Course Materials Packet
MILTON
Professor Allen Rice
Fall 2012
Course:
Section:
ENG 4483
17493
Course:
Section:
ENG 5483
17494
Time: 2:00 – 3:15
Day: Tuesday & Thursday
Room: LAR 135
MILTON
Course Description and Goals
Professor Allen Rice
Course Description: This course examines the major poems and selected minor poetry and prose of John
Milton, the great Seventeenth Century poet, puritan, and revolutionary. Through close critical readings of
Milton's work, the class will examine such Miltonic themes as loss, guilt, patience, choice, trial, free will, the
relationship between men and women, and their relationship with God. The class will study the literary genres
which Milton adopts and adapts (epic, tragedy, pastoral, masque, etc.), and the poetics, aesthetics, and ethics
which inform his work. The course will analyze Milton in his various roles of far-sighted politician, profound
theologian, and visionary poet.
Transformative Learning Statement: Transformative learning is a holistic process that places students at
the center of their own active and reflective learning experiences. All students at the University of Central
Oklahoma will have transformative learning experiences in five core areas: leadership; research, creative and
scholarly activities; service learning and civic engagement; global and cultural competencies; and health and
wellness.
Students enrolled in this course will demonstrate leadership by participating proactively in daily
discussions and debates, and in group projects; by identifying and preparing presentations on topics related to
the social, cultural, and philosophic contexts of the texts under discussion; and by defining and developing
major independent research projects. Students will engage in research and scholarly activities as they explore
a wide range of major and minor Pre-Industrial British texts and complete significant independent research
projects culminating in essays which could potentially be revised for conference papers or for scholarly
publications on topics of their choice within the field of study for this course. Finally, students will acquire
global and cultural competencies through the intensive study of social, political, religious and philosophical
movements that shaped European culture during the Pre-Industrial Era.
Prerequisites: English 1113, English 1213 (Required)
English 2543: English Literature to 1800 (Recommended)
Course Packet from APMOK (2nd & Rankin)
Bradford, Richard. The Complete Critical Guide to John Milton. London:
Routledge, 2001.
Lewis, C. S. A Preface to Paradise Lost London: Oxford UP, 1942.
Milton, John. Complete Poetical Works. Ed. John Shawcross.
Texts:
Assignments:
Two In-Class (Bluebook) Essay Exams,
One Major Paper on The Canterbury Tales, Exercises
Graduate Presentations
Office Hours: (LAR 103C) M-T-W-Th 1:00 – 2:00 & 4:45 – 5:00 p.m. or by appointment
MILTON: English 4483 -- Undergraduates
Professor Allen Rice
Fall 2012
T Aug 21
Th Aug 23
--------T Aug 28
Course Introduction/ Historical Intro; Bradford 5-46
Bloom’s Pyramid/Scylla & Charybdis
Th Aug 30
The English Sonnets, etc.(packet);
"On the Morning of Christ's Nativity;" Bradford 61-63
--------T
Sep 04
How to Write Research Papers
The English Sonnets, etc.(packet); Bradford 57-90
"L'Allegro" and "Il Penseroso;" Bradford 66-69
How to Take Essay Exams
Th Sep 06
---------
Comus, Bradford 72-74;
T
FIRST EXERCISE DUE
( 20 pts.)
“Lycidas,” Bradford 74-79, "On Shakespeare," Bradford 64-65
Sep 11
Th Sep 13
--------T
Sep 18
Areopagitica
"Manso" (127-31), Apology for Smectymnuus (690-95),
Reason of Church Government, 2nd Book, Intro(665-671),
Bradford 46-54
SECOND EXERCISE DUE
( 20 pts.)
Th Sep 20
ESSAY EXAM #1
--------T Sep 25
Discussion of Lit. Crit
Intro to PL: Lewis, Chap. I-IX; Bradford 147-166
Th Sep 27
Paradise Lost 1; “On the Reading of PL;” Genesis 1-3;
Bradford 94-101
--------T Oct 02
Paradise Lost 2; Lewis, Chapters XI, XIII, and XIV
Bradford 131-147
Th Oct 04
---------
(150 pts.)
