MARYVILLE UNIVERSITY COURSE SYLLABUS

SEMESTER/YEAR: Fall 2006
COURSE: ENGL 357.01
TITLE: WORLD LITERATURE
PREREQUISITE: ENGL 101 COREQUISITES: NONE CREDITS: 3

MEEING DAYS/TIME: Tue, Thur 10:50a-12:05p

MEETING PLACE: Reid 2318

INSTRUCTOR: Leah Schwartz, Ph.D.
OFFICE PHONE: 314-529-9409 OFFICE LOCATION: ABAC 3206
VOICEMAIL: 314-529-9201 + 9409# E-MAIL: lschwartz@maryville.edu
WEBSITE: http://accweb.itr.maryville.edu/schwartz
FAX: 314-529-9965 (College of Arts and Sciences)

OFFICE HOURS 06/fa: Tue Thur 9:00-10:40a + 12:10-1:30p + MWF by appointment
TEACHING SCHEDULE 06/fa:
Tue Thur 10:50a-12:05p ENGL 357.01 World Literature (3) Reid 2318
Tue Thur 1:40-2:55p FPAR 210.01 Performance Workshop I (3) AUD 1423
Thur 3:30-5:30p EDUC 579 Methods of Teaching English (3) Parkway South HS
Fri 9:00-11:45a INTD 101.15 Freshman Seminar (3) TBA

CATALOG DESCRIPTION Students will analyze literature from Asia, Africa, and Latin America.

COURSE OBJECTIVES

· to critique fiction, showing understanding of point of view, narration, tone, style, language, structure, dialogue, characterization, theme

· to analyze the cultural context of the literature

· to respond to literature in discussion and in brief writing

· to set forth literary analysis or response in structured essays

· to create in writing

COURSE CONTENT/TOPICS

· novels: On Beauty, Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress, The Kite Runner, Arrow of God, Like Water for Chocolate

· films: Howard’s End, To Live, Like Water for Chocolate

ASSESSMENT

· class discussion

· daily brief written work in class; daily short assignments in preparation for class discussion

· 10-minute oral report on a topic in Asian, African, or Latin American literature or culture; or on a work or author from those areas with 1-page informational (not category) outline handout

· 2 structured analysis or response papers on the novels

TEXTS

On Beauty. Zadie Smith Penguin 2005 1-59420-063-7.
The Kite Runner. Khaled Hosseini. Penguin 2003 1594480001

Arrow of God. Chinua Achebe. Doubleday 1989. 978-0-385-01480-9 (0-385-01480-5)
Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress. Dai Sijie. Random House 2001. 0-385-72220-6.

Like Water for Chocolate. Laura Esquivel. Random House (Anchor), 1995. 0-385-42017-X

THIS SYLLABUS MAY BE ALTERED BY THE TEACHER TO MEET STUDENT OR INSTRUCTIONAL NEEDS.

CALENDAR

29 Aug Intro, syllabus, student concerns; backgrounds: 20^th C. China

31 Aug, 5 Sep Film To Live

7,12,14 Sep Discussion of Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress (p. 3-55; p. 56-105; p. 209-185)

19,21,26,28 Sep, 3 Oct Discussion of On Beauty (p. 1-89; p. 89-179; p. 179-271; p. 272-353; p. 353-443)

5,10 Oct Film Howard’s End

-- Paper due: 10 Oct 3-4 p, 750-1000 word structured analysis or response paper due on Of Beauty or Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress

12,17,19,24 Oct Discussion of The Kite Runner (p. 1-100; p. 101-194; p. 195-272; p. 273-371)

-- Presentation due: 26,31 Oct; 1 Nov (or any class earlier than 26 Oct) 10-minute reports on a non-Western topic; informational handout required

7,9,14,16 Nov Discussion of Arrow of God (p. 1-38; p. 39-100; p. 101-174; p. 175-230)

-- Thanksgiving break week is 19-25 November.

