Contact info for two classmates:

Great Works of Literature II Spring 2017 ENG 2850 JMA 12:25-2:05PM, Monday, room VC 3-160 and at http://blogs.baruch.cuny.edu/literatureandthemodernworld Professor Stephanie Insley Hershinow Email: Office: Office phone: Office hours: Thursday 1:30-3:30PM (or email to set up an appointment) Contact info for two classmates: 1) 2) Course Description: This course will introduce you to a range of literary texts from the modern era, beginning roughly in the eighteenth century. We ll be covering a number of major literary genres and examining works from around the world. You will study the historical and cultural contexts of the pieces we read and learn about literary themes, techniques and terminology. We ll read just a few texts slowly and carefully, digging in so that we can think about why they ve had such an enduring legacy. Along the way, we ll think about the questions they raise for how we live our own lives today. Throughout this process, English 2850 will help you develop advanced reading and analytical capabilities. You will also hone your creative thinking and writing skills. Since this course is in a hybrid format, we ll have a special opportunity to work with new media. Approximately half of our work will take place. Therefore, many assignments will ask you to use technology to produce, publish, and update writing products in response to ongoing feedback, including new arguments or information. At the same time, we ll be reflecting on the ongoing utility of old technologies: carved stone, painted canvas, the spoken word, the printed page. Learning Goals: Over the course of the semester, you will develop: The ability to interpret meaning in literary texts by paying close attention to an author s choice of detail, vocabulary, and style; The ability to discuss the relationship between different genres of literary texts and the cultural environments from which they spring; The ability to analyze content presented in diverse formats and media, including visually, as well as in words. Increased confidence when sharing ideas and insights, both in person and ; and Increased ability to write critical essays employing a strong thesis statement, appropriate textual citations, and contextual and intertextual evidence for your ideas. Required Texts: You must acquire the editions specified below: Mary Shelley, Frankenstein (Oxford World Classics) ISBN 978-0199537167 Harriet Jacobs, Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl (Dover) ISBN 978-0486419312 Franz Kafka, The Metamorphosis and Other Stories (Broadview) ISBN 978-1554812240 1

All other readings will be available on the course blog and/or as Xeroxed handouts. Grading: In-class attendance and active participation 10 % Online assignments 25 % Essay 1 (4-5 pages) 25 % Essay 2 (4-5 pages) 25 % Final Multimedia Project 15 % 100 % Extra credit: You may earn extra credit for attending up to two cultural events in the city. Events might include museum exhibits, theater, musical theater, dance, opera, and performance art. (If you re unsure about whether an event will count, check with me first.) Each event is worth 1 point extra credit toward your final grade. You must write a two-page (double-spaced) minimum analysis of what you saw (not a plot summary!) and how it relates to topics covered. Email submissions as an attachment; you must also attach a selfie with your ticket stub at the exhibition or performance space. Extra credit must be submitted by the last day of class. REQUIREMENTS: In-class attendance and participation: The simplest way to do well in this course is to attend all classes and contribute to class discussion. Attendance will be taken at each class. As per Baruch s attendance policy, you are only permitted four absences for the semester unless there are extreme extenuating circumstances (in which case, see me as soon as possible). Failure to submit an assignment will count as missing one class. If you are absent 5 times, I will drop you from the course with a grade of WU (the equivalent of an F). If you choose to withdraw, note that the deadline for a W grade is April 19 th. If you are late three times (more than 5 minutes), this will count as an absence. Attendance at all scheduled class meetings is especially important in a hybrid course, as we have only half the number of sessions as a traditional course. Therefore, you are only permitted one unexcused absence from a Monday class without penalty; after that, you will lose 1 percentage point from your attendance/participation grade per absence. This is not a large lecture course where you can remain anonymous; active participation both in person and are required for success in this class. You have to complete reading assignments before class so that you are always prepared to participate in discussions. (Let me know if you re falling behind in the reading, and we can discuss ways to get you caught up.) You must also bring your book and notes to class; these are our tools for discussion. It is very important to write in your book to keep a log of your reactions and questions. For this reason, electronic copies of texts will not work for this particular course. I also want to discourage you from bringing your laptop to class (unless specifically asked to do so for a particular exercise) and from using other electronics. In a discussion class like ours, laptops can get in the way of interaction; besides, your notes should largely be in your books, so no screens will be required. If you have a documented disability that requires you to take notes electronically, please speak with me at the beginning of the term. Course blog: We will use a class blog to explore and comment on how what we learn affects contemporary life and your contemporary knowledge. You are welcome to post anything (e.g., written comments, poetry, video, art) you think is relevant to our class discussions. You are also welcome to comment on other people s posts. 2

