Southern Utah University

Course Syllabus

Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Fall Semester 2025

British Literature II (Face-to-Face)

ENGL 3235-01

Course: ENGL 3235-01
Credits: 3
Term: Fall Semester 2025
Department: ENGL
CRN: 32270

Course Description

A study of British literature from the Jacobean period (1603) through the Romantic era (1830). Readings will include both canonical and non-canonical works. Prerequisite: ENGL 2400

Required Texts

This is an Open Educational Resource (OER) course class, so all texts are available in the Canvas modules as internet links or pdf. or docx. files.

Learning Outcomes

  • Knowledge of Human Cultures: Students demonstrate the ability to identify, describe, and compare the features of a variety of genres across different historical periods and cultures.
  • Critical Thinking: Students demonstrate the ability to identify, clarify, and engage with the assumptions, contexts, and details surrounding texts and critical arguments.
  • Communication: Students demonstrate the ability to articulate interpretations and critical positions through presentations and academic essays.
  • Information Literacy: Students demonstrate the ability to conduct scholarly research.

Course Requirements

  • Critical Responses: These short responses (350-500 words) ask you to explore an interpretive issue or problem that interests you about the text(s) in question. The further along we are in the semester, the more I would be happy to see some comparative claims and observations. 30%
  • Interpretive Essay: Each of you will write a short (5-6 page) interpretive essay, supported by your close analysis of a text by one of the assigned authors and utilizing one scholarly essay (journal article or book chapter). 25%
  • Book Review. Each of you will read an early English novel (1666-1830) not assigned to the rest of the class and write a “professional” book review of that work (4-5 pages) utilizing relevant research. Each student will read their book review to the class at the end of the semester (see Classroom Engagement requirements). 25%  
  • Classroom Engagement: Please do the following before each class—complete all readings, take notes on things of interest, and be prepared to offer an observation (or respond to a classmate’s comments) during class. Because we are not using a conventional anthology with author bios, I expect students to research each author via reliable internet resources and be prepared to share their findings in class.

Course Outline

DatesReading AssignmentsWriting Assignments
W 8/27 | Intro to Course Material & Requirements |
F 8/29 | Unit 1: The Early Seventeenth Century
William Shakespeare |
M 9/1 | Labor Day: No Class |
W 9/3 | John Donne |
F 9/5 | Amelia Lanyer | Critical Response 1
M 9/8 | John Webster, The Duchess of Malfi, Acts 1-3 |
W 9/10 | The Duchess of Malfi, Acts 4-5;
Discuss Interpretive Essay Guidelines—please also review writing handouts in Interpretive Essay Module |
F 9/12 | Read Sonia Freeman Loftis, “Lycanthropy and Lunacy: Cognitive Disability in The Duchess of Malfi” | Review Scholarly Databases for Literature
M 9/15 | Ben Jonson | 
W 9/17 | Mary Wroth | 
F 9/19 | Robert Herrick | Critical Response 2
M 9/22 | John Milton | 
W 9/24 | Andrew Marvell | 
F 9/26 | Lucy Hutchinson; | Interpretive Essay Check-In
M 9/29 | Unit 2: The Restoration and Eighteenth Century
John Dryden | 
W 10/1 | Dryden continued | 
F 10/3 | Katherine Philips | Critical Response 3
M 10/6 | Aphra Behn, The Rover, Acts 1-3 | 
W 10/8 | The Rover, Acts 4-5 | 
F 10/10 | Alexander Pope | Interpretive Essay Due
M 10/13 | No Class: Fall Break | 
W 10/15 | Discuss Book Review Guidelines & Assign Novels in Class | 
F 10/17 | Mary Chudleigh | 
M 10/20 | Mary Wortley Montagu | 
W 10/22 | Samuel Johnson | 
F 10/24 | Mary Leapor | Critical Response 4 Due
M 10/27 | Mary Collier | 
W 10/29 | Unit 3: Romantic Era
Anna Laetitia Barbauld | 
F 10/31 | Charlotte Smith | 
M 11/3 | William Blake | 
W 11/5 | Blake continued | 
F 11/7 | William Wordsworth | Critical Response 5 Due
M 11/10 | Dorothy Wordsworth | 
W 11/12 | Samuel Taylor Coleridge | 
F 11/14 | Discuss Book Review & Presentations | 
M 11/17 | Percy Bysshe Shelley | 
W 11/19 | George Gordon, Lord Byron | 
F 11/21 | John Keats | Critical Response 6 Due
M 12/1 | Presentations | 
W 12/3 | Presentations | 
F 12/5 | Presentations | 
M 12/8 | Book Review Due | 

