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Dr. Francine L. Allen
Literature Courses |
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Spring 2008 Courses
Fall 2007 Courses Fall 2006/Spring 2007 Courses
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Kennesaw State University Professor: Dr. Francine L. Allen Office Location: English Building (EB) Room 270 Office Hours: Tuesdays and Thursdays at these times: 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. 8:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. And by Appointment Any good educational experience is enhanced when a professor is able to give a student individual attention. Thus, I ask you to make full use of my office hours. If you need assistance but find that the set office hours are inconvenient, please contact me and I will make special arrangements to meet with you at a time convenient for both of us. On occasion, I will have faculty meetings on Thursdays from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. At those times, I will infom the class of such and make special arrangments to meet with students who need to see me. Office hours begin on the first day of the course, Tuesday, January 8, 2008; office hours end on the last day of the course, Thursday, April 24, 2008. If you need to speak with me after the last day of the course, please contact me via e-mail to arrange a meeting. E-mail and Office Phone Number: e-mail: fallen4@kennesaw.edu I answer e-mail Monday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Even though you may contact me via e-mail regarding the class, all detailed questions and concerns are best addressed to me in person. Please do not send an e-mail attachment to me unless I have spoken with you and have agreed to accept it. Also, even if I do not respond immediately to one of your e-mails concerning an assignment, I still assume that you will come to class fully prepared. phone number: 678-797-2361 Course Description and
Goals Course Description Though philosophy and art speak about the human condition, they do so in different ways. One of the aims for this course will be to examine the particulars of these differences. We will begin our examination by reading philosophical works, studying what secular and faith-based philosophies say about the issues surrounding human existence. Then, we will turn to literary art--fiction--and discuss what difference the use of figurative language makes in shaping our understanding of the human community. By the end of the course, we should better understand how works of non-fiction and fiction provide a measure of "truth" and insight into what it means to be human. This course in World Literature is a study of selected non-fictional and fictional texts. These texts are written by authors from various time periods and from various parts of the world: Ancient Greece, Europe, and Northern Africa. Upon completion of this course, you should have developed competency in the following activities: the reading of philosophical and literary texts critically the analysis of literature by examining basic literary conventions of plot, character, setting, point of view, and theme the application of literary theory to the interpretation of literature the writing of organized and coherent essays under time restrictions Required Texts Saint Augustine. The Confessions. Trans. Maria Boulding. New York: New City Press, 1997. Pamuk, Orhan . Snow. New York: Vintage, 2005. Plato.
The Republic. Trans. Desmond Lee. New York: Penguin, 2007. Saadawi, Nawal El. Woman at Point Zero. New York: Zed, 2007.
Throughout this semester, you will be required to take four in-class examinations. Each examine will test you on your knowledge of factual information such as the names of literary characters, the important dates associated with a text and its representative time period, and the background information concerning particular authors and texts read in class. Additionally, you will be tested on your understanding of the themes and issues surrounding these texts. As such, the exams will have two sections: one section consisting of fill-in-the-blank and multiple choice questions and another section containing questions that ask you to develop a short, informal essay. In addition to reading all of the assigned material and coming to class regularly, one of the best ways to prepare for class examinations is to always review your class notes after every class discussion and to re-read sections of texts that we have discussed during class. Below you will see a list of all the examinations to be held this semester. For more details about these exams, please refer to the course schedule at the end of this syllabus. Four In-Examinations Examination #1-25% (to be
held Tues., Feb. 5) (will be returned Tues., Feb. 26)
