World Literature I (ENGL 2111/C3)
Georgia Highlands College
Michelle Abbott
Mabbott@highlands.edu
404-545-8676
Spring Semester 2012
CRN # 20524
TR 5:00-6:15pm
Office Hours: http://www.highlands.edu/site/faculty-mabbott-current-schedule
GENERAL INFORMATION
COURSE DESCRIPTION: English 2111 is a survey of literary masterpieces from selected Western and non-Western cultures. The course includes representative works from the early periods through the mid-seventeenth century. Students will also be exposed to information relating to the history, politics, religion, and art of each period to enhance the students’ understanding of and appreciation for the literature of diverse cultures.
A survey of literary masterpieces may be approached in a variety of ways. This semester, we will focus on the hero’s journey and view the literary works we study through the “lens” of Joseph Campbell’s theories regarding literature and mythology.
REQUIRED TEXTS: The Norton Anthology of World Masterpieces (2nd ed.): Vol. A, B, and C (set of three)
OPTIONAL TEXT: Harbrace Handbook (17th ed.)
PREREQUISITES: Completion of English 1101 and 1102 with grades of C or better in each.
COURSE OBJECTIVES: English 2111 helps to fulfill these Georgia Highlands College Student Learning Outcomes. Number One: Communication-Students will demonstrate the ability to write and speak logically, clearly, precisely, and the ability, through accurate reading and listening to acquire, organize, present, and document information and ideas. Number Five: Critical Thinking-Students will demonstrate that they have developed dimensions of critical and analytical thinking. Number Six: Global and International Perspectives- Students will demonstrate an awareness of global and multi-cultural issues as they have affected individuals and social structures in the past and are likely to affect them in the future.
This course proudly supports the mission of IC @ GHC. To learn more about this program, please visit our website: www.highlands.edu/ic/Site/IC_Home.html.The mission of the Georgia Highlands College (GHC) Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP) is to create a curriculum-wide culture of information competency (IC) among students, which will be demonstrated through writing or other modes of communication.
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: Policies on student conduct and academic integrity are located in the college’s “Student Rights and Responsibilities” document. This can be accessed via the following URL:http://www.highlands.edu/site/student-rights.
DISABILITY STATEMENT: Students who feel they may need an accommodation based on the impact of a disability should make an appointment with Student Support Services (706-295-6336) to coordinate reasonable accommodations. Students are also welcome to contact the instructor privately to discuss specific needs.
FINANCIAL AID: Federal regulations state that if a student did not attend classes and received failing grades, then the grades were not earned and financial aid needs to be reduced accordingly. Please be advised that any students receiving a 0.00 GPA will be required to prove that the 0.00 GPA was earned by attending classes or completing course requirements for each class. Students who have earned at least one passing grade for the semester will not be affected by this regulation. If a student has properly withdrawn from all classes, the student’s financial aid should be adjusted from the time they signed the withdrawal form.
ATTENDANCE: Students are expected to be present for all class sessions. When this is not possible, it is the student’s responsibility to find out what was missed and be prepared for the next class meeting. Many activities cannot be made up, so poor attendance may endanger a student’s ability to pass this course. Please remember: deadlines for assignments completed outside of class do not change when a student is absent. It is the student’s responsibility to get assignments turned in even if they are not present on the day an assignment is due. Assignments may be turned in early if the student chooses.
This course will adhere to the Humanities Division Attendance Policy. Any student who misses five class meetings may not return to the class without appealing to the division chair or his representative. This appeal must be made within 3-5 days, excluding holidays and weekends. Otherwise, the student may not return to the class and no appeal will be allowed, resulting in failure of this course. Meetings with the Humanities Division Chair, Dr. Jon Hershey, or his representative, may be made by calling 678-872-8064. Only absences due to serious emergencies AND supported by documentation will be considered for possible exemption from the five absence rule.
Students, who have circumstances that prevent them from continuing to attend classes over an extended period of time, sometimes request that the faculty member permit them to submit work in absentia to receive credit to complete the course. If the concurrent absences will constitute more than 15% of the class sessions for the term, then written permission from the Division Chair is required before any course assignments can be completed while missing class. The student must be in good academic standing in the course to make the request. All approved coursework must be completed by the end of the semester in which the course was begun.
EARLY WARNING PROGRAM: Georgia Highlands College requires that all faculty members report their students' progress throughout the course of the semester as part of the institution-wide Early Warning Program (EWP). The objective of the program is to support academic success by reviewing early indicators of satisfactory student progress. In accordance with EWP, faculty members provide the Registrar's Office with academic reports of each student enrolled in their course(s) at checkpoints staggered throughout the semester. The following success factors are reported at their corresponding checkpoint:
Week 2: Notification of Non-attendance (1/20)
Week 5: Evidence of Course Pursuit (2/14)
Week 8: Mid-term Grades (3/1)
Last Day to Withdraw with a W is March 19th.
