ENGL 512: Medieval Literature (mostly) Exclusive of Chaucer
Undergraduate Student Syllabus
Spring 2011

Instructor Contact Information:

 

Office: 228 Bancroft
Phone: 803-323-4557

E-mail: kosterj@winthrop.edu

Website: http://faculty.winthrop.edu/kosterj

Office Hours: MW 11-12:30; T 5:15-6:15; and gladly by appointment.

Texts:

·         The Longman Anthology of British Literature, vol. 1A, 3rd ed., ISBN 0-321-33391-8

·         Thomas Malory, King Arthur & His Knights, ed. Vinaver, ISBN 0-19-501905-9

·         Marie de France, Lais, Penguin edition, ISBN 9780140447590

·         Margery Kempe, The Book of Margery Kempe, ed. Staley, ISBN 0-393-97639-4

·         Bella Millett, Middle English Prose for Women, ISBN 0-19-811997-6

·         Marie Boroff, transl., Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Patience, Pearl, ISBN 0-393-97658-0

Course Goals:

1. To familiarize you with some of Middle English literature’s greatest works (exclusive of Chaucer) in both print and other media

2. To introduce you to the major forms, values, themes, and literary positions of Middle English, particularly as they prepare you to study later periods of literature and to take standardized exams like the GRE

3. To reinforce your critical reading, interpretative, and writing skills through in-class examinations and out-of-class writing assignments, leading to the creation of materials suitable for revising as a conference paper submission

4. To introduce you to the complexities of textuality involved in studying medieval literature

5. To introduce you to some of the complexities of medieval culture involved in studying medieval literature.

See a complete listing of course goals for the Department of English at http://www.winthrop.edu/english/goals/index.htm.  Goals for teacher certification majors: http://www.winthrop.edu/english/goals.htm#englished.

Learning Outcomes

1.       Students will be able to explain the historical, literary, and cultural contexts of major works of Middle English literature.

2.       Students will demonstrate mastery of the rudiments of Middle English, including its language, poetics, and genres.

3.       Students will be able to identify major characters, events, and authors in Middle English literary history.

4.       Students will be able to create, support, and defend their own critical arguments about Middle English literature, as demonstrated in critical papers, class presentations, and examinations.

5.       Students will be able to create a piece of scholarly work on a topic in Middle English literature suitable for submitting to a conference or scholarly journal.

6.       Students will demonstrate the ability to find and use appropriate scholarly secondary material in support of their own critical arguments

7.       Students will demonstrate the ability to document the use of borrowed information in 2009 MLA style.

Expectations

1. This is an intense course, even in translation. Emphasis will be placed on a lot of discussion. Therefore, you are expected to do the reading before class and to come to class prepared.

2. As a 500-level class, you will be expected to dip into secondary criticism of the works we read as well as the primary texts themselves. I will explain to you what I want you to do with the secondary readings I suggest, but you should get into the habit of probing more deeply as well. Get to know the PR 1900-2200 range of the library. You are expected to participate audibly in class discussion; leave your shyness at the door, please.

2. Attendance is expected. University policy is that students who miss more than 25% of classes (8 classes on a two-meeting per week class) must receive a grade of F. If you miss more than two classes, expect your final grade to be lowered at least three points for every absence.

3. You are expected to purchase the texts and bring them to class as assigned. If you do not choose to purchase them from the Bookworm, please check the ISBNs for the texts so that you can get the right editions wherever you choose to shop. Some materials will be available online so that you can reduce your costs. If you choose not to print these materials out, then make detailed notes (with quotes!) so that you can participate intelligently in discussion.

4. I expect you to observe the English department’s conventions for the appropriate use of borrowed information and documentation, available at http://www.winthrop.edu/english/writing/plagiarism.htm.  All use of sources (quotes, paraphrases, summaries, referring to the whole work in passing) must be correctly documented.  All works submitted for a grade must have a Works Cited page.  Plagiarism of any sort is unacceptable in the class and will result in an F grade for the class. Please ask me in advance if you have any questions about how you are using borrowed materials in your work. All work is presumed to be original for this class unless I give explicit permission otherwise.

5. All written work must conform to MLA style. See Harris’ Prentice Hall Reference Guide to Grammar and Composition, 4th ed., or the MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers, 5th ed., if you have any questions.

6. The classroom is not the place for multi-tasking. Cell phones and other electronic devices must be turned off during class. If yours goes off during class, you will be counted absent for the day. I will allow the use of laptops and netbooks for notetaking as long as the privilege is not abused. Repeated offenses will seriously affect your class participation grade.

