Contact Information

Instructor: Dr. Peter Fields 

Office: BeaWood 230 2^nd floorof PY   

Student Office hours: MTWRF 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM

Office Phone: (940) 397-4246  

E-mail: peter.fields@msutexas.edu

Course Description

This course will provide students an opportunity to develop critical reading and cultural analysis skills in order to achieve deeper understanding of a variety of texts and artifacts. Students will explore the various factors informing the production of texts and learn how to conduct research in order to gain experience exploring different perspectives on select works and themes. The course will include several opportunities for students to articulate their interpretations and insights in essay assignments, which will be assessed for clarity, insight, and understanding.

Course Goals

·        Read fiction and poetry and do InQuizitive exercises and Close Reading Workshops. See list of required reading and assignments in Course Schedule at the end of this syllabus.

·        Engage in a writing process and demonstrate proficient use of standard written English in two comparative literary essays and a comparative literary research project.

·        Demonstrate teamwork as part of group AI teams.

·        Demonstrate proficiency in MLA in-body citing and Works Cited.

THECB Core Course Objectives and Assessments

·        Critical Thinking Skills

o  To assess the student’s critical thinking skills, the Research Project rubric will be applied to the Literary Research Project.

·        Communication Skills

o  To assess the student’s written communication skills, the Research Project rubric will be applied to the Literary Research Project.

·        Personal Responsibility

o  To assess ethical use of sources as a measure of personal responsibility, the Research Project rubric will be applied to the Literary Research Project.

·        Teamwork

o  To assess the student’s teamwork, the Peer Review Teamwork rubric will be used to assess each student’s preparation for and participation in peer review workshops.

Required Textbook & Instructional Materials

Mays, Kelly ed. The Norton Introduction to Literature. Ebook. Norton, 2025. Inclusive Access.

Links to Ebook Readings

In D2L on the navigation bar, click on Content and then the module Norton Introduction to Literature. Then click on Ebook: The Norton Introduction to Literature, Fifteenth Edition (Full and Portable). On the left at top, click on Content, which brings up a table of contents. Each item is a link. Our page number is “Full” (not “portable”).

Academic Misconduct Policy & Procedures

Academic Dishonesty may take the form cheating, collusion, or plagiarism (the act of using source material of other persons, either published or unpublished, without following the accepted techniques of crediting, or the submission for credit of work not produced by the individual to whom credit is given). Additional guidelines on procedures in these matters may be found in the Office of Student Conduct. All assignments submitted to the D2L drop box are subject to Turnitin which also has the capability to detect AI. Plagiarism will result in an F (a “0” – no points) for the assignment, which may result in an F for the semester. Offenders may be reported to the Chair of the Department of English, Humanities, and Philosophy and/or the Director of Student Rights and Responsibilities. Use of AI at any stage of writing Essays 1, 2, and 3 is prohibited.

AI Teams & two assignments in D2L

Students will be assigned by D2L to 4-member AI groups. Students will each present their copy of the group report to the drop box; this document should contain the group’s bullet points but each student’s own comments.

Moffett Library

Moffett Library not only provides resources in its bookstacks. It also provides relevant supporting sources on its databases. Get started on this Moffett Library webpage to explore these resources and learn how to best utilize the library. This course requires use of the Moffett-supported database Gale Academic OneFile.

Grading

The percentage/letter grading scale is as follows: A = 100-90%; B = 89-80%; C = 79-70%; D = 69-60%; F = 59-0%. Grades, including the semester grade (i.e., the final calculated grade), are NOT rounded up. Therefore, a 79.9, whether for a specific assignment or the final calculated grade, is a C, not a B. A 69.9 is a D, not a C. A 59.9 is an F, not a D. An 89.9 is a B, not an A. D2L gradebook does the final calculated grade. 

