Other Information about the Course |
LITR277.E1, Intro. to Short Fiction, Winter Session,Individual Course Format
James A. Freeman, Professor, Language&Literature Department, Penn Hall Room 127 Instructor’s Office (215-968-8155)/ Penn Hall Room 105 Department Office (215-968-8150). Instructor’s e-mail: james.freeman@bucks.edu
Department web pages: www.bucks.edu to language&literature
Office hours (Penn 127) M/W/F 10am-11am; M/W 3:15-4:00pm; please use Canvas Inbox mail during Wintecession one-week campus holiday(s) closure as well as routinely during Winter Session.
Catalog Course Description: On Canvas course page
Learning Goals and Theme
Learning goals are determined by the course's major concerns: the students' continued development and refinement of writing skills, sequenced instruction in composition skills necessary to write a properly-documented academic essay, and an introduction to fictional literature and fiction literary analysis. These components unify the course in their intent to encourage the growth of students' critical thinking. (This course also fulfills the specific Department and Core Curriculum Goals & Objectives as listed)…
Academic Integrity: “The expectation is that the principles of truth and honesty will be rigorously followed in all academic endeavors. This assumes that all work will be done by the person who purports to do the work without unauthorized aids. In addition, when making use of language and some idea not his or her own, whether quoting them directly or paraphrasing them into his or her own words, the student must attribute the source of the material in some standard form, such as naming the source in the text or offering a footnote” (2010-2012 Bucks County Community College Catalogue, p. 159). In other words, students must do all of the writing themselves and document all non-original material except common knowledge. In addition, you may not reuse, recycle, or resubmit any previous work for this class without instructor’s written permission; doing so is considered cheating. Only the tutors in the Tutoring Center and the instructor may give specific help with writing assignments - not family, friends, or neighbors.
At this stage of education, students should already know what constitutes cheating and why it's wrong. However, in any class that requires writing and/or research, the instructor ought to make plain, within the context of the course, what plagiarism is and how to avoid it. The Instructor will do so with a reading, exercises, and discussion. I may also occasionally spot-check with detection software to check your papers to see that you fulfill the college's expectations as quoted above.
In addition, all essays submitted for grading are required to have the following statement included at the end of the document, followed by the student's name or signature. Essays submitted without this statement and signature will be returned ungraded until signed.
Statement of Academic Integrity: "I understand the college policy regarding cheating and plagiarism; I have written this paper by myself and have not obtained it in whole or in part from another source, including previously written work of my own; I have used quotation marks or blocks indentations for all words quoted verbatim; and I have included citations for all borrowed ideas, whether quoted, paraphrased, summarized, or referred to in passing."
Name/Signature:
Any plagiarism will earn a 0 for the assignment with no possibility to rewrite, and a "Plagiarism/Cheating report" filed with the Dean of Academic Affairs. If the student has a prior recorded offense for cheating, that student will earn an F for the course. A second instance of plagiarism or cheating within this course will also earn an F for the course.
On a positive note, how to flourish in this course:
Follow the schedule & complete all assignments on our Canvas coursespace: You have a complete schedule for the whole semester from day one; please review it several times each week so you know what is due. In addition to reading about writing and texts of fiction and literary criticism, assignments include two mandatory papers and an optional extra-credit one; a panel presentation; and frequent and meaningful literary appreciation online journal entries on Canvas. Discussion, lecture and peer review of colleagues’ academic writing drafts, as well as exercises on the elements of fictional literature will sometimes supplement/enhance our own understanding of academic writing about fictional literature during our fun one month immersion in short fiction together.
Revise, resee, and resee again: You cannot improve your skills by regularly writing only one draft of papers, so conscientiously revise all assignments through at least two drafts, with mine and peer revieweres' help. In addition, you may revise and resubmit up one of the short essays graded "C,"“D” or “F” initially provided you resubmit within two classes of receiving the original grade. You should notify me of your intentions, and you may be required to visit the Tutoring Center virtually or in person for additional help. Revisions for higher grades must represent substantial improvements; changing only surface-level errors of spelling and grammar does not constitute revision and will not necessarily earn a higher grade. Revised assignments may earn up to a “B” maximum grade.
Please submit assignments on time: Late assignments earn a one-half letter grade deduction for each missed assignment tab deadline two days late. For example, an essay due on a Monday and submitted on Wednesday will be reduced a half letter grade (e.g. “A” to “B+”), in order to keep us moving along briskly. You cannot revise late Canvas assignments, and I will not accept more than one late fiction analysis essay of the mandatory two.
Please word process all writing assignments and submit as uploaded Word of Google drive docs on Canvas in the appropriate assignemts tabs labelleled for such. In addition, keep a record of all work/files, including the journal, on a USB drive or digital media or cloud storage that is neatly and chronologically organized in files and/or folders or drives. .
E-"Attend" class & Participate online: You should participate in Canvas class discussions as well as doing the Learning Modules re the elements of literature and all graded assignments. Without these individual commitments, the class cannot be as successful as an E-community of fellow learners. The Canvas class works best when you show a commitment to each other that includes thoughtful criticism and considerate responses to other members of the class, including within small student-led discussion groups, such as our online literary panel discussions. If the number of missing assignments make it impossible for you to pass the class, you may be Instructor withdrawn no later than December 29, 2016. I am easy to work with and offer thee above pre-class or first week of class demos of the course-space and orientations and make myself available in person as well as daily and more on our Canvas space as well as via webmail and phone, so I am here to meet your learning styles as much as is humanly possible in a short academic session.
I always support a collegial environment: in order to foster an environment conducive to learning, it is imperative that all members of the class must treat each other with respect as I know we will as we have some fun while learning about short ficitonal literature and life themes. Welcome!
Grading: Final Grades will be determined as follows:
25% - first and third (250-500 word) shorter papers
45% - second (550-750 wd.) mid-length papers
5% - online peer reviews & posting participation
25% - e-panel participation, journal, reading practice quizzes and homework
Please see also the departmental grading standards on the Canvas course-space.
I look forward to working with you in your various, wonderful, individual learning styles to teach the elements of fiction and fiction deep-reading and writing analysis while having some winter fun! |