The School of Arts and Humanities Presents

 

 

Instructor: Dr. Anderson M. Rearick III
Fall 2004, 3:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m.: Tues. & Thurs. FO 221

Office: Founders Hall 219C
(Within 219: Suit for the School of Arts and Humanities.)

Sec. I

Office Ext. 3508

 

Office Hours:  Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays 10:20- 12:30 

and on Tuesdays and Thursdays 10:20-11:10 and 2:00pm - 2:50pm.

 

Be aware that appointments will become tighter towards the end of the semester during personal reviews with Research Writing Students

(Please note that in foul weather Prof. Rearick must catch the 4:00 MOTA bus)

 

Home Phone 392-3738
(but please do not call after 8:00--Andy and Laura are hopefully in Bed)
email: anderson.rearick@mvnu.edu
(checked twice, daily)

Be Aware that is the Secondary Web Home for this Class
Click on the Icon below to go to the primary web site

             Please Make a Daily Habit of Checking Your E-Mail for Messages Concerning This Class Too

 

  Please Note: What you hold is a hard copy of a web document accessible by any computer with Internet access. The index units below, showing this document's parts, are not only a sort of organizing table of contents but are on the web  links to the indicated parts of this syllabus.  While the basic plan of this class is established, fine-tuning as well as added resources Dec. not be included in this printed version. I will announce alterations to the syllabus in class.   Still, students are encouraged to check the actual web site regularly.

This page is internet available

Course Index:

Course Description:

 

ENG3103, World Literature I, exposes MVNU students to a global vision of the human mind involved in the universal art of storytelling.  ENG3103 World Literature I [3] is, according to the catalogue, a "survey of major works in various genres written by male and female, Western and non-Western authors (China, Japan, India, the Middle East, and Africa). World Literature I covers works from the earliest written text (Gilgamesh and Holy Scripture) to those composed in the early Renaissance [1650]." Prerequisite: ENG1073, Introduction to Literature.

 

Class Procedure:

 

ENG3103, World Literature-I, will meet twice a week to assimilate lectures about and to discuss the development of literature from a global perspective. One of the fundamental concerns for this class will be the comparison of our Western often assumed to be "Bible shaped" world-views with other cultures, and the surprising way God's truth appears where least expected. Also we will be spending a good amount of time looking at ancient pagan cultures, many of which passed on ideas and qualities into our own.  Yet, that is not the only reason one studies works from the past.  One of the most important questions with which we will grapple is whether or not writers outside our world-view have something to say to the Christian reader of the twenty-first century.

 

There will also be two opportunities for extra credit. The first date will be Oct. 16th and will apply to the total average. The second date will be Dec. 4th and will be added to the test scores.

 

Required Texts:  

The Norton Anthology of World Literature (Package One)

Volume A: Beginnings to AD 100

  |  

0-393-92450-5

  |  

paper

Volume B: 100 to 1500

  |  

0-393-92451-3

  |  

paper

Volume C: 1500 to 1650

  |  

0-393-92452-1

  |  

paper

 

Tools:

One Loose-leaf Notebook divided into three (3) parts:

A-Handouts, B- Class-notes, C-Journal

Class Objectives:

  1. To examine ideas and styles of literature up through the early Renaissance in Europe.

  2. To become familiar with some of the greatest authors in western literature.

  3. To consider the evolution of the following concepts: the roles of men and women, the definition of hero and his/her relation to society, the changing image of the individual, the changing values of society in each age, the conflict between fate and free will, the role of formal religion and family life in each age, the expressions of faith in various forms.

  4. To consider some of the important elements in the philosophies from ancient Greek to nineteenth-century to modern Existential view of life.

  5. To practice reading texts critically and carefully in order to find the textual evidence to support their interpretations.

  6. To promote within students the vision and ability to apply communication skills and knowledge to enhance personal relationships, human society and God's kingdom.

  7. To enable students to improve written communications through directed experience in their journals, their papers and exams.

