Spring Semester, 2008
Required Texts:
Homer, The Odyssey. Robert Fagle translation
Dante, The Inferno. Hollander translation
Thackeray, Barry Lyndon. Provided
Faulkner, As I Lay Dying. Vintage edition
Betts, Heading West. Provided
McLarty, The Memory of Running. Time Warner Books
While I do not require the specific editions above, all class references will be made to these editions. Pagination and translations may vary in other editions. Variations, then, are the responsibility of the student.
Behavior: Respect is the key. Respect yourself, respect your classmates, respect your teacher, respect the property. In return, you may expect my respect. Any act of disrespect will have consequences commensurate with the offense.
Attendance: I expect you to be in class, of course, and in class on time. Tardiness shows a lack of respect for your classmates, yourself and me. For every three tardies in a quarter I will subtract a point from your participation grade.
For excused absences, any work due on the day missed will be due upon your return. Any work assigned during your absence will be due the number of days after your return equal to the days missed. (ex: 2 days absent = two days after return, work is due) For unexcused absences, work due during the unexcused absence receives a zero (0).
Academic integrity: Honesty is essential. Giving or receiving undue help on homework, quizzes or essays is unacceptable. Plagiarism is unacceptable. Cite any sources used, however little. Any cheating on any assignment will earn that assignment a zero. Egregious examples will be referred to the administration for appropriate action. I will put a note in the file of any student found cheating on any level. (Please see the appendix)
Homework: I will try to keep homework to the thirty-minute average Uni endorses. If I am failing, please let me know. Otherwise, I expect any assignment – written or read – to be ready when the class starts on the day the assignment is due. Late work will be docked five (5) points per day late.
I will often provide some class time for working on future assignments. If that time is not used appropriately, I will employ that time for more directed activities.
Pop quizzes are possible following any reading assignment.
Much of class time will involve discussion. Please be prepared enough to participate actively. Sharing ideas, insights and questions together benefits us all and enlivens the class. Participation will be part of your grade. (See below)
Grades: Each assignment will be assigned a point value. Larger assignments (tests, essays, research project) will obviously be worth more points than smaller assignments (participation, response papers, quizzes, etc.) The grade will be determined by a straight percentage (points earned/points available). The grading scale will be
A = 100 – 94
B = 93 – 85
C = 84 – 75
D = 74 – 65
F = 64 – 0
Major requirements: The following are the major assignments for the semester and the approximate due date. As warranted, these may change. Daily/weekly assignments will vary.
Essays: The Odyssey and Oh Brother, Where Art Thou?
Justice in Dante’s Inferno
Research Project (April 24)
Tests: As I Lay Dying
Heading West/The Memory of Running
Comprehensive Final
Minor Requirements: The following are smaller assignments worth fewer points – but no less important to a passing grade. The list of minor assignments will vary as the class progresses.
Participation (See below)
Reflection Essays (Many Fridays)
Various Class Presentations
Writing: Any work for in-class assignments MUST be on loose-leaf, college-ruled paper (no “hanging chads”!) and be in dark ink or legible lead.
All Major Assignments outside of class must be typed (or “processed,” as the current jargon would have it) with standard margins, Times (10 or 12 pt.) or Courier (10 pt.) font. Multiple pages should be stapled in the upper left-hand corner. Headings go in the upper left-hand corner and include name, class, and due date. All essays should have a title. In short, all processed assignments must follow MLA format.
In the English seminars we will emphasize crafting your work. Always plan on doing a draft, letting it “ferment” a few days, then revising. I will be more than happy to comment on your drafts if you bring them in to me a few days ahead.
Keep copies of all your writing, including drafts of essays.
School Policies: You will be responsible for adhering to all the school policies as included in the Student Handbook.
Rough Weekly Syllabus:
The following is intentionally writ large. Within each unit we will leave room for change and variation.
January 8 –Feb. 1 The Odyssey
February 4 – March 7 The Inferno
March 10 – 14 Barry Lyndon
March 24 – April 11 As I Lay Dying
April 14 – May 2 Heading West
May 5 – 22 The Memory of Running
Grades:
Discussion/Participation 5 pts. per week x approx. 15
Weekly Reflection Essay 10 pts. each
Odyssey essay 50 pts.
Inferno Essay 50 pts.
Tests: Dying; West/Running 100 pts each
Research Project 200 pts.
Final Exam 200 pts.
Appendix
Section 7.10 of the Uni Handbook defines plagiarism as:
Intentionally or knowingly representing the words or ideas of another as
one’s own in any academic endeavor. Plagiarism includes, but is not
limited to, the knowing or intentional failure to attribute language or
ideas to their original source, in the manner required by the academic
discipline (such as by quotation marks, attribution in the text
and…[parenthetical] citations in an academic exercise).
Comments:
Direct Quotation: Every direct quotation must be identified by
quotation marks or by an appropriate indentation and must be promptly
acknowledged in the text or in a footnote.
Paraphrase: Prompt acknowledgement is required when material
from another source is paraphrased or summarized in whole or in part in
one’s own words. Paraphrases should be identified as such promptly (e.g.,
introduce with such language as, “To paraphrase Locke,…”), and accompanied
by a…[parenthetical citation] identifying the source. Acknowledgement of
a directly-quoted statement does not suffice to notify the reader of any
preceding or succeeding paraphrased material.
Borrowed Facts or Information: Information obtained from reading
or research that is not common knowledge should be acknowledged [by
parenthetical citation]. Examples of common knowledge might include the
names of leaders of prominent nations, basic scientific laws, etc.
Additionally, you have all signed the honor code which states:
In the Uni environment, community members are expected to conduct
themselves as honest individuals. Cheating, lying and plagiarizing will
not be tolerated. As honest individuals, Uni members must hold
themselves to the highest standards of integrity and trust.
Please see page 46 of the 2007-2008 Student
Handbook for further information on the consequences of plagiarism.