COURSE SYLLABUS: ENGLISH 222W, READINGS IN THE NOVEL
Fall 2021

| Welcome | Office Hours | Required Texts, Technology, and Materials |
| Course Outcomes and Objectives | Course Learning and Teaching Activities | Course Projects | Course Policies |
| Resources for Students | Tentative Schedule of Sessions |

Section FA801, online (8/30/2021 - 12/17/2021). While our class is 100% online, please note that the college’s Covid-19 Response & Updates page has current information about the coronavirus. I have organized the class by week, and for each week, I have specific instructions on what to read/do, which you can see in eLearning. At the end of this syllabus is a Tentative Schedule of Sessions (we do not have live meetings as a class, but you can email me, call me, text me, or set up an appointment to meet with me via Virtual Classroom; see below for more information).

 

Instructor Information

Instructor: Stuart Barbier, Ph.D., Professor of English

 

Office/Phone: Since I am teaching online and am off campus this semester, email is the best way to communicate; however, I have set up a Google Voice phone number you can use for calling or texting: 989-545-1452. I will do my best to check this number for messages at least once a day (more often during office hours), and I will call or text back using this number; however, email is probably best (I don’t carry my cell phone around with me in the house).

 

Email: sibarbie@delta.edu. I reply messages as soon as I retrieve them, which should be within 24 hours (sooner during office hours), although there could be exceptions, especially on weekends). Do note that you should check your Delta College email regularly for important communication from the college or me (I recommend at least once every 24 hours). Also, students can sign up for emergency alerts (which will be sent to your email or cell phone [text DELTAEMG to 888777]). Last, Delta has a mobile app for Android and Apple smartphones and tablets (search on “Delta College” in the appropriate app store). This app makes using email and eLearning easier on your phone compared to using your phone’s Internet browser.

 

My Professional Home Page (This syllabus’s online address is http://websites.delta.edu/sibarbie/Syllabus222F2021.htm.)
Arts and Letters Division Home Page

English Discipline Home Page


Virtual Office Hours (By email, phone call, text, or appointment for a one-on-one Virtual Classroom session within eLearning): 

Tuesdays: 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Wednesdays: 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Thursdays: 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

 

We can meet at other times, too, with an appointment, including some weekend and evening hours. I will do my best to check for emails/texts/calls as often as possible.


Mailbox: Because I am off campus, please upload any documents to our eLearning course site.


Course eLearning Site Login: https://elearning.delta.edu/d2l/home (also available through the student portal).

Welcome to English 222W! I hope you enjoy your time learning in this class as much as I enjoy teaching it. In his book, What the Best College Students Do (Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 2012), Dr. Ken Bain emphasizes that “learning changes who people are and how they view the world. It makes them into better problem solvers, more creative and compassionate individuals, more responsible and self-confident people. Students are able to think about the implications and applications of what they learn…. Some may forget a few facts but still know how to find them when needed” (p. 9). Learning takes lots of work, however. As Bain explains, “[t]he world is a complex place. We all become creatures of habit in ways we think and act. To learn is to strip away those deeply ingrained habits of the mind. To do so requires that we push ourselves, that we keep building and rebuilding, questioning, struggling, and seeking” (p. 20). You will have many opportunities to do this over the next fifteen weeks.

More specifically, as explained in the college catalog, from a reading of selected novels, students will develop “understanding of the novel form” and learn how to derive “personal meaning and satisfaction from novels chosen from different times, places, and cultures.” This course meets the MTA Humanities requirement. To enroll in this course, you need to meet the following prerequisites: Reading Level 3 and a college level Composition I course with a minimum grade of “C” (for an explanation of reading and writing levels, see this link).

I hope you will enjoy reading and discussing the five novels I have chosen for this course. In choosing the novels, I had to consider the college-required outcomes and objectives for this course (see below). Even so, the choices are practically infinite. On top of this, there are arguments about what constitutes “good literature,” or literature worthy of study. We will discuss what differentiates novels from other literary and nonliterary forms, as well as what makes them “good” (which is of course subject to opinion; related to this, please note that some of the content is adult in nature [e.g., violence, language, sexual situations]).

Some students take this course because it fulfills a program requirement. Others, though, take it because they like to read. But what does it mean to like to read?  Several faculty members at Delta have been debating how to approach teaching Reading 097W (“Academic Reading”), a course designed to help college students become effective readers. Part of the argument hinges on “academic” reading versus “fun” reading, somewhat of a false dichotomy. In an email related to this discussion, Margot Haynes, a former colleague of mine in the English Division, points out that Louise Rosenblatt (a famous literary theorist) made two distinctions in reading: “‘aesthetic reading’ (for engagement, imaginary escape, pure enjoyment) and ‘efferent reading’ (for purposes beyond the reading itself—such as reading instructions to put together a Christmas toy for kids or reading Thomas Ricks in [a recent]...Washington Post [article] to understand how a patriotic Marine Corps general could be so opposed to the war in Iraq).” Haynes explained that “Rosenblatt makes clear that this aesthetic-efferent dichotomy is actually a continuum of reading stances a reader adopts—with varying degrees of enjoyment and usefulness as goals a reader may carry into the reading.” In other words, it does not have to be an either-or situation; how one approaches a particular text will depend on what one wants to do with it. Hopefully, you will see that “academic” reading and “fun” reading are not mutually exclusive—they can overlap. In any case, our course’s outcomes and objectives reflect Rosenblatt’s continuum and allow for many types of reading.

