Carleton University
Department of English
Fall/Winter 2009-10
English 2300B: British Literatures I
Major Authors to 1700
Schedule: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 4:00-5:30 p.m.
Location: Please confirm on Carleton Central
Instructor: Dr. Deborah Moore
Office and Hours: DT 1905, Tues. 2:30 – 3:30
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (613)447-7579
Course Description
This course will be an introduction to the work of the major authors to 1700 by
detailed study of selected texts. This study will encompass not only investigations of the
development of various genres of English literature, but the historical, sociological,
religious and otherwise cultural developments that helped to influence their authors and
pervade their works. The lectures will also focus on relating basic methodologies of
textual criticism and its terminology to the various texts examined, including discussions
of the difficulties inherent in applying modern critical techniques to ancient writings.
Additionally, there will be an emphasis on the various skills of essay writing in six
writing assignments for the course.
ENGL 2300 is a writing-attentive course. In ENGL 2300, "writing attentive" means:
Students will write at least one examination.
Students will write a number of formal essays in which they are expected to:
• develop and handle complex ideas in appropriate academic English.
• read genres and language from early periods critically.
• use and cite evidence from primary texts appropriately.
*demonstrate mastery of MLA documentation practices
• develop an argumentative thesis statement across each multiple-page essay.
Texts
Abrams, M.H., ed. The Norton Anthology of English Literature, 8th ed. London:
W.W. Norton & Company, 2005.
Anonymous. Brian Stone, trans. Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, 2nd ed. London:
Penguin Books Ltd., 1974. (These are available used online for about $3.00)
Malory, Sir Thomas. D.S. Brewer, ed. Malory: The Morte Darthur. Evanson, Illinois:
Northwestern University Press, 1974. (Again, these are available both new and
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used online for about $4.00.)
Bunyan, John. W. R. Owens, ed. The Pilgrim’s Progress. Oxford: Oxford University
Press, 2003
Assignments
Each term:
2 Short essays (750 – 1,000 words)
Term paper (2,500 words)
Examinations:
Christmas in-class examination
Final examination
5% each
20% each
15%
25%
Note: We will also have on (unannounced) short bonus quiz based on the syllabus
information and the “How to Write a Paper” handout. This quiz could earn you an extra
2% on your final grade. You’d have to be MAD to miss it! Free marks! HURRAY!
Grade Equivalents
A+ = 90-100
A = 85-89
A- = 80-84
B+ = 77-79
B = 73-76
B- = 70-72
F = 0-49
C+ = 67-69
C = 63-66
C- = 60-62
D+ = 57-59
D = 53-56
D- = 50-52
Course Outline
September:
10th
15th
17th
22nd
24th
29th
Introduction day; Introduction to Beowulf
Introduction to Beowulf; Beowulf
Beowulf
Beowulf
Introduction to Chaucer
Geoffrey Chaucer’s “The General Prologue” to The Canterbury
Tales
First short paper due.
October:
1st
6th
8th
13th
15th
20th
22nd
27th
29th
“The General Prologue”, The Canterbury Tales
“The Knight’s Tale”, The Canterbury Tales; papers returned
“The Knight’s Tale”, The Canterbury Tales
“The Miller’s Tale”, The Canterbury Tales
“The Miller’s Tale”, The Canterbury Tales
“The Wife of Bath’s Tale”
“The Wife of Bath’s Tale” Second short paper due.
Introduction to Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
Sir Gawain and the Green Knight; papers returned
November:
3rd
Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
3
th
5
10th
12th
17th
19th
24th
26th
Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
Introduction to Sir Thomas Malory’s The Morte Darthur
The Morte Darthur
The Morte Darthur
Introduction to medieval drama and “Everyman”
“Everyman”
First term paper due.
Introduction to Sir Philip Sidney and “Astrophil and Stella”
December:
1st
Finish up “Astrophil and Stella”, papers returned, then time for review.
rd
3
8th
January:
5th
7th
12th
14th
19th
21st
26th
28th
February:
2nd
4th
9th
11th
16th
18th
24th
26th
March:
2nd
4th
9th
11th
16th
18th
23rd
25th
IN-CLASS EXAMINATION!!!!!
No class today, but you may pick up your exam during office hours.
Exams examined; introduction to William Shakespeare and “King Lear”
“King Lear”
“King Lear”
“King Lear”
Winter Break!! HURRAY!!!!
Sonnets 1-80
Sonnets 81- the end
Introduction to the Metaphysical Poets: John Donne
Third short paper due.
John Donne “The Flea”, “The Good Morrow”, “Song”(1)
John Donne “A Valediction Forbidding Mourning”, “Hymn to God My
God, in My Sickness”, “A Hymn to God the Father”; papers returned
Introduction to George Herbert; “The Altar”, “Easter”, “Easter Wings”,
“The Pilgrimage”
Introduction to John Milton; “On the Morning of Christ’s Nativity”,
“On Shakespeare”
Introduction to John Milton’s “Paradise Lost”
“Paradise Lost”
“Paradise Lost”
“Paradise Lost”
Introduction to John Dryden; “Absalom and Achitophel: A Poem”
Fourth short paper due.