28,30 Nov film Like Water for Chocolate

-- Paper due: 30 Nov 3-4 p, 750-1000 word structured analysis or response paper due on The Kite Runner or Arrow of God

5,7,12 Dec Discussion of Like Water for Chocolate (p.1-81; p. 82-159; p. 160-245)

14 Dec Reserve for makeup day if needed.

ASSIGNMENTS AND PROPORTION OF COURSE GRADE

· 10% class discussion

· 20% daily brief written work in class; daily short assignments in preparation for class discussion

· 20% 10-minute oral report on a topic in Asian, African, or Latin American literature or culture; or on a work or author from those areas with 1-page informational (not category) outline handout; due 26,31 Oct; 1 Nov or any class day before 26 Oct

· 50% 2 structured analysis or response papers on the novels (3-4 p., 750-100 words, typed; due 10 Oct and 30 Nov)

CRITERIA FOR LETTER GRADES

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,” for instance, marks work of exceptional quality which shows understanding of the assignment, the topic, the medium, the context, the background; which shows evidence of a 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 the advancement of knowledge and understanding of the topic.

The other grades mark work showing 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.

LATE, INCOMPLETE, MISSING WORK

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).

CLASS ATTENDANCE POLICY

Students are expected to attend, completely, all class meetings.
Students with more than 3 unauthorized absences will receive a lower course grade than their work would otherwise merit.

An authorized absence is defined as a serious personal illness; a family emergency such as a serious illness or death involving a member of the immediate family; jury or military duty; and representing the University in athletics, academic, professional and leadership development pursuits. Authorized absences must be officially documented.
**STUDENTS WHO MISS MORE THAN 7 CLASSES WILL RECEIVE A COURSE GRADE OF F.**

PLAGIARISM POLICY (ZERO TOLERANCE)
*******ANY INSTANCE OF PLAGIARISM WILL RESULT IN A COURSE GRADE OF F.*********
All instances of plagiarism will be reported to the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, who forwards that information to appropriate University administrators.

ORAL REPORTS

Due: 26,31 Oct; 1 Nov or any class day before 26 Oct
Grading: See “Criteria for Letter Grades” above

CONTENT AND REQUIREMENTS
The topic and the presentation should be appropriate to the course and to the audience. The presentation should use appropriate speech creation and delivery techniques.

For this assignment, the student will prepare an informative one-page handout for the class. No other written work is required for this assignment.
Time: 10 minutes.

TOPICS
These are some suggestions. The list is not meant to be exhaustive of the possibilities.
The works of an author; philosophical influences on an author.
An analysis of a work by an author.
History, religion, or politics of one of the areas covered.
Educational system.
Mythology, folklore, rituals, festivals
Other numbering systems
Other alphabets, syllabaries; other writing systems
The Mayan calendar; other calendar systems
Yoruba sayings (one of 3 main groups in Nigeria) PN6519. Y6 O96 1988 Owomoyela, Oyekan. A Ki I: Yoruba proscriptive and prescriptive proverbs.
The Masai (Kenyan group)
Wahhabism (branch of Islam dominant in Saudi Arabia)
Australian Aborigine lore, diet, practices
Spanish American styles of architecture
The concept of the house in Japan
Food taboos, food preferences, food preparation practices in a culture
Shamanism; other alternative types of healing; acupuncture
Japanese theatre
Popol Vuh, Quiche book of the Mayans

3-4 PAGE, 750-1000 WORD PAPERS

Due: 10 October, 30 November

Types of paper: analysis of the novel as a creative unit or as reflection of culture; personal response prompted by content or technique of the novel
Grading: See “Criteria for Letter Grades” above

PAPER REQUIREMENTS

Title descriptive of the essay content
Narrowed thesis which takes a stance about the novel as creative unit or as reflection of culture—or which draws a relationship between the novel and personal experience or reflection
Support for the thesis through clear, coherent discussion and use of pertinent concrete details from the novel
Applicable reference to any readings about the novel or the culture
Standard mechanics (grammar, usage, punctuation)
Appropriate crediting of sources of any ideas or words not original to the essay writer

. . . Academic Support . . .

The Academic Success Center provides assistance and support for all students. Services include peer tutoring, individual consultation to assist students with achieving their academic goals, study skills materials, Writing Center, and accommodations for students with disabilities. General academic advising and CLEP (College Level Examination Program) testing are available through the Retention and Advising Center. Call 314-529-9477 for information or to make an appointment. The Academic Success Center and Retention Initiatives Offices are located in Gander 101.

Maryville University provides accommodations and supports for students with disabilities as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act. If you have a documented disability and wish to discuss academic accommodations, please contact Julie Kindred, Director of the Academic Success Center at 314-529-9374.