REQUIRED TEXTS

Greenblatt, Stephen, et al. The Norton Anthology of English Literature. Vol. 1. W.W. Norton & Co. ISBN: 0-393-92531-5

Swift, Jonathan. Gulliver's Travels (Norton Critical Edition). New York: W.W. Norton & Co. ISBN:  0-393-95724-1

Shelley, Mary Wollstonecraft, Bram Stoker, and Robert Louis Stevenson. Frankenstein, Dracula, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Introduction by Stephen King. New York: Signet Classic/Mass Market Paperback, 1978. ISBN: 0451523636

ADDITIONAL TEXT RECOMMENDATIONS

Harmon, William. A Handbook to Literature. New York: Prentice Hall, 2005. ISBN-10: 0131344420

Lynn, Steven. Texts and Contexts. 4th Edition. New York: Longman, 2004. ISBN-10: 0321209427

Any Handbook to Writing or Writer’s Guide will work to help you with your writing assignments and MLA documentations.

COURSE DESCRIPTION

British Literature I is a “survey of major works and writers in British Literature from the Anglo-Saxon period through the 18^th century.” It is a course which is meant to expose you to a breadth of English literature in a relatively short period of time. As such we will be leaping through the centuries quite rapidly; but not to worry, frequent stops are on our schedule, allowing us brief glances at some of the jewels of literature written on the British Isles. On this journey, we will encounter a variety of genres from a variety of literary periods, and we will spend some time with each and every one of them. Because much of the literature we will be reading this semester will be “south” of the twentieth century—indeed, our focus lies almost exclusively with literature written prior to the nineteenth century and going as far back as the tenth century—it will take our combined effort to read sometimes archaic-seeming language, to comprehend words written by authors of earlier periods, and to regain access into our literary and cultural past.

In order to facilitate our journey through time, we will engage with a variety of literary media this semester. Besides listening to me read to you, for example, we will also listen to audio recordings of Beowulf, and we will watch clips from a movie about Sir Gawain and the Green Knight and a production of Shakespeare’s King Lear or Titus Andronicus. In addition, you are strongly encouraged to bring in whatever visual aids or stories that you might have discovered in preparation for class discussion or oral reports and that might help the rest of us experience the literature we are reading more fully. Besides completing reading assignments prior to our meetings and coming to class prepared for class discussion and weekly quizzes, you are also expected to research the literature we read and to present your findings to the class, both individually and in small groups. Short paper assignments and oral presentations will be our most important tools of literary exploration this semester.

COURSE OBJECTIVES

Our focus this semester will lie on fostering a professional environment in which we can read, discuss and write about literature confidently and competently. At the end of this course you should be able to:

DEPARTMENT AND GENERAL EDUCATION OUTCOMES
English 251 meets the General Education requirements for the Humanities category; specifically, through its systematic exploration of the social, historical, and intellectual forces that shape British literature and that give voice to the cultural concerns that occupied individuals living on the British Isles prior to the 19^th century, English 251 meets the following learning outcomes:

GRADED ASSIGNMENTS

1) Individual Presentation (10%):
You need to prepare one 10-15 min. individual presentation this semester. This assignment can be completed in one of two ways: OPTION 1 consists of a 10-15 min. oral presentation on the biography (i.e. life and works) of one of our authors. We will be covering almost twenty different authors this semester, all of whom deserve a brief biographical introduction. This will be your job. Use the Internet and the NDSU library and see what you can find out about the folks we will be studying this semester and chose somebody that intrigues you, via her/his life and/or writing, and sign up to introduce s/he to the rest of us. When did s/he live and write? What social, political, cultural milieu was s/he part of? Can you perhaps find a picture or an anecdote that will help us visualize who this person was and what it was that made her/him so special and that inspired her/him to write the way s/he did? OPTION 2 consists of a 10-15 min. oral presentation on a historical/literary period. As I said in the beginning, we all are hitchhikers through the literary galaxy this semester and this is your chance to be our guide. Where and “when” are we? What was going on in Britain during this time? Who is in power and, perhaps more importantly, who is not? What kind of social, political and cultural influences can you identify that might have influenced the literature of this period? Did everybody write in the same style, about the same things? Why or why not? Can you perhaps find some illustrations or newspaper headlines that might help us picture this particular period in time? Whichever option you choose, your presentation needs to be accompanied by a 1-2 page presentation report (composed in prose and complete sentences, not in bullet points) which explains why you chose your topic, what it is that intrigues you about the text, its author, or a particular time period, and how you went about research your topic and assembling your material for the class presentation. Together, your oral presentation and the written report will account for 10% of your final grade

