OMPOSITION AND LITERARY STUDIES

ENGLISH 2328 - CIVIL WAR TO THE PRESENT AMERICAN LITERATURE COURSE SYLLABUS

Fall 2024

Round Rock High School - Room 1501

Synonym       Section 

Professor:  Roy F. Smith

Office hours and location: 8:30-9:00 am M-F room 1501

Phone #: (512) 464-6240

Email: roy_smith@roundrockisd.org or rfsmith1@austincc.edu 

*Expect a return reply to emails within 1 business day

Required books and materials:

Laptop with Internet access *all other readings will be provided online or in print by the instructor

Paper, pens, highlighters, binder, notebook (any style) dedicated to the class *a binder is essential as you will be allowed to use notes and handouts on unit tests and your final exam. 

*The Awakening by Kate Chopin

*Old School by Tobias Wolff

PREREQUISITES

Enrollment in any literature course requires credit for both ENGL 1301 and ENGL 1302 or their

equivalents. The grade in ENGL 1302 must be at least “C.” Instructor will verify.

COURSE OVERVIEW

English 2328, American Literature, is a survey of American literature from the Civil War period to today. This course curriculum pairs contemporary historical fiction with primary texts from the era. Students will consider how some cultural attitudes and themes resonate through time. The class also will explore how certain voices have historically been valued or devalued, and the consequences of those sounds and silences in our body of American literature. This section of ENG 2328 is a certified Liberal Arts Gateway course. 

INSTRUCTIONAL METHODOLOGY:

All grades are final.  No revisions for extra credit.  No late daily assignments will be accepted.

*Expectations for all papers and assignments are described in class handouts.

Each paper will receive a numeric grade and will be weighted on the following scale:

Post Civil War Literary AnalysisPaper #1: 25%

Research Paper #2: 35%  

Classwork: In-class projects, assignments, quizzes: 20%                                                      

Unit Tests: 10%                                 

Final exam: 10%                                                         

Total points possible: 100 

 Grading System

All grades are posted on Blackboard. This course is graded on a points earned system, not averages. 

 90-100 = A 

 80-89.9 = B

 70-79.9 = C 

60-69.9 = D  

59.9 and below = F and/or missing any essays or tests

Assignment Information

Papers: The majority of your grade is based on 2 essays. Unlike Comp I and II, there are no revisions on papers in this class. You are expected to build on the reading and writing skills from those prerequisite sources. If you require remediation (MLA, grammar, organization) it is your responsibility to ask for tutorials and/or use ACC resources prior to paper due dates. Late papers will be penalized one letter grade per calendar day late. 

Classwork:  In class projects are work required to teach you strategies for interacting with texts. These projects will include either presentation or creation of a product for assessment. Expectations regarding the allowance or disallowance of collaboration will be spelled out on each assignment sheet.  In class project assignments cannot be handed in late for credit and cannot be revised. Grades are final. Daily assignments and quizzes hold you accountable for assigned reading, in class activities, and homework. These assignments and quizzes cannot be handed in late for credit and cannot be made up for a higher grade. 

Tests; Tests will require that you demonstrate your understanding of course materials in class, in writing. If you miss a test due to absence, you are expected to discuss scheduling a make-up exam on the day you return to class. Note that testing accommodations must be approved by ACC. 

COURSE POLICIES

Attendance and Absences

Regular and timely class participation in discussions and completion of work is expected of all students.  If attendance or compliance with other course policies is unsatisfactory, the instructor may withdraw students from the class. If you miss class you are responsible for collecting any assignments and notes missed. If you miss class on a paper due date then you will be expected to make arrangements with me to have papers in on time or it will incur late penalties. Any work you missed while absent is due the day you return to class. You will not be given “extra time” to complete work if you are absent.The instructor reserves the right to drop a student after four absences.

Missed or Late Work

In class projects and daily assignments cannot be submitted after the due date for credit. Assignments due on a day you are absent must be made up the day you return. Assignments, including tests and quizzes, missed on a day you are absent must be made up by the next class period. Papers are due on the deadline listed even if you are absent, unless you have prior approval from the professor. 

Attendance/Class Participation

Regular and punctual class attendance is expected of all students. If attendance or compliance with other course policies is unsatisfactory, the instructor may withdraw students from the class.

Incomplete

An incomplete (grade of "I") will only be given due to extenuating circumstances.  What constitutes “extenuating circumstances” is left to the instructor’s discretion.  If a grade of I is given, the remaining course work must be completed by a date set by the student and professor.  This date may not be later than two weeks prior to the end of the Spring, 2023 semester.  A grade of I also requires completion and submission of the Incomplete Grade form, to be signed by the faculty member (and student if possible) and submitted to the department chair.