Table 1: Percentages - Essays 1a,1b/2a, 2b, 2c, AI team report, InQuizitive, & Close Reading workshops

Assignments Description Percentage

7/11 Essay 1a – pars 2, 3, 4, Works Cited Compare 2 stories from list by different authors 10%

7/18 Essay 1b – add pars 1, 5. Revision of Essay 1a  as per instructor evaluation 20%

7/25 Essay 2a – pars 2, 3, 4, Works Cited Compare 2 poems from list – one must be by Emily Dickinson 10%

8/1 Essay 2b – add pars 1, 5. Revision of Essay 2a as per instructor evaluation 20%

8/7 Essay 2c – Literary Research Project Add research paragraph to 2b, Works Cited item 20%

8/28 AI team report – w. individual comments AI team report with each student’s personal comments 10%

InQuizitive Exercises In D2L Content: Norton Courseware – automatically scored 5%

Close Reading Workshops In D2L Content: Norton Courseware – automatically scored 5%

Total 100%

Close Reading Workshops and InQuizitive Exercises

In Content, click on the module Norton Introduction to Literature. Students must do the listed InQuizitive exercises (5 percent of semester grade) and the Close Reading Workshops (5 percent of semester grade), which are automatically scored by Norton. These exercises and workshops are NOT extra credit. If students do not do an;y, that would be an F, a “0” (no points whatsoever), for 10 percent of the semester grade.

Study Hours and Tutoring Assistance

Located on the first floor of Moffett Library, TASP's Learning Center provides free drop-in tutoring support in a number of core courses and subject areas. Check the TASP webpage for times.

Student Handbook

Refer to: Student Handbook

Final Exam

We do not have a final exam.

Extra Credit

There is no individual extra credit in this course.

Late Work 

Late assignments (defined as work flagged by D2L as late) will be accepted, but they are penalized 10 points out of 100 even if it is late by less than a minute. All late work—not only essays but also Close Reading Workshops and InQuizitive exercises—must be submitted to their drop boxes before 11:59 PM Thursday August 7.

Submission Format and Policy

All formal assignments must be typed, double-spaced, formatted, and sources documented according to MLA style. Our anthology uses MLA for its Sample Writing models. Ch. 33 reviews MLA quotation, citation, and documentation. See also in Content in D2L instructions and models for Essays 1 a, b, and 2a, b, and c.

All essays must be submitted to the drop box in D2L in order to count and be graded.

By enrolling in this class, students expressly grant MSU a “limited right” in all intellectual property created by students for the purpose of this course. The “limited right” shall include but shall not be limited to the right to reproduce the student’s work product in order to verify originality and authenticity, and for educational purposes. Please note that the D2L Dropbox folder will automatically run papers through Turnitin.com. Turnitin provides both an Originality Report and an AI Report. 

*Note: Students may not submit a paper for a grade in this class that already has been (or will be) submitted for a grade in another course, unless they obtain the explicit written permission of me and the other instructor involved in advance.

Important Dates

Last Day to drop with a grade of “W:”

 Wednesday, July 23. Check the date on the Academic Calendar.

For more information, refer to

: Drops, Withdrawals & Void

Desire-to-Learn (D2L)

Extensive use of the MSU D2L program is a part of this course. Students are expected to be familiar with this platform as it provides a primary source of communication regarding assignments, examination materials, and general course information. Students can log into D2L through the MSU homepage or the portal. For assistance, submit a help ticket here.

Attendance

This is an online course. Students are well-advised to login on the first day of the semester and visit the modules and that way create login history. You are “present” if you have login history.

Change of Schedule

A student dropping a course (but not withdrawing from the University) within the first 12 class days of a regular semester or the first four class days of a summer semester is eligible for a 100% refund of applicable tuition and fees. Dates are published in the Schedule of Classes each semester.

Refund and Repayment Policy

A student who withdraws or is administratively withdrawn from Midwestern State University (MSU) may be eligible to receive a refund for all or a portion of the tuition, fees, and room/board charges that were paid to MSU for the semester. However, if the student received financial aid (federal/state/institutional grants, loans, and/or scholarships), all or a portion of the refund may be returned to the financial aid programs. Two formulas (federal and state) exist in determining the amount of the refund. (Examples of each refund calculation will be made available upon request).

Services for Students with Disabilities

In accordance with Section 504 of the Federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, Midwestern State University endeavors to make reasonable accommodations to ensure equal opportunity for qualified persons with disabilities to participate in all educational, social, and recreational programs and activities. After notification of acceptance, students requiring accommodations should make an application for such assistance through Disability Support Services, located in the Clark Student Center, Room 168, (940) 397-4140. Current documentation of a disability will be required in order to provide appropriate services, and each request will be individually reviewed. For more details, please go to Disability Support Services.