In this syllabus, I will explain what you can expect from me, as well as what I will expect from you. It is essential for you to read the syllabus in its entirety, so you know what is expected in terms of how I conduct the class, policies, student responsibilities, assignments, and a tentative class schedule. You are accountable for these written standards, though keep in mind I may need to change them during the semester, depending on the circumstances. If you are ever unsure about something, please ask—I am here to help you succeed!

 

Required Texts: Novels We Will Read

(Our course eLearning site contains lists of other novels you may wish to read in the future. Note that some of the novels listed below have been published in other versions. It would be OK to use a different version, except with Native Son, any version published before 1991 does not contain the complete text. All are available at the Delta College Bookstore. Feel free to purchase, rent, or borrow them from other stores/libraries).

 

1) Richard Wright’s Native Son (New York: Harper Perennial, 2005; ISBN 006083756X)

2) Amy Tan’s The Joy Luck Club (New York: Penguin, 2006; ISBN 978-0-14-3038095 [also Ivy Books and Vintage editions])

3) John Okada’s No-No Boy (Seattle: University of Washington Press, 1979 [ISBN 029595525-4] or 2014 [0295994045])

4) Laura Esquivel’s Like Water for Chocolate (New York: Anchor Books/Doubleday, 1995; ISBN 038542017X)

5) Jeff Vande Zande’s Detroit Muscle: A Novel (St. Paul, MN: Whistling Shade Press, 2016, ISBN 0982933568; note that this is also available in an Amazon Kindle edition)

 

Technology/Materials We Will Need

o   The ability to regularly access our eLearning course site and send emails. Under “Content” in eLearning, in the “Students Start Here Folder,” the first item is a link to “System Check.” Click on that link to make sure your system can handle eLearning. If you are having problems with eLearning, contact the Help Desk (see their contact information on the left of the eLearning page).

o   The ability to download Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and PDF files.

o   The ability to edit Word documents, save them, and reupload them to eLearning. All Delta College students are eligible to download and use the full Microsoft Office ProPlus Suite on up to 5 of their personal devices for free. The Full ProPlus Office suite can be installed on Windows PCs and Mac OS devices. The mobile version of Office can be installed on many other mobile devices. Microsoft Office ProPlus Suite includes: Word, Excel, Outlook, Publisher, OneNote, Access, PowerPoint, and InfoPath: information/instructions.

o   Access to backup digital storage such as a USB or cloud drive.

o   All of our course materials, including this syllabus, are housed in the course eLearning site. You are required to use this site and upload anything to the appropriate place in eLearning; I will not accept emailed drafts, assignments, homework, or other documents unless I explicitly ask you to email something. You may read the eLearning materials on the computer, download them, or print them out to read. You can also use Microsoft Word to read Word documents to you (under the “Review” menu, “Read Aloud” option). If you are having trouble accessing the materials, please let me know.

o   You may want to have paper on which to take notes, as well as a pen/pencil and highlighter pen (some students like to use multicolored Post-it notes, too).

o   The Student Handbook (linked under “Documents” on the left) is an excellent resource for information on Delta College, including campus life and activities, student rights and responsibilities, and Title IX and Educational Equality; it also includes a “where to get help” section.

 

Course Outcomes and Objectives (also available in the College Catalog)

 

1.    Analyze literature in the subject area.

A.   Interpret the meanings of literary works using various theoretical approaches.

B.   Identify various literary genres.

C.   Demonstrate analytical understanding through writing.

D.   Analyze novels through recognition of their literary techniques and common elements (“the craft of the novel”).

2.    Participate in writing to learn activities.

A.   Perform writing tasks to promote learning.

B.   Write effectively for a specific audience and purpose.

C.   Demonstrate the learning of concepts through writing.

D.   Compose an analytical paper examining some aspect of a novel from the course (e.g., drawing on I. a, I. d, III. a, III. b, or III. c.).

3.    Demonstrate an understanding of the cultural and historical context for this body of literature.

A.   Integrate the world of the novel with one’s own world as one perceives it.

B.   Identify parallels between the fictional world as the novel presents it and reality.

C.   Judge the applicability of the “truths” of the novel to one’s understanding of the world and one’s self.

 

Course Learning and Teaching Activities

 

Course Projects (Assignment sheets for each project are also available in eLearning.)

 

Course Projects

Total Points

Your Points

Due*

Analytical Paper of one or more of the five listed novels in the course

200

 

Week 14

Final Exam

200

 

Week 15

Participation (reading journal [300], discussion board postings [250], participation activities [50])

600

 

varies

Total:

1000

 

 

*All work must be original and conducted during this course; recycled work from other courses is not acceptable. I consider the submission of such work to be plagiarism (see Plagiarism, below).

