This syllabus is your class contract. If this is your first time here, read the entire document. Also note that this website is independent of Canvas. Bookmark this page (or the home page linked above) to return to class. Do not rely on Canvas to access these pages. Finally, refresh any pages you visit to ensure the latest content.

CLASS DESCRIPTION
This class examines Gothic literature. The way I want to run this class is this: I want people to have a reason to read really fun, interesting, and, yes, weird stories, poems, and essays and to discuss them with others. As a result, there are really only three activities: 1. Reading Gothic lit, 2. Discussing Gothic lit, 3. Tests (it wouldn't be college without them). But the tests will involve mostly discussing what you read (1 and 2).

PREREQUISITES
None, other than a curiosity about Gothic literature.

INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION
My name is Jeremy Venema. You may call me either Jeremy or Professor. I have been teaching this class online every spring since 2007. I have a PhD from ASU and also teach composition, screenwriting, creative writing, and technical writing. My office is EO8, and office hours will be posted. I urge you to email me if you want to meet, so that I may better accommodate your schedule. You may reach me by phone, 480-461-7604, but the best way to contact me is by email: jeremy.venema@mesacc.edu. I try to respond to most emails within 24 hours; however, I do not check messages on weekends.

OBJECTIVES
You can link to the Official Course Competencies here. You'll notice the huge emphasis on Poe, even though he came late in the evolution of Gothic. We will of course study him but we will also study those who led up to him. We won't be reading Frankenstein or Dracula, mainly because they are so familiar to many already. And we won't be reading anything modern (i.e., 20th century) though we will cover nearly two centuries.

GRADING
Your grade is based on 500 possible points:

• Introduction email: 15 points
• 14 Discussions: 210 points (15 each)
• Midterm 1: 100 points
• Midterm 2: 100 points
• Final: 75 points

Points convert to grades in the standard way. In other words, 90% (450 points) or better earns an A, 80% (400 points) or better earns a B, and so on.

Instructions and grading criteria for assignments are linked via the calendar. But here's an overview:

TESTS
There are three tests: two midterms and a final. Tests are each made available early on a Friday and due by the following Monday at 11:59 PM. I do consider (for potential extra credit) test questions submitted by students if emailed early enough.

READINGS
This is the heart of the class. Weekly readings are due most Fridays. This gives you all week long to get the reading done. If you need the weekend to finish, that's fine too.

DISCUSSIONS
Discussions require access to Canvas and are due in two parts: an initial post (as a new thread) usually Monday, and a response to at least one peer (as part of a threaded discussion) usually the day after. (Check the calendar for specific due dates.) Posts to the webboard should be made in the appropriate forum. Follow instructions and abide by the webboard policies (listed below). I will post points for discussion at the end of each week. I will be involved in discussions but will not reply to every post. Most importantly, keep in mind that discussions constitute a substantial part of your grade, so you need to put as much effort into them as you do into the reading. A post and a response to someone else's post does not guarantee you 15 points. Full credit is reserved for excellent participation: that is, participation that is timely, thoughtful, thought-provoking, well edited, and specific. Avoid the extremes of unedited rambling or vague, short answers. Read over what you have written before you post. And always exercise politeness. If you are not getting as many points as you would like, then work to improve. As you read other posts, you should get a feel for which are 15-pointers and which fall short. Use this rubric too:

RESPONSE TIME TO ASSIGNMENTS
I try to grade most assignments within 72 hours of the due date; midterms take a bit longer. I might not get back to you on the final, but if you want to know your final class grade, email me, and I will get back to you when I know. I will post points for all other assignments in the Canvas gradebook. Check it regularly and let me know if you have any questions.

ATTENDANCE POLICY
Even online, attendance counts: You are expected to submit assignments on time and to respond promptly to emails expecting a response. Check email often. Due dates are in the calendar. Please read the following carefully.

• A Timely Start Is Essential …
  If I have received no email from you by noon the first Friday (Wednesday for Summer and Intersession), I may withdraw you as never attended, and you won’t be reinstated. Any email sent to me should clearly identify your name and class. If you register after class begins, you have 24 hours to contact me via email or you may be withdrawn. (Note: Late work will not be accepted for credit.) Once withdrawn, you may or may not be entitled to a refund; ask Registration. If you want to be guaranteed a refund, be sure to withdraw yourself during the prescribed drop/add period (for which you do not need my permission).
  
  
• In General …
  If you miss two consecutive due dates, I may withdraw you for lack of attendance. The same is true if you fail to respond to my email requests repeatedly. If you do miss a due date and wish to stay in class, email me at once and let me know, but it will be at my discretion. Once withdrawn, you will not be reinstated.
  
  
• If You Do Wish to Be Withdrawn …
  Email me a request. If you simply stop attending, you could end up with a grade of F instead of a W. I generally grant withdrawal requests, though I may refuse; I consider requests individually.

TEXTS AND MATERIALS
The required texts are probably available in free online editions; however, I recommend print editions complete with editorial notes. The Oxford UP editions seem the best bet for the money and are available at the campus bookstore. Everyone's using the same editions will also make it easier to discuss chapters and refer to page numbers. Also note that there are some online required texts (not mentioned here) as part of the readings.

