Fall 2026
British Literatue I
Instructor: LaVonuna Payne
Email: lpayne1@lamarpa.edu
Phone: 409-984-6330
Office Hours: Monday through Friday. 8:00 am through 5:00 pm. (email request for a virtual office contact confirmation)
Additional Contact Information: *virtual meeting via Blackboard Collaborate
A survey of the development of British literature from the Anglo-Saxon period to the Eighteenth Century. Students will study works of prose, poetry, drama, and fiction in relation to their historical, linguistic, and cultural contexts. Texts will be selected from a multitude of groups of authors and traditions.
Textbook Purchasing Statement: A student attending Lamar State College Port Arthur is not under any obligation to purchase a textbook from the college-affiliated bookstore. The same textbook may also be available from an independent retailer, including an online retailer.
No textbook required. All reading assignments will be available in Blackboard folders.
Textbook Purchasing Statement: A student attending Lamar State College Port Arthur is not under any obligation to purchase a textbook from the college-affiliated bookstore. The same textbook may also be available from an independent retailer, including an online retailer.
Students MUST have access to and the technology skills to open Blackboard folders. All assignments must be submitted in Blackboard - assignments will not be accepted if emailed to the instructor.
| * Communication skills: Students will demonstrate effective written, oral and/or visual communication. |
| * Critical Thinking Skills: Students will engage in creative and/or innovative thinking, and/or inquiry, analysis, evaluation, synthesis of information, organizing concepts and constructing solutions. |
| * Teamwork: Students will demonstrate the ability to work effectively with others to support a shared purpose or goal and consider different points of view. |
| * Social Responsibility: Students will demonstrate intercultural competency and civic knowledge by engaging effectively in local, regional, national and/or global communities. |
| * Personal Responsibility: Students will demonstrate the ability to connect choices, actions and consequences to ethical decision-making. |
Objectives:
1. Identify key ideas, representative authors and works, significant historical or cultural events, and characteristic perspectives or attitudes expressed in the literature of different periods or regions (PSLO 5& Alpha) Measured by response paper rubric & Pre-test/ Post-test
2. Analyze literary works as expressions of individual or communal values within social/ethical, political, cultural, or religious contexts of different literary periods. (PSLO 1,2&6) Measured by class discussion and essay rubric
3. Demonstrate knowledge of the development of characteristic forms or styles of expression during different historical periods or in different regions (PSLO 1,2&6) Measured by essay rubric
4. Articulate the aesthetic principles that guide the scope and variety of works in the arts and humanities. (PSLO 1,2,5&6) Measured by essay rubric
5. Write research-based critical papers about the assigned readings in clear and grammatically correct prose, using various critical approaches to literature. (PSLO 1&2) Measured by essay rubric.
PSLO ALPHA: Reading skills- Demonstrates comprehension of content-area reading material.
PSLO 1: Critical Thinking Skills – Uses creative thinking, innovation, inquiry and analysis, evaluation and synthesis of information.
Creatively identifies problem, argument, or issue (to determine extent of information needed); differentiates the facts from opinions as relates to situation; constructs possible solutions or prediction or consequences; uses logical, sound reasoning to justify conclusion.
PSLO 2: Communication Skills – Demonstrates effective development, interpretation and expression of ideas through written, oral and/or visual communication.
Expresses a strong thesis; organizes information with effective transitions & sequencing of ideas; uses substantial, logical & specific development of ideas; details are relevant, original, credible and correctly documented when appropriate to show an effective development and interpretation of ideas; and presents ideas in appropriate mode of expression for the task.
PSLO 4: Teamwork Skills- Shows the ability to consider different points of view and to work effectively with others to support a shared purpose or goal.
Helps the team move forward by discussing merits of alternative ideas; Treats team members respectfully; uses positive facial, vocal or written tone, or language to convey a positive attitude; Motivates teammates by expressing coincidence about the importance of the task; Provides assistance/encouragement to team members; Completes all assigned tasks by deadline; Addresses conflict constructively; or helps the group avoid conflict completely.
PSLO 6: Personal Responsibility Skills – Integrates choices, actions and consequences in ethical decision-making.
Recognizes ethical issues when presented in a complex, multilayered (gray) context; recognizes cross- relationships among the issues; discusses in detail/ analyzes core beliefs; the discussion has greater depth and clarity showing the independent application of ethical perspectives/ concepts to an ethical question accurately; and is able to consider full implications of the application.