GeorgiaVIEW Vista (Electronic Bulletin Board): This class is NOT an online course, and it is NOT a correspondence course. However, as a supplement, this class will have an active online electronic bulletin board. This site will be used for certain assignments, messaging and updates. Important class and assignment information will be posted here. Students are REQUIRED to check it often. An electronic version of this syllabus will also be posted on this site. The contents of this bulletin board are wiped out at the end of each semester. It is the student’s responsibility to keep copies of anything posted on this site. GeorgiaVIEW Vista login and help links are available on the GHC homepage.
No “computer” excuses will be accepted in this course. Computers are available on all GHC campuses, in the Kennesaw State Library, in Cobb County and other public libraries, and 24/7 at Kinkos. In addition, the instructor will be happy to assist students with computer-related questions BEFORE assignment deadlines.
**Any assignments sent via email should be .rtf, .doc, or .docx files only (.wps files cannot be opened by GHC computers!!) Also, if you cannot open MS Office 2007 files, you can download a patch @http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=941b3470-3ae9-4aee-8f43-c6bb74cd1466&displaylang=en.
ASSIGNMENTS
QUIZZES: Students will take short quizzes throughout the semester to evaluate their knowledge of supplemental materials (historical information, literary theory, etc.) and their reading comprehension related to the literary works themselves. Quizzes cannot be made up.
ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY AND PRESENTATION: Students will create an annotated bibliography of scholarly works about one historical aspect of a culture we will be studying in this course. They will present their findings in a 4-5 minute PowerPoint presentation to the class. Presentations cannot be made up except in the case of a documented emergency, but late bibliographies will be accepted for up to one week and will earn ½ credit only.
LITERARY ANALYSIS ESSAY: Each student will write a literary analysis of a work not on our syllabus (topic choices will be provided). The essay will be 4-6 typed pages in length and utilize correct MLA documentation. Late essays will be accepted for up to one week and will earn ½ credit.
EXAMS: There will be three exams. The format will include multiple choice, true/false, matching, short answer, and take-home essays. Essays will be graded on the quality of the argument made, correct use and documentation of quotations from the literary works, grammar, and mechanics. Exams may be made up in the case of a documented emergency or pre-arrangement only.
EXTRA CREDIT: Students may earn up to 60 points of extra credit. Details are listed on Vista. Assignments will be accepted anytime before the final exam period.
COURSE GRADING
GRADES: Final grades earned in English 1102 may be A, B, C, D and F. Grades will be calculated as follows: A (900-1000points), B (800-900 points), C (700-800 points), D (600-700 points), F (less than 600 points).
Assignments Points Possible
Quizzes 175
Bibliography/Presentation 200
Literary Analysis Essay 200
Exams 425
Total 1000 points
Please Note:
Your continued enrollment in the course constitutes agreement with all assignments, requirements, policies, etc. described in this syllabus. It is YOUR responsibility to keep all original copies of graded assignments for purposes of grade validation. Keeping TWO electronic backups of everything is also recommended.
CLASS SCHEDULE
** The instructor reserves the right to alter the dates, material covered or format of any exam for the benefit of the class. Notification of any changes will be made as soon as possible and posted on GeorgiaVIEW Vista.**
Reading assignments should be completed BEFORE class.
1/10 Course Introduction
1/12 Joseph Campbell/The Hero’s Journey
1/17 Mesopotamia Presentation/Ancient Timeline, MLA Format Review
1/19 Quiz #1, Gilgamesh (A) p. 10-40
1/24 Quiz #2, The Ramayana of Valmiki (A) p. 890-952, PRESENTATIONS 1-4
1/26 The Ramayana of Valmiki
1/31 Quiz #3, Medea (A) p. 693-724, PRESENTATIONS 5-7
2/2 Medea, Exam #1 Review
2/7 Quiz #4, The Aeneid (A) p.1052-1133, PRESENTATIONS 8-10
2/9 The Aeneid
2/14 Medieval Languages and Timeline
2/16 EXAM #1
2/21 Film: The Thirteenth Warrior
2/23 Film: The Thirteenth Warrior
2/28 Quiz # 5, Beowulf (B) p. 1626-1701, PRESENTATIONS 11-14
3/1 Beowulf
3/13 Beowulf
3/15 Quiz #6, The Thousand and One Nights (B) p. 1566-1619 (read the frame narrative + 3 tales of your choosing), PRESENTATIONS 15-18
3/20 Quiz #7, Lanval (B) p. 1767-1774, The Wife of Bath’s Tale (B) p. 2045-50, 2082-2105, PRESENTATIONS 19-23
3/22 Lanval, The Wife of Bath’s Tale, Exam #2 Review
3/27 Renaissance Timeline, Discuss Analysis Essay
3/29 EXAM #2
4/3 Film: Hamlet
4/5 Film: Hamlet
4/10 Quiz #8, Hamlet (C) p. 2821-2918, PRESENTATIONS 24-26
4/12 Hamlet
4/17 Hamlet, Analysis Essay Checkup—Bring Your Essay Draft (at least 2 pages) for 10 points of Extra Credit
4/19 FILM HERO ANALYSIS ESSAY DUE
TBA
4/24 Quiz #9, Don Quixote (C) (p. 2671-2731), PRESENTATIONS 27-30
4/26 Don Quixote, Exam #3 Review
5/1 NO CLASS--Reading Day
5/8 FINAL EXAM (Exam #3)--4:00pm