FALL 2007
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 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 (Folger Shakespeare Library/Washington Square Press, 2003), ISBN-10: 074347712X , ISBN-13: 978-0743477123
COURSE REQUIREMENTS AND POLICIES
1) Three Quizzes (10% each)
Three times 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 (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 short answer, multiple choice, and other question
formats. All factual knowledge expected of students is supplied in the lectures and online
outlines for this course (see Schedule below for quiz dates and links to the outlines containing the necessary factual information). Online outlines may also be accessed directly at http://fajardo-acosta.com/worldlit/ and looking up the individual authors and works' titles and the Glossary of terminology.
2) Two
Essays (20% each)
Essays will be written in class (see Schedule below for specific dates). The essay exercise 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 write about 4-5 handwritten pages (approx. 250 words per page) 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. 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 (click on the titles of the works in the Schedule below or go directly to http://fajardo-acosta.com/worldlit/ and find the works studied in the class).
3) Term Project &
Presentation (20%)
Each student will undertake and complete a term project which may be a paper (5-10
pages of interpretation, analysis and/or research); creative writing (short story, play, or set of poems -- also 5-10 pages); an original art work (painting, sculpture, drawing, instrumental and/or vocal music composition and performance, play skits or other dramatizations, dance choreography and performance, collage, film, other live or recorded performance pieces,
etc.); or other, including documentaries, websites, field research/interviews, etc. Students may also propose projects in media and forms not listed here. 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 Schedule below for presentations' date). 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 for deadlines for the proposal, the presentation,
and the project in final form
Students choosing to write a paper for their term project must follow the guidelines provided by the instructor (click here for details). For further information on the writing and grading of papers see Grading Standards and Procedures, and Grading of Essays and Other Written Work.
4) 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.
5) Two Out-of-Class Events and One-Page Reports
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 (approx. 250 words). See
Class Schedule for event reports deadline. The main event recommended this
semester is:
The Twentieth Annual Klutznick-Harris Symposium: "Jews and the Environment " October 28-29, 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
6) Other Policies
Deadlines: 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). Otherwise, students must meet all deadlines specified in the syllabus.
Attendance 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. All absences, regardless of the reason, are taken into account in the calculation of the attendance percentage.
Academic Honesty and Class Conduct Policy: 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. Problems such as repeated lateness arriving to class (or departing early), inattentiveness, or disruptive behavior will 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.
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.
Special Needs or Accommodations: Any student requiring special arrangements or other accommodations, due to disabilities and or other special circumstances, is encouraged to request such arrangements from the instructor and the Office of Disability Accommodations.
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 | 30% |
| Essays | 40% |
| Term Project and Presentation | 20% |
|
Participation and Other Performance |
10% |
|
Total |
100% |
All reading
is due on the date indicated. Click on the author name and the text title in
the online syllabus for factual information, terminology, and study questions. In addition to
the online materials, students are urged to read the introductions and background
materials in the textbook for all authors and texts studied.
Online outlines may also be reached directly by visiting:
http://fajardo-acosta.com/worldlit/
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Last updated: 12/10/2007
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