Paradise Lost 3 & 4; Bradford 101-107
Paradise Lost 3 & 4; Lewis, Chapters XII, XVI, and XVII
T
Oct 09
Fall Break: No Classes!
Th Oct 11*
--------T Oct 16
Paradise Lost 5 & 6; Psalm 2 & Revelation 12
Paradise Lost 5 & 6; Lewis, Chapter XV; Bradford 174-181
Th Oct 18
--------T Oct 23
Paradise Lost 7 & 8
THIRD EXERCISE DUE
Paradise Lost 8 & 9; Bradford 182-186
Th Oct 25
--------T Oct 30
Paradise Lost 9 & 10; Lewis, Chapters X, XVIII
Bradford 166-174
( 20 pts.)
Paradise Lost 11 & 12; Bradford 182-197; Lewis XIX;
FOURTH EXERCISE DUE
( 20 pts.)
4-Part Arguable Theses due (6 copies!)
( 20 pts.)
Paradise Regained 1-2; Luke 4:1-13; Matthew 4:1-11
Th Nov 01
--------T Nov 06
ESSAY EXAM #2
Th Nov 08
--------T Nov 13
(200 pts.)
Paradise Regained 3-4
New Theses,Outline,& Works Cited Due (6 copies!)( 20 pts.)
Th Nov 15
--------T Nov 20
Th Nov 22*
--------T
Nov 27
In-Class Revisions
Thanksgiving Break: No Classes!
( 30 pts.)
LITERARY RESEARCH PAPER DUE
Samson Agonistes; Judges 13-16; Bradford 91-94
(300 pts.)
Samson Agonistes;
Th Nov 29
--------T Dec 04
Th Dec 06
---------
Final Review
Study Groups
FINAL ESSAY EXAM: 1:00-2:50
Th Dec 13
(200 pts.)
TOTAL SEMESTER POINTS: (1,000 pts.)
Undergraduate Grading Scale: The assignments are based upon a 1,000 point system for the entire semester's
work. Each assignment can be further classified according to grade as follows:
A+
A
A-
B+
B
B-
C+
C
C-
D+
D
D-
F
1000 970 930 899 870 830 799 770 730 699 670 630 599 Semester
971 931 900 871 831 800 771 731 700 671 631 600 000 Total
--------------------------------------------------------------------300 285
276
264
255
246
234
225
216
204
195
186
150
TOT: 300
200 190
184
176
170
164
156
150
144
136
130
124
100
TOT: 200
150 143
138
132
128
123
117
113
108
102
98
93
75
TOT: 150
100
95
92
88
85
82
78
75
72
68
65
62
50
TOT: 100
30
29
28
27
26
25
24
23
22
20
19
18
15
TOT:
30
20
19
19
18
18
17
16
15
15
14
13
13
10
TOT:
20
MILTON: English 5483: Graduates
Professor Allen Rice -- Fall 2012
T Aug 21
Th Aug 23
--------T Aug 28
Course Introduction/ Historical Intro; Bradford 5-46
Bloom’s Pyramid/Scylla & Charybdis
Th Aug 30
The English Sonnets, etc.(packet);
"On the Morning of Christ's Nativity;" Bradford 61-63
--------T
Sep 04
How to Write Research Papers
The English Sonnets, etc.(packet); Bradford 57-90
"L'Allegro" and "Il Penseroso;" Bradford 66-69
How to Take Essay Exams
Th Sep 06
---------
Comus, Bradford 72-74;
T
FIRST EXERCISE DUE
( 20 pts.)
“Lycidas,” Bradford 74-79, "On Shakespeare," Bradford 64-65
Sep 11
Th Sep 13
--------T
Sep 18
Areopagitica
"Manso" (127-31), Apology for Smectymnuus (690-95),
Reason of Church Government, 2nd Book, Intro(665-671),
Bradford 46-54
SECOND EXERCISE DUE
( 20 pts.)
