Missouri Western State College

Division of Liberal Arts and Sciences

ENG 356: Literature in English, 1914-1945

Class meets 2 pm JGM 104

Spring 2004

Instructor Information

Dr. Karen U. Fulton, Professor

Tel: 271-4317(work) 1-660-582-8830 (home)

E-mail: fulton@griffon.mwsc.edu

Office: Eder 222-H

Office Hours:  10-11 MWF, 10-12 T; other hours by appointment

Required Texts

            Blaisdell, Bob, ed.  Imagist Poetry.  Mineola, N.Y.:  Dover, 1999.

Dettmar, Kevin and Jennifer Wicke, eds.  The Longman Anthology of

             British Literature, Volume 2C, 2nd ed. New York:  Addison, Wesley, pub., 2003

            Johnson, James Weldon.  The Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man. 

                        Mineola, N.Y.:  Dover, 1995.

            Millay, Edna St. Vincent.  Renascence and other Poems.  Mineola, N.Y.: 

                        Dover, 1991

            O’Neill, Eugene.  Anna Christie.  Mineola, N.Y.:  Dover, 1998

            Woolf, Virginia.  To the Lighthouse.  San Diego:  Harcourt,  1927.

Required Supplies

  • Access to word processor with spell-checker (all written work must be word-processed);
  • Access to the Internet; and
  • A 3-ring binder (spine no greater than 1/2") for submission of end of semester portfolio.

English 356 objectives:

    1. Understand the socio-political and historical backgrounds that underpin the literature created in English during 1914-45.
    2. Acquire factual knowledge about the period, the authors, the historical context, and the dominant modes of literary communication.
    3. Explore the internet as a source of information about historical and cultural contexts of literature.
    4. Appreciate interconnectedness of literary themes and images in British and American texts of minority populations, as well as majority ones.
    5. Develop awareness of the increasing cultural reach of English and its impact on different cultures.

English 356 means:

    1. Class discussion;
    2. Viewing of video/DVD presentations of material;
    3. Critical papers;
    4. Examinations,
    5. Quizzes, and
    6. End of semester portfolio.

Course Policies

Attendance Policies

Class attendance is critical; however, I do not record absences every day. I consider 3 recorded class absences reasonable; more than 3 absences (excused or not) may result in penalty to the overall grade. More than 6 recorded absences places the student in danger of failing the course. A student who is not prepared for class is considered absent and will be so recorded.

The final session (Thursday, May 6 2 pm) is required. Missing it carries a heavy penalty--failure for the course. (Instead of a traditional "final," you will write to next semester's class, present your portfolio to this semester's class, and receive your copy of the class publication.)

Academic Honesty Policy

Students must submit their own work. Students who are guilty of plagiarism or cheating in any form will automatically receive a zero for the assignment involved and will place themselves in jeopardy of failing the course.

Student Disability Policy

Students who have a disability that might prevent their maximum performance in the class should make this known to the instructor immediately so that provisions may be made for any assistance needed.

Grading Policies

Mid-term grades

These grades will be calculated on the points you have achieved up to this point in the semester as well as the mid term exam.

Final grade

This grade will be determined on the basis of the portfolio you submit as well as quiz grades and absences.

Portfolio

This semester, portfolio will operate a bit differently than in the past.  The papers and tests  you produce during the course of the semester will receive a numerical grade on the scale from 1-100.  Any of these papers may be submitted in the portfolio.  Because this is a time-based (1914-1945) class, the portfolio will require a self-reflective essay that connects the pieces chronologically.  (Sample question:  How did the view of “motherhood” change from 1914 to 1945?)  The Portfolio grade will replace the grade each paper has earned on its own.  You have the choice of not submitting all pieces to the portfolio.  You will have one chance to revise the portfolio.

Minimal Passing Standards

In order to pass (grade of "D") the class the student must

      • complete all written assignments;
      • submit a self-graded portfolio on the due date;
      • not have more than 6 absences for the semester;
      • attend the scheduled portfolio conference; and
      • participate in the final session .

Failure to complete any one of these results in failure for the course.

Learning Activities and Projects

 Word Processing

In order to facilitate publishing, all drafts of papers (including the summaries of the oral reports) must be word processed.

Deadlines for written work

Work is due on the day assigned.  If it is late or must be returned because it is not in correct format, the paper (or portfolio) will be penalized in terms of numerical (or letter) grade.

Quizzes

In order to insure that students are keeping up with the reading, I will be administering frequent quizzes:  some will be multiple choice in nature, some ask you to respond to a paragraph or an idea in the reading.  Grades will be recorded and the lowest grade will be dropped at the end of the semester.

Beginning Calendar

Week 1 W 1/21  Introduction, go over syllabus, discuss class in general.

F 1/23  Read Longmans 1991-2014, work toward a definition of modernism

Week 2 M 1/26 Read Woolf “To the Lighthouse:  The Window”

W 1/28  Read Woolf “To the Lighthouse:  Time Passes”

F 1/30 Read Woolf “To the Lighthouse:  The Lighthouse”