ENGLISH 2321: Readings in British Literature Monsters and the Supernatural Dr. Erin Ashworth-King 039B Academic Building erin.ashworth-king@angelo.edu MWF 8:30-10AM / M 2-4PM / R 1-4PM (325) 486-6139 and by appointment Course Overview: This course, which generally aims to introduce students to the skills of literary analysis through exposure to important works of British literature, takes as its specific theme monstrosity and the supernatural, surveying diverse depictions of the other in a variety of cultures, periods, and genres. This thematic approach is designed to open up to students the widely different portrayals of monstrosity and the supernatural in Europe and the British Isles that both reflect and shape the society in which they are born. Covering the literature of over 800 years, this course will engage medieval depictions of monstrosity in Beowulf, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, and Marie d France s Bisclavret, and then will transition to early modern England s shifting perceptions of the supernatural and magic, examining Marlowe s Dr. Faustus and Shakespeare s Hamlet and The Tempest, and then will shift yet again to interrogate Romantic and Victorian sensibilities of such difference with Stevenson s Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and James s The Turn of the Screw. Importantly, the works we cover are not designed to give students an exhaustive account of British literature, but to present various attitudes and presentations of monstrosity and the supernatural within its cultural and historical contexts. All of these works are ambivalent in their expression of monstrosity, enabling students to interrogate their own ideas, to shape their reactions to texts and to support and develop their readings into literary arguments that contribute to the colloquy. Course Objectives and Student Learning Outcomes: This course has two primary goals: first, students will develop their close reading and analytical skills through careful work relating to the structural and thematic elements of a admittedly idiosyncratic and small sampling of the literature of Britain; second, students will develop their interpretive skills in being able to transition observations about texts into interpretive claims and arguments. Upon completing sophomore literature, students should be able to 1. understand the role of literature as an expression of values and interpretation of human experience 2. understand and apply methods of responding to literature analytically 3. understand the form, function, scope and variety of literature, including specialized terminology 4. understand the interactive relationship between history, culture, and literature. This course will help you 1) gain a broader understanding and appreciation of intellectual and cultural activity 2) learn to analyze and critically evaluate ideas, arguments, and points of view; and 3) develop creative capacities. Required Texts: Heaney, Seamus (trans), Beowulf (Norton, 2001) ISBN: 978-0393320978 Borroff, Maria (trans), Sir Gawain and the Green Knight (Norton, 2009) ISBN: 978-0393930252 Marlowe, Christopher, Doctor Faustus (Hackett, 2005) ISBN: 978-0872207295 Shakespeare, William, Hamlet (Signet, 1998) ISBN: 978-0451526922 Shakespeare, William, The Tempest (Signet, 1998) ISBN: 978-0451527127 Stevenson, R.L., The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (Norton, 2002) ISBN: 0-393-97465-0 Additional readings will be posted on the course s Blackboard site and are marked on the calendar with (BB).
ASU Core Curriculum Objectives for Sophomore Literature and Related Course Assessments: Students in sophomore literature will practice the following core curriculum learning objectives in critical thinking, communication, social responsibility, and personal responsibility. Students will then demonstrate their capabilities in these objectives through reading quizzes, written analyses, reflections, or examinations. Critical thinking will be demonstrated in reading quizzes, written analyses, or examinations. Students will gather, analyze, evaluate, and synthesize information relevant to a question or issue by mastering a series of assigned literary works in terms of generic conventions and content. Communication will be demonstrated in reading quizzes, written analyses, or examinations. Students will develop, interpret, and express ideas through effective written communication. Social responsibility will be demonstrated in students ability to engage with literary artists and the texts they create, and to reflect upon the shared traditions of literary expression, the debates that help shape literature, and the conflicts, cultural differences, and shared experiences. Personal responsibility will be demonstrated in reading quizzes, written analyses, or examinations. Students will demonstrate the ability to evaluate choices, actions, and consequences by identifying, analyzing, and evaluating ethical decision-making in literary examples. Attendance Policies: Successful students attend class regularly and are not tardy; however, occasionally life intervenes, causing students to miss class. I allow for such problems, but encourage regular attendance. If you miss 20% of our classes for ANY reason you will receive a grade of F for excessive absences. For a class scheduled two days a week, 20% is 6 absences; in a three day a week class, 20% is 9 absences. Additionally, for each absence after the third, your course average drops by a third of a letter (e.g. from B- to C+). It is important to note that you are considered absent any time you are not in class no matter what reason, and making up missed work (if allowed below) does not erase