Course Description and Objectives: This course serves as an introduction to classical and medieval traditions in Western literature.

This course will introduce students to some of the great works of world literature, beginning with one of the world's oldest epics that comes to us from the Middle East, Gilgamesh, and leading to the great epic of Greek Literature, The Odyssey. The term concludes with one of the most important works of Italian and World Literature, Dante's medieval Christian epic, Inferno.

As these three works and the others we will investigate underscore, this literature continues to connect with readers, offering sometimes tragic accounts of friendship and love, of the search for immortality, of the quest for answers to profound questions that continue to excite the human imagination.

Homer's great epic, The Odyssey, for example, relates a story that clearly resonates with contemporary readers, as films such as ET and O Brother, Where Art Thou? (A film we will see in class) suggest: the quest for home. The narrative also addresses the struggle to maintain peace after war, an issue that confronts us now in places as remote as Lybia and Iraq.

The preceding works will introduce students to the foundations for modern literature, from Shakespeare to J. K. Rowling, from William Faulkner to Susan Collins.

And after reading parts of Virgil's Aeneid, students will encounter two important authors of the Medieval period, Chretien de Troyes and Dante, moving from the great romances concerning King Arthur and the Round Table to the Christian epic of redemption focusing on not kings and queens, as in the French epic The Song of Roland, but on common people, a tradition, often with great humor, Chaucer continues.

Using outside sources, including the internet, the class will also provide students with additional readings, including the poetry of the great Roman author Catullus and the love songs of the Troubadours.

Thus while the course does not seek a comprehensive look at World Literature to 1500, the class provides students with an introduction to the literature from which much Western Literature grows.

And as previously suggested, this literature also provides students with a wonderful and imaginative bridge to ancient literature and seeks to show them that these narratives merit their serious consideration. Learning about this literature also provides students with a richer appreciation for contemporary literature.

Other Goals and Objectives: World Literature provides English and Language Arts majors a strong foundation for appreciating a tremendous range of literature, from children's stories to modern drama.

The course is consequently very important for future English teachers.

In addition, World Literature can fulfill the General Education requirement for Literature and makes connections with other disciplines, including, among others, History and Psychology, from the Fall of Troy to the battle of the sexes.

The class thus reinforces the college's mission to graduate informed citizens.

Upon completion of this course you should be able to:

1. Discuss with some confidence the texts chosen for the class.

2. Appreciate the classical roots of much modern literature.

3. Grasp the significance of Christianity in the epic and romance traditions.

4. Read with enhanced understanding and appreciation Classical and Medieval literature.

5. Show improvement in writing and analytical skills.

At the beginning of the course, we will discuss how these objectives fit into the College’s and School’s mission and goals.

Expectations & Instructional Approach: In addition to lecture materials offered by the instructor, students in this class will engage in discussions over reading material. Using films and other media, the instructor and the class will work to make connections between this literature and modern works.

Students will submit work for peer review; essays might be published on the internet for discussion.

Assessment Methods and Student Requirements

To promote academic integrity, Peru State College subscribes to an electronic service to review papers for the appropriate citations and originality. Key elements of submitted papers are stored electronically in a limited access database and thus become a permanent part of the material to which future submissions are compared.

Continued enrollment in a course signifies your permission for this use of your written work.

Should you not wish to agree to this procedure, you may drop the course during the add/drop period before any works are completed and submitted.

Grades: Your grade will be based upon the following (subject-to-change) percentages:

Aeneid/Song of Roland Essay: 20
Midterm Exam: 15
Cretien De Troyes/Dante Essay: 20
Final Exam: 15

A 90- 100
B+ 86-89
B 80-85
C+ 76-79
C 70-75
D+ 66-69
D 60-65
F 59 and below

Attendance : Come to class prepared to take part in discussions, for they will help you generate ideas for your essays on the exams and for the short writing assignments. Failing to attend class on a regular basis will hinder your progress.

If you must miss class, contact me or a member of the class to get the assignment; all assignments will be posted on the class web page.

Attendance counts for 10% of the final grade, and each of you begins the semester with a grade of A, 100%, for attendance. Not attending class lowers this grade at the rate of 5% for the first two absences and 10% for each subsequent non-attendance.

World Literature is a discussion class, so come to class prepared to talk about the matter at hand and to enjoy interacting with your fellow readers.

Exams And Essays: Over the course of the semester, you will take two examinations and write three short essays.

These tests will ensure that you read and understood class discussions and presentations and generally ask that you develop the significance of specific prompts that range from character's names to places of significance in the literature.

For essays and examinations, you will have topics from which to choose.

Revisions : For some written assignments (exceptions include the final examination), you will have an opportunity to revise work and to elevate the grade.

Bear in mind, however, that a rewrite does not automatically raise the essay's grade. If the revised essay receives a higher mark than the original, the better grade goes into the book, replacing the earlier effort. A revision never lowers your grade.

ATTENTION :

In general, revisions are due a week after the assignment is returned.

Peer Evaluation: To help with revisions, I might post essays on the class web page. These readings will also expand your knowledge of and appreciation of the course material.

Due Dates and Late Material:Turn in all work on assigned dates. If you must turn in something after the due date, let me know in advance.

Grades for unexcused late work will be lowered at the rate of one-half a grade for each day after the initial due date. Pleases turn in all work on time.

