Spring 2024 Course Syllabus
Course: ENGL-2326 (Section: 2E, CRN: 10828)
American Literature 		LSCPA Logo Image
Instructor Information
Instructor Caitlin James
Email jamescr1@lamarpa.edu
Phone (409) 984-6415
Office Student Center - Room: 416
Office Hours MW- 8:30-9:30am
TTH- 10:00am-1:00pm
F- 10:00am-12:00pm
Additional Contact Information
Course Information
Description A survey of American literature from the period of exploration and settlement to the present. Students will study works of prose, poetry, drama, and fiction in relation to their historical and cultural contexts. Texts will be selected from among a diverse group of authors for what they reflect and reveal about the evolving American experience and character.
Required Textbooks Textbook Purchasing Statement: A student attending Lamar State College Port Arthur is not under any obligation to purchase a textbook from the college-affiliated bookstore. The same textbook may also be available from an independent retailer, including an online retailer.

No textbook required. By using Open Education Resources, all reading materials will be provided by the instructor via Blackboard, handouts, links, pdfs, etc.
Additional Materials/Resources Folder/Binder with pockets, highlighters, pens, paper, and students must have a flash-drive or access to their Google Cloud/Drive. 
Corequisites/Prerequisites Passed English 1301 and 1302. Basic skills competency in reading, writing, and college-level grammar. 
Learning Outcomes Upon successful completion of this course, students will:
1. Identify key ideas, representative authors and works, significant historical or cultural events, and characteristic perspectives or attitudes expressed in the literature of different periods or regions. 
2. Analyze literary works as expressions of individual or communal values within social/ethical, political, cultural, or religious contexts of different literary periods. 
3. Demonstrate knowledge of the development of characteristic forms or styles of expression during different historical periods or in different regions.
4. Articulate the aesthetic principles that guide the scope and variety of works in the arts and humanities. 
5. Write research-based critical papers about the assigned readings in clear and grammatically correct prose, using various critical approaches to literature. 
Core Objectives * Communication skills: Students will demonstrate effective written, oral and visual communication.
* Critical Thinking Skills: Students will engage in creative and/or innovative thinking, and/or inquiry, analysis, evaluation, synthesis of information, organizing concepts and constructing solutions.
* Social Responsibility: Students will demonstrate intercultural competency and civic knowledge by engaging effectively in local, regional, national and/or global communities.
* Personal Responsibility: Students will demonstrate the ability to connect choices, actions and consequences to ethical decision-making.
Lecture Topics Outline
  •  Historical Influences and Distinctive Features
  •  Periodization of American Literature
  •  Earliest Monuments of American Literature
  •  The Shaping of the Puritan Self
  •  The Eighteenth-Century: The Great Awakening and the Enlightenment
  •  American Gothic: Poe
  •  American Transcendentalism: Emerson, Thoreau
  •  Late Romanticism: Hawthorne and Melville
  •  The Birth of Modern Poetry: Whitman and Dickinson
  •  Mark Twain and Local Color
  •  Naturalism
  •  African-American Literature from Beginnings through the Harlem Renaissance 
Major Assignments Schedule Week 1: Introduction to course and materials, diagnostic writing prompt.
Week 2: Creation Myths, Native American Writing & Oral Traditions
Week 3: Puritanism
Week 4: Rationalism, Test #1
Week 5: Romanticism
Week 6: Transcendentalism
Week 7: Realism
Week 8: MIDTERM EXAM
Week 9: American Gothicism
Week 10: Southern Gothic Lit.
Week 11: Modern Manifestos
Week 12: Research Paper Workshop
Week 13: Research Paper Due
Week 14:  Harlem Renaissance
Week 15: Final Exam Preparations
Week 16: FINAL EXAM

*The Instructor Reserves the right to make changes to the schedule and any assignments as they see fit. 
Final Exam Date May 6, 2024 - 9:30 AM   Through  May 6, 2024 - 11:0 AM
Grading Scale  90 - 100=A 80 - 89=B  70 - 79=C   60 - 69=D  Below 59 = F
Determination of
Final Grade		 Quizzes- 15%
Homework- 5%
Final Exam- 15%
Tests-30%
Response Papers- 10%
Research Paper- 20%
Groupwork- 5%
_________________
100%
Course Policies
Instructor Policies 1. The Instructor reserves 2 weeks to grade all submitted essays.
2. The Instructor reserves the right to not allow you to enter the classroom late, as this disrupts everyone who has shown up on time.
3. Students are expected to have mature decorum and participate during lectures and activities, you will not be given credit for simply warming a seat.
4. Student incivility, rudeness, or attacks of a personal nature or statements will not be tolerated, whether directed at the instructor or another student. Any student engaging in disruptive or disrespectful activities on campus or online classes will be required to cease such behavior or leave the classroom. If the behavior continues after the first warning, the student will no longer continue as a student of the course. As a consequence, the student will be removed from the course. The instructor will notify the vice president of academic affairs and the academic studies department chair.
5. Switching from a face-to-face section to an online section is prohibited after the census date. 
6. In order to discuss your grade, you must first email me at jamescr1@lamarpa.edu and then a time can be set to have a phone or office meeting. 
Attendance Policy Regular attendance in the course is mandatory. You are expected to attend every class meeting. If you accumulate more than two absences, your grade will be dropped one full letter for each additional absence. If you accumulate more than five absences, you will fail the course. If you arrive late to class, you will be marked absent.
Missing more than what is allowed during the semester will result in a failure to meet class objectives. Excessive tardiness will, likewise, have an effect on the grade. Please DO NOT disrupt the class by arriving late; it is not only distracting but is rude. I will be here, so I expect you to be. 
Additional Information ALL WRITING SUBMITTED MUST BE WRITTEN BY THE STUDENT (him or herself) ENROLLED IN THE CLASS WITH NO OUTSIDE ASSISTANCE.