absences. Doctor s notes do not erase absences, either. Excessive tardiness or leaving class early is similarly penalized. If you arrive to class late or leave class early three times, I shall count that as one absence. To be counted present at all, you must attend 70% of the class period: In a class scheduled for two days a week, 70% is 53 minutes; in a class scheduled three days a week, 70% is 35 minutes. If you are late, enter class quietly and sit by the door; please do not disrupt class to announce your arrival or to sit in your usual seat. You are officially late after roll has been taken. It is your responsibility to alert me to the fact that you are present after class if I have already taken roll when you enter. If you fail to do so, you may inadvertently be marked absent. Please notify me in advance if you are missing class: in most cases, students who are sick, leaving town for a family emergency, representing the university, or absent for just about any other reason, can at least send me an e-mail to tell me beforehand that they are missing and why. Such notifications are professional and respectful. Students who notify me that they are missing in a timely manner prior to the missed class will be allowed to make up work when appropriate, but notification will not erase the absence. Student athletes and students representing the university in other capacities should provide a list of travel-related absences as soon as possible and, when possible, complete work prior to departure. Make-Up Work: Students traveling to university-sponsored events and students who have spoken to me in advance about missing a class will have the opportunity to make up whatever work can be completed. The opportunity to make-up work is the student s responsibility to arrange: (1) notification must be made in writing and in advance of the absence and (2) all work must be completed in what I deem to be a timely manner. To be clear, no arrangements will be made AFTER the absence; all arrangements must be made in advance and you and I must agree upon a timetable.
Evaluation: Your final grade is determined by your performance in discussion and quizzes, on papers, and on the course s three examinations: In-Class Participation 15 % Reading Quizzes 25 % Discussion Posts 30 % Exams (2) 40 % Classroom Environment: Throughout the class, I will use class discussions to support our learning. In these discussions, it is expected that you participate fully, listening to the ideas of others as well as contributing your own. I expect that you will be fully engaged, listening, responding, and not engaged in other activities during class. This is very important: participation does not just mean offering your ideas in class. It also means that you have demonstrated the ability to listen carefully to others ideas, respond to others ideas (as in discussion), and to monitor your own talking in relation to the others in class. This means that you are aware of when you have talked more than others, and give others an opportunity to present their ideas. Not all students are equally as assertive in bringing their ideas forward, and require space and invitation to do so. Please be respectful of the others in the class by monitoring your own talking so that others can have a chance. This is an equity issue, part of being a professional, and a point I take very seriously when evaluating your in-class performance. Your participation grade comprises much more than your attendance record. To receive a good score, you also must keep up with the reading, read actively, and talk about the day s reading in class. The following is the baseline measure for a participation grade: a student who attends every class in a semester, brings the appropriate text every day, always looks to be paying attention to the instructor and fellow students, creates no distractions, yet does not ever contribute receives a participation grade of a C. Readings: Please use the assigned edition, unless you receive permission to do otherwise. For each class I expect you to read and study the full assignment before class, attending to plot, characterization, diction, imagery, important ideas, and other objects of literary analysis. The reading assignment also includes any related headnotes and footnotes. When a reading is due, you must bring a hard copy of the relevant text to class. If you do not bring a required text or other required materials, your participation score for the day drops to an F. Reading Quizzes: These quizzes are designed to encourage you to keep up with reading assignments. Typically, they are a combination of short answer, fill-in-the-blank, and multiple-choice questions concerning the week s readings and maybe some class notes, and they take only about ten minutes. There is at least one each week. Quizzes are administered at the start of class, so be sure to show up on time. If you walk into class while a quiz is underway, you will have to rush to complete it you will not be given additional time. Discussion Posts: Each week, students will submit reflection posts to Blackboard (see below) on a prompt or question. I will evaluate these responses via email with each student, assigning a grade, but more importantly, asking questions, prompting further consideration and development, etc. Each post should be at least 250 words, should take a position that makes an argument and support that claim with textual evidence. The question for each week will be posted at the beginning of the week and will be due by Friday. By the end of the semester, I will tabulate the seven highest grades for a response average. It is the student s responsibility to keep up with these responses.
