On-Line Masterpieces of World Literature 271

Both a "D" and a "W" Course

 

Winter 2007 Syllabus            

 

Instructor:         Jim Roth                                                           Office Number: 211T

School e-mail:  jroth@scc.spokane.edu                         Office Phone:    533-7058

School website: ol.scc.spokane.edu/jroth

 

Required Text: The Norton Anthology of Western Literature, Eighth Edition, Volume 1, by Lawall and others

                         

 

A Caution concerning World Masterpieces 271

 

There is such a thing as a “poison pill” reaction to anything that challenges our beliefs.  It works this way:  If we happen to hear or read something that challenges deeply-held beliefs—that threatens them--we immediately suspect that it contains a hidden “poison pill” designed to lead us astray and “steal our souls.”  If you often have this reaction to new ideas, then this is NOT the course for you. 

 

This literature course offers different views on potentially controversial subjects, most particularly religion.  The authors we will read held as fervently to their “truths” as we do to ours. If you are devoted to your “truth” in such a way that hearing or reading ideas that seemingly challenge it might offend you or distress you, I suggest you drop this course immediately.

 

OVERVIEW

 

Catalog Description:  This course explores the fundamental works of Middle Eastern, Mediterranean, and European civilizations from the dawn of literacy to the Renaissance.  Representative works include the Bible, Homer, Sophocles, the Koran, Dante, and Shakespeare.  Prerequisite:  Sophomore standing and/or English 101.

 

Requirements:  When you glance through the text, you will immediately see that the material will require advanced reading skills and a good amount of time to prepare for each assignment.  Please assess your reading level immediately and find an alternative course at once if you feel your reading skills are not advanced enough.  Please remember that all students will be responsible for a close reading of all assignments.

 

The Course web site < http://ol.scc.spokane.edu/jroth > is packed with items of interest.  These include links to sites that offer additional study/enrichment opportunities.  In addition, the web site provides a link for you to check your grades in the course.  Please visit it often. 

EXPERIENCES (EXAMS) (100 points each--three during the term)

There will be three of these, roughly dividing the course into thirds.  All questions will be short essay.  Each experience will be timed, is worth up to 100 points, and cannot be taken late unless you make arrangements in advance.  Because this course provides a "W" credit, your success on these experiences (exams) will depend upon your use of written English as well as upon your mastery of course content. 

 

PREPARATORY WRITING ASSIGNMENTS (20 points each.)

Occasionally, prior to a discussion, I will ask you to write and post a one to two-page formal reaction to the reading or readings that your discussion group will be considering. 

These preparatory writing assignments are due before your discussion group begins discussing the reading(s) because they only have value if they are written before the discussion and the writer then participates in the discussion.

The keys to success are the following:

·        Read the assignment carefully and answer the specific question the assignment poses.

·        Be honest.  Write what you really feel, not what you think you are supposed to say.

·        Show respect for the English language—use it correctly.  Because this course provides a "W" credit, the points you earn on these assignments will in part be determined by your use of written English.

 

THE WORLD LITERATURE  JOURNAL

 

After most readings, I will ask you to write a one paragraph to one page response to the particular reading.  Please keep these responses in an on-going WORD file entitled My World Literature Journal.

 

Your journal entries may include your personal reactions to the readings, questions you have about the readings, how the particular reading fits with other readings in the course, what appealed and/or did not appeal to you about the readings, what insights you gained, etc. 

 

In short, each assigned journal entry can be whatever you want it to be as long as it’s an honest reaction to the reading and displays a thoughtful attitude.

 

Also, do not be too concerned about checking spelling and punctuation during your journal writing time.  Better to keep going with an idea and wring the truth from it than to pause and check the dictionary.

 

Toward the end of the quarter, I will ask you to e-mail your World Literature Journal to me.  If it is complete and shows a serious attempt to comment on the assigned readings, the journal can receive up to 100 points.

 

è Please be sure to clearly label and date each entry.

 

 POSTINGS, RESPONSES, and DISCUSSION GROUPS

 

On-line class discussion is conducted by posting your thoughts as well as your responses to other students’ thoughts concerning what we will be reading. These are an integral part of the course. 

You will be asked to post one original response to most readings as well as at least two additional responses to your classmates' postings.

Please remember that the postings will be graded based on

·         length (a minimum of five sentences),

·         relevance of the content, and

·         correct use of English.

The maximum score possible for each posting is five points. 

The three postings (your original response plus your two responses to your classmates’ postings) will add up to a total of 15 points per topic.

I will assign each of you to a Discussion Group at the beginning of the second week of the quarter.

Discussion guidelines

Please observe the following rules that should guide the discussions in this class:

1.      "Netiquette" expectations: You are expected to extend the same courtesies in your discussions as you would in face-to-face contact. No rude or disruptive comments will be tolerated. 

2.      Think before you push the post (submit) button. Did you say what you meant? How will the person reading your message perceive your words? 

3.      Remember that there are real people with real feelings at the other end of your posting; don't write anything you wouldn't say to someone's face.

4.      The discussion forum should be a place where you can safely exchange ideas. You don't have to agree with the previous postings, but you need to always be respectful in expressing your opinion.

5.      Remember that discussion postings are the equivalent of in-class discussions with the difference that you can not hide on-line -- you will have to participate.

