The English Concentration 
in the Liberal Studies Degree 

Dr. Jim Wohlpart  
Office:  AB Two 212;  590-7181 
Hours:  MW 3-4:30 and by appointment 
e-mail:  wohlpart@fgcu.edu  
homepage:  http://itech.fgcu.edu/faculty/wohlpart/  
 

Textbook 
The Norton Anthology of World Masterpieces. Expanded Edition.  Gen. Ed. Maynard Mack.  3rd ed. Vol. 1.  New York: Norton, 1995. (Required) 

Course Description and Goals
This course centers on an examination of World literature and culture up to and including the Renaissance.  The course will include three primary sections, the Classical World (Greek and Roman), the Medieval Period, and the Renaissance.  The emphasis in the course will be on texts and contexts, that is, on the works we read and on the cultural, historical, economic, and political contexts in which those works were produced and disseminated.  By the end of the semester you should be able to identify various writers and their works from these periods;  describe their central concerns and achievements as well as the contexts in which they wrote;  analyze specific texts closely in relation to relevant historical contexts; and synthesize the themes of the various literary periods of this era.

Course Requirements
READING, ANALYSIS, and SYNTHESIS:  You will be expected to read and analyze each piece of literature assigned in the course, as well as the background material and the assigned critical works.  I would strongly suggest that you read each work, along with the introduction to the author, closely and take notes and mark important passages.  You should then make connections to relevant historical contexts based on the background lectures (on tape) and the critical works and background material.  This kind of individual synthesis, founded on classroom discussion, will be crucial to your complete understanding of these works and the ideas connected to them and thus to your success on the exam.

EXAM:  One exam will be given on the material assigned for the course which will include a substantial amount of writing (about 1500 words each).  The exam, which may include identifications, interpretations, definitions, fill in the blanks, and essays, will count 25% of the final grade.  Much of the information for the definitions and fill in the blanks will come from the taped lectures;  the identifications, interpretations, and essays will come from the reading materials.

MINI-ESSAYS and CRITICAL THINKING GUIDES: You will also be given mini-essays and critical thinking guides to complete (about 1500 words of writing total);  these assignments will count a total of 25% of your final grade. To receive an “A” for this grade, you must turn in all assignments on time and have at least a 4.5/5 average on the mini-essays and critical thinking guides;  to receive a “B,” you must turn in all assignments on time and have at least a 4/5 average on the mini-essays and critical thinking guides;  a “C,” you must turn in all assignments on time and have at least a 3.5/5 average on the mini-essays and critical thinking guides; etc.  The first two assignments turned in can be revised once to receive a higher grade.

BIBLIOGRAPHIC SUMMARIES:  Each student will also complete two groups of bibliographic summaries (2-4 paragraph summaries of the thesis and main argument of assigned research articles);  this assignment will count a total of 25% of your final grade.  These bibliographic summaries will be shared with the other students taking the class as an independent study.
 
LITERARY ANALYSIS ESSAY:  You will also write one essay for this class, approximately 1500-1750 words in length (about 6 double spaced pages) without the use or consultation of research.  This essay will count 25% of your final grade. The topic for this essay will be your own to develop but should come from the material assigned in class;  the paper that you turn in must be written for this class to answer this assignment (no plagiarism and no duplication of papers is allowed in the English program!).  You will need to follow all guidelines for good essay writing:  a provocative title;  an informative lead-in that sets up your argument and a clear, focused thesis;  good development;  unity;  coherence;  and a well thought out, non-repetitive conclusion.  You will be graded on the correctness of the citation and documentation of your quotations and paraphrases (use MLA internal documentation). In order to get credit for the essay, you must turn in a completed draft of your essay on the rough draft due date.  For sample essays, see my writing resource page: http://itech.fgcu.edu/faculty/wohlpart/courses/course.htm (this page can be located from my home page).

Grades
Any work turned in late (ie, after the due date) may be down graded one letter grade per day late.
 Exam 25%
 Mini-Essays/Critical Thinking Guides 25%
 Bibliographic Summaries 25%
 Literary Analysis Essay 25%

The grading scale for the class will be as follows:
 A 90 to 100% =Excellent Work
 B 80 up to 90% =Strong Work;  Well Above Average 
 C 70 up to 80% =Average/Satisfactory Work
 D 60 up to 70% =Below Average
 F below 60%

Due Dates
Because this class is an independent study, you will not have the framework of regularly scheduled class meetings to turn in work.  Consequently, you will need to take the responsibility of completing the work by the assigned due date;  any work turned in past the due date may be down graded one day per day late.  
 
 

M 21 June––Background and Introduction to the Classical Period (taped lecture)
W 23 June –– Classical Literature:  Homer, The Odyssey Books I, II, VIII, IX, XXI, XXII
 Aristotle, Poetics 758-64
 Sophocles, Oedipus the King 590-632
 Complete Critical Thinking Guide on The Odyssey (all students)

M 28 June –– Virgil, The Aeneid 1000-1050
 Ovid, Metamorphoses 1066-91
 Complete Mini-Essay on Metamorphoses (all students)
W 30 June ––Medieval Literature:  Background and Introduction (taped lecture)
 The Wanderer 1622-25
 Beowulf 1546-1613
 Marie de France, Eliduc 1680-92
 Complete Critical Thinking Guide on Beowulf (all students)

M 5 July –– Independence Day Holiday
W 7 July –– 1 student will complete 2 assigned summaries on Oedipus
 1 student will complete 2 assigned summaries on The Aeneid
 1 student will complete 2 assigned summaries on Beowulf

M 12 July ––  Chaucer, Canterbury Tales, Prologue 1900-1917 and “Miller’s Tale” 1917-33
 Dante, Divine Comedy 1703-12, 1720-33, 1825-29
 Complete Mini-Essay on Canterbury Tales (all students)
W 14 July –– Renaissance Literature:  Background and Introduction (taped lecture)
 Machiavelli, The Prince 2437-47
 Rabelais, Gargantua and Pantagruel 2482-95
 Montaigne, Essays 2522-28
 Rough Draft of Literary Analysis Essays due

M 19 July –– Shakespeare, Hamlet
W 21 July  –– 1 student will complete 2-3 assigned summaries on Divine Comedy
 1 student will complete 2-3 assigned summaries on The Canterbury Tales
 1 student will complete 2-3 assigned summaries on Hamlet

M 26 July ––Literary Analysis Essays Due (in folder with both drafts)
W 28 July –– Final Exam (if you can come from 4:30-8:00, you can take the exam with my other class)

You will also be expected to read all biographical introductions;  relevant information from these pieces may be included in your exams.  Syllabus is subject to change;  all changes will be announced via email.