Unit I: The Middle Ages
Unit 2: The Renaissance
Unit 3: The 17th Century
Unit 4: MLA and Research
Week 1: Syllabus review, MLA review, Lamarpa system and email access,...
Week 2: Beowulf, Background and Introduction
Week 3: Beowulf, Part I Test (35 pages, 26-61)
Week 4: Beowulf, Part II Test (36 pages, 61-97)
Week 5: Sir Gawain and the Green Knight (53 pages, 112-165)
Week 6: Sir Gawain and the Green Knight Test
Week 7: Chaucer: The Canterbury Tales: The Miller's Prologue & Tale, 191
Week 8: Chaucer: The Wife of Bath's Prologue & Tale, 207, Test
Week 9: The English Bible, 354, Test
Week 10: Shakespeare: Twelfth Night, 510-571 (61 pages)
Week 11: Shakespeare: Twelfth Night Test
Week 12: Swift: A Modest Proposal, 1114 (6 pages) Test
Week 13: Coleridge, The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, 1615 (17 pages)
Week 14: Coleridge: The Rime of the Ancient Mariner Test
Week 15: The Romantics: Blake, Wordsworth, Shelley, & Keats Test
Week 16: Final review and exam
November 30, 2026 - 11:00AM Through November 30, 2026 - 12:00 PM
90 - 100=A 80 - 89=B 70 - 79=C 60 - 69=D Below 59 = F
Tests - 60%, Quizzes - 15%, Projects - 10%, Final Exam - 15%
AI policy for this class:
First: The MOST important policy is #1 (the use of AI is up to each instructor and every instructor’s guidelines for using it are probably different; those guidelines should be carefully followed).
The instructor can provide specific instructions and guidelines regarding the acceptable use of AI as a source within the context of the course.
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APA style citation
In-text citation example:
(OpenAI, 2023) Reference citation example: OpenAI. (2023). ChatGPT (Mar 14 version) [Large language model]. https://chat.openai.com/chat
Source: https://apastyle.apa.org/blog/how-to-cite-chatgpt
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MLA style citation (used in THIS class, NOT in all classes)
In-text citation example:
(“Describe the symbolism”) Reference citation example:
“Describe the symbolism of the green light in the book The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald” prompt.
ChatGPT, 13 Feb. version, OpenAI, 8 Mar. 2023, chat.openai.com/chat.
Source: https://style.mla.org/citing-generative-ai/
These examples are a general framework for citing an AI source like ChatGPT in APA and MLA format. PLEASE follow the specific guidelines provided by your instructor for accurate and consistent citation practices. Not all instructors will allow/accept work produced by artificial intelligence.
(Payne, fall 2026) Developed by the LSCO Office of Learning Technology and Distance Education Committee, August 2023
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If an issue arises with your work, I reserve the right to go back and reassess/regrade previously submitted work to see if academic dishonesty has occurred with previous submissions. Assigning an F for the course for plagiarism or other forms of academic dishonesty is at my discretion if the offense is flagrant or repeated.
Please note that the instructor decides if an offense is flagrant or repeated – not the student.
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Due dates / late policy: Due Dates and Late Work Policy
All assignments, exams, and required submissions are due on the dates and times listed in the syllabus. Unless otherwise noted, the deadline for each assignment is 11:59 PM. Submissions received after 11:59 PM are considered late, will not be graded and you will receive a 0. (For example, 12:00 AM is late.)
It is your responsibility to ensure that assignments are submitted in the correct format and that files are complete and accessible. Submissions that are blank, corrupted, or in an unreadable format will not be graded. I will not send reminders or requests for resubmission—please double-check your work before submitting.
Carefully review the assignment instructions to make sure you are meeting all requirements and submitting correctly. Planning ahead will help you avoid last-minute issues and ensure your work is accepted.
Tips for Success:
Submit assignments early to allow time for troubleshooting.
Double-check that your file opens correctly after uploading.
Keep backup copies of your work on your computer or cloud storage.
Review assignment instructions before submitting to confirm all requirements are met.
Civility in the Online Classroom
Student incivility, rudeness, or attacks of a personal nature or statements will not be tolerated, whether directed at the instructor or another student. Any student engaging in disruptive or disrespectful activities on campus or in online classes will be required to cease such behavior. If the behavior continues after the first warning, the student will no longer continue as a student of the course.
Technology Responsibility
By enrolling in this online course, you are expected to be proficient with the required technology, software, and the Blackboard system. It is your responsibility to ensure that you have reliable internet access and the correct, up-to-date versions of any required software (such as Microsoft Word). Computer issues, incompatible file formats, outdated software, or poor internet connections are not acceptable excuses for late or missing work, nor are they the instructor’s responsibility to resolve.
