English 3327 A Survey of English Literature
Spring Semester 2010
Instructor: David Judkins, Ph.D.
e-mail: DJUDKINS@UH.EDU
http://www.uh.edu/~djudkins
ph 713-664-1382
Introduction:
The first semester of a Survey of English Literature will cover from Chaucer's Canterbury Tales to 18th Century English Literature. The focus of the course will be on complete texts or nearly complete texts to provide students with a sense of the development of literature for English speaking people around the world.
Text Book:
The text we will use: The Norton Anthology of English Literature, Volume 1, 8th Edition along with the Norton Critical Edition of Robinson Crusoe, by Daniel Defoe. Please note that Robinson Crusoe is packaged with the Norton Anthology as a cost free bonus for this class. This will be available only at the UH Bookstore I believe. However, those who want to order online may try to do so. The ISBN number for this package of the two books is 0-393-16864-6. This is a huge, heavy, monster of a book. It is also available in a three volume paperback edition which is easier to handle and identical to the hardback copy. Note that you will also receive code numbers for accessing materials online at the Norton website. You may find this a useful tool in the class; however, no test materials will be taken from the Norton website. You may also find the Norton Critical edition of Robinson Crusoe used as well.
The Class:
How will I access and use the class? My online class uses the popular Blackboard Vista program. Access the program by going to www.uh.edu/Blackboard/. If you have not registered for Blackboard before with another class, you will need to do so now. If you have done so before, you need only sign in and this class should appear as a link. Click on the link and you will enter the class.
How will I keep up with the class, and what will be required? I recommend that at least four times per week you access the class to make certain that you are keeping up. First, study the syllabus to see what we will be doing throughout the semester, but understand that the syllabus has been prepared months before the class begins so, early each week, on Monday, I will post a Weekly Message with updates and news about the class. In the event that there is a difference between the syllabus and the weekly message, the weekly message is always the most recent and should be regarded as the correct posting. Running an online class requires planning and fore thought on my part. Occasionally I slip up. I very much appreciate students bringing to my attention contradictions in the schedule of class activities.
As for the requirements: First, all students are expected to keep up with the reading. Like most upper division literature classes, there is a substantial amount of reading. If you access this syllabus before the start of the semester, I recommend that you get started early. Second: you will periodically be asked to submit a commentary on the reading. The commentaries are relatively short and will be submitted through a folder on the home page. You will submit five of these during the course of the semester. The dates they are due are noted on the syllabus. Please read my instructions on our website in the folder, Other Information, regarding the preparation of these commentaries. Third: we will have weekly discussion questions on the assigned texts, and I ask that you submit at least one response to a question each week, and that you also read all the discussion each week. These questions may be answered at your convenience but always within the week or time period that they are posted; you are discouraged from going back and answering discussion questions for previous weeks. Note that I have instructions on discussion in the folder: Other Information. Fourth: there will be four tests during the semester on dates noted on the syllabus. The tests are multiple choice, and there will be a short practice test during the week the test is given. The multiple choice tests are open book and timed; however, you will be able to access the test for approximately 32 hours. Note, once you begin the test you must complete it in the time period given, usually 45 minutes. More detailed instructions on the tests will be provided on the website in the folder, Other Information. Finally, I do not accept late papers or tests. I encourage students to submit papers early, and tests are available, as noted above, for a period of 32 hours 24 of which are on Sunday.
How will my grade be determined? This is a good and always popular question. Your grades will appear under "My Grades" and they should begin appearing at the time papers or tests are graded. This is important! If you are not seeing grades show up, you must contact me on Blackboard email and explain what grades are not showing up. I will not remind you that I have not received something. You must keep up with the class and make sure that papers and tests are being received, graded, and recorded in a reasonable time. If your grade does not show up, send me an email so I can determine why the grade is not recorded. I want to be very fair to all students in the class. Your grade will be based on the following grades:
Commentary #1 = 5%
Commentary #2 = 6%
Commentary #3 = 8%
Commentary #4 = 9%
Commentary #5 = 10%
Test #1 = 5%
Test #2 = 7%
Test #3 = 9%
Test #4 = 11%
Class Discussion and participation on the Weekly discussion questions: 30%. Added up the total percentage should equal 100%. Note that the single most important grade is Discussion. Your commentaries total 38% of your final grade and tests total 32%.
The following is the grading scale that I use:
A = 100-94
A- = 93-90
B+ = 89-87
B = 86-84
B- = 83-80
C+ = 79-77
C = 76-74
C- = 73-70
D+ = 69-67
D = 66-63
D- = 62-60
F= 59-0
Please note that this grading scale is subject to change should the University of Houston alter its grading policy.
