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Syllabus

The official description:

ENGL 2310, 2320 World Literature (3, 3) (Formerly ENGL 2011, 2021). A survey of world literature from the beginnings in the Far East and Middle East until the present time. The first semester treats literature through the Renaissance (approximately 1650), and the second treats the Renaissance to the present.

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In order to earn a grade of at least C in this course, students will be able to:

• understand and define important literary terminology;
• explore texts in context;
• analyze and describe poetic techniques;
• make connections within and between texts; and
• use critical thinking skills to analyze and explicate texts.

Tests, assignments, quizzes, and class discussions will allow students to demonstrate these skills.

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Required Texts

• Davis, Paul, ed. et al. The Bedford Anthology of World Literature: The Ancient World, Beginnings-100 C.E. Boston: Bedford / St. Martin's, 2004. ISBN 0312248733.
• Davis, Paul, ed. et al. The Bedford Anthology of World Literature: The Middle Period, 100 C.E.-1450. Boston: Bedford / St. Martin's, 2004. ISBN 0312248725.
• Davis, Paul, ed. et al. The Bedford Anthology of World Literature: The Early Modern World, 1450-1650. Boston: Bedford / St. Martin's, 2004. ISBN 0312402627.
• There will be additional required texts on-line and on Electronic Reserve.

Other Equipment

• A reputable, hard-bound dictionary such as Merriam-Webster, American Heritage, or Random House. Paperback editions are incomplete and not acceptable. You may also use on-line sites by the same publishers, such as Merriam-Webster or American Heritage. Better yet, use the Oxford English Dictionary.
• Writing supplies: Pens, loose leaf or legal paper, and a notebook.
• A computer, word-processor, or (for you Luddites) a typewriter.
• An Internet browser. Assignments and supplemental materials will be posted on-line, and some supplemental readings may be available either at e-book sites or on the Library's Electronic Reserve site.

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1. Readings, as assigned. Readings are due on the date assigned.
2. Quizzes. Reading is work for which my students deserve credit. Quizzes and short writing assignments serve to show which students have done the reading and therefore have earned the credit. Yes, I drop the lowest of the quiz grades.
3. Three unit tests, covering the three periods of World Literature I. During the final exam period, students will take the Early Modern period exam. The tests are not cumulative.
4. A research presentation on historical and cultural contexts.
5. Participation in class discussions and activities.Your participation forms a significant part of your grade. Participation consists of:
   • Attendance of class. Yes, I give you a point every day just for showing up. If you show up late, I may give you half a point or no points.
   • Preparation for class activities, such as reading the assigned texts and commenting on other students' drafts.
   • Participation in classes and conferences. For each class in which you ask a relevant question, add something relevant to the discussion, bring in information, or make a relevant comment, you gain another point--on top of the one you gained for simply attending.
   • Meeting with me in my office (or elsewhere) about classwork outside of class or conferences also earns points.
   • Attention in class. Students who sleep in class, use cell phones or other electronics, send text or e-mail messages, do work for other classes, hold side conversations, or indulge in other distractions will lose any points they gained for that day's class.
   • Perfect Attendance. Students who attend every class will earn 5 points towards their class participation.
6. Other homework and in-class assignments.

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Grading

Final Grade Calculation

I will calculate final grades as follows:

• Quizzes: 15%.
• Unit tests: 60% (20% each).
• Class Participation: 10 %.
• Research Presentation: 15%.

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Attending University is a job, an internship which prepares students for their careers. I therefore expect my students to treat the class as a professional commitment, rather than a pastime or a hobby. My class policies emulate the expectations of professionals in the workplace.

1. Attendance is mandatory.
   • Sick / personal absences (not excused) correspond to sick and personal days at work. Each student is allowed three (3) sick / personal absences without penalty.
   • Excused absences. I will excuse absences only for the following circumstances and only with proper documentation.
     1. Death in the immediate family. “Immediate family” includes (step-)parents, parental guardians, (step-)sons, (step-)daughters, (step-)siblings, and spouses. All other funereal absences count under the normal sick / personal absences.
     2. Serious and extended illness or injury lasting a week or more (such as mononucleosis).
     3. University business (team travel, band travel, the Rising Junior exam but not practices, meetings with your advisor, or requirements for other classes).
     4. Court appearances required by sub poena or otherwise mandated by the court.
   • Students missing more than one week's worth of classes (3 for a MWF class, 2 for a TR) will fail class participation.
   • Students missing more than two weeks' worth of classes (6 for a MWF class, 4 for a TR) will fail the course.

   See page 29 of the Undergraduate Catalogue for official university policy.

2. Be on time.
   
3. Electronics: Do not send e-mail, text, or instant messages, or surf the Web, or use your cell phone or blackberry.
   
4. Assignments are due at the beginning of class on the due dates.
   • I do not accept late work except with prior arrangement.
   • If you need an extension, you must request it one class day in advance.
   • Each student is allowed one (1) 24-hour emergency extension to cover true emergencies such as computer melt-down, printer failure, or vehicular mishaps. Students must tell me that they are using the extension when the paper is due and must deliver the paper to my mailbox (in Humanities 104) or my e-mail within 24 hours.
   
   
5. Make-ups: Class work must be done in class.
   • Quizzes and in-class writing work cannot be made up. Students who are excused for the day are excused for the work; all others who miss the class earn a zero for the assignment.
   • I may allow a student with convincing documentation to make up a major test.
   • The final exam must be taken during the exam period, and I cannot change the date of a student's exam. This is university policy.
   
   
6. Do your own work.

   The TSU Undergraduate Catalogue says this about academic fraud:

   Plagiarism, cheating, and other forms of academic dishonesty are prohibited. Students guilty of academic misconduct, either directly or indirectly through participation or assistance, are immediately responsible to the instructor of the class. In addition to the other possible disciplinary sanctions which may be imposed through the regular institutional procedures as a result of academic misconduct, the instructor has the authority to assign an ‘F’ or a zero for the exercise or examination, or assign an ‘F’ in the course. (29)

   Students submitting any fraudulent work—copied, plagiarized, stolen, bought, cheated, etc.—will receive a ZERO for the assignment, and may receive an F for the course.

   And don't buy or copy papers from the Internet. I know where the sites are and how to use search engines, and can therefore prove fairly easily that the paper is copied. But if I don't manage to catch you, keep in mind that you will probably get a bad grade anyway; most of the term papers posted on the Internet suck.

   An important clarification: collaboration is not plagiarism. A person who plagiarizes claims someone else's work for his or her own; people who collaborate on a project claim that they have done the work together and that the work they have done together is their own. You need not credit collaborating colleagues if they proofread, critique, or make suggestions on your work.

7. E-mail: Treat e-mail professionally.
   • I check my e-mail once daily on weekdays during the semester.
   • All e-mails must be:
     • polite and professional.
     • well-spelled and grammatically correct.
     • brief.
   • You may e-mail me to:
     • request an extension (at least 48 hours before the assignment is due).
     • make an appointment with me.
     • ask about thesis statements or paper topics.
     • request recommendation letters.
     • hand in an assignment (with permission).
   • I will not respond to e-mails regarding:
     • grades or comments on your papers. (Come to my office to discuss these issues.)
     • missed assignments or notes. (Ask your classmates and / or check the schedule.)
     • technical support. (Call the technical support folks at extension 7777.)
     • questions on assignments, material covered in class, grammar, or citation formats. (Ask in class, so that you get credit for it and everyone gets the answer.)
     • complaints of any sort.

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