All reading assignments must be read before class. We will usually spend more than one class meeting on a particular work; please budget your time so as not to fall behind.
Students must attend class regularly and punctually—attendance is required. If you do have to miss a class meeting, please be sure to get notes from a classmate (not from the instructor). Respectful behavior toward everyone in the class is expected. If tardiness, absence, or disruptive behavior interferes with a student's work or with class morale, that student's grade in the course may be lowered. Please turn off all electronic devices before each class meeting. Texting during class will be frowned upon as rude and distracting, and may lower the participation part of your grade.
Rough breakdown of course grade: four quizzes and participation (25%), written assignment (25%), midterm (25%), final (25%). You must pass the final exam to pass the course. Participation means completion of quizzes and assignments, presence in mind as well as body, engagement in course, and consistent effort during the semester.
You will get specific instructions for the writing assignment and the exams. An unexcused late assignment will be penalized. Extensions are granted at the instructor's discretion; the student must arrange for an extension with the instructor ahead of time when this is at all possible. There will be no extra credit assignments, no make-up quizzes or exams, and grades are not negotiable.
We will be using the OER site for various handouts and assignments. Barring system-wide outages, you are responsible for maintaining access to ths site.
The general grade scale used in this course is the following. (These numbers give rough quantitative equivalents for qualitative evaluations.)
A | 93–100 (excellent) A- | 90–92 (great)
B+ | 88–89 (very good) B | 83–87 (good)
B- | 80–82 (okay) C+ | 78–79 (satisfactory)
C | 73–77 (weak) C- | 70–72 (poor)
D+ | 68–69 D | 63–67
D- | 60–62
All students should carefully and thoroughly read the section entitled “Academic Regulations and Procedures” in the Brooklyn College Undergraduate Bulletin or Graduate Bulletin for a complete listing of academic regulations of the College.
“Late adds” will not be accepted after the deadline to add a class under any circumstances (except for acknowledged College error).
This is an OER course. Electronic versions or handouts of all assigned readings will be available free of cost. If you would like to get the texts in book form, here are some good versions:
Plagiarism (presenting someone else's ideas as your own) is unacceptable and will have serious consequences. The faculty and administration of Brooklyn College support an environment free from cheating and plagiarism. Each student is responsible for being aware of what constitutes cheating and plagiarism and for avoiding both. The complete text of the CUNY Academic Integrity Policy and the Brooklyn College procedure for implementing that policy can be found at this site: http://www.brooklyn.cuny.edu/bc/policies. If a faculty member suspects a violation of academic integrity and, upon investigation, confirms that violation, or if the student admits the violation, the faculty member MUST report the violation.
The Brooklyn College Learning Center can provide trained tutors to assist students needing help with their writing assignments. The center is located in 1300 Boylan (951-5821).
Note regarding Student Disability Services:
In order to receive disability-related academic accommodations students must first be registered with the Center for Student Disability Services(CSDS). Students who have a documented disability or suspect they may have a disability are invited to set up an appointment with the Director of the Center for Student Disability Services, Ms. Valerie Stewart-Lovell at 718-951-5538. If you have already registered with the CSDS please provide your professor with the course accommodation form and discuss your specific accommodation with him/her as soon as possible and at an appropriate time
Brooklyn College adheres to the state law regarding non-attendance because of religious beliefs (as described in the Bulletin).
Course Objectives:
1. Students will be able to use with accuracy and precision basic terms of analysis relevant to the texts read in class, and to describe differences among class readings.
2. Students will be able to read texts critically.
3. Students will be able to write interpretive prose that is clear and cogent.
Although the criteria for a successful humanities essay are difficult to isolate and quantify, they may be described. These are expectations for your written work:
An essay that meets these first three criteria will get at least a B. This is a good, solid essay that has some flaws or lapses.
An A paper fully meets all these criteria while exhibiting consistent control, lively intellectual engagement, and original thought. Containing few if any lapses, it may also possess elusive qualities such as elegance, wit, or passion. Hard work alone cannot always make for an A paper; it takes skill and perhaps art.
