Course Requirements and Policies
Three exams (100 pts. each, 300 points total). Each exam will be half objective, half essay. All exams are cumulative in the sense that you may be expected to compare any of the works we read to texts from the earlier part of the course (e.g., "compare and contrast female characters in Homer and Voltaire").
Contributions to the World Literature Wiki (100 points; this is the "different work"). Throughout the semester we'll discuss in class what this should look like, and what the expectations are. But, in general, you should be making contributions on a weekly basis. Note the plural--contributions. A couple of discussion questions per week isn't sufficient. And you should be making contributions every week. Don't wait until the end of the semester to pack a bunch of things in. Contributions that reflect imagination, intellectual curiosity, and an active engagement with the texts are the ideal--avoid contributions that are merely perfunctory.
Final grades will be based on the following thresholds: 360 points = A, 320 points = B, 280 points = C, 240 points = D, below 239 = F.
POLICY MATTERS
This course requires a substantial amount of reading, most of it in verse. The material we will cover also requires a different kind of reading than you may be accustomed to. Unlike newspaper and magazine articles, or the textbooks you use in social science or business classes, poetry and other works of literature need to be read in a careful, reflective, and active manner. As you plan your study schedule, leave extra time for contemplation and note taking. Keep in mind that college students are generally expected to spend a minimum of two to three hours preparing for each hour of classroom instruction—you should expect to spend a minimum of six to nine hours per week preparing for this class. On exams, you should be prepared to identify and comment on important characters, episodes, complications, and conflicts in the works we read. One of the best ways to prepare yourself for class is to keep a reading journal in which you record notes on characters, outlines of plots, and your own responses to these works. You may also find it useful to keep a comparative list of Greek and Roman deities with notes on the numerous variants on their names (e.g., Aphrodite = Venus, Cytherea). Feel free to visit me in my office at any time during the semester if you are having difficulty with the readings, lectures, or discussions.
Please arrive on time, and be prepared to listen, think, and contribute. Please turn off wireless phones, pagers, headphones, molecular phase inverters, and other electronic devices that might disrupt class. If your cell phone goes off during class, Minos will relegate you to the place in Dante's Hell reserved for the "violent against neighbors." Please treat other students and your instructor in a civil and respectful manner. Note that classroom disruption is a violation of Longwood University's honor code.
Please keep electronic versions of all work you submit for this class until after you have received your final grade. In case of inclement weather, continue to read the daily assignments, continue to submit reading responses, and check the course web page for announcements.
The Longwood University attendance policy in the 2004-2005 Undergraduate Catalog will be the attendance policy for this course. You will receive an F on work missed because of unexcused absences. Your grade will be lowered by one letter grade if you miss 10 percent of the scheduled class meeting times for unexcused absences. You will receive an F if you miss a total (excused and unexcused) of 25 percent of the scheduled class meeting times. If you are absent, it is your responsibility to obtain notes from a classmate (as well as announcements about syllabus changes or other matters). Exams can be made up only under the most grave circumstances, and with documentation from an MD or a Longwood University official. If you foresee a conflict, I expect you to discuss it with me beforehand. Written assignments handed in late will lose one letter grade for each class day late.
PLAGIARISM AND HONOR CODE
Plagiarism, cheating, and other forms of intellectual dishonesty will result in an F for the course and referral to the Longwood University Judicial system.
Please read the Course Plagiarism Policy and take this Plagiarism Self Assessment until you get 100% of the answers correct. Then e-mail the instructor, and indicate that you have read the Course Plagiarism Policy and have taken the Plagiarism Self Assessment.