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MARYVILLE UNIVERSITY COURSE SYLLABUS

                                                                                                            9 Dec 2002 version

SEMESTER/YEAR:  Spring 2003

CLASS:  ENGL 218/318 Literary Forms:  Fable to Film (3 cr)


PREREQUISITE:  ENGL 101

MEETING LOCATION:  Kern 3124

MEETING DATES AND TIMES:  Tue, Thur 10:50-12:05
                     

INSTRUCTOR:  Dr. Leah Schwartz, Professor of English
School of Liberal Arts and Professional Programs

OFFICE:  ABAC 3206

PHONE:  (O) 314-529-9409    Voicemail 314-529-9201 + 9409#

FAX:  314-529-9965 (SLAPP office)

EMAIL:  schwartz@maryville.edu

WEB:  http://accweb.itr.maryville.edu/schwartz

This syllabus may be altered by the teacher to meet student or instructional needs.

 

Required texts:
L. Frank Baum.  The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.  Diane Publishers  0756751861
Homer.  Odyssey.  Penguin  0451527364
Joseph Conrad.  Heart of Darkness.  Penguin  0140186522
Jane Austen.  Emma.  Penguin  0451526279
Oscar Wilde.  The Importance of Being Earnest and Other Plays.  Penguin  0451525051
Philip K. Dick.  Minority Report and Other Stories.  Citadel Press  0806523794

Goal:  To observe the range and variety of techniques, narrative and dramatic, used in epic, novel, play, and film.

Objectives:

  1. Student will demonstrate knowledge of the 6 texts and paired films.
    Measurement:  attendance at all classes and contribution to the class discussions
    Measurement:  quizzes and reflections on texts and films
  2. Student will demonstrate ability to discuss the texts and films with a peer group.
    Measurement:  participation in class discussions; turn-taking preparation of questions for discussion of the texts
  3. Student will demonstrate understanding of text and film terminology.
    See:  http://www.psu.edu/dept/inart10_110/inart10/film.html
    Measurement:  appropriate use of text and film terminology in oral and written work
  4. Student will demonstrate ability to document the filmography of a story or of an author’s work.
    Measurement:  compilation of an annotated filmography of a story originally in text form or of multiple texts by an author; minimum 8 films
  5. Student will demonstrate ability to write meaningfully about story and film.
    Measurement:  Comparison and critique of a paired text and film or another approved topic on adaptation (5-7 pages)
  6. Student will demonstrate ability to think clearly and logically.
    Measurement:  class discussion and written projects in which ideas and opinions are presented coherently and with supporting materials
  7. Student will demonstrate ability to write clearly and logically.
    Measurement:  written projects in which ideas and opinions are presented coherently and with supporting materials, using standard grammar, usage, and punctuation
  8. Student will demonstrate aesthetic appreciation.
    Measurement:  showing, in class discussion and written projects, understanding of how text and film convey meaning and create aesthetic effect

 

Calendar

Jan 14,16  Discussion of L. Frank Baum, of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz text and film versions; viewing part of the 1914 silent film.

Jan 21,23
  Discussion of  book The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.  Read Ch I-XI for Tue Jan 21 and Ch XII-end for Thur Jan 23. 

Jan 28,30  1939 film The Wonderful Wizard of Oz viewing and discussion.

Feb 4,6,11
  Discussion of the epic form, of the Greek epic, of Homer’s Odyssey.  Read p.11-99 (Ch I-VIII) for Tue Feb 4; p. 100-190 (Ch IX-XVI) for Thur Feb 6; p. 191 to end (Ch XVII-XXIV) for Tue Feb 11.

Feb 13,18,20
  View parts of O Brother, Where Art Thou? and the film based on James Joyce’s novel Ulysses.

Feb 25, 27  Discussion of Joseph Conrad’s novella Heart of Darkness and viewing of excerpts of Apocalypse Now.

Spring break is Mar 2-9.

Mar 11,13,18,20,25,27  Discussion of Jane Austen’s novel Emma and viewing of the film Clueless.  For Tue Mar 11 read the Introduction and p. 27-102 (Vol 1, Ch 1-11); for Thur Mar 13 read p. 103-209 (Vol I Ch 12-18 + Vol II Ch 1-8); for Tue Mar 18 read p. 209-305 (Vol II Ch 9-18 + Vol III Ch 1-5); for Thur Mar 20 read p. 305-412 (Vol III Ch 6-19).

Apr 1,3  Presentation of filmographies to the class.

Directions for the filmography:
Select a text or multiple texts by an author.
Annotate your listing of at least 4 film versions of the text(s).

