Miami Dade CollegeEnglish & Communications Department

Kendall CampusIndependent Studies Program

IMPORTANT

Please read and print all pages

LIT 2480

Literature and Culture

3 Credits

Reference #s 667795 & 6677844

Spring Term (2011-2)

Spring “A” Term (January 4th – March 1st, 2012)

Spring “B” Term (March 2nd – April 27th, 2012)

Professor A. WoodburyE-mail: awoodbur@mdc.edu

(305) 237-2284 – English Ofc.(305) 237-2709 – meeting ofc.

Meeting Ofc. Room 2201

Welcome to Independent Studies!

Students must see their professor and sign a contract no later than the first week of classes, or they may be dropped from the course.

We welcome you to our program and look forward to working with you throughout the semester. This handbook provides written directions to guide you through your course. Please read it carefully.

Learning as an Independent Study student places primary responsibility for that learning on you, the student. That is not to say that you are alone. Your Independent Studies instructor is your partner and guide. Keeping in contact with the instructor is very important. You will submit written assignments to your instructor and you will receive feedback, information and study suggestions from your instructor.

Completing this course will involve reading the textbook, completing all assignments and discussing your questions with your instructors. There are no regularly scheduled lectures, review sessions, or appointments.

Each student is responsible for designing his or her own study and testing schedule that satisfies the course requirements and meets the semester's deadline dates.

A successful Independent Studies student is self-motivated, self-disciplined, has good reading and comprehension skills and seeks out an instructor whenever there is a question. Taking a course via Independent Studies means that the work is scheduled differently, but there should be about as much work of about the same difficulty as if you were taking the course in a classroom.

Plan to spend about the same amount of time studying as you would spend in lecture plus homework in a lecture course. We highly recommend that you establish a personal study schedule at the very beginning of the semester. By studying every day, you may complete the course in the shortest amount of time.

The option of finishing your course early is one of the benefits of Independent Studies.

We are aware that each student has his/her unique learning style. Our department provides various strategies for the accomplishment of the assigned learning objectives and satisfactory completion of the course. The course description lists the criteria for determining your final grade.

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Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Statement

Students who have a disability that might affect their performance in the class are encouraged to contact Access Services, in confidence, as soon as possible.  The office will aid in appropriate accommodations for the student. Also please inform your professor. This is in accordance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the American with Disabilities Act of 1990.

The following are some departmental rules and guidelines:

Withdrawals and Incompletes

A student’s withdrawal from a course is his/her responsibility. If you do not complete the course work and do not officially withdraw from the course, you will receive a grade of “F” for the course.

Incomplete grades are given only for illness or exceptional circumstances, and only under the following conditions: 1) the student has completed more than half of the course work, is up to date on all assignments, and is passing with at least a “C” average at the time of the emergency; 2) the instructor is notified at the time of the emergency and agrees to the “I” grade; 3) the student has a doctor’s verification or other documentation; and 4) an “Agreement for Grade of Incomplete” form is signed by both student and instructor, and states the dates by which assignments must be completed.

No cell phones are allowed in the Independent Studies Department while visiting and/or taking an exam.

See next pages for important dates and deadlines

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Important Dates – Spring “A” Term (2011-2)January 4th – March 1st, 2012

**These dates are subject to change. Please verify them with your instructor throughout the semester.

Wed. Jan. 4 Classes beginFriday Jan. 6 Last day to drop with refundFri.-Mon. Jan. 14-16 Holiday – MLK, Jr. Day

Wed. Feb. 8 Last day to drop with “W”

Tues. Feb. 14 Last day for instructor withdrawal, “IW”

Sat. March 3 Last day to input grades (Before 12 noon)

Students who are not up to date with their class work/tests and/or are not performing satisfactorily in the course by Tuesday, February 14 th , 2012 , may be instructor-dropped from the course. However, it is always the student’s responsibility to withdraw from the course if (s)he is unable to complete the work.