 

Course Policies

 

Grades

Your grades are based on percentages of points you earn on the course projects per the following scale:

 

Grade

Percentage of Points Earned

A

93-100

A-

90-92.9999

B+

87-89.9999

B

83-86.9999

B-

80-82.9999

C+

77-79.9999

C

73-76.9999

C-

70-72.9999

D+

67-69.9999

D

63-66.9999

D-

60-62.9999

F

0-59.9999

 

In general, an A represents superior, outstanding college-level work; a B, very good, above-average college-level work; a C, satisfactory, average college-level work; a C-, unsatisfactory, below-average college-level work; a D+, D, or D-, unsatisfactory, poor college-level work; and an F, unacceptable college-level work (click on this link for a description of X, I, W, WI, P, and NC grades).

Information on my grading criteria will be included with each assignment. Please keep track of your grades so you can determine exactly how you are doing at any point in the course. To determine your grade at any point in the course, simply take the total points you have earned and divide them by the total possible points at that time, then compare your percentage to the scale above. To help keep you informed of your progress, I will keep your grades updated on eLearning. Last, final grades are generally accessible to you within one week of the official ending date of the semester. They are available through the Self-Service system under the “Grades” category. If you have any questions about your grades or would like help determining your grade at any time, please ask me.

Conferences

Please feel free to schedule a one-on-one conference (via phone, email, or Virtual Classroom) to discuss the class or any assignment.

 

Manuscript Form

The analytical paper and reading journal entries are to be word-processed. If you do not use Microsoft Word, you are still responsible for following MLA style guidelines and uploading documents eLearning will accept (including for originality checking) and that I can open with Word. A word of caution: BACK-UP your work on a second storage device and/or email yourself a copy! Computer errors/disasters do not excuse lateness. Please use Arial size 12 font and standard margins (1” on the right, left, and bottom, and ½ inch for the top with a page header containing your last name and page number followed by a blank line). Also please follow MLA documentation standards and note that you will be uploading all your work in eLearning. I will not accept emailed work. Ask me any questions you have—I’m happy to help.  

 

Attendance: Short Version

The decision to take this class is yours, but once you make that decision, you have responsibilities to everyone else in this community of learners. As one teacher puts it in Dr. Bain’s book, What the Best College Students Do, “What you bring to this class is yourself and your desire to participate, and what you do in here depends finally upon that” (p. 3). So don’t miss any classes.

 

Part of your homework due during Week One is to fill out and upload the “Course Syllabus Certification Statement and Commitment Pledge Assignment.” With this document, you are committing to the class, the learning outcomes and objectives, and the course policies, which means accessing our eLearning course site frequently and turning in your work when it is due. Please note that I may drop students who “miss” more than two weeks of our class.

 

In terms of “missing” an online class, the college follows the U.S. Department of Education in terms of what they classify as attendance and academic engagement:

 

1.    Attending a synchronous class, lecture, recitation, or field or laboratory activity, physically or online, where there is an opportunity for interaction between the instructor and students;

2.    Submitting an academic assignment;

3.    Taking an assessment or an exam;

4.    Participating in an interactive tutorial, webinar, or other interactive computer-assisted instruction;

5.    Participating in a study group, group project, or an online discussion that is assigned by the institution; or

6.    Interacting with an instructor about academic matters.

 

Attendance does not include:

Logging into an online class or tutorial without any further participation.

 

Therefore, I will keep track of your attendance on a weekly basis as defined by the schedule of classes, below. If you do not participate in our class in one of these ways, you will be counted absent for that week. 

   

Attendance: Long Version

Sometimes, students will say, “I paid for this class. I can choose to attend or not attend. It’s my money.” One of my former English Discipline colleagues had this response: You are not “buying” your education. If that were the case, you wouldn’t need to be here at all; you could just send in a check and get a diploma in the mail. However, when you sign up for classes, you enter into an agreement that you will work to meet the requirements set forth in each class by each instructor, who, in turn, is meeting requirements set by the state and the college to assure that each person who “earns” a degree has achieved minimum standards, standards which include attending class for a defined period of time. If anything, for every class you miss, you’re missing a piece of your education, a piece of your future. How much is that worth?

 

Both Delta College and the English discipline feel it’s worth a lot (as does the federal government; students who receive financial aid but do not complete a course may have to pay it back— see this link to the Financial Aid office and this one about attendance for details)). Therefore, we are united in our mission to give a quality educational opportunity to all students in all our classes.

 

Because English discipline classes include writing, reading, and literature classes, an understanding and improvement of all language skills is dependent on the social aspect of sharing one’s work, looking at the work of others, completing class assignments and writing, participating in workshops, listening and interacting with the instructor, creating a community of readers and writers that every student can depend on, and participating in other activities that require a significant commitment to class attendance. All research in this area shows that success is highly related to attendance. For example, in their article, "Class Attendance in College: A Meta-Analytic Review of the Relationship of Class Attendance with Grades and Student Characteristics" (published in Review of Educational Research, 80.2 [2010]: 272-295), Crede, Roch, and Kieszczynka of SUNY Albany reviewed sixty-eight studies and found that "attendance has a strong relationship with both class grades . . . and GPA" (272). In fact, they concluded that “attendance is a better predictor of class grades than any other known predictor (including [high school grade point average], SAT scores, and study habits)" (286). Therefore, I have an attendance policy in this class.

