FALL 2005
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.
REQUIRED TEXTBOOKS
Paul Davis, Gary Harrison et al., eds., The Bedford Anthology of World Literature, Package A (Volumes 1, 2, 3) (Bedford / St. Martins, 2003). ISBN 0–312–40480–8
William Shakespeare, Hamlet
COURSE REQUIREMENTS AND POLICIES
1) Quizzes (15%)
Twice during the semester students will be quizzed on their knowledge of facts
such as names of authors/texts and dates, relevant historical periods, regions
and cultural backgrounds, contents of the stories (main plot elements, characters,
themes, details of significant episodes, etc.), forms/genres of the works read,
definitions of literary and other terminology, etc.. Quizzes will be brief (maximum
of 15 minutes) and may contain multiple choice, short answer and other question
formats. All factual knowledge expected of students is supplied in the online
outlines linked to the study topics for this course. See schedule below for
quiz dates (Quiz #1, Quiz #2)
2) In-Class
Essay (20%)
This essay will be written in class. The essay assignment 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. All handwriting in an essay must be neat
and easily legible. No credit will be given for illegible writing. See
Class Schedule for essay date. In order to prepare fo the essay, students
are advised to review the reading material, class notes and reflect on possible
answers to the study questions supplied in the online outlines linked to the
study topics for the course.
3) Paper
(15%)
Length: around 5 typewritten, double-spaced pages, approx. 1,200 - 1,500 words.
Topics will be chosen by the student but must involve close reading, analysis,
and interpretation of a well-defined and clearly focused aspect (ideas, details,
themes, motifs, symbols, etc) of one or more of the texts read in the class.
All analysis and interpretation must take into account relevant contexts,
backgrounds, and/or historical facts. The paper will be developed in two-stages
(see Class Schedule below for draft deadline and final
copy deadline). All papers must follow the guidelines
provided by the instructor. Essays will be graded on the basis of insight,
analytical significance, clarity and correctness of the writing, appropriate
use of evidence, logic and precision of the discussion, ability to consider
implications and draw pertient conclusions, and willingness to follow suggestions
and undertake the revisions suggested by the instructor in the draft (save
the draft with the instructor's comments as it needs to be resubmitted along
with the the revised version of the paper). For further information on the
writing and grading of essays see Grading
Standards and Procedures, and Grading
of Essays and Other Written Work. All work in the paper must be personal
and original -- any ideas, language or other materials from outside sources
must be clearly and explicitly acknowledged (see Academic
Honesty Policy). It is strongly suggested that students reflect
on the study questions provided in the online outlines as a source of issues
and problems to tackle in a paper. The instructor will also
supply a number of topics for students who wish to use them.
4) Term Project &
Presentation (15%)
Each student will undertake and complete a term project which may be a paper
or a creative work such as a short story, play, or set of poems (5-10 written
pages or equivalent). Also encouraged are original art works (performance pieces,
painting, sculpture, drawing, music, film, websites, etc.). All work must be
clearly relevant and related to the class materials. All works must be created
during and for the specific purposes of this course. Each student will make
a 5-10 minute in-class presentation describing and/or performing his/her project
(see Class 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. Students choosing to write a paper must follow the appropriate
writing guidelines. See Class Schedule
below for deadlines for the proposal, the presentation,
and the project in final form.
5) Final Essay Exam (15%)
The final exam will take the form of an essay exercise which students will
write in the classroom. The final essay exam will have the same format and will
be evaluated according to the same guidelines as other in-class esssays. See
Class Schedule below for exam date.
6) Participation and Other Performance (20%)
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) Two 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, performances,
etc. 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 one-page paper reporting and reflecting on the significance of the
experience and its relevance to the course (250-300 words). See
Class Schedule for event reports deadline. The main event recommended this
semester is:
The Eighteenth Annual Klutznick-Harris Symposium: "Love--Ideal and Real--In the Jewish Tradition from the Hebrew Bible to Modern Times" September 18-19, 2005 (click here for full program -- notice the symposium has many different sessions -- each individual session counts as one event)
Other recommended events
for this semester are listed on the World Literature Program's website at: http://mockingbird.creighton.edu/worldlit/program/events.htm
8) Other Policies
Make-Up Work
Make-ups/extensions for a missed deadline will only be given in cases of documented
serious illness or other valid, non-frivolous excuse such as documented participation
in official University academic, service, or sports events (it will be up to
the instructor to determine and decide on the acceptability of an excuse).
Attendance and Class
Conduct Policy
An attendance measurement will be calculated equal to the percentage
of total class time attended. The course grade may not exceed that percentage
(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. Problems such as repeated lateness arriving to class, inatentiveness,
or disruptive behavior may adversely affect attendance and/or the class participation
grade. Seriously disruptive behavior can also result, at the discretion of the
instructor, in more severe penalties, including failing the entire course.
Academic
Honesty
All students in the class are expected to observe the University's guidelines
on student conduct as described in the Code
of Conduct and Creighton
University's Student Handbook (especially the section on "Academic
Honesty Policy" dealing with problems of plagiarism, cheating, etc.). All
work turned in for credit in this course must be personal and original,
produced during the course of the semester and for the specific purposes and
according to the guidelines of the given assignments. Any misrepresentations,
concealments, or distortions of source, origin, collaboration or authorship
of such materials will be considered forms of academic dishonesty and will result
in failing the given assignment or, at the discretion of the instructor, the
entire course.
Email Communication
The University considers a student's Creighton email address the official means
of communication with faculty and administrators. All students are responsible
for checking their email messages as they might contain important and time-sensitive
information relevant to the course, including notifications on changes to reading
and other assignments, deadlines, class cancellations or reschedulings, etc.
A student who prefers to receive email at a different address must inform the
instructor.
Grading
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. 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:
| Quizzes | 15% |
| In-Class Essay | 20% |
|
Paper |
15% |
| Term Project and Presentation | 15% |
|
Final Essay Exam |
15% |
|
Participation and Other Performance |
20% |
|
Total |
100% |
CLASS
SCHEDULE
All reading
is due on the date indicated. Click on the author name and the text title in
the online syllabus for background facts and study questions. In addition to
the online materials, students are urged to read the introductions and background
materials in the textbook.
Study outlines may also be reached by visiting:
http://fajardo-acosta.com/worldlit/
Thu Aug 25
Tue Aug 30
Thu Sep 01
Tue Sep 06
Thu Sep 08
Tue Sep 13
Tue Sep 20
Thu Sep 22
Thu Sep 29
Tue Oct 04
Thu Oct 06
Tue Oct 11
Tue Oct 18
Thu Oct 20
Tue Oct 25
Thu Oct 27
Tue Nov 01
Tue Nov 08
Thu Nov 10
Tue Nov 22
Thu Nov 24
Thu Dec 01
Tue Dec 06
Last updated: 12/15/2005
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