Introduction to Narrative
ENG 105.10O / 11O:
Introduction to Narrative
Course Syllabus
Spring 2015
Section Instructor: Amanda Bryan
Class Location/ Time: Online via Canvas; Weeks open on Mondays and end Saturdays
Office Location / Hours: Via Canvas chat Tue 3:00-4:000 pm and Wed 10:00-11:00 am or by appointment
Mailbox Location: MHRA 3317
Emails: Correspondence with instructor:
Course Description: The world influences each of us greatly. Where we live and where we come from shape how we respond to life. This course will focus on place as an introduction designed to help develop your appreciation for and understanding of narrative literature. To that end, we’ll spend the semester doing a great deal of reading and discussion centered around major literary techniques and theories. We will explore how these techniques appear and inform one another in novels, short stories, and narrative poetry. The readings will cover a range of multinational literatures, including American, British, Caribbean, and Indian, across the 19th, 20th, and 21st centuries. In addition to practicing close, thoughtful reading, you’ll learn some of the basic terminology of literary analysis and have numerous chances to practice it in your own writing.
I: General Overview
Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs) for the GLT marker:
1. Demonstrate the reading skill required for the student of literary texts. (LG3)
2. Identify and/or describe some of the varied characteristics of literary texts. (LG3)
3. Demonstrate orally, in writing, or by some other means, a fundamental ability to use some of the techniques and/or methods of literary analysis. (LG1 and LG3)
4. Identify and/or describe some of the various social, historical, cultural, and/or theoretical contexts in which literary texts have been written and interpreted. (LG3)
English 105 is designed to address Learning Goal #1 (LG1) in the UNCG General Education Program. This is the ability to “think critically, communicate effectively, and develop appropriate fundamental skills in quantitative and information literacies.” (
In addition, those SLOs labeled (LG3) relate to UNCG’s Learning Goal #3 for General Education, which says students will “Describe, interpret, and evaluate the ideas, events, and expressive traditions that have shaped collective and individual human experience through inquiry and analysis in the diverse disciplines of the humanities, religions, languages, histories, and the arts.” (
Evaluation:
Participation: (35%)
Discussion Posts: 20%
Discussion Replies: 15%
Tests: (30%)
Weekly Quizzes: 10%
Midterm Exam: 20%
Writing: (35%)
Response Paper: 10%
Abstract for Final Paper: 5%
Final Paper: 20%
At the end of the course, the points you have earned will be compiled and reconfigured as a weighted percentage. Your final grade will be reported according to the breakdown below.
97-100: A+ 87-89: B+77-79: C+ 67-69: D+ 59 & Below: F
93-96: A 83-86: B73-76: C 63-66: D
90-92: A- 80-82: B-70-72: C- 60-62: D-
I will try to keep all grades updated in Canvas within a reasonable timeframe. It is your responsibility to periodically look at your grades and inform me if inputting errors have been made. Final grades will be posted to Canvas by Wednesday, May 6th. In order to receive your final grade, you must also complete the anonymous online course evaluation by May 6th.
Required Texts and Materials:
Texts:
—Browning, Abigail, and Melissa Ridley Elmes, eds. Lenses: Perspectives on Literature. 2nd ed. Plymouth: Hayden-McNeil Publishing, 2014. Print.
—Kinsella, W.P. Shoeless Joe. New York: Ballantine Books, 1982. Print. ISBN: 9780395957738
—Wharton, Edith. Summer. Champaign, Ill: Project Gutenberg, 1990. Internet resource.
—Alvarez, Julia. In the Time of the Butterflies. Chapel Hill, N.C: Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill, 1994. Print. ISBN: 9781565129764
—Anand, Mulk Raj. Untouchable. 2nd ed. London: Penguin Books, 1940. Print. ISBN: 9780140183955
Selected readings posted on Canvas as assigned.
Please note that Wharton’s Summer is available as an eBook through the Jackson Library for free. For this reason, I have not ordered it through our bookstore. You can start with this link:
Technology Requirements:
—Online access (via library or computer lab if a personal desktop or laptop is unavailable) and iSpartan email (CHECKED DAILY)
—Canvas account (CHECKED DAILY)—login/password provided when you open your computer accounts
II: Course Policies
Academic Integrity: Academic integrity is founded upon and encompasses the following five values: honesty, trust, fairness, respect, and responsibility. Violations include, for example, cheating, plagiarism, misuse of academic resources, falsification, and facilitating academic dishonesty. If knowledge is to be gained and properly evaluated, it must be pursued under conditions free from dishonesty. Deceit and misrepresentations are incompatible with the fundamental activity of this academic institution and shall not be tolerated” (from UNCG’s Academic Integrity Policy). To ensure that you understand the university’s policy on academic integrity, review the guidelines and list of violations at <http://academicintegrity.uncg.edu>. I expect you to abide by the Academic Integrity Policy.