Support is available if you need help learning how to use Blackboard or other required tools. Our campus provides technical assistance, tutorials, and troubleshooting guides—please take advantage of these resources early if you feel unsure. Planning ahead and testing your technology before assignments are due will help you avoid unnecessary stress and keep you on track for success in this course.
Blackboard Help Guides:
Please contact the 24-hour online help desk at (936) 496-5379 or bbhelp@lamarpa.edu.
For mylamarpa access/login issues:
Mr. Kenneth Lisby: Help Desk Operator
Information Technology Services
Email:lisbykl@lamarpa.edu
Time Commitment for This Course
This course requires a significant investment of time and consistent effort. Deadlines are firm, so it’s essential to make reading, assignments, videos, and exams a regular priority. I strongly encourage you to print the assignment schedule, keep it handy, and use it as a daily guide to stay on track. Online courses demand a high level of self-discipline and self-direction, and your success will depend largely on how organized and proactive you are. Planning and staying engaged will make a significant difference in your learning experience.
Extra Credit: There is no extra credit offered for the course.
Email:
You must put the class and section number in the subject line of the email.
Example: English 2322.71D or English 1302.04
I need to know what class you are in so that I can answer your question(s). You are welcome to email me, and I do try to respond promptly within 24 to 48 hours during the week. I am available during normal business hours – Monday-Friday 9-5.
Emails received in the evening will not get a response until the next day. I do not check email on the weekends or holidays.
Please use your lamarpa email to communicate with me as emails from Gmail, Yahoo, iCloud, etc. may end up in a clutter folder and I will not see it, and therefore, not respond. Additionally, do not use Blackboard email. You will not get a response.
Most questions can be answered by reading the class syllabus, assignment sheet, asking a classmate or other directions available to you in Blackboard. But should you still need help or have a question, please let me know.
Students should always be aware of the tone and structure of their correspondence.
All emails should include:
● A greeting
● A clear statement of the question or inquiry
● Your name
● Include proper spelling and grammar. 'Texting' abbreviations, lack of punctuation, and 'i' are not acceptable.
Research has shown a cause and effect relationship between attendance and college success. Students with more than three absences from the course will receive an academic penalty (which is spelled out by the instructor).
Be sure to check your campus email and Course Homepage using MyLSCPA campus web portal. You can also access your grades, transcripts, academic advisors, degree progress, and other services through MyLSCPA.
Academic honesty is expected from all students, and dishonesty in any form will not be tolerated. Please consult the LSCPA policies (Academic Dishonesty section in the Student Handbook) for consequences of academic dishonesty.
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal anti-discrimination statute that provides comprehensive civil rights for persons with disabilities. Among other things, this legislation requires that all students with disabilities be guaranteed a learning environment that provides for reasonable accommodation of their disabilities. If you believe you have a disability requiring an accommodation, please contact the Disability Services Coordinator, Room 117, in the Student Sucess Center. The phone number is (409) 984-6241.
No food or tobacco products are allowed in the classroom. Only students enrolled in the course are allowed in the classroom, except by special instructor permission. Use of electronic devices is prohibited.
This syllabus is part of LSCPA's efforts to comply with Texas House Bill 2504.
As per Texas law and LSCPA policy, all LSCPA employees, including faculty, are required to report allegations or disclosures of child abuse or neglect to the designated authorities, which may include a local or state law enforcement agency or the Texas Department of Family Protective Services. For more information about mandatory reporting requirements, see LSCPA's Policy and Procedure Manual.
LSCPA is committed to establishing and maintaining an environment that is free from all forms of sex discrimination, including sexual harassment, sexual violence, and other forms of sexual misconduct. All LSCPA employees, including faculty, have the responsibility to report disclosures of sexual misconduct, including sexual harassment, sexual assault (including rape and acquaintance rape), domestic violence, dating violence, relationship violence, or stalking, to LSCPA's Title IX Coordinator, whose role is to coordinate the college's response to sexual misconduct. For more information about Title IX protections, faculty reporting responsibilities, options for confidential reporting, and the resources available for support visit LSCPA's Title IX website.
For more information about the Clery Act and crime reporting, see the Annual Security & Fire Safety Report and the Campus Security website.
If you have a grievance, complaint, or concern about this course that has not been resolved through discussion with the Instructor, please consult the Department Chair.