 

Delta’s overall policy states that “an instructor has the option of authorizing a grade of ‘WI’ (withdrawal by instructor) for you if you have missed an excessive number of course hours of instruction.” The English Discipline has specifically defined this number as missing more than 2/15 of the class sessions. Given this, here is my attendance policy:

 

Within the guidelines of federal and/or state law provisions, I may drop you from the course if you miss the first week of classes or more than two weeks in general. Note that dropping or being dropped from this course may have an impact on your current or future financial aid award; see a financial aid advisor for details.

 

Under the “Attendance: Short Version” section above, I explained that “missing” our online class means that you didn’t participate in the class in an academically related activity during the week. Simply logging into eLearning does not count (see the above section for what does count).

 

Related to this, please note that in my courses, except for when the college is officially closed (e.g., holidays), and unless you fall under federal and/or state law provisions, there is no such thing as an excused absence; you are either present or absent, for whatever reason, and I will not excuse the work that is missed. While it is possible to work around a few such absences (and it is your responsibility to do so), there is a point at which it becomes very difficult, and once again, that point is defined as missing more than two weeks of class.

 

Also related to this, please understand that I am responsible for teaching only those who participate in the class. If some situation in your work or home life will prevent you from regularly attending this class and completing the work on time, I recommend that you drop the class now and take it when you will be able to successfully complete it (see “Student-Initiated Drops and the Withdrawal Deadline,” below). If you must be absent, you are still responsible for all information and assignments given during the week you missed. If you must be absent when a paper is due, upload it early.

 

Late Assignments

Assignments are due by 11:59 p.m. on the stated day. Please do everything you can to make these deadlines. If you cannot make a particular deadline, please email me explaining why and indicating when you can complete the work. Chronically missing deadlines may negatively impact your grade. Also, in this class especially, students who fall behind find it very difficult to catch up. To be successful in the class, keep up with the readings and assignments.

 

Note that fifteen bonus points will be earned for the Plagiarism Posttest [see Week 2 in the Tentative Schedule of Sessions, below]. Other bonus points may be offered to those who do the work within the deadline stated in the course instructions (connected to an activity of some kind; these cannot be made up either).

 

Unless you make prior arrangements, I will not accept any work after 11:00 p.m. on Friday, December 17, 2021.

 

Student-Initiated Drops and the Withdrawal Deadline

Delta’s policy on student-initiated drops states that “for courses officially dropped within the refund period of the course, no grade will be reported or recorded on the official College transcript. If the course is officially dropped after the refund period and through four-fifths of the course you will receive a grade of ‘W.’  If you do not officially withdraw/drop, the instructor will assign an appropriate final letter grade (“A” through “F”) in relation to total course requirements achieved.” The last day to withdraw with a grade of W, to apply for a grade of pass/no credit (P/NC), or to be withdrawn with a grade of WI is the day that completes 80% of the course (indicated in the Tentative Schedule of Sessions, below). Please see me if you are having problems with this course. I will be happy to help you individually. Also, please consult with an academic advisor before you withdraw (D102, 686-9330, website link), and if you have or will ever have financial aid, you should also talk to the financial aid office before you drop the course (D101, 686-9080, website link; their website includes their attendance policy, which may require you to pay back financial aid given to you). If you stop coming after this date, you may receive an F instead of a W/WI at the end of the semester, depending on when you stopped coming to class and what work you have turned in. More information on dropping a class is on the Registrar’s website.

 

Plagiarism

Plagiarism is a serious offense and will result in an F for the assignment and possibly for the course. I define plagiarism as misrepresenting the work of others, including misrepresenting it as your own current work (e.g., I consider the submission of papers that you have previously written for another course to be plagiarism). Delta College, drawing on the work of Alexander Lindey, defines plagiarism as “the false assumption of authorship; the wrongful act of taking the product of another person's mind and presenting it as one's own.” In other words, if you use a source to write any part of your work, but you do not cite the source, you are plagiarizing. This is true for any source use, including getting an idea from the Internet, a classroom discussion (in our course or any other course), another person (including your mother), and/or any other written or spoken source and using that idea in your own work without citing it, whether you summarize, paraphrase, or quote from that source (this includes the reading journals). To check for this, I use various Internet-based tools, one of which I will require you to use as well (Turnitin, via eLearning). To avoid plagiarism, we will use MLA documentation methods in this class. For more information about Delta’s policy on plagiarism, see “Integrity of Academic Work” (also available in the Student Handbook). If in doubt about plagiarism, please ask me for clarification (see also the homework due in Week Two in the Tentative Schedule of Sessions, below).