Return of Examinations: If you are not in class on the day an examination is scheduled to be returned, I ask that you pick up your exam anytime during my office hours. All exams that are not claimed on the day that I return them are filed away in my office. Extra Credit: Although no separate extra-credit assignments will be given, each of the four examinations will have an extra-credit component. Because no extra credit will be given other than those extra credit questions on the exams themselves, please be sure to come to me for help if you discover after the first or second exam that you are having diffculty with the course. Please see the course grading scale Late-Work Policies, Class Attendance, and Other Course Issues: Accommodations for Students with Special Needs: Please contact me immediately if you have or if you think you have a disability or medical condition which may affect your performance, attendance, or grades in this class and for which you wish to discuss accommodations of class-related activities or schedules. Accommodations are arranged on an individualized, as-needed basis after the needs and circumstances have been evaluated. Further information regarding Disabled Support Services at the University may be found by visiting this website: SDC-Student Development Center Absences: In case you are unable to make it to class, you should have the names and contact information of fellow classmates so that you can call and find out from them what you missed. Do not rely solely upon me, or any of your professors, to identify what you may have missed during your absence from class. Academic Integrity: Every KSU student should refer to the provisions of the Student Code of Conduct as published in the graduate and undergraduate catalogs. Section II of the Student Code of Conduct addresses the University's policy on academic honesty, including provisions regarding plagiarism and cheating. According to Code of Conduct, "the high quality of education at Kennesaw State University is reflected in the credits and degrees its students earn. The protection of these high standards is crucial since the validity and equity of the University's grades and degrees depend upon it. Any student found to have violated any KSU academic honesty regulation after a hearing before a University court panel or before the Vice President for Student Success and Enrollment Services (or his/her designee) shall be suspended for at least one semester, unless the student persuades the deciding body that the circumstances of his or her behavior substantially mitigate the gravity of the violation. These regulations are designed to assist students in (1) developing appropriate attitudes about, and (2) understanding and following the university's standards relating to academic honesty. The regulations protect students by helping them avoid committing infractions that may compromise the completion of their KSU degrees or damage their reputations." More information on the Student Code of Conduct may be found by visiting this website: KSU Code of Conduct. Class Attendance: As with all your courses at Kennesaw State University, class attendance is required. Students are expected to be in class on time and to be ready to work when they arrive. Leaving class early, unless discussed with the professor beforehand and given approval, is considered unprofessional conduct and counts as an absence. I will begin taking roll five minutes after the official start of class. Students entering after the roll has been taken are asked to sign their name to a sign-up sheet before the class is over so that there is a record of their having been present in class. Students who are late to class will not be dropped from the course and will not have their tardiness counted as an absence. However, constant tardiness inevitably has a negative impact on a student's grade and shows disrespect for me and the students who have arrived on time. Class Conduct: I ask that everyone respect the ideas of others during class discussions. I also ask that no one sleep or use cell phones during class. Examinations: All examinations must be taken during class period on the dates outlined in the syllabus. If you are unable to attend class on the day an examination is given or an essay is due, you are responsible for contacting me via e-mail on that day--between 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.--and I will respond promptly, assessing whether or not the work may be made up and giving you directions for taking the exam at a later date if I determine that circumstances justify such a decision. If you do not follow these procedures, you will be unable to take the exam at a later date. Emergencies: Emergencies will be dealt with individually. If an emergency does happen and you are unable to come to class and submit your work, you should contact me immediately--on the day of the emergency. A decision will be made at that point regarding what you should do. You should always have two or three individuals who can contact me immediately in case an emergency leaves you unable to do so.