Each week, in place of one class session, you will be required to complete an assignment. Directions for these assignments will be posted at our course blog (http://blogs.baruch.cuny.edu/literatureandthemodernworld/). Online assignments are due every Thursday night (as indicated on the syllabus) by 11:59PM. You may, of course, complete them earlier at your convenience. Assignments will be posted by Monday evening. Each assignment is worth two points toward your final grade. If you submit all twelve assignments on time, you will receive one bonus point. 2 points: Evidence of serious attention put towards assignment, all requirements fulfilled, on-time submission 1.5 points: Assignment called for more work or intellectual investment than demonstrated; not all requirements fulfilled; on-time submission 1 point: Assignment is late and/or does not demonstrate adequate engagement; several requirements unfulfilled 0 points: Assignment is more than 3 days late or not submitted I will check in with you about how you re doing on these assignments at certain points in the semester, but you should also feel free to ask me at any time for an update on your progress. Online assignments will vary in difficulty and length. A typical assignment will require you to engage in an activity (visit an archive or website, record a short video, analyze an image), and then reflect on that activity in a blog post. Blog posts will often have a minimum length of 500 words (about 1.5 pages of typed, double-spaced text), but length requirements will vary. I recommend that you schedule a weekly timeslot of at least 100 minutes (in addition to reading time) to complete these assignments. (Remember: they are taking the place of a full class meeting.) Some assignments may require more or less time investment, so please plan ahead. I recommend having a calendar or agenda (either or paper) to map out your assignments. You may also want to set a reminder for yourself on your phone or other device, especially to help you get used to working independently early in the term. Essays: You will write two formal essays, both 4-5 pages and worth 25 points. Each will ask you to engage in analysis of one or more of our literary texts and to offer a persuasive argument that attempts to address a central puzzle or apparent contradiction in those texts. We will hold two writing workshops during class time, and you will be encouraged to participate in a peer review process to make your writing stronger. You will have the option of revising these essays to demonstrate improvement. If you choose to do so, the original and revision grades will be averaged. Late assignments will receive one full letter grade lower for each day (24 hours) that they are late (one day: A B; two days: A C; three days: A D). Papers over three days late will not be accepted. Formatting should be standard and easy to read (12 point font, double-spaced, one-inch margins, no extra spaces between paragraphs). Separate cover sheets aren t necessary. I encourage you to use the resources available at the Baruch Writing Center. You can make an appointment, ask questions over email, or even schedule an consultation. They also have helpful sessions on major aspects of academic writing (argument, analysis, using sources, etc.). http://writingcenter.baruch.cuny.edu/ 3

Final Multimedia Project: Your final project will ask you to draw on some of the skills you ve developed over the course of the semester, while also asking you to be a bit more creative with how you communicate your analysis of them. You ll be asked to produce both a written response and a connected response that takes the form of a video, photo collection, mini podcast, etc. Further details for all assignments will be distributed well in advance of deadlines. 4

