University of Central Oklahoma
Kurt Hochenauer, Ph.D.
Work Telephone: 974-5669
Home Telephone: 524-7080
Email: khochenauer@ucok.edu

Class Information

Objectives:
The aim of this course is to employ several modes of postmodern expression, philosophy and literary criticism to some significant British poems published in the last approximately 100 years. The modes of reading and writing include but are not limited to deconstruction, feminist, Marxist, reader-response, sign theory, queer theory, postcolonial, and gender studies. In the class, we undermine and subvert traditional fictional interpretations of British hegemony and mythology. We embrace the plurality and diversity of what has become known as postmodernism and poststucturalism as we read, discuss and study. Here are the texts we will be using in the class: The Norton Anthology of Modern Poetry, Second Edition; Auden, W.H., Selected Poems; Eliot, T.S., Selected Poems. They are available for purchase at the university bookstore.

How the course works:
Because it is essential students understand the plurality of the interactive world, they will be required to navigate three user-friendly content management systems or platforms for the course. They are itsambiguous.com, the main class area, Moodle the leading open-source code course management system, and the university system, WebCT, which is accessed through Uconnect. (Simply click on "My Courses" and then our class once you are on Uconnect.) Students should log-on to each of these systems with their university username. Students create their own passwords for itsambiguous.com and Moodle, following easy registration instructions, and use their university pin number for WebCT. Students must access these sites immediately in order to complete the requirements of the class.

Online caveats:
Many of you have never taken an online course before. Here are three things to keep in mind as you begin the class. (1) Online courses, like this one, tend to seem overwhelming at first because all the information and assignments must be read and scrutinized alone outside a traditional classroom. There is no one standing in front of you to give you perspective or fellow students asking questions. Remember, you can always ask me questions through emails and telephone. (2) The assignment requiring html code can be completed quite easily using systems such as geocities.com. though it is better to learn how to write basic html. I understand that many of you might be creating web pages for the first time. My purpose is to help you, not grade you down. Good effort and the willingness to learn will earn "A" grades on these assignments. You can also create an mp3 file (podcast) instead. (3) Because online courses lack f2f (face to face) contact, it is important we practice netiquette when communicating with one another. Without body language (a smile, a nod of the head, etc.), it is easy to be misunderstood

Assignments

Discussion, 100 points
Blog, 100 points
Web Page/Podcast, 100 points
Creative Project/Research Paper, 200 points

(Be sure to click on the above assignments.)

Final Grade based on 500 points possible: 450-500 A (Excellent); 400-449 B (Good); 350-399 C (Average); 325-349 D (Below Average); 324 or below F (Failure).

Basic course requirement: Students must access the course on at least four days of the online week from Monday through Sunday. In addition, students must post on the various discussion boards at least eight times during the week.

Class Schedule
Reading Schedule
Professor Email
Top Ten Tips For Class

itsambiguous.com
Moodle
Uconnect, WebCT

Professor's Profile
Okie Funk
For Fun