 

Student Conduct/Diversity

As a Delta College student, you are expected to follow various policies, procedures, rules, and regulations related to your conduct, safety, and security. To read these—Including Delta’s policy toward disruptive students and those who violate college rules and regulations—please refer to the Student Handbook. In addition, Delta students have written an Ethical Code of Conduct. Please also note that Delta College values diversity: “Delta actively promotes, advocates, respects and values differences. We have an environment of openness and appreciation for all. We embrace diversity as a core principle at every level of course development, engagement and human resources. By creating a culture of diversity at Delta, we appreciate differences in identity, experiences, expertise, ideas and opinions of all people. In addition to race and ethnicity, diversity includes perspectives and identities generally underrepresented in the mainstream of our society due to religion, national origin, age, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, height, weight, arrest record, veteran status or disability” (quoted from Delta’s equity statement). I consider active disrespect disruptive.

 

Computer Use Guidelines

Delta College has very specific guidelines for accessing and using electronic resources which you are required to follow. Please read the guidelines and penalties for violations. You may be able to use computers on campus by appointment, depending on the COVID-19 situation.

 

Electronic Recording Policy

All materials within our eLearning course site are only for your personal academic use (to aid in studying/learning). Nothing can be shared with or distributed to others outside of the class, electronically or otherwise. These measures are necessary to protect the academic freedom and privacy rights of everyone in the class. Violations will be handled through the disruptive students policy referred to under “Student Conduct/Diversity,” above.

 

Preferred Name/Specific Pronouns

If you have a preferred first name and/or specific gender pronouns you would like me to use (whether the traditional pronouns of she/her/hers or he/him/his, or alternative, non-binary pronouns such as they/them/theirs, ey/em/eirs, or zie/zim/zirs), please let me know. You can also officially designate a preferred first name with the college, which will be used on class rosters and MyDelta class lists, as well as for your email address and username and within eLearning (see details/procedures), but note that you can email the information to the registrar’s office instead of having to take it there in person (regis@delta.edu). Feel free to ask for help with this.

 

English Discipline Writing Certificates

The Delta College English Division has certificates in General Writing and Technical Writing that provide a unique way to grow as a writer and make your résumé stand out. If you love writing and want to enhance your skills, check out the links provided, or contact the English discipline for the names of the current program coordinators (S006, english@delta.edu, 989-686-9159).

 

Resources for Students

 

WRIT Center

Main campus—LLIC (website; writingcenter@delta.edu; 686-9086). The WRIT Center (sometimes referred to as the Writing Center) is a one-on-one peer consultation service for students interested in writing, reading, or technology help. Writing sessions can help you with any stage of the writing process (common WRIT sessions include MLA/APA citation and help with editing a near-final draft, but WRIT can help with any writing task beyond that, too!). Reading sessions can help you understand your textbook or summarize your research sources. Technology sessions can help you format a paper or create a presentation. While the WRIT Center is located near the T/LC, they may not be holding face-to-face sessions. They are offering online submission as well as Zoom/phone consultations; visit their website for details. Also note that they have links to various student resources on their website to help with writing.

 

Teaching/Learning Center

Main campus—LLIC (686-9314; website). To support your learning and success as a Delta College student, the professional staff and peer tutors provide free tutoring in all academic content areas, including reading and writing, as well as study skills, test-taking tips, notetaking strategies, and time management techniques. Please consult their website for their hours and delivery methods. They also have a listing of various learning and testing strategies handouts.

 

Testing Center

Main Campus—A133 (686-9182; website). Guidelines and hours for using the ATC are available on their website. You will not need to use the Testing Center for our class.

 

Library

Main campus—LLIC (686-9310; website). Professional librarians provide personal research assistance and library usage information; please consult their website for their delivery methods.

 

Bookstore

The bookstore (686-9030, website) is located in the commons area (N015). For details about availability, consult their website. Textbooks can be purchased online.

 

Computers

There may be computers available for use in the LLIC, depending on the COVID-19 situation. Be sure to bring a USB drive or other storage device so you can save your work (and be sure to save your document onto the drive frequently as you work; it’s also a good idea to have a backup method.

 

Disability Resources

Delta College is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for students with documented disabilities, including accommodations related to a documented acute medical event (for example: COVID-19 quarantine or positive test result). Students experiencing a disability or an acute health event, who may need accommodation, are urged to contact the Disability Services Office to explore needed arrangements to assure access to the academic environment: Office of Disability Resources (D102, 989-686-9794, disabilityresources@delta.edu). Also, if you need to be on campus, please remember the following:

 

·         Keep a safe distance

·         Wash your hands and use sanitizer often

·         Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth

·         Wearing a facemask is a requirement for non-vaccinated individuals*

·         Masking requirements for vaccinated individual are subject to change based on the guidance of the Bay County Health Department at any time.*

*If you cannot wear a facemask for medical reasons, please contact the Office of Disability Resources

 

Title IX Office

Main campus—A093 (686-9547; equityoffice@delta.edu; website). Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 requires that all entities in receipt of any federal funds or financial assistance must prohibit sex discrimination in their education programs and activities. Examples of the types of discrimination covered under Title IX include: sexual harassment, the failure to provide equal opportunity in athletic and academic programs, and discrimination based on pregnancy. Contact Delta’s equity officer, Loyce Brown, via the office contact information above.

