Selected Studies in Literature Syllabus for 2018-2019
Return to Syllabus List

Instructor Information

Course Information

Recording Policy

Disability Statement

If you have a disability (learning, mental, physical) that affects your ability to participate effectively and have access to any program or service at Amarillo College please contact Disability Services at (806) 345-5639 . Our offices are located in the Student Service Center office 112. More information may be found at www.actx.edu/disability.
Disability Services facilitates access to all programs and services according to the ADA, Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, as well as other federal and state laws.

Amarillo College Web Accessibility Policy Statement

Amarillo College is committed to providing equal access to all programs and services, including all working, learning, and service environments that affect equal access for persons with disabilities. This commitment to provide equal access and opportunity for persons with disabilities is in compliance with federal and state law. Amarillo College also strives to provide Electronic and Information Resources (EIR) that are accessible to all authorized users.

If you find you are unable to access material in an accessible format please contact the Disability Services Office at (806) 345-5639 . This office will work in conjunction with other campus resources to address and accommodate your issue in a timely manner.

Statement for Mental Health and Advocacy & Resource Center:

As a student you may experience a range of issues that can cause barriers to learning, such as strained relationships, increased anxiety, alcohol/drug problems, feeling down, difficulty concentrating and/or lack of motivation. These mental health concerns or stressful events may lead to diminished academic performance or reduce a student's ability to participate in daily activities. Amarillo College offers services to assist you with addressing these and other concerns you may be experiencing. If you or someone you know are suffering from any of the aforementioned conditions, you can learn more about the broad range of confidential mental health services available on campus by calling the AC Counseling Center at 806-371-5900. The AC Counseling Center website is https://www.actx.edu/counseling/ . Also, if you are in need of social services (affordable housing, utilities, transportation, food, clothing, childcare, medical/dental/vision, legal), please call the AC Advocacy & Resource Center at 806-371-5439. The AC Advocacy & Resource Center website is https://www.actx.edu/arc

Amarillo College Tutoring for Success Policy:

Administrative Drop Policy

Students who do not attend class on or prior to the census date will be administratively dropped. Effective Fall, 2016

Student Withdrawal Procedures

Students who wish to withdraw from a course must complete all steps indicated on the Academic Withdrawal Request form by the course withdrawal deadline.

NOTE: Students who are attending Texas institutions of higher education, for the first time fall 2007 and later, may not withdraw from more than six courses during their academic career. This withdrawal limitation does not include dual credit or developmental classes (Senate Bill 1231 Rule 4.10.) For more information on Drop and Withdrawal Policies, please visit the Registrar's Office Web site.

Privacy Statement

The Amarillo College Privacy Policy is found at https://www.actx.edu/-amarillo-college-privacy-notice , and applies to all Amarillo College students.  If you have questions about this privacy statement or you believe that your personal information has been released without your consent, send email to humanresources@actx.edu .

Course

ENGL-2341-CC1 Selected Studies in Literature

Prerequisites

Prerequisites: ENGL 1301

Course Description

Intensive reading in single areas unified by genre, theme, major author, period or geographic region with topic determined each semester.

Student Resources Student Resources Website

Department Expectations

Occupational License Disclaimer

Notice to Students enrolled in an educational program for preparation of issuance of certain occupational licenses:

Students enrolled in an educational program in preparation for obtaining certain occupational licenses are potentially ineligible for such license if the student has been convicted of an offense. For further information, please contact:

Melodie Graves
Justice Involved Advocate
Student Service Center 117
mgraves24@actx.edu
806-371-5995
Make appointment at https://melodiegraves.youcanbook.me

You can also contact the Legal Clinic, or the faculty member in charge of the educational program that you seek to enroll in. The further information you will receive will include notification to you of your right to request a criminal history evaluation letter from the licensing authority in order to clarify your particular situation.

Hours

(3 sem hrs; 3 lec)

Class Type

Hybrid

Syllabus Information

Textbooks

Shakespeare, William. Hamlet. Ed. Stanley Appelbaum and Shane Weller, Dover, 1992.

 

Shakespeare, William. The Merchant of Venice. Ed. Stanley Appelbaum and Candice Ward, Dover, 1995.

Supplies

Notebook for notes

Internet access for hybrid portion of class

Student Performance

LEARNING OUTCOMES

Upon successful completion of this course, students will:

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.

ONLINE/HYBRID REQUIREMENTS

This is a hybrid 8-week class.  “Hybrid” means a blend of meeting in a traditional classroom setting and doing assignments online. 8-week classes are condensed classes that meet for half the semester instead of the entire semester.  A traditional (non-hybrid) 8-week class has to meet every day in order to cover a semester’s worth of material.  Therefore, since this is a hybrid 8-week class, instead of meeting every day for this class, we meet twice a week in class and do the remaining coursework outside of class in Blackboard.  The online assignments are located in our course in Blackboard, available through “AC Connect” on the AC Website at www.actx.edu.

