Room: Online
Time: Online


GTM 222
257-5494
12:30-2:00 M-R (Zoom)
4:00-5:00 M-R (Zoom)

or by appointment


School of Literature and Language

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Course Description


ENGL 475:  Special Topics.

0-3-3.  Seminar with topic to be designated by the instructor. May be repeated once with different topic. (G)

ENGL 575:  Special Topics.

0-3-3Graduate seminar with topic to be designated by instructor. May be repeated twice with change in topics.


Texts

Sandars, N. K., trans.  The Epic of Gilgamesh: An English Version with an Introduction. Revised edition. New York: Penguin Books, 1972. ISBN-13: 978-0140441000.

Homer.  The Iliad. Trans. Robert Fagles. Reissue edition. New York: Penguin Books, 1998. ISBN-13: 978-0140275360.

Homer. The Odyssey.  Trans. Robert Fagles.  Reprint edition.  New York: Penguin Books, 1997.  ISBN-13: 978-0140268867.

Virgil.  The Aeneid.   Trans. Robert Fagles.  Reissue edition.  New York: Penguin Books, 2010.  ISBN-13: 978-0143106296.

Dante.  The Inferno.  Trans. John Ciardi.  Reprint edition. New York: Signet Classic, 2009.  ISBN-13: 978-0451531391.

Longfellow, Henry Wadsworth. Evangeline: a Tale of Acadie Illustrated with Forty-Five Engravings on Wood from Designs by Jane E. Benham. Birkett Foster, & John Gilbert. Boston: Ticknor, Reed, and Fields, 1850. Louisiana Anthology.

Reeser, Jennifer.  The Lalaurie Horror.  Westlake, LA: Saint James Infirmary Books, 2013.  ISBN-13: 978-0615872629.

Objectives


Attendance Requirements


Conferences



Grades
Quizzes

55
Essay Exam

15%
Research Paper
  20%
Participation
  10%
Total 100%
The grading scale is
A: 90-100%, B: 80-89%, C: 70-79%, D: 60-69%, F:0-59%.


Turning in Your Work
In face-to-face classes, I want a paper copy of your assignments AND an electronic copy submitted to the TurnItIn link on Moodle.  In online classes, submit your paper through Moodle to TurnItIn.  If you have trouble uploading it Moodle, you may email it to me at bmagee@latech.edu.  You may also bring a paper copy by my office.  You are still responsible for turning in the assignment by the due date, so plan ahead.

Late Work
Your paper is due ON or BEFORE the due date. You can turn it in any time until the due date.  After that, the grade drops 5 points per period.

Attendance
In a face-to-face class, I'll take role every period.  Your attendance grade is a straight percentage of how much you attended class.  For example, if you attend 17 times out of 20 periods, your grade will be 17÷20=85%.  An absence may be excused with proper documentation.

Graded Material
In the event of a question regarding an exam grade or final grade, it will be the responsibility of the student to retain and present graded materials which have been returned for student possession during the quarter. 

Accommodations for Students with Disabilities
Students needing testing or classroom accommodations based on a disability are encouraged to discuss those needs with me as soon as possible. 

Honor Code
"In accordance with the Academic Honor Code, students pledge the following: Being a student of a higher standard, I pledge to embody the principles of academic integrity."  If I determine that you have violated the Honor Code or the English Department plagiarism policy, you'll receive a '0' on the assignment, and I may refer you to the Honor Council if I think it appropriate.

The Emergency Notification System
All Louisiana Tech students are strongly encouraged to enroll and update their contact information in the Emergency Notification System. It takes just a few seconds to ensure you're able to receive important text and voice alerts in the event of a campus emergency.  For more information on the Emergency Notification System, please visit: http://www.latech.edu/ administration/ ens.shtml.

Graduate Requirements
In addition to meeting the above requirements, graduate students enrolled in the course for graduate credit:
  • must write a substantially longer research paper than undergraduates. (12-15 pages for graduate students, 8-9 pages for undergraduates.)
  • may be asked to give presentations to the class.
  • should show leadership in class discussion.




