COURSE OBJE CTIVES AND
CLASS POLICY
Course: English 2303 Phone Number: 210-317-3055
Mtg. Times: Tuesday (6
pm-10pm) –
Instructor:
OFFICE HOURS: If you need to meet with me, we can work something
out by appointment.
TEXTS: The Norton Anthology of World Literature,
Expanded Edition.
SUGGESTED SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIALS: Webster's New
Collegiate Dictionary and Roget's Thesaurus.
COURSE DESCRIPTION: This course is a continuation of 1302 with readings
that will include fiction, poetry, and drama in a cross-cultural (global),
historical format from the earliest literatures to the 20th/21st
C. Emphasis is on critical thinking and
analysis through interpretation of the literature selections. Critical thinking and writing will include,
but not be limited to, development of the paper assignments through logic,
argumentation and persuasion, research and analysis of the subject matter,
form, and style of all genres.
CLASS POLICY: As a minimum,
students will be expected to have read and thought about the assigned
reading. It is hoped that you will enter
into the spirit of the seminar format and offer your insights and ASK
QUESTIONS! It may be helpful to keep in
mind that part of your overall grade will be determined by class participation.
ACADEMIC HONESTY (and DISHONESTY): You are expected to know
the definitions of plagiarism and collusion and you are expected to NOT
engage in either. If evidence is found
that you have, an automatic "F" will be generated on the assignment
or paper in question. You are encouraged
to assist one another with access to class notes for missed classes. What is said in lecture is as important as
any reading assignment.
ABSENCES: In this class, absences
will generally be handled on an
individual, case-by-case basis. This is
because many of you may have professional obligations that may keep you from
attending class; I understand that. For
this reason, it is particularly important that you inform me of such an absence
beforehand, if at all possible. It will be
your responsibility to make up any work missed and get any lecture notes
that were missed during your absence.
COURSE OBJECTIVES/STUDENT COMPETENCIES: You should strive to be
able to write with:
Ř a strong sense and
understanding of the literature of the three genres: fiction, poetry, and drama,
Ř fluency, specificity,
purpose and the authenticity of your own voice,
Ř control of diction: words chosen for precision, appropriateness
and interest,
Ř control of syntax: the
structure of individual sentences, variety and interest.
GRADING CRITERIA: The course
grade will be based on three essay papers
and three comprehensive exams on
each of the genres of drama, poetry and fiction and poetry. This will allow for both qualitative
and quantitative factors when assessing overall performance. The last exam is
given as your final exam. All six grades
will weigh evenly in computing the final course grade. Specific parameters for the papers will be
discussed in more detail when necessary.
The exams consist of three parts: definitions, short answer questions,
and a matching section. The exams are
designed in such a way that you MUST do the reading, study your handouts, and
study your lecture notes in order to pass the exam. The exams are comprehensive over each genre.
*If you call
& I do not answer, please leave a message on my voice mail. I WILL get back
to you as soon as I can! Communication
is very important. If you cannot reach
me at my cell phone, you can always
leave a message for me through the Wayland office
English 2303 World Literature
Cynthia Williams
Tues. 6:00 pm
Summer 2009 Course Syllabus
5/26- General Introduction. What to expect (i.e.
Course Outline and Policy). Necessary
paperwork, etc. Handouts on Point of
View, Literary Terms (image, metaphor, symbol and archetype), Plot, Irony. Discussion of handouts. Discussion of terms. We will begin with Drama! Please begin
reading Oedipus Rex for next class.
6/2 - Drama:
Classical Greek, Medieval, Elizabethan, and Modern (19th-20th
C). Discussion of Oedipus Rex (Sophocles). We
will also read: Shakespeare (play tba, A Doll’s House (Ibsen), Tennessee
Williams (Menagerie & Streetcar)
and perhaps The Huey P.
6/9 – Continuing with Oedipus and beginning Everyman
(which you should have read by now).
Moving on Shakespeare. Discussion
of Elizabethan drama.
6/16 - . Discuss
Shakespeare. Watch Shakespeare production. Begin Modern drama. (nothing of much literary merit was being
produced in
6/23 - Discuss A
Doll’s House (watch, if I can find the video/dvd production I want.) Begin discussion of Tennessee Williams.
Please read The Glass Menagerie and A
Street Car Named Desire.
6/30 – Watch Tennessee Williams play. Study link to Huey P. Newton for background
on Smith’s characterization of
7/7 – Discussion of contemporary theater; discussion
of the one-man show theater device.
Brief background on ‘70s Black Panther movement. Emphasis however is on Roger Smith’s
portrayal of Huey P. Newton and Spike Lee’s staging (choice of music, lighting,
etc.) Watch The Huey P.
WEEK 8
7/14 - Drama
Test. L Paper due NLT
Friday of this week (7/19) by 6pm. Discussion of
medieval poetry (and story telling -- please remember the novel and short story
haven’t evolved yet!) Discussion of
Gilgamesh as an example of the unifying legend of “the flood” in all culture;
the Florentine Codex as an example of ancient poetry; Catullus and Ovid as
examples of Roman classical poetry;
discussion of Dante, Boccaccio, and Chaucer as medieval “story tellers”
and poets.
WEEK 9
7/21 - 18th
C. Swift’s “A Modest Proposal” as the
hyperbole of satire in prose. (The novel
and short story are beginning to evolving in the 18th C.!) . Begin reading Flaubert (“A Simple Heart”);
Hawthorne (“Young Goodman Brown”) – both 19th C. Borges (“The Garden of Forking Paths”) - 20th
C.
WEEK 10
7/28 - Poetry: the
Florentine Codex as an example of ancient poetry; Catullus and Ovid as examples
of Roman classical poetry; the 19th C. Blake, Wordsworth, (English); Whitman,
8/4 – Last exam; in class essay.