  8. To acquire a knowledge of the assigned content matter

Method of Evaluation:

 

Paper - 30% (4-5, double-spaced pages using MLA format; at least three secondary sources required)
Journal - 10% (Journal is checked three times a semester. The final journal grade is averaged from the three grades so do forget to hand these in.
Quizzes - 20% (11 quizzes given; 10 best scores counted)
Midterm exam - 20% (covers second half of course)
Final exam - 20% (covers second half of course)

 

Grading Scale: Since this is an upper division class, pluses (+'s) and minuses (-'s) will be given. Your recorded work, your attendance, your involvement in class and extra effort will all be factored into the final grade.

Midterm and Final Exam:  The midterm will be given on Oct. 14th in class, right before the midterm break and will be based on the material from the first half of the semester--especially that covered in the first two tests.  Meanwhile the final exam, which is scheduled for  Tuesday, Dec. 7 at 3:00- 4:50 in our regular classroom and will have some questions from the first half but will be based strongly on the material covered in the second half of the semester.

 

Attendance: Since we are functioning on an intensive schedule, it is vital that students be in class throughout the semester--even on days when a play is being shown in class.  Three absences will be allowed and then five points will be taken from the student's final score at the end of the term. 

Students who are involved in a recognized activity for the school (Mandate weekends, traveling musical groups, and athletes for example) need to see the instructor ahead of time so arrangements can be made. Only official MVNU activities produce an "excused absence," and even these must be verified by "hard copy', from the university.

Students must be in class to take all quizzes.

Read the assignment before coming to class. No papers submitted after the due dates will he accepted unless prior arrangements have been made.

 

Class Participation: Lecture will only play a part in the class activities.  Literature is meant to be talked about.  Students are encouraged to express their opinions and share their unique insights.  Each of us brings something special to a text that is ours alone.  Your comments are very important.  I have been known to add extra credit to students who show an exceptional willingness to participate in class discussion.

 

Journal:

Your journal is IMPORTANT!  You should write in it three times a week.  It is your personal repository for what you think about the works you are reading and about the material being covered in class.

I will be looking for the following in your journal:

1.  Three entries per week (totaling 38 by the end of the semester).  Going  beyond that 38 entries could indicate to the instructor the kind of student  who will achieve a high grade (an A).  Please note that writing in your journal is not connected with days on the calendar.  Remember it is also allowable to write two entries on the same day as long as both are adequately developed. Now, please note. . .

 A. Periodic class checks will occur to determine the currency of your journal entries.   So, always bring your journal with you to class.  Furthermore I sometimes give writing time in class for journal entries.

 B. Journals will be handed in three times during the semester:
Sept 23rd (10 Entries), Oct. 28th (24 Entries), Dec. 2nd  (38 Entries)

2. A table of contents made from the thesis sentence found in each entry should be included each time the journal is handed in.

3. Journal entries must be at least 2/3 of a page long.  Furthermore, if you are one of those individuals like St. Paul with BIG handwriting-- "Ye see how large a letter I have written unto you with mine own hand"  (Gal. 6:11)--then you should plan to write more than what I have  suggested.  I've seen some fill up 2/3 of a page with "I've been thinking  about our reading."  Note Typing a journal could add to your score an an indication of going the "extra mile."  (Click here to see example).

4. All entries should be numbered and dated

 (For Example: Entry # 10; Sept. 23rd).

5. Although I will not be grading the journal harshly concerning mechanics and restarts of thought (which require a single line to cross out some    material), I do expect the final product to be neat and legible.  Also you  should write full sentences within paragraphs--no fragmented stream of  consciousness experiments.  "Split from society--bad."  To be specific, I will be especially looking in your journal for. . .

A. Development of ideas.  Remember that it is not necessary to finish a work to have a good idea.  In fact waiting till you have finished can be   overwhelming. Keep your journal handy while reading.

B. Interconnectedness of journal entries.  This means that an idea you examine at one point in your journal might have relevance to another work discussed later. Works in literature should not be thought of in a vacuum.