2) Group Presentation (20%):
In a group of four, you need to prepare one 20-30 min. presentation on a critical article about and literary approach to one of the text we are reading. As a group you will need to choose a text (a poem, a play, a story, a letter, or novel) as well as a scholarly article written about that text and present both the article and the approach the article takes to the rest of the class. There will be several opportunities for you to complete this assignment; I will alert you to these opportunities as we discuss our daily schedule on Thursday. While I gladly help you locate a scholarly article for your group presentation, you will be responsible for summarizing, contextualizing, and criticizing this article for the rest of us. What approach did the author take? What is the author’s professional/scholarly background? How is the argument structured? What are its major points? Do you agree with this approach? Do you agree with the analysis and the conclusions it draws about the text, its author, and/or the time period within which it was composed? In what ways is this article useful/not useful to our understanding of the literary text? As with the individual presentation, your group presentation also needs to be accompanied by a 1-2 page presentation report (composed in prose and complete sentences, not in bullet points) which explains why and how your group decided on your topic, what it is that intrigues you about the text, its author, or a particular time period, and how you went about dividing tasks within your group, researching your topic, and assembling your material for the class presentation. Together, your oral presentation and the written report will account for 20% of your final grade

NOTE: You will need to be signed up for both individual and group presentations by Thursday of week 2; a sign-up sheet will be available from Tuesday, September 2nd, on, and entries can be made during class time or during my office hours. E-mail requests will not be considered; you will have to check my office hours and swing by in person.

3) Three reflective papers (30%):
To complete this course successfully, you need to write a total of three 2-4 pages reflective papers this semester (see the daily schedule for due dates). As the word “reflective” indicates, these papers are meant to be exploratory and “reflect” your own thoughts and ponderings on one or several of the readings assigned for the course. These papers will be your chance to respond to a text formally, outside of class discussion, and to record your reaction to and interpretation/analysis of a play, a poem, or a theme, motif or problem reoccurring in multiple literary texts in form of a brief essay. While no research is required, you are welcome to “browse” and “skim” secondary materials, as long as you indicate clearly in your paper which thoughts are yours, which come from experts in the field (direct quotations), and which have been inspired by your reading of outside material (summaries and paraphrases). Since this is a formal writing exercise, you are expected to follow the rules of Standard Written English and MLA style formatting (to document your use of outside sources). Your papers should be no fewer than 2 and no more than 4 pages in length (double-spaced), with a 1” margin all around. Be sure to provide an introduction and a conclusion to your paper and organize your thoughts into coherent paragraphs. Note, please that a paragraph consists of a minimum of 7-10 sentences (this holds true for introductory and concluding paragraphs as well); anything shorter than that will be considered as “a fragment of a thought,” not as a paragraph, and it will not be counted as part of your argument.  Each of these written assignments will account for 10% of your final grade for a total 30%.

4. Midterm and Final Exam (30%):

There will be two exams this semester, one at midterm and one during finals week (see daily schedule for exact dates). The midterm exam will be an in-class, timed exam, while the final exam will be timed but take-home. The first test will consist of a mixture of identifications, fill-in-the-blanks, poem-scans, and short essay questions; the final exam will consist of two shorter essay questions and one longer essay question. Each exam will account for 15% of your final grade for a total of 30%.

