ENGL
203: Core I: Medieval
| Winter,
2008 |
 |
Dr.
Debora B. Schwartz |
| Class
meetings: TR 9-11, Rm. 2-13 |
http://www.calpoly.edu/~dschwart |
| Office:
47-35G, tel. 756-2636 |
Main
English Office: 756-2597 |
| Office
Hours: M 2:30-4:00, T 2:10-3:00, W 10:30-11:30, R 2:10-3:30, and by appt. |
e-mail:
dschwart@calpoly.edu |
 Prerequisites:
Completion
of GE area A and ENGL 251; open to ENGLISH MAJORS ONLY. |
Course
Description and Objectives: ENGL 203 introduces English majors
to the vernacular-language literature of medieval Britain as well as to
influential Continental works--the foundation upon which modern English
literature stands. In addition to presenting a number of important medieval
authors and works, the course aims to familiarize you with medieval attitudes
toward authorship and textuality, with medieval modes of textual production,
and with specific textual practices relevant to the interpretation of medieval
literature.
 By
the end of the quarter, you will be familiar with the most significant
vernacular-language authors working in England between the 8th and 15th
centuries and with key continental writers who illuminate the development
of an English literary tradition. You will be able to identify and distinguish
between significant medieval literary genres. You will have gained an understanding
of how medieval literature differs from modern literature (and from modern
notions of what literature is): e.g. the differences between manuscript
and print cultures; the tension between Latin and the vernacular languages;
the emphasis on literature as an on-going process rather than an end product,
and thus the inappropriateness of modern notions of "originality" or "intellectual
property" in the medieval context.
Research Practicum: A secondary
goal of the course is to familiarize you with the basic research tools
and methods that are most useful to students of literature. You will
be assigned to a group of 3-4 students with whom you will complete a series
of guided research exercises. You
will take turns reporting the results of your research to the ENGL 203
Research
Archive. By the end of the class, you should know how to identify,
locate and access secondary sources at Cal Poly and at other institutions,
and know how to document them correctly. You will be aware of some of the
pitfalls and pleasures of doing research at Cal Poly. The skills
which you learn will be applicable not only in upper-division English courses,
but in any class with a research component, and in situations unrelated
to your studies.
Finally, by the end of the quarter, you will have bonded with the classmates
with whom you will be studying over the next two years!
Preliminary Remarks: Much of what is presented in ENGL
203 will be new to most of you, and many of the readings reflect assumptions
and ideas that appear strange to a 21st-century audience. For these reasons,
several remarks are in order.
 1)
ENGL 203 is a READING-INTENSIVE COURSE. The material covered is unfamiliar,
complex and challenging, the pace brisk. One week or another there will
probably be a topic/author which you find difficult or simply do not enjoy.
If and when this occurs, remember that we will soon move on to something
else! Because ENGL 203 is a survey, you are not expected to master the
material presented in the depth you would in an advanced course with a
narrower focus. So while you will need to
keep up with the
readings and should read carefully (using study guides),
don't torture yourself if the details of a given text prove difficult to
grasp. We are looking for the broad picture, not the close-up; the idea
is to provide you with a sense of the way in which English literature--and
English perceptions of what literature
is--evolved during the course
of the Middle Ages. Readings will be considered as contextual
evidence reflecting the "world view" of the author and period when they
were written.
2) Because literary production in the Middle
Ages was largely controlled by the (Catholic) Church, many of the readings
deal with Christian themes. We will approach these readings as cultural
artifacts rather than as articles of faith, attempting to understand
the society which produced them and the world view which they represent.
While students familiar with portions of the Old and New Testaments may
find this background useful, no prior knowledge of Judeo-Christian tradition
is assumed or required. If something puzzles you, try the following (in
this order!): a) check the footnotes and/or introduction to see if an explanation
is provided; b) consult a dictionary or encyclopedia; and c) ask about
it in class or office hours. (Chances are, someone else is just as puzzled
as you are!)
3) Due to the time constraints under which
we will be working, classes will focus on interpretation rather than description.
Familiarity with the assigned readings (both background information and
primary texts) will be assumed. Readings will NOT be summarized for you
in class (which ideally should involve discussion as well as lecture).
For these reasons, the success of the course depends largely on you. Please
make a personal commitment to come to class regularly, punctually, and
prepared. Without these preconditions, ENGL 203 will be of little or no
use to you -- and no fun for any of us! SO: be prepared for an intense
quarter. But also remember: ENGL 203 SHOULD be -- and usually is -- a lot
of fun!