A Journal is NOT. . .

1. A diary. Your entries should be a mixture of commentary concerning what  you read and what you discuss in and out of class about literature.  I do  not want to read (as I have in the past) what you had for lunch or who is  presently percolating your hormones.

2. A place for notes.  Class notes belong in the section provided for them in your loose leaf.  I should not see your actually writing in your journal  during class.  This also means that a journal is not a re-hashing of what is  covered in class ("today in class we talked about. . .etc. etc.").

To see an example of a possible journal entry see text included at syllabus' conclusion.


REMEMBER:  Your journal accounts for 20% of your grade.  That's the same as your final: DO NOT PUT OFF TO THE LAST MINUTE: DO NOT "BLOW IT OFF!"

The Paper:

 Since this is an upper division literature class you are expected to produce a paper within the subject range by the end of the semester. However, the process will be monitored by a series of sub-assignments throughout the fall. 

Subject and Topic with Source of Subject Headings for final paper -- Oct. 12th
Research Question for final due -- Nov. 9th
Annotated Bibliography for final paper due -- Nov. 16th

First page of text due -- Nov. 23rd Right Before Thanksgiving
Final Paper due -- Dec. 2-6

 It is not possible to pass the class and not hand in this paper and it is impossible to do well on the paper without handing in these steps.

You are to write a paper of 1000-1250 words (four to five pages). Use MLA style. For your use, I have included pictures of the way your paper should look (see bottom of page). You will be graded on content as well as grammatical correctness and style.

A variety of topics will be brought up in class. You may choose one of them and prepare a research paper. Or if you have some other topic you would like to work on, clear that topic with me. 

Otherwise, you are to choose one of the authors whose work we have already read this semester or one of the authors we will read before the end of the semester. Then read another work by this author (the work should be fairly substantial—don’t focus on just one short poem, for example). If you choose this option, you can approach the assignment by doing a research paper on the new work you have read. Or you can discuss or analyze the new work, in which case research is optional. Or you might want to compare and contrast the work you read with the piece we read in class, again making research optional. 

Please avoid using biographical information about the author unless a brief mention of biographical information is needed to clarify some point you are making. Also, do not summarize what you have read except briefly if necessary to make some point. 

Papers are due either on Thursday Dec.2 or Monday Dec. 6. Late papers will be penalized 10 points for each 24-hour period they are late.

Extra Credit:

A student can add extra credit to his or her grade by writing a very short paper or papers on outside critical reading concerned with any of the works or authors covered in class. Furthermore, another option for extra credit is to view or listen to and then write a review about tapes or video films representing this class' field of study. Credit will vary according to the work covered. 

 

Literature on the Web:

As noted above, this class is being presented both in a traditional format and on blackboard. Please make it a habit to visit the blackboard site regularly for updates, links, and threaded discussions.

 

 

Class Calendar Fall 2004--T-TH

Week One

Sept. 2 Introduction  

Archetypes

 

Week Two

Test One

 

Week Three (A Very Helpful Site is Bulfinch's Mythology): http://www.bulfinch.org/

Test Two

 

Week Four

Test Three

Journal Entry 1 Due: Ten Entries Expected

 

Faculty Retreat

 

Week Five

Test Four

 

Sci-Fi and Fantasy: Renaissance Fair

 

Week Six

Test Five

 

Week Seven

Subject and Topic with Source of Subject Headings for final paper -- Oct. 12th

Oct. 15 Midterm Break

 

Week Eight

Test Six

 

Week Nine

Week Ten

Week Eleven

Test Nine

 

Week Twelve

Test Ten

 

Week Thirteen

Readings here are from the Norton Text, Vol. B

The Rise of Islam and Islamic Literature

Week Fourteen

Readings here are from the Norton Text, Vol. B

Test Eleven

 

Journal Entry 3 Due: Thirty Eight (38) Entries Expected

Have the Merriest Christmases and the Happiest of New Years!