Required:

• Walpole's The Castle of Otranto (ISBN: 0199537216)
• Radcliffe's The Italian (ISBN: 0199537402)
• Lewis's The Monk (ISBN: 019953568X)
• Polidori's The Vampyre (ISBN: 019955241X)
• Microsoft Word (or some equivalent that allows you to save, open, and edit files using a .doc file extension)
  • If you have a recent version of Word that produces .docx files, you might need to save as Word 97-03.
• Internet access, the faster the better
• MCC email account (required for class email)
  • If you don't have one, set one up here. (Click on Google Apps and you can set up an account if you don't already have one. Your MCC/Maricopa email account should end in @maricopa.edu.)
• Access to Canvas

Support:

• Bookstore
• Writing Center
• Technology Support Services

Finally, if you encounter any links on this website that no longer work, please let me know.

OTHER POLICIES
If the attendance policy is "commandment 1" of this class, these are the other nine.

2. LATE OR INCOMPLETE WORK WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED FOR CREDIT.
   To be accepted, posts or email must be time-stamped no later than 11:59 PM (AZ time) on the date due. No extensions, no excuses. If you have a dire emergency that renders you late, let me know right away (preferably prior to the due date) and I might consider an exception. However, it is up to you to make sure your work is submitted on time. Therefore, do not procrastinate. If you enroll late and miss the first assignment, that is the price of arriving late. Please, no whining.
   
   
3. COMPLETION OF BOTH MIDTERMS AND THE FINAL IS REQUIRED TO PASS.
   
   
4. PLAGIARISM IS GROUNDS FOR FAILURE.
   Plagiarism is the use of others' ideas or words without attribution. It can be intentional or unintentional but either way is not acceptable. If caught plagiarizing, you risk failing the assignment and the class, as well as other penalties administered by MCC. If you are not sure if something constitutes plagiarism, ask prior to turning it in.
   
   
5. THERE ARE NO RE-DO'S ON TESTS.
   Do your best the first time around, and do not be late or you risk losing credit.
   
   
6. KEEP COPIES.
   You should keep copies of your work. When posting comments, I recommend composing in Word, then saving, then copying and pasting into the webboard message. I am not responsible for late or missing work.
   
   
7. GRADES WILL BE DISCUSSED ONLY WITH THE STUDENT.
   Not with relatives, friends, parents, spouses, roommates, pets, etc.
   
   
8. YOU MUST USE MCC EMAIL.
   MCC email is free, easy to use, and accessible anywhere; email sent from other accounts might not reach me on time or at all, and if it does reach me, I am unlikely to acknowledge it. (If you have a problem with your MCC email account, you may use another account temporarily, but explain the situation and be sure to get your MCC account working again right away.) MCC email is also how I send information to the class and to individual students. Know your mailbox limits and do not exceed them or you might miss messages. It is up to you to ensure that your MCC email is working properly. Feel free to request reply receipts when emailing; better yet, you can cc yourself to make sure your message comes across as intended. Please keep email class related and always note in your subject line: your name (first and last), your class, and the purpose of your message. Avoid ALL CAPS in the body of your email, and separate paragraphs by spacing between them (as I have done between each of these policies). Also, screen your computer regularly for worms and viruses to prevent spreading them; MCC offers tools and support. Finally, note that whatever you send me (or post to the webboard) may be excerpted or otherwise used for the benefit of instructing future students.
   
   
9. USE THE WEBBOARD RESPONSIBLY.
   For this class, you will be using the webboard more than email to post assignments. You may access the webboard through this portal (and I advise bookmarking the page). A tutorial may also be of use. I encourage you to use the webboard to meet and interact with peers and to ask questions, but exercise politeness and respect and also keep discussion related to class. Also, please do not post test answers.
   
   
10. YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL COLLEGE POLICIES IN THE MCC STUDENT HANDBOOK and the COLLEGE CATALOG.

Finally, three important notifications:

• If you have or think you have a disability, including a learning disability, please make an appointment with an advisor at Disability Resources (480-461-7447) as soon as possible. They can assist you with appropriate accommodations for you in your classes.
  
  
• Mesa Community College is committed to the success of all our students. Numerous campus support services are available throughout your academic journey to assist you in achieving your educational goals. MCC has adopted an Early Alert Referral System (EARS) as part of a student success initiative to aid students in their educational pursuits. Faculty and Staff participate by alerting and referring students to campus services for added support. Students may receive a follow up call from various campus services as a result of being referred to EARS. Students are encouraged to participate, but these services are optional. Early Alert Web Page with Campus Resource Information can be located at: http://www.mesacc.edu/students/ears.
  
  
• You are responsible for the information in this syllabus. I will alert you of any changes to it.

CALENDAR
For your convenience (so you can easily print it out and return to view it), the calendar appears on a separate page, but it is considered part of this syllabus. Please review it. I will alert you of any changes to it.

NOW WHAT?
You've read the syllabus and reviewed the calendar. So now what?

• Bookmark and print out the calendar for future reference.
• Obtain the required texts and materials noted above.
• Set up or clean out your MCC email account and make sure it works.
• Start the first assignment.

Let me know if you have any questions. Welcome to class!