ENG 121-A Summer 2002

SUMMER 2002
ENG 121-A: WORLD LITERATURE II
COURSE SYLLABUS

Professor: Fidel Fajardo-Acosta
Course: ENG 121-A, Call No. 1304
Class Time: MTWThF 1:00-4:00 pm
Classroom: Business Administration Building (BA), Room 216
Course Dates: Summer Pre-Session, Monday, May 20-Friday, June 7, 2002
Office Hours: T Th 11:00 am -12:30 pm and by appointment
Office: Hitchcock Communication Arts Building (CA) Room 304 A
Office Telephone: (402) 280-2522
email: fajardo@creighton.edu
Web Home Page: http://mockingbird.creighton.edu/english/fajardo/

COURSE DESCRIPTION

A study of representative works of world literature from the seventeenth century to the present. 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, including women's, minority, and ethnic literature from around the world. 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. Readings include fiction, drama, and poetry.

TEXTS

Required

The Norton Anthology of World Masterpieces, Volume 2, Expanded Edition, ed. Maynard Mack.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS

1) Three Essays (10% each)
Students will be asked to write three essays (4-6 pages each) on assigned topics. Each 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. Originality and personal effort are required in all writing. For criteria used in the grading of the essays see "Grading of Essays and Other Written Work.". Assignments will be distributed in advance but all writing will be done in class. Students will be allowed the use of the assignment sheet, a 1-page outline, and up to one page of additional brief notes prepared in advance. All assignment sheets, notes, and outlines must be submitted along with the finished essay. Handwriting in an essay must be neat and easily legible. No credit will be given for illegible essays.

2) Three Exams (10% each)
Exams will feature objective questions dealing with literary texts, terminology, authors, and historical and cultural context. Objective questions will be of various formats (multiple choice, true/false, short answer, etc.). Questions on the exams will be based on the online information provided by the instructor (follow links from scheduled topics in the web version of the syllabus).

3) Term Project and Project Presentation (30%)
All students will be required to 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 double-spaced, typewritten pages or equivalent). Also acceptable are substantial and original art works (paintings, drawings, collages, music, film, web sites, etc.). All creative options must be inspired by and clearly relevant and related to the class materials. All works must be created during and for the specific purposes of this course (no recyling of old work allowed). Students will be asked to make a 5-10 minute presentation in class describing and/or performing their projects. Use of audiovisual aids in presentations is strongly encouraged. Students should consult with the instructor (well in advance of the deadline) regarding the acceptability and progress of projects (see deadlines in the 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.

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) Attendance & Other Policies
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.

Originality and personal effort are expected of all work. All students are expected to observe the University's guidelines on student conduct as described in Creighton University's Student Handbook and specially in the section "Academic Honesty Policy" (Handbook, p. 156) dealing with problems of plagiarism, cheating, etc.

See also documents entitled "Grading Standards and Procedures" and "Grading of Essays and Other Written Work." for further information on grading. 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 %
Exams	30 %
Project and Project Presentation	30 %
Participation and Other Performance	10 %

Total	100 %

SCHEDULE

All reading is due on the date indicated. Read the introductions and texts for all assignments, as well as all relevant materials posted in Dr. Fajardo-Acosta's world lit website. On that website you will find information on authors and texts, historical and cultural context, terminology, and study questions. Make sure to read and explore those materials thoroughly as they provide the basis for class discussions, essays, and exams.

Mon May 20