(Note: This Course Syllabus and Schedule Is Tentative. Adjustments May Be Made to The

ENGLISH 275-3001
CONTEMPORARY LITERATURE
COLLEGE OF SOUTHERN NEVADA
FALL 2015 SYLLABUS
Instructor: Yelena Bailey-Kirby Office & Mailbox: 246 U (K-Building)
Course Time/Day: 12:30 – 1:50 P.M. (M/W) Office Phone: 702-651-5617
Classroom: WCH I 218 Office Hours: 2:00 – 4:00 P.M. (Mon/Wed)
E-mail: 3:30 – 5:00 P.M. (Tues)
My Website: FEATUREDARTISTNETWORK.COM (Creative Writing Club: B-203 on Thurs, 4-6 p.m.)
(Please contact me at least a day in advance if you want to make an appointment outside of office hours, and I will be more
than happy to help you.)

(Note: This course syllabus and schedule is tentative. Adjustments may be made to the syllabus at my discretion and other guidelines will be announced for specific assignments.)

1. COURSE DESCRIPTION:Reading and discussion of recent literature of various types to acquaint students with contemporary writers. Prerequisite: Satisfactory completion of ENG 101 or Department Chair or Instructor approval. (3 credits)

1. COURSE OBJECTIVES/OUTCOMES:The course is intended to develop your ability to read, appreciate, understand, evaluate, and write critically about literature.The student will be able to:
2. Use critical reading and writing skills to engage and analyze literary texts.
3. Demonstrate ability to connect and contextualize literary works.
4. Demonstrate awareness that literature reflects the diversity of human experience across time and place.

1. REQUIRED TEXT: The list of required reading for the course includes the following books:

• The Scribner Anthology of Contemporary Short Fiction: Fifty North American American Stories Since 1970
  by LexWilliford & Michael Maritone
• White Teeth by Zadie Smith
• The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Waoby Junot Diaz

In addition, your instructor will supply you with free links of all of the short story readingson her website as well asany guidelines for assignments and other writing resources are available on the instructor’s website:

1. RECOMMENDED MATERIALS: A pen, USB/flash drive, paper, pocket stapler, pocket dictionary, an active e-mail address, and a binder with dividers. In order to stay organized, you will have the following sections in your binder:

Section one will hold your class syllabus, class notes, and other helpful material/resources.

Section two will hold your response to the in-class group discussions questions.

Section three will hold your writing assignment guidelines and drafts of your papers (midterm, final, & research).

Section four will hold your quizzes.

(NOTE: You will also need to purchase ELEVEN SCANTRON forms for the semester’s quizzes through our bookstore. You must have them in time for our first quiz. See the syllabus schedule for the first quiz. Also, you are encouraged to take notes during class, so bring a pen and notebook. However, if you want to bring a recording device, Nevada State Law prohibits recording classes without the instructor's permission. Moreover, the Board of Regents Handbook supports this law, so if you want to record class, you need to get my permission before recording any class session.)

1. CANVAS – CSN’S LEARNING MANAGEMENT SYSTEM: CSN uses a learning management system called Canvas. Students will log into it to access online courses and course materials. Directions to Log into your courses are as follows:
2. Once the fall 2015 semester begins, you will continue to login to the CSN Online Campus as you normally would be going to
3. Once logged in, you will see the standard list of all the courses in which you are enrolled. Please go to for more information on CANVAS, including training guides and login info.
4. Once you are acquainted with the CANVAS menu and e-mail features, look for “ASSIGNMENTS” for each assignment’s drop box and make sure to submit work in the specific drop box to each assignment.

(Note: An Assignment DROP BOX opens at noon on Fridays and closes on the due date right before class begins at 12:30 p.m. The due dates/times are labeled clearly in Canvas for each Assignment’s drop box, so please make sure to submit your work on time.)

1. STUDENT REFUND POLICY: Note the CSN refund policy for course withdrawal below.

100% withdrawal first week of instruction

50% withdrawal before the end of the 2nd week of instruction; and

No refund after the start of the third week or for application or admissions.

More information is available at including information about short-term class refunds.

(NOTE: Since the spring of 2014, CSN students are no longer able to register after the semester begins. CSN students will be able to register until 11:59 p.m. the day before the semester begins. More info at .)

