English 2362.001: Fall 2015
WorldLiterature Survey – Transatlantic Literature
Hybrid Class (MW—F2F; F—online)
Dr. Ann BeebeOffice Hours:
BUS 250 MWF 10:00 – 11:30am
Office: 903-565-5827 and by appointment
Email:
I will give you my home & cell numbers on the 1st day of class.
Welcome to English 2362, the sophomore-level survey of pre-1800 World literature with an emphasis on Transatlantic Literature. We will be studying a variety of genres: essay, narrative, poetry, drama, and sketch. We will be reading the works of American, British, French, African, and Caribbean authors this semester and answering a few basic questions. In various ways, these authors ask: “Who am I? Where do I belong? How am I like people from other continents? How do I differ? How important are these differences? How do I identify myself? What is important to my sense of self?”These Transatlantic works date from the 1490s to 1800, but these are questions we continue to ask ourselves in the 21st century. I hope that when the semester is over you will have discovered a couple of favorite new authors to add to your personal reading list.
I am very excited about this class and our syllabus. This particular section is a hybrid. For your convenience and learning success we will meet in person on Mondays and Wednesdays. Your Friday classes (with the exception of October 2nd) will be online. Your Blackboard for this class is organized by week. You will find all videos, handouts, grades, and discussion boards on this website.
I work hard to put together my classes, and I expect a great deal from my students. I expect you to be in class every day and on time. I expect all readings to be completed by the assigned date. I expect your reading to be active. Mark up your books (hardcopy & etexts) and take notes as you read. I expect everyone to participate substantially in class and / or Blackboard discussion and listen respectfully to classmates. And lastly, if you have any questions about class policies, assignments, or readings, I expect you to ask them. You may always ask questions in class, call or email me, or drop by my office.
In return there are certain things you can expect from me. I will attend class and be on time. I will keep my office hours and make appointments with students who cannot meet during my hours. I will complete all the readings and plan lessons by the assigned date. I will give all assignments in writing and sufficiently in advance. I will grade and return all assignments in a timely manner. I will maintain your Grade Center on Blackboard. I will answer questions about assignments in class or in my office. If I cannot answer a question when you ask it, I will have the answer by the next class period.
The primary goals of English 2362 are the instruction and daily practice of critical reading, thinking, and writing. These are crucial skills for all the future doctors, lawyers, entrepreneurs, administrators, executives, public servants, and teachers in the room.
Required Texts:[Please use these editions, hardcopy or ecopy.]
- The English Literatures of America (Ed. Myra Jehlen & Michael Warner) ISBN: 0-415-90873-6
- The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano (Ed. Werner Sollors) ISBN: 978-0-393-97494-2 – Please obtain THIS edition of Equiano’s narrative.
Daily Schedule
[This schedule includes all major readings and assignments. Small additions or changes
may be made. I will make any such changes in writing.]
Week 1 Checklist:
M 8/24:Introduction to: Course Goals, Hybrid Format, Syllabus, Expectations for
Blackboard Posts, Student Information Sheets, “This I Know” Videos, Quizzes, Videos on Blackboard
W 8/26:Read Columbus, 11-17 [All assignments should be read before class on the
assigned day.]
Turn in Student Information Sheet
Turn in Syllabus Signature Form [Students will be asked to acknowledge that they
have read and understood the requirements for this course posted on the syllabus.]
Turn in Daily BB comment[BEFORE class on MWF, you will be required to post
at least one time on BB. Your 10% participation grade will come from these posts, but it can be supplemented by participation in class discussion. Respectful and substantial replies to posts by your classmates will also supplement your participation grade.You can also add to your commentary after class by replying to your original post. Your motto: read and respond / post. No passive reading / participation in this class.]
Take Quiz Question 1in class [All quizzes will consist of one short answer
question. They will take place in the first 5 minutes of class. Tardy students will not be allowed to make up the quizzes.]
F 8/28:ONLINE
Watch the Week 1 Video(s)
Read Vespucci, 17-28
Email Quiz Question 2 directly to me [ by midnight [The
quiz question will be posted on BB by 8am.]
Turn in Daily BB comment
Week 2 Checklist:
M 8/31:Nahuatl Accounts, 30-35
Native American Speeches (This reading under “Getting Started.”)
