ENGLISH 2322:  WORLD LITERATURE I

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

A survey of world literature from the ancient world through the sixteenth century.  Students will study works of prose, poetry, drama, and fiction in relation to their historical and cultural contexts.  Texts will be selected from a diverse group of authors and traditions.

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

Upon successful completion of this course, students will:

1.  Identify key ideas, representative authors and works, significant historical or cultural events, and characteristic perspectives or attitudes expressed in the literature of different periods or regions.
2. Analyze literary works as expressions of individual or communal values within the social, political, cultural, or religious contexts of different literary periods.
3. Demonstrate knowledge of the development of characteristic forms or styles of expression during different historical periods or in different regions.
4. Articulate the aesthetic principles that guide the scope and variety of works in the arts and humanities.
5. Write research-based critical papers about the assigned readings in clear and grammatically correct prose, using various critical approaches to literature.

CORE OBJECTIVES:

The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board mandated a set of Core Objectives, inspired by the Association of American Colleges and Universities national initiative, Liberal Education and America’s Promise (LEAP). For English, there are four Objectives:

1. Critical Thinking Skills – to include creative thinking, innovation, inquiry, and analysis, evaluation, and synthesis of information
2. Communication Skills – to include effective development, interpretation, and expression of ideas through written and visual communication[i]
3. Teamwork – to include the ability to consider different points of view and to work effectively with others to support a shared purpose or goal
4. Personal Responsibility – to include the ability to connect choices, actions, and consequences to ethical decision-making

COURSE MATERIALS:

Required:

Puchner, Martin. Ed. Norton Anthology of World Literature, Vol. A-C. 3rd ed. New York: W.W. Norton & Co., 2012. Print. ISBN: 978-0-393-93365-9

Note:  This is a three-volume set, and you will require all three volumes. You will need to have access to the textbook to successfully complete this course.  You can probably get by using a previous edition of the textbook, but I can’t be held responsible for converting the page numbers of the reading assignments.  The LSC-Tomball library also has reserve copies of the texts available.

You will also need regular, reliable access to the Internet and to a personal computer.  You will not be able to complete this class using only a cell phone. The campus and library have computer facilities available for student use.

FAQ

1. The class site will be opened at midnight the morning semester officially begins. Why not earlier? Because the class is designed to be completed within the official term dates, and because it is not fair if some students are able to start early while others are not.
2. Do we ever meet live? No.We do not.Every phase of the class is completed online.
3. Where is the class site? LSC-Online‘s website is where the class site can be found.You will need to make sure, through Distance Learning, that you have the necessary User ID and password to access the site.That’s between you and them; as an instructor I have no control over that.
4. But what does the class consist of? First, a lot of reading. This is a literature class, so that shouldn’t be a big shock! You will also be expected to participate in weekly online discussions over the assigned readings as part of the whole class. There are weekly open book quizzes on the course readings as well. There is a midterm essay and a final essay, each about three pages long.
5. Do I have to read everything assigned? Yes. Everything. How can you expect to participate in discussions, pass the quizzes, and write effective essays if you don’t read the assignments?!  If you choose to “get away with” reading only the bare minimum (or worse, just reading SparkNotes) to complete assignments, you are only cheating yourself.
6. Is this the right class for me? Some students think that internet classes are easier. They certainly do allow for a good deal of scheduling flexibility which may help you fit the work in around family, work, or other school commitments.  However, like all distance courses, this class will require a lot of work and self-discipline. This class is designed for the highly-motivated student, one who reads carefully and follows directions, who is fluent in American English reading, spelling, and grammar, and who is already computer literate, as well as proficient in e-mail, bulletin boards, and the internet. You also must have reliable computer hardware and internet availability, as well as sufficient software of your own, including a current browser and word processor.

N.B.: There is a zero tolerance policy in this class regarding plagiarism. Any assignments found to contain materials copied from the internet or other sources inappropriately will receive a grade of zero with no opportunity to resubmit or revise. I’m not trying to scare anyone, but to give fair warning.

Based on all these things, I hope that this is the class for you. Thanks for your interest.

Sincerely,

Penny Piercy

Adjunct Professor of English, Lone Star College – Tomball