5. Weekly Quizzes and Participation (10%):
In addition to the midterm and final exam, there will be weekly quizzes on the assigned reading. Coming to class un- or ill-prepared is never a good idea; it will both inhibit your ability to succeed on quizzes and your confidence to participate in conversations about the readings with your classmates and me. Note that participation in class discussion is necessary and not synonymous with attendance. “Being there” is not enough; you will need to take part in group activities and class discussions on and about the reading every time we meet as a class. Active class participation and the completion of assigned reading in preparation for class discussion and quizzes will account for 10% of your final grade.

GRADING

This course and all its assignment will be graded on a standard scale from A to F, with A representing work greater in quality than 90% and F lower than 50%. Paper grades are determined by applying standards of logic, coherence, style, and mechanics. Class assignments, exams, and course projects are clearly marked with percentages; refer to the assignment section of this syllabus for assignment criteria and individual grade/percentage allotments. You may also consult http://www.ndsu.edu/ndsu/theile/grades.html for a description of standards applied in the grading of written/oral assignments.

COURSE POLICIES

Read these guidelines carefully—they are essential to your successful completion of English 251.

DEPARTMENT ATTENDANCE POLICY

In compliance with NDSU University Senate Policy, Section 333: Class Attendance and Policy and Procedure, located at <http://www.ndsu.nodak.edu/policy/333.htm>, the English Department has established the following attendance policy. All English Department courses require active learning. Students are expected to speak, listen, and contribute. Therefore, prompt, regular attendance is required. Students who miss more than four weeks of class during the standard academic semester (e.g. twelve 50 minute classes, eight 75 minute classes, or their equivalent) will not pass the course. Moreover, each student is accountable for all work missed because of absence, and instructors have no obligation to make special arrangements for missed work. Additional attendance requirements may be implemented at the discretion of the individual instructor.

In addition, the following policies are applied to English 251: Timely attendance in class is a requirement for all students in English 251. Two late arrivals will count as one absence. Students with four absences will earn an F for the course; again, no exceptions are made. Keep track of your absences; regular and timely attendance is an absolute must.

If you do not understand these policies, you must ask me for clarification or stop by my office at your earliest convenience. By staying in this class, you are showing your acceptance of and compliance with these guidelines.

ABSENCES AND CONTACT INFORMATION

You are responsible for finding out what you missed on the days you were absent, and this should not take place by asking me at the beginning of the next class period. Gather the names, phone numbers, and e-mail addresses of at least two other students (preferably four) you can contact to find out what happened in class. I suggest that you record this information below, so you will have it handy when you need it.

Name/Phone: _______________________ Name/Phone: __________________________

E-mail:   ___________________________ E-mail: _______________________________

Name/Phone: ______________________  Name/Phone:___________________________

E-mail:   ___________________________ E-mail: _______________________________

CAMPUS RESOURCES

Center for Writers: The Center for Writers is located in the library. The Center employs student tutors who will talk to you about your writing. Note, please, that the Center is not a proofreading service; expect tutors to offer suggestions for the overall improvement of your paper—no more, no less.

Library: You will need to familiarize yourself with the library this semester as you conduct your research for your oral presentations, both individual and group. Besides the general catalogue/search engine, notice the database link on the NDSU Library home page; this will take you to all of the databases to which you have free access as an NDSU student (such as Project Muse, JSTOR, ProQuest Direct, and the MLA Bibliography).

Reference Librarians: The reference librarians are another important resource for you; they are some of the most competent and helpful people on campus, and they will be happy to help you locate whichever information you need.

Minard Hall 322 F: I guarantee that I will be in my office during my scheduled office hours, but I am in my office or somewhere in or around Minard Hall quite a bit. If you have questions about assignment instructions or expectations, please come and see me. The quickest way to get in touch with me is by finding me in my office; option 2 is sending me an E-mail inquiry. I rank phone messages as option 3, because NDSU phones do not support long distance calls, which disqualifies most of your cell phone numbers, I’m sure; leave local numbers or email addresses only, please.

