J.
Stephen Pearson, Instructor: U of Georgia, Fall 2006
...if I study, 'tis for no other
science than what treats of the knowledge of myself, and instructs me how to
die and how to live well. —Montaigne
Time: MWF 11.15-12.05
Room: 241 Joe Brown Hall
Credits: 3
E-Mail: Please use WebCT e-mail
Office Hours: MW 12.15-1.15 (x2.2144)
Office: 125 Joe Brown
Course Description: World
literature from antiquity to the seventeenth century. This course cannot
be used to fulfill the undergraduate multicultural requirement.
Pre-Requisites: None, though you should have completed ENGL 1101 & 1102, as 70% of your grade is based upon writing assignments.
Topical Outline: This course will focus exclusively on non-Western works; other sections of 2111 may include Western works, as do all sections of 2210. The works chosen represent the literary achievements of India, China, Japan, the Middle East, Africa and Mesoamerica. Through close reading of these works, we will address the thematic concerns of the authors and the stylistic means used to address these concerns. In addition, we will use contemporary scholarship to place these works within the larger contexts of the author’s oeuvre, the genre, and the ethnic tradition.
1. Texts:
· The Arabian Nights (trans. Haddawy)
·
The
Bhagavad-Gita (trans. Miller)
·
The Epic of
Son-Jara (trans. Johnson
·
The
Mahabharata (trans. Narasimhan)
·
Monkey (trans. Waley)
·
The Popol Vuh (trans. Tedlock)
· The Tale of Genji (abridged; trans. Seidensticker)
· CMLT 2111 Coursepack: contains selections from the Rig Vedas, Confucius, Zhuang Zhou, Sei Shonagon, Yoshida Kenko, Sa’di, the Heart and Diamond Sutras, and the Qur’an
2.
Recommended Reference Works:
· Joseph M. Williams: Style: The Basics of Clarity and Grace.
· A good dictionary and a non-topographical atlas.
The course syllabus is a general plan for the course; deviations announced to the class by the instructor may be necessary and will be posted via WebCT.
1. To
increase the student’s ability to read and analyze a text closely.
2. To teach students how to use comparative methodology to interpret texts.
3. To improve the student’s ability to have productive discussions about literature.
4. To improve the student’s ability to write a persuasive argument about a literary text.
1. Question (v. Theme): Why does the author bring up certain themes and what does s/he say about them? What questions is the author addressing? Or, What questions are raised for you by the text?
2.
Represent (v. Symbolize): Everything included in a
story represents something larger than itself, even if it is not itself a
symbol. What do the characters and situations represent?
3. Function (v. Meaning): Some elements may have ambiguous and/or multiple meanings. How are these elements used within the larger context, e.g. what do they do?
assignments and grades will be posted on
Web CT
Grading Scale: A
= 92, A- = 90; B+ = 86, B = 82, B- = 80; C+ = 76, C=72, etc.
Quizzes (30%): Every Friday at the start of class, testing basic knowledge of the text: author, characters, plot points, geography, etc. I drop your lowest grade, in case you need to skip a quiz. But, if you take all the quizzes, I add one point to your final score.
·
If you miss two quizzes in a row
without contacting me, I will drop you from the course.
·
Do not be late. If you arrive after I
have begun collecting the quizzes, you will not be allowed to take it.
Exams (30%): Three
exams (including the final), one after
every two texts, composed of three essay questions that examine your
ability to a) compare texts and b) to use
critical articles. Essays are graded on a 10-point scale, based on the
quality of your argument and your understanding of the texts. The final exam
will also include a cumulative question.
·
Exams are due by 5 p.m. on the day
assigned, using WebCT.
·
If you miss the first exam, I will
drop you from the course.
·
You must take all 3 exams (incl.
the cumulative essay) to qualify for a B in the course.
·
Anyone going into the final with a 95+
average will only have to write the cumulative.
Writing Assignments (40%):
Five short argument essays, 2 to 2.5 pages long, in full MLA format (including
a works-cited page). These essays will show your ability to read the text
closely and to compose a persuasive argument that attempts to answer a significant
question arising from the text. I drop your lowest grade, in case you need
to skip an essay. But, if you write all 5, I add one point to your final
score. The gGrading rubric is in the coursepack.
·
All essays will be due by 5 p.m. on the
day assigned, using WebCT.
· If you do not turn in the first essay, I will drop you from the course.
· You must do 4 essays to qualify for a B in the course.
·
Rewrites are allowed for the first two essays, on the condition that you first have a
conference with me about them
Course Withdrawals: I will not offer a WF to anyone who
disappears after the second exam. As stated above, I do drop people from the
course for missing exams or consecutive quizzes, but I only give WFs prior to
the second exam.
Make-up Policy: If you contact me ahead of time about missing a quiz, I will allow you to make it up within one week. If you need to miss an exam, you may take it early. In general, I understand that your life does not come to a standstill for my course, and I am more than willing to work with you should disaster strike during the semester. However, I can only do this if you inform me of the problem and keep me up to date on your situation.
Attendance: I have no formal attendance policy; if you can read all the work on your own and pass the course, congratulations. However, attendance does play a role in class participation (see below). You should always show up for class at least once a week, if only to take the quiz.
Participation: consistent attendance, participation, completion of assignments, etc. will count in your favor should you be on the border at the end of the term.
Extra Credit: As stated above, extra credit for this class consists of writing 5 papers and taking all the quizzes. Doing so allows you both to drop your lowest scores, and to receive 2 extra points to your final grade, so you double the benefits.
All academic work must meet the standards contained in “A Culture of Honesty.” All students are responsible to inform themselves about those standards before performing any academic work.
What that means in this class: If you cheat on a quiz, you earn a zero on the quiz and will not be allowed to drop that quiz. If you cheat on an exam, you earn a zero for the exam. If you plagiarize small portions of a paper, you earn a zero for that paper and will not be allowed to drop that paper. If you plagiarize substantial portions of your paper, you will fail the course.
Classroom Policies: Remember that teachers and other students are only human, and are influenced by your appearance and behavior. And as in any workplace, you want people to give you the benefit of the doubt. Lateness, disruptiveness, rudeness, inappropriate clothing, etc. are counter-productive to your relationships with your instructor and with your classmates. A few tips:
· Turn off cell phones and pagers before entering the class room. If you need to keep them on (due to an emergency, etc.), let me know ahead of time, and sit near the door.
· If you need to leave early, let me know ahead of time, and sit near the door.
· If you arrive late, take your books, etc. out of your backpack and remove your coat before you enter the room in order to minimize the disturbance to the class.
· Watch your grooming: your safest bet is to treat the class as if it were your job—bathe, dress appropriately, and try to look as though you put some effort into your appearance.
· Treat your classmates with respect, especially when you disagree with them: do unto others, &c.
I am a Ph.D. student in Comparative
Literature here at UGA; my focus is on similarities between minority literature
and religious literature. I have a B.A. in Liberal Arts and an M.A. in Eastern
Classics from