SYLLABUS
HUMNS 205 – Contemporary Literature: Cultural Perspectives
Class Meets Tuesday 6 – 10 PM
Course Description
Students examine selected readings of fiction, essays, and novels by important contemporary writers with an emphasis on social and cultural issues. The course takes a humanities approach in the exploration of culture and its origins, values, and changing status. Discussions, essays, group projects, presentations, and peer critiques assist students in developing the skills to present sensitive and controversial topics to an audience. Students write a minimum of 5,000 words in essays, response papers, and a final research project. 4 units
Prerequisite
ENGL 155 College Composition and Research
Student Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this course, students should be able to:
1. Analyze cultural aspects of various types of literature including prose, poetry, music, film, and drama.
2. Identify analogies, metaphors, and symbols within written and visual texts.
3. Write coherent analyses of literature in academic essays.
4. Analyze issues raised in literature for both discussion and academic essays.
Instructor Information
Karen Zandarski
April Quarter 2015
E-mail:
Topics Covered
· Understanding Literature
· Poetry
· Contemporary Media
· Fictional short stories and novel(s)
· Drama and film
· Oral communication
Textbook(s)
Bundle ISBN: 1111348839
This bundle consists of:
· Kirszner, L.G., & Mandell, S.R. (2012). LIT, 1st Edition. Boston: Wadsworth Cengage Learning. ISBN: 13-978- 1-11134883-0.
· Novel – The Hunger Games
Grading
Exams 30%
Projects and Assignments 60%
Participation 10%
Praticipation / 10% / 100 pointsExams / 30% / 9 reading quizzes @ 30 points each = 270 points
1 final @ 130 points
Projects and Assignments / 60% / Benchmark final draft 125 points
Benchmark rough draft 75 points
Bench mark proposal 25 points
Presentations 2 @ 50 points each
Reader response – 4 @ 50 points
Key Concepts - 13 @ 20 points each
90% / - / 100% / = / A / = / Superior
80% / - / 89.99% / = / B / = / Above Average
70% / - / 79.99% / = / C / = / Average
60% / - / 69.99% / = / D / = / Below Average†
59.99% / - / or below / = / F / = / Failing (Class performance and subject knowledge mastery are below academic and job acceptability; class must be repeated)
PASS / = / Pass (Internship/Externship)
FAIL / = / Fail (Internship/Externship)
IP / = / In Progress (for Internship/Externship six-week extensions only)
W / = / Withdraw (after the Add/Drop Period)
WZ / = / Military Withdrawal (active duty student deployed or training)
TR / = / Transfer Credit
PE / = / Proficiency Exam
†Satisfactory completion of most courses is based on achieving a grade of at least “D”. However, satisfactory completion of some courses is based on achieving a grade of at least “C”. Students earning less than 70% in these courses will receive an F. Courses that require a passing grade of “C” are identified by a “†” in the Academic Program Descriptions section within the Academic Catalog. Students are encouraged to review the Academic Catalog and current Addendum to determine whether they are required to earn 70% to pass this class.
Students whose cumulative grade point average is below 2.0 will not graduate.
Heald does not grant “extra credit” points. Students can view their final grades online using the Heald Student Portal.
Students' participation grade is based on adherence to Heald and instructor classroom rules, and participation in discussions. Students’ participation grades are in flux until the end of the term. Students may lose points due to tardiness, absences, failure to maintain professional dress standards, and disruptive behavior.
Academic Integrity – From Heald College Academic Catalog July 2014
True learning can take place when students do their own work honestly without copying from others and other sources. Heald College enforces the highest standards of academic integrity, both to preserve the value of the education offered and to prepare students to become productive members of the workforce and society…..At Heald it is considered a breach of academic integrity for students to employ any form of deception in the completion of academic work, including but not limited to:
· Copying work, ideas or projects from any other person or source in any form.
· Allowing another person to copy answers or to borrow original work in any form.
· Allowing another person to copy answers on a quiz or test or to communicate with another person during a quiz or test.
· Representing the work of another person as your own.
· Committing plagiarism in any form including failing to give credit to a source of thoughts, words, ideas, or work from another person printer material or web site.
· Committing self-plagiarism by submitting work previously submitted in another course unless otherwise cited as such and given consent of the instructor.
· Submitting research without proper citation.
(98).
Course at a Glance
Date / In-Class Activities / HomeworkWeek 1 April 21 / · Introductions
· What are the Humanities?
· Why Humanities?
· What is a reader response?
· 5 sentence summary
· “The Buffalo Soldiers” Sample Reader Response
· Benchmark Assignment
· Presentation Assignment / Read:
· Chapter 1
· Chapter 2 13-15
· Chapter 3 29-31
· Choose 2 “Everyday Use” pg. 256, “A Good Man is Hard to Find” pg. 224
· “The Things They Carried” Pg. 232
Write:
· Key Terms chapter 1
· Reader response 1 story
Due via email 4 PM April 28.
