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Course Description

The purpose of this course is: 1.) to introduce you to the major authors and works of the English literary canon from the Middle Ages to the end of the eighteenth century; and 2.) to give you some practice writing literary analysis.

Required Texts

You may also be asked to photocopy or download supplemental texts for class discussion.

Discussion Schedule

NOTE: This syllabus is tentative and subject to change.
Any additions, modifications, etc. will be announced in class.

Policies

Attendance: You are required to attend all class meetings. If you do not attend class, you will miss important discussion and will almost assuredly fall behind in the readings. More than 4 unexcused absences will adversely affect your final grade, and may constitute grounds for failure.

Reading: To do well in this course, you must read carefully and think intelligently about what you have read. If you do not read the texts, or if you read only synopses (which are often inaccurate and sometimes even longer than the actual text), you are defeating the entire purpose of the course. In addition, good readers should be able to articulate their thoughts about what they have read. Consequently, substantive class participation is expected from everyone.

Writing: You will write two papers: the first will be brief (2–3 pages); the second will be slightly longer (5–6 pages). Both will solve an interpretive problem posed by the text(s) of your choice. Each paper will be preceded by a proposal in which you will submit your topic and interpretive problem for my approval. I will hand out detailed assignment sheets for both papers early in the semester.

Format: We will discuss in class the proper format for the written assignments. All college students should be familiar with at least one word processing program, and know how to use it well. Papers must be produced using word processing software such as WordPerfect or MS Word. Assignments turned in with outrageous margins, inappropriate fonts, or illegibly printed, etc. will not be accepted.

Correctness: The final drafts of your papers should be as error free as possible. Careless mistakes, such as spelling errors, typos, etc., are easily avoidable and their presence reflects poorly on the writer. Consequently, any paper submitted that contains more than 4 significant typographical or grammatical errors will be docked one letter grade.

On Computers and Excuses: Computers have changed the way we think, work, and live. While computers have made us more productive, they have also given us plenty of reasons not to do work ("Ah, just one more game of Solitaire") or to turn in work late ("My hard drive crashed," "My disk is unreadable," "My monitor doesn't work," and so on, ad nauseam). Please do not use computer related problems as a high-tech version of "The dog ate my homework." Heed well: save often and always keep a backup of your work.

Plagiarism: Plagiarism is representing another's work or words as one's own. Don't do it. If you plagiarize, you will almost certainly fail the course. You may also face suspension or expulsion for academic dishonesty. If you are in doubt about what constitutes plagiarism, document your material and sources, using a style guide to assist you.

Exams: There will be a mid-term exam on October 23 and a (non-cumulative) final exam on December 16. The exams will require detailed knowledge of what has been said in class as well as the assigned readings, and they will be closed book. In preparation for these exams, you should be familiar with the Longman Anthology period and author introductions and you should take careful notes in class. You are responsible for information offered by me and by your classmates in class discussions. There will also be frequent quizzes (predominantly unannounced) to test your basic knowledge of the texts.

Grades:

NOTE: You must satisfactorily complete all assignments to pass the course.

Office Hours: Think of my office as an extension of the classroom and use my office hours to discuss any aspect of your reading—problems, confusions, complaints, suggestions for further reading, etc. Please note that in addition to my regular office hours, I am also happy to set up mutually convenient conferences by appointment.

Communication: If during the semester you encounter any problem (physical, intellectual, etc.) that adversely affects your course work, please contact me immediately. Please note that I am almost always accessible via e-mail. Do not wait until several weeks after the fact to inform me of any incapacitating difficulties. I will be less than sympathetic.

Special Needs: Individuals who have any disability (either permanent or temporary) which might affect their ability to perform in this class are encouraged to inform the instructor at the start of the semester. Adaptation of methods, materials, or testing may be made as required to provide for equitable participation.

Conclusion

This is an ambitious course: in 15 weeks, we will read several centuries' worth of literary masterworks and we will learn how to write intelligent analysis about what we have read. Be forewarned that this material is challenging and at times often obscure. But we still study these texts today because, despite their age, reading them rewards us with insights into contemporary thought, an understanding of our literary heritage, and even a better understanding of who we are today.