WF Laurel Hall 210

LIT 218-300 2pm-320pm

Spring 2012 

William Patrick Wend

 

Office Hours

Laurel Hall 114 MW 10am-11am F 1pm-2pm

Parker 413B T TH 10am-11am

 

I am also available by appointment if these hours don’t work for you (See calendar on wiki for more about my schedule)

 

Contact Information

wwend@bcc.edu

Office: 609-894-9311 #1401

Skype (By appointment...get in touch)

Google Talk: professorwend@gmail.com

Yahoo: professorwend

AIM: professorwend

Twitter: @wpwend42 (personal account)

 

I am primarily online during the early morning except for Wednesday's when I do "EOffice" hours (times TBA)

 

Required Texts

• The Odyssey, Homer, Translated by Robert Fagles, Penguin Classics, ISBN 978-0-14-303995-2
• Shakespeare: Four Tragedies, William Shakespeare, Bantam, ISBN 0-553-21283-4 
• Dracula, Bram Stoker, Modern Library Classics, ISBN 0-375-75670-1 
• The Mortal Storm, Phyllis Bottome, Northwestern University Press, ISBN 0-8101-1471-2 
• Mrs. Dalloway, Virginia Woolf, Harcourt, ISBN 0-15-662870-8 
• Speak, Laurie Halse Anderson, Penguin, ISBN 978-0-14-241473-6 
• V For Vendetta, Alan Moore & David Lloyd, Vertigo, ISBN 978-1-4012-0841-7 
• Plus one additional book for your adaptation report (we will discuss this on day one) 

 

Goals & Focus Of Course

• Discuss works of literature through extensive reading and discussion of novels and plays.
• Analyze works of fiction and drama for plot structure, setting, characterization, theme, and narrative point of view.
• Develop an understanding of critical analysis of film through careful examination of cinematic adaptations of literary texts, focusing on character development, dramatic structure, and performance.
• Utilize the terminology of film analysis, both those terms shared with literary discussion (character, plot, theme, setting).
• Demonstrate an understanding of the possibilities and problems involved in the transposition of literature to film, applying terminology and critical skills acquired during the semester. 

 

Expectations & Policies

Below is a brief description of how I will grade writing in this course:

A: Mastery of essential elements and related concepts, plus demonstrated excellence or originality.

B+: Mastery of essential elements and related concepts, showing higher level understanding.

B: Mastery of essential elements and related concepts.

C+: Above average knowledge of essential elements and related concepts.

C: Acceptable knowledge of essential elements and related concepts.

D: Minimal knowledge of related concepts.

F: Unsatisfactory progress. This grade may also be assigned in cases of academic misconduct, such as cheating or plagiarism, and/or excessive absences.

 

Attendance

Attendance is important. I am allowing four absences. Your grades will be determined by your writing, but attendance and class participation are crucial. If you do not attend class or participate actively, you are unlikely to comprehend the course material well enough to write a skillful term paper.

 

Points will be taken off your final grade for having more absences than four. After four absences, your continued presence in this course will be at my discretion. I reserve the right to, and will, fail a student based on excessive absenteeism. In my experience, students who do not attend class rarely achieve their academic goals.

 

I will not tolerate frequent lateness. Leaving early, without prior permission, is considered disrespectful and will not be tolerated. If this is a morning class and the student has difficulties staying awake or showing up on time, I would strongly suggest finding another section of 218 to take.

 

Smart Phones, Texting, Laptops, & Other Issues of Etiquette

Please turn your cell phone off BEFORE entering the classroom. If your cell phone goes off more than once while class is in a session, you will be asked to leave. I will not tolerate texting or other distractions to the learning experience. I will be taking points off of your course contribution grade for every time that, at the end of class, I can remember you texting during that class.Laptops are fine as long as they aren’t a distraction. Students who use education apps on their smart phones (please tell me about them!) are fine too. Please remove all earbuds before entering class.

 

In my classes, I have an expectation students will have access to email and computers in general. All of your work will be submitted to me digitally. Given there are public and school libraries, the ILC, coffee shops, etc, students need to budget their time better; I do not see any excuse for having “no access” to email outside of the classroom.

 

Students are expected to check their BCC email on a regular basis. I do not accept the excuse, “I didn't check my email for two weeks” as a valid problem. Digital correspondence should be written using proper grammar and form. I will not reply to emails filled with texting speak (2, u, 4, lol, j/k) or poor grammar and/or misspellings. Please include a subject and "sign" your email with your name and course section.

 

I will not be carrying handouts around all semester. If you miss class or lose a handout, please check the course wiki within 48 hours of the class to view, download, or print a PDF of the handout in question. Most of the time they will be uploaded before class. 

 

Finally, a matter of general respect: I do not tolerate homophobic, misogynistic, ableist, or racist language in the classroom. 