 

Veteran Services

Delta College welcomes all veterans, their dependents and spouses, disabled veterans, National Guards, and Reservists to use the veteran’s benefits they are entitled to at Delta College. The Student Veteran Center is located in A008 (686-9465, vets@delta.edu, website). For more information, click on: “Veterans” (educational benefit eligibility/and veteran student checklist) and “Veteran Services” (general information).

 

Counseling/Advising and Career Development

The office of Counseling/Advising and Career Development (D102, 686-9330/686-9072) is prepared to assist you with questions about your program of study, choosing courses, career decisions, and many things about yourself including working with you concerning personal and professional difficulties (trained personal and crisis counselors can talk to you now and connect you with the support you need to move forward in the future, too; stop by the office or email them at confidentialcounsel@delta.edu [if you are in crisis and it's after hours, you can call Campus Safety at 989-686-9113]). For more information about the personal counselors, please open the following pdf file: Professional Disclosure. Here are the direct links to academic advising and counseling services (including a link to an anonymous and confidential mental health screening); also, they can help you identify community resources. Here is information on Delta’s Drug and Alcohol Prevention Program. Here is the direct link to Career Services. Last, Delta offers an online job posting system for employers, students, and alumni.

 

Safe Space

Safe Space is a nationally recognized LGBTQ student support initiative. Faculty and staff who have attended training display the logo: a pink triangle with a green circle around it and the text “Delta Safe Space.” This helps students identify allies who are knowledgeable about LGBTQ issues and resources and are willing to assist in a variety of ways (Delta also maintains an LGBT Resources Page). I am a Safe Space Representative; if you have questions, please contact me directly.

 

Campus Safety

Campus Safety provides escorts to your car and maintains a local lost & found collection. These services and more are available by stopping by N-102 or calling 686.9113 (call 9114 for on-campus emergencies).

 

MyAlert/Student Success System/Other Resources

Delta College is dedicated to your success in the classroom. Because we want to make sure you have all the support necessary to be successful, we have a MyAlert/Student Success System. This is a system that faculty can use to refer students to the MyAlert program or for tutoring assistance. If I feel you could benefit from additional support outside of the classroom, I may make a referral to the facilitators of these programs and you will receive an email with details about how you can access these services. If you feel you could benefit from the program, please feel free to ask me for a referral. Other resources for help include Veteran Services (website) and Multicultural Services (website).

 

Financial Aid

The office of Financial Aid (D101, 989-686-9080, finaid@delta.edu or studentloans@delta.edu [include your student #]) is prepared to assist you with questions about paying for college. The college also has a site with information on scholarships. Other good sites for scholarship information are maintained by the State of Michigan (at this link) and the federal government (at this link). One of Delta’s career counselors also said that a free commercial site called fastweb.com can be very helpful; however, he recommends that users create a separate email address to use for the site, since there could be a lot of “spam” mail (the site makes money through advertising). Also, students should never give out their Social Security number or bank account information, since legitimate scholarship applications do not need either piece of information. Last, please note that since it is a commercial site, neither Delta College nor I endorse it.

 

Delta’s Closet

Main campus—D134 (though check their website for availability). Students may shop Delta’s Closet for professional apparel for such events as scholarship and job interviews and the first days on their new job. The campus store offers professional clothing, shoes, and accessories at no cost to students. Student must provide college ID. For more information, including how to donate clothing, see their website.

 

Student Food Pantry

Main campus—A008 (686-9205). “The Student Food Pantry provides food for students under financial stress, helping them stay focused on their academic success. The Student Food Pantry, a college sponsored food bank, makes sure all students have access to adequate food—regardless of their economic situation.” Be sure to call ahead to see if the service is being offered this fall.

 

Campus Life/Student Activities

Main campus—A008 (website). Join a club, participate in activities, volunteer, enjoy sporting events, meet new people, study abroad, or enroll in the Honors Program to get involved in the Delta Community (see also “Campus Life” in the student portal). Note that these activities may be limited this fall.

 

Me

I will make every effort to see that this class is meaningful to you. Do not hesitate to seek help from me at any time during the semester, or to consult with me concerning your performance and your grades in the course. I am happy to discuss your work with you and to answer questions on anything which may be difficult or confusing to you, either during class, after class, or in my office by appointment or during office hours (or you can just drop by my office to see if I am free). Like everything else in your life, your success in this class depends on your effort and attendance; you have much to offer to your classmates, to me, and to yourself.

Tentative Schedule of Sessions

 

Please carefully schedule your time. Unless otherwise indicated, each week begins on Monday and ends on Sunday. While due dates will fall on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays of the week (mostly 11:59 p.m., as specified below), you can do the work ahead of time; however, please do not discuss with other students any aspects of the novels from the parts that have not yet been assigned for a particular week. Note that I expect you to be prepared to discuss the assigned reading on the discussion board and/or in a participation activity each week (the parts of the novels indicated in the schedule for that week’s class; because there are different editions of these texts, I indicate chapters/parts and not pages).

 

Also, it’s a good idea to review the syllabus at least one week ahead of time; that way, if you have questions about what is due, you can ask before it is due (be sure to read Attendance and Late Assignments, above, for my late work policies). Specific instructions for each assignment are in the Weekly Instructions files.

