FALL 2003
COURSE SYLLABUS
COURSE
DESCRIPTION
A study of representative works of world literature from Antiquity, the Middle Ages, and the Renaissance. The course emphasizes the study and consideration of the literary, cultural, and human significance of selected great works of the Western and non-Western literary traditions. An important goal of the class is to promote an understanding of the works in their cultural/historical contexts and of the enduring human values which unite the different literary traditions. The course's pedagogy gives special attention to critical thinking and writing within a framework of cultural diversity as well as comparative and interdisciplinary analysis.
TEXTBOOKS
The Norton Anthology of World Literature, Volumes A, B, and C, Second Edition (W. W. Norton, 2002). ISBN: 0-393-97764-1
COURSE
REQUIREMENTS AND POLICIES
1) Two Quizzes (30%,
i.e. 15% each)
Quizzes will feature objective questions dealing with authors and texts'
names, dates, contents, contexts, history, and literary terminology.
2) Two In-Class Essays
(30%, i.e. 15% each)
All essays will be written in class. Essay assignments will ask students
to read closely, analyze, and interpret a particular passage from one of the
texts studied and/or develop a theme/issue related to the readings, lectures,
or class discussions. For essay grading criteria see "Grading
of Essays and Other Written Work". Students should expect to do a substantial
amount of writing (4-6 handwritten pages, one page = 250-300 words) and must
bring paper and pens for that purpose (no pencils please). All handwriting in
an essay must be neat and easily legible. No credit will be given for illegible
writing.
3) Journal of Personal
Reflection (10%)
The journal requires at least
one page of writing (approx. 250-300 words) for each one of the readings. The
writing in the journal can be informal and very personal in style and content
but it must offer thoughtful personal reflection and original commentary addressing
one or more of the issues raised by the study questions that accompany each
reading (study questions posted
on the web) . Journals offer an excellent opportunity to pursue alternative
lines of interpretation and to discuss the relevance of the course materials
to contemporary issues and the personal concerns, values, and interests of the
student. Students are welcome and encouraged to go beyond the required minimum
and undertake as much writing as they desire, including responses to the lectures
and other aspects of the course and its materials. All writing in the journal
must be personal and original and done by hand (NO TYPEWRITTEN JOURNALS OR PRINT-OUTS).
In addition to the writing, students are welcome to include drawings, cut-and-paste,
or other illustrative materials enhancing the contents or appearance of the
journal. It is strongly recommended that students use a light-weight note- or
sketch-book or loose sheets held together in a simple folder (NO 3-RING BINDERS
OR OTHER BULKY CONTAINERS). Students will turn in the journal to the instructor
twice during the semester (see Schedule below).
4) Term Project &
Presentation (10%)
Each student will undertake and complete a project which may be an original
paper or a creative work such as a short story, play, or set of poems (5-10
written pages or equivalent, one page = 250-300 words). Also acceptable are
substantial and original art works (painting, drawing, music, film, websites,
skits, performance pieces, etc.). Projects will be graded on the basis of their
relevance and their featuring of thoughtful reflection, critical insight, and
understanding of the class materials. All works must be ORIGINAL and created
during and for the specific purposes of the course. Each student will make a
5-minute in-class presentation describing and/or performing his/her project
(see Schedule below). All projects must be approved
by the instructor in advance --students will submit a brief, one-paragraph proposal
describing the topic, medium/materials, and ideas to be explored in the project
(see Schedule below). Students choosing to write
a paper must follow the guidelines provided
by the instructor. For further information on the writing and grading of
essays see Grading Standards and Procedures,
and Grading of Essays and Other Written
Work. ALL PROJECTS ARE DUE ON THE LAST DAY OF THE PROJECT PRESENTATIONS
(see Schedule below).
5) Final Exam (10%)
The final essay exam will have a section with objective questions similar
to those in the quizzes and an essay section.
6) Participation and Other Performance (10%)
In addition to other grades, the instructor will assess and grade each student's
overall accomplishment, development, and involvement in the course. This grade
will take into account aspects of a student's performance such as class participation,
preparation, contributions, effort, attentiveness, interest, improvement, responsibility,
etc.
