ENG 2460: Introduction to Children's Literature

Summer 2004

COURSE POLICIES

The following policies are in place to protect our community, to ensure that your experience is as positive as possible, and to facilitate the growth of a challenging and rewarding work environment.

Attendance: You are a vital member of our community, and regular attendance is essential and expected.  Furthermore, the semester is condensed and every absence is the equivalent of missing one week of class in a traditional semester.  So our policy will be as follows: there are no “excused” absences.  You are allowed one absence with no penalty (to allow for illness, travel, emergency, etc.).  Additional absences, as well as any late arrivals or early departures, will affect your final grade adversely (-25 points per incident)—please avoid them.  Four absences will be considered grounds for failure of the course—no one who misses two weeks of class should expect to pass.  Metro has a policy of accommodating students who need to miss class because of their religious beliefs, provided such students notify their instructors of such needs in writing within the first two weeks of the semester.  Any student eligible for reasonable accommodation of special learning needs should speak with me immediately. 

Assignments: Assignments are due in class, at the beginning of class, on the due date.  No late work will be accepted.  (Please do not email or fax assignments, either.)  I will expect you to have completed the assigned readings and to be prepared to talk about them in class.  I’m looking for active, thoughtful, constructive participation.  Please bring your textbook to class.  Final grades will be based on the following scale: 900-1000 = A,  800-899 = B,  700-799 = C,  600-699 = D, 0-600 = F 

Academic Responsibilities: All work must be your own, generated this semester.  Plagiarism involves using all or part of a source (words or ideas) without correctly citing the source (this would include representing another person's work as your own or using a source in any way without correct documentation). You are responsible for asking me if you are not sure how to document something.  Academically dishonest or plagiarized work will receive an "F" and may be grounds for further disciplinary action (see the Student Handbook for more information). 

ASSIGNMENT GUIDELINES

Annotated Bibliography and Presentation: Your major project in this course will be to select and compile an annotated list of 25 texts…then present the results to the class.  You will receive a detailed handout on this project very soon.

Exams: The best way to prepare for exams is to prepare for class well (see “Schedule” introduction).  In addition, keep track of new definitions, terms, and concepts.  Take excellent notes during class and review them before the exam.  Exams may be any combination of identification, definition, short answer, and/or essay questions.

Film Reviews: For each film we view in class, please type a one-page review (double-spaced, following MLA format guidelines) that addresses the following issue: What is the relationship of the film adaptation to the original text?  (What issues are raised as a result of the translation into a new medium?  What is changed?  Are these changes beneficial, given the original text, or problematic? )