 

Session

Activities

Week 1

8/30 – 9/3

(9/4 – 9/7, no classes [Labor Day break])

Introduction to the course

 

Participation and Homework due by the end of Thursday, 9/2:

1. Discussion Posting One (Week 1): Introductions (initial posting)

 

Participation and Homework due by the end of Friday, 9/3:

1. Discussion Posting One (Week 1): Introductions (Replies)

2. Syllabus Certification Statement and Commitment Pledge

3. Participation for Week One upload

4. “Getting to Know You Questionnaire” (download it from the “Course Assignments” folder, fill it out, and upload it to the “Assignments” folder)

Week 2

9/8 – 9/12

Native Son, Part 1

Required reading: Book One: Fear

    

Participation and Homework due by the end of Thursday, 9/9:

1. Discussion Posting Two (Week 2): Protagonists (initial posting)

2. Discussion Posting Three (Week 2): 4 Questions (initial posting)

 

Participation and Homework due by the end of Sunday, 9/12:

1. Discussion Posting Two (Week 2): Protagonists (replies)

2. Participation for Week Two upload

3. Discussion Posting Three (Week 2): 4 Questions (replies)

4. To check your understanding of proper source citation, complete the Plagiarism Tutorial offered by The University of Southern Mississippi (http://lib.usm.edu/plagiarism_tutorial.html) and take the test (an option at the bottom of the left-hand column). When you have answered all the questions, click on “submit the quiz.” The system will show you your result. At this point, either take a picture with your phone or take a screenshot (“Print Screen” button on your keyboard, pasting it into a Word/other document) and uploading it to eLearning (“Assignments”). If you don’t get a 10, click on “Results Explanation” to read why. You can take the quiz again (just go “back” and change the answer(s) you want to change and click “submit” again. This is worth fifteen bonus points if done on time, regardless of your score.

 

Week 3

9/13 – 9/19

Native Son, Part 2

Required reading: Book Two: Flight

 

Participation and Homework due by the end of Thursday, 9/16:

1. Discussion Posting Four (Week 3): Analysis of Craft (initial posting)

2. Discussion Posting Five (Week 3): Character Group Analysis (initial posting)

 

Participation and Homework due by the end of Sunday, 9/19:

1. Discussion Posting Four (Week 3): Analysis of Craft (replies)

2. Discussion Posting Five (Week 3): Character Group Analysis (replies)

Week 4

9/20 – 9/26

Native Son, Part 3

Required reading: Book Three: Fate; “Introduction”; optional: supplemental material at the end of the book: “How ‘Bigger’ Was Born,” “Chronology,” “Notes on the Texts”

 

Participation and Homework due by the end of Thursday, 9/23:

1. Discussion Posting Six (Week 4): Murder Scene (initial posting)

2. Discussion Posting Seven (Week 4): General Discussion (initial posting)

 

Participation and Homework due by the end of Friday, 9/24 (Feel free to turn this in before the due date): Reading Journal for Native Son

 

Participation and Homework due by the end of Sunday, 9/26:

1. Discussion Posting Six (Week 4): Murder Scene (replies)

2. Participation for Week Four upload

3. Discussion Posting Seven (Week 4): General Discussion (replies)

Week 5

9/27 – 10/3

The Joy Luck Club, Part 1

Required reading: “Feathers from a Thousand Li Away” and “The Twenty-Six Malignant Gates”

 

Participation and Homework due by the end of Thursday, 9/30:

1. Discussion Posting Eight (Week 5): Joy Luck Parables/Intents (initial posting)

2. Discussion Posting Nine (Week 5): Characters (initial posting)

 

Participation and Homework due by the end of Sunday, 10/3:

1. Discussion Posting Eight (Week 5): Joy Luck Parables/Intents (replies)

2. Discussion Posting Nine (Week 5): Characters (replies)

3. Participation for Week Five upload

Week 6

10/4 – 10/10

The Joy Luck Club, Part 2

Required reading: “American Translation” and “Queen Mother of the Western Skies”

 

Participation and Homework due by the end of Thursday, 10/7:

1. Discussion Posting Ten (Week 6): Mother Tongue (initial posting)

2. Discussion Posting Eleven (Week 6): Parables/Intent (initial posting)

 

Participation and Homework due by the end of Friday, 10/8: Reading Journal for The Joy Luck Club

 

Participation and Homework due by the end of Sunday, 10/10:

1. Discussion Posting Ten (Week 6): Mother Tongue (replies)

2. Discussion Posting Eleven (Week 6): Parables/Intent (replies)

Week 7

10/11 – 10/17

No No Boy, Part 1

Required reading: “Introduction,” “Preface,” Chapters 1 - 5

 

Participation and Homework due by the end of Thursday, 10/14:

1. Discussion Posting Twelve (Week 7): General Discussion (initial posting)

2. Discussion Posting Thirteen (Week 7): Densho (initial posting)

 

Participation and Homework due by the end of Sunday, 10/17:

