• World Literature Home Page

General

• Support services

  The English Center
  WebCT
  RBD Library

• Enrichment resources

  WL Lectures
  WL Film Series
  JCS Museum

Students

• Enrolling in WL

  Registration
  Schedule adjustment
  Transfer credit
  

• Studying WL

  What to expect
  Grading Guidelines
  What is expected
  Exceeding expectations
  

• Communications

  Student online forum
  Problems
  

Faculty

• Course planning
  

  Curriculum design
  Syllabus guidelines
  Book ordering
  Supplementary Readings

• Course management
  

  Writing assignments
  Testing and Grading
  Plagiarism
  Program Assessment

• Communication with Students

  The Syllabus
  Consultation
  Teaching Style
  WebCT

• Professional Development

  Faculty seminars
  Conference participation
  Faculty online forum
  Problems

Communication with Students

THE SYLLABUS

On the first day of classes students should receive a syllabus that serves as the official contract for the course. The instructor’s requirements and expectations should be stated clearly and precisely in the syllabus and should not subsequently be modified except by consultation with the class. Instructors should keep in mind that the tone of the syllabus is important in establishing a productive relationship with the class. Minimally the following categories of information should be included:

1. a statement of the course objectives and an explanation of the course design
2. a list of books or other materials students will be required to buy
3. a schedule of assignments, including all readings, major writing assignments, and major exams
4. a specific explanation of grading processes and criteria, indicating how course grades will be determined
5. statements of any policies the instructor may have on attendance and punctuality (such policies can be enforced only if stated in the syllabus)
6. an explanation of the University’s policy on academic honesty, especially with regard to out-of-class writing (Tiger Cub)
7. a statement of willingness to accommodate students with disabilities (who must also consult with the Program for Students With Disabilities, Haley Center 1244, 844-2096)
8. the instructor’s office hours and contact information

CONSULTATION

Instructors should have at least three hours a week of office hours and provide students sufficient contact information for posing questions and making appointments at other times.  Instructors should respond to student emails in a timely manner.

TEACHING STYLE

Every instructor will and should have a unique teaching style, but general agreement about the nature and function of the World Literature courses is important to their success as a central component of the University’s Core Curriculum. Instructors are discouraged from seeing the World Literature sequence as primarily either a preparatory course for professional scholars or a last phase of elementary training in the abc’s, though it may serve both of these goals in some measure. Our most important contribution may be to help students recognize the advantages and pleasures of developing the skills specified in the course objectives.

WebCT

This program provides various communication and management tools, such as online discussion board and/or chatroom, dissemination of course information and reading materials, online testing, storing of grades with the option of individual student access, and calculation of averages. See the WebCT website.

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Last updated May 22, 2006