Withdrawal Policy

It is the responsibility of each student to ensure that his or her name is removed from the rolls should they decide to withdraw from the class.  The instructor does, however, reserve the right to drop a student should he or she feel it is necessary. Student permission is not required for the instructor to initiate the drop, and as per FERPA laws, the instructor may not communicate with parents regarding a drop. The schedule lists drop dates; students who have not completed assigned papers by drop dates may be withdrawn from the class at the discretion of the professor.  If a student decides to withdraw, he or she should also verify that the withdrawal is recorded before the Final Withdrawal date as published by the college. The student is also strongly encouraged to keep any paperwork in case a problem arises.

Students are responsible for understanding the impact that withdrawal from a course may have on their financial aid, veterans’ benefits, and international student status.  Per state law, students enrolling for the first time in Fall 2007 or later at any public Texas college or university may not withdraw (receive a “W”) from more than six courses during their undergraduate college education. Some exemptions for good cause could allow a student to withdraw from a course without having it count toward this limit. Students are strongly encouraged to meet with an advisor when making decisions about course selection, course loads, and course withdrawals.

COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

Sophomore literature courses are a study of literature in the context of historical and cultural perspectives.

All English classes described below have:

● Credit Hours: 3

● Classroom Contact Hours per week: 3

● Laboratory Contact Hours per week: 0

STUDENTS WHO PLAN TO TRANSFER SHOULD CHECK WITH THEIR TRANSFERRING

INSTITUTION FOR LITERATURE REQUIREMENTS IN THEIR DEGREE PLANS.

Course Objectives/Rationale

The goals of sophomore literature courses are

● To provide a working knowledge of the characteristics of various literary genres.

● To develop analytical skills and critical thinking through reading, discussion, and written assignments.

● To broaden a student’s intercultural reading experience.

● To deepen a student’s awareness of the universal human concerns that are the basis for literary works.

● To stimulate a greater appreciation of language as an artistic medium and of the aesthetic principles

that shape literary works.

● To understand literature as an expression of human values within an historical and social context.

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of sophomore literature, students should be able to

● Identify key ideas, representative authors and works, significant historical or cultural events, and

characteristic perspectives or attitudes expressed in the literature of different periods or regions.

● Analyze literary works as expressions of individual or communal values within the social, political,

cultural, or religious contexts of different literary periods.

● Demonstrate knowledge of the development of characteristic forms or styles of expression during

different historical periods or in different regions.

● Articulate the aesthetic principles that guide the scope and variety of works in the arts and

humanities.

● Write research based critical papers about the assigned readings in clear and grammatically correct

prose, using various critical approaches to literature.

Composition and Literary Studies Department Students Learning Outcomes

The following outcomes are developed in all sophomore literature students regardless of student age or

course location:

● Write clearly, coherently and effectively about various genres in literature

● In discussions and writing, address the culture and context of the work of literature

● Write about and discuss elements of literary texts and relate these to the work as a whole.

Core Objectives (General Education Learning Outcomes)

Upon completion of the general education component of an associate’s degree, students will demonstrate

competence in:

● Critical Thinking Skills (CT) - creative thinking, innovation, inquiry, and analysis, evaluation and

synthesis of information

● Communication Skills (COM) - effective development, interpretation and expression of ideas

through written, oral and visual communication

● Teamwork (TW) - ability to consider different points of view and to work effectively with others to

support a shared purpose or goal

● Social Responsibility (SR) - intercultural competence, knowledge of civic responsibility, and the

ability to engage effectively in regional, national, and global communities

● Personal Responsibility (PR) - ability to connect choices, actions and consequences to ethical

decision-making

ACADEMIC MISCONDUCT AND PLAGIARISM

Austin Community College values academic integrity in the educational process. Acts of academic

dishonesty/misconduct undermine the learning process, present a disadvantage to students who earn credit

honestly, and subvert the academic mission of the institution. The potential consequences of fraudulent

credentials raise additional concerns for individuals and communities beyond campus who rely on institutions

of higher learning to certify students' academic achievements and expect to benefit from the claimed

knowledge and skills of their graduates. Students must follow all instructions given by faculty or designated

college representatives when taking examinations, placement assessments, tests, quizzes, and evaluations.

Actions constituting scholastic dishonesty include, but are not limited to, plagiarism, cheating, fabrication,

collusion, falsifying documents, or the inappropriate use of the college’s information technology resources.

Further information is available at

https://www.austincc.edu/about-acc/academic-integrity-and-disciplinary-process 

Plagiarism can be defined as using the words and ideas of another writer without acknowledging the debt.

Plagiarism takes many forms, including the omission of parenthetical citations, the failure to place quotation

marks around direct or modified content taken from another source, and another person writing the essay for

the student. It is of utmost importance for students to understand that in academic and professional life,

plagiarism of any kind is absolutely unacceptable. Therefore, acts of plagiarism, major or minor, may have

serious repercussions, which could include a failing grade, expulsion from the class, and/or disciplinary action

on the part of the College. Specific policies can be found in individual faculty syllabi; College policies can be

found in the ACC Student Handbook.

Plagiarism also includes collusion, a problem that happens when someone other than the student contributes

a substantial portion of the essay for the student. Please note that having a friend or paid tutor contribute to a

paper in the form of adding content or extensive revising or editing will be considered collusion, a form of

plagiarism.