Saturday, January 5: First Day of Spring Classes at Kennesaw State Monday, January 21: Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday, NO CLASSES Saturday-Friday, March 1-7: Spring Break, NO CLASSES Monday, March 10: Last Day to Withdraw Without Academic Penalty Monday, April 28: Last Day of Spring Classes at Kennesaw State Tuesday/Thursday Course Schedule The following is a provisional schedule for the semester. Changes may be necessary as the course proceeds. Please check your Kennesaw e-mail daily to stay informed about any changes to the schedule and about matters related to the class, including any cancellations of class by the professor. January
Introduction to Course Student Contact Information Sheet Class Overview on Plato's The Republic Reading Assignment to be completed by Thursday, January 17: Read the Introduction to The Republic, pages xi -xl; Read Part VII of The Republic: The Philosopher Ruler, pages 189-240 Tuesday, January 15--Thursday, January 17 Class Discussion on The Republic: The Philosopher Ruler, pages 189-240 (Monday, January 21: Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. HOLIDAY, NO CLASSES) Reading Assignment to be completed by Thursday, January 24: Read Part IX of The Republic: Imperfect Societies, pages 275-334 Tuesday, January 22--Thursday, January 24 Class Discussion on The Republic: Imperfect Societies, pages 275-334 Reading Assignment to be completed by Thursday, January 31: Read Part X of The Republic: Theory of Art, pages 335-353; Read Part XI of The Republic: The Immortality of the Soul and the Rewards of Goodness, pages 354-368 Tuesday, January 29--Thursday, January 31 Class Discussion on The Republic: Theory of Art, pages 335-353 and Part XI of The Republic: The Immortality of the Soul and the Rewards of Goodness, pages 354-368 Assignment: Prepare for examination on The Republic by Plato; review all reading on The Republic and review all class notes. Exam Guide for Plato ; Assignment for Extra Credit February Tuesday, February 5--Thursday, February 7 **Tuesday, February 5: Examination 1 on The Republic** Class Overview on The Confessions by St. Augustine Reading Assignment to be completed by Thursday, February 14: Read the Introduction to The Confessions by St. Augustine, pages 9-35; Read Books I -III, pages 39-91 Tuesday, February 12--Thursday, February 14 Class Discussion on Book I-III of The Confessions, pages 39-91 Reading Assignment to be completed by Thursday, February 21: Read Books IV-VII, pages 92-183 Tuesday, February 19--Thursday, February 21 Class Discussion on Books IV-VII of The Confessions, pages 92-183 Reading Assignment to be completed by Tuesday, February 26: Read Book VIII, pages 184-208 Tuesday, February 26--Thursday, February 28 Class Discussion on Book VIII, pages 184-208 Assignment: Prepare for examination on The Confessions; review all of the reading on The Confessions and review all class notes Tuesday, February 26: Return of Examination 1; Return of Plato Examination **Thursday, February 28: Examination 2 on The Confessions** Reading Assignment to be completed by Thursday, March 13: Read all of Woman at Point Zero by Nawal El Saadawi March Tuesday, March 4--Thursday, March 6 (Saturday through Friday, March 1-7, SPRING BREAK, NO CLASSES) (Monday, March 10, LAST DAY TO WITHDRAW WITHOUT ACADEMIC PENALTY) Tuesday, March 11--Thursday, March 13 Class Discussion on Woman at Point Zero by Nawal El Saadawi Tuesday, March 18--Thursdays, March 20 Class Discussion on Woman at Point Zero by Nawal El Saadawi Tuesday, March 18: Return of Examination 2 Tuesday, March 25--Thursday, March 27 Class Discussion on Woman at Point Zero by Nawal El Saadawi Exam Guide for Saadawi's Woman at Point Zero Assignment: Prepare for examination on Woman at Point Zero by Nawal El Saadawi; review all of the reading on Woman at Point Zero and review all class notes **Thursday, March 27: Examination 3 on Woman at Point Zero** Reading Assignment to be completed by Thursday, April 3: Read pages 3-52 (chapters one through five) of Snow by Orhan Pamuk April Tuesday, April 1--Thursday, April 3 Class discussion about pages 3-52 of Snow by Orhan Pamuk Reading Assignment to be completed by Thursday, April 10: Read pages 53-107 (chapters 6-11) of Snow by Orhan Pamuk Tuesday, April 8--Thursday, April 10 Class discussion about pages 53-107 of Snow by Orhan Pamuk Reading Assignment to be completed by Thursday, April 17: Read pages 108-162 (chapters 12-17) of Snow by Orhan Pamuk Thursday, April 10: NO CLASS, the Professor will be away at a conference; notes concerning Snow will be posted on the web Tuesday, April 15--Thursday, April 17 Class discussion about pages 108-162 of Snow by Orhan Pamuk Reading Assignment to be completed by Tuesday, April 22: Read pages 163-199 (chapters18-21) of Snow by Orhan Pamuk Tuesday, April 22--Thursday, April 24 (Last Day of Class) Class discussion about pages 163-199 of Snow by Orhan Pamuk Tuesday, April 22, Return of Examination 3 Assignment: Prepare for examination on Snow by Ohan Pamuk; review all reading on Snow and review all class notes **Thursday, April 24: Examination 4 on Snow** (Using your Kennesaw State University e-mail address, I will e-mail you the grade that you earned on Examination 4 by Tuesday, May 6. If you would like your exam returned, you can stop by my office during Fall Semester 2008 to pick it up.)
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