A Note on E-mail Etiquette: I am always happy to answer questions and discuss research topics, your progress in the course, and course assignments via e-mail. I do trust, however, that all e-mails are written in a respectful, professional tone and that they are proofread before they are sent. Remember please that this is a university level English course; your writing needs to reflect that. I do not respond to unprofessional or sloppily composed e-mails.

ACADEMIC HONESTY AND PROFESSIONAL INTEGRITY

Plagiarism is grounds for failing the assignment and this course. All incidents of plagiarism and/or collusion will be reported to the department chair, the dean, and Student Affairs. There are no exceptions to this rule. Academic dishonesty is not acceptable in this or any other class at NDSU. All work for this course and all NDSU courses must be completed in a manner consistent with NDSU University Senate Policy, Section 335: Code of Academic Responsibility and Conduct; see www.ndsu.edu/policy/335.htm for policy details. Note that action will be taken immediately and that dismissal from the university lies at the discretion of the Dean of Student Affairs. Save drafts, notes, and outlines for all of your written and oral assignments. You are expected to provide evidence of significant invention and revision for all work produced for English 251; be prepared to do so, and keep track of your work notes.

SPECIAL NEEDS

In keeping with the Americans with Disabilities Act, I encourage students with special needs, who need special accommodations in this course, to share these concerns or requests with me during the first week of class.

PORTFOLIO RECOMMENDATION FOR ENGLISH MAJORS
During their senior year, English majors generally enroll in the English Capstone course (Engl 467), during which they assemble a portfolio containing representative written work from NDSU English courses.  The English Department evaluates these portfolios to assess its undergraduate programs, analyzing how student work meets departmental outcomes.  In order to facilitate the preparation of senior portfolios, English majors are encouraged to save copies of their written work (in electronic and hard copy) each semester.

TENATIVE LIST OF DAILY READINGS FOR ENGLISH 251
You will need to complete all of the reading by the day it is listed on the syllabus, announced in class, and/or posted on the website. As in all classes, the schedule will occasionally need to be shifted to accommodate class discussion. Changes will be announced in class and/or posted on the course website http://www.ndsu.edu/ndsu/theile/eng251.html. Be sure to check the website regularly and contact your classmates when you miss class. It is your responsibility to keep track of reading assignments and scheduling updates.

Revised Syllabus for British Literature I

11/4    Excerpts from Thomas More's Utopia and Margaret Cavendish's The Blazing World

11/6    John Donne, “The Flea,” “A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning,” Sonnet 14 (“Batter my heart, three-personed God”); George Herbert, “The Altar,” “Redemption,” “Easter Wings,” “Man”

11/11    VETERANS’ DAY – NO CLASS

11/13    Henry Vaughan, “Regeneration,” “The Retreat,” “The World,” “Cock-Crowing,” “The Night,” “The Waterfall”; Andrew Marvell “To His Coy Mistress,” “An Horation Ode”

11/18    John Dryden: Criticism (An Essay of Dramatic Poesy, A Discourse Concerning the Original and Progress of Satire); Jonathan Swift, A Modest Proposal

11/20    Excerpts from Swift’s Gulliver’s Travels

11/25    Excerpts from Swift’s Gulliver’s Travels
[Group presentation on Swift’s Gulliver’s Travels]

11/27    THANKSGIVING BREAK – NO CLASS

12/2    Pope: An Essay on Criticism; Thomas Gray: “Ode on the Death of a Favorite Cat,” “Elegy written in a Country Churchyard”
Reflective Paper #3 Due

12/4    Wordsworth, “Preface to Lyrical Ballads,” “Ode: Intimations of Immortality recollected from Early Childhood,” “Mariana,”  “I wander lonely as a Cloud,” “A Slumber did my Spirit seal”

12/9      DEAD WEEK – Bram Stoker, Dracula

12/11    DEAD WEEK – Bram Stoker, Dracula
[Group presentation on Stoker’s Dracula]

12/16    FINALS WEEK – NO CLASS

12/18    NO CLASS – Final Exam due via Blackboard by 5pm