Communicating:
You are expected to have an
email account and to check it regularly.
Important announcements will be sent over the class email
aliases: engl-203-01-2082@calpoly.edu.
The class email alias is automatically generated using the email address
of each enrolled student found in the Cal Poly Directory server. If your
Cal Poly email account is NOT your preferred email address, you must
-
Log into http://my.calpoly.edu/
and click on "Grades and Personal Information" (the "Personal Information
Channel") to change your Email Delivery Address. Once you have done
so, any email sent to your <username@calpoly.edu> , including
all postings to the class alias, will be forwarded to the address you have
designated.
Remember: you are responsible for any information sent over the class
email alias (e.g. changes in assignments; other class-related announcements),
so be sure to check your email regularly. You may also use the alias
to send a query or comment to the whole class (including your instructor).
Please do not use the alias for matters unrelated to class.
Attendance
Policy: Due to the twice-weekly seminar format, any absence
causes you to miss a substantial chunk of material. Regular and punctual
attendance is required. Please note that EVERY absence will
affect the participation component of your
final
course grade.
 Each
student starts out with a 4.0 for attendance. This component of your
final grade drops by .3 for the first UNEXCUSED absence; the penalty
increases by .1 for each subsequent unexcused absence (from A [4.0] to
A- [3.7] to B+ [3.3], to B- [2.8], etc.). Additionally, it drops
.1 for the first EXCUSED absence (4.0 to 3.9) and .2 for the second
excused absence (3.9 to 3.7). Excused absences in excess of
two (a full week, 10% of the class) count the same as unexcused
absences.
Please note that only absences due to illness, family crisis, or
circumstances which are truly beyond your control count as excused.
Deadlines for other courses, work conflicts and job interviews are NOT
valid reasons for missing class. FOR AN ABSENCE TO BE EXCUSED, YOU
MUST SUBMIT A SIGNED, WRITTEN NOTE with course number and section/time,
date missed and an explanation of the circumstances leading to your absence.
(While I do appreciate your courtesy in letting me know why you have missed
class, an Email or phone message will not suffice for an absence
to be excused.)
 Required
Texts:
-
The Norton Anthology of English Literature, 8th ed. (2006),
vol. 1a, The Middle Ages, ed. Alfred David [=NA]
-
Chaucer, The Portable Chaucer, ed./tr. Theodore Morrison
(Viking-Penguin) [=PC] OR The Canterbury Tales, tr. Nevill
Coghill (Penguin Classics) [=CT]
-
Chrétien de Troyes, Arthurian Romances, tr. William
W. Kibler and Carleton W. Carroll (Penguin Classics)
-
The Portable Dante, ed./tr. Mark Musa (Viking-Penguin)
-
Joseph Gibaldi and Walter S. Achtert, MLA Handbook for Writers of
Research Papers, 6th ed. (2003)
-
M. H. Abrams, A Glossary of Literary Terms, 7th ed. (1999)
(NOTE: you must use the specific text ordered for this class. Do NOT substitute
another edition/translation!!)
Also Recommended:
-
The Selected Writings of Christine de Pizan, tr. Renate Blumenfeld-Kosinski
and Kevin Brownlee (Norton Critical Edition)Béroul, The Romance
of Tristan, tr. Alan S. Fedrick (Penguin Classics)
-
The Lais of Marie de France, tr. Robert Hanning and Joan
Ferrante (Baker Books)
-
Penguin History of Literature, vol. 1: The Middle Ages, ed.
W. F. Bolton. Penguin, 1993. (Out of print but available from bookfinder.com.)
Other
required
readings are on my website or have been placed on "electronic reserve"
as .PDF files in the Library Resources section of Blackboard. To
access Blackboard, log in at MyCalpoly,
go to "Blackboard Access" and select "ENGL 203-01" from the classes you
are taking. Click on the link in the Electronic Reserves section (under
"Library Resources") to download, read and/or print the file using Acrobat
Reader. Other required readings (listed below as "Online
readings") are .html files on my website which you can access by
clicking on the link on the Calendar
of Assignments. Please note that ALL electronically accessed
required readings should be PRINTED OUT AND BROUGHT WITH YOU TO CLASS.
Preparation:
Readings are to be completed BEFORE coming to class on the date assigned.
