Prof. Bruce Harvey
AML 4213: Journeys to America--Early American Literature
Spring 2002, M/W 6:25-7:40
Home phone:
to be given in class
www.fiu.edu/~harveyb
harveyb@fiu.edu
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COURSE POLICIES
GRADES
25% participation (average of 2 out of 3 options below)
25% 5-page essay
25% 8-page expanded, researched version of previous essay
25% final exam
ASSIGNMENTS & POLICIES
Class Website: The address for my homepage (which then links you to the "Journeys to America" website) is at the top of this page. The site provides links to other sites about our readings, e-texts (to be brought to class), assignments, and summary/study sheets.
Attendance: Frequent absences (more than three days) will severely lower your final grade, and you cannot pass the course if you miss more than six days. A tip: skipping class because you have not done the reading or because you do not have an essay prepared to turn in is not a great idea (I would rather have you plead your case for an extension than to miss out on class discussion).
Participation: Every student is a vital part of the class community, and I will expect you to work to make the class an energizing experience. The flow of good class discussions will result in a course more satisfying for everyone. You get to choose to fulfill 2 out of 3 participation options:
--In-class participation
can take a variety of forms—the raising of questions or issues, stating opinions
about the work or topic being discussed, responding to other students’ or my
comments, involvement in group activities, and so on. To get an "A" for
in-class participation you should contribute regularly and thoughtfully; you
should also be a good listener of other students' contributions. I will
provide you with your in-class participation grade approximately 1/3rd and
2/3rds of the way through the semester.
--Online participation will occur through "PageOut" discussion threads, which I will explain the first or second week of class. If you have problems logging on, then or later, you should immediately contact me. You may initiate topics ("threads") or respond to topics I or other students propose. To get an "A" for online participation, you should post messages fairly regularly, but I don't want "PageOut" to become only busy work for you. Heated debate is fine; but remember that basic rules of etiquette apply--be polite and avoid vulgarities. Respectable grammar, spelling, and sentence style are expected. If the online discussion creates awkwardness for you in any form, please talk to me and we'll work the problem out. For those of you who do not have easy access to the Internet at home, there are many facilities on campus, available virtually all the time. I will provide you with your online participation grade approximately 1/3rd and 2/3rds of the way through the semester.
--Reactions papers are approximately one-page responses to the readings that you email me, which I then selectively (and with your OK) will post on the "PageOut" discussion threads; you may also post them yourself, if you're eager to get your classmates' opinions. If you choose this option, for each of the ** dates marked on the syllabus, submit a reaction paper for the reading for that day, for a total of 8 by the end of the semester. If emailing doesn't work for you, then you must bring a hardcopy to class. You should use correct grammar, sentence structure, and punctuation. In them, you can ponder whatever especially interested or provoked you about the work currently being read, as long as your ideas cohere around a central point or issue (don't ramble or summarize the plot). These reaction papers are a chance for you to explore your intellectual reactions to the texts; write what you think, not what you believe I may want to hear. For each, you will receive either a check (thoughtful and competently written) or a check minus (not very thoughtful or poorly written or not turned in). The collective grade for the responses will be calculated on the accumulated number of checks: A(8), A-(7), B+(6), B(5), B-(4), C+(3), C(2), etc. Late reaction papers will not be accepted, except under extraordinary circumstances. I will give you your grades for the reactions in class or via email.
Please note: I have tried to make the participation requirement flexible, to pull forth what you excel in and feel comfortable with. If you are shy in class, then be vocal in the discussion threads and submit reaction papers; if you dislike electronic/online stuff, then turn in hardcopy reaction papers and talk in class; if you're a spontaneous, dialogue-oriented student, participate in class and online. You should decide and tell me which two of the three options you prefer by the due date of the first reaction paper. If you change your mind later, speak to me and we'll negotiate a fair mechanism to switch. Those who do well in all three categories--online discussions, classroom participation, and reaction papers--will be taken note of, and such will help bump grades up in borderline cases at the end of the semester. The 2 out of 3 categories will be averaged, and will equal 25% of your final grade.
Papers:
You will write a five page paper
on one of our texts, due on Feb. 25.
This paper will be worth 25% of your course grade. You will also write an
eight page essay, either a substantial revision of the first one plus some
research (do not do research for the initial version!); or on a new topic,
depending upon your grade on the first one and whether the topic still interests
you. The second version will be worth 25% of your final grade, and is due
April 10. Longer instructions
will be provided.
--Obviously, it is in your best interest to do well on the first version,
because you'll have less work to do for the second, more elaborate version.
Vice-versa, though, a not-so-hot job on the first version does not mean
disaster: at my discretion (based upon extent of improvement, mainly), I tend to
underweight the earlier version if the second one or entirely new essay is very
good.
--For both versions, organization and style, as well as originality of thought,
will be factors in determining the grade.
--If you think you might want to write on one of the texts we'll be reading in the last third of the semester, please consult with me.
--I would like to help you develop your writing skills‑‑so I welcome visits during my office hours to discuss your papers-in-progress. Some class time will be set aside to review essay-writing techniques.
--An unexcused late paper will be penalized one-third grade for each class period submitted late. Only emergencies will allow you to turn in a paper late without penalty.
Final Exam:
The final exam will consist
of fill-in-the-blank type questions. If you've done the reading
faithfully, preparation for the final exam should take no more than two hours or
so. It will be worth 25% of your course grade.
Incompletes:
These will only be given to students who have legitimate health or family
emergencies.
Conferences:
I am always happy to meet with you during office hours to talk more about the
readings or other course matters. I also usually am available on most weekday
afternoons and the 1/2 hour or so before class. For brief questions or to set up a conference outside of my regular
office hours, you may call me at my home number,
leave a message on my office phone (305-919-5254), or email me at harveyb@fiu.edu.