English 1582 Syllabus |
Course OverviewThis course will provide students with an introduction to novels and poetry from outside of the Anglo-American literary tradition. Focusing primarily on literature translated into English from other languages, this class will allow students to consider America's place in the world and the complex legacy of colonization that shapes America's relations with other countries. Literature provides insights into how people in other cultures regard themselves and reminds us of the difficulties of translation as a bridge across varying and sometimes incommensurable cultural divides. ObjectivesOver the semester, I expect students to achieve the following goals:
ExpectationsIn order to accomplish these goals, students must
Grade Breakdown:
Your grade will depend primarily on your written work and the understanding of the material that you convey through that work. A command of standard written English and the ability to present an argument will also contribute to the determination of your grade. Late assignments will receive a deduction of 1/3 of a letter grade for each business day that they are late. Students who miss exams may not make them up without a valid excuse for the absence. Academic dishonesty tarnishes the reputation of the University of Minnesota Duluth and discredits the accomplishments of its students. Because the university is committed to providing students every possible opportunity to grow in mind and spirit, it must insist on an environment of trust, honesty, and fairness. Consequently, all members of the academic community must regard any act of academic dishonesty as a serious offense. In keeping with this ideal, this course will adhere to UMD's Student Academic Integrity Policy, which is available online at "http://www.d.umn.edu/conduct/integrity/". This policy sanctions students engaging in academic dishonesty with penalties up to and including expulsion from the university for repeat offenders. Individuals who have any disability, either permanent or temporary, which might influence their capacity to perform in this class, should inform me at the start of the semester. The Office of Disability Resources writes that "[i]t is the policy and practice of the University of Minnesota Duluth to create inclusive learning environments for all students, including students with disabilities. If there are aspects of this course that result in barriers to your inclusion or your ability to meet course requirementssuch as time limited exams, inaccessible web content, or the use of non-captioned videosplease notify the instructor as soon as possible." You can contact the Office of Disability Resources to discuss and arrange reasonable accommodations by calling 218-726-6130 or by visiting the DR website at "http://www.d.umn.edu/access/". Required TextsDai Sijie. Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress. Trans. Ina Rilke. New York: Random House, 2001. Print. Dostoevsky, Fyodor. Notes from Underground. Trans. Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky. New York: Random House, 1993. Print. García Márquez, Gabriel. Love in the Time of Cholera. Trans. Edith Grossman. New York: Random House, 1988. Print. Ibsen, Henrik. A Doll's House. 1879. Trans. James McFarlane. Four Major Plays. New York: Oxford U. P., 1981. 1-88. Print. Iweala, Uzodinma. Beasts of No Nation. New York: HarperCollins, 2005. Print. Miłosz, Czesław, Ed. The Book of Luminous Things. New York: Harcourt, 1998. Print. |
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John D. Schwetman 11 September 2010 |