Course Schedule: Readings/viewings are to be completed prior to the date for which they are listed. Online assignments are to be completed on or before 11:59PM on the Thursday evening when they are listed. Instructions for Thursday assignments will be posted on the course blog by Monday evening. This schedule may be modified based on our pace and interests, so make sure to come to class and listen carefully for updates. Any changes to assignments or deadlines will be made in writing, so you can always find the most up-to-date version of the syllabus on our course blog. Week One Monday, Jan 30 by Thursday, Feb 2 Week Two Monday, Feb. 6 by Thursday, Feb 9 Week Three Monday, Feb 13 Wednesday, Feb 15 IN CLASS (Monday schedule) Introductions Reading literature Hybrid course tips The Enlightenment Read: The Enlightenment in Europe and the Americas Kant, What is Enlightenment? Write: Blog post #1 Enlightenment Order, Poetic Form Read: How to Read Literature handout Pope, Essay on Man Write: Annotate the poem carefully, and take notes on questions or comments you have as you read. (I ll ask that you show me your annotations.) Poetic Form, continued: Haiku Read: Haiku packet, including introduction Write: Blog post #2 NO CLASS (college closed, Lincoln s birthday) The Age of Revolution Read: The French Revolution and the Napoleonic Era Burke, from Reflections on the French Revolution Paine, from The Rights of Man Wollstonecraft, from A Vindication of the Rights of Woman **Feb 19 is the last day to drop without W grade. Week Four Monday, Feb 20 NO CLASS (college closed, Presidents Day) by Thursday, Feb 23 Romanticism Read: Mary Shelley, Frankenstein, pages 1-63 (Be sure to read Shelley s introduction.) Write: Blog post #3 Week Five 5

Monday, Feb 27 Romantic Science and Selfhood Read: Frankenstein, pages 63-149 In class: Writing workshop (analysis and argument) by Thursday, Mar 2 Week Six Monday, Mar 6 **Tuesday, Mar 7 by Thursday, Mar 9 Week Seven Monday, Mar 13 by Thursday, Mar 16 Week Eight Monday, Mar 20 Monsters Among Us Read: Frankenstein, pages 149-end Write: Blog post #4 Aesthetics: The Sublime, the Beautiful, and the Picturesque Read: from Johnson, A Dictionary of the English Language from Burke, Enquiry into the Origins of the Sublime and Beautiful from Wollstonecraft, A Vindication of the Rights of Man Arts Day! (optional event, details TBA) Comparative Lyric Read: packet on English, Chinese, Japanese, Arabic lyric poetry Write: Blog post #5 Narratives of Slavery Read: Frederick Douglass, Emancipation Proclaimed Harriet Jacobs, Incidents, pages 1-83 Write: Essay 1 due Women and Slavery Read: Jacobs, Incidents, pages 83-end Sojourner Truth, Ain t I a Woman? Elizabeth Cady Stanton, The Declaration of Sentiments Write: Blog post #6 Realism and Nineteenth-century Narrative Read: Realism around the Globe Rabindranath Tagore, Punishment Higuchi Ichiyō, Separate Ways Discussion of essay 1 by Thursday, Mar 23 Russian Realism and Existentialism Read: Fyodor Dostoevsky, Notes from Underground (part I) Write: Blog post #7 Week Nine Monday, Mar 27 by Thursday, Mar 30 Russian Realism and Existentialism, continued Read: Dostoevsky, Notes from Underground (part II) David Denby, Can Dostoevsky Still Kick You in the Gut? Write: (optional) revision of essay 1 due I m Nobody. Who are you? Read: Emily Dickinson poems Visit: Dickinson exhibition, Morgan Library (details TBA) Write: Blog post #8 6

Week Ten Monday, Apr 1 by Thursday, Apr 6 **Spring Break! What is art? Resistance to Realism Read: Manifesto packet What is a person? Read: Kafka, The Metamorphosis Write: Blog post #9 Optional extra blog post on MoMA museum visit (details TBA) **Apr 19 is the last day to drop with a W grade. Thursday, Apr 20 IN CLASS (Monday schedule) Week Eleven Monday, Apr 24 by Thursday, Apr 27 Week Twelve Monday, May 1 by Thursday, May 4 Week Thirteen Monday, May 8 Surrealism and the Fantastic Read: Review The Metamorphosis Context readings for Kafka (Nietzsche, On the Genealogy of Morals; Freud, On the Interpretation of Dreams, both in the back of your edition) NOTE: Over break, read around in the other stories in the collection to prepare for essay 2; I recommend (but do not limit you to) Before the Law, and The Hunger Artist. Staged reading, Samuel Beckett s Endgame (details TBA) Read: Introduction to The Theater of the Absurd Review of Beckett s Endgame I ll also distribute details on final multimedia projects. Theater of the Absurd Read: from Eugéne Ionesco, Rhinoceros Teju Cole, A Time for Refusal Write: Blog post #10 The Civil Rights Movement Read: James Baldwin, Notes from a Native Son Write: Essay 2 due Civil Rights Now Read: from Jesmyn Ward, The Fire This Time Write: Blog post #11 Contemporary Drama Read: Sulayman Al-Bassam, The Speaker s Progress Synopsis, Shakespeare s Twelfth Night **Extra office hours this week to discuss final multimedia projects. by Thursday, May 11 Tragedy in Our Time Read: finish The Speaker s Progress Interview with Al-Bassam Write: Blog post #12 7