Incomplete Coursework Policy

To designate a student’s work in a course as incomplete at the end of a term, the instructor records the incomplete grade (I). Students may receive this grade only when serious illness, hardship, death in the immediate family, or military service during the semester in which they are registered prevents them from completing course requirements. In addition, to receive an incomplete, a student must have completed substantially all of the course’s major requirements.

Unless extenuating circumstances dictate otherwise, students must initiate requests for an incomplete by filling out an Incomplete Grade Completion Contract, which requires the signature of the student, instructor, and Dean. The Incomplete Grade Completion contract cites the reason(s) for the incomplete and details the specific obligations the student must meet to change the incomplete to a letter grade. The date by which the student agrees to complete required work must appear in the contract. The Dean, the instructor, and the student receive signed copies of the Incomplete Grade Completion Contract.

Even if the student does not attend Peru State College, all incomplete course work must be finished by the end of the subsequent semester. Unless the appropriate Dean approves an extension and if the student does not fulfill contract obligations in the allotted time, the incomplete grade automatically becomes an F.

Academic Integrity Policy

The College expects all students to conduct themselves in a manner that supports an honest assessment of student learning outcomes and the assignment of grades that appropriately reflect student performance. It is ultimately the student’s responsibility to understand and comply with instructions regarding the completion of assignments, exams, and other academic activities. At a minimum, students should assume that at each assessment opportunity they are expected to do their own original academic work and/or clearly acknowledge in an appropriate fashion the intellectual work of others, when such contributions are allowed. Students helping others to circumvent honest assessments of learning outcomes, or who fail to report instances of academic dishonesty, are also subject to the sanctions defined in this policy.

Instances of academic dishonesty may be discovered in a variety of ways. Faculty members who assign written work ordinarily check citations for accuracy, run data base and online checks, and/or may simply recognize familiar passages that are not cited. They may observe students in the act of cheating or may become aware of instances of cheating from the statements of others. All persons who observe or otherwise know about instances of cheating are expected to report such instances to the proper instructor or Dean.

In order to promote academic integrity, the College subscribes to an electronic service to review papers for the appropriate citations and originality. Key elements of submitted papers are stored electronically in a limited access database and thus become a permanent part of the material to which future submissions are compared. Submission of an application and continued enrollment signifies your permission for this use of your written work.

NSCS Board of Trustees Policy 4220 states that each College “. . . will establish a distance learning assessment policy that will include, at a minimum, a substantial culminating experience that is proctored.” Peru State College’s policy is that each course that is offered entirely online will feature a proctored final exam that substantially measures the extent the course’s stated learning objectives are achieved. Online course syllabi will clearly state that, regardless of grades earned previously, the proctored final exam must be passed in order to receive credit for the course. Courses which feature graded site-based activities (e.g., teaching demonstrations) and/or video-taped presentations that occur near the end of the term, and that are designed to substantially assess the achievement of learning objectives, can be considered in compliance with this policy. Project-based capstone and graduate courses utilizing real-time discussions held by web-cam, phone or in person with the faculty member as part of the assessment process can also be considered in compliance with this policy.

Should an occurrence of academic misconduct occur, the faculty member may assign a failing grade for the assignment or a failing grade for the course. Each incident of academic misconduct should be reported to the Dean and the Vice President for Academic Affairs (VPAA). The VPAA may suspend students for two semesters found to be responsible for multiple instances of academic dishonesty. The reason for the suspension will be noted on the student’s transcript.

A faculty member need present only basic evidence of academic dishonesty. There is no requirement for proof of intent. Students are responsible for understanding these tenets of academic honesty and integrity. Students may appeal penalties for academic dishonesty using the process established for grades appeals.

Title IX Compliance Notice

Peru State College is an equal opportunity institution. PSC does not discriminate against any student, employee or applicant on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, religion, or age in employment and education opportunities, including but not limited to admission decisions. The College has designated an individual to coordinate the College’s nondiscrimination efforts to comply with regulations implementing Title VI, VII, IX, and Section 504. Inquiries regarding non- discrimination policies and practices may be directed to Eulanda Cade, Director of Human Resources, Title VI, VII, IX Compliance Coordinator, Peru State College, PO Box 10, Peru, NE 68421-0010, (402) 872-2230.

Students requesting reasonable accommodation and tutoring services should contact the Center for Achievement and Transition Services (CATS).

Tentative Course Schedule: We will read the works in the following order; approximate subject-to-change weeks devoted to individual works are indicated:

Epic of Gilgamesh (Two Weeks)

The Odyssey (Three Weeks); Essay ONE

Virgil's Aeneid (Two Weeks); Midterm Examination

The Song of Roland (Two Weeks); Essay TWO

Arthurian Romances (Two Weeks)

Dante's Inferno (Three Weeks); Essay THREE, Final Examination

A more comprehensive schedule--with will include due dates for essays and examinations--will be provided and published on the class web page.

Warning :

If you utilize Microsoft Works, save your documents in Rich Text Format (RTF), for this software does not work on Blackboard or on my computer.

For best results, post all your documents on Blackboard in Word.

Welcome to World Literature

World Lit Syllabus in PDF

World Lit Syllabus in Word

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http://www.hpcnet.org/peru/schoolartsandsciences/language/clemente/spring2006/world/syllabus

Last Modified: 01/04/2012