1. Discussion Posting Twelve (Week 7): General Discussion (replies)

2. Discussion Posting Thirteen (Week 7): Densho (replies)

3. Midterm assessment

Week 8

10/18 – 10/24

No No Boy, Part 2

Required reading: Chapters 6 – 11; optional: “Afterword: In Search of John Okada”

 

Participation and Homework due by the end of Thursday, 10/21:

1. Discussion Posting Fourteen (Week 8): Comparison (initial posting)

2. Discussion Posting Fifteen (Week 8): General Discussion (initial posting)

 

Participation and Homework due by the end of Sunday, 10/24:

1. Discussion Posting Fourteen (Week 8): Comparison (replies)

2. Participation for Week Eight upload

3. Discussion Posting Fifteen (Week 8): General Discussion (replies)

Week 9

10/25 – 10/31

No No Boy, Part 3

Required reading: none

 

Participation and Homework due by the end of Thursday, 10/28:

 

1. Discussion Posting Sixteen (Week 9): Identity (initial posting)

2. Discussion Posting Seventeen (Week 9): Torn Between Cultures (initial posting)

 

Participation and Homework due by the end of Friday, 10/29: Reading Journal for No-No Boy; be sure to include your “original submission” statement in the comments area of the upload/submissions page.

 

Participation and Homework due by the end of Sunday, 10/31:

1. Discussion Posting Sixteen (Week 9): Identity (replies)

2. Discussion Posting Seventeen (Week 9): Torn Between Cultures (replies)

Week 10

11/1 – 11/7

Like Water for Chocolate, Part 1

Required reading: Chapters 1 – 6 (January – June)

 

Participation and Homework due by the end of Thursday, 11/4:

1. Discussion Posting Eighteen (Week 10): Rise of the Novel/Suggested Reading (initial posting)

 

Participation and Homework due by the end of Sunday, 11/7:

1. Discussion Posting Eighteen (Week 10): Rise of the Novel/Suggested Reading (replies)

2. Discussion Posting Nineteen (Week 10): Recipes/Title (initial posting and reply to your own posting)

Week 11

11/8 – 11/14

Like Water for Chocolate, Part 2

Required reading: Chapters 7 – 12 (July – December)  

 

Participation and Homework due by the end of Thursday, 11/11:

1. Discussion Posting Twenty (Week 11): Literary Criticism (initial posting)

2. Discussion Posting Twenty-One (Week 11): Magical Realism (initial posting)

 

Participation and Homework due by the end of Friday, 11/12: Reading Journal for Like Water for Chocolate [if you need a few extra days, that’s OK]; be sure to include your “original submission” statement in the comments area of the upload/submissions page.

 

Participation and Homework due by the end of Sunday, 11/14:

1. Discussion Posting Twenty (Week 11): Literary Criticism (replies)

2. Discussion Posting Twenty-One (Week 11): Magical Realism (replies)

Week 12

11/15 – 11/21

Analytical Paper Workshop

Required reading: none

 

Participation Due by Sunday, 11/21: An email to me (sibarbie@delta.edu) with the subject “ENG 222W Analytical Paper Status”; in your message, update me on your progress with the analytical paper, including asking any questions you have.

Week 13

11/22 – 11/23, 11/29 – 12/5

(11/24 – 11/28, no classes; note that Thursday, 11/25, is the deadline to withdraw from the course or to apply for a grade of P/NC)

Detroit Muscle, Part 1

Required reading: page 1 to the middle of page 79

 

Participation and Homework due by the end of Thursday, 12/2:

1. Discussion Posting Twenty-Two (Week 13): Addiction (initial posting)

2. Discussion Posting Twenty-Three (Week 13): Cover/Quotes (initial posting)

 

Participation and Homework due by the end of Sunday, 12/5:

1. Discussion Posting Twenty-Two (Week 13): Addiction (replies)

2. Discussion Posting Twenty-Three (Week 13): Cover/Quotes (replies)

Week 14

12/6 – 12/12

Detroit Muscle, Part 2

Required reading: middle of page 79 through page 153

 

Participation and Homework due by the end of Thursday, 12/9:

1. Discussion Posting Twenty-Four (Week 14): Theme (initial posting)

2. Discussion Posting Twenty-Five (Week 14): Reflection (initial posting)

 

Participation and Homework due by the end of Friday, 12/10: Reading Journal for Detroit Muscle; be sure to include your “original submission” statement in the comments area of the upload/submissions page.

 

Participation and Homework due by the end of Sunday, 12/12:

1. Discussion Posting Twenty-Four (Week 14): Theme (replies)

2. Discussion Posting Twenty-Five (Week 14): Reflection (replies)

3. Analytical Paper; be sure to include your “original submission” statement in the comments area of the upload/submissions page.

Week 15

12/13 – Friday, 12/17

Final Exam (Due by 11:00 p.m., Friday, 12/17)

 

Note that unless you make arrangements for an incomplete, all late work must be turned in online by 11:00 p.m., Friday, December 17, 2021. Please email me if you wish to make arrangements for an incomplete.

 

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If you have questions, email Stuart Barbier at sibarbie@delta.edu
Revised: September 8, 2021 (clarified required readings)
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