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ENGL 300: THE LITERARY EXPERIENCE OF NATURE
South Dakota School of Mines and Technology
Spring 2009—MWF 10:00 – 10:50 in CB 203
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Instructor: Dr. Sue Shirley Phone: 394-2482
Office: CB 310 Messages: 394-2481
Office Hours: MF 2:00 – 3:00, TuTh by appointment, Email: Sue.
and catch as catch can
CATALOG AND COURSE DESCRIPTION: English 300 provides a 3 credit survey of writing about nature, examining the relationships between literary, cultural, historical, and scientific perspectives.
REQUIRED TEXTBOOK AND MATERIALS:
R. Finch and J. Elder, The Norton Book of Nature Writing, College Edition 2002.
COURSE PREREQUISITES and REQUIRED TECHNOLOGY SKILLS: Junior or senior standing or permission of the instructor. Students must have at least a moderate level of computer literacy, i.e., be capable of producing documents using software such as MS Word and MS PowerPoint, navigating the Web, and using e-mail.
COURSE FOCUS: In Engl 300, we’ll explore the literary, historical, cultural and scientific perceptions of nature and the wilderness through the observations and imaginations of our best-known American nature writers. Some of the early writers were wealthy gentleman; others were simple farmers. Some explored the wilderness; others explored their own backyards. Some were trained scientists; many were largely self-taught. To some is attributed the start of the conservationist movement in the United States; others spoke for a particular place or people. Each of them had a unique relationship with and vision of nature. We’ll discover how they defined and experienced their natural world and discuss their continuing influence on American conceptions of the relationships between humans and nature. We’ll read widely to gain an historical perspective and to study the style and technique of the writers. You’ll respond frequently to the reading in short written responses. Additionally, each of you will select one nature writer/book for a more focused, in-depth written study and oral presentation.
Our reading will help us answer a variety of questions:
· What is nature writing? What kinds of nature writing are there?
· What is the purpose of nature writing?
· What are the historical and cultural origins of nature writing?
· What distinguishes nature writing from other forms of non-fiction prose?
· What are the stylistic characteristics of nature writing?
· What views of or attitudes towards nature are reflected in nature writing?
· What are the implications of the views of nature held by each author we read?
· What are the connections between nature and autobiography? Why does nature writing seem to be so much about people?
· How does our attitude toward nature affect our reading of nature writing?
· How does our attitude toward the writing affect our reading of nature?
· What is the difference between science writing and nature writing? Why do we need nature writing when we have science?
· When does nature writing become eco-criticism?
COURSE REQUIREMENTS: Your final course grade will be based on successful completion of a variety of assignments:
· A set of 12 brief typed responses to the readings in the textbook (Worth 30% of the total)
· A written and oral report on one additional longer work, to be selected from a list provided by the instructor (25%)
· A 3 – 4 page paper based on the readings from the first half of the semester (20%)
· A 3 – 4 page paper based on the readings from the second half of the semester (20%)
· A consistently high level of preparation and participation in class discussion and activities (5%)
GRADING SCALE:
100 – 93% = A 92 - 85% = B 84 - 77% = C
76 – 69% = D 68 – 0% = F
ATTENDANCE AND PARTICIPATION POLICY: Learning is active, constructive, and contextual. That means that you build understanding for yourself through reading, thinking, writing, and talking about the course materials.
I expect you to attend each scheduled class session, barring illness and unforeseen emergencies, and to stay for the entire class session. Because active participation is important to your academic success in the class, unless there are extenuating circumstances, of which you have kept me fully apprised, more than four absences will generally affect your final grade adversely. If you accumulate more than 10 absences, you should withdraw from the class.
Participation and professionalism are defined in a number of ways: answering and asking relevant questions, paying attention, demonstrating a positive attitude, joining in written and oral classroom activities. On the other hand, monopolizing class time, chronic tardiness, sleeping, chatting with a neighbor while the instructor is talking or a classmate is responding to a discussion question, playing on your laptop or cell phone, writing in your planner, doing work for your other courses during Engl 300—these behaviors creative a negative impression that is hard to change. Please come to class prepared to participate in a positive and professional way. We’ll do a fair amount of in-class work as part of discussions. These activities will not be graded and can not be made up if you are absent, but they are important in helping you understand the reading and successfully complete the course.
If you must miss class, you are still responsible for any work due and for finding out what you missed; I recommend that you take the name and number of a couple of classmates and contact them for updates. Please do not call or email me asking if you missed “anything important.” Nor can I review “what happened” in class when you were absent. The material is presented only once. Discussion cannot be reconstructed; activities and presentations cannot be repeated. Late reading responses will not be accepted.
Assignments and most handouts will be posted to the class D2L site within 72 hours following their distribution in class. (At the SDSM&T homepage, pull down Quick Links to D2L and read the instructions on using Login/Password.) Please do not, however, use the D2L accessibility to assignments as an excuse to miss class. You need the context of class discussion to fully understand the expectations for your writing assignments.
ELECTRONIC DEVICES POLICY: Please turn off your cell phone and put it away before class starts. You will not be excused from class to take a call. Talking on your cell phone, checking your messages, playing games, and/or text messaging during class is considered highly disrespectful. Please also turn off all music devices before class begins; no headphones are allowed during class time.
Engl 300 is not a tablet PC section; you will not need a tablet or laptop for this class. I will appreciate your cooperation in keeping the computers put away when we don’t need them.
DUE DATES: Treat your work in this course as you would treat work at a professional job. It must be accurate and timely. Just as you must meet work deadlines, you must meet assignment deadlines. No credit will be given for late reading responses. In-class activities cannot be made up later. Due dates for paper assignments are noted on individual assignment sheets. In general, assignments are due on the published due dates. Being absent does not excuse you from meeting due dates. (You can, of course, submit reading responses early if you know you will be absent for a school-sponsored event.) In case of emergencies and other documentable excuses, students should consult with the instructor on the possibility of extended deadlines for final drafts of Take Home Exam/Papers 1 and 2.