Instructor's policies on late assignments and/or makeup work

All written work is due as indicated in the course schedule below. You will have a 48-hour window to turn in Critical Responses without penalty; you will have a 48-hour window to turn in the Interpretive Essay and the Book Review, but with a reduction of 10 points per day. I will provide extensions on a case-by-case basis, so please reach out to me at least 24 hours in advance for approval should you need one for any of the assignments. 

Attendance Policy

Attendance is required, and participation in classroom discussion is expected. Because these categories are worth 20% of your grade, failure to attend class and participate could result in a low or failing grade for the course. Finally, if you come to class more than 10 minutes late, you will automatically receive an 80% that day for your attendance.

Course Fees

There is no fee for this course.

Custom

COURSE POLICIES

Generative AI Policy: This course assumes that all work submitted by students will be generated by the students, working individually as directed by class assignment instructions. Using generative AI tools (such as ChatGPT or Claude) to produce content for essays is not acceptable in this class.
Grading: Specific requirements of individual assignments will vary, but in all cases, my evaluation of written work will consider how successfully students address the assignment’s rhetorical purpose, as well as the development of ideas, organization, expression, and, in the case of the major assignments, mechanics. If you have a question about my comments or a grade, please make an appointment with me to discuss it.
Final grades will be determined by the percentage of the 100 possible points earned: 93-100% A, 90-92% A-, 87-89% B+, 83-86% B, 80-82% B-, 77-79% C+, 73-76% C, 70-72% C-, 67-69% D+, 63-66% D, 60-62% D-, and 59% and below F. Also, if your grade lands at a .5, I will round it up (I.e., 89.5 = 90).
Office Hours: If you have any questions or concerns about any aspect of this course, please feel free to visit my office hours. If they conflict with your class or work schedules, please email me and I will happily arrange for another time to meet. Please note, however, that I am not available to meet with students on Fridays (i.e. deadline days).

ADA Statement

Students with medical, psychological, learning, or other disabilities desiring academic adjustments, accommodations, or auxiliary aids will need to contact the Disability Resource Center, located in Room 206F of the Sharwan Smith Center or by phone at (435) 865-8042. The Disability Resource Center determines eligibility for and authorizes the provision of services.

If your instructor requires attendance, you may need to seek an ADA accommodation to request an exception to this attendance policy. Please contact the Disability Resource Center to determine what, if any, ADA accommodations are reasonable and appropriate.

Academic Credit

According to the federal definition of a Carnegie credit hour: A credit hour of work is the equivalent of approximately 60 minutes of class time or independent study work. A minimum of 45 hours of work by each student is required for each unit of credit. Credit is earned only when course requirements are met. One (1) credit hour is equivalent to 15 contact hours of lecture, discussion, testing, evaluation, or seminar, as well as 30 hours of student homework. An equivalent amount of work is expected for laboratory work, internships, practica, studio, and other academic work leading to the awarding of credit hours. Credit granted for individual courses, labs, or studio classes ranges from 0.5 to 15 credit hours per semester.

Academic Freedom

SUU is operated for the common good of the greater community it serves. The common good depends upon the free search for truth and its free exposition. Academic Freedom is the right of faculty to study, discuss, investigate, teach, and publish. Academic Freedom is essential to these purposes and applies to both teaching and research.