Th Sep 20
ESSAY EXAM #1
--------T Sep 25
Discussion of Lit. Crit
Intro to PL: Lewis, Chap. I-IX; Bradford 147-166
Th Sep 27
Paradise Lost 1; “On the Reading of PL;” Genesis 1-3;
Bradford 94-101
--------T Oct 02
Paradise Lost 2; Lewis, Chapters XI, XIII, and XIV
Bradford 131-147
Th Oct 04
---------
(150 pts.)
Paradise Lost 3 & 4; Bradford 101-107
Paradise Lost 3 & 4; Lewis, Chapters XII, XVI, and XVII
T
Oct 09
Fall Break: No Classes!
Th Oct 11*
--------T Oct 16
Paradise Lost 5 & 6; Psalm 2 & Revelation 12
Paradise Lost 5 & 6; Lewis, Chapter XV; Bradford 174-181
Th Oct 18
--------T Oct 23
Paradise Lost 7 & 8
THIRD EXERCISE DUE
( 20 pts.)
Paradise Lost 8 & 9; Bradford 182-186
Th Oct 25
--------T Oct 30
Paradise Lost 9 & 10; Lewis, Chapters X, XVIII
Bradford 166-174
Paradise Lost 11 & 12; Bradford 182-197; Lewis XIX;
Th Nov 01
FOURTH EXERCISE DUE
( 20 pts.)
--------T Nov 06
4-Part Arguable Theses due (6 copies!)
( 20 pts.)
Paradise Regained 1-2; Luke 4:1-13; Matthew 4:1-11
ESSAY EXAM #2
Th Nov 08
--------T Nov 13
(200 pts.)
Paradise Regained 3-4
New Theses,Outline,& Works Cited Due (6 copies!)( 20 pts.)
Th Nov 15
--------T Nov 20
Th Nov 22*
--------T
Nov 27
In-Class Revisions
Thanksgiving Break: No Classes!
( 30 pts.)
LITERARY RESEARCH PAPER DUE
Samson Agonistes; Judges 13-16; Bradford 91-94
(350 pts.)
Samson Agonistes;
Th Nov 29
--------T Dec 04
Th Dec 06
---------
Final Review
Study Groups
Th Dec 13
Graduate Presentations
( 50 pts.)
TOTAL SEMESTER POINTS: (1,100 pts.)
FINAL ESSAY EXAM: 1:00-2:50
(200 pts.)
Graduate Grading Scale: The assignments are based upon a 1,100 point system for the entire semester's work.
Each assignment can be further classified according to grade as follows:
A+
A
A-
B+
B
B-
C+
C
C-
D+
D
D-
F
1100 1066 1033 1011 956 923 901 846 813 793 736 703 681
1067 1034 1012
957 924 902 847 814 792 737 704 682 000
-----------------------------------------------------------------------350
333
322
308
298
287
273
263
252
238
228
217
175
TOT: 350
200
190
184
176
170
164
156
150
144
136
130
124
100
TOT: 200
150
143
138
132
128
123
117
113
108
102
98
93
75
TOT: 150
100
95
92
88
85
82
78
75
72
68
65
62
50
TOT: 100
50
48
46
44
43
41
39
38
36
34
33
31
25
TOT: 50
30
29
28
27
26
25
24
23
22
20
19
18
15
TOT: 30
20
19
19
18
18
17
16
15
15
14
13
13
10
TOT: 20
In-Class Presentations: In addition to the assignments undergraduates must complete, Graduates must:
1) Make a 10-12 minute in-class presentation upon a scholarly article or book chapter, and
2) Create and distribute an annotated bibliography on the subject matter for the whole class’s edification.
Graduate Paper Requirements: In addition to the paper parameters of undergraduates, Graduates must manifest
their own critical presuppositions and those of the scholars they cite.
