World Literature I

 

Instructor: Dr. Kevin Eubanks 

 

Office Phone: (940) 498-6218  (Email is a better way to contact the instructor.)

 

Office Address: 206 Corinth (inside 201)

 

Office Hours: 

 

Monday 1-3                            

Wednesday 1-3

 

E-mail: Please use the Canvas messaging system. If Canvas is not working, use keubanks@nctc.edu

 

Required Text

 

Davis, Paul, et al. editors. Bedford Anthology of World Literature: Compact Edition, vol. 1. Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2009. [ISBN: 0-312-44153-3]

 

We will be looking at specific passages from the readings during class, so you should bring your book to every class meeting.

 

Other Required Materials

 

• note-taking supplies
• two bluebooks for exams

 

Course Description

 

A survey of world literature from the ancient world through the 18^th century.  Students will study works of prose, poetry, drama, and fiction in relation to their historical and cultural contexts.  Texts will be selected from a diverse group of authors and traditions.

Prerequisite:  ENGL 1301 or equivalent

 

Course Assignments

 

• Two major examinations  
• One researched essay 
• One Literature and Life in-class presentation 
• Daily work (homework and in-class assignments over course readings) 

 

Grading Policy

 

• Unit exams: 25% each
• Essay: 25%
• Literature and Life presentation: 5%
• Daily work: 20% total
  

Attendance Policy

 

You may be dropped from the course after missing, for any reason, 12 classes.

If you miss class, you are responsible for all material covered while you are absent. You are also responsible for any work due the day you return to class. Therefore, if you have to miss class, you should contact a classmate to find out what was covered.

You are expected to come to class on time and to stay the entire period. Any assignment missed at the beginning of a class period cannot be made up. If you leave class early, you cannot receive credit for any in-class work done that day.

Due-Date Policies

 

All assignments are due at the beginning of class on the due date.  Homework cannot be submitted after the due date. In-class daily work cannot be made up. We will have extra-credit assignments to make up for some missing daily work; however, frequent absences will lower your grade.

The grade for the essay and bibliography will be lowered by ten percent each day after the due date, unless your absence is excused (see below). Exams cannot be taken after the scheduled date, unless your absence is excused. These types of absences will be excused:

 

• you are ill
• your child is ill
• an immediate family member dies

 

If you have multiple absences, you may be asked to provide documentation. If you miss the due date for the essay and bibliography, you must contact the instructor to discuss the situation. If you miss an exam, you must schedule a make-up exam within one week of returning to class.

Classroom Behavior Policies

Disrespectful or disruptive behavior will not be tolerated in the classroom. The following is a partial list of disruptive behaviors:

 

• using a cell phone for any purpose unrelated to the course
• using a laptop or tablet computer for any purpose unrelated to the course
• talking to another student, except during group work or class discussions

 

If you are disruptive or disrespectful, you may be asked to leave the classroom. In that case, you will receive no credit for the day’s work.

Academic Integrity

 

Scholastic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, cheating on a test or quiz, plagiarism, and collusion. See See Student Handbook “Student Rights & Responsibilities: Student Conduct [FLB- (LOCAL)]” #18.Disciplinary Actions [Student Handbook, p. 164, #5] “When cheating, collusion, or plagiarism has occurred beyond any reasonable doubt, the instructor may give the student or students involved an ‘F’ on a particular assignment or in the course. [See Scholastic Dishonesty FLB (Local)] The instructor shall make a written report of the incident and of the planned action to his Department Chair. The Department Chair shall report the incident and action to appropriate instructional dean who shall review the case, notify the student and, if necessary, take further action. This may involve either probation or suspension of the student or students in question. If such disciplinary action is deemed necessary, the Dean of Student Services shall be notified, and the action shall be taken through that office.”  

Cheating includes taking quizzes together with another person, letting someone else take the exam or quiz, and using someone else's notes to study for an exam. You are encouraged to study with others; however, you cannot simply rely on someone else’s notes. Exam responses that are overly similar will be considered evidence of cheating.

 

Plagiarism is the presentation of another person’s work as one’s own, whether intentionally or not. All sources used should be carefully documented using MLA format. 

Collusion is receiving unacknowledged help on an essay or on analysis questions. Any help you receive on a particular assignment should be described in writing and submitted along with the assignment. You are encouraged to discuss ideas with others and to let others proofread your writing; however, the actual wording should be your own.

 

A person who cheats, plagiarizes, or colludes with another will receive a zero for the particular assignment, and may receive an F for the course. Note that the exam is a single assignment with three sections, so a zero on any section will result in a zero for the whole exam.

 

Learning Outcomes

 

Students who successfully complete English 2332 will meet the following learning outcomes:

1. Identify key ideas, representative authors and works, significant historical or cultural events, and characteristic perspectives or attitudes expressed in the literature of different periods or regions.
2. Analyze literary works as expressions of individual or communal values within the social, political, cultural, or religious contexts of different literary periods.
3. Demonstrate knowledge of the development of characteristic forms or styles of expression during different historical periods or in different regions.
4. Articulate the aesthetic principles that guide the scope and variety of works in the arts and humanities.
5. Write research-based critical papers about the assigned readings in clear and grammatically correct prose, using various critical approaches to literature.  

