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ENGLISH 117 GENERIC COURSE SYLLABUS
             
I.
Course Prefix
Course No.
Course Name
Credit
Lecture
Lab
 
EGL
117
Introduction to Poetry
3
3
0
             
II. Prerequisite:
   
  None
   
III. Course (Catalog) Description:
   
  Course introduces students to the study poetry and its cultural, social, and historical contexts. Content includes terminology and methods for analyzing and evaluating poetry including form, thematic development, and style.
   
IV. Learning Objectives:
   
 
The student will be able to:

A. Explain the distinctive characteristics of poetry as a genre;

B. Identify the conventions of poetic works such as: as lyric, epic, ballad, sonnet, elegy, free verse, and dramatic monologue, etc.

C. Interpret the formal elements of these works using appropriate terminology, such as: speaker, metaphor, symbolism, irony, tone, meter, rhyme, simile, personification, etc.

D. Analyze works in the context of their literary, cultural, and historical backgrounds.

E. Synthesize knowledge of genre, formal elements, and background material.

F. Incorporate secondary sources in the analysis and interpretation of poetry texts.
   
V. Academic Integrity:
   
  Students and employees at Oakton Community College are required to demonstrate academic integrity and follow Oakton’s Code of Academic Conduct. This code prohibits: • cheating,
• plagiarism (turning in work not written by you, or lacking proper citation),
• falsification and fabrication (lying or distorting the truth),
• helping others to cheat,
• unauthorized changes on official documents,
• pretending to be someone else or having someone else pretend to be you,
• making or accepting bribes, special favors, or threats, and
• any other behavior that violates academic integrity.

There are serious consequences to violations of the academic integrity policy. Oakton’s policies and procedures provide students a fair hearing if a complaint is made against you. If you are found to have violated the policy, the minimum penalty is failure on the assignment and, a disciplinary record will be established and kept on file in the office of the Vice President for Student Affairs for a period of 3 years.

Details of the Code of Academic Conduct can be found in the Student Handbook.
   
VI. Sequence of Topics:
 

Poems, reflecting culturally diverse texts, may be organized according to a number of principles, including thematic, analytic, structural and historical modes.  A thematic organization would group texts according to such common themes as innocence and experience; love; conformity and rebellion; death.  An analytic organization would group units of study according to elements of poetry, studying in turn speaker, imagery, figures of speech, formal elements, etc.  A historical organization would arrange texts chronologically.  A structural organization would group poems according to some common formal elements:  sonnets, odes, lyrics, etc.
   
VII. Methods of Instruction:
  The course will be conducted through lectures, discussions and the use of other appropriate media, such as films, tapes and records, and possibly field trips to poetry readings.
   
VIII. Course Practices Required:
  Students will read poems from a variety of periods and styles and write at least four essays of at least 750 words each outside of class. Paper assignments should be guided by the course learning objectives.
   
IX. Instructional Materials:
   
 

Check with the chairman for current list.
   
X. Methods of Evaluating Student Progress:
   
 

Evaluation methods include grading of student essays, quizzes and exam, oral reports and class participation.

Required written work:

A minimum of three critical essays of at least 750 words, written outside of class.

   
XI. Other Course Information:
   
 

Attendance policy

For whatever information/procedures the instructor holds the student accountable.

If you have a documented learning, psychological, or physical disability you may be entitled to reasonable academic accommodations or services.  To request accommodations or services, contact the ASSIST office in the Learning Center.  All students are expected to fulfill essential course requirements.  The College will not waive any essential skill or requirement of a course or degree program.
   
 
January 2010