Missouri Western State College
Division of
Liberal Arts and Sciences
English 210-05
Approaches to
Literature
“Travel
Literature—Literal and Figurative Journeys”
TTH 12:30-1:50,
SS/C 210
Instructor: Mark B. Hamilton
Office: SS/C 222S; 271-4169
Office Hrs: MWF 1:30-2:30, TTH 2:00-3:00,
and by arrangement
Email: hamilmb@missouriwestern.edu
The Course:
“From Homer to Hesse, from Rip Van Winkle to The Doll’s House, we’ll explore the meanings of travel and the journey motif as literal voyage and as figurative transformation, attempting to answer the questions: what does it mean to leave and what does it mean to return? The course will focus on readings from the classical to the modern, with opportunities to pursue an independent project. In-class group tasks, quizzes, a midterm, and response papers will round out our discussions.”
Required Texts:
Coleridge, Samuel Taylor. The Rime Of The Ancient Mariner. Illustrations by Gustave
Dore. NY: Dover, 1970.
Equiano, Olaudah. The Life of Olaudah Equiano. NY: Dover, 1999.
Hesse, Hermann. Siddhartha. NY: Dover, 1999.
Homer. The Odyssey. NY: Dover, 1999.
Ibsen, Henrik. The Doll’s House. NY: Dover, 1992.
Irving, Washington. The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and Rip Van Winkle. NY: Dover,
1995.
Songs for the Open Road. Edited. NY: Dover, 1999.
Ward, Candace, ed. Great Short Stories by American Women. NY: Dover, 1996.
Wells, H.G. The First Men in the Moon. NY: Dover, 2001.
Other Required Materials:
Notebook; Non-spiral bound paper; blue or black ink pens; 3 ½ inch disks; Pocket Folders; A collegiate dictionary; Xeroxed copies as requested.
Approaches to Literature (English 210) is a sophomore-level literature course that introduces you to excellent written works selected according to a particular theme: in this case “Travel Literature.” While English 210 does educate you to these specific works, more importantly it allows you to develop your understandings and increase your capabilities of response through a process of reading, thinking, and understanding.
English 210 fulfills Category IV General Studies requirements, providing the practice in comprehension and expression from readings in the genres of prose fiction, poetry, and drama.
Upon satisfactory completion of this course you will be able to:
1) Realize a definition of “Literature”
2) Understand the concepts of “The Literal” and “The Figurative”
3) Recognize the major characteristics of the “Genres”
4) Discuss Travel Literature, orally and in writing, with assurance
5) Come to appreciate the challenges which literature presents
6) Perceive and respond to the interplay of theme, language,
and literary content
To reach these goals, students will:
1) Read prose fiction and nonfiction, poetry, and drama
2) Investigate these works of literature for their significance and intent
3) Develop methods to better approach and understand literature
4) Discuss individual findings, do in class writings and out of class assignments
5) Write papers, including themes, essay examinations and quizzes
6) Pursue an independent interest correlative to the thematic readings
Grades:
Traditional Letter Grades, with plus & minus’s: A+=100 A=95 A-=92 B+=88 B=85
B-=82 C+=78 C=75 C-=72 D+=68 D=65 D-=62 F+=58 F=55 F-=52 …0=0
Letter Grades will be used for the major writing assignments.
Numerical Grades will be used for quizzes, usually on a ten-point scale: 10 perfect…9
excellent…8 good…7 adequate…6 failing…etc …0=0
A system of “ ‘s,” with plus & minus’s, will be used occasionally for other assignments:
“ +“=100 “ “=80 and “ -“=60 “ --“=40…etc …0=0
A Zero (0) will indicate late or missing work.
Graded Tasks & Percentages:
Weekly Quizzes 20%
Assigned Readings—Comprehension & Content
Class Lectures & Student Presentations
Two Presentations 5% & 5%
As Assigned
Congruent with On-Going Work
Three Literary Response Papers 10%, 15%, & 15%
#1: Definition/Analysis of a single work—Homer or Coleridge
#2: Interpretation/Analysis of one or more works—Equiano, Irving, Songs, Wells
#3:
Evaluation/Argument of one or more works—Hesse, Ibsen, or Stories
Individual Project 10%
“Coming to Understand Departure & Return”
Creative or Scholarly; Written or Not—Chosen by you, OK’d by me
Other Assignments & Class Participation 10%
Final Exam 10%
Formal Drafts and Graded Papers:
Written work should be word processed, spell checked, and thoroughly proofread for clarity of expression and grammatical correctness.