7) Out-of-Class Events
All students in the course are required to attend at least TWO
out-of-class events such as lectures, poetry/fiction readings, films, plays,
exhibits, or live performances relevant to the understanding and appreciation
of the course materials. Satisfaction of this requirement will be taken into
account in the attendance calculation (each event counts as one class session)
and in the "Participation and Other Performance" grade category. For each event
attended students must write a minimum of one-page in their journals (250-300
words) describing and responding to their experience as well as discussing its
possible relevance to the course and its concerns. Journal writing is required
for all out-of-class events attended except where indicated otherwise. Special
efforts by students attending more than two events will be taken into consideration
in the "Participation and Other Performance" grade category. All additional
events attended must be reported by writing at least a one-page journal entry.
Recommended events are listed on the World Literature Program's website at:
http://mockingbird.creighton.edu/worldlit/program/events.htm
8) Grading Scale, Attendance, Academic Honesty, and Other Policies
All aspects of the course will be graded on a 100-point scale where 90-100 = A, 87-89 = B+, 80-86 = B, 77-79 = C+, 70-76 = C, 60-69 = D, and 0-59 = F
In general, no excuses will be accepted for missed quizzes, in-class essays, or other class activities -- a missed quiz or in-class essay will result in a grade of F for that assignment.
All absences and late arrivals, regardless of the reason, will be taken into account in the attendance measurement (notice that the policy described here has a built-in margin of tolerance before it begins to affect the course grade). The attendance measurement will be calculated as the percentage of total class time attended (including out-of-class events) (the total class time is 30 class sessions of 75 minutes each or 2,250 minutes). The course grade may not exceed the percentage of total class time attended (i.e. if a student attended only 75% of the total class time, the COURSE grade may not be higher than 75 or C). Notice also that, at the discretion of the instructor, any student missing more than 30% of the total class time may fail the course.
All students in the class
are expected to observe the University's guidelines on student conduct as described
in Creighton University's Student Handbook (see "Code of Conduct,"
and especially the section on "Academic Misconduct" dealing with problems
of plagiarism, cheating, etc.). All work submitted under a student's name must
be personal and original and must be created during and for the specific purposes
of the course. Cheating in exams, engaging in plagiarism, misrepresentations
of authorship, omission of credits or other acknowledgments of outside sources
(including other students' papers, fraternity/sorority files, internet materials,
books, periodical articles, and other printed or published matter), as well
as other forms of academic dishonesty will result in failing the given assignment
or, at the discretion of the instructor, the entire course. Problems such as
repeated lateness arriving to class, inattentiveness, or disruptive behavior
will adversely affect the class participation grade. Problematic behavior of
this sort can also result, at the discretion of the instructor and with the
advice of the Dean, in more severe penalties, including failing the entire course.
For further information on grading see documents entitled "Grading
Standards and Procedures" and "Grading
of Essays and Other Written Work." At the discretion of the instructor,
a normative curve may be applied to the grades at the end of the term. The course
grade will be calculated according to the following formula:
| Essays | 30 % |
|
Quizzes |
30 % |
| Journal | 10 % |
|
Term Project and Presentation |
10 % |
|
Participation and Other Performance |
10 % |
| Final Essay Exam | 10% |
|
Total |
100 % |
SCHEDULE
All reading is due on the date indicated. Read the online outlines and study questions as well as all introductions and the complete literary texts assigned in the textbook. The online syllabus can be found at:
http://mockingbird.creighton.edu/english/fajardo/teaching/eng121/fall2003/syllabus.htm
For online outlines and other materials click on the links for each text and author in the online syllabus or visit the instructor's website at:
http://fajardo-acosta.com/worldlit/
Thu Aug 28
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Tue Sep 09
Thu Sep 11
Tue Sep 16
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Tue Sep 23
Thu Sep 25
Tue Sep 30
Thu Oct 02
Tue Oct 07
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Tue Oct 21
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Tue Oct 28
Thu Oct 30
Tue Nov 04
Thu Nov 06
Tue Nov 11
Thu Nov 13
Tue Nov 18
Thu Nov 20
Tue Nov 25
Thu Nov 27
Tue Dec 02
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Tue Dec 09
Thu Dec 11
Thu Dec 18
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