American Lit II 16-week Schedule

Week One: Start Here and Module One--Orientation and Review of College-Level Writing and Analysis


Go to Blackboard and click START HERE in the course menu and review my greeting and all materials in the folders for Essential Course information (the Syllabus, Schedule, Reading List, Course Requirements, Final Project (not required), FAQs, etc.); GET HELP; Zoom Meetings, etc.

Week One's Zoom session (Tuesday, January 20, 6 p.m.) is an orientation of the course and discussion of Week One Assignments. See the Zoom folder in the Blackboard menu for the links and codes. All students are required to attend OR watch the recording. Most are held on Tuesdays, but on occasion we meet on either Mondays or Wednesdays.


All students who are unable to attend and turn on their cameras during one of the first four Zooms (I will take attendance in the last ten min. of class) will need to complete the Zoom Attendance alternative that will be named in the Zoom folder four weeks from now. 


Complete the Intro Thread, the Orientation Quiz, and Journal One in START HERE.


Be sure to complete the Plagiarism tutorial by clicking here and the Service Learning Orientation (optional) and attach to Journal One.


Study the lectures in the Module One folder, which is the Review of College-Level Writing and Analysis.

HARD DUE DATE: Orientation Quiz and Intro Thread (in the Discussion Board) by Sunday, January 26 

DUE: Service Learning Showcase Presentation or Project Proposal (optional) and Journal One by Sunday, January 26

WARNING! Failure to complete the Orientation Quiz and Intro Thread by the first week of class may result in withdrawal for non-attendance!!!

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Week Two: Module Two-- Late 19th and Turn of the Century Readings 

Study the lectures, read the works, and complete the assignments in Module Two, Week Two, which is the Late 19th and Turn of the Century. 

HARD DUE DATE: Orientation Quiz and Intro Thread (in the Discussion Board) Wednesday, January 28

HARD DUE DATE: Journal One and Project/Service Learning Proposal (optional) by Sunday, February 1

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Week Three: Module Two--"The Awakening" by Kate Chopin

Study the lectures for the novella in Module Two, read the "The Awakening," and complete the assignments for Week Three,

If you would like to read an excerpt from the novella in our Zoom session and/or take the lead in the discussion of the piece, please email me by 3 p.m. 

Complete Quiz One (Turn of the Century, "The Awakening," and review of college-level writing).

DUE: Quiz One by Sunday, February 8

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Week Four: Module Three--The Moderns 

Study the lectures and read the works in the Module Three folder for the Moderns.

Complete the Module Three Discussion Board. Begin by mid-week.

DUE: Module Three Discussion Board by Sunday, February 15

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Week Five: Module Four--Paper One (Research)

Study the lectures, complete the assignments, read the directions for Paper One, choose a topic, and then submit your outline (with one scholarly source) in the portal linked in the folder for Module Four, Week Five. After obtaining my approval and reading the feedback (check Grades and Feedback in the course menu), begin drafting your paper. 

Complete the Finding Articles tutorial by clicking here. When you submit your outline for a grade, be sure to attach the screenshot.  

Study the MLA Lecture and then click here to complete a comprehensive MLA tutorial and quiz for five extra credit points on your outline. Attach the screenshot of the results if you score higher than 80 percent.


DUE DATE: Zoom Attendance--Tuesday, February 17 (see Attendance Folder in Blackboard for alternative)

HARD DUE DATE: Module Three Discussion by Sunday, February 22

DUE: Paper One Outline with one library article (begin draft once outline is approved) by Sunday, February 22

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Week Six: Module Four--Paper One (Research)

Continue drafting Paper One.

HARD DUE DATE: Paper One Outline by Sunday, March 1

HARD DUE DATE: Zoom Attendance by Sunday, March 1 (check folder for alternatives)

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Week Seven: Module Four--Paper One (Research)

Peer Edit Paper One via Module Four.

If you'd like me to review your paper in Tuesday's Zoom, email it to me as a DOC by 3 p.m. 

Note: If you turn in Paper One for a grade by Thursday, March 5, you will earn five EC points. In order to qualify for early turn in points, you will need to have completed the conference, tutorials, discussion boards, Journal One, and the first quiz. In addition, post your outline by Sunday, March 1; Take One by Monday; and Take Two by Wednesday. 

DUE: Paper One by Sunday, March 8 

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Week Eight: Module 5--The Harlem Renaissance

Study the lectures, read the works, and complete the assignments (in the Assignments tab) for the Harlem Renaissance.

Complete Quiz Two.