 

Writing

I expect your work to be error free. You are expected to proofread for spelling, mechanics, and grammar. I will mark down for these errors; please revise and proofread often. All papers are to be typed, titled, double spaced, and given page numbers with your last name. All papers will be submitted digitally to my email by 11:59pm on the due date. I will not be accepting print copies of your papers.

 

If you use Microsoft Works, I would like you to convert your files (.wps) to something more accessible like .doc or .odt before submitting. Also, students writing in the .pages format will need to do the same. Please see me if you need help.

 

Do not consider your paper submitted until, if and only if, you receive a confirmation reply (usually within 24 hours, but don't panic if it is closer to 48-72). If you do not receive one within 48-72 hours, it is the student’s responsibility to get in touch with me about their work. I am not responsible for making sure you hand in your assignments; it is yours. Please make sure you are backing up your work to an external hard drive, flash drive, cloud based source or other backup method. I will not accept excuses involving crashed computers or broken files.

 

Finally, please follow the “24 hour rule” for paper returns. I do not discuss returned student papers until 24 hours have elapsed since I returned them. There will be no discussion in person or via email about them until that time window.

 

Term Paper

Your papers must conform to the sample research paper that begins on page 331 ofThe DK Handbook. Papers will have an introductory paragraph with a thesis, body of essay, and conclusion. Papers should be 2,000 words NOT including the works cited. All papers will be written according to current MLA documentation standards. All research must be dated after 2000, unless previous permission is granted, and gathered using research at the college library or via the internet. A minimum of three sources is required for a passing grade. 

 

Rough Drafts

I allow students to submit rough drafts of their writing. Rough drafts will be due by the Monday before the paper is due, which gives me time to properly annotate and return them to you. While I can offer guidance and suggestions to improve your writing, the primary responsibility is on the student to allow enough time for revision. I strongly believe in personal ownership and responsibility over your collegiate success.

 

Paper Revision Policy

I strongly believe one of the most important lessons I learned about writing was that quality work almost always entails rewriting. In this class I will accept one rewrite of a paper until the Friday after grades are sent back to the entire class. This means if you are not satisfied with your grade, you may resubmit one paper for that predetermined period of time. This time period will be added to the online version of the syllabus and announced during class. Normally, this will be anywhere from three to five days. After that time period, you may not resubmit. I am only accepting one revision per student. Please choose which paper you revise carefully. 

 

Obviously, just resubmitting the paper will not count as a rewrite. If you incorporate the feedback I give you on your papers when I send them back, the odds are pretty high you will improve your grade. Only making cosmetic changes will not improve it.

 

Extension Policy

Extensions are gifts, not a right. College work involves responsibility and ownership over your individual situation. With that in mind, here are a few caveats about extensions. First, I need to know 48 hours before an assignment is due if you need an extension. This will be clearly addressed on the class schedule. To apply for an extension, we must speak in person or over email immediately. A rough draft of your paper in progress will be required to be handed in at this time. I will then determine whether to grant or deny the extension and how much time would be allotted for it. 

To apply for an extension beyond the 48 hour mark for reasons of hospitalization, bereavement, military service, observance of religious holidays, legal reasons (jury duty, etc), or work related issues (ie: getting called into work at the last minute), written documentation not given before the due date must be in by Saturday night after the due date.

For the following reasons, extensions will not be permitted: short term illnesses and family vacations.

Only one extension will be granted per semester, although an "emergency" extension can be granted under certain circumstances. 

 

Academic Honesty

Plagiarism will not be tolerated under any circumstances. Be aware that plagiarism includes (but is not limited to) copying someone else’s words without crediting the source; paraphrasing someone else’s words without crediting the source; using someone else’s ideas without crediting the source (even if rephrased in your own words); using facts not universally known which are obtained from a source without crediting the source; asking someone else to write your paper, either in whole or in part; or obtaining a paper or portion thereof by any means and submitting it as an original document. The penalty for plagiarism is failure of the assignment and potentially failure of the course (at the instructor’s discretion), and it may result in suspension or expulsion from the College (at the discretion of the Student Affairs Committee). Please refer to the BCC Student Handbook for additional information regarding College regulations and the handling of plagiarism.

 

With this in mind, all papers that use in-text citations must have a works cited page. Failure to include a works cited page will be an automatic zero for the paper.  

 

Email

Email is an excellent way to contact me. Please provide a clear subject line and include your name and class section in the text of the email. I will respond to your email within 48 hours. I do not answer emails with poor grammar or texting speak.

 

Upon receiving a paper, I will reply to confirm it. Grading a set of papers normally takes a week. I will announce in class when the final batch has been returned. If you have not gotten your paper back by then, I did not receive it. It is the student’s job to follow up with me if they do not receive their work by then. I will not accept late papers or excuses which amount to student's disinterest in keeping up with their email. I suggest checking with me if you do not receive a confirmation email within 48 hours of submitting your paper.