Discuss the distinctive or interesting features of each film and compare each film with its source text.
Give the highlights of your research and discovery process in an oral presentation to the class; do not read your presentation.

Use a standard system of notes and list of sources in your written filmography.

Credit ideas or words of others used in the filmography. 

Save all your notes and pre-writing materials.

Be prepared to show the books, articles, and electronic sources of your information.

Plagarism is the use of ideas or words of others without credit.  Papers which show evidence of minimal or extensive plagiarism will result in F grade on the paper or double-F grade on the paper or F course grade.

Apr 8,10,15  Discussion of The Importance of Being Earnest play and film

Due Apr 8:  Topic and argument for the 5-7 page paper, typed.

No class Apr 18; Easter Break is Apr 17-20.

Apr 22,24,29
  Discussion of Philip K. Dick’s Minority Report and the 2002 film based on the novel  

May 1  5-7 page paper analyzing a paired text and film used in the class (or another approved topic on adaptation)

Directions for the 5-7 page paper:

Use a standard system of notes and list of sources.

Credit ideas or words of others used in the paper. 

Save all your notes and pre-writing materials.

Be prepared to show the books, articles, and electronic sources of your information.

Plagarism is the use of ideas or words of others without credit.  Papers which show evidence of minimal or extensive plagiarism will result in F grade on the paper or double-F grade on the paper or F course grade.

Treat both the text version and the film version of the pair you have chosen to write about.

Give your paper an argumentative edge by creating a thesis which shows clearly your point of view about the subject matter.

Give in the introduction a presummary of the main ideas you will use to defend that point of view.

In the body of the paper, substantiate each main idea with appropriate discussion and other supporting materials.

Use an effective conclusion.

Use effective transitions between all elements in the paper.

Make the paper a coherent, unified, clear unit.

Use standard grammar, usage, punctuation.

Write with precision and grace.

 

Components of the Course Work


1. Participation in class discussion – 10%

2. One set of 3 discussion points or questions (with discussion and answers) for each of the 6 texts; typed – 20%

3. Quizzes and reflections on the texts and films – 30%

4. Annotated filmography, minimum 4 films – 10%

5. 5-7 page paper analyzing a paired text and film used in class (or other topic) – 30%

 

Grading

The evaluation of each class assignment or listed portion of the course work will be specified by a letter grade.  The letter grades indicate a judgment of the quality of the completed assignment.  The letter grades used and their values are listed in the Maryville catalogue. 

The highest grade "A" marks work of exceptional quality which shows understanding of
the assignment,
the topic,
the medium,
the context,
the background;  which shows evidence of
thoughtful organization of ideas,
drawing of relationships between ideas,
presenting of concrete supporting evidence and discussion to illustrate ideas,
knowledge of the appropriate broader context of the ideas;
which uses effective and appropriate presentation techniques;
which uses effective and appropriate standard language;
which shows insight, inventiveness, creativity;
which shows sensitivity to the current state of knowledge and information about the topic and 
contributes to theadvancement of knowledge and understanding of the topic.

The other grades mark work which shows lesser levels of mastery in the areas listed above.  "B" work is superior, shows some exceptional quality but not in all areas listed.  "C" work is average, may have some exceptional qualities and some deficiencies.  "D" work is of insufficient quality in some of the areas listed and has little redeeming quality in those areas.  "F" work is insufficient in more areas and has no sufficient redeeming quality.

Policy on written work, on late/incomplete/missing work, on attendance, on tardiness, on quizzes:

Written work should be unified and coherent, using standard language, spelling, and punctuation. Standard organizational devices for paper/essay are expected:  introduction with thesis statement; body with main ideas supported by discussion and specific examples; conclusion which reinforces the thesis; transitions between all elements.

All writing assignments done outside class must be typed.

Late or incomplete work will be graded lower than work that is complete and on time.  Missing work will cause a minus grade for that portion of the course work (not zero percent, but minus whatever percentage is assigned to that item of course work/activity).

Students are expected to attend all class meetings and to arrive on time.

Quizzes on the readings will be given at the beginning of the class period.  No make-up quizzes will be offered.

 

 

 

 

margaret brown             calamity jane           saws          sailing of the ill-fated steamship titanic   
shakespeare       theatre in st louis           oral communication          anatomy of the theatre
performance workshop I          performance workshop II           world literature              methods of teaching english
writing and performing the 10-minute play              freshman seminar
home 
       spring 2008          fall 2008      speech exam directives       10-minute play scripts