College Policies

Smoking/Tobacco Policy

College policy strictly prohibits the use of tobacco products in any building owned or operated by WATC. Adult students may smoke only in the outside designated smoking areas at each location.

Alcohol and Drug Policy

To comply with the Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act of 1989 and subsequent amendments, students and employees of Midwestern State are informed that strictly enforced policies are in place which prohibit the unlawful possession, use, or distribution of any illicit drugs, including alcohol, on university property or as part of any university-sponsored activity. Students and employees are also subject to all applicable legal sanctions under local, state, and federal law for any offenses involving illicit drugs on University property or at University-sponsored activities.

Campus Carry

Effective August 1, 2016, the Campus Carry law (Senate Bill 11) allows those licensed individuals to carry a concealed handgun in buildings on public university campuses, except in locations the University establishes as prohibited. The new Constitutional Carry law does not change this process. Concealed carry still requires a License-to-carry permit, and openly carrying handguns is not allowed on college campuses. For more information, visit Campus Carry.

Active Shooter

The safety and security of our campus is the responsibility of everyone in our community. Each of us has an obligation to be prepared to appropriately respond to threats to our campus, such as an active aggressor. Please review the information provided by the MSU Police Department regarding the options and strategies we can all use to stay safe during difficult situations. For more information, visit MSUReady – Active Shooter. Students are encouraged to watch the video entitled “Run. Hide. Fight.” which may be electronically accessed via the University police department’s webpage: "Run. Hide. Fight."

Grade Appeal Process

Students who wish to appeal a grade should consult the Midwestern State University MSU Catalog

Course Schedule: Lists of Required Reading and Assignments

In CONTENT, click on Norton Introduction to Literature; then click on Ebook: The Norton Introduction to Literature, 15^th ed,, full and portable editions.

Week

Here is our list of required reading, InQuizitive Exercises, and Close Reading Workshops. Note: Changes in the course syllabus, procedure, assignments, and schedule may be made at the discretion of the instructor.

Requirements for Writing Assisgnments including their relevant modules in Content in D2L

Week 1 July 7-11

Course theme: Applying Freytag’s Pyramid (pp. 87-92)

Do all our Close Reading Workshops and InQuizitive exercises by 11:59 PM Thursday August 7. Workshops and InQuizitive are automatically scored.

All late work is due in drop box by 11:59 PM Thursday August 7.

Here is our list of required readings for stories:

·        Ch 2 Plot 87-92 (Freytag’s Pyramid)

·        How to use InQuizitive – not graded. InQuizitive.

·        Fiction as a Genre. InQuizitive

·        Isabel Allende, “And of Clay Are We Created” 28-35 InQuizitive

·        Brothers Grimm, “The Shroud” 89-90

·        Jorge Luis Borges, “The House of Asterion” 323-326.

·        Margaret Atwood, “Lusus Naturae” 306 Close Reading Workshop

·        Ch 4 Character 255-262.

·        Monsters: An Album 305.

·        Ch 5 Setting 328-331.

·        Ch 6 Symbolism & Figurative Language 399-404.

·        Nathaniel Hawthorne, “The Birth-Mark” 404 Close Reading Workshop & InQuizitive

·        A. S. Byatt, “The Thing in the Forest” 59-74.

·        William Faulkner, “A Rose for Emily” 728 Close Reading Workshop & InQuizitive

·        Octavia Butler, “Blood Child” 173 InQuizitive

·        Edgar Allan Poe, “The Black Cat” 193 InQuizitive

·         Sample Writing: Comparative Essay on “The Birth-Mark” and “The Thing in the Forest” 442-45.

For Essay 1a due Friday July 11.

·        Choose 2 stories from our list excluding “The Shroud,” “And of Clay Are We Created,” “The Birth-Mark,” and “The Thing in the Forest” (which serve as models).

·        Applying Freytag’s pyramid, where do these two stories intersect?

See these modules in Content in D2L for Essay 1:

·        Notes for “The Shroud” w. Freytag’s Pyramid

·        Notes for “And of Clay Are We Created” w. Freytag’s Pyramid

·        Instructions for Essay 1a.

·        Model essay 1a

Week 2 July 14-18

For Essay 1b due Friday July 18.