 

Make Up Work

Work should be handed in on the date it is due. I will accept late work with one full grade taken off the top for each class it is late. If an emergency has come up, I expect an email before the class you will be missing letting me know. Your work will be due at our next meeting, but it would be great if you could email it to me in the meantime as well.

 

If you are going to be absent for the grammar exam, barring emergency, I need to know before the exam. Failure to do this will result in a zero for the exam.

 

Evaluation

Course Contribution 10%

Journals 10%

Citation Practice 5%

Two papers 20% each (60% total)

Class Leadership Day 10%

Bonus Adaptation Report 5%

=100%

 

A 100-92

B+ 91-88

B 87-80

C+ 79-75

C 74-70

D 69-65

F 64-0

 

Notification For Students With Disabilities

Burlington County College offers reasonable accommodations and/or services to persons with disabilities. The Office of Special Populations offers comprehensive services to all students with any form of disability (with appropriate official documentation) which hinders their academic success. Students must request the accommodation(s) from the Office of Special Populations. Please contact the Special Populations Coordinator at (609) 894-9311 or (856) 222-9311 Ext. 1803 at or visit the website at:http://www.bcc.edu/pages/182.asp.

 

Additional Support/Labs

Burlington County College provides confidential advising and counseling services free to all students through the Department of Academic Advisement & Transfer. For more information about advising and counselling services, visit the Parker Center or call Extension 7337 at (609) 894-9311 or visit the websites:

 

Advising: http://staff.bcc.edu/advising/

 

Counseling: http://staff.bcc.edu/counseling/

 

Free tutoring is also available for all currently enrolled students. For more information regarding The Tutoring Center call Extension 1495 at (609) 894-9311 or visit the website

 

Tutoring Center: http://staff.bcc.edu/tutoring/

 

Finally...

Students in my classes are responsible for reading and understanding these course policies. Do you have questions? 

• Send me an email: wwend@bcc.edu 
• Talk to me before or after class
• Come to my office during office hours (Parker 413b)

 

If you are a student who has progress reports for a sport, EOF, or anything else, I will only fill these out during office hours. I will not fill them out at the end or beginning of classes.  

 

The syllabus is a living document. Sometimes, things might not work and we will need to make a change. This syllabus is subject to change at all times. Any changes will be discussed in class and announced on the wiki.  

 

Week One

Friday January 20th

• Attendance 
• Course Introduction
• Discuss Citation Practice Essay
• Discuss Bonus Adaptation Report 
• Introduce Discussion Tumblr 
• Begin watching The Odyssey 

 

For Next Time: If you have not begun reading The Odyssey, please start to read the poem. If you read two books a day, you will be almost done with the poem by the time we begin discussing it.

 

Remember: While we view the films, I will be expecting you to be independently reading whatever work we are reading at the time. This is a class where it will be unacceptable, to me, or your grade, to not read the material. 

 

Week Two

Wednesday January 25th

• Attendance
• Discuss class leadership assignment 
• Continue watching The Odyssey

 

For Next Time: Continue reading The Odyssey 

 

Remember: Your citation practice essay is due to my email by 11:59pm to my email (wwend@bcc.edu) on Friday evening

 

Friday January 27th

• Attendance
• Continue watching The Odyssey 

 

For Next Time: Continue reading The Odyssey. We will discuss Books 1-4 after we finish the film on Wednesday.

 

Remember: Your citation practice essay is due to my email by 11:59pm to my email (wwend@bcc.edu) this evening.

 

Week Three

Wednesday February 1st

• Attendance
• Finish watching The Odyssey and discuss books 1-4, which introduce the journey of Telemachus and resourcefulness of Penelope 
• Discuss first paper assignment  

 

For Next Time: We will discuss books 5-12, which elaborate on Odysseus' adventures after the fall of Troy

 

Remember: February 2nd is the final day to withdraw from the course with a 50% refund.

 

Friday February 3rd

• Attendance 
• Discuss books 5-12 of The Odyssey

 

For Next Time: We will discuss books 13-24, which discuss Odysseus' return to Ithaca, his reunion with Telemachus, and the resourcefulness of both Odysseus and Penelope.

