Course Syllabus. RUSN 4302 Section 001. Contemporary Russian Literature. Spring Basic Information

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1 Course Syllabus RUSN 430 Section 001 Contemporary Russian Literature Spring 018 Basic Information 1. Instructor: Anthony Qualin Office: FL 4 anthony.qualin@ttu.edu Phone: Office Hours: M 11-11:50, W 1-1:50, F 11-11:50, & by appointment.. Course Description This course will be conducted primarily in English. TTU Catalog Description: This course will examine the works of major Russian authors such as Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn and Tatyana Tolstaya from 1953 to the present. Taught in English. Additional Description: In this course we will be reading English translations of Russian literary works written after the death of Stalin. We will discuss the works on the basis of how they reflect the cultural, social and political situation in modern Russia, as well as on the basis of their literary and artistic merit. As it would be impossible to read every significant work written since 1953 in the course of a single semester, I will also be lecturing on the significance of each work in its greater literary context. 3. Expected Learning Outcomes & Their Assessments Students will be able to describe and discuss the significance of selected late twentieth century and early twenty first century Russian literary works, authors, movements and concepts. Assessment: Students will demonstrate their knowledge of these concepts on the identification section of the midterm and final. Students will be able to analyze and describe selected figures and themes from works in Russian literature from 1953 to the present. Assessment: Students will demonstrate these abilities on the essays in their midterms and finals as well as in their term papers.

2 Students will improve their ability to write in the English language. Assessment: It is expected that student writing will improve over the semester. This will be observed in their reading responses, exam essays, and their term papers. 4. Prerequisites:.None 5. Class Meeting Time(s) & Location(s): MWF :00-:50, FL Text(s) & Other Materials/Supplies Required Materials (available in local bookstores): Alexander Solzhenitsyn Venedikt Erofeev Viktor Pelevin Various authors Andrei Gelasimov Vladimir Sorokin One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich Moscow to the Werewolf Problem in Central Russia Life Stories: Original Works by Russian Writers Thirst The Blizzard Other materials are available on the course Blackboard site or web site: 7. Course Requirements Course Requirements & Policies General: Because much of the material upon which you will be tested in the exams is contained in the lectures, regular attendance is extremely important. Please attend every class and participate in the discussions. The assigned readings are, of course, essential and should be read in a timely manner to assure a better understanding of the lectures and more meaningful participation in the discussions. Reading assignments: The students are expected to have finished each reading assignment before the date scheduled for the discussion of each work. Written assignments: The students will be required to write a response to every work read. These need be no longer than one page. They should contain brief information about the author and your reactions to the works read. The assignment for each work is due on or before the last day of discussion of that work. The assignments will be graded on a credit/no credit basis. Satisfactory assignments that are turned in on time will receive a grade of 100. The grade for a late assignment will be lowered by 5 points for each class period that passes from the due date. The minimum grade for a late assignment will be 75. No assignment will be accepted after the last day of class (not counting the final). No more than four assignments can be turned in on any given day. Midterm Exam: There will be a mid-term on March 9. This exam will consist of short answer identification of important concepts, recognition of text excerpts, and two essays, one of which will be take home. Final Exam: The final exam will be given on May 15 at 4:30 pm.. The format of the final is identical to that of the midterms. The exam is cumulative but roughly 75% of the questions will pertain to materials covered after the second midterm.

3 Paper or Project: Each student will be required to write a 7-10 page term-paper. Your topic must be discussed with and approved by Professor Qualin before March 19. The paper is due on April 9. The draft turned in on April 11 is not to be considered a rough draft. A grade will be issued for this draft. The paper will then be returned to the student, who must edit it and submit it for another grade by May Grading Policies The course grade will be determined as follows: Reading quizzes: 10% Written responses: 15% First (not rough!) draft of paper: 10% Final draft of paper: 5% Mid-term: 15% Final: 5% The grades are based on a 100-point percentile scale and thus a 0 is considerably worse than most failing grades. The final grade is calculated on the following scale: A B 80-<90 C 70-<80 D 60-<70 F <60 9. Class Attendance & Preparation Regular attendance, prompt arrival, preparation for, and participation in class are expected. Attendance See the policy regarding attendance in the Course Requirements section (Section 7) above. Reasonable excuses for missing class: Illness: As stated above, verifiable documentation will be needed for absences due to illness. Absence Due to Religious Observance: A student who intends to observe a religious holy day should make that intention known in writing to the instructor prior to the absence. A student who is absent from classes for the observance of a religious holy day shall be allowed to take an examination or complete an assignment scheduled for that day within a reasonable time after the absence. Absence Due to University Approved Trips: Department chairpersons, directors, or others responsible for a student representingthe university on officially approved trips should notify the student s instructors of the departure and return 3