Course Requirements:
 

A  94-100; A- 91-93

B+ 88-90; B  84-87; B- 81-83

C+ 78-80; C  74-77; C- 71-73

D+ 68-70; D  64-67; D- 61-63

F  0-60
  • Two in-class exams, 10% each: 20%
  • Two short reaction papers, 5% each: 10%
  • Final exam: 25% for graduate students) Weds. April 27, 11:30 AM.
  • Critical paper of 9+ pages: 25%
  • Involved, prepared class participation, including leading discussion of assigned articles: 20%

Undergraduates will be graded on the plus/minus system; graduate students will not be.

Grading Standards:

On my web page I will provide links to my rubric for grading essay exams and a rubric for class participation in literature classes. See my Literary Analysis Rubric for the standards I use to grade your written efforts.

I encourage you to review these and to bring any questions about them to me.

Syllabus Change Policy:

The policy statement posted on my class web page is the most up-to-date one and will be the one we use to resolve any questions or issues.

Student Code of Conduct:

As noted in the Student Conduct Code:  “Responsibility for good conduct rests with students as adult individuals.” The policy on student academic misconduct is outlined in the “Student Conduct Code Academic Misconduct Policy” in the online Student Handbook (http://www2.winthrop.edu/studentaffairs/handbook/StudentHandbook.pdf).

Plagiarism Policy:

Plagiarism is the use of someone else’s thoughts, words, ideas, or lines of argument in your own work without appropriate documentation (a parenthetical citation at the end and a listing in "Works Cited")–whether you use that material in a quote, paraphrase, or summary. It is a theft of intellectual property and will not be tolerated, whether intentional or not. It is also a violation of section V, "Academic Misconduct," of the Winthrop Student Conduct Code (http://www.winthrop.edu/studentaffairs/Judicial/judcode.htm). The English Department has prepared The Correct Use of Borrowed Information to explain plagiarism (see www.winthrop.edu/english/plagiarism.htm .) You will be required to print out this statement, sign the last page, and bring it to your rough draft conference. Ignorance or failure to consult this material is no excuse.

Turnitin.com

We will use www.turnitin.com for papers in this class. Your class ID # and the password will be given to you in class. Keep the receipt for all submissions from Turnitin. (If you don’t get an e-mail receipt, your paper did not upload successfully; you must go back and reload it.) Tutorials for using turnitin.com:  http://www.winthrop.edu/dacus/About/studentTIIinstructions.htm. >

Duplicate Submission of Papers:

You may not submit a paper for a grade in this class that already has been (or will be) submitted for a grade in another course, unless you obtain the explicit written permission of me and the other instructor involved in advance. This is to conform to the Student Code of Conduct, §V, which states: "Academic misconduct includes but is not limited to … presenting the same or substantially the same papers or projects in two or more courses without the explicit permission of the professors involved." (Student Code of Conduct §V: http://www.winthrop.edu/studentaffairs/Judicial/judcode.htm )

 

Students with Disabilities:

If you have a disability and need classroom accommodations, please contact Gena Smith, Coordinator, Services for Students with Disabilities, at 323-3290 (or ext. 3290 from campus), as soon as possible. Once you have your professor notification letter, please notify me so that I am aware of your accommodations well before the first time you need accommodation.

Safe Zones:

This classroom is a place where you will be treated with respect as a human being – regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, national origin, religious affiliation, sexual orientation, political beliefs, age, or ability. Additionally, diversity of thoughts is appreciated and encouraged, provided you can agree to disagree. I expect that ALL students will be able to consider our classroom a safe environment.

Contacting Your Instructor:

It’s easiest to reach me by e-mail at the address above, or to leave voicemails for me on my office line (it does not provide text or IM capacity). You can leave messages for me in the department mailroom, 248 Bancroft, which is open from 8:30-5:00 each day.

Late Paper/Assignment Policy:

You may take an extension of one class period on either of the short papers, provided that you inform me in advance. You need not give me a reason; just send me an e-mail saying "I'd like to take my extension, please," and that will cover it. (Please send me an e-mail as my record keeping needs all the help it can get.) Unless you have a valid medical or university-approved excuse, I will not accept late research papers in this class. You’ll have more than six weeks to get the research paper done. Plan accordingly.

Final Examination Schedule:

The final examination this semester is scheduled for Wednesday April 27 at 11:30 a.m., so plan accordingly. University policy states that travel or work schedules are not valid reasons for missing or rescheduling a final examination.

Reading Schedule

This will be posted on the web at http://faculty.winthrop.edu/kosterj/engl512.htm.

Resources:

http://faculty.winthrop.edu/kosterj/archives/LitClasses/midengres.htm