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Southern Literature—Eng 276
Text: Voices of the American South (Green, et al—2005)
Web-Based Independent Study

Instructor: Tondalaya VanLear

Office: Room 413 (Warren Hall) Ph: 540.863.2854

Welcome to this introductory course in Southern Literature. As a web-based class, this course depends upon each student’s attention to timely reading and response. We will be exploring the diverse genre of “southern works” and examining them in their historical context as well as their modern impact. I encourage you to react to the assigned readings, seek out other responses/criticisms, and expect to gain a close perspective of this genre that is too often cloaked in erroneous “mint-julep” images. Southern literature offers a complex, captivating, and paradoxical view of life in whatever timeframe it falls. Enjoy the read and the venture!

**All students are expected to read the "Web-based Independent Study Guide" available on the Course Handouts page for this class.

Course Description: This web-based, interactive course offers the student an introduction to Southern writings from early American settlement to modern day publications. This broad timeframe allows for flexible choices in the readings as we use the text, Voices of the American South, to guide our experience. We will explore the impacts of environment, event, and perspective as we read both non-fiction and fiction portrayals of southern life and expectations.

Course Requirements: The student will share responses to assigned readings, posted weekly on the course homepage, through a series of writings, which include:

*Journal discussions posted on the Discussion Board of the Blackboard (Bb) component for this course.

**Response writings and/or other writings, noted on the homepage under “Writings,” submitted via Assignment Links and/or Digital Drop in Bb.

**Other writing assignments for article evaluations or website evaluation as assigned.

**Three (3) Exams, completed at the DSLCC LRC, with test dates posted on the homepage. No make-up exams will be given.

**A final course writing project, with subject/focus which incorporates an in-depth look at a specific aspect of “southern writing.” The student may choose, for example, to examine the impact of a particular author offered in the text or explore a significant aspect of the writings from a specific timeframe. The student will submit an informal proposal for this project and the choice of direction must be approved by the instructor. The final work must include evidence of research and response, be submitted in MLA format with proper documentation, and be at least 8 pages in length. The second component of this project includes an annotated bibliography of websites pertinent to the student's focus and can come from the working bibliography the student keeps during the project research.

**Participation in all aspects of the course is not an option. Your participation grade depends on your timely submission of work. If your writings or journal assignments are late, they will be accessed a late penalty (1 letter grade per day of late submission)—this penalty applies to any and all works not submitted at the due date/time, regardless of the student’s reason for late submission. If the Bb system of the VCCS is experiencing problems, the instructor will amend the due dates to compensate for any down time created that interferes with assignment/journal/essay/exam due dates; this extension of time will be noted via announcement on the Bb course site.

** All assigned writings, essays, exams, journals, or other assignments are requirements of this course. If any assignment is not completed and submitted as noted on the assignment homepage, that lack is grounds for failure in the course.

**Technical difficulties that are a result of student equipment/usage do not excuse late submissions.

A Note of Plagiarism: DSLCC considers an act of plagiarism as academic dishonesty, and I fully support their policy. ANY work you hand is as your own should be just that—YOUR WORK. My focus as your instructor and as a fellow learner is to hear YOUR ideas and help you expand and explore YOUR reactions and responses. You have no excuse to present another individual's work as your own.

Any act of plagiarism in this course will result in your failing this class, regardless of your other grades at the time. If necessary, I will pursue disciplinary action as supported by this college.

Grading:

3.6-4.0   =A
3.0-3.5   =B
2.0-2.9   =C
1.0-1.9   =D
0.0-0.9   =F

Final Evaluation:

Response Essays                     =35%
Project Essay                         =20%
Journals/Other Writings          =20%
Exams                                   =15%
Participation                          =10%