Introductions and background handouts should be read first; they are the
context within which primary readings will be most meaningful. The introduction
to the Middle Ages in the Norton Anthology (pp. 1-22) provides an
overview of historical developments. The NA also has good headnotes to
individual authors and works as well as a useful appendix on "Literary
Terminology" (NA pp. A23-A44). Specific introductory pages from other textbooks
are assigned on the syllabus. Other background information is provided
on handouts and study guides. Please note that this background material
is an integral part of the course and will be covered on
EXAMS (and on Reading Quizzes, should they be reinstated
this quarter). When reading primary texts, refer conscientiously to the
critical apparatus (footnotes, glossary, etc.).
 Study
Guides are provided to guide your reading. USE THEM!! To access
study guides, click on the underlined links found on the class calendar
or on the list of online study guides below. Study
guides typically contain some background information for which you are
responsible; regard them as an appendix to your text books. They
also may list some general questions for which you will find answers as
you read the assigned background readings, as well as background information
and study questions to guide you through the primary readings. Familiarize
yourself with the study questions BEFORE you begin to read, and refer to
the guide frequently AS you read, jotting down notes as you go along. Upon
completing your readings, you are strongly advised to reread the questions
and write up a summary of your ideas. This summary will NOT be collected
or graded, but will be helpful in preparing for class -- and for
exams! (Should Reading Quizzes be resinstated,
they presuppose you have prepared for class using the online study
guides!)
Be prepared to DISCUSS readings in class. Note
that length and difficulty of assignments vary, so look ahead in the reading
list when you are planning your time. You are responsible for ALL the assigned
readings, whether fully discussed in class or not, as well as for material
covered in e-reserve and online
readings, lectures and discussions.
Research
Reports: Groups of students 3-4 will
work together on a series of guided Research
Exercises, taking turns submitting reports of their findings to a class
Research
Archive, located in a Blackboard "Discussion Board." To access
Blackboard, log in at MyCalpoly,
go to "Blackboard Access" and select "ENGL 203" from the classes you are
taking; then click on "Discussion Board" and link to the "forum" for the
research topic you are interested in. There will be a "forum" for
the topic being researched by each group. Keep a copy of your research
reports in case of technological glitches. Be sure to check after each
posting to verify that your submissions have made it into the archive.
If you have trouble posting to the archive, contact the Help Desk (756-7000)
and let me know at our next class meeting. Your complete set of Research
Progress Reports will factor into the participation
component of your final course grade. RESEARCH
EXERCISES are also listed in third column of course
calendar.
Graded
Work:
-- WRITTEN ASSIGNMENTS, e.g. Introductory
Paragraph; Expanded
Paper; Composite
Bibliography (designed to demonstrate individual mastery of the Research
skills covered in the group Research Exercises).
-- EXAMS: a closed-book Midterm
Exam in class week
5; and a three-hour, closed-book
Final
Exam on Thursday, March 16, from 10:10 AM - 1 PM. Exams
will include both essay and objective sections. Final will be cumulative,
but with emphasis on work since the Midterm.
-- POSSIBILITY
OF READING QUIZZES: In the past, I have used Reading Quizzes in my
Core classes, both to give students an incentive to keep up with course
readings, and because returned quizzes can be of significant benefit as
study guides when preparing for exams. However, they also take up
a significant amount of class time. This quarter, therefore, I have
decided to try an experiment. Rather than devoting class time to
Reading Quizzes, I will distributed copies of old quizzes to Research Exercise
Groups to complete as a group homework assignment that can then be used
for exam prep. However, if I perceive that students are not
keeping up with reading assignments, I reserve the right to reinstate Reading
Quizzes; in that case, they will be worth 20% of your course grade.
Should reading quizzes be reinstated, the final course grade will be calculated
as follows: 10% Participation; 20 % Reading Quizzes; 20% Writing
Assignments (Introductory Paragraph and Expanded Essay); 10% Composite
Bibliography; 40 % Exams (cumulative total for midterm and final).
Grading:
Unless
reading
quizzes are reinstated, your final course grade will be calculated
as follows:
| Study Guides: |
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Online Readings: |
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Other Required Readings are available on e-reserve
through the Library Resources sections of Blackboard.
Images:
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Contents of this and linked pages Copyright Debora B. Schwartz, 1999-2008
[Last updated 1/15/08]
|
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