Covid-Related Announcements
  1. COVID-19 Information:
    1. Students can access COVID-19-related information, guidelines, FAQs, and policies at Louisiana Tech’s website:  latech.edu/coronavirus
    2. Louisiana Tech’s Return to Campus Plan is located at latech.edu/return-to-campus. Masks are required to be worn indoors on campus. Masks are required to be worn outdoors if six feet of physical distance cannot be maintained. Every member of the Tech Family will need to take personal responsibility for their behavior, which includes wearing masks, maintaining physical distancing, washing hands regularly, using proper sneeze and cough practices, helping maintain clean academic and office areas, and monitoring for symptoms of COVID-19
    3. The direct link to the reporting protocol for students is located at latech.edu/coronavirus/return-to-campus-plan/for-students/. Students can reach out to Stacy Gilbert, Dean of Student Services & Academic Support, at stacyc@latech.edu for help with accommodations and additional information and to report a positive test.
    4. Failure to comply with the Safety Protocols listed in the Back to Campus Fall 2020  booklet: latech.edu/documents/2020/07/covid-return-book.pdf/, specifically on pages 5-7 about masks and social distancing, could result in students being in violation of the Classroom Behavior Policy listed on page 125 of the Student Handbook: latech.edu/documents/2018/09/student-handbook.pdf/.
    5. Information and contact numbers and sites for Louisiana Tech Counseling Services are located at: https://www.latech.edu/current-students/student-advancement-affairs/counseling-services/
  2. Online Course Syllabus (additional information required):
    1. Accommodations for potential issues with technology that might arise (power outages, poor internet, internet outages, etc.).
      • If you can't attend our class periods via Zoom because of technology issues, I'll post materials from the period that you can access later.
      • I'll give extended times for you to take quizzes and/or turn in papers, so you will have time to resolve tech issues. Contact me if something goes wrong that you can't fix yourself. Sometimes people get locked out of quizzes halfway through, or Moodle won't accept a paper. Stuff like that.
    2. Clear communication on how and when exams and quizzes will be administered, and the importance of adhering to the University’s honor code policy.
      • Everything will be taken up via Moodle.
      • Except for group projects, do your own work.
    3. Methods for students to contact and interact with the professor, including posted office hours.
      • Look at the top of the syllabus for this quarter's contact information. My hours change every quarter.
    4. Policy for Zoom backgrounds for online students (prohibition of obscene or other inappropriate or offensive backgrounds on their Zoom)
      • Remember other people can see your Zoom backgrounds (if you have one), or the wall behind you if you don't.
  3. Face-to-face and hybrid/flex Syllabus (additional information required):
    1. Plan for course if faculty member becomes ill or needs to self-quarantine following potential exposure.
      • We'll continue to meet by Zoom if I'm in quarantine.
    2. Policy for class behavior including wearing of masks, social distancing, possible seating assignments, cleaning of desks, etc.
      • For in-person classes, be sure to weak a mask over both your mouth and your nose. We'll have cleaning wipes for you to use to clean your chair and desk when you arrive.
    3. Policy for communication with faculty member that encourages appointments over zoom that maintain social distancing protocols.
      • If you want a conference with me, contact me through my email or text me at (318) 805-2326 to set up a time.
    4. Clear communication on how and when exams and quizzes will be administered, and the importance of adhering to the University’s honor code policy.
      • The dates for major assignments are in the syllabus. For smaller quizzes, I'll let you know when they are and what they cover via Moodle.
    5. Statement that students who are feeling ill with COVID-19 symptoms, have been exposed to or testing positive for COVID-19, should not come to class and should contact Tech Care at 318-257-4866.
    6. Statement that students who miss face-to-face class for COVID-19 related reasons will have access to course materials and grad opportunities while away from face-to-face class. Participation should be emphasized over attendance.
      • My understanding is that we're supposed to take attendance, but I'm not going to count it as part of your grade during the Covid crisis.




English 475 / 575 over the Internet: Requirements and Information

This course is sometimes offered as an internet course The readings are mostly the same as in my regular 475 / 575 classes.  I'm setting up the assignments as though the class is a T-Th class so people will be able to pace themselves. We'll have a quiz every week on Moodle.  This will help everybody keep up with your reading. 

Additional Information

  • I will respond to your email within 24 hours during the week (Monday-Friday).
  • I will not check email on weekends (Saturday-Sunday).
  • Do not expect replies to emails sent after three p.m. until the next business day.
  • Over the weekend, I do not promise a speedy reply, but if I am working at home and receive your email, I will try to answer it. 
  • Please remember: I am not online 24 hours a day.
  • Technical support is your responsibility. If a document or lecture does not work, let me know. However, if the problem is on your end (your computer, your software, your modem), it is your responsibility to find someone to help you with the problem. 




Reading Note
When the syllabus lists only the first page of a selection, read the whole selection.




Hoc opus, hic labor est.


Registration Week (September 10-11)


Week 1 (September 14-18)


Week 2 (September 21-25)


Week 3 (September 28 — October 2)


Week 4 (October 5-9)

Period 2


 Week 5 (October 12-16)


Week 6 (October 19-23)

Period 2


Week 7 (October 26-30)



Week 8 (November 2-6)

Period 1

Period 2


Week 9 (November 9-13)

Period 1

Period 2


Week 10 (November 16-19)

Period 1


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