Honors
Modern Literary Masterpieces
ENG215
Essex County College
Prof. Sean O’Connell Tues,
Thurs 11:30-12:50
Email:soconnel@essex.edu
Phone:
973-877-1926 Office: 1141
Office
Hours: T//R 9-10 Room:
2110
By
Appointment
Texts: YOU NEED TO BUY THE
TEXTS!!!
·
1984 George Orwell
·
Pafko At the Wall Don DeLillo
·
We Always Lived in the Castle Shirley Jackson
·
Their Eyes Were Watching God Zora Neale Hurston
·
The Road Cormac McCarthy
*In class assignments will be
handwritten; all homework assignments should be typed and double spaced using
12-point Times New Roman font.
I
will use the class blog weekly to post assignments, links and back up
information. Visit it a few times a week!!!
THERE ARE NO LATE PAPERS.
IF YOU DO NOT HAND IN A PAPER ON THE DAY THE FINAL DRAFT IS DUE, YOU WILL
RECEIVE AN F FOR THAT PAPER.
YOU MUST HAND ME EACH PAPER.
EMAIL IS NOT GOING TO WORK FOR FORMAL ESSAYS.
Course Description: The Development of modern literary thought is
examined from the post-Renaissance era to the present day. Students will do an intensive study of
selected masterpieces of world literature.
General Education Goals: ENG 215 is
affirmed in the following General Education Foundation Categories: Humanistic Perspective and Global and Cultural Awareness of Diversity. The corresponding General Education Goals are
respectively as follows: Students will analyze works in the field of art,
music, or theater; literature; and philosophy and/or religious studies; and
will gain competence in the use of a foreign language; and Students will understand
the importance of global perspective and culturally diverse peoples.
Course
Goals: Upon successful completion of this course, students
should be able to do the following:
1. discuss the universality and diversity of literary
thought;
2. apply critical and analytical approaches to
the study of literature; and
3. write critical and analytical essays about
literary works.
Measurable
Course Performance Objectives (MPOs): Upon
successful completion of this course, students should specifically be able to
do the following:
1. Discuss the universality and diversity of
cultural values of the western world as expressed in its literature:
1.1 identify
and describe specific themes that identify the universality and the diversity
of literary thought; and
1.2 explain
these universal and diverse themes as reflected in the specific literary work
Measurable Course Performance Objectives (MPOs) (continued):
2. Apply critical and analytical approaches to
the study of literature:
2.1 define
basic terms and concepts used in literary discussion;
2.2 analyze
and describe how these terms and concepts operate in each work studied; and
2.3 use
these terms and concepts as the basis for literary analysis
3. Write critical and analytical essays about
literary works:
3.1 write
several short critical and analytical essays about selected works studied;
3.2 use
appropriate citations from the source work to support the development of the
thesis idea in the critical essay;
3.3 write
a longer documented literary research paper about a work relevant to the
course;
3.4 use
appropriate citations from the source work to support the development of the thesis
in the documented literary research paper;
3.5 use
the library and other resources to find relevant, scholarly secondary source
material in support of the thesis in the documented literary research paper;
3.6 write
in one’s own voice in the essay while properly incorporating primary and
secondary material; and
3.7 prepare
the documented literary research paper in standard MLA format
Methods of
Instruction: Instruction will consist of lecture,
discussion, and the development of a series of extended compositions analyzing
pieces of literature, including a documented literary research paper.
Outcomes Assessment: Checklist rubrics
are used to evaluate sampled student critical essays analyzing literature for
the presence of the measurable objectives.
A survey to be administered following essays
evaluates student preparation for writing analysis of literature. Checklist rubrics are used to evaluate the
various elements of the documented literary research paper. And a survey that is blueprinted to learning
objectives is administered during the twelfth week.
Course
Requirements: All
students are required to:
1. Complete
the intensive reading of six literary masterpieces (at least one from each
category). The selection should include
a balance of literary genres.
2. Write critical essays and a documented
literary research paper to total at least three thousand words. The documented literary research paper should
be written according to current MLA format.
3. Read shorter works, such as poetry, as assigned
by the instructor.
4. Read all other assigned material.
5. Participate in class discussions.
Methods of Evaluation:
Final course grades will be computed as follows:
%
of
Grading Components final course grade
 |
·
3 or more Critical Essays Analyzing Pieces of Literature 80%
·
Attendance, participation and in class work 10%
·
Presentation 10%
Note: The
instructor will provide specific weights, which lie in the above-given ranges,
for each of the grading components at the beginning of the semester.
Academic
Integrity: Dishonesty disrupts the search
for truth that is inherent in the learning process and so devalues the purpose
and the mission of the College. Academic dishonesty includes, but is not
limited to, the following:
·
plagiarism
– the failure to acknowledge another writer’s words or ideas or to give proper
credit to sources of information;
·
cheating –
knowingly obtaining or giving unauthorized information on any test/exam or any
other academic assignment;
·
interference
– any interruption of the academic process that prevents others from the proper
engagement in learning or teaching; and
·
fraud – any act or instance of
willful deceit or trickery.
Violations
of academic integrity will be dealt with by imposing appropriate
sanctions. Sanctions for acts of academic dishonesty could include the
resubmission of an assignment, failure of the test/exam, failure in the course,
probation, suspension from the College, and even expulsion from the College.
Student
Code of Conduct: All students are expected to conduct themselves as responsible and
considerate adults who respect the rights of others. Disruptive behavior will not be
tolerated. All students are also
expected to attend and be on time all class meetings. No cell phones or similar electronic devices
are permitted in class. Please refer to
the Essex County College student handbook, Lifeline,
for more specific information about the College’s Code of Conduct and
attendance requirements.
9/8
T Introduction to course, plagiarism, syllabus, presentation discussion and Read “The TV” handout
9/6
R “The TV” Handout
9/8 T
1984
9/13 R
1984
9/15 T
1984
9/20 R
1984
9/27
T Film: V For Vendetta
9/29
R Film: V For Vendetta, ASSIGN FIRST
PAPER
10/4 T
In Class Discussion on “Human Ecology” in Pafko
at the Wall
10/6 R
Pafko at the Wall
10/11
T Pafko at the Wall
10/13
R PAPER DUE, We Have Always Lived in the Castle
10/18
T We Have
Always Lived in the Castle
10/20
R, We Have Always Lived in the Castle
10/25
T Film
10/27
R Film ASSIGN SECOND PAPER
11/1 TTheir Eyes Were Watching God (Up to Ch
5)
11/3
R Their Eyes Were Watching God (Up to
Ch 10)
11/8 T
Their Eyes Were Watching God (Up to
Ch 15),
11/10
R Their Eyes Were Watching God
(Finish Novel), PAPER DUE
11/15
T Outside Sources for Their Eyes Were
Watching God
11/17
R The Road
11/22
T The Road, ASSIGN FINAL PAPER
11/24
R ***NO CLASS***
11/29
T The Road
12/1 R
Sign up for Presentations
12/6 T
Presentations
12/8 R
Presentations
12/13
T ***NO CLASS***WORK ON PAPER
12/15
R Final Research Paper due
