Carleton University
Full Summer 2011
Department of English
English 2300A: British Literatures I, Major Authors to 1700
Instructor: Dr. Deborah Moore
Southam Hall, Room 415 :Wednesdays and Fridays, 8:35 – 11:25 a.m.
Please confirm location on Carleton Central
Office and Hours: DT 1905, Wed. and Fri. 11:30 – 12:30
Contact info: [email protected]
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.
** A portion of class time will be devoted to developing and improving essay-writing skills
Texts
Abrams, M.H., ed. The Norton Anthology of English Literature, 8th ed. London:
W.W. Norton & Company, 2005.
Malory, Sir Thomas. D.S. Brewer, ed. Malory: The Morte Darthur. Evanson, Illinois:
Northwestern University Press, 1974.
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Assignments
3 Short essays (750 – 1,000 words) 5% each
2 Longer papers (2,500 words)
20% each
Examinations:
Mid-summer examination
Final examination
15%
30%
Note: We will also have on (unannounced) short bonus quiz based on the syllabus
information and the “Writing for Solaas and Sentence” 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
May:
11th
13th
18th
20th
25th
27th
June:
1st
3rd
8th
10th
15th
17th
22nd
24th
July:
6th
Introduction day
Introduction to British Literature and the Anonymous Beowulf
Beowulf
Beowulf; first (in-class) written assignment: Examine the qualities
that a good king must have in Beowulf’s society. Introduction to
Geoffrey Chaucer and “The General Prologue” to The Canterbury
Tales
“The General Prologue” to The Canterbury Tales
Papers returned;“The Miller’s Tale”, The Canterbury Tales
“The Wife of Bath’s Tale”
Second short paper due. The anonymous Sir Gawain and the
Green Knight
Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
Sir Thomas Malory’s The Morte Darthur; papers returned
The Morte Darthur
Introduction to medieval drama and “Everyman”;
Introduction to Sir Philip Sidney and “Astrophil and Stella”; time
for review. First longer paper due.
Exam period
Exams examined; Long papers returned; Introduction to
William Shakespeare and “King Lear”
3
8th
13th
15th
20th
22nd
27th
29th
August:
3rd
5th
10th
12th
“King Lear”
“King Lear”
Shakespeare’s Sonnets
Introduction to the Metaphysical Poets: John Donne: “The Flea”,
“The Good Morrow, “Song”(1), “A Valediction Forbidding
Mourning”, “Hymn to God My God in My Sickness”, “A Hymn to God
the Father” and “Holy Sonnet #10” Third short paper due.
Introduction to George Herbert; “The Altar”, “Easter”, “Easter Wings”,
“The Pilgrimage”, “The Bunch of Grapes”
Papers returned. John Milton; “On the Morning of Christ’s Nativity”,
“On Shakespeare”; “Paradise Lost”
“Paradise Lost”
“Paradise Lost”
“Paradise Lost”
John Dryden; “Annus Mirabilis [London Reborn]”, “Epigram on Milton”
“Absalom and Achitophel: A Poem”
Since the syllabus will be free flowing, we’ll use this time to catch up
to the schedule and have a review. Second longer 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. Also,
make sure that the grade you’re assigned online is the same as on your paper. Please bring your
paper and the discrepancy to my notice as soon as possible.
4. The midway 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
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(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. However, I must add that I hold the
departmental record for most plagiarizers caught and disciplined in one term.
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 three 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.
10. I do not allow students to email me their 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 .
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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).
MOST IMPORTANT OF ALL:
IF THERE’S SOMETHING YOU DON’T KNOW,
SOMETHING YOU’VE MISSED, OR DON’T
UNDERSTAND, ASK ME AND NOT SOMEONE ELSE
FROM THE CLASS. THIS COULD – AND HAS – LED TO
DISASTER!