Ivy Tech Intro to Literature - ENGL 206

Enrollment Message

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Course Description

Development of basic strategies for critically reading and interpreting poetry, fiction, and drama; introduction to the premises and motives of literary analysis and critical methods associated with various literary concerns through class discussion and focused writing assignments.

Required Text and Materials

Course Goals

Upon completion of the course, students will…

• develop an aesthetic appreciation for fiction, poetry, and drama through reading and discussing works of literature.
• develop greater expressive proficiency through a better understanding of such literary conventions as plot, setting, characterization, meter, imagery, symbolism, figurative language, dialogue, and other such matters of literary style.
• demonstrate a high degree of competency in the mechanical areas of writing in finished written projects, ranging from informal reading responses to formal expository essays.
• demonstrate an appropriate awareness to aid in the literary research and composition process.
• explore various thematic elements and compare treatment of such elements in the different genres and across cultures.
• understand the organizational principles of exposition, narration, description, and argumentation.
• identify perspective and point of view in a literary piece.

Topical Areas of Study

• Modes of exposition
• Analysis of poetry
• Elements of style Analysis of drama
• The process of writing
• Figurative language
• Analysis of fiction
• Comparative literature
• Computer resources
• Multicultural issues in literature

Grading/Evaluation

All grades will be maintained in IvyLearn’s online grade book. Students are responsible for tracking their progress by referring to the online grade book. Students can generally expect to receive grades and feedback within seven days of the assignment due date. If exceptions occur, the instructor may notify students of changes to this expectation.

** Please note, the high school grading scale may be different from the Ivy Tech grading scale. The Ivy Tech grade for the course will be assigned based on the percentages above. A different high school grade might be assigned on a student's high school transcript if the grading scale percentages are different.

Types of Assignments

Discussions

Discussion board assignments are required in each session. Questions regarding the assigned readings will be posted by the instructor to the appropriate forum on the discussion board. Each student will make three posts.  An initial post will be due in the middle of the Module. Two classmate replies will be due at the end of the Module.

Formal Essays

There will be 2 formal essays

• Exploring a Poem—Students will write a 3 - 4 page formal essay introducing readers to a poem from the class readings. You will teach the reader how to read the poem, drawing attention to stylistic elements, poetic devices, and suggesting why the poets might have employed these.  You will offer some analysis of the idea or message we might take away from this poem.
• Comparing Two Texts—Students will write a 5 - 6 page formal essay that offers a comparative analysis of two texts that share a theme.  At least one of the two texts must be from the class readings.

Projects

There will be 4 major writing projects

• Recognizing Elements of Poetry—Students will create a PowerPoint or other presentation that defines 15 poetic terms, identifies examples of them in class readings, and speculates on why the poet might have used this device here.
• Identifying and Explaining Elements of Prose and Drama—Students will answer specific questions about the elements of prose that you see in our prose and drama readings.  You can create your answers with short essays, visual diagrams, charts.
• Reading in Depth Responses—Students will select a work of prose from the class readings and read and respond to it four times. You will focus on noticing different things each time—first impressions, characterization, setting, dialogue.
• Reading in Depth Reflection—Students will reflect on the process of reading a text carefully, repeatedly, and writing about it.  You will explore how you see yourself changing as readers and writers.

Expectations for Academic Conduct 

Student Handbook 

It is your responsibility to read the Indiana Online student handbook along with Ivy Tech's Class Policies & Grades to understand all aspects of taking an online course including expectations for academic conduct. Contact your teacher if you have any questions. 

Assistance for Students with Accommodations

Contact Disabilities Support Services (DSS)

Technology

Technology Requirements 

Students will require a computer device with headphones, a microphone, webcam, up-to-date Chrome Web Browser, and access to YouTube. Please review the Indiana Online’s Technology Requirements.

Technical Skills Needed 

Basic technology skills necessary to locate and share information and files as well as interact with others in a Learning Management System (LMS), include the ability to

• download, edit, save, convert, and upload files
• download and install software
• use a messaging service similar to email
• communicate with others in online discussion or message boards, following basic rules of netiquette
• open attachments shared in messages
• create, save, and submit files in commonly used word processing program formats and as a PDF
• save a file as a .pdf
• copy and paste and format text using your mouse, keyboard, or an html editor’s toolbar menu
• insert images or links into a file
• search for information within a document using Ctrl+F or Command+F keyboard shortcuts
• work in multiple browser windows and tabs simultaneously
• activate a microphone or webcam on your device, and record and upload or link audio and/or video files
• use presentation and graphics programs
• follow an online pacing guide or calendar of due dates
• use spell-check, citation editors, and tools commonly provided in word processing tool menus
• create and maintain usernames and passwords

Technical Questions?  Please contact the Ivy Tech Educational Technology Support.