Southern Literature and Culture Syllabus

Course Description:

The intention of this course is to incite and foster students’ imaginative and critical understanding of literature in various cultural contexts. We will analyze poetry, drama, fiction, and nonfiction and examine themes, styles, and cultural arguments within literary, historical, and philosophical contexts, pertaining to Southern literature and culture.

Course Objectives:

The objective of this class is for students to successfully write for a variety of audiences, orally analyze a variety of texts, use research skills to write a paper, analyze a text’s historical and cultural contexts, and explain the historical development of genres being studied based on the topic of Southern literature and culture.

Student Learning Outcomes:

1. Students will be knowledgeable about the importance of cultural issues, such as race, class, and gender by reading, studying, and analyzing literature.
2. Students will study, evaluate, and interpret Southern literature, writing papers that reflect this understanding and incorporating personal thoughts.
3. Students will demonstrate an understanding of the course concepts through successful completion of a portfolio.

Text:

• Erskine Caldwell, Tobacco Road
• Ellen Douglas, Truth: Four Stories I am Finally Old Enough to Tell (1998)
• Jennifer Leigh, Bastard Out of Carolina (1996) (DVD)
• Judy Jordan, Carolina Ghost Woods (2000)
• When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts (DVD)
• Excerpts from The Southerner’s Handbook: A Guide to Living the Good Life

Academic Integrity:

Academic integrity has no grey areas; there is no such thing as cheating a “little bit”. We have the same penalty for all academic integrity violations: “Failure” for that course. All of the following are considered academic integrity violations: cheating, plagiarism, falsification of work, or any attempt to engage in these activities. Example, leaving notes open during a quiz.

Acting in an unethical manner reduces the value of an ECU course or degree to that of diploma mill universities. Everyone’s reputation would suffer. Academic integrity is not a trivial matter and is taken very seriously. For additional information on the university’s academic integrity policy, please visit http://www.ecu.edu/cs-studentlife/policyhub/academic_integrity.cfm.

ECU seeks to comply fully with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Students requesting accommodations based on a disability must be registered with the Department for Disability Support Services located in Slay 138 (252-737-1016 (Voice/TTY)).

University emergency notices (including closings):

• University emergency information can be found on the ECU homepage. It is usually highlighted with a red bar that will specify the alert.  http://www.ecu.edu or go to http://www.ecu.edu/alert
• Emergency hotline: 252-328-0062

Classroom Conduct:

You are in college and will be treated and respected as an adult. Because of the nature of discussion involved in this class, it is important that we respect each other’s opinions and values. Discipline problems will not be tolerated. Any discipline problems will result in removal from class. Phones/Beepers/IPods: All electronic devices should be turned off during class or put on silent.

Disruptive Academic Behavior:

East Carolina University is committed to providing each student with a rich, distinctive educational experience. If a student fails to follow reasonable standards of behavior in the classroom or in online discussions, may be removed from the course by the instructor following appropriate notice. Students removed from a course under this policy will receive a grade of “drop” according to university policy and are eligible for tuition refund as specified in the current tuition refund policy.

Grading Policy:

No late assignments are accepted. If you are going to miss a class, be sure to talk with the instructor prior to that class to make arrangements for due assignments. The instructor will accept assignments that are emailed BEFORE the class meets on the day the assignment is due. I will give you 5 extra points if you email me the grading and attendance policies by the end of the first week of school and state that you understand the policies.

• Class Assignments/Quizzes 20%
• Classroom Engagement 20%
• Mid-term Exam 10%
• Portfolio 50%

Grading Scale:

Participation/Attendance Policy:

Student success is largely dependent on attending class, it is important that you make an effort to attend every class session. Realizing that unavoidable emergencies may arise (such as being sick), you are allowed to miss three class sessions. A student who misses more than three will lose a letter grade for each additional absence.

• Students are allowed only three class absences.
• Students who miss class are responsible for finding out about and making up missed classwork/notes/future assignments/etc.
• Students who sleep in class or have constant side conversations that are not a part of class discussion will be asked to leave and will be considered absent.
• Extreme exceptions can be made by absences that are excused by the Dean of Student’s Office.

Class Participation:

Attendance and participation are important to your success. Your participation grade is determined by active participation in class discussions, responding to questions to demonstrate good preparation, and regular attendance. Since attendance is so important to this course, a bonus of ten points will be added to your lowest evaluation if no meetings are missed. Five points will be added if only one meeting is missed. Excessive absences will lower your grade.

*This syllabus is subject to change at the instructor’s discretion.

Tentative Course Schedule:

Week 1

Thursday: Introduction and review syllabus

Week 2

Tuesday: Erskine Caldwell, Tobacco Road, Chapter 1-4

Thursday: Erskine Caldwell, Tobacco Road, Chapter 5-8

Week 3

Tuesday: Erskine Caldwell, Tobacco Road, Chapter 9-15

Thursday: Erskine Caldwell, Tobacco Road, Chapter 16-19 and informative paper discussion

Week 4

Tuesday: Rough draft and class discussion

Thursday: Peer review

Week 5

Tuesday: Mid-term Exam-final papers due and read excerpts from The Southerner’s Handbook: A Guide to Living the Good Life

Thursday: Ellen Douglas, “Grant”, Truth: Four Stories I am Finally Old Enough to Tell

Week 6

Tuesday: Ellen Douglas, “Julia and Nellie”, Truth: Four Stories I am Finally Old Enough to Tell

Thursday: Ellen Douglas, “Hampton”, Truth: Four Stories I am Finally Old Enough to Tell

Week 7

Tuesday: Ellen Douglas, “On Second Creek”, Truth: Four Stories I am Finally Old Enough to Tell

Thursday: Class discussion- comparative analysis

Week 8

Tuesday: Rough draft

Thursday: Peer review

Week 9

Tuesday: Paper due and watch Jennifer Leigh, Bastard Out of Carolina (1996) DVD in class

Thursday: Watch Jennifer Leigh, Bastard Out of Carolina (1996) DVD in class

Week 10

Tuesday: Spring Break/Fall Break

Thursday: Spring Break/Fall Break

Week 11

Tuesday: Jennifer Leigh, Bastard Out of Carolina (1996)-Rough draft of critical analysis due-Peer review in class

Thursday: Paper due and

Week 12

Tuesday: Read excerpts from Judy Jordan, Carolina Ghost Woods (2000), discuss poetry

Thursday: Read excerpts from Judy Jordan, Carolina Ghost Woods (2000), discuss poetry, discuss writing a short analysis

Week 13

Tuesday: Brief analysis due and watch When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts (DVD) in class

Thursday: Finish move and discuss writing a critical analysis

Week 14

Tuesday: Further discuss writing a critical analysis and brainstorm topics

Thursday: Work on rough draft of critical analysis.

Week 15

Tuesday: Peer Review of critical analysis

Thursday: Discuss portfolio

Week 16

Final exam: Portfolio due