Core Objectives 

(Foundational Component Area:  Language, Philosophy, and Culture)

• Critical Thinking Skills (CT)- to include creative thinking, innovation, inquiry, and analysis, evaluation and synthesis of information
• Communication Skills (COM)- to include effective development, interpretation and expression of ideas through written, oral, and visual communication
• Social Responsibility (SR)- to include intercultural competency, knowledge of civic responsibility, and the ability to engage effectively in regional, national, and global communities
• Personal Responsibility (PR)- to include the ability to connect choices, actions, and consequences to ethical decision-making

 

 

Disability Services (OSD)

 

The Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD) provides accommodations for students who have a documented disability. On the Corinth Campus, go to room 170 or call 940-498-6207. On the Gainesville Campus, go to room 110 or call 940-668-4209.  Students on the Bowie, Graham, Flower Mound, and online campuses should call 940-668-4209.

North Central Texas College is on record as being committed to both the spirit and letter of federal equal opportunity legislation, including the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, ADA Amendments Act of 2009, and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (P.L. 93-112).   http://www.nctc.edu/StudentServices/SupportServices/Disabilityservices.aspx

Support Services

 

Counseling and Testing staff offer a variety of services to current and prospective students, such as College 101, placement testing, academic advising and course registration, transfer assistance, and College Success seminars (Time Management, Study Skills, Test Anxiety, Choosing a Major, Learning Style Strategies, Career Exploration), and much more.  http://www.nctc.edu/StudentServices/CounselingTesting.aspx

Student Success offers academic coaching and tutoring, including a Writing Center, a Math Lab, and free 211/7 online tutoring through Grade Results. Student Success also helps new students acclimate to college by providing computer lab services for prospective students. First generation students can also participate in TRIO which offers specialized support services.

http://www.nctc.edu/StudentServices/SupportServices.aspx

Financial Aid offers financial resources for students that qualify; visit the financial aid offices for more information.  http://www.nctc.edu/FInancialAidHome.aspx

Early Alert/CARES

 

The NCTC Early Alert program has been established to assist students who are at risk of failing or withdrawing from a course. Your instructor may refer you to this program if you are missing assignments, failing tests, excessively absent, or have personal circumstances impacting your academic performance. If submitted as an Early Alert you will be notified via your NCTC e-mail address and then contacted by a Counseling and Testing advisor or counselor to discuss possible strategies for completing your course successfully.

 The NCTC CARES (Campus Assessment Response Evaluation Services) Team addresses behavior which may be disruptive, harmful or pose a threat to the health and safety of the NCTC community--such as stalking, harassment, physical or emotional abuse, violent or threatening behavior, or self-harm. As a student, you have the ability to report concerning behavior which could impact your own safety or the safety of other NCTC students. Just click the NCTC CARES Team logo posted on MyNCTC, or send an e-mail to CARESTeam@nctc.edu.  If you feel there is an immediate threat to the safety and welfare of yourself or of another student, please call 911.

  

Unit One: The Ancient World 
The Ancient Sumerians and Hebrews

 course overview; introduction to the Ancient World

from the Epic of Gilgamesh, "Utnapishtim and the Great Flood" (chapters 4-5); from the Hebrew Bible, "The Flood" (Genesis chapters 6-9)

The Ancient Greeks

 Homer, from the Odyssey, Book 10

Sophocles, Oedipus the King (1-32)

Sophocles, Oedipus the King (33-end)

Aristophanes, Lysistrata (1-38) 

Aristophanes, Lysistrata (39-end) 

Plato, The Apology of Socrates 

The Ancient Romans

Catullus, selected lyrics; "Context for Metamorphoses: Rome under Emperor Augustus";

Ovid, selections from Metamorphoses

Christianity and Islam

from the New Testament, "The Sermon on the Mount," "Parables," "Why Jesus Teaches in Parables"

St. Augustine, selections from the Confessions        
Quran, selected suras

review for exam

Unit One Exam, Part 1 in class

Unit One Exam, Part 2 in class; Unit One Essay and Annotated Bibliography due in Canvas by midnight 

 

Unit Two: The Middle Ages 

Introduction to the Middle Ages; Context for the Middle Ages: the Code of Chivalry and the Courtly Love Tradition
Marie de France, "Lanval," "Laüstic" 

selected medieval lyrics 
Context for the Inferno: Dante and Beatrice; Dante, from the Inferno, Cantos 1-5 
Dante, from the Inferno, Cantos 32-34
Boccaccio, selected tales from the Decameron   

 anonymous, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Fyttes 1-2   

(3/14-3/18: Spring Break, no class)

anonymous, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Fyttes 3-4

Chaucer, from the Canterbury Tales, "The Wife of Bath's Prologue and Tale"

Chaucer, from the Canterbury Tales, "The Pardoner's Prologue and Tale"
anonymous, Everyman

review for exam

Unit Two Exam, Part 1 in class

Unit Two Exam, Part 2 in class; Unit One Essay and Annotated Bibliography due in Canvas by midnight

 

Unit Three: The Renaissance 
 Introduction to the Renaissance
(Note: April 7 is the last day to withdraw from a class with ‘W.’)

Context for Rime Sparse: Petrarch’s note on Laura’s life; Petrarch, poems from Rime Sparse 
Machiavelli, selections from The Prince 

Erasmus, from The Praise of Folly (1-11)

Erasmus, from The Praise of Folly (12-end)

Marguerite de Navarre, selected tales from the Heptameron

Cervantes, from Don Quixote (1-26)

Cervantes, from Don Quixote (26-49)

Cervantes, from Don Quixote (49-69)

Montaigne, from Essays, "Of Cannibals"     

Shakespeare, Othello, Acts 1-2
Shakespeare, Othello, Act 3-Act 4, Scene 1

Shakespeare, Othello, Act 4, Scene 2-Act 5

 review for exam

 

Unit Three Exam, Parts 1-2; Unit One Essay and Annotated Bibliography due in Canvas by midnight