English 270 Syllabus

Course Syllabus:  English 270 (68863)

Course Schedule: Tentative Schedule

Meet Your Instructor:  Professor Christina Axtell

Required Texts and Materials:

• Short, Kathy G., et al. Essentials of Children’s Literature. 9^th Pearson, 2018.
• Hallett, Martin and Barbara Karasek. Folk & Fairy Tales. 5^th Broadview Press, 2018.
• Rowling, J.K. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone.
• L’Engle, Madeleine. A Wrinkle in Time.
• Rawls, Wilson. Where the Red Fern Grows.
• Blume, Judy. Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret.
• Lowry, Lois. Number the Stars.
• Taylor, Mildred D. Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry.
• 3 large bluebooks, paper, a blue or black pen, and a red pen for quizzes

Course Description: Welcome to English 270, a course designed to provide an introduction to and appreciation for children’s literature, its history and the wide range of genres that make up this delightful and important literature. Through various readings, activities, and assignments, we will learn to identify different genres, such as picture books; poetry; and traditional, realistic, fantasy, and historical fiction. We will consider various texts from both a child’s and adult’s view and learn to move beyond personal reaction, evaluating from a critical and analytical perspective. Finally, we will discuss ways children’s literature can be used in the classroom.

Student Learning Outcomes:

• Students will be able to identify major authors and works of children’s literature, as well as the conventions specific to each major genre: picture books, poetry, traditional literature, drama, non-fiction, and fiction.
• Students will use knowledge of form, literary conventions, audience, and historical and cultural context in their analyses of and responses to children’s literature from multiple genres.
• Students will demonstrate proficiency in using standard written English.
• Students will demonstrate proficiency in integrating and documenting primary and secondary sources in MLA format.

Requirements: Successful students will fulfill the following requirements:

• Attendance & Participation: Because we will be doing numerous writing exercises, group work, and reading discussions in class, your attendance is required. You may be dropped from the course and/or will not pass if you miss more than three classes. (Please note, three tardies or early exits will count as one absence). You may not make up in-class work missed due to unexcused absences. If you have to miss a class, it is your responsibility to notify me via email and seek out the missed information.
• Reading Assignments: All readings are to be done before class. Discussion of the readings is vital to our class, so come prepared to share ideas, ask and answer questions, take quizzes, and do exercises related to the readings.
• Reading Responses: Throughout the semester, you will turn in 10 responses to assigned readings. Responses must be at least 300 words and address thematic content and rhetorical structure. (see prompt)
• Writing Assignments: You will write several in- and out-of-class writing assignments, including in-class quick writes, reading responses, projects, and formal essays this semester. I will provide clear instructions for each assignment.
• In-Class Exams: You will write three timed in-class exams—consisting of short answer identifications, passage analysis, and short essays—during the semester. In-class exams must be completed in class on the assigned due date.
• Quizzes: Throughout the semester, you will take weekly quizzes (announced and unannounced). They cannot be made-up or taken late.
• Book Club and Reading Presentations: During the semester, you will have several opportunities to participate in reading presentations. For the reading discussion, you will work in small groups to lead a class reading discussion. For the book club presentation, you will work with a group to provide a book report of a children’s novel. Groups will be assigned during the second and third week of class at which time I will provide more specific instructions.
• Extra Credit: You can use up to 30 extra credit points to raise an already passing grade (>70%). Extra credit cannot be used to pass the class.
• Learning Center: You may visit the Learning Center for tutoring sessions with an instructor. You can find the Learning Center assignment sheet with course materials on Canvas. The Learning Center (located on the third floor of the D building) is open Monday - Saturday.

Late Policy: You may submit one essay up to one week late with no penalty (excluding Essay 3). All other essays, including essays and projects, will lose one letter grade for every day they are late. Reading responses, presentations, exams, and quizzes will not be accepted late.

Accommodations for Disabilities: Your success in this course is important to me. Santa Ana College and I are committed to providing reasonable accommodations for all individuals with disabilities. If you have a disability that may have some impact on your ability to do well in this course, I encourage you to speak with me as soon as possible. Also, please contact Disabled Student Programs & Services so that we can all collaborate on your classroom accommodations in a timely manner. DSP&S is located in VL-203, and their phone number is 714-564-6264. TTY: 714-564-6384. Video Phones: 714-660-3075 or 657-235-2999. The DSP&S office requires documentation of your disability in order to receive reasonable accommodations. If you do not have documentation, they will work with you to acquire it. I look forward to supporting you to meet your learning goals. 

Academic Honesty Policy: As a very wise man once said, “If you must write prose/poems, the words you use should be your own. Don’t plagiarize or take on loans.” Check discussion board for first extra credit assignment.

All work in this class must be your own original work. There is absolutely NO tolerance for cheating. Academic dishonesty or cheating is defined as an intentional act of fraud in which a student seeks to claim credit for the work or efforts of another without authorization. This includes assisting other students in acts of dishonesty or coercing students into acts of dishonesty, whether it is in coursework or on exams. Any student caught cheating or assisting another student in the act of cheating, will receive a zero score for the assignment or quiz. Students will be reported to the Dean of Student Development upon a second breach of the Academic Honesty policy. If you have any questions regarding this policy or application of this policy, please let me know.

Classroom Policies:

✓Please do not use your cell phone or any other mobile device during class. Doing so is disrespectful to me and to the students around you. If I see someone violating this policy, I will deduct 10 points from that person’s final course grade.

✓Using any mobile or electronic device, including earbuds or headphones, during an exam is considered cheating and will result in a 0 for the exam.

✓No student may record any classroom activity without express written consent from the instructor. If you have a disability that requires recording, you should contact Disabled Student Programs & Services to request an appropriate accommodation.