NOTE: Any instance of plagiarism will result in failure of the assignment and may result in failure of the course, depending on the severity of the violation and the overall value of the assignment to the final grade. A second offense of any kind, including plagiarizing, falsifying information, or cheating, will result in failure of the course.
Behavior and Language: In addition to academic integrity, the exchange of ideas in civil communication requires a respect for others. Lewd, crude, sexist, and racist language and behavior is not excusable and will not be tolerated.
See policies on hazing, disruptive behavior, and various forms of discrimination at <http://deanofstudents.uncg.edu/policy/>.
Attendance and Participation: Attendance is difficult to assess in an online course. However, the basics still apply: you are expected to attend and be prepared for every scheduled week of class. This means having read the assignments, posting to the discussion board, responding to your classmates, completing the quizzes, and having any required written work completed as instructed.
Obviously, if you do not log into Canvas and complete the weekly quiz, discussion post, or discussion responses, then you did not participate and will be counted as absent.
If you must be absent, understand that it is your responsibility to check the course’s site to inquire about the day’s work, changes to the calendar, and/or homework assignments. You can easily contact a classmate via the Email tool in Canvas.
As per the English department’s attendance policy, classes meeting three times a week, students are allowed a maximum of four absences without a grade penalty. For every absence beyond those allowed, students will be penalized one-half letter grade. Students who miss eight classes on a three-day schedule will fail the course.
For an online course this means that one week’s worth of non-participation (as defined above) counts as three absences. Therefore, you can miss 1 week with no penalty. The 2nd missed week will result in a 10% deduction from your final grade. The 3rd missed week will result in failing the course.
This attendance policy does not differentiate between "excused" and "unexcused" absences; thus, it is the student's responsibility to plan for absences within the policy concerning program fieldtrips, athletic events, work-related absences, advising sessions, minor illnesses, family and/or friend events, etc.
You are, by state law, allowed two excused absences due to religious holidays, which do not count toward your total allowed three absences. If you plan to miss class because of your faith, you must notify me in advance of your absence.
If you have extenuating circumstances such as a death in the family, chronic illness/injury requiring prolonged medical treatment, etc., then you should immediately contact the Dean of Students’ Office for advocacy (http://sa.uncg.edu/dean/). You can use the department email, to make an appointment. You will need to provide your name, your UNCG ID number, a telephone number that you can be reached, and a general description of why you would like to meet. If your situation is urgent, you may opt for a walk-in appointment (Monday – Friday from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm), and the staff will connect you with the appropriate person as soon as possible. The Dean of Students’ office is located on the second floor of the Elliott University Center (EUC).
Tardiness: With an online course, this should never be an issue. Please note that no extra time or make-up opportunities will be granted for quizzes, tests, or discussion posts.
Late Papers & Extensions: All papers should be submitted through Canvas as attachments in the assignment links. Papers are due at 11:59 pm on their scheduled days. If an assignment is due on a specific day, and you are absent, you must still submit your paper via Canvas by 11:59 pm on the due date. If you do not abide by these rules, your paper is considered late. If your paper is received after 11:59 pm on the date it is due, I will still consider your paper for the next 24 hours only. However, a grade penalty of 20% will immediately be deducted from your grade. This means that an A paper (for example, 95%) will at best receive the grade of a C (75%) if it is received late. Canvas time stamps all submissions, so I will know if you submit your paper late. This policy is non-negotiable.
I will not consider late discussion posts or replies. The above policy is only for the two major papers and short abstract assigned during the course.
Most of us have grown up with technology. Therefore, we all know problems can occur. It is your responsibility to get your papers to me by the due date either through email, Canvas, or in person.
You may always submit your work early. Further extensions will only be granted in the most extenuating circumstances; typically only at the recommendation of the Dean of Students in the case of a family death, prolonged mental or physical health issue, etc.
Technology (Computers and Cell Phones): Technology must be used to participate in this course. Be sure you have a reliable internet connection. Some of the activities, such as quizzes and exams, are timed. Once you begin the quiz, I am not able to “reset the clock,” so be sure you are not disrupted. “My internet quit” is not a valid excuse for missing an assignment, so please leave plenty of time for problems and have a backup plan in case your regular internet connection fails (like a campus computer or a public library). If you have a truly unavoidable emergency, contact me as soon as you can.
Note: Firefox is the recommended browser for Canvas. If you’re having problems, I suggest you first try using Firefox. If you’re still having difficulty, you can visit 6-TECH online at 6-tech.uncg.edu or call them at 336-256-TECH (8324).
Emails: I encourage you to make good use of my online office hours. However, if you wish to meet with me at other times during the semester, please email me for special appointments.