·        Add pars. 1 & 5

·        Revise as per instructor comments

In Content in D2L, see these modules for Essay 1b:

·        Instructions for Essay 1b

·         Model Essay 1b

Week 3 July 21-25

Here is our list of required readings for poetry:

·        Poetry as a Genre: Introduction. InQuizitive.

·        Poetry as a Genre: Close Reading. In Quizitive.

·        Wheatley, “On Being Brought from Africa to America” 783 Close Reading Workshop

·        Hughes, “Harlem” 1117 Close Reading Workshop

·        Read Ch. 21 The Author’s Work as Context: Adrienne Rich 1046-1049, poems by Adrienne Rich 1050-60, and Passages from from Rich’s Essays 1060-69.

·        Ch 11 Poetry: Reading, Responding, Writing 771-88.

·        Ch 14 Theme and Tone

·        Ch 15 Language: Word Choice and Order

·        Ch 17 Symbol

·        Ch 18 The Sounds of Poetry

·        Poems by Emily Dickinson: 784, 922, 1080-83. 

·        William Carlos Williams, “The Red Wheelbarrow,” “This is Just to Say” (909, either poem).

·        Sharon Olds, “Sex without Love” (911).

·        Adrienne Rich, “My mouth overs across your breast” (1057).

·        W. B. Yeats, “The Second Coming” (943).

·        Sylvia Plath, “Daddy” (1234-36)

·        Ch. 30 The Literature Essay 1980-1996 (Note: we are using comparative method (1992-93); we use the “block method” (see 1994).

·        Ch. 33 (2024-53) Quotation, Citation, and Documentation. We use MLA cross-reference (see 2050-51).

For Essay 2a due Friday July 25:

·        Choose Emily Dickinson poem from our book excluding “’Hope’ is the the thing with feathers—"

·        Compare it to one of the poems in our list not written by Emily Dickinson excluding “On Being Brought to America from Africa.”

·        Applying Freytag’s Pyramid, where do these two poems intersect?.

In Content in D2L, see these modules for Essay 2a

·        Notes for “’Hope’ is the thing with feathers—” w. Freytag’s Pyramid

·        Notes for “On Being Brought” w. Freytag’s Pyramid

·        Instructions for Essay 2a

·        Model Essay 2a.

Week 4 July 28-August 1

For AI team report due in its drop box by Monday July 28.

·        Indicate AI source.

·        Identify 4 facts about Emily Dickinson (5 facts if your group has 5 people)

·        Provide details for each fact in 3 bullet points.

·        Individualize report with personal comment for each of the 4 facts (or 5 facts)

See these modules in Content in D2L:

·        Instructions for AI team report.

·        Model AI team report.

For Essay 2b due Friday August 1.

·        Add paragraphs 1 and 5.

·        Add Works Cited

See these modules in Content in D2L for directions & notes for 2b:

·        Instructions for Essay 2b

·        Model Essay 2b

Week 5 August 1-7

Choose one article from this list of articles in the Moffett-supported database Gale Academic OneFile for the Research Paragraph for Essay 2c Literary Research Project:

·        Glenn Hughes, “Love, Terror, and Transcendence in Emily Dickinson’s Poetry,” Renascence.

·        Elsa Cajiao Cuellar, “Disentangling Emily Dickinson’s Riddles and Encoded Voices in “My Life had stood—a loaded gun” and “I taste a liquor never brewed,” Atlantis.

·        Jay Ladin, “Meeting her Maker: Emily Dickinson’s God,” CrossCurrents.

·        Kristen M. Comment, “Dickinson’s Bawdy: Shakespeare and Sexual Symbolism in Emily Dickinson’s writing to Susan Dickinson,” Legacy.

·        Seth Archer, “’I had a terror’: Emily Dickinson’s Demon,” Southwest Revew.

REMINDER: All InQuizitive excercises & close reading workshops are due before 11:59 PM Thursday August 7.

For Essay 2c due Thursday August 7:

·        Choose one of articles in list.

·        Explain idea in paragraph.

·        Quote at least once from the article.

·        Provide correct citation in Works Cited.