1. STUDENT ACADEMIC WARNING/PROBATION/SUSPENSION POLICY: If students’ cumulative GPA falls to 2.0 or lower after attempting at least 12 credits, they will receive an academic warning, so that they have time to seek help. Continued performance at 2.0 or lower in future semester course work can lead to academic probation or academic suspension. Students on academic suspension will not be able to enroll in classes for a semester. More information is available at

1. COUNSELING/ADVISING CHANGES:If you are a new student or have no declared major, you will meet with a CSN success coach for all your advising needs, including course planning and career exploration services. Success coaches are located in student services areas and their contact information is available at If you are a student who has declared a major, CSN has assigned you a counselor who is an expert on your declared major and can help you effectively navigate your program. This counselor’s office is located in the academic school (i.e. the School of Arts & Letters) in which your declared major resides. To find out whom your counselor is and make an appointment, go to or contact the CSN Call Center at 702-651-5555.

1. ATTENDANCE: Attendance is mandatory, so you are only permitted FIVE absences in total before you automatically fail the course when you exceed this amount of absences for classes that meet twice per week. When you are going to be absent, you should e-mail the instructor at nd/or leave a message on her voice-mail at 702-651-5617, so you don’t fall behind on assignments or receiving important notes. It is your responsibility to get in contact with your instructor when you have an emergency that prevents you from attending class. Do not make excuses, but try to communicate at least within twenty-four hours of your absence. Also, if you have a valid excuse for missing class, you need written proof, such as a doctor’s note, or there are no make-ups of assignments or quizzes. Otherwise, excessive absences may result in withdrawal or failure of the course.

You are permitted up to FIVE absences for the entire semester, but once you exceed these FIVE absences, you are subject to failing the course (Grade: F).

Excessive absences may lead to failure of the course; however, if a medical emergency is supported by written proof from a doctor/hospital, a student will be permitted to make-up a quiz, but you are still counted absent, and not excused for missing class. If you need to be absent for most of the semester, you should withdraw from the course and take it when you can attend class and submit work on time.

Although you are allowed to have up to FIVE absences, your work must still be submitted in the drop box in CANVAS or as an e-mail attachment on due dates with an explanation to your instructor about your absence or dropped off in her mailbox in 246 (K-building) with a brief note on the due date unless it’s a medical emergency and you are making other arrangements with your instructor. Hence, you must submit your work on due dates if your absence isn’t supported by a doctor’s note because there are no make-ups of quizzes and other writing assignments when you miss class.

Extensions are only given to students who have medical emergencies. If a student requests an extension, it must be due to a major medical emergency (i.e. surgery, hospitalization, etc). Otherwise, students will not be given extensions for other reasons because they procrastinated or other excuses. You are adults now, so you need to stay on schedule, be responsible, and stay organized if you want to succeed in this course. You need to make the choice and commitment to have a strong work ethic because the course does have a great deal of reading and writing assignments.

If you know that you will be absent because you are taking a personal day off (by taking a family vacation, getting married and going on your honeymoon, celebrating your birthday, changing your work schedule/shift, court date, etc.), you need to alert the instructor as soon as possible in writing via e-mail andyou must submit the assignment beforehand. There are no extensions for these personal days/events because they ARE NOT a medical emergency or death in the family. If you want to avoid being penalized on assignments, then you need to let me know in advance, so I can record/document it and schedule a time for you to take the quiz early because your instructor will not allow you to take it late for a personal day or just because you changed your work schedule.

Moreover, students cannot take liberties to miss more than one class period for a funeral if it is in-state. You may take one day to mourn or attend a funeral if it is in-state, but if you need to be absent for several days/weeks in a row, and it results in missing most of the semester as well as assignments/quizzes because the death has taken its toll on you, you will need to withdraw from the course and speak to a CSN counselor.

Finally, you need written proof like a death certificate, obituary announcement in the newspaper, and/or funeral program, etc. Too many students have been dishonest about the death of a family member, so you need written proof, and you will be allowed to make-up the work for this one day. It doesn’t give you permission or an excuse to not submit work or be late for the rest of the semester. You should submit the work by the next class meeting if you missed the day to attend the funeral and stay on track with the assignments.

(Note: If you arrive more than ten minutes late, you will be counted absent for class and will not be permitted to sign the attendance sheet, so do not make it a pattern to be tardy for class. Also, if you decide to leave class early or half way through the class on a regular basis, you will be counted absent on those days because you are not attending the entire class period. However, if there is an emergency in which you need to leave early or arrive late during a certain class, you should notify your instructor about the circumstances.)

1. E-MAILING INSTRUCTOR/LEAVING HER A VOICE-MAIL: It is important that you contact your instructor if you have a question or will be absent. Foremost, you should be clear by identifying your first and last name as well as the English course/section and class time in an e-mail and/or voice-mail message. Also, you need to leave a phone number with area code, so the instructor can return your call, especially if you have an emergency situation, or in case, the e-mail bounces back. Finally, you should briefly explain your situation or any questions that you have. It is your responsibility to contact the instructor and keep the communication open.