Dryden’s “Absalom and Achitophel: A Poem”
Dryden’s “Annus Mirabilis [London Reborn}”, “A Song for
St. Cecilia’s Day”, “Epigram on Milton”; papers returned
From “A Discourse Concerning the Original and Progress of Satire”;
From “The Preface to Fables and Modern” [In Praise of Chaucer]
Introduction to John Bunyan and The Pilgrim’s Progress
The Pilgrim’s Progress
The Pilgrim’s Progress
The Pilgrim’s Progress
4
th
30
The Pilgrim’s Progress
April:
1st
6th
Last Things: Time for Review
Extended office hour from 2:30 – 5:00 p.m.; pick up term papers
Second term paper due.
Playing By the Rules
1. I will grade assignments on both manner and matter: presentation, organization, grammar,
spelling, and general quality of writing, as well as logic, presentation of argument, and quality of
thought. Papers that do not meet minimal standards of mechanical competence (i.e. spelling,
sentence structure, paragraphing, etc.) will receive a failing grade. Since I go over and over what
I expect from the papers, I will not allow such essays to be rewritten, nor do I assign extra credit
assignments for people who do poorly on the papers and/or final.
2. I will not accept late papers except by PRIOR arrangement, and these papers will generally
receive fewer or no written comments. I will accept no paper after I have returned the graded
essays to the class; I will make exceptions only for documented illness or other emergencies.
3. Keep a copy for yourself of the essay you submit, and keep the graded assignment once it has
been returned to you. It will be helpful to you, and you may need it for future reference.
4. The Christmas in-class examination and the final examination must be written as scheduled; I
will make exceptions only for documented illness or other emergencies, not to accommodate
holiday or travel plans.
5. All assignments must be completed by the date of the final examination, or you will not be
allowed to sit the exam.
6. PLAGIARISM AND CHEATING are serious offences and will result in serious
consequences (a failing grade for the assignment in question and possibly still further departmental
action). See the Academic Integrity Policy (on-line) for definitions and university policies
(http://www.carleton.ca/studentaffairs/academic_integrity/docs/Academic_Integrity_Policy.pdf).
If you have any questions about the matter or are unsure whether or how to document sources,
PLEASE SEE ME BEFORE THE FACT. I rarely bite.
7. I expect regular attendance as it will contribute both to your success in this course, and to
success of the course generally. You cannot hope to do well if you miss more than five classes
overall, I guarantee it. I also expect punctuality, as a courtesy to your fellow students and to
myself. This is a pet peeve of mine, so please take note.
8. I will be posting final grades on WebCT. “Standing in a course is determined by the course
instructor subject to the approval of the Faculty Dean. This means that grades submitted by the
instructor may be subject to revision. No grades are final until they have been approved by the
Dean.”(Faculty Grading Outlines)
9. I do not allow my lectures and seminars to be audio- and/or visually-recorded except by prior
arrangement and then only for students with disabilities that require such measures. * See below.
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10. I do not allow students to email me their term papers. Part of your university training
is learning how to budget your time. Do not leave your paper to the last minute; you KNOW
something will go wrong, and here is the official warning that sympathy can be found in the
dictionary.
I guarantee we will have fun, but I also guarantee you will work hard.
* Academic Accommodation:
You may need special arrangements to meet your academic obligations during the term
because of disability, pregnancy or religious obligations. Please review the course
outline promptly and write to me with any requests for academic accommodation during
the first two weeks of class, or as soon as possible after the need for accommodation is
known to exist.
Students with disabilities requiring academic accommodations in this course must
register with the Paul Menton Centre for Students with Disabilities (PMC) for a formal
evaluation of disability-related needs. Documented disabilities could include but are not
limited to mobility/physical impairments, specific Learning Disabilities (LD),
psychiatric/psychological disabilities, sensory disabilities, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity
Disorder (ADHD), and chronic medical conditions. Registered PMC students are
required to contact the PMC, 613-520-6680, every term to ensure that your Instructor
receives your Letter of Accommodation, no later than two weeks before the first
assignment is due or the first in-class test/midterm requiring accommodations. If you
only require accommodations for your formally scheduled exam(s) in this course, please
submit your request for accommodations to PMC by the last official day to withdraw
from classes in each term.
You can visit the Equity Services website to view the policies and to obtain more detailed
information on academic accommodation at http://carleton.ca/equity/accommodation .
Students should also be aware of the excellent help available from:
1) the Academic Writing Centre and Writing Tutorial Service (4th Floor,
Library, 613-520-6632)
2) the Student Academic Success Centre (SASC, 302 Tory, 613-520-7850), and
3) the Learning Commons (4th Floor, Library, 613-520-2600, ext. 1125).