Week 2 April 28 / · Review of Writing Literary arguments
· Discuss Stories
· Literary Devices
· Introduction to Poetry
· Poetry Presentation Assignment
· “We Real Cool”
· The Solider pg. 491
· Dulce et Docurum Est pg. 492 / Read
· Chapter 19: “Understanding Poetry”
· Chapter 24 definitions ONLY
Write:
· Key Concepts Chapter 19
· Key Concepts Chapter 24 Due via email 4 PM May 5
· Choose a poem or song that you find particularly poetic to discuss in class next week. Note which kind of poetry this poem or song might be classified as. Include a list of key terms and definitions from the song/poem.
Analysis due via email May 5 4 PM
Week 3: May 5
Poetry / Review Ch. 19 & 24
Poetry: The Open Mic
Introduce Drama / Read:
· Chapter 30 “Understanding Drama”
· Chapter 33 pg. 596-601
· Chapter 35 pg. 722-723
· Death of a Salesman Pg. 605 or
· Fences Pg. 724
Write:
· Key terms chapter 30,33,35
· 1 page reader response on the play you read.
Due via email 12 PM May 12
Week 4: May 12
Drama / Drama and film:
Review Ch. 30,33,35
Discuss Death of a Salesman
& Fences
Dramatic readings & interpretations / Bring Novel to class next week
Read:
· Chapter 9: “Understanding Fiction” 91-95
· Chapter 11: “Plot” 109-111
· Chapter 16: Symbol Pg. 241-244
· “The Lottery” 251
· “Two Kinds” 336
Write:
· Key Terms Chapter 9, 11, 16 due via email 12 PM May 19
· Reader response either story due via email May 19 12 PM
Week 5: May 19
Fiction / Review Ch. 9, 11, 16
Discuss stories
Watch Film Adaption of “The Lottery” discuss.
Things to think about as you start reading this novel / Read:
· Chapter 12: “Character” 127-129
· “The A&P” Pg. 131
· Gryphon 138
· Chapter 17: Theme pgs. 269-272
· The Hunger Games Chapter 1-3
Write:
· Key Concepts chapter 12 & 17
· Question #1 of Writing Suggestions on page 146. Due via email 12 PM May 26
Week 6: May 26
Fiction / Review Ch. 12, 17
Discuss The A&P, Gryphon
Discuss The Hunger Games
o Identifying thematic development
o Distinguishing plot from theme.
o Identifying character development and its contribution to themes / Read:
· Chapter 13: “Setting” Pg. 147-149
· Read Chapter 15: Style, tone, and Language pgs. 204-208
· Chapter 5 Writing Literary Arguments Pg. 51
· The Hunger Games Chapter 3-10
Write:
· Key Concepts chapter 5, 13, 15
· Benchmark Outline: Choose option 1, 2, or 3 and outline project Due vie email 4 PM June 2
Week 7: June 2
Fiction / · Review Ch. 13
· Review Ch. 15
· Review Ch. 5
· Discuss Hunger Games / Read: Chapter 11- 20
Write: Benchmark Rough Draft Due June 9 4 PM
Week 8: June 9 / · Discuss Hunger Games
· Sign up for presentations / Read:
· Chapter 21-27
Write:
· Benchmark Due June 17 12 AM via email
Week 9 June 16 / Discuss Hunger Games
Presentations / Rehearse presentation
Week 10 June 23 / Reflection
Presentations
Final Exam Review / Prepare for final
Week 11: June 30 / Presentations
Final Exam
Instructor’s Biography
It is my hope that you will complete this class seeing purpose for the humanities in your life. I hope to help you see how readings and writings can help a person (or you) to communicate with across space and time. I hope that I am able to help you see how the humanities can be used to better the world you live in and the world beyond your life. I hope that this class helps you to see how the humanities can help you understand both your world and the world beyond your walls.
Online Library and Learning Resources
· Found at http://heald.campusguides.com, in your Internet Explorer favorites, and the student portal.
· Off-campus remote username is: heald_college; password is: student. (No login required on campus computers.)
· The Library and LRC contains resources, including EBSCO and online tutoring, needed to complete course work.
· For more information about all available resources, contact a Library and LRC staff member.
Instructor’s Classroom Guidelines
· Participation: In this course, you will learn skills that will be used in virtually every future course and your chosen career. There is a lot of information to cover and your participation is vital to your success. Participation is more than just showing up for class; it includes, but is not limited to attendance, journal writing, peer workshops, group presentations, and participation in class discussions.
· Late Assignment Policy: Late assignments are not accepted past the first week of class without a medical note. To accommodate for add/drop and technology issues late work will be accepted for week 1 ONLY until April 21 2015 .
· Electronic Equipment: Electronic equipment seems to have become an essential part of everyday life; it is often difficult to separate ourselves from our equipment. However, electronic equipment is allowed in class ONLY for class participation.
· Emails: Emails sent Monday – Friday will be answered within 24 hours. Emails sent after 5 PM on Friday will be answered the next business day (Monday).
Course Version 2.0 / 9 of 9 / Last Modified: 9/21/2014Template Version 9.3