Week Fourteen Monday, May 15 Wrap-up Final project presentations Write: (optional) revision of essay 2 due Final multimedia project deadline: Wednesday, May 24 (Date to be confirmed; it will correspond to the assigned exam slot.) 8

Office hours and appointments: My office hours are 1:30-3:30pm. These meetings are an opportunity for us to discuss class material, your progress, assignments, preparing for exams, your feedback on the course, or anything else related to this class. I ll attempt to respond to emails within 24 hours during the week and within 48 hours on weekends. I am also available to meet with you outside of these times by appointment. Email me, and we can figure out a time convenient for both of us. Minimum technology requirements: To complete the assignments, you must have access to a computer or tablet with a reliable internet connection. If you don t have this at home, you will need to plan on regularly working somewhere that meets these requirements (such as the Baruch library). You will also need an active Baruch email account (that you check often), which will allow you to sign up for a Blogs@Baruch account. For peer review exercises, you ll also need a Gmail account that you don t mind using for class. Any other platforms, usually for specific assignments, will be explained in detail. You will also, at times, be asked to take video or pictures; for these assignments, you may find a smart phone or tablet useful. If you do not own one, you may check out a tablet from the Baruch library just make sure to plan ahead to avoid any problems with availability. What to Do When Things Go Wrong: The BCTC help desk offers student support for Baruch email, Blackboard, Baruch s wireless network, CUNYFirst, and printing. In-person requests: BCTC is located on the 6th floor of the Library and Technology Building at 151 East 25th Street. Have your student ID handy. Phone requests: (646) 312-1010. Be prepared to state your Baruch username. Email requests: helpdesk@baruch.cuny.edu. Send it from your Baruch email and detail the problem. For help with Blogs@Baruch: http://blogs.baruch.cuny.edu/contact/, and for help with Vocat, email vocat@baruch.cuny.edu. However, keep in mind that technology problems are no excuse for late or missed work. Plan ahead and be sure to back up your work to avoid disaster. Academic dishonesty: Cheating and plagiarism are serious offenses. They are illegal and cowardly. My policy is to give a failing grade to any assignment that has been plagiarized. You may also be expelled from the course. I am also required to submit a report to the Office of the Dean of Students; this report becomes a part of your permanent file. Cheating is the attempted or unauthorized use of materials, information, notes, study aids, devices or communication during an academic exercise. Examples include but are not limited to: Copying from another student during an examination or allowing another to copy your work Unauthorized collaborating on a take home assignment or examination Using unauthorized notes during a closed book examination Using unauthorized electronic devices during an examination Taking an examination for another student Asking or allowing another student to take an examination for you Changing a corrected exam and returning it for more credit Submitting substantial portions of the same paper to two classes without consulting the second instructor Preparing answers or writing notes in a blue book (exam booklet) before an examination 9

Allowing others to research and write assigned papers including the use of commercial term paper services Plagiarism is the act of presenting another person's ideas, research or writing as your own, such as: Copying another person s actual words without the use of quotation marks and footnotes (a functional limit is four or more words taken from the work of another) Presenting another person s ideas or theories in your own words without acknowledging them Using information that is not considered common knowledge without acknowledging the source Failure to acknowledge collaborators on homework and other assignments If you ever have questions about whether something might count as plagiarism, feel free to contact me. I also highly recommend the tutorial prepared by the Newman Library: http://newman.baruch.cuny.edu/help/plagiarism/default.htm. Accommodations Policy: Baruch College is committed to making individuals with disabilities full participants in its programs, services, and activities through compliance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990. It is the policy of Baruch College that no otherwise qualified individual with a disability shall be denied access to or participation in any program, service, or activity offered by the university. Individuals with disabilities have a right to request accommodations. If you require any special assistance or accommodation, please let me know as soon as you can, ideally during the first three weeks of the semester. 10