Plagiarism: A grade of 0 for first time (whatever the assignment is). An F for the entire course if it happens again. Ignorance is NOT a defense.

Students MUST know exactly what plagiarism is and the consequences if it is committed. Plagiarism is a serious offense at the college level and will be dealt with as such. Students will read, sign, and submit plagiarism contract that clearly defines plagiarism.  In addition, if artificial intelligence is suspected, the Instructor will have the student rewrite the assignment by hand in their presence. 



Rules for Ethical Use of AI in College English Class and Avoiding Plagiarism

  1. Originality and Attribution: All work submitted must be original and created by the student. When using AI or any other technology, proper attribution must be given to the sources, tools, or models utilized in the creation of the work.
  2. No Automated Content Creation: Students are not allowed to use AI or any automated content generation tools to produce entire essays, papers, or assignments. The use of AI to write complete pieces is considered plagiarism and academic dishonesty.
  3. Prohibited AI Applications: Students may not use AI tools or language models to paraphrase or rewrite existing works, including published articles, essays, or academic papers, without proper citation and permission.
  4. AI as a Supportive Tool: While students are encouraged to leverage AI for research, language checking, grammar correction, and idea generation, AI should only be used as an aid, not as a substitute for the student's own critical thinking and creativity.
  5. Understanding the AI Output: If students use AI-generated content as part of their research or writing process, they must thoroughly understand the material and be able to explain it in their own words.
  6. Cite AI Tools and Models: When referencing or discussing AI models or tools in your assignments, provide proper citations and acknowledge the specific resources used.
  7. Avoid Plagiarism of AI-Generated Content: If AI-generated content is used in an assignment, ensure that it is properly paraphrased, cited, and integrated into the overall context of the work.
  8. Individual Work Requirement: Collaboration and discussion are encouraged, but each student must submit their own original work. Sharing or copying AI-generated content between students is considered plagiarism.
  9. Consult with the Instructor: If you are unsure about the ethical use of AI in a particular assignment, consult with the instructor beforehand to get clarification and guidance.
  10. Educational Purpose Only: The use of AI tools should be solely for the purpose of improving writing skills, learning, and enhancing the educational experience. Exploiting AI for unfair advantages is strictly prohibited.
  11. Regular Plagiarism Rules Apply: The college's standard plagiarism policies and penalties apply to any instances of AI-related plagiarism. Consequences may include failing the assignment, course, or facing disciplinary action.
  12. Continuous Learning: Students are encouraged to stay informed about ethical considerations related to AI usage, plagiarism guidelines, and the college's policies on technology and academic integrity.
Remember, the primary goal of using AI in the English class is to enhance learning, creativity, and critical thinking. Ethical use of AI tools will not only protect students from academic misconduct but also contribute to their academic growth and development as responsible scholars.

 
Institutional Policies
MyLSCPA Be sure to check your campus email and Course Homepage using MyLSCPA campus web portal. You can also access your grades, transcripts, academic advisors, degree progress, and other services through MyLSCPA.
Academic Honesty Academic honesty is expected from all students, and dishonesty in any form will not be tolerated. Please consult the LSCPA policies (Academic Dishonesty section in the Student Handbook) for consequences of academic dishonesty.
ADA Considerations The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal anti-discrimination statute that provides comprehensive civil rights 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 the Office for Disability Services Coordinator, Room 231, in the Madison Monroe Building. The phone number is (409) 984-6241.
COVID 19 Information The Lamar State College Port Arthur (LSCPA) Student Code of Conduct COVID 19 Policy requires students who have been diagnosed with COVID 19 to report their condition directly to their local health department. Students should also contact their course faculty to report their quarantine status. In addition, this policy requires all students to wear face coverings when directly exposed to COVID 19 in compliance with the criteria included in the policy. For more information please refer to the COVID 19 link on the LSCPA website.
Facility Policies No food or tobacco products are allowed in the classroom. Only students enrolled in the course are allowed in the classroom, except by special instructor permission. Use of electronic devices is prohibited.
HB 2504 This syllabus is part of LSCPA's efforts to comply with Texas House Bill 2504.
Mandatory Reporting of Child Abuse and Neglect As per Texas law and LSCPA policy, all LSCPA employees, including faculty, are required to report allegations or disclosures of child abuse or neglect to the designated authorities, which may include a local or state law enforcement agency or the Texas Department of Family Protective Services. For more information about mandatory reporting requirements, see LSCPA's Policy and Procedure Manual.
Title IX and Sexual Misconduct LSCPA is committed to establishing and maintaining an environment that is free from all forms of sex discrimination, including sexual harassment, sexual violence, and other forms of sexual misconduct. All LSCPA employees, including faculty, have the responsibility to report disclosures of sexual misconduct, including sexual harassment, sexual assault (including rape and acquaintance rape), domestic violence, dating violence, relationship violence, or stalking, to LSCPA's Title IX Coordinator, whose role is to coordinate the college's response to sexual misconduct. For more information about Title IX protections, faculty reporting responsibilities, options for confidential reporting, and the resources available for support visit LSCPA's Title IX website.
Clery Act Crime Reporting For more information about the Clery Act and crime reporting, see the Annual Security & Fire Safety Report and the Campus Security website.
Grievance / Complaint / Concern If you have a grievance, complaint, or concern about this course that has not been resolved through discussion with the Instructor, please consult the Department Chair.
Department Information
General Education and Developmental Studies
Chair:Steven Zani
Email:zanisj@lamarpa.edu
Phone:(409) 984-6431