Academic Freedom in the realm of teaching is fundamental for the protection of the rights of the faculty member and of you, the student, with respect to the free pursuit of learning and discovery. Faculty members possess the right to full freedom in the classroom in discussing their subjects. They may present any controversial material relevant to their courses and their intended learning outcomes, but they shall take care not to introduce into their teaching controversial materials which have no relation to the subject being taught or the intended learning outcomes for the course.

As such, students enrolled in any course at SUU may encounter topics, perspectives, and ideas that are unfamiliar or controversial, with the educational intent of providing a meaningful learning environment that fosters your growth and development. These parameters related to Academic Freedom are included in SUU Policy 6.6.

Academic Misconduct

Scholastic honesty is expected of all students. Dishonesty will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent (see SUU Policy 6.33). You are expected to have read and understood the current SUU student conduct code (SUU Policy 11.2) regarding student responsibilities and rights, the intellectual property policy (SUU Policy 5.52), information about procedures, and what constitutes acceptable behavior.

Please Note: The use of websites or services that sell essays is a violation of these policies; likewise, the use of websites or services that provide answers to assignments, quizzes, or tests is also a violation of these policies. Regarding the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI), you should check with your individual course instructor.

Emergency Management Statement

In case of an emergency, the University's Emergency Notification System (ENS) will be activated. Students are encouraged to maintain updated contact information using the link on the homepage of the mySUU portal. In addition, students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Emergency Response Protocols posted in each classroom. Detailed information about the University's emergency management plan can be found at https://www.suu.edu/emergency.

HEOA Compliance Statement

For a full set of Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) compliance statements, please visit https://www.suu.edu/heoa. The sharing of copyrighted material through peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing, except as provided under U.S. copyright law, is prohibited by law; additional information can be found at https://my.suu.edu/help/article/1096/heoa-compliance-plan.

You are also expected to comply with policies regarding intellectual property (SUU Policy 5.52) and copyright (SUU Policy 5.54).

Mandatory Reporting

University policy (SUU Policy 5.60) requires instructors to report disclosures received from students that indicate they have been subjected to sexual misconduct/harassment. The University defines sexual harassment consistent with Federal Regulations (34 C.F.R. Part 106, Subpart D) to include quid pro quo, hostile environment harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking. When students communicate this information to an instructor in-person, by email, or within writing assignments, the instructor will report that to the Title IX Coordinator to ensure students receive support from the Title IX Office. A reporting form is available at https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?SouthernUtahUniv

Non-Discrimination Statement

SUU is committed to fostering an inclusive community of lifelong learners and believes our university's encompassing of different views, beliefs, and identities makes us stronger, more innovative, and better prepared for the global society.

SUU does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex (including sex discrimination and sexual harassment), sexual orientation, gender identity, age, ancestry, disability status, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, military status, veteran status, or other bases protected by applicable law in employment, treatment, admission, access to educational programs and activities, or other University benefits or services.

SUU strives to cultivate a campus environment that encourages freedom of expression from diverse viewpoints. We encourage all to dialogue within a spirit of respect, civility, and decency.

For additional information on non-discrimination, please see SUU Policy 5.27 and/or visit https://www.suu.edu/nondiscrimination.

Pregnancy

Students who are or become pregnant during this course may receive reasonable modifications to facilitate continued access and participation in the course. Pregnancy and related conditions are broadly defined to include pregnancy, childbirth, termination of pregnancy, lactation, related medical conditions, and recovery. To obtain reasonable modifications, please make a request to title9@suu.edu. To learn more visit: https://www.suu.edu/titleix/pregnancy.html.

Disclaimer Statement

Information contained in this syllabus, other than the grading, late assignments, makeup work, and attendance policies, may be subject to change with advance notice, as deemed appropriate by the instructor.