The School of Arts and Humanities Presents

 

 

Instructor: Dr. Anderson M. Rearick III
Fall 2005: 3:00 pm.- 4:30 pm.: Tues. & Thurs. FO 221

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

Sec. I

Office Hours: Daily 9:00-10:20, M-W-F 1:50-2:50, T-Th 12:40 -2:50 or by appointment
Office Ext. 3508
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

  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 may 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.

 

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.

 

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 first half of the semester)
Final exam - 20% (covers second half of of the semester--mostly)

Chronological List of Assignments:

  1. Test # 1 on Thurs. Sept. 8
  2. Test # 2 on Thurs. Sept. 15
  3. Test # 3 on Thurs. Sept. 22
  4. Journal Check # 1 on Sept. 22  (10 Total Entries Due)
  5. Test # 4 on Thurs. Sept. 29
  6. Test # 5 on Thurs. Oct. 6
  7. Subject and Topic with Source of Subject Headings for paper -- Tues. Oct. 11th
  8. Midterm exam on Thurs. Oct. 13
  9. Test # 6 on Thurs. Oct. 20
  10. Journal Check # 2 on Oct. 27  (24 Total Entries Due)
  11. Test # 8 on Thurs. Nov. 3
  12. Research Question for paper due -- Tues. Nov. 8th
  13. Test # 9 on Thurs. Nov. 10
  14. Annotated Bibliography for final paper due -- Tues, Nov. 15th
  15. Test # 10 on Thurs. Nov. 17
  16. First page of text due -- Tues. Nov. 22nd Right Before Thanksgiving
  17. Journal Check # 3 on Dec. 1  (38 Total Entries Due)
  18. Test # 11 on Thurs. Dec. 1
  19. Final Paper due -- Dec. 1 through 5
  20. Final exam on Thurs. on Thurs. Dec. 8th 1:00-2:50 pm.

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.

 

100 - 93 = A Exceptional! A cut above--unusually good.

92 - 90 = A - Very, Very Well Done! -- above expectations.

89 - 87 = B + Well Done! A fine Job!

89 - 83 = B Really Good

82 - 80 = B - Pretty Good

79 - 77 = C + Solidly in there

76 - 73 = C Clearly a concrete understanding of the subject

72 - 70 = C - Understanding of subject is workable

69 - 60 = D Passing but weak

59 and below is an "F" Fell short of required understanding of material

Quizzes: There will be quiz every week, except for midterm and Thanksgiving. Unless indicated by the professor reading assigned for that Friday could appear on the quiz. Material in lectures, however, will not. These quizzes will be composed of multiple choice, true or false and matching questions, about twelve in total. There will be makeups only for medical emergencies or such like. Students who know they will be missing an exam ahead of time, should contact the professor ahead of time. Three quizzes will be dropped at the end of the year.

 

Midterm and Final Exam:  The midterm will be given on Oct. 13th 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  Final exam is on Thursday, Dec. 8th from 1:00 to 2:50 pm. 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 22nd (10 Entries), Oct. 27th (24 Entries), Dec. 1st  (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. 22rd).

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.

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 -- Tues. Oct. 11th
Research Question for final due -- Nov. 8th
Annotated Bibliography for final paper due -- Nov. 15th

First page of text due -- Nov. 22nd Right Before Thanksgiving
Final Paper due -- Dec. 1-5

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 (follow this link for title and outline template and this link for actual paper template). Note the paper given here is much longer than yours is supposed to be.  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 from Thursday Dec.1 to Monday Dec. 5. Late papers will be penalized 10 points for each 24-hour period they are late.

Plagiarism: One of the goals of this course is to be certain that students know how to avoid plagiarism. Therefore, as mentioned above, you will be expected to turn in one major source (photocopies of cited pages) along with your paper. 

  1. Carefully label the top of each photocopied page with the author and page number of that particular source and include them with your paper folder. 
  2. Highlight or underline the used portion.  
  3. Failure to submit one source, will make the work incomplete, even if you document all your material. 
  4. Do not wait until the last minute to photocopy your sources, for they may disappear. Books may be checked out by others, and Journals may be sent to the bindery or simply misplaced. 
  5. IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO HAVE ALL OF THE MATERIALS NECESSARY FOR TURNING IN THE PAPER PROPERLY AND PUNCTUALLY.

Furthermore, this year MVNU is initiating the use of anti plagiarism software called "Turnitin."  This will require you to submit an electric version of your paper to be evaluated by the program.  This system constantly scans the internet for essays and data.   MVNU takes plagiarism very seriously, sometimes even to the point of failing the student who has handed in another's work.

 

Disability Needs:  Students who qualify for and desire accommodations in this course due to a disability, as defined by the American s with Disabilities Act of 1990, must follow the Disability Service Policies and Procedures as put forth by the office of Academic Support.  The guidelines can be accessed in electronic form at the web address http://www.mvnu.edu/academics/services/dservices.html and in a hard copy at the Academic Support office.  Call extension 4540 for further information.  On a personal note, I am disabled because of eyesight, my son is disabled by breathing complications, and so I am especially sensitive to the needs and challenges faced by otherwise qualified students.  I "toughed" it out when I was at ENC, but the world has changed for the better and there are many resources available to you I wish I had, resources I in fact presently use in my office such as a close circuit TV attached to the screen of my computer as well as speaking programs which allow text to be read to me.  Pursue these things and see me if you have any such needs. 

 

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.  There will also be two opportunities for extra credit. The first date will be Oct. 13th and will apply to the total average. The second date will be Dec. 6th and will be added to the test scores. 

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 2005--T-TH

Week One

Week Two

Test One

 

Week Three 

(A Very Helpful Site is Bulfinch's Mythology): <http://etext.library.adelaide.edu.au/b/bulfinch/thomas/b93>

Test Two

 

Week Four

Test Three

Journal Entry 1 Due: Ten Entries Expected

 

 

Week Five

Test Four

 

Week Six

Test Five

 

Week Seven

Reminder: Tonight at 7:00 Dr. David Liles and I will be presenting a series of "Songs of Travel" by Robert Lewis Stevenson set to music by Vaughan Williams.  Extra Credit for those who attend. 

Click here to see suggested instruction and here to bring up a template of the assignment.

Click Here is a list of possible Paper Topics

 

Subject and Topic with Source of Subject Headings for final paper -- Oct. 11th

 

Oct. 13  Midterm Break Begins 9:30 p.m.

 

Week Eight

Test Six

 

Week Nine

Sci-Fi and Fantasy Chapel this evening in Founders 221 at 7:00

Sci-Fi and Fantasy: Halloween Party at the Rearicks this Saturday 

 

 

 

Week Ten

Week Eleven

Research Question for final paper due -- Nov. 8th

Readings here are from the Norton Text, Vol. B

The Rise of Islam and Islamic Literature

Test Nine

 

Week Twelve

 

The Christian Era 

Annotated Bibliography for final paper due -- Nov. 15th

Test Ten

 

Week Thirteen

  First page of text due -- Nov. 22nd Right Before Thanksgiving

 

Nov. 24 Thanksgiving Break

 

Week Fourteen

Readings here are from the Norton Text, Vol. B

Test Eleven

 

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

Week Fifteen

Have the Merriest Christmas and the Happiest New Year!