The Literature of Place

NHH 2302 H01




“The literature of place”



SYLLABUS (Fall 2010)



W 2-4:50



Instructor: Dr. Susan Tomlinson

201B McClellan Hall

742-0036 ext. 239

susan.tomlinson@ttu.edu

Office Hours: TR 3:30-4:30; TWR 12:30-1:30

Teaching Blog: http://doctortteaching.blogspot.com/



Required texts:

A Great Plains Reader (Quantic and Hafer, eds.)

The Writer’s Harbrace Handbook







Course Description:

This course covers literature and film related to a sense of place, nature, and the environment. Students how learn how works were created and discuss their meaning and influence. They will also explore the subject through a series of workshops, which will include photography, visual arts, writing, and performance.

Competency Statement:

Students in this Natural History and Humanities course should be able to: construct, present, and defend critical and aesthetic judgments of works in the creative arts.



Expected learning outcomes for this course are:

1) Identify, describe, and/or create elements of place in literature and film (individually and collectively).

2) Analyze elements of place within cultural and historical contexts.

3) Analyze and summarize aesthetic principles that structure creative works as they relate to place.

Learning Outcomes Assessment Methods

1) Identify, describe, and/or create elements of place (individually and collectively). 1) mid-term and final papers/projects, with analysis

2) short creative works

2) Analyze elements of place within cultural and historical contexts. 1) mid-term and final papers/projects, with analysis

2)short creative works

3) Analyze and summarize aesthetic principles that structure creative works as they relate to place. 1) mid-term and final papers/projects, with analysis

2) short creative works









Assignments and Grading



Students will be assigned and expected to complete the following:

3 short essay responses to weekly readings/films and discussion* (10 points each)

1 oral story about a discussion place* (10 points)

Each student is responsible for selecting a place for the class to meet for discussion of the readings, and relating a story about that place before the discussion begins

Midterm project/paper* (25 points)

An essay/project about a local place

Final project/paper* (25 points)

An essay/project about place as “other”

*Topic and format must have prior approval from the instructor



There will also be a required class field trip to Caprock Canyon on October 16th. (10 points)



Work will be graded on the basis of accuracy, thoroughness, and creative merit.



Midterm due: October 14

Final project due: Monday, December 13, 1:30 pm



Students are expected to check the teaching blog before each class for updates and assignments.

http://doctortteaching.blogspot.com/



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Accommodation for Disabled Students:

Any student who, because of a disability, may require special arrangements in order to meet the course requirements should contact the instructor as soon as possible to make any necessary arrangements. Students should present appropriate verification from Student Disability Services during the instructor’s office hours. Please note: instructors are not allowed to provide classroom accommodations to a student until appropriate verification from Student Disability Services has been provided. For additional information, please contact Student Disability Services in West Hall or call 806-742-2405.



Student Absence for Observation of Religious Holy Days



A student who is absent from classes for the observation of a religious holy day shall be allowed to take an examination or complete an assignment scheduled for that day within a reasonable time after the absence if, not later than the fifteenth day after the first day of the semester, the student had notified the instructor of each scheduled class that the student would be absent for a religious holy day.



Academic Integrity (TTU O.P. 34.12)



Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, cheating, plagiarism, collusion, falsifying academic records, misrepresenting facts, and any act designed to give unfair academic advantage to the student or the attempt to commit such an act. The university definitions of academic dishonesty and policies for dealing with it are laid out in the Code of Student Affairs and in University Operating Policy 34.12. You should be familiar with these definitions.



Cheating of any form, but especially plagiarism (i.e., the representation of someone else’s work or ideas as your own) will be dealt with harshly. At a minimum, the offending essay will receive a grade of 0, which will be averaged into your overall grade. Flagrant or repeated cases of plagiarism may result in a grade of F for the course. All cases of cheating will be reported to the appropriate academic dean and to the Honors College dean, who may take additional disciplinary action as they see fit.