 

PAPER:

Students will be required to write a major research paper on either Hamlet or The Merchant of Venice.  The paper should be at least three pages long, typed double-spaced, and follow MLA guidelines (8^th edition).  There should also be a separate Works Cited page as the last page.  At least two reputable outside (secondary) sources are required for the research paper in addition to the play itself.  

NOTE: This paper must be turned in on time or there will be late point deductions.

 

FINAL EXAM: The final exam will be an essay exam with a choice of topics related to themes in the plays we have studied.

 

COLLEGE CONTENT NOTE:
In the college experience, students will encounter diverse views and new subject matter, which expand their knowledge and perspective.  In this college English class, we might read and discuss some literary works with subject matter that could include (but not be limited to) death, violence, sexuality, examples of racism / discrimination, potentially offensive language, and political or religious viewpoints different from your own.  If this is a concern for you, please meet with me.

Students Rights and Responsibilities

Student Rights and Responsibilities

Log in using the AC Connect Portal

In order to receive your AC Connect Email, you must log in through AC Connect at https://acconnect.actx.edu .

If you are an active staff or faculty member according to Human Resources, use "Exchange". All other students, use "AC Connect (Google) Email".

Expected Student Behavior

ENGLISH DEPT. PLAGIARISM POLICY, revised Spring 2013

The English Department takes plagiarism seriously.

Plagiarism is defined as the following:  the use of someone else’s exact words that are neither quoted nor cited; paraphrasing someone else’s words without citing them; or using someone else’s research without citing it.

Student plagiarism in the Amarillo College English Department is internally tracked.  To clarify, records will be kept in the Department of those students who have plagiarized.  At the beginning of each new semester, the names of students who plagiarized the previous semester will be sent to all English Department faculty. 

Plagiarism may receive a penalty of a zero.  A subsequent infraction will be deemed a reason for expulsion from the class. At this point, the case will be referred to the Vice President of Student Affairs.

Note: Self-plagiarism will be discussed with the class by each instructor and infractions for such are left up to the individual instructor’s discretion.

CELL PHONE POLICY:

Students are not allowed to use cell phones in class.  If you must carry a cell phone for emergency reasons, it must be turned off or set to an inaudible signal that will not disturb the class.  Give family members and/or school/daycare personnel the phone number of our English Dept. Writing Lab-371-5174-along with the number of your classroom so that a Writing Lab attendant can get you in an emergency.

CLASSROOM ETIQUETTE:

It is rude/distracting to the professor and fellow classmates to come in late, leave class in the middle of class, or leave early unless there is a real emergency.  Make every effort to take care of personal and phone needs before class to minimize class disruptions.

Grading Criteria

GRADING CRITERIA/GRADING SCALE:

15%      In Class / Group Work

15%     Short Essay on Video Clips

20%     Online Reading Quizzes

30%     Research Paper

20 %    Final Exam     

90-100 = A, 80-89 = B, 70-79 = C, 60-69 = D, Below 60 = F

Attendance

ATTENDANCE POLICY:

Regular attendance is necessary for satisfactory achievement.  Therefore, it is the responsibility of the student to attend class. Students are expected to attend every class on time, participate in class discussions, and complete all assignments.  NOTE: Attendance is especially important for a condensed 8-week hybrid class.  It is very difficult to for students to understand and master the subject matter if they are not in class when we discuss and analyze works of literature and cover how to write literary analysis essays and do research. Also, part of your grade will be based on in-class work.

MAKEUP WORK:

If you miss a class for any reason, it is your responsibility to obtain any homework assignments or notes.  Online reading quizzes, discussion posts, and other assignments will be available for at least two-four days, and you can complete them any time during that period. Missed online assignments may NOT be made up unless you have a documented medical emergency.  You should notify me if you are going to be absent from class and to obtain any missed assignments before you return to class. When you are absent, the protocol in college is to contact the instructor as soon as possible by email or phone.  This demonstrates respect and a willingness to do well in the class.

Calendar

Additional Information

This semester’s topic is Shakespeare: 

Political Corruption. Injustice. Prejudice and Discrimination. Women’s Roles. The Meaning of Life and the Difficulty in Locating Truth. Shakespeare’s themes still resonate strongly today, even though he wrote his plays more than 400 years ago. Seen by many as the greatest writer in the English language and creator of hundreds of words and phrases we use every day, Shakespeare deserves a course dedicated to him. This new course will provide an introduction to the world of Shakespeare and focus on his plays Hamlet and The Merchant of Venice, with a glimpse at The Tempest and some of his sonnets.