Course Information Overview
"When we cannot tell the truth about our past, we become trapped in it,"-James Baldwin
The 10 Greatest Classic British Novelists
- Eng. 259 # 14217
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- T & R 1230-145PM
- ZOOM/CANVAS
Course Description
Preparatory: Completion of the lower division writing requirement. Study of works of major English writers, from Blake to the present, with attention to literary movements and backgrounds. Critical writing required. (Available for General Education, Arts and Humanities.)
English 259 (Major English Writers II) In this survey class, we will study the complexity of British literature, from the Romantic Period through the Victorian Age and modernism to postmodernism. Our goal is twofold: First, immersing ourselves mainly in the genres of poetry, novel, and drama, we will analyze “major” British writers and their works; second, trying to define what constitutes British literature, we will investigate how authors from diverse background interact with the canon and write back to established literary traditions. In other words, this course will give you a sense of literary history and an understanding of how British literature and its readers have developed in the past century and a half. The course will combine lecture and discussion
COURSE OBJECTIVES:
Specific areas of concentration, and aspects by which you will be graded, are as follows:
- Interpreting literary texts
- Analyzing formal elements
- Writing effective prose
- Conducting literary research
Requirements
Projects of any kind online/due in class: All work must be submitted in a timely manner for credit. Late work is not accepted.
READING JOURNALS: 15%
MAJOR ESSAYS: 45%
FINAL EXAM : 20%
Learning Resource Writing Center click here!
LRC visits are strongly recommended for all essays this semester. Schedule online visit on LRC module in Canvas. Extra Credit will be given with proof of attendance for each essay!
The Writing Center is located in the Oviatt Library 3rd floor east wing and graduate students or instructor are available to assist you with various steps in the writing process such as brainstorming, revising and editing. You may call for an appointment: (818) 677-2033. You can also attend on a walk-in basis.
PRESENTATION: 10%
PRESENTATIONS of 15 minutes in length (present 10 min leave time for questions 5 min) --by selected groups of 1-4 students in charge of presenting one of the assigned texts in our anthology. See Projects above.
PARTICIPATION: 10%
Quizzes--Unannounced quizzes on the readings are always a possibility, especially if the readings are not being kept up with by classmembers. Come to class prepared to discuss the assigned readings and you will be prepared for all quizzes. Quizzes missed due to absence cannot be made up. No quiz grades will be dropped.
Presentation Responses--Written responses to oral presentations due in class in Canvas on day of presentations
Online Tasks--On-line tasks such as postings on our class activities in Canvas/Web based or listserve assignments on email are to be completed as assigned.
CLASS PARTICIPATION will also be based on:
1. Since a significant part of this class will be based on active student participation in class discussion, and/or assigned presentations, it is essential that students attend class regularly, ask questions, and offer their impressions, ideas and opinions for classroom dialogue. In order to participate effectively, students must come prepared.
2. You are assessed on how your interact with your peers and me in class discussion, individual presentations, email, posts in Canvas, and group work of any kind. All contributions are welcomed, as long as they are respectful of others and expressed in a polite way, so, please, participate in the conversation. Also, the ability to debate is an indispensable skill in both college and the “real world.”
3. Reading Assignments--You are expected to do all conscientiously and in a timely fashion.The reading assignments are to be done by the day due. "I have not been able to purchase my textbook yet" is NOT an acceptible excuse. The library has copies of our text in the Reserve Room to enable you to access the material freely. You are required to participate in the discussions and you cannot do so if you have not read the assignment. In order to earn full participation credit, students will need to participate every time class meets. You should know that it is very difficult to earn an excellent grade in this course if you do not verbally participate in the conversation.
4. Assignments are due on the date stated on the syllabus during the class period. A computer problem is not an excuse for a late paper; campus labs are open late into the night and Kinko's is open 24 hours. Do your work early in the week so that you're not late to class because you're printing something out. Keep extra copies of hard copies, or duplicate flash drives or CDs, OR better yet, email your papers to yourself.
5. Make sure your name, my name, our course & session number, and the date, per MLA format, with 1 inch margins all around, left justified, is on "everything" you turn in.
6. You are responsible for obtaining assignments when you miss class either from accessing them from our course syllabus page OR from Canvas or asking your classmates for a copy