Missouri Western State University

 College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Department of English, Foreign Language, and Journalism

English 210-02

English 210-80 

Approaches to Literature—Japanese and Japanese-American Literature

Murphy Hall 104

T/Th11:00-12:20 

Dr. Stacia Bensyl  Eder 222-I

Phone: 271-5936  email: bensyl@missouriwestern.edu

Office Hours: 10:00-12:00 MWF, 1:00-2:00 T, and by appointment

 

Required Texts:

 

Assessment methods:

·        Eleven 10-point quizzes

·        Two in-class writings worth 50 points each.  

·        A mid-term, worth 100 points (70 points objective and two short--one paragraph--answers worth 15 points each)

·        A final exam worth 100 points (50 points objective and one essay worth 50 points)

 

Honors:

·        Students taking this as an Honors course will be doing additional reading (4) and writing (2) assignments.  They will be given an additional syllabus for those assignments the first day of class.

 

Classroom expectations:

·        Students should come to class prepared by reading the assignment for that day.

·        Quizzes cannot be made up.  Please do not ask to do so.  After I collect the quizzes, latecomers will not be given the opportunity to take the quiz.  I will drop the lowest quiz score you receive during the semester.

·        Students should come to class with an open mind.  We will be discussing ideas that may be different from our own, and a culture which is new to many of us.

·        Students should not visit, whisper, or talk during lectures.  Not only is it disrespectful to me, more importantly it’s disrespectful to your peers and to the subject we are all trying to learn more about.

·        Turn off your cell phone or put it on silent.  I have been known to answer students’ phones in class if they ring. 

·        Students will not use class time to text message.  I do notice, and I will say something to you in class about it in front of your peers the first time.  The second time I will ask you to leave.

·        Students should participate in classroom discussion.

 

Objectives:

·        Students will have a better understanding of literature by Japanese and Japanese-Americans

·        Students will be able to put Japanese and Japanese-American literature in a historical and cultural context to further this understanding

·        Students will learn the contributions of classical Japanese literature to contemporary Japanese literary forms, such as Manga

·        Students will be able to discuss and write about Japanese and Japanese-American literature

 

Student Disability:

     Any student in this course who has a disability that prevents the fullest expressions of abilities should contact Missouri Western's special needs coordinator for possible certification of special needs and expert recommendations for assistance.  You should also contact me personally as soon as possible so that we can discuss class requirements.

 

Attendance policy:

     In order to improve student learning as well as to achieve compliance with federal financial aid policies, Western has a mandatory attendance policy for all 100 and 200-level courses. You will be given an excused absence when acting as an official representative of the university, provided you give prior written verification from the faculty/staff supervisor of the event.

All other absences will be deemed unexcused.  The maximum number of unexcused absences allowed for this class before the midterm report, October 17, is three (3). Thus, when you have three unexcused absences you will be reported to the Registrar’s Office, who will automatically withdraw you from this class.  The Financial Aid Office will reduce financial aid as appropriate.

 

Academic Honesty Policy:

     I abide by all the regulations outlined in the Missouri Western State University Catalog and Student Handbook:

 

Academic Honesty Policy and Due Process

Academic honesty is required in all academic endeavors. Violations of academic honesty

include any instance of plagiarism, cheating, seeking credit for another’s work, falsifying

documents or academic records, or any other fraudulent activity. Violations of academic

honesty may result in a failing grade on the assignment, failure in the course, or

expulsion from the University. When a student’s grade has been affected, violations of

academic honesty will be reported to the Provost or designated representative on the

Academic Honesty Violation Report forms.

Please see the 2006-07 Student Handbook and Calendar on page 21 for specific activities

identified as violations of this policy and the student due process procedure. This

handbook is also available online at http://www.missouriwestern.edu/handbook/index.pdf

 

     I will not tolerate plagiarism, cheating, or claiming another's work as your own.  Please don't cheat!  If I find evidence of academic dishonesty, I will automatically assign that student an “F” for the course.

 

Course grading scale:

100-90% = A

80-89%   = B

70-79%   = C

60-69%   = D

59- 0%    = F

 

Final Exam:  Tuesday, December 11, 11:30-1:20

 

 

Tentative Assignment Schedule

 

Aug.     28        Introduction

            30        Buddhism and Shinto

Sep.       4        The Tale of Genji  Introduction and Chapter I, II and III

              6        The Tale of Genji  Chapter IV,V and VI

            11        The Tale of Genji  Chapter VII, VIII and IX

            13        Japanese poetry:  Haiku and Waka (handouts)

            18        Haiku and Waka (handouts)

            20        Japanese theater (handouts)

25        Japanese theater (handouts)

            27        Japanese theater (handouts)

Oct.       2        First in class writing

              4        Kabuki film

              9        Mid-term exam

            11        Goossen “The Third Night” page 28

            16        Goossen “The Peony Garden” page 45

18        GoossenAguri” page 62

23        Goossen “Blowfish” page 74 

25        Goossen “The Izu Dancer” page 129

30        Goossen “The Flower-Eating Crone” page 172

Nov.      1        GoossenOnnagata” page 293

              6        Yamamoto “Seventeen Syllables” page 8           

  8        Yamamoto “Yoneko’s Earthquake” page 46

13        Yamamoto “Florentine Garden” page 158

15        Second in class writing

20        Yamamoto “The Legend of Miss Sasagawara” page 20

22        No class—Thanksgiving holiday

27        film—Japanese internment

29        Farewell to Manzanar

Dec.       4        Farewell to Manzanar

              6        TBA