Turn in Daily BB comment
Take Quiz Question 3in class
W 9/2:ONLINE
Watch the Week 2 Video(s)
Read More, 44-46
Read Best, 54-58
Read Four Views, 58-63
Email Quiz Question 4 directly to me [ by midnight [The
quiz question will be posted on BB by 8am.]
Turn in Daily BB comment
F 9/4:Read Hariot, 64-89
Take Quiz Question 5 in class
Turn in Daily BB comment
Week 3 Checklist:
M 9/7:NO CLASS – LABOR DAY
W 9/9:Read Bacon, 97-99
Read Montaigne essay (This reading under “Getting Started.”)
Take Quiz Question 6 in class
Turn in Daily BB comment
F 9/11:ONLINE
Watch the Week 3 Video(s)
Review the Essay Assignment Sheet posted on Blackboard
Read Smith, 108-122, 146-148, 200
Email Quiz Question 7 directly to me [ by midnight [The
quiz question will be posted on BB by 8am.]
Turn in Daily BB comment
Week 4 Checklist:
M 9/14:Read James I, 198-200
Read Ligon, 201-219
Take Quiz Question 8 in class
Turn in Daily BB comment
W 9/16:Read Two Accounts, 224-232
Take Quiz Question 9 in class
Turn in Daily BB comment
F 9/18:ONLINE
Watch the Week 4 Video(s)
Read Behn, 233-248
Turn in Daily BB comment
Week 5 Checklist:
M 9/21:Read Behn, 248-270
Take Quiz Question 10 in class
Turn in Daily BB comment
W 9/23:Read Behn, 271-291
Take Quiz Question 11 in class
Turn in Daily BB comment
F 9/25:ONLINE
Watch the Week 5 Video(s)
Read Colt, 161-164
Read Ward, 299-303
Review the Exam 1 Study Guide posted on Blackboard
Email Quiz Question 12 directly to me [ by midnight [The
quiz question will be posted on BB by 8am.]
Turn in Daily BB comment
Week 6 Checklist:
M 9/28:Read Chamberlain, 388-399
Read Noyes, 408-414
Turn in Daily BB comment
Take Quiz Question 13 in class
W 9/30:Exam 1 Review in class
Bring unsigned bluebook (8½ x11 size) to class
Turn in “This I Know Unit 1 (Weeks 1-6)” Video on Voice Thread by midnight
F 10/2:IN CLASS
Exam 1
Watch Week 6 Video(s) before Monday
Week 7 Checklist:
M 10/5:Read Equiano Narrative, 5-43
Read Terms, 193
Turn in Daily BB comment
TakeQuiz Question 14 in class
W 10/7:Read Equiano Narrative, 43-97
Read Letters, 196-199, 203-205
Turn in Daily BB comment
Take Quiz Question 15 in class
F 10/9:ONLINE
Watch the Week 7 Video(s)
Read Equiano Narrative, 101-150
Read Reviews, 295-301
Email Quiz Question 16 directly to me [ by midnight [The
quiz question will be posted on BB by 8am.]
Turn in Daily BB comment
Week 8 Checklist:
M 10/12:Read Equiano Narrative, 150-178
Turn in Daily BB comment
Take Quiz Question 17 in class
W 10/14:No Class – Writing Time [This day is in exchange for the in-class exam on
Week 6 Friday. I will be in my office during our class time for optional
conferences.]
F 10/16:ONLINE
Turn in your Essay twice – 1. Upload it to Safe Assign on Blackboard and 2.
Email your essay directly to me as a Word attachment. I will confirm that I can open the document. The essays must be submitted by midnight.
Watch the Week 8 Video(s)
Week 9 Checklist:
M 10/19:Read Acholonu essay in Equiano book, 351-361
Turn in Daily BB comment
Take Quiz Question 18 in class
W 10/21:Read Gates essay in Equiano book, 361-367
Read Potkay essay in Equiano book, 382-392
Take Quiz Question 19 in class
Turn in Daily BB comment
F 10/23:ONLINE
Watch the Week 9 Video(s)
Email Quiz Question 20 directly to me [ by midnight [The
quiz question will be posted on BB by 8am.]
Turn in Daily BB comment
Week 10 Checklist:
M 10/26:Read Herbert poems (This reading under “Getting Started.”)
Take Quiz Question 21 in class
Turn in Daily BB comment
W 10/28:Read Taylor, 581-591
Take Quiz Question 22 in class
Turn in Daily BB comment
F 10/30:ONLINE
Watch Week 10 Video(s)
Read Wigglesworth, 563-579
Email Quiz Question 23 directly to me [ by midnight [The
quiz question will be posted on BB by 8am.]
