, 165-171

·         Cotton Mather, 172-179

·         The Examination of Mrs. Anne Hutchinson at the Court at Newton. 1637 (PDF on Canvas)

·         Essay 2 assigned: due March 10

Week of Feb 20: American Enlightenment Literature

Tues

·         Watch “Utopian Vision” (in class)

·         Reason and Revolution 249-253

·         John Locke (PDF on Canvas)

·         Benjamin Franklin 282-284

o    from The Autobiography—as assigned

Thurs

·         Thomas Paine, 333-345 (top)

·         Thomas Jefferson, 374-382; 387-390

·         The Federalist, 407-415

Week of Feb 27: Enlightenment, Cont’d

Tues

·         Olaudah Equiano, 390-400

·          Phillis Wheatley, 400-402; “On Being Brought,” 403; “To S.M.,” 405

Thurs: American Romantic Literature

·         Romantic Temper, 505-512

·          Red Jacket, 513-515

·         Tecumseh, 515-517

·         Crosscurrents: Romanticism and the American Indian, 553-567

Week of March 6: Romanticism, Cont’d

Tues

·         Washington Irving, 517-519; “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow,” 533-552

·          William Cullen Bryant, 779-781; “Thanatopsis,” 781-83; “The Yellow Violet,” 783-84;“Inscription,” 783-84; “Fringed Venetian,” 789

·         Essay 2 Q&A

Thurs: The Darker Side of Romantic Literature

·         Romanticism at Mid-Century, 840-841

·         Edgar Allen Poe, 842-844; “Science,” 845; “Lenore,” 846; “The Raven,” 852-855; “The Tell-Tale Heart,” 884-888

·         Bring draft of Essay 2 to class to discuss

·         Essay due by Friday, March 10 @ 11:59 pm

Week of March 13

SPRING BREAK

Week of March 20: American Romanticism, Cont’d

Tues and Thurs

·         Nathaniel Hawthorne: 913-915

·         “Young Goodman Brown ,”

·         “The Minister's Black Veil ,”

·         “The Birthmark,”

·         Essay 3 assigned: due April 10

Week of March 27: American Romanticism, Cont’d

Tues

·         Herman Melville, 1132-33

·          “Bartleby the Scrivener,” 1141-65

Thurs: Transcendental Literature

·         Transcendentalism, 1277-78

·         Ralph Waldo Emerson, 1279-81; “Self-Reliance,”1334-50; “The Over-Soul,” 1350-61

·         Essay 3 Q&A

Week of April 3: Transcendentalism, Cont’d

Tues

·         Henry David Thoreau, 1410-12; Walden, “Where I Lived and What I Lived For,” 1453-62 and “Conclusion,” 1570-77

·          “Civil Disobedience,” 1577-92

Thurs

·         Crosscurrents: Transcendentalism, Women and Social Ideas, 1398-1409

·          Margaret Fuller, 1384-85; “Woman in the Nineteenth Century,” 1386-1397

·         Bring draft of Essay 3 to class for discussion

·         Essay 3 due by Monday, April  10 @ 11:59 pm

Note: The last day to withdraw from NCTC classes and receive a “W” is 4/6

Week of April 10: Seeking Freedom Literature

Tues

·         Humanitarian Sensibility, 1605-10

·         Crosscurrents: Slavery, 1611-29

·          Abraham Lincoln, 1700-06

Thurs

·         Harriet Jacobs, 1734-35

·         From Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl, 1735-48

·         Essay 4 assigned: due May 5

Week of April 17

Tues and Thurs

·         Frederick Douglass, 1747-48

·         Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, 1748-98

Week of April 24: Mid-Century Poetic Literature

Tues

·         Crosscurrents: Faith and Crisis, 1850-55

·          Emerson, “The Poet,” 1361-76

·         Walt Whitman, 1856-59; “Preface,” 1860-73

Thurs

·         Whitman, Song of Myself 1-25, 1873-90; Out of the Cradle, 1919-23

·         Essay 4 Q&A

Week of May 1

Tues: More Poetry!

·         Emily Dickinson, 1950-52; Poems, 1952-73

o    Choose FOUR poems to read closely and discuss

Thurs

·         Catch up

·         Bring draft of Essay 4 to discuss

·         Essay 4 due by Friday, May 5 @ 11:59 pm

Week of May 8: Final Exam