Missouri Western State University

Division of Liberal Arts and Sciences

ENG 353:  Literature in English, 1660-1800

Class meets 3:30 – 6:20 Eder 210

Spring 2006

Instructor Information

            Dr. Karen U. Fulton, Professor

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

            Email: fulton@missouriwestern.edu

            Office:  Eder 222/H

            Office Hours: 2-3:30 M, 10-12:20 and 2-3:30 T; other hours by appointment

Required Texts

            Blaisdell, Bob.  Great Speeches by Native Americans.  NY:  Dover , 2000.

            Blake, W.  Songs of Innocence and Experience.  NY:  Dover, 1992.

            Bradstreet, Anne. “To Her Husband” and Other Poems.  NY: Dover, 2004.

            Grafton, John.  The Declaration of Independence etc. NY:  Dover, 2000.

            Sherman, J. African American Poetry. NY: Dover, 1998.

            Sherman, Stuart.  Longman Anth. of Brit. Lit.,1 C.  NY: Longman, 1999

            Sterne, L. The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman.  NY: Modern, 2004.

            Swift, Jonathan.  Gulliver’s Travels.  New York:  Dover, 1996.

            Required Supplies

·        Access to word processor with spell-checker (all papers must be word-processed).

·        A 3-ring binder (spine no greater than 1/2") for submission of end of semester portfolio.

English 353 objectives:

1.      Understand the socio-political and historical backgrounds that underpin the literature created in English during 1660 to 1800.

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.

English 353 means:

1.      Class discussion;

2.      Viewing of video/DVD presentations of material;

3.      Quizzes

4.      Two critical papers; and

5.      End of semester portfolio.

Course Policies

Attendance Policies

            Class attendance is critical; however, I will record absences at every meeting.  Since each absence represents a full week of work, no more than 1 absence will be acceptable this semester. It should be taken only in the most dire circumstances and the instructor informed beforehand (if possible). A student who is not prepared for class is considered absent and will be so recorded.

The final session 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 and present your portfolio to this semester's class. Final date is Friday, May 5 at 2 pm.

Academic Honesty Policy

Students must submit their own work. Students who are guilty of 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

            Mid-term grades will be based on class attendance and participation, completion of required work, and quizzes. This grade will then be figured as 10% of the final course grade.

Final grade

            The other 90% of the grade will be determined on the basis of a portfolio submitted on April 24, 2005 . This portfolio will consist of at least three finished and revised pieces of writing (in addition to the self-reflective essay). One of these pieces must have begun as a class assignment (and will be designated the class demonstration paper).  All pieces may initially have been class generated.

Portfolio

            During the first two weeks of class, more detailed portfolio specifications will be handed out and previous portfolios will be brought to class.

You will self-grade the portfolio when you submit it. I will meet with you individually to discuss the grade of the portfolio and we will tape that conference. You then have the option of revising and resubmitting the portfolio on the day of the final (May 5). You have only one opportunity to resubmit a portfolio.

Minimal Passing Standards

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

      • complete all written assignments and quizzes;;
      • submit a self-graded portfolio on the due date;
      • not have more than 1 absence 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

            All drafts of papers must be word processed in double spaced 12-point Arial (or equivalent font) with 1” margins around the sides and bottom.

Deadlines for written work

Papers are scheduled so I can do three readings of your work and return a response to you in a timely fashion. If your work does not come in at the time assigned, it may not be returned to you until the end of the semester. Credit will not be given until the instructor has commented on the work.

Feedback Mode

            Letter grades are usually not given on the writing assignments. Instead feedback is given by way of an audio-tape containing my spoken comments on your paper and  written comments on your work. 

Caveat

            These indicators are not convertible to letter grades. I welcome conferences with anyone who has questions about the paper, the tape, or how the paper might fit into the final portfolio.

Minimal Standards for Projects:  Any project will be returned unread and uncredited if required materials  and correct word-processing and spell checking have not been completed.

Calendar

Week 1 1/23  Fill out information sheets, coverage of syllabus, background and history of the period, Dryden “MacFlecknoe” and the beginning of “Absolom and Achitophel

Week 2  1/30 Behn Oroonoko (Longman 2235-2276)

Week 3 2/6 Swift, Gulliver’s Travels (Dover)

Week 4 2/13 Pope, “The Rape of the Lock  Tristram Shandy, Vol. I

Week 5 2/20  NO CLASS. President’s Day. Read Tristram Shandy, Vol II.

Week 6 2/27 Wycherly The Country Wife (2289), Sheridan The School For Scandal  (2888) Tristram Shandy, Vol III

Paper #1 due over Swift, Pope, and or Behn

Week 7 3/6 Gay  ’The Beggar’s Opera’ and Its Time Influences and Impact” (2585-2645) Tristram Shandy Vol IV

Week 8 3/20 The Women: Cavendish, Behn, Bradstreet, Chudleith, Finch, Leapor, Astel, Montagu, and Tristram Shandy Vol V

Paper # 2 due over drama/theatre

Week 9 3/27 The Americans.  Selections from Blaisdell, Bradstreet, Grafton, and J. Sherman  and Tristram Shandy Vol VI

Week 10 4/3 “Perspectives: Mind and God” (2656-2686) and Tristram Shandy Vol VII

Week 11 4/10 Samuel Johnson, selections and Tristram Shandy, Vol VIII

Week 12  4/17 Tristram Shandy, Vol IX

Week 13 4/24 Portfolio Due

Week 14 5/1 Blake, Songs of Innocence and Songs of Experience

Final Friday, May 5 in Eder 210.  Last day to resubmit a portfolio