Turn in Daily BB comment
Week 11 Checklist:
M 11/2:Read Donne poems (This reading under “Getting Started.”)
Take Quiz Question 24 in class
Turn in Daily BB comment
W 11/4:Read Bradstreet, 548-563
Turn in Daily BB comment
Review the Exam 2 Study Guide in class
F 11/6:ONLINE
Watch Week 11 Video(s)
Read Terry, 1051-1052
Read Wheatley, 1076-1081
Read Moore, 1072-1073
Read Griffitts, 1084
Email Quiz Question 25 directly to me [ by midnight [The
quiz question will be posted on BB by 8am.]
Turn in Daily BB comment
Week 12 Checklist:
M 11/9:Exam 2 Review in class
Bring unsigned bluebook (8½ x11 size) to class
Turn in “This I Know Unit 2 (Weeks 7-11)” Video on Voice Thread by midnight
W 11/11:Exam 2 in class
F 11/13:ONLINE
Watch the Week 12 Video(s)
Read Oliver, 771-778
Read Robertson, 779-781
Email Quiz Question 26 directly to me [ by midnight [The
quiz question will be posted on BB by 8am.]
Turn in Daily BB comment
Week 13 Checklist:
M 11/16:Read Pownall, 836-841
Read Burke, 850-852
Read Paine, 868-873
Take Quiz Question 27 in class
Turn in Daily BB comment
W 11/18:Read Brown, 994-999
Read Ames, 1000-1009
Take Quiz Question 28 in class
Turn in Daily BB comment
F 11/20:ONLINE
Watch Week 13 Video(s)
Read Crevecoeur, 973-981
Review Final Exam (Comprehensive) Study Guide posted on Blackboard
Email Quiz Question 29 directly to me [ by midnight [The
quiz question will be posted on BB by 8am.]
Turn in Daily BB comment
Thanksgiving Week:November 23-27
Week 14 Checklist:
M 11/30:Read Adams, 852-854
Read Paine, 865-868
Read Murray, 874-879
Turn in Daily BB comment
W 12/2:Final Exam Review
Bring unsigned bluebook (8½ x11 size) to class
F 12/4:ONLINE
Read Franklin, 845-849, 891-893, 961-968
Email Quiz Question 30 directly to me [ by midnight [The
quiz question will be posted on BB by 8am.]
Turn in Daily BB comment
Turn in “This I Know #3 (Comprehensive – Weeks 1-14)” Video on Voice
Thread by midnight
Week 15 Checklist:
M 12/7:Campus-Wide Study Day
Date TBD:Final Examin class [I will consult the official Final Exam Schedule when it is
posted on the UTT website. I will announce our assigned date / time as soon as it is available.]
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Additional Information
Grading:
Daily Quiz Questions (30)20%
Exam 115%
Exam 215%
Final Exam (Comprehensive)15%
Essay (3-5full pages, no research allowed)20%
“This I Know” Videos on Voice Thread (2 unit & 1 comprehensive)5%
Class & Blackboard Participation
Includes MWF Blackboard responses to readings10%
The last day to withdraw from a Fall class with a “W” isOctober 26th.
You should expect to spend 2 hours outside class for every 1 hour in class. Translation: You should study 6 hours a week (minimum) outside of class for each 3-credit course.
[12 credit hours + 24 hours outside of class = 36 hours per week for a full time student.]
Student Learning Outcomes:
By the end of the semester, students should be able to:
- Reproduce a basic timeline of Transatlantic literature from the 1490s to 1800 that includes key genres, styles, topics, and authors
- Appreciate the natural evolution of the English language from the 15th century to the 18th century
- Articulate the themes and ideas representative of Transatlantic literature from the 1490s to the 1800; connect those themes and ideas to current pop culture, books, and international debates
- Recognize how historical, political, and social events shape our analysis and appreciation of literature and vice versa
- Argue brief independent interpretations of canonical and non-canonical texts in world literary tradition in class discussion and in writing
- Use the basic terms related to literary study appropriately in discussion and in writing; utilize the 200+ podcasts on literary terms for study outside of class
- Understand literature’s significance in creating and shaping an evolving identities, a.k.a. personas (Transatlantic, national, religious, social, sexual, familial, etc.) then and now
- Connect the critical reading, thinking, debating, and writing skills practiced in ENGL 2362 with all their other classes and future professions
- Synthesize in writing one theme from a list generated by the class; Support your claim with texts from each major unit of the course
Paper Format:
Title pages are not necessary. On the first page, top left, include the single-spaced header:
Your name
English 2362
My name (Dr. Ann Beebe)
Date
Leave one space and center your title. (All essays should have original titles.) Number and staple your pages. Make sure your margins do not exceed 1 inch; your font size should be 12. Always leave time to proofread your final version and make corrections. Please do not put your essay in a plastic cover.The essays are due in the classroom at the top of the hour. The papers must also be uploaded to Blackboard’s Safe Assign by the start of class. The link can be found under the “Getting Started” icon on BB.