No work will be accepted after February 28th, 2012.

Important Dates – Spring “B” Term (2011-2)

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March 2nd – April 27th, 2012

**These dates are subject to change. Please verify them with your instructor throughout the semester.

Friday March 2 Classes begin

Tuesday March 6 Last day to drop with refund

Thursday April 5 Last day to drop with “W”

Thursday April 12 Last day for instructor withdrawal, “IW”

Friday-Sunday April 6-8 SPRING BREAK

Sat. April 28 Last day to input grades (Before 12 noon)

Students who are not up to date with their class work/tests and/or are not performing satisfactorily in the course by Thursday, April 12 th , 2012, may be instructor-dropped from the course. However, it is always the student’s responsibility to withdraw from the course if (s)he is unable to complete the work.

No work will be accepted after April 24th, 2012.

LIT 2480 - Deadlines – Spring “A” Term (2011-2)

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Week # Deadlines Assignments Due

1 Beginning on Jan. 4 Come to see your professor during scheduled hours to sign the contract

3 Week of Jan. 15 #1 Readings#2 Readings#3 First At-home Essay

and Quiz #1

5 Week of Jan. 29 #4 Have topic approved for Oral Presentation

#5 Readings#6 Readings - Extra Credit

(1 point)#7 Mid-term Exam

6 Week of Feb. 5 #8 Readings#9 Readings

Second At-home Essay

#10 Readings Quiz #2Extra Credit (1 point)

7 Week of Feb. 12 #11 Oral Presentation#12 Readings #13 Readings

#14 Final Exam

Each assignment is due by the last day of the week that your instructor is scheduled to work. All work must be given to the professor during his or her scheduled hours.

No work will be accepted after Feb. 28th.

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LIT 2480 - Deadlines – Spring “B” Term (2011-2)

Week # Deadlines Assignments Due

1 Beginning on March 2 Come to see your professor during scheduled hours to sign the contract

3 Week of March 11 #1 Readings#2 Readings#3 First At-home Essay

and Quiz #1

5 Week of March 25 #4 Have topic approved for Oral Presentation

#5 Readings#6 Readings - Extra Credit

(1 point)#7 Mid-term Exam

6 Week of April 1 #8 Readings#9 Readings

Second At-home Essay

#10 Readings Quiz #2Extra Credit (1 point)

7 Week of April 8 #11 Oral Presentation#12 Readings #13 Readings

#14 Final Exam

Each assignment is due by the last day of the week that your instructor is scheduled to work. All work must be given to the professor during his or her scheduled hours.

No work will be accepted after April 24th.

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LIT 2480 – Literature and Cultures

A Word from Your Instructor:

Most great literature teaches the reader about some aspects of life and death. Regardless of when written or what culture they come from, these themes are timeless. For example, Oedipus Rex addresses ideas of fate and pride that are relevant today hundreds of years after Sophocles wrote Oedipus Rex. Think about Oedipus and his life: Was the outcome due to fate, ego (also called hubris), or a combination of both? Could Oedipus change his destiny?

I would like you to consider the following when you read these selections, as they are relevant to your exams:

Why did the author write this selection?What is the author trying to tell me about life, society, love, or other ideas?How do these ideas relate to my life, my culture, and society?

This class is for you to add your own words, your own voice, to the world of cultures you read about and observe daily. I hope you will pull on your own roots and your family’s roots as you write. Literature is a wonderful way to view how others live and use their lives as a compass for your own. You will see names such as Evangelina Vigil-Pinon, Janice Mirikitani, Alifa Rifaat, Yevgeny Yevtushenko, Jamaica Kincaid, Chief Seattle, Elie Wiesel and others from around of the world.

I hope you enjoy the readings.

Required Textbooks:

Literature Across Cultures, 5th Edition, by Gillespie, Pipolo, and Fonseca. New York: Pearson Education, Inc., 2008.