Is there any thing else I should know about the class? Yes, individual initiative is the most important quality for success in my online class. Visit the website frequently and regularly throughout the semester. Communicate with me through the website email after the class is underway, not through UH email. Follow directions, read, read, read, and enjoy the class. I provide lecture notes on the website, so be sure and read those. I also provide short audio mini-lectures which supplement the lecture notes. If you have any difficulties with any of these, please email me. You will find that I am very active in this online class. I participate in the online discussion, I try to return all papers due on Sunday night by the following Wednesday, and I try to answer all class emails within 24 hours of your sending them. See Errors and Expectations in the folder Other Information for additional remarks on your participation and work in the class.
Please remember that this course is an upper division class at a major state research university. As the professor, I have certain expectations of the level students have achieved thus far and what I hope to accomplish during the course of this class. Occasionally students will have unexpected issues arise during the semester sometimes relating to their own health or someone close to them. If you are unable to keep up with the class owing to such unexpected events or issues, please let me know so that we may work together for you to drop the class in a timely manner. I do not give incompletes for this online class, nor do I allow students to make up work at the end of the class or even after it is due. Please do not send me doctor's excuses, obituaries, or other records documenting tragedies that have befallen you. I am sympathetic to your problems and will assist you in dropping the class. If papers are not submitted at the time specified or tests are not taken during the scheduled time, the student receives a zero for the assignment. If students drop out of discussion for extended periods of time, these questions may not be addressed once they have been deleted from the discussion page. Please do not ask to make up work that you missed. I do realize that life altering events occur, and I am willing to fully cooperate in your leaving the class; however, I do not accept excuses from physicians, morticians, lawyers, etc. If this becomes an inconvenient semester for you to take this class, and I hope very much that it does not, please drop the class in a timely manner according to the procedures of the University.
Assignments for the Semester:
Note: the week runs from Monday through Sunday. Always check the Weekly Message for the exact times tests will be available and the deadline for paper submissions. Email me through the class website if you are uncertain of these times or any other matters.
Week 1: January 19 - 24:
Access the website, read the syllabus, read the Weekly Message, submit a letter of introduction (see Other Information), take test over the syllabus (available 4:00 PM Saturday, January 23 until 11:55 PM Sunday, January 24), begin reading my lecture notes and the Canterbury Tales: "The Miller's Prologue and Tale" Note that I have also written lecture notes on "The General Prologue" which I believe many students have read in previous classes but is not required reading in this class.
Week 2: January 25 - 31:
Continue "The Miller's Prologue and Tale." Read lecture online as well as the introductory materials in the text itself, listen to my mini-lecture, and participate in discussion. See my instructions on writing a commentary in the folder Other Information. Check for other details in the Weekly Message. Commentary # 1 is due on January 31.
Week 3: February 1 - 7:
"The Wife of Bath's Tale." Read notes on her "Prologue and Tale" and participate in discussion.
Week 4: February 8 -14:
"The Pardoner's Prologue and Tale." Read notes and participate in discussion. Test 1 on February 14 & 15. See the Weekly Message for further details and be certain to read my notes on Tests in the folder Other Information.
Week 5: February 15-21:
Everyman: Read notes and participate in discussion. See my instructions on writing a commentary in the folder Other Information. Check for other details in the Weekly Message. Commentary #2 is due on February 21
Week 6: February 22 - 28:
Utopia by Sir Thomas More. Read all notes and introductory materials. Participate in class discussion. Test 2 on February 27 & 28. Check the Weekly Message for details.
Week 7: March 1- 7:
16th Century lyric verse. The Weekly Message will detail which poems you are asked to read. Read notes and participate in class discussion.
Week 8: March 8 - 14:
17th Century lyric verse. The Weekly Message will detail which poems you are asked to read. Read notes and participate in class discussion. Commentary #3 is due on March 14. See the Weekly Message for further details.
Week 9: March 15 - 21:
Spring Break. Enjoy!
Week 10: March 22 - 28:
Paradise Lost. The Weekly Message will detail which books we will cover. Read notes and participate in class discussion.
Week 10: March 29 - April 4:
Paradise Lost. Read notes and participate in class discussion. Test 3 will be on April 3 & 4.
Week 11: April 5 - 11:
Robinson Crusoe. Read notes and participate in class discussion. Commentary #4 is due on April 11.
Week 12: April 12 - 18:
Robinson Crusoe. Read notes and participate in class discussion.
Week 13: April 19 - 25:
The History of Rasselas, Prince of Abyssinia. Read notes and participate in class discussion.
Week 14: April 26- May 2:
Fantomia; Or Love in a Maze, and Olauda H. Equiano, "Life Narrative," pp. 2850-59. Commentary 5 is due on April 25. May 3rd is the last day of class.
Saturday and Sunday May 8 & 9:
Test 4: See Weekly Message for details.