 

Remember: 

 

Week Four

Wednesday February 8th

• Attendance
• Discuss books 13-24 of The Odyssey

 

For Next Time: We will begin watching Hamlet

 

Remember: 

 

Friday February 10th

• Attendance
• Begin watching Hamlet

 

For Next Time: Continue watching Hamlet

 

Remember: 

 

Week Five

Wednesday February 15th

• Attendance
• Continue watching Hamlet 

 

For Next Time: Finish watching Hamlet and begin discussing the play

 

Remember: Quarter mark attendance warnings will go out to students with two or more absences

 

Friday February 17th

• Attendance
• Finishing watching and begin discussing Hamlet 

 

For Next Time: Continue and finish discussing Hamlet

 

Remember: 

 

Week Six

Wednesday February 22nd

• Attendance
• Finish discussing Hamlet 

 

For Next Time: We will begin watching Dracula

 

Remember: 

 

Friday February 24th

• Attendance
• Begin watching Dracula 

 

For Next Time: 

 

Remember: 

 

Week Seven

Wednesday February 29th

• Attendance
• Continue watching Dracula

 

For Next Time: Finish watching Dracula and discuss books 1-4 (Jonathan's journals)

 

Remember: 

 

Friday March 2nd

• Attendance
• Finish watching Dracula and discuss books 1-4 

 

For Next Time: We will discuss books 5-11 (Mina and Lucy's letters, Dr. Seward's journal)

 

Remember: 

 

Week Eight

 

Wednesday March 7th

• Attendance
• Discuss books 5-11 of Dracula 
• Discuss second paper assignment  

 

For Next Time: Bring at least two copies of your paper for our first peer review speed dating session

 

Remember: 

 

Friday March 9th

• Attendance
• Peer Review Speed Dating Session 

 

For Next Time: We will view The Mortal Storm

 

Remember: Enjoy your spring break. If you are submitting a rough draft for your first paper, please send it to me by Monday night. Your first paper is due to my email (wwend@bcc.edu) by 11:59pm on Friday evening over break. If you are applying for a extension, I need to hear about it by Wednesday.

 

Spring Break

• Midterm failure reports will be sent out to students with below a low "C" or lower. Said students will also receive a note requesting a meeting with them when we return from spring break. The last day to withdraw with a "W" grade is March 30th. I will be posting midterm grades on Web Adviser during break.

 

Week Nine 

Wednesday March 21st 

• Attendance
• Watch The Mortal Storm 

 

For Next Time: Discuss books 1-13 (approximately)

 

Remember: 

 

Friday March 23rd

• Attendance
• Discuss, approximately, books 1-13 of The Mortal Storm 

 

For Next Time: Discuss books 14-end

 

Remember: 

 

Week Ten

Wednesday March 28th

• SUMMAS? 
• 
  

 

 

 

Friday March 30th

• 
  

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tentative Remaining Schedule

4-11 Watch/discuss Mrs. Dalloway

4-13 Discuss Mrs. Dalloway

 

4-18 Writing Workshop For Paper #2

4-20 No Class (Professor Wend will be away)

 

4-25 Watch Speak

4-27 Discuss Speak

 

5-2 Watch V For Vendetta

5-4 Watch V For Vendetta 

 

5-9 Discuss V For Vendetta/Speak in regards to our final project...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

• 
  

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wednesday April 4th

• We have no class on Friday. Quarter mark attendance warnings will go out to students with two or more absences. Early registration for the fall begins on April 9th. 

 

Week Eleven

Wednesday April 11th

• Attendance
• Discuss books 14-end, approximately, of The Mortal Storm 

 

For Next Time: We will watch Mrs. Dalloway

 

Remember: 

 

Friday April 13th

• Attendance
• Watch Mrs. Dalloway 

 

For Next Time: Discuss Mrs. Dalloway

 

Remember: If you are submitting a rough draft, pleas send it to me by Monday night. 

 

Week Twelve

Wednesday April 18th

• Attendance 
• Discuss Mrs. Dalloway 

 

For Next Time: Continue discussing Mrs. Dalloway

 

Remember: If you are applying for a extension, I need to hear about it by Wednesday.

 

Friday April 20th

• Attendance 
• Discuss Mrs. Dalloway

 

For Next Time: We will watch Speak

 

Remember: Professor Wend needs to leave right after class today for an alumni event at Stockton College. Your second paper is due to my email (wwend@bcc.edu) by 11:59pm on Friday evening. 

 

Week Thirteen

Wednesday April 25th

• Attendance
• Watch Speak 

 

For Next Time: Discuss Speak

 

Remember: Standard registration begins today

 

Friday April 27th

• Attendance
• Discuss third paper assignment  
• Discuss Speak 

 

For Next Time: Discuss Speak

 

Remember: 

 

Week Fourteen

Wednesday May 2nd

• Attendance
• Discuss Speak 

 

For Next Time: View V For Vendetta

 

Remember: 

 

Friday May 4th

• Attendance
• View V For Vendetta 

 

For Next Time: Discuss V For Vendetta

 

Remember: 

 

Week Fifteen 

 

*****Our final session during finals week is Wednesday May 9th from 2pm-350pm. At that time...*****