 

MAKING UP LATE ASSIGNMENTS

 

è Any assignment that has a time and date stamp later than the due date is a late assignment no matter what the reason.  This includes technical problems with the Internet and/or your computer.

There are no make-ups unless you make arrangements in advance.  However, to allow for the unexpected, you may make up one writing assignment without penalty as long as you make it up within one calendar week of its due date. 

In addition, you may skip one posting and two posting responses without penalty.

Please note: Pop quizzes CANNOT be made up for any reason.

Finally, these make-up guidelines do NOT apply to the three major exams nor to the World Literature Journal

 

YOUR FINAL GRADE:

S.C.C. uses the decimal grading system.  I will first convert your grade to percentage by dividing you total points by the total points possible.  I will then convert your percentage grade to a decimal grade using the chart below.  The decimal value will appear on your grade sheet and transcript.

 

Grade Scale—J. Roth

All Courses

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

% to

Decimal

 

Letter

% to

Decimal

 

Letter

% to

Decimal

 

Letter

% to

Decimal

 

Letter

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

100--4.0

A

89--3.4

B+

79--2.9

C+

69--1.9

D+

99--4.0

A

88--3.4

B+

78--2.8

C+

68--1.8

D+

98--4.0

A

87--3.3

B+

77--2.7

C

67--1.7

D

97--4.0

A

86--3.3

B

76--2.6

C

66--1.6

D

96--3.9

A

85--3.2

B

75--2.5

C

65--1.5

D

95--3.8

A

84--3.2

B

74--2.4

C

64--1.4

D

94--3.7

A

83--3.1

B

73--2.3

C

63--1.3

D

93--3.7

A-

82--3.1

B

72--2.2

C

62--1.2

D

92--3.6

A-

81--3.0

B-

71--2.1

C-

61--1.1

D-

91--3.6

A-

80--3.0

B-

70--2.0

C-

60--1.0

D-

90--3.5

A-

 

 

 

 

0.7--less

F

World Literature 271/J. Roth

Yet Another Reading Skills Assessment Exercise

Directions: Please read this excerpt from our text and then take the six-question quiz that follows.  If you find the excerpt and the questions that follow difficult, please find an alternative course immediately.

            The stories told in the Homeric poems are set in the age of the Trojan War, which archaeologists (those, that is, who believe that it happened at all) date to the twelfth century B.C.E. Though the poems do preserve some faded memories of the Mycenaean Age, as we have them they probably are the creation of later centuries, the tenth to the eighth B.C.E.-the so-called Dark Age that succeeded the collapse (or destruction) of Mycenaean civilization. This was the time of the final settlement of the Greek peoples, an age of invasion perhaps and migration certainly, which saw the foundation and growth of many small independent cities. The geography of Greece-a land of mountain barriers and scattered islands-encouraged this fragmentation. The Greek cities never lost sight of their common Hellenic heritage, but it was not enough to unite them except in the face of unmistakable and overwhelming danger, and even then they came together only partially and for a short time. They differed from each other in custom, political constitution, and even dialect: their relations with each other were those of rivals and fierce competitors.

These cities, constantly at war in the pursuit of more productive land for growing populations, were dominated from the late eighth century B.C.E. by aristocratic oli­garchies, which maintained a stranglehold on the land and the economy of which it was the base. At the same time, cultural horizons were expanding. In the eighth and seventh centuries B.C.E. Greeks (perhaps including the landless) founded new cities (always near the sea and generally owing little or no allegiance to the home base) all over the Mediterranean coast . . . . Many of these new outposts of Greek civilization experienced a faster economic and cultural development than the older cities of the mainland (4-5).

 

Lawall, Sarah, and , ed. The Norton Anthology of Western Literature, Volume 1. 8th ed.

 

New York: WW. Norton & Company, 2006.

 

Comprehension Quiz:  Please circle the best answer in each of the following:

 

1. According to this article, the Trojan War is believed to have occurred approximately how many years ago?

 

  1. 1200 years ago

 

  1. 800 years ago

 

  1. 3300 years ago

 

2. According to this article, the poems likely were created

 

 

  1. Before the Mycenaean Age

 

  1. During the Mycenaean Age

 

  1. After the Mycenaean Age

 

3. According to this article, which of the following contributed to the breaking apart of a single Greek culture?

 

  1. years of inclement weather and torrential rains—hence, the Dark Age

 

  1. Nomadic invaders from western Asia

 

  1. The geography of the land which they inhabited

 

4. According to the article, one event likely to unify the otherwise independent Greek cities was

 

  1. A call from the chief priest to rededicate oneself to the gods.

 

  1. An unusually high death rate among the infant population.

 

  1. An easy-to-see and serious threat to their collective welfare.

 

5. The context in which the phrase aristocratic oli­garchies occurs in paragraph 2 suggests that aristocratic oli­garchies

 

  1. are combinations of various cultures

 

  1. are brutal and unsuccessful without a religious component

 

  1. are able to hold control of a people

 

6. The article suggests that

 

  1. Life was difficult in the outposts

 

  1. Outposts held a strong attachment to their counterparts on the mainland

 

  1. Often outposts flourished

 

 

 

(The correct answer to all six questions is C.)