• Location: RS 307
  • Date & Time: Fall 2008 - TTh 02:30PM-03:50PM
  • Office Hours: RS 211 - MW 8:30-9:00; 10:30-11:00 & TTh 10:45-11:45 & by appt

Image of Graffiti Face"When power leads man to arrogance, poetry reminds him of his limitations. When power narrows the area of man's concern, poetry reminds him of the richness and diversity of his existence. When power corrupts, poetry cleanses."; -- President John Kennedy 10/26/63 at the dedication of the Robert Frost Library, Amherst College

Course Description

Welcome to the English Literature 480 (Honors) website. If this course works for you, it will deepen your appreciation of Asian, African, European literature, and literature of the Americas, expose you to several forms of literary theory, and encourage you to develop your own interpretations of what you read. At its best, this course will help you appreciate your own wisdom, value, and humanity.

To take this course you must have been admitted to the honors program and be eligible for English 300. Download the latest syllabus here.

Required Texts

We will be discussing all of the following short novels. Copies are available at the bookstore and in the reserve section of the library. You can also find inexpensive copies in used bookstores.

Recommended Texts

(These works will be in the bookstore for about two months)

Syllabus

Course Objectives:

  • To study significant world masterpieces in a seminar setting that allows free exchange of information and ideas.
  • To undertake a comparative study of literary and non-fiction works that reflect, or have shaped or challenged major world cultures.
  • To learn the background of these works in order to understand them and the cultures that created them more thoroughly.
  • To explore ways in which these works comment on or clarify our age and our own lives.
  • To develop critical thinking, writing, and research skills through the use of Internet as well as library sources, class discussion, presentations, and the writing of essays.
  • To apply various methods of critical analysis and research techniques to literary texts, including textual analysis, Freudian, Jungian, feminist, and historical criticism.

Class Format:

  • This class will have a seminar format (open discussion with instructor and/or students leading discussion). If you must miss a class, be sure to get notes from a fellow classmate or ask me about information or class assignments you may have missed.
  • I ask you to read several works from each of the literary traditions that we will study. The class assignment sheet also lists Related Tests and Sources. These readings are not required, but can enhance your understanding of particular works we will discuss. Please let me know if you would like to discuss a work on that alternate list, and I will try to work it into the class schedule.
  • It is imperative that you attend class, even though you may not have completed your reading of the particular work we are discussing; you will still learn a great deal and undoubtedly have stimulating comments and questions for the rest of us. Because of the class format and limited class size, every student plays an important part in class discussions.

Plagarism:

  • Plagiarism means "kidnapping" someone else's writing and turning it in as your own. That means not only copying someone's paper but also "borrowing" ideas or sentences from a source without giving that source acknowledgment. In your research paper especially, you will look for support in outside sources to back up your ideas, but the reasoning and the sentences must be yours. If you plagiarize any part of a paper intentionally, I will drop you, and if the offense is serious, I will send your name to the Dean of Students for disciplinary action.

Accommodations:

  • If you have a learning disability, a physical disability, or other special needs, please let me know as soon as you can so we can arrange special accommodations. This kind of confidential discussion is best handled during my office hours. You can expect confidentially and cooperation regarding any circumstances and needs that have been verified through the disability centers on campus.

Extra Help:

  • Please feel free to drop by my office or call or email me if you have questions or would like individual help. I really want you to succeed in this class, and I'll work with you to help you accomplish your goals. Remember, you're in this class to learn, and my job is to help you do so. If you run into problems keeping up with the work, have an emergency that will keep you from participating for an extended time, or simply are confused about an assignment, then contact me, and I'll work with you to help you succeed. If you are feeling discouraged or overwhelmed and are thinking about dropping the class, please email me before reaching your decision, I may be able to offer some help that will keep you in the class.
  • I look forward to teaching this class.

Important Dates: Los Rios Academic Calendar

Assignments

Essays: You will write two essays for this class. The first essay is a critical paper in which you interpret a reading from your own perspective. (3 typed pages, 100 points).

The second essay is a research paper on one or two works that have special interest for you. For this essay you will consult at least five secondary sources and use at least three in your argument. (6-8 pages, 300 points) This paper must include a list of works cited at the end of your essay and use MLA format for in-text citations. Please note that I will ask you to submit copies of your sources/source pages with the research paper. I will not grade a research paper without these pages.

Research projects may cover any issue in world literature and focus on authors from the time periods we are studying who have made a contribution to the literature of their country or era. However, please avoid biographical topics.

Possible Research Topics: May be one of the following: (If you have an alternate project, let me know.)

  • a) Cover an issue in world literature that has received critical attention
  • b) Evaluate a critical approach to one of the texts we're studying
  • c) Evaluate several interpretations of the text
  • d) Apply one critical theory to offer your own interpretation of a text (e.g., historical, feminist, textual, structural analysis,, Jungian, Freudians, and so on.)

Late Papers: Unless you have an unforeseeable emergency, I will not accept essays that are more than one class meeting late. Late essays will receive a "C" grade for the assignment.

Reader-Responses/quizzes (10 points each): I will ask you to write at least one typed page, about 200-300 words each week starting the second week of class to prepare you for class discussion. These are informal reader/response assignments that I score on the basis of insight and thoroughness. Occasionally I will give you a quiz based on the reading instead of collecting responses. I do not accept late responses/quizzes: however, I will drop your lowest score. You are exempt from this assignment the week you are giving a presentation.

Oral Presentation (100 points): Early in the semester, you will sign up for a group presentation topic. Your group will be responsible for providing the class with an overview of the historical period and the culture relevant to your readings, and leading the class discussion on the readings. You must provide the class with a typed outline of your presentation, along with a list of your sources in correct MLA format. You might also provide students with useful handouts/information relevant to your discussion.

Let me know if you will need a laptop/DVD player for your presentation.

Attendance (100 points): This is an honors seminar, and your regular attendance, diligent preparation of reading and writing assignments, and active participation in this class are absolutely vital. To earn 100 points for this category, you must have perfect attendance and consistent, active, and responsible participation. Absences and less consistent participation (both in quantity and quality), will lower the number of points you earn. The fifth absence will result in your being dropped from the class (or you will receive a failing grade). I make no distinction between "excused" and unexcused absences. I expect you to attend every class, but if you miss one because of illness or an emergency, you should check with a classmate or with me for any assignment updates (It's also a good idea to check with fellow students to see what you missed and to get their class notes if possible).

Additional Meetings: A few times during the semester we will meet at my home or on campus to see videos that complement readings listed in the course outline. These meetings offer you a chance to meet fellow students and discuss a few of the works we are studying. You can make up an absence and a missing response by attending and writing a commentary about these films. Attendance at these events is not required, however. For a list of titles of the videos I plan to use, consult the Class Schedule under "Related Texts and Videos." I welcome other suggestions for films that might enhance our discussion. Please note that I'm happy to help you with any aspect of your writing or reading projects for the semester.

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