Dale, Paulette and James Wolf. Speech Communication Made Simple.3rd Edition. New York: Addison Wesley Longman, 2006.

Supplies: You will also need two (2) blue/green exam booklets (81/2 x 11 inches) from the bookstore for your Mid-Term and Final exams.

Scheduling: You must allow one hour and a half (1 1/2) for an exam or in-class essay. Plan to arrive when your professor has more than one (1) hour before he/she is scheduled to leave. You will not be allowed to take a test or write a paper unless you have allowed at least one (1) hour within your professor’s schedule. Consult the testing schedule and rules sheet on how to arrange for testing 48 hours in advance of your test.

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Tests/Essays: Once you have been given a test or list of topics for an essay exam, you must complete the assignment before leaving. Students are not permitted to return at a later time to finish a test or essay. Be sure to study well since books cannot be used while taking your test.

Assignments: In order to earn a passing grade for this course, all assignments listed in this document must be completed to the professor’s satisfaction.

Essays: There will be two (2) formal analytical essays based on specific topics generated from the reading assignments. The minimum length for each essay will be 5-6 thoroughly developed paragraphs. The essays must be typed and should be approximately a thousand words (1,000) or four (4) pages in length. The essays are worth 10 points each for a total of twenty (20) points or 20% of the grade.

Quizzes: There will be two (2) quizzes over assigned readings worth five (5) points each. Reserve space in the testing room at least 48 hours in advance.

Exams: There will be a mid-term and a final exam worth 25 points each. The student will demonstrate an understanding of the major themes studied, the convention of analytical writing, and a command of formal essay skills.

Oral Presentation: Each student will deliver a formal oral presentation, lasting three (3) to five (5) minutes. The presentation will focus on what social and/or cultural issue(s) are reflected in the literature selection you chose. If the issue(s) were part of the author’s real life experiences, you may include this information as well. The Oral Presentation will be presented on a DVD or CD-ROM.

Extra Credit: Two (2) extra points will be awarded upon completion of outlines in chapters 1, 2, 3, and 5 of the textbook Speech Communication Made Simple.

Grading: Your final grade for this course will be based on the following:

Essays 20% Mid-term Exam 25%Quizzes 10% Final Exam 25%Oral Presentation 20%

Grading Scale:90 - 100 A 60 - 69 D (Must repeat course)80 - 89 B Below 60 F (Must repeat course)

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70 - 79 C

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Miami Dade CollegeLIT 2480 – Literature and Cultures

Course Description:

This course explores literature as a form of cultural expression. Students are engaged in the critical process of analysis by connecting literary texts to cultural issues. Through oral and written assignments, and practical investigation, students will study literature as a socio-cultural response by writers to the world in which they live.

3 Credits

This course fulfills the oral communication requirement and the Gordon Rule requirement.

Prerequisites: ENC 1101, ENC 1102 or equivalent.

Course Competencies:

Competency 1: The student will demonstrate knowledge of various literary genres by:

• reading critically to identify specific literary elements; • composing analytical and interpretive responses to assigned works; • analyzing the relationship between form and content.

Competency 2: The student will analyze and interpret literary works from a variety of perspectives, including:

• historical; • philosophical (ethical, spiritual, political); • social (values and customs); • aesthetic.

Competency 3: The student will produce reasoned, critical responses to the universal concerns in literature by:

• examining themes, conflicts, emotions, ideas and experiences which illustrate the continuity of human experience;

• confronting the complex issues of being an individual - as part of a group or outside the group.

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Competency 4: The student will demonstrate proficiency in oral, non-verbal, and written communication by:

• generating, developing, organizing, and presenting ideas effectively; • shaping communication to purpose, audience, and occasion; • analyzing similarities and differences between oral and written communication; • analyzing the impact of variables such as gender, orientation, and ethnicity; • practicing critical listening; • observing the conventions of Standard American English.