4 schedules in advance of the trip. The instructor so notified must not penalize the student, although the student is responsible for material missed. Students absent because of university business must be given the same privileges as other students (e.g., if other students are given the choice of dropping one of four tests, then students with excused absences must be given the same privilege). Effects of Absences on Grades: 10. Preparation 1-4 unexcused absences: no effect on grade. 5-7 unexcused absences: final course grade lowered by a letter grade unexcused absences: course grade lowered by two letter grades. 11+ unexcused absences: course grade lowered by three letter grades. Students are expected to spend approximately two hours in preparation for each hour of lecture. 11. Participation in Class Regular, active participation in class is vital to success, and is expected of all students. 1. Make-up Policy Students will be permitted to make up missed work in the case of an excused absence. 13. Civility in the Classroom Students are expected to assist in maintaining a classroom environment that is conducive to learning. Students are also expected to respect and uphold the TTU Code of Student Conduct at all times. Help maintain a positive learning environment by arriving on time, turning off cellular phones before arriving in class, and avoiding distracting behaviors. Any student whose behavior disturbs our learning environment may be asked to leave. For more details, please see the official TTU public information on the Code of Student Conduct, found at Student Use of Personal Technology The use of a notebook computer or similar electronic or digital device in class is subject to the approval of the instructor. Inappropriate technology use will result in a lowered class participation grade. No personal electronic device should be used during quizzes, examinations or other testing or assessment situations without the authorization of the instructor. Authorized devices meant to be 4

5 adaptive or assistive in nature, and which are incorporated as part of a documented disability or medical condition, are exempt from this policy. 15. Absence Due to Religious Observance A student who intends to observe a religious holy day should make that intention known in writing to the instructor prior to the absence. A student who is absent from classes for the observance of a religious holy day shall be allowed to take an examination or complete an assignment scheduled for that day within a reasonable time after the absence. 16. Students with Disabilities Any student who, because of a disability, may require special arrangements in order to meet the course requirements should contact the instructor as soon as possible to make any necessary arrangements. Students should present appropriate verification from Student Disability Services during the instructor s office hours. Please note: instructors are not allowed to provide classroom accommodations to a student until appropriate verification from Student Disability Services has been provided. For additional information, you may contact the Student Disability Services office in 335 West Hall or Academic Honesty It is the aim of the faculty of Texas Tech University to foster a spirit of complete honesty and a high standard of integrity. The attempt of students to present as their own any work that they have not honestly performed is regarded by the faculty and administration as a serious offense and renders the offenders liable to serious consequences, possibly suspension. Scholastic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, cheating, plagiarism, collusion, falsifying academic records, misrepresenting facts, and any act designed to give unfair academic advantage to the student (such as, but not limited to, submission of essentially the same written assignment for two courses without the prior permission of the instructor) or the attempt to commit such an act. 5

6 Schedule (Subject to change) January Introduction Boris Polevoi: "The Girl from Moscow" 4 Aleksandr Yashin: "Levers" 6 Andrei Bitov: "The Idler" 9 Vasilii Aksenov: "Halfway to the Moon" 31 Varlam Shalamov "Prosthetic Appliances," "A Child's Drawings," and "Lend Lease" February 018 Alexander Solzhenitsyn: A Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich 5 Alexander Solzhenitsyn: A Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich 7 Alexander Solzhenitsyn: A Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich Reading Quiz over A Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich 9 Vasilii Shukshin: "Quirky" and "The Microscope" 6

7 1 Vasilii Shukshin: "Stefan" and "The Postscript" 14 Abram Terts: "Pkhentz" 16 Yuri Kazakov: "On the Island" 19 Yuri Kazakov: "Adam and Eve" 1 Venedikt Erofeev: Moscow to the 3 Venedikt Erofeev: Moscow to the 6 Venedikt Erofeev: Moscow to the Reading Quiz over Moscow to the 8 Venedikt Erofeev: Moscow to the March 018 Poetry 5 Fazil Iskander: "The Cock" 7 Review 9 Midterm 1 Spring Break 14 Spring Break 16 Spring Break 7

8 19 Chingiz Aitmatov: The White Ship Last day to choose a paper topic! 6 Chingiz Aitmatov: The White Ship Reading Quiz over The White Ship 1 Chingiz Aitmatov: The White Ship 8 Liudmila Petrushevskaia: "Our Crowd" in readings and "Joe Juan" " in Life Stories 3 Chingiz Aitmatov: The White Ship 30 Liudmila Petrushevskaia: "Our Crowd" in readings and "Joe Juan" " in Life Stories April 018 Day of no classes! 4 Nina Sadur: "Witch's Tears" and "Star Boy" 6 Viktor Pelevin: "A Werewolf Problem in Central Russia" plus one story of your choice. 9 First Draft of Paper is Due! Viktor Pelevin: "A Werewolf Problem in Central Russia" plus one story of your choice 11 Viktor Pelevin: "Hermit and Sixfinger" Reading Quiz over "Hermit and Sixfinger" 13 Tatiana Tolstaia:"Peters" and "Fire and Dust" 8

9 16 Tatiana Tolstaia: "Peters" and "Fire and Dust" 18 Vladimir Makanin: "A Prisoner of the Caucasus" and "The One Day War" ( in Life Stories) 0 Vladimir Voinovich "The Novel" and Viktor Yerofeev "Rehabilitating D' Anthes"(69-86 in Life Stories) 3 Yevgeny Grishkovets "Serenity" and Alexander Kabakov "Shelter" (37-64 in Life Stories) 5 Eduard Limonov "All Alone" (81-96 in Life Stories) 7 Andrei Gelasimov: Thirst 30 Andrei Gelasimov: Thirst Reading quiz over Thirst May 018 Vladimir Sorokin "Black Horse with a White Eye" (55-68 in Life Stories) 4 Vladimir Sorokin The Blizzard 7 Vladimir Sorokin The Blizzard Reading quiz over The Blizzard Last day to turn in responses Final Draft of Paper is Due Final Exam: Tuesday, May 15, 4:30-7:00 9