For example, if you have a death in the family or a medical emergency, you should not disappear for several weeks and then make excuses for falling behind. Instead, you (or in case, you are hospitalized or can’t call yourself, a family member/friend) should contact the instructor immediately and make arrangements for the days/weeks that you will be absent, so the instructor can work with you and accommodate you under the circumstances. Do not make excuses that you couldn’t contact me because I can be reached by phone, e-mail, or in person if someone wants to stop by my office. It’s as simple as the following examples.

Example E-mail:
TO:
FROM:
SUBJECT: Missing class today
Professor Bailey-Kirby,
I will need to miss class today because I have a doctor’s appointment, so I have attached today’s journal assignment with this e-mail, and I will provide you with a note from the doctor during our next class. Please let me know that you have received the attachment.

John Smith
ENG 275 on M/W at 12:30 p.m.
Cell: (000) 555-5555

Example Leaving a Voice-mail:
Hi Professor! This Is Mary Smith in ENG 275 on Mondays and Wednesday at 12:30 p.m., and I will need to miss class today because I have a doctor’s appointment. If I’ve missed any work, please call me at (555) 555-5555. Thank you!

(NOTE: Your instructor will try to contact you via e-mail or phone within forty-eight hours of receiving your message during weekdays [Mon-Fri] between the hours of 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. during the fall or spring semesters; however, your instructor does not access the internet on weekends. Hence, if you write or phone her on the weekend [Sat-Sun], she will respond to you on Monday.)

1. PARTICIPATION: You must participate in and contribute to classroom workshops, discussions, and other assigned activities. In the case of a borderline grade, participation may be a determining factor. To attend class and merely be physically present does not constitute participation. You should be actively participating by critically thinking, analyzing, and interpreting the reading and then verbally responding to classroom discussions or other exercises.

Please raise your hand when you want to speak; do not blurt out answers or interrupt classmates when they are speaking; and show others the same respect that you deserve to have when you are speaking. Furthermore, when the instructor is giving directions or speaking, students should be listening and not chatting with their neighbor. It is rude and disrespectful to your instructor as well as to your peers who may be writing down directions, specific requirements of an assignment, or answers to their queries.

1. STUDENT CONDUCT: CSN is committed to maintaining a positive learning environment for its students and a positive working environment for its faculty and staff. Disruptive or abusive conduct will not be tolerated at CSN, and the faculty will follow the procedures for dealing with disruptive and abusive conduct. Therefore, students should familiarize themselves with the CSN policy and procedure on student conduct by reading the following links:

Your instructor intends to treat you with respect and fairness, and if you leave your manners at home, your instructor will politely ask you to leave class because your behavior has been disruptive and inconsiderate. She expects
you to bring your manners and treat everyone with respect. Moreover, if a student continues to disrupt class or be disrespectful with repeat offenses, you can be removed from the class and sent to meet with my Department Chair. We will discuss some core values during the first week and establish an environment of mutual respect for everyone.

Moreover, you should not be texting during class. If you are seen texting, you will be asked to put your cell phone on my desk, then pick it up after class, and finally bring donuts for the entire class for the next class meeting when you do not follow this rule. If you do not stop texting in my class and do not heed my warning with the light penalty of bringing donuts, you will get a zero on each weekly quiz every time that you decide to text and interrupt my class. Hence, do not take your cell phone out in class at all and keep it in your book bag or pocket during class. It is rude and will not be tolerated, but if it is a day that you are expecting an important call (i.e. family member is in the hospital), you need to tell the instructor at the beginning of class. Otherwise, there are no exceptions, so put away the phones during class.

1. COMPLETION OF ASSIGNMENTS & MAKE-UPS: Students are expected to complete all reading assignments and writing assignments by the specified date. If you cannot attend class, you should e-mail your work as an attachment to the instructor, submit it in the CANVAS drop box, have someone drop it off in her mailbox in the K-building, or slip the folder of your work under her office door (246 U in K-building). Also, when you submit a writing assignment by the specified date, you will have it returned and graded by your instructor within two to three weeks. Your instructor usually posts return dates for assignments on the syllabus schedule, so it will not be returned any sooner.

A student should not incessantly inquire or harass the instructor about a writing assignment because it does not speed up the process. In fact, it slows down the process of returning assignments, especially when she is trying to provide plenty of feedback on your papers/writing assignments. Therefore, students should withhold inquiry while carefully considering that the instructor teaches five to six courses per semester with a total of 130 students, so to repeat, you must allow two to three weeks for an essay, short story, poetry, and/or other writing assignment to be returned. If your conduct begins to border on abusive and becomes disruptive, I will send you to the Department Chair.