Blackboard : This course operates a Blackboard website, where you will find important announcements, assignment prompts and guidelines, and relevant handouts. You will turn in your short response papers through Blackboard via TurnItIn, a plagiarism detection software. You will find information on the submission process and other information regarding the class at <http://blackboard.angelo.edu>. You should check Blackboard daily to stay abreast of new assignments, changes in the syllabus and announcements. Office Hours: My office hours are a time that I set aside to be available to students who want help with assignments. You are welcome to come by unannounced during these times, though you might want to tell me in advance that you will be there so I can let you know when I have specific time available or if a conflict has arisen and I need to cancel the afternoon hours (I have a two daughters and lots of meetings and would hate for you to waste your time or to wait if I know that I have a conflict). I will make every effort to accommodate you regarding appointments; if you want help, speak with me after class, email me or call my office to set up a time. Observances of Religious Holidays: A student who intends to observe a religious holy day should make that intention known in writing to me 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 what the instructor deems a reasonable time after the absence. Statement on Academic Honesty: Angelo State University expects its students to maintain complete honesty and integrity in their academic pursuits. Students are responsible for understanding the Academic Honor Code, which is contained in both the print and web versions of the Student Handbook. Your participation in English 2321 assumes your agreement to ASU s honor code. If you do not understand the rules regarding plagiarism as outlined in the Academic Honor Code, it is incumbent upon you to seek clarification from me prior to the first assignment. In addition to asking me, you may consult the Center for Academic Integrity. I have no patience for plagiarism: any student who violates the Academic Honor Code will receive a failing grade for the semester. Counseling Services: Students struggling with events in their lives or with mental health issues should seek out allies and resources available on campus. The following are institutional sources of support, but you may seek out faculty, staff and others on campus for help, including me. Campus Counseling Services 325-942-2171 Campus Police 325-942-2071 San Angelo Police 911 Michelle Boone, Title IX Coordinator 325-486-5367 Students with Disabilities: Persons with disabilities that may warrant academic accommodations must contact the Student Life Office, Room 112 University Center, in order to request such accommodations prior to any being implemented. You are encouraged to make this request early in the semester so that appropriate arrangements can be made.
Calendar of Readings and Assignments This syllabus is subject to change. It is the student s responsibility to complete all assignments posted here and/or on Blackboard. Date In-Class Discussion Assignments Due M 28 August Introduction to course, literary analysis W 30 August Medieval Culture, Beowulf F 1 September Beowulf DP M 4 September NO CLASS: LABOR DAY W 6 September Beowulf F 8 September Beowulf DP M 11 September Beowulf W 13 September Beowulf F 15 September Beowulf DP M 18 September Sir Gawain and the Green Knight W 20 September Sir Gawain and the Green Knight F 22 September Sir Gawain and the Green Knight DP M 25 September Sir Gawain and the Green Knight W 27 September D France, Bisclavret F 29 September D France, Bisclavret DP M 2 October Marlowe, Doctor Faustus W 4 October Marlowe, Doctor Faustus F 6 October Marlowe, Doctor Faustus DP M 9 October Marlowe, Doctor Faustus W 11 October Marlowe, Doctor Faustus F 13 October Exam Review M 16 October MIDTERM EXAM W 18 October Shakespeare, Hamlet F 20 October Shakespeare, Hamlet DP M 23 October Shakespeare, Hamlet W 25 October Shakespeare, Hamlet F 27 October Shakespeare, Hamlet DP M 30 November Shakespeare, The Tempest W 1 November Shakespeare, The Tempest F 3 November Shakespeare, The Tempest DP M 6 November Shakespeare, The Tempest, W 8 November Shakespeare, The Tempest F 10 November Stevenson, Jekyll and Hyde DP M 13 November Stevenson, Jekyll and Hyde W 15 November Stevenson, Jekyll and Hyde F 17 November Stevenson, Jekyll and Hyde DP M 20 November Stevenson, Jekyll and Hyde W 22 November NO CLASS: THANKSGIVING F 24 November NO CLASS: THANKSGIVING M 27 November James, The Turn of the Screw (BB) W 29 November James, The Turn of the Screw (BB) F 1 December James, The Turn of the Screw (BB) DP M 4 December ONLINE CLASS: EAK @ SACS W 6 December James, The Turn of the Screw (BB) F 8 December Exam Review 10AM Class: Final Examination Administered 10:30AM, Monday December 11, 2017 11AM Class: Final Examination Administered 10:30AM, Wednesday December 13, 2017