Learning Outcomes

1. Communicate effectively using listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills.

2. Use quantitative analytical skills to evaluate and process numerical data.

3. Solve problems using critical and creative thinking and scientific reasoning.

4. Formulate strategies to locate, evaluate, and apply information.

5. Demonstrate knowledge of diverse cultures, including global and historical perspectives.

6. Create strategies that can be used to fulfill personal, civic, and social responsibilities.

7. Demonstrate knowledge of ethical thinking and its application to issues in society.

8. Use computer and emerging technologies effectively.

9. Demonstrate an appreciation for aesthetics and creative activities.

10. Describe how natural systems function and recognize the impact of humans on the environment.

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Assignments

#1. Read pages xiii and xiv, pages 1-23 and 26-28; and Sophocles, “Oedipus Rex,” starting on page 108 through 149 in your literature textbook.

#2. Read N. Scott Momaday, “The Way to Rainy Mountain,” page 70; Zora Neal Hurston, “I Get Born,” page 77; and Plato’s “The Allegory of the Cave,” page 66 in your literature textbook.

#3. Write a 1,000+ word essay on the following: Respond to the relationship of the individual to society as presented in Plato’s “The Allegory of the Cave.” Do you feel that one’s perception of reality is influenced more by society than the individual? Support your response with specific examples of such influence, either from personal experience, historic events, or Plato’s allegory. Double space please.

Note: Please read the assigned essay topic carefully. This assignment is NOT asking you to retell all, or any part of, “The Allegory of the Cave” NOR asking you to write a mini-research paper on Plato or any of his other writings.

Complete Quiz #1 covering readings assigned in #1 and #2.

#4. Have topic approved for your Oral Presentation. See page 3 and pages 11-12 in your syllabus. The topics are suggestions, not a list from which you must choose. All suggested topics MUST be made more specific for approval.

Note: For your Oral Presentation, you may NOT choose any of the stories you are assigned to write about for at-home essay #2.

#5. Read Charlotte Perkins Gilman, “The Yellow Wallpaper,” page 296; and Kate Chopin, “The Storm,” page 288 in your literature textbook.

#6. Read James Joyce, “Eveline,” page 812; Tim O’Brien, “The Things They Carried,” page 484; Liam O’Flaherty, “The Sniper,” page 474; and Alice Walker, “Roselily,” page 293 in your literature textbook. Read chapters 1 and 2 in your speech textbook and outline the chapters if you want to earn one point of extra credit. Extra credit will not be accepted late.

#7. Mid-Term Essay Exam (covering previous readings)

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Assignments – Cont…

#8. Read Carolyn Forche, “The Colonel,” page 543; Claude McKay, “The Harlem Dancer,” page 359; Michael Lassell, “How to Watch Your Brother Die,” page 370; Pat Mora, “Borders,” page 354; and Percy Shelly, “Ozymandias,” page 851 in your literature book.

#9. Read Tillie Olsen, “I Stand Here Ironing,” page 604; Elie Wiesel, “The Watch,” page 52; and Tadeusz Borowski, “Silence,” page 477 in your literature textbook.

Write a 1,000+ word essay comparing the protagonists of “The Yellow Wallpaper,” “The Storm,” and “Eveline.”

#10. Read Emily Dickinson, “Much Madness is Divine Sense,” page 866; “The Soul Selects Her Own Society,” page 865; “Tell All the Truth But Tell it Slant,” page 866 in your literature text. Read chapters 3 and 5 in your speech textbook and outline the chapters if you want to earn one point of extra credit. No late work will be accepted. Complete Quiz #2 covering readings assigned in #8, #9 and #10.

#11. Bring your DVD or CD-ROM for your Oral Presentation on approved topic.

#12. Read Edna St.Vincent Millay.”What Lips My Lips Have Kissed,” page 359; Dylan Thomas, “Fern Hill,” page 93; and, Chinua Achebe, “The Dean Man’s Path,” page 832 in your literature textbook.

