Section: 9 Day: T, TH Time: 9:30-10:45 a.m.
Location: CAS 339
Instructor: Prof. Melanie Axel-Lute
Office and Mailbox: CAS 301D
Office Hour: Tuesday and Thursday, 9-9:30, and by appointment
If you wish to e-mail me about this class, please use: ENG2403@yahoo.com
The syllabus, assignments, and other course information are available at www.maxellute.net/worldlit.html
Required texts:
Epic of Gilgamesh. Trans. by N. K. Sandars. Penguin, 2006.
Euripides. Medea.
Trans. by Rex Warner.
Chaucer, Geoffrey.
Dickinson, Emily. Poems of Emily Dickinson: reading edition. Ed. by R. W.
Achebe, Chinue. Things Fall Apart. Anchor Press, 1994.
Shakespeare,
William. Much
Course objectives: The student will …
Ø
Read literary works in
several cultures from ancient to modern times.
Ø
Learn to understand
the nature and function of literary genres.
Ø
Explore
interrelationships among literary traditions of diverse cultures, recognizing
similarities and differences.
Ø
Examine cultural
values embodied in literature.
Ø
Learn an appreciation
of world cultures and our own pluralistic society through the study of
literature.
Ø
Improve critical
skills and expository writing.
Ø
Acquire skills to
analyze literature.
Prerequisite:
ENG1030 or other freshman-level college composition course, as
required by
Course requirements:
Attendance. Attendance is important for the learning process and is expected in this class. Excessive absences will result in a lowered grade, or even failure. Furthermore,
quizzes and participation in discussions, workshops, and group projects will be considered in your grade, and some material will be presented only in class that may be included in quizzes or used as background for essays.
In order to make up a missed exam or obtain an extension on a paper, you must present a written request (email is OK), detailing your reasons. Extensions on papers must be requested before the paper is due. Such exceptions are given at the discretion of the instructor.
There are no make-ups for quizzes. If you miss one and present a legitimate excuse in writing for doing so, you can be excused from that quiz, so it will not be counted as a zero in computing your final course grade. Again, such exceptions are given at the discretion of the instructor.
Be on time. Lateness of more than 20 min. can count as an absence. Quizzes will usually be given early in the class session.
In consideration of others and in respect for this course, please silence all cell phones while in class. Texting and headphones are also not acceptable in class.
Reading assignments. It is your responsibility to complete assignments on time. The date that the reading is listed on the syllabus is the date by which it must be done. There will be quizzes on reading assignments. During class discussions, obvious lack of preparation will lower your grade for participation.
Quizzes. May be given at any time on the readings or material presented in class.
Essays. Essays are due on the dates shown, whether or not you’re in class. One full letter grade will be deducted from the grade for late essays. Essays and revisions must be typed. You should prepare two copies of essays, keeping one copy for yourself.
Essays are graded for both content and quality of writing. Sloppy papers with multiple careless errors will be returned for proofreading by the student before being graded. These will count as late papers.
Essay topics and guidelines will be discussed in class.
Class participation. You are expected to
participate in discussions in class. You must come to class prepared, having
done the readings or other assignments, and must bring your notebook and
textbook to each class. Note-taking is essential for a good grade for
participation. There will be frequent in-class work
to be handed in.
Homework assignments. There will be occasional individual and group assignments on the readings.
Exams. There will be two in-class essay exams, a midterm and a final. The exams will also include a factual quiz.
Grading:
Both essays and both exams must be
completed in order for you to pass the course.
An act of plagiarism may cause you to fail this course.
You should save copies of all essays you do for this course.
You should save graded work that is returned to you.
Course outline and reading assignments.
Sept. 2. Introduction to the course.
Sept. 7.Gilgamesh, Introduction, prologue, and parts 1 and 2.
Sept. 9. Gilgamesh, parts 3-7.
Sept. 14, 16. Discussion of Gilgamesh continues.
Sept. 21. Bible, King James translation, Genesis chapters 1-3, 6-9 (through verse 17), and 37, 39-45. (available on line)
Sept. 23. Koran. Chapter 11 (verses 25-49)
and 71, and chapter 12. (available on line)
Sept. 28. Euripides, Medea. Essay #1 due.
Sept. 30, Oct. 5. Discussion of Medea continues.
Oct. 7. Chaucer, The
Oct. 12, 14, 19. Chaucer, other tales as assigned
Oct. 21. Midterm essay exam.
Oct. 26. American poetry. Whitman handout.
Oct. 28, Nov. 2.
Nov. 4, 9, 11. Other American poets (handouts).
Nov. 16, 18, 23, 30. Shakespeare, Much
Nov. 23. Essay # 2 due.
Dec. 2, 7, 9, 14. Achebe. Things
Fall Apart.
Dec 16. Final exam.
Attendance is expected in all courses.
Attendance will be a component of the grade of any course if so stated in the
syllabus. Students are responsible for informing the instructor in advance or
in a timely manner of the reasons for their absence. Instructors in
consultation with their department chairs are expected to respect university
practices and policies regarding what counts as an excused absence. Typically
excused absences include illness, bereavement, or religious observances.
Serious tardiness may be dealt with at the discretion of the instructor.
Plagiarism:
All work submitted for this course should be your own.
Collaborative work is not acceptable, unless assigned as such. Copying work
(from others, from printed sources, or from the internet) or having it done for
you is plagiarism and is against
Students are responsible to become familiar with, and will be held accountable for, the information on the following Web sites:
1. Academic Integrity at www.kean.edu/forms/AcademicIntegrity.pdf or the Web site for The Guide at www.kean.edu/publications/TheGuide2007.pdf.
2. Student Code of Conduct at www.kean.edu/~conduct or the Web site for The Guide at www.kean.edu/publications/TheGuide2007.pdf.”
Sept. 2. Classes begin.
Sept. 8. Last day to withdraw with a 100% refund.
Sept. 9. Rosh Hashanah. Class meets.
Sept. 15. Last day to withdraw with a 75% refund.
Sept. 22. Last day to withdraw with a 50% refund.
Oct. 28. Last day to withdraw with a “W” grade.
Nov. 1. Election Day. Class meets.
Nov. 25-26. Thanksgiving recess. No classes.
Dec. 16. Last day of this class. All work must be completed.