See these modues in Content in D2L for directions and notes for 2c:

·        Instructions for Essay 2c

·        Model Research Paragraph

·        Model Essay 2c

Late assignments (defined as work flagged by D2L as late) will be accepted, but they are penalized 10 points out of 100 even if it is late by less than a minute. All late work—not only essays but also Close Reading Workshops and InQuizitive exercises—must be submitted to their drop boxes before 11:59 PM Thursday August 7

Note: You may not submit a paper for a grade in this class that already has been (or will be) submitted for a grade in another course, unless you obtain the explicit written permission of me and the other instructor involved in advance.

Plagiarism is the use of someone else's thoughts, words, ideas, or lines of argument in your own work without appropriate documentation (a parenthetical citation at the end and a listing in "Works Cited")-whether you use that material in a quote, paraphrase, or summary. It is a theft of intellectual property and will not be tolerated, whether intentional or not.

Student Honor Creed

As an MSU Student, I pledge not to lie, cheat, steal, or help anyone else do so."

As students at MSU, we recognize that any great society must be composed of empowered, responsible citizens. We also recognize universities play an important role in helping mold these responsible citizens. We believe students themselves play an important part in developing responsible citizenship by maintaining a community where integrity and honorable character are the norm, not the exception.

Thus, We, the Students of Midwestern State University, resolve to uphold the honor of the University by affirming our commitment to complete academic honesty. We resolve not only to be honest but also to hold our peers accountable for complete honesty in all university matters.

We consider it dishonest to ask for, give, or receive help in examinations or quizzes, to use any unauthorized material in examinations, or to present, as one's own, work or ideas which are not entirely one's own. We recognize that any instructor has the right to expect that all student work is honest, original work. We accept and acknowledge that responsibility for lying, cheating, stealing, plagiarism, and other forms of academic dishonesty fundamentally rests within each individual student.

We expect of ourselves academic integrity, personal professionalism, and ethical character. We appreciate steps taken by University officials to protect the honor of the University against any who would disgrace the MSU student body by violating the spirit of this creed.

Written and adopted by the 2002-2003 MSU Student Senate.

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal anti-discrimination statute that provides comprehensive civil rights protection for persons with disabilities. Among other things, this legislation requires that all students with disabilities be guaranteed a learning environment that provides for reasonable accommodation of their disabilities. If you believe you have a disability requiring an accommodation, please contact the Disability Support Services in Room 168 of the Clark Student Center, (940) 397-4140.

The professor considers this classroom to be a place where you will be treated with respect as a human being - regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, national origin, religious affiliation, sexual orientation, political beliefs, age, or ability. Additionally, diversity of thought is appreciated and encouraged, provided you can agree to disagree. It is the professor's expectation that ALL students consider the classroom a safe environment.

All instructors in the Department have voicemail in their offices and MSUTexas e-mail addresses. Make sure you add your instructor's phone number and e-mail address to both email and cell phone lists of contacts.

Obligation to Report Sex Discrimination under State and Federal Law

Midwestern State University is committed to providing and strengthening an educational, working, and living environment where students, faculty, staff, and visitors are free from sex discrimination of any kind. State and federal law require University employees to report sex discrimination and sexual misconduct to the University’s Office of Title IX. As a faculty member, I am required to report to the Title IX Coordinator any allegations, personally observed behavior, or other direct or indirect knowledge of conduct that reasonably may constitute sex discrimination or sexual misconduct, which includes sexual assault, sexual harassment, dating violence, or stalking, involving a student or employee. After a report is made, the office of Title IX will reach out to the affected student or employee in an effort to connect such person(s) with resources and options in addressing the allegations made in the report. You are also encouraged to report any incidents to the office of Title IX. You may do so by contacting:

Laura Hetrick

Title IX Coordinator
Sunwatcher Village Clubhouse
940-397-4213

laura.hetrick@msutexas.edu

You may also file an online report 24/7 at Maxient 

Should you wish to visit with someone about your experience in confidence, you may contact the MSU Counseling Center at 940-397-4618. For more information on the University’s policy on Title IX or sexual misconduct, please visit MSU Texas Title IX

Senate Bill 11 passed by the 84th Texas Legislature allows licensed handgun holders to carry concealed handguns on campus, effective August 1, 2016. Areas excluded from concealed carry are appropriately marked, in accordance with state law. For more information regarding campus carry, please refer to the University’s webpage at https://msutexas.edu/campus-carry/rules-policies.

If you have questions or concerns, please contact MSU Chief of Police at police@msutexas.edu.