While the firm expectation for all courses is that student work will reflect authentic (student-generated) effort

and original critical thinking, individual professors will enforce their own policies on the use and

documentation of generative AI technology. Where generative AI technology is allowed, its use must be

documented.

Instructional AI tools (such as spelling and grammar checking tools, Grammarly, Quillbot, and Packback)

are generally considered acceptable aids to writing. However, individual instructors may provide specific

guidelines or place certain restrictions on the use of these tools. Use of AI generated text constitutes academic dishonesty and may result in disciplinary action, dismissal from the course, or a failing grade in the class. 

STUDENT TECHNOLOGY SUPPORT

Students who do not have the necessary technology to complete their ACC courses can request to borrow

devices from Student Technology Services. Available devices include iPads, webcams, headsets, calculators,

etc. Students must be registered for a credit course, Adult Education, or Continuing Education course to be

eligible. For more information, including how to request a device, visit http://www.austincc.edu/sts.

Student Technology Services offers phone, live-chat, and email-based technical support for students and can

provide support on topics such as password resets, accessing or using Blackboard, access to technology, etc.

To view hours of operation and ways to request support, visit http://www.austincc.edu/sts.

USE OF STUDENT WORK

Written artifacts from this course may be used for research and publicity purposes after the course has ended.

Papers and anything used will have student names removed to maintain student confidentiality. If you do not

want your written work used for these purposes, please send an email to your instructor that states you would

like to opt-out. Opting out will have no effect on your grade.

Student Accessibility Services

Students with documented disabilities who need academic or other accommodations must request them through the office Student Accessibility Services (SAS).   SAS offices are located at each major campus.  Students are encouraged to request accommodations when they register for courses or at least three weeks before the start of the semester; otherwise, the provision of accommodations may be delayed.  Students who have received approval for accommodations from SAS for this course must provide the instructor with the document titled “Notice of Approved Accommodations” from SAS before accommodations will be provided. Accommodations will not be provided retroactively.  Arrangements by the instructor for academic accommodations can only be made after he or she receives the “Notice of Approved Accommodations” from the student.

Additional information about Student Accessibility Services is available at https://www.austincc.edu/offices/student-accessibility-services-and-assistive-technology 

Statement about Departmental Syllabus:

The Departmental Syllabus for all Literature courses, including ENG 2327,  is posted on Blackboard and supplements this Section Syllabus by explaining learning objectives, requirements, and policies that apply to all sections of ENG 2327 across Austin Community College. 

*The Awakening by Kate Chopin

*Old School by Tobias Wolff

English 2328, American Literature, is a survey of American literature from the Civil War period to today. This course curriculum pairs contemporary historical fiction with primary texts from the era. Students will consider how some cultural attitudes and themes resonate through time. The class also will explore how certain voices have historically been valued or devalued, and the consequences of those sounds and silences in our body of American literature. This section of ENG 2328 is a certified Liberal Arts Gateway course. 

Course Objectives/Rationale

The goals of sophomore literature courses are

● To provide a working knowledge of the characteristics of various literary genres.

● To develop analytical skills and critical thinking through reading, discussion, and written assignments.

● To broaden a student’s intercultural reading experience.

● To deepen a student’s awareness of the universal human concerns that are the basis for literary works.

● To stimulate a greater appreciation of language as an artistic medium and of the aesthetic principles

that shape literary works.

● To understand literature as an expression of human values within an historical and social context.

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of sophomore literature, students should be able to

● Identify key ideas, representative authors and works, significant historical or cultural events, and

characteristic perspectives or attitudes expressed in the literature of different periods or regions.

● Analyze literary works as expressions of individual or communal values within the social, political,

cultural, or religious contexts of different literary periods.

● Demonstrate knowledge of the development of characteristic forms or styles of expression during

different historical periods or in different regions.

● Articulate the aesthetic principles that guide the scope and variety of works in the arts and

humanities.

● Write research based critical papers about the assigned readings in clear and grammatically correct

prose, using various critical approaches to literature.

Composition and Literary Studies Department Students Learning Outcomes

The following outcomes are developed in all sophomore literature students regardless of student age or

course location:

● Write clearly, coherently and effectively about various genres in literature

● In discussions and writing, address the culture and context of the work of literature

● Write about and discuss elements of literary texts and relate these to the work as a whole.

Core Objectives (General Education Learning Outcomes)

Upon completion of the general education component of an associate’s degree, students will demonstrate

competence in:

● Critical Thinking Skills (CT) - creative thinking, innovation, inquiry, and analysis, evaluation and

synthesis of information

● Communication Skills (COM) - effective development, interpretation and expression of ideas

through written, oral and visual communication

● Teamwork (TW) - ability to consider different points of view and to work effectively with others to

support a shared purpose or goal

● Social Responsibility (SR) - intercultural competence, knowledge of civic responsibility, and the

ability to engage effectively in regional, national, and global communities

● Personal Responsibility (PR) - ability to connect choices, actions and consequences to ethical

decision-making