Quizzes and Exams:
The quizzes will be geared toward plot lines and characters. If you have read the selections and taken some notes, you should pass them. Quizzes missed due to an unexcused absence cannot be made up. Quizzes (and exams) missed due to an excused absence must be rescheduled by the student within 2 weeks. Students will not be permitted to take a quiz and leave class. The quizzes are worth 20% of your final grade.
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You will have 3 exams. While they will also encompass plot lines and characters, they will go beyond memorization and ask you to do some interpretation and argumentation. If you have read the assignments, taken notes, participated in class and on BB, and paid attention to the development of themes along a series of authors, you should pass the exams. Please leave your bags, purses, coats, phones, etc. in the front of the room on exam days. Please remove all hats on these days as well. I will provide a study guide for each exam. The final exam is comprehensive.
Unit “This I Know” Videos:
Three times this semester, at the end of each long unit, you will create a video on Voice Thread for a grade. You will focus on what you have learned for during that multi-week period. The Friday video commentaries should help you generate the content for these unit videos. Ask yourself some basic questions: “What did you learn during this unit? What did you learn about specific authors? What did you learn about genres? What themes were important? What connections did you make between these texts and 21st century movies, songs, books, and social or political debates?” This literature IS relevant to your daily lives in the 21st century, but it is up to you to make that connection. You will be using the free web program, VoiceThread, for this assignment. I will post more detailed instructions about signing up and using VoiceThread on Blackboard.
Have fun! But, be thoughtful. Remember, however, that you are presenting a video document for a professional environment (the university community). Your language and images should be thought-provoking and challenging, but not verbally or visually offensive. Please ask me if you unclear about the distinction.
Friday Videos and Slideshows:
I have made a series of short videos for your Friday online classes. Many of the slides in the slideshows on the green screenwere posted on Blackboard by students from previous sections of ENGL 2362. They are wonderfully evocative, and sometimes odd. Something in these images spoke to the students after reading the corresponding texts. I hope these images spark a greater understanding of the texts for you.
How to Explicate a Poem:
An explication is not a prose paraphrase. It offers a close reading of an excerpted or entire poem. A poetry explication is always written in complete sentences. For a quiz or exam explication you will typically be given 4-8 lines of a poem. Your explication should run 6-10 complex sentences. The first two sentences should contextualize the poem (possibilities: relevant author’s biography, time period, type of poem, connections to other poems by same author or by other writers). You should next address the overall theme of the poem and explain where your excerpt fits into the poem’s project. Pay close attention to form, meter, rhyme, etc. Explain their relevance to your interpretation. Work closely with the specific lines you have been given. Focus on key words or phrases, images, sounds, and offer your interpretations. Your last sentence should attempt to wrap up your close reading of the quotation. [Please take careful notes during your Week 9 video, “Poetry Workshop.”]
Class Participation:
English 2362 is not a lecture class. While I will give mini-lectures to help you understand the historical context, an author, or a genre, the majority of class time will be spent in discussion. You will be expected to participate in a substantial way. Please note that attendance and participation are not the same thing.
Daily BB comment:
BEFORE class on MWF, you will be required to post at least one time on BB. Respond to an idea, image, quote, theme, symbol, character, persona, etc. in that day’s reading assignment. Your 10% participation grade will come from these posts, but it can be supplemented by participation in class discussion.Respectful and substantial replies to posts by your classmates will also supplement your participation grade. Your motto: read and respond / post. No passive reading / participation in this class. You can also add to your commentary after class by replying to your original post. At the end of the semester I will use the Performance Dashboard feature on my BB Control Tab to count and evaluate your daily posts along with your classroom contributions for your participation grade.