ASSIGNMENT FORMAT: With the exception of in-class writing activities, all written work must be typed or word-processed. Letter quality or near-letter quality printing is recommended.
PLAGIARISM POLICY: Since our entire educational process rests upon an atmosphere of academic honesty and trust, courses must promote and protect the sanctity of such an environment. Plagiarism--handing in written work which is not your own--is dishonest. Other people, such as your classmates in English 300 class, may make suggestions for improving a piece of written work, but the work itself must be your own.
The most extreme form of plagiarism involves intentionally or knowingly representing the words or ideas of another as one’s own. This includes submitting as your own a paper or parts of a paper written by another student, even with that student’s permission. Plagiarism may also occur when a student borrows information from a source without appropriate source documentation. Furthermore, in some cases, students may use paraphrasing in an unacceptable manner, thus plagiarizing.
Your sense of honor should help you avoid intentional plagiarism; your knowledge gained in English 101 and a review of citation principles in technical communication should help you avoid unintentional plagiarism. Penalties for plagiarism are severe. In fact, cheating and plagiarism are grounds for failing the course. If you have difficulty understanding what constitutes plagiarism or cheating, please ask me for clarification. Refer to the section on academic integrity in the Mines catalog for further information.
CONTACTING THE INSTRUCTOR: Unless I am ill, out of town at a conference, or something urgent comes up unexpectedly, I will be available in my office during my office hours. However, because I have a heavy teaching load and a number of administrative responsibilities (e.g., lots of meetings to attend), I may not always be readily available to answer your questions or concerns at other times during the day. I do check email several times a day, though, and on the weekends. Please feel free to contact me via email if I’m not available in person or by phone in my office. I also prefer to contact students via your Mines email accounts when necessary.
Please note: Just before class starts is the worst time to visit with me. (I also have a 9:00 class, so I’ll be rushing between classrooms.) You will find me busy getting ready for class and most likely too distracted to focus on your concerns. I’ll be happy to stay after class to answer your questions or set up an appointment to meet at another time.
FREEDOM IN LEARNING: Under Board of Regents and University policy, student academic performance may be evaluated solely on an academic basis, not on opinions or conduct in matters unrelated to academic standards. Students should be free to take reasoned exception to the data or views offered in any course of study and to reserve judgment about matters of opinion, but they are responsible for learning the content of any course of study for which they are enrolled. Students who believe that an academic evaluation reflects prejudiced or capricious consideration of student opinions or conduct unrelated to academic standards should contact Dr. Duane Hrncir, the Dean of the College of Science and Letters to initiate a review of the evaluation.
ADA ACCOMMODATION: Students with special needs or requiring special accommodations should contact the instructor and the campus ADA coordinator, Jolie McCoy, at 294-1924, at the earliest opportunity.
INSTRUCTOR AND STUDENT EXPECTATIONS: As a student in my section of Engl 300, you can expect me to do my very best to
· Provide a positive learning environment in the classroom.
· Provide appropriate course content.
· Provide clear instructions regarding assignments and expectations.
· Provide specific, individualized feedback on your papers and your oral presentation.
· Evaluate your work fairly and according to specific criteria.
· Return assignments in a timely manner.
· Be on time and prepared for class.
· Treat all students fairly, respectfully and with courtesy.
· Demonstrate ethical and professional behavior.
· Keep you apprised of any situations/problems that may affect my attendance or performance in the classroom.
· Make a commitment to the class and the work to be done.
As your instructor for Engl 300, I expect you to do your very best to
· Read the syllabus, handouts, textbook assignments, and related documents completely and thoroughly.
· Complete and submit all assignments in accordance with the instructions and the established due dates.
· Be on time and prepared for class and attend class in accordance with attendance requirements.
· Participate actively and positively in discussions and classroom activities.
· Ask for clarification when you don’t understand.
· Abide by the expectations for participation and professionalism as noted in the syllabus.
· Adhere to the university’s standards for academic integrity/honesty.
· Demonstrate ethical and professional behavior.
· Cooperate with, support, and be respectful of your classmates and the instructor.
· Talk with the instructor concerning any issue or difficulty before it becomes a significant problem.
· Keep the instructor apprised of situations/problems that may affect your attendance or performance in the class.
· Make a commitment to the class and the work to be done.
January 2009: An electronic copy of this syllabus is available at our class D2L site or at my school page: http://www.hpcnet.org/sdsmt/directory/personnel/sshirley
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ENGL 300: SPRING 2009—TENTATIVE READING SCHEDULE
Please have all reading and response assignments completed by class time. Responses must be typed and brought to class. We’ll follow the calendar as closely as possible, but do allow for flexibility as needed. This calendar is subject to change at the instructor’s discretion but with advance notice to the class.
Dates Topics and Activities Readings (due this date) Assignments (due this date)
Week 1:
January 16 (F) Introduction to the course:
What is American nature writing?
Week 2:
January 19 (M): No class. M. L. King, Jr. holiday.
January 21 (W): The history of natural history. Introduction 15 - 30
American attitudes towards nature and
the wilderness before the 18th century.
January 23 (F): 18th century writers: Gilbert 33, 36 – 41, 49 – 50. Response 1 due at start of class:
Crevecouer 51 – 63 Provide a “primary” response for one of
Bartram 64 – 76 the writers and a “secondary” response
Wilson 76 – 81 for one other writer.
Remember that you’ll bring to class and then submit 12 of the 18 response assignments.
You choose which 12 you want to complete. But please do all the reading and mark
interesting sentences or passages as you go so that everyone is prepared for discussion!