You may also email me with questions between 9 am and 6 pm during weekdays, using my UNCG email. Please note I will not be available before or after these times. You can expect a response within 48 hours; if you do not receive a response within this time period, you should assume I did not receive your email and try again. If you email me during the weekend, I may not respond until Monday morning. Please plan accordingly.
Remember to maintain an appropriate tone in all school-related correspondence. This means including an appropriate subject line and your name in all emails.
III: Course Assignments and Requirements:
Participation (35% total) [SLOs 1-4]
Participation grades will be comprised of how well you engage with course discussions. It’s hard to have a good literature class if no one speaks. Participation means actively engaging in discussions and participating (by replying) to your group’s work.
Discussion Posts (20%)
There will be weekly discussion posts during the semester that correspond to the each week’s assigned readings. Each post is worth 10 points and is collectively worth 20% of your final grade. Each discussion post is designed be our class discussion for the week and provides multiple ways for students with different learning styles to participate. They should demonstrate that a student has read the material, thought about it, and it should include evidence (quotations from the texts) to support a student’s point.
I will grade these posts on a 10-point scale. (Examples are below; scores between these point values will also be entered.)
10-Outstanding post demonstrating not only that a student has read and annotated the text, but also that he or she has spent time thinking about and revising the response. It will contain unusual insight and depth and will make excellent use of evidence from the text. It will be clearly organized and contain no usage or grammar errors.
8-Satisfactory post demonstrating that a student has read and annotated the text. It will demonstrate critical thinking and revision but may be less original and/or superficial than an outstanding post. It will contain some relevant evidence from the text but may not clearly explain the connections between quotations and the student’s larger argument.
6-Unsatisfactory post demonstrating that a student has not read or thought carefully about the text. It will include no textual evidence or will include only textual evidence (ie summary) without clear analysis.
0-Nonexisting or late post. If a student fails to enter a post by the specified time, the grade will be 0%.
Discussion Responses (15%)
Conversations do not happen if no one responds to a statement. So in addition to posting your response to the prompt, you are expected to respond to at least two of your classmates’ posts. Each response will be worth 5 points (so 10 points per week). Grading will be similar to the above examples for discussion posts.
A response of “Yup, I agree” does not result in a productive conversation. If a classmate made a similar point to what you wanted to write about, you should push and explore the topic further. This can be done by pointing out other places in the text that the issue comes up or other ways the text perhaps contradicts the issue.
Papers (35% total) [SLOs 1-4]
Response Paper (10%)
A 2-3 page, double-spaced response that will interrogate how the literary element of setting, either as place or time, operates in one of the assigned texts and how it enhances your understanding of the text. More information will be provided later.
Abstract (5%)
A short (less than 200 word) abstract will discuss your final literary analysis paper. The abstract should include a working thesis statement, the texts and authors you will be writing about, and a few of your main points. It should be written in paragraph form.
Literary Analysis (20%)
A 5-page, double-spaced literary analysis that will involve developing a thesis-driven argument and executing a close, supported enquiry into a problem/question presented in one of our assigned literary text. The final paper is in lieu of a final exam. More information will be provided later.
Tests (30% total) [SLOs 1-4]
Weekly Reading Quizzes (10%)
We will have a quiz every week based on the assigned fiction and/or textbook readings. They are one mean of assessing if students have done the assigned readings. Typically, weekly quizzes will consist of 5 questions and you will have 5 minutes to complete the quiz online. While there is no way to make certain that these quizzes are closed-book, the time limit will make it very difficult to complete the quizzes without the readings being done in advance. Some advice: just read the assignments so you don’t have to worry about these things. No make-up quizzes will be administered.
Midterm Exam (20%)
The midterm examination will consist of questions covering the texts read up to that point, as well as basic terminology. Again, you will have approximately 1 minute per question and the exam will be timed and completed online during the midterm week. No make-up exams will be administered.
IV: Student Resources
Office of Accessibility Resources and Services: Students with documentation of special needs should arrange to see me about accommodations as soon as possible. If you believe you could benefit from such accommodations, you must first register with the Office of Accessibility Resources and Services on campus before such accommodations can be made. The office is located on the second floor of the Elliott University Center (EUC) in Suite 215, and the office is open 8am to 5pm, Monday - Friday. Telephone: 334-5440; e-mail: .
The Writing Center: The purpose of the Writing Center is to enhance the confidence and competence of student writers by providing free, individual assistance at any stage of any writing project. Staff consultants are experienced writers and alert readers, who provide one-on-one instruction as needed. Located in the Moore Humanities and Research Building, room 3211. The Writing Center conducts walk-ins, scheduled appointments, and online consultations. For the two major paper assignments, I will offer extra credit for those who visit the Writing Center and have confirmation emailed to me.