• Attendance is taken each meeting and is part of the required coursework.  Participation--possible only through preparation and regular attendance--constitutes a major part of your grade.
• Please organize your schedule so that you arrive on time.
• Given unforeseen events, you may find yourself unable to attend class.  You are allowed three absences without grade reduction; use them wisely.
• Failure to email your overview at least two days in advance and to present on your assigned day will lower your presentation grade by one letter.  Please do not email your presentation late and expect instant feedback.  You must submit the overview two days in advance.
• Continued attendance in this course constitutes acceptance of the syllabus and course policies.

• Course participation: Participation is required.  Because we are tackling a broad subject, we need to use our time strategically.  Please bring the relevant texts, view films out of class when necessary, take notes, and be prepared for presentations, responses, and discussion.
• Be respectful: Turn off cell phones and beepers; do not eat food in class.
• No sharing of texts; buy your own or use the library copies.  Please write in your texts or use post-its--this will  help you retain information.
• For each class, expect to spend about 3 hours in preparation for discussion and for success in your written work.  If you read slowly, allow more time.  Because this course deals with literary and historical movements, it is a good idea to read difficult assignments twice--once for the general idea, and once for your own analysis.
• In writing outside assignments, be prepared to spend hours using a computer.
• Active Reading: Active Reading means, among other things, writing in your books.  Be aware that the material includes references to foreign writers and cultures. It is your responsibility as an active reader to look up references with The Oxford English Literature, The Literature Resource Center, and the Encyclopedia Britannica (online, campus only).   Also feel free to ask questions.
• Portfolios: Please use a portfolio and notebook devoted to this class.  Classes will sometimes begin with ten to twenty minutes of writing in your notebooks about the given reading.  This time is exclusively for focusing thoughts and for expressing them before class discussion.
• Oral Presentations: Each student will prepare one 10 minute oral presentation on the readings.  The presentation has five stages:
1) Sign up for a date and subject.
2) Create a written overview of your presentation.
3) Email me the overview at least two days before your presentation.  Make any changes I require.
4) Present your ideas in class on the assigned date and bring a copy of your overview for everyone. Make enough quality copies for the class.
5) Submit to me two copies of your presentation overview: one for a grade, one for my record.
6) You will be graded on delivery, analysis, and preparation.
7) Failure to present on your chosen date will reduce your participation grade by a letter.
• Technology: We will frequently use technology in this course as a means of communication.

A=Outstanding work, 0-1 compositional issues, sophisticated insight that goes above and beyond expectation; follows directions and format
B=Good work 2-4 compositional issues, accurate analysis; follows directions and format
C=Fair work; 4 or more compositional issues, mostly accurate analysis; follows directions and format
D=Poor work; riddled with compositional issues, inaccurate analysis or use of plot; does not follow directions or format
F=Sloppy, incomplete, or careless work, inaccurate analysis or plot; does not follow directions or format

Format of Work

• Use A Writer's Reference to revise and proofread your work.  More specifically, I will expect you to use literary present tense and active verbs, and to attend to any compositional problems that surface in your writing.
• Word process your work with a computer; use a spell check in all written communication. You are required to have your own disk, to save your work, and to print it out upon request.  Hand-written and ill prepared submissions are not acceptable and will be returned with a zero.
• Double space all hard copies; use 12 point, Times New Roman font, and 1 inch margins all around.
• Use the Modern Language Association Style to document outside sources in a works cited.  Include any references to web pages.
• Include the following information on all work:

Your Name
Caribbean Literature
The Date and Assignment
Dr. Ramirez - California State University, San Bernardino
It is essential that you make constant back-ups of your work. Misplacing or losing files can be frustrating and it does happen with frequency.  Moreover, computers freeze and power outages are a possibility.  However, file problems or any other kind of computer and printing problems will not excuse late work.  Print drafts as a safety measure and save a back up.

• Plagiarizing (submitting work that is not your own or failing to document other people's analyses or using their words) or any other form of scholastic dishonesty (cheating--either using someone else's answers or allowing someone to cheat off of your work) will result in a zero in the assignment and possible failure of the course.  I report all such cases to my Department Chair and, if necessary, to the Dean.
• Make sure that you have plenty of time to complete assignments. Please document any outside sources, and be sure to distinguish between quotation, paraphrasing, and outright plagiarism.  If you have questions about using a source, use A Writer’s Reference.