#13. Read Wole Soyinka, “Telephone Conversation,” page 649; James Wright, “A Blessing,” page 845; Richard Wilbur, “The Writer,” page 863; and, Muriel Rukeyser, “Waking this Morning,” page 533 in your literature textbook.

#14. Final Essay Exam (covering readings since Mid-term).

All final assignments become the property of the Independent Studies Department and will not be returned to students.

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What is an Oral Presentation?

An oral presentation is a researched, organized address you make in front of a video camera in a location where you are comfortable.

The presentation is briefly mentioned on page 3 of your syllabus. Choose one of the five (5) major issue categories set up by the authors of the “Literature Across Cultures” text and then identify one specific selection from the contents of this category as your presentation topic. (See example below.)

Your project proposal is due within the first three weeks of class. It is difficult to know what topic to choose, since you haven’t read the assignments yet, so I suggest you flip through the stories in your book to find one that resonates with you.

If you would like to present a biography, bear in mind that I would like something beyond Web downloading that begins, boringly, with “So-and-so was born in xxx in 19xx…” Find some aspect of the person’s life that allows you to narrow it briefly for a college level paper. A simple summary won’t work, as these can be easily written or plagiarized.

Example:

Race and culture as reflected in Faulkner’s short story “A Rose for Emily.”

This is a controversial aspect of Faulkner’s work on the South: whether he was a racist, a product of his times, or something else. You would learn about it by researching him. Get the idea? A simple bio of Faulkner won’t work – you need to go beyond that and find something more specific to write about. You can find these more defined aspects in your research.

Here’s how you will be graded:

The quality of presentation: eye contact, voice volume, posture, enthusiasm, the introduction, main body and summary, the organization of your ideas, and supportive material. You can drop off a DVD or CD-Rom in my box in the Independent Studies Department (Room 3307), or (Room 3306), at the main office.

Before recording, you might like to practice your speech with someone else for feedback. You do not need to memorize it, but may read it in front of the camera for your final submission. The text, Speech Communication Made Simple, can help. Read chapters two and three for basic information and check the exercises for examples of speeches. Page 103, which offers a sample outline of a logical presentation, may help as well.

The presentation is due near the end of the course – see assignment 12. Late submissions are marked off a letter grade for each day they are late.

Let me know if you need help with organization or other issues. Be sure to ask for assistance before the due dates.

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Oral Presentation

Student Name______________________________________________

Oral Presentation/Formal Paper topic

__________________________________________________________

Oral Presentation should be on a DVD or CD ROM

Signature:________________________________________

Return to your professor no later than the third week of classes.

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LIT 2480 - Record of Assignments

_______ #1. Readings

_______ #2. Readings

_______ #3. At-Home Essay #1 (10 points)

_______ Quiz #1 (5 points)

________ #4. Topic for Research & Oral Presentation

_______ #5. Readings

_______ #6. Readings and Extra Credit (1 point)

_______ #7. Mid-term Exam (25 points)

_______ #8. Readings

_______ #9. Readings and At-Home Essay #2 (10 points)

_______ #10. Readings and Extra Credit-Speech Textbook (1 point)

_______ Quiz #2 (5 points)

_______ #11. Oral Presentation (20 points)

_______ #12. Readings

_______ #13. Readings

_______ #14. Final Exam (25 points)

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Independent Studies Contract

I have received and agree to all requirements, deadlines, policies, etc. stated in this term’s Student Contract for the course in which I am enrolled.

SIGNATURE _________________________________________

Student Number ___________________________________

Printed Name _________________________________________

Today’s Date ____________________________________

COURSE __________________________

Course Title _________________________________________

Course Ref. # __________________________

Term __________________________

Address ____________________________________

____________________________________

Telephone (Home) ________________________

(Work) _________________________

E-mail ____________________________________

Please complete and leave with your professor no later than the first week of classes.

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