Use Times Roman or comparable font: 12 point. Do not bold face everything or use all capitals. Side Margins should be 1 inch, Top and Bottom 1.5 inch, paragraph indent .5 inch. Number each page on the Top Right. Identify the paper Upper Left page #1 with:
Name
English Course/Section
Assignment
Date
Then, Center the Title and Double Space Throughout.
Special Needs Student Policy:
Anyone who has a special need, temporary or long lasting, that prevents the fullest expression of her or his potential to succeed in this course should notify me during the first week of classes. We can discuss any special arrangements necessary. You should also contact Ms. Lois Fox at the Special Needs Office SS/C 202, 271-4330. Email: fox@missouriwestern.edu.
Attendance Policy:
You are responsible for the semester’s work. Since we’ll be working together, and in synch with on-going assignments, attendance is important. Your thoughts, observations, and questions are as important to others as they are to the development of your own works-in-progress.
Three (3) absences during a semester are reasonable, but remember you are still responsible for all missed or late work. Missed or late work is given a Zero. There are no exceptions to this policy except when previous arrangements have been made.
You need not explain the first three absences. However, more than three absences (defined as 15 minutes late, or being habitually late) probably will have a detrimental affect on your grade. IF you believe that you truly have extenuating circumstances and want the penalties waived, the only way is to appeal to me, explaining your situation in a clear, detailed, coherently organized, neatly presented and well edited business LETTER. In this letter, be truthful, thorough, and persuasive. For example:
“I was sick.” Explain the symptoms and the treatment you sought.
“I had car problems.” Explain the what, where, when and how. Put me there.
“Someone I knew died.” Establish your relationship. Describe the funeral.
“I was playing a baseball game.” Describe the game in detail and your part in it.
IF you are a member of a college team or are already scheduled to represent MWSC in some official capacity during the course of the semester, plan to use those three (3) allowed absences to cover these situations.
Disruptive behavior will be indicated by absence(s). Excessive absences can result in a failing grade for any college course.
Late Policy:
No late work will be accepted. Without prior approval, all late or missing work will be given a Zero.
Assignments should be done on time, by the date indicated, and ready to hand in at the beginning of the class period. I cannot accept assignments by mail, email, handed to me outside of class or slipped under my door.
Make-up opportunities for any in class work are extremely limited, but if you miss a class come see me for catch-up handouts, etc. I will accommodate those students who may have inordinate problems or circumstances, but I cannot accept excuses as reasons for absences, lateness or missed work. If absent, obtain the missed class notes, assignments, lectures, and answers to important day-to-day questions from your classmates whenever possible. EXCEPTION: Major papers, if late, will be given grade reductions rather than Zeros. One grade level deducted for each class period.
Academic Honesty:
All work is expected to be new and original for this course. College and student policies for academic honesty are always in effect. Any student who submits someone else’s work as their own will receive No Credit (0 points) for that assignment and may receive an F for the course, be reported to the Departmental Chairperson, the Academic Dean, and the Dean of Student Affairs for appropriate disciplinary action.
One of the major objectives to General Studies English courses is to teach students the difference between legitimate and illegitimate use of intellectual properties—the correct and proper use of other people’s work. Plagiarism is the theft of other people’s words, thoughts, creative perceptions, and/or their ideas as if they were your own.
Documentation of sources prevents plagiarism. The MLA and APA methods are the accepted ways in which to indicate this.
When in doubt, document. When unsure, ask.
This Syllabus:
It’s important that you understand the Syllabus. The contractual nature of the Syllabus will require your participation, but I do reserve the right to make adjustments to it as will best support the on-going efforts of the class.
FOR NEXT TIME: January 17 (Th)
1. Purchase the literary texts from MWSC Bookstore. Total price for all is only about $20.00. With materials, a little more.
2. Brows through the texts. Especially, become acquainted with Homer’s The Odyssey.
3. Reread the Syllabus, and bring in any questions you might have.
I hope you have an excellent semester.