General Policies and Procedures
Professor Allen Rice
Instructor: I am Professor Allen Rice; I am your host and tour guide for this course. I have been teaching at
the University level since 1980. I began my academic career as a Freshman and a Sophomore here at UCO. I
received a Bachelor’s degree in English and in History and a Master’s degree in English from the University of
Oklahoma. I received a Ph.D. from Indiana University, specializing in English Medieval and Renaissance
Literature and receiving a Certificate in Medieval Studies. My dissertation focused upon John Milton and
Paradise Lost. I have been at UCO since the Fall of 1991; I am tenured and hold the title of Full Professor.
Office: Liberal Arts, Room 103 C
Office Phone: 974-5637
Campus Mail: English Dept., Box #184
Home Phone: 359-7253. Feel free to call me at home, for I am glad to hear from you, but please do not call
after 9:00 p.m., lest you wake my young daughters.
Attendance: If you miss more than 30% of the classes (14 classes for MWF sections, 9 classes for T Th
sections, 6 classes for summer sections, 4.5 classes for once a week sections) for no matter what reasons, you
will automatically be assigned an "F" for the course in accordance with English Department policies. Do not
test this policy: I will strictly enforce it. Keep close track of your absences and do not stray over the 30% mark.
If you are absent, it is your sole responsibility to discover what you missed and what is coming up next. If you
are present, it is your sole responsibility to make sure you sign your name on the roll sheet each day, or you will
be marked absent.
Tardies: If you arrive after I have taken attendance, it is your sole responsibility to talk with me after class to
ensure that you are marked "tardy" rather than "absent." Three tardies will equal one absence.
Conferences: You may be required to have conferences with me throughout the semester so I can intensively
analyze and discuss your individual strengths and deficiencies. Missing mandatory conferences counts as an
absence.
Papers: All papers must be typed on non-erasable sheets of 8 1/2" x 11" and unless the format requires
otherwise, all papers must be double spaced. The following information should be placed in the upper left-hand
corner of the first page of all materials (unless I specify that you should not):
Your Name
Professor Name
Course/Section
Date
Proofread papers carefully before handing them in. Follow specific instructions on each assignment. If you
have questions about an assignment, please contact me or a classmate before you begin. Use regular white
notebook paper for all in-class assignments.
*ALL PAPERS MUST BE PRINTED IN COURIER NEW 12 POINT FONT!
Late Papers: Papers are due at the beginning of class. Papers submitted late will be penalized 10% a day.
Please talk to me as early as possible if a paper is going to be late.
Incompletes: I will decide whether or not it is appropriate for a student to receive a temporary grade of
"Incomplete" for the course. In general, Incompletes should be allowed only in the most unusual cases, such as
unusual illness or injury. Any student who desires a temporary grade of "Incomplete" must take the initiative to
come and talk to me about it.
Plagiarism: All work done in this course is to be your own. You plan the content, and compose the sentences
and paragraphs of each assignment. You may discuss your writing project with anyone, and you may obtain
advice on spelling or grammar, as long as the final product is unquestionably your own. Plagiarism--the act of
passing off as one's own the ideas or words of another -- will result in an automatic "F" on the test or paper
involved, if not the course.
Many students inadvertently plagiarize when they rely too much on reference books and sources. For
instance, some students are taught that they can copy out passages from a text, changing a word here and there
or paraphrasing the whole passage, without plagiarizing. Even if such passages are noted, it is still plagiarism
because they are too close to the source, and a footnote does not make the degree of dependence clear. When
you make notes, you should refrain from too much verbatim quotation; instead, read the essay, summarize it in
your own words, and then go back to copy data or key sentences (indicate these in your notes with quotations).
Students may discuss daily take-home assignments (such as questions for thought) with fellow students,
but students who work together should have answers that differ. Simple restatement of very similar answers
demonstrates that at least one is not doing independent thinking (in other words, someone is cheating).
Photocopies/Hard Copies: I strongly recommend that you photocopy your major paper. You may hand to me
either the original or a clear, legible photocopy. Keeping a copy of your paper for yourself is like having
insurance. If your paper comes up missing for any reason, you and I do not have to suspect one another of
incompetence or worse. All you have to do is hand me your copy (or a copy of your copy) as proof that you
completed the assignment.