American Literature II
AML 2020-7 (3426)
Spring 2009  5:30-6:45 Tuesdays

Gregory Byrd
Office Hours: TBA
Office: LA 154
Phone: 791-2695
Email: byrd.greg@spcollege.edu

Course Calendar

Required Texts:

Anthology TBA
The Little, Brown Handbook, 11th ed.  (or online version)
Griffith, Writing Essays about Literature, 7th edition.  ISBN 1-4130-0395-8
Materials on web and on reserve.

Assignments for AML 2020 

Midterm exam                                                            5%
Final exam                                                                  10%
Two analytical essays  1,000 words each                  30%
Two presentations
     One on an author                                                   5%
     One on a movement or concept                            5%
            (such as modernism, the Harlem Renaissance or feminist writers)
Two research essays
     Research essay on author presentation topic      15%
     Research essay on concept presentation topic    15%

Guidelines for Revising Essays for a Higher Grade

 Click here for a list of research essay and presentation topics.

Presentations will include a handout for the class, a two-page summary of your talk in essay form to be handed in to the instructor and a five minute talk to the class.  The presentations will take place the day we discuss your particular topic.  You must do an appropriate amount of research (three sources including specialized reference, book and journal article) should suffice.  If you provide your handout to me ahead of time, I will include it as a link to our web page so that other students may access it.  You may produce your talk on Powerpoint instead of a handout.  I will post this on the web as well.

Online Bulletin Board or journal.                                 5%

                Aggregate of twice a week, total.

Participation in class.                                                    5%

Quizzes                                                                          5%

Requirements for the Portfolio

Policies :

Revision:

One of the best ways to learn to write well and to create good writing is to revise.  You may revise your essays throughout the semester.  I will regrade them only twice, however:  once in the two weeks after you first receive the graded essay from me and again with your final portfolio at the end of the semester.  Revisions must be major revisions carefully done.  It’s a waste of time if you only correct spelling errors when the paper is in need of thesis revision and more support.

With each revision, you must turn in the following:

      1.       The original graded essay.
2.       The revised essay, with revisions highlighted.
3.       A page or two in which you explain what you changed, how those changes improve the essay and how they answer my (and your) concerns about the essay.
4.       You will meet with me for ten minutes during which we will read over the new essay and arrive at a new grade.

                No revisions for short reports.

Late Essays.

Stuff happens.  You may turn in one essay at least one week late.  Be sure to let me know that you are taking this option on the day the paper is due.  Any essays turned in beyond this date are subject to grade penalties.  Due to the ephemeral nature of email and the problems associated with format on email, I do not accept papers via email, but I will read and comment on a draft of an essay when I have time.

Attendance.

You will notice that part of your participation grade includes “attending class regularly.”  Students who attend class regularly tend to learn more and get more satisfaction from the class than students who miss many classes.  There is no maximum number of absences for this class.  If you must be absent for some reason, that is your call.  However, you are responsible for everything that happens in every class meeting this semester.  At some point, your absences will hamper your ability to do well.  This point will vary from person to person.  If you are absent, be sure to catch up with the reading, and get good class notes from someone who was in class the day you were absent.

Student Conduct

Please turn off or place on silent mode your cell phone.  We will take a break halfway through class and you may answer voice mail and make phone calls then.  If you need to leave class early for some reason, please let me know ahead of time and sit in a place from which you can leave unobtrusively.  Come to class on time.  Class begins at 7:00 p.m.  Finally, if you haven’t done so already, read the SPC Code of Student Conduct, available in the SPC Handbook and on the SPC Web Page.

Plagiarism and Cheating

Plagiarism, that is the intentional or unintentional use of someone's work as your own including but not limited to copying and submitting another student's paper as your own, copying and submitting information from books or periodicals as your own, copying and submitting papers or other information found on the web as your own, will not be tolerated.  See this link for an essay about the perils of plagiarism.  Visit here for the SPC Student Handbook discussion of Academic Honesty and here for the District Board of Trustees Rule about plagiarism. Clear cases of plagiarism will be given a zero with no chance of revision and reported to the Office of the Associate Provost.  Plagiarism that may have been unintentional may at the instructor's discretion be penalized differently in a way that allows for revision.

 

Americans with Disabilities Act

From Student and Educational Services 
If you wish to receive special accommodations as a student with a documented disability, please make an appointment with Stefanie Silvers, Learning Specialist, AD 122, 791-2765, silverss@spcollege.edu.. If you have a documented hearing loss, please contact the Program for the Deaf at 791-2628 (V/TDD). If you will need assistance during an emergency classroom evacuation, it is imperative that you speak with your campus Learning Specialist immediately about arrangements for your safety. 
 
Clearwater Linda Giar

AD 122

 791-2710

 

Cultural Diversity: In order to prepare students to be informed and active members of their communities, the Communications Program values and promotes the study of cultural diversity – an awareness and affirmation of the importance of similarities and differences among people.  This study may include multi-cultural readings, class and small group discussions, and oral and written assignments.

Emergency Procedures:  Fire alarms and extinguishers are located at building exit doors.  If an emergency alarm sounds, students and faculty should leave the classroom immediately, taking personal belongings with them.  Students should assist handicapped students getting out.  The last person out should shut the door.  Everyone should exit the building by the nearest exit and move at least 100 feet away from the building into the south parking lot.  No one is to re-enter the building until the all-clear alarm (three short blasts) sounds.

Florida Department of Law Enforcement:     Federal and State law requires a person designated as a “sexual predator or offender” to register with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE).  The FDLE then is required to notify the local law enforcement agency where the registrant resides, attends or is employed by an institution of higher learning.  Information regarding sexual predators or offenders attending or employed by an institution of higher learning may be obtained from the local law enforcement agency with jurisdiction for the particular campus, by calling the FDLE hotline (1-888-FL-PREDATOR) or 1-888-357-7332), or by visiting the FDLE website at  www.fdle.state.fl.us/sexual_predators.  If there are questions or concerns regarding personal safety, please contact the Provost, Associate Provost, Campus Security Office or Site Administrator on your campus.