NO ZOOM NEXT WEEK DUE TO SPRING BREAK!

HARD DUE DATE: Paper One by Sunday, March 15 (don't forget to make a notation of two required tutorial scores and any other EC underneath your WC). Post Take One by Tuesday March 10; and Take Two by Wednesday. I will not respond to papers posted in the discussion board after Thursday at 8 a.m. However, students may peer edit through the weekend with no penalty.

DUE: Quiz 2 (Moderns/Harlem--remember that all assessments are cumulative!) by Sunday, March 15

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SPRING BREAK: MARCH 16-22

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Week Nine: Module 6--Midterm 

After finishing Paper One, study the Midterm Review linked in the module.

Complete the Midterm Exam.

HARD DUE DATE: Quiz Two by Saturday, March 28

DUE: Midterm Exam by Sunday, March 29

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Week 10: Module 7--Post-Modern Authors

After completing the midterm, study the lectures and read the works in the module for the Post-Modern Authors.

HARD DUE DATE: Midterm Exam by Sunday, April 5 

DUE: Journal Two by Sunday, April 5

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Week 11: Module 7--Present-Day Authors

Study the lectures, read the works, and complete the assignments in the module for Present-Day Authors.

Complete the Module 7 Discussion Board--get started by mid-week.

Complete Quiz Three.

HARD DUE DATE: Journal Two by Sunday, April 12 

DUE: Module 7 Discussion Board and Quiz Three by Sunday, April 12

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Week 12: Module 8--Paper Two (Creative/Analysis)

Read the instructions for Paper Two and then submit your outline (with one scholarly library source if required) in the folder for Paper Two. Begin drafting once your outline has been approved.

HARD DUE DATE: Module 7 Discussion by Sunday, April 19

DUE: Paper Two Outline by Sunday, April 19

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Week 13: Module 8--Paper Two (Creative/Analysis)

Continue drafting Paper Two. Begin peer editing in the module once you have a draft.

HARD DUE DATE: PAPER 2/PROJECT OUTLINE SUNDAY, APRIL 26

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Week 14: Module 8--Paper Two (Creative/Analysis)

Peer Edit Paper Two--get started by midweek.

If you'd like me to review your paper in Tuesday's Zoom, email it to me as a DOC by 3 p.m. 

If you turn in Paper Two EARLY, by Thursday, April 30, you will earn five EC points. In order to qualify for early turn in points, you will need to have completed ALL other assignments, including the discussion boards, quizzes 1-3, the midterm, Zoom attendance (see alternative in Blackboard), and the first two journals. In addition, post Take One by Monday, April 27 and Take Two by Wednesday. Don't forget to complete Journal Three after I grade your paper! Keep in mind that there are no corrections allowed for Paper Two (unless you have a borderline grade and it's warranted). 

DUE: Paper Two by Sunday, May 3 (don't submit Paper Two until all previous assignments, including peer editing and Quiz 3, have been completed)


NO CORRECTIONS ALLOWED FOR THE FINAL PAPER!

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Weeks 15 and 16: Module 9--Projects and Reflection

After submitting all previous work in the course, complete Journal Three. 

Week 15 is the deadline to submit incomplete assignments for partial credit (discussion boards are ineligible) and to email corrections to me at bvillarr@austincc.edu for Paper 1 (please follow the instructions in the feedback for each paper in Blackboard). Remember that you cannot make corrections for papers with a total grade of 98 percent or higher. Also, I will not accept corrections for papers that will not improve your final grade in the course (for example, if you have a clear A in the course, there is no need to make corrections for either of your papers). Keep in mind that I will be dropping your lowest discussion board, quiz, and outline grades sometime next week.

Grace Period is Over in Week 16! All past due assignments completed after Week 15 is subjected to a 50 percent penalty. Keep in mind that past due discussion boards cannot be completed after the hard due date.  

Complete all the work in the course by Tuesday, May 12, including Journal Three, and earn five EC points. 

HARD DUE DATE: PAPER/PROJECT TWO SUNDAY, MAY 10-- Post Take One by Monday, May 4 and Take Two by Wednesday. I will not respond to papers posted after Thursday at 8 a.m. However, students may peer edit through the weekend with no penalty.

HARD DUE DATE: Journal Three by Thursday, May 14th 


Check your email and gradesheet by Friday afternoon to make sure all work was properly submitted and graded.


NO CORRECTIONS ALLOWED FOR THE FINAL PAPER and NO GRACE PERIOD FOR JOURNAL THREE!