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Fall Semester 2006
English 2110, Section 06
World Literature
English Building, Room 66
M/W 11:00 am-12:15 pm
Professor: Dr. Francine L. Allen
Office Location: English Building (EB) Room 270
Office Hours:
8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. MW and by Appointment
Any good educational experience is enhanced when a professor is able
to give a student individual attention. Thus, students should make full
use of the professor's office hours. When a student needs assistance
but office hours are not convenient, students should inform the professor
so that she can make special arrangements to meet with the student.
E-mail and Office Phone Number:
e-mail: fallen4@kennesaw.edu
The professor answers e-mails Monday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m.
to 7:00 p.m. Even though students may contact the professor via e-mail
concerning assignments, all detailed questions and concerns are best
addressed to the professor in person. Students should not send an e-mail
attachment to the professor unless they have spoken with her and she
has agreed to accept it. Students are still expected to come to class
fully prepared even if they do not receive an immediate e-mail response
from the professor.
phone number: 678-797-2361
Course Description and Goals
Leadership, Fatherhood, and the Health of Communities
Families, communities, and societies are usually organized around some
kind of leadership. In English 2110, we will explore literary works from
various ages and parts of the world with a goal of understanding what
leadership is, what connection it has to the task of parenting, particularly
fathering, and how various types of leadership styles influence the health
of individuals as well as whole communities and societies.
Upon completion of this course, students should be able to:
read and write critically
understand how literary works can have common themes despite being
produced in different ages and parts of the world
analyze literature by examining basic literary conventions of plot,
character, setting, point of view, and theme
apply literary theory to the interpretation of literature
conduct literary research
write organized, coherent, and properly documented literary research
The prerequisite for this course is English 1102 (with C or better).
Required Texts
Norton Anthology of World Masterpieces. Expanded Edition. Ed.
Maynard Mack.
New York: Norton, 1997.
Salman, Rushdie. Midnight's Children. New York: Penguin, 1991.
Thiong'o, Ngugi wa . The River Between. Portsmouth: Heinemann,
1990
Xun, Lu. The Diary of a Madman and Other Stories. Honolulu:
U. of Hawaii P., 1990
Class Assignments: Examinations and Essay
Throughout this semester, students will be required to take four in-class
examinations. Each examine will test students on their knowledge of factual
information about literary texts discussed in class, factual information
such as the name of characters, the publication date of texts, background
information about an author. Additionally, students will be tested on
their understanding of themes and issues surrounding these texts. As such,
the exams will have two sections: one section consisting of multiple choice
and short-answer questions and another section containing essay questions.
In order to prepare for the examinations, students will be asked for each
reading assignment to answer a set of study questions that will help them
to exam the assigned text critically.
In addition to the in-class examinations, students will be asked to write
a four-page literary analysis. Further details about the analysis will
be given at the appropriate time. Students will be asked to produce two
drafts of their analysis. Each draft will be graded.
Five Examinations
Examination #1-20%
Examination #2-20%
Examination #3-20%
Examination #4-20%
Literary Analysis
First Draft -10 %
Final Draft-10%
Extra Credit: Because this course requires students to take four
exams and to produce two drafts of their literary analysis, students have
plenty of opportunities to improve their grades should they make a few
low scores. Therefore, no extra credit assignments will be given in this
course.
Late-Work Policies, Class Attendance, and Other Course Issues:
Accommodations for Students with Special Needs: Students who need
special accommodations are asked to arrange a meeting as soon as possible
with the professor during office hours so that the specifics of those
arrangements can be discussed.
Absences: Students who are unable to make it to class should have
the names and contact information of fellow classmates so that they can
call them and find out what was missed. Students should not rely solely
upon the professor for finding out what that may have missed during their
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.
Class Attendance: 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.
The instructor will begin taking roll five minutes after the official
start of class. Students entering after the roll has been taken will be
counted tardy. Those students who are tardy to class will be 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 tardy
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 the professor and
the students who have arrived on time.
Class Conduct: Both students and professor are expected to be
respectful of the ideas of others during class discussions. Students are
also asked to not sleep or use cell phones during class.
Examinations and Essay: All assignments must be taken or submitted
during class period on the dates outlined in the syllabus. If a student
is unable to make it to class on the day an examination is given or an
essay is due, he or she is responsible for contacting the professor via
e-mail on that day-between 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.-and the professor will respond
promptly, giving the student directions for submitting the work. If the
student does not follow these procedures, he or she will be unable to
take the exam or submit the essay at a later date.
Emergencies: Emergencies will be dealt with on an individual basis.
If an emergency does happen and a student is unable to come to class and
submit his or her work, the student should contact the instructor immediately-on
the day of the emergency. A decision will be made at that point regarding
what the student should do.
Monday/Wednesday Course Schedule
The following is a provisional schedule for the semester. Changes may
be necessary as the course proceeds. Students should check their 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.
August
Monday, August 21
o Introduction of Course
o Class Discussion on the ancient Middle East, the Roman Empire
o Begin discussion of the Old and New Testaments
o Homework: In the Norton Anthology, read introductory information about
the ancient Middle East and the Old Testament found on pages 3-6 and
48-49; read Genesis 1-3 and Genesis 4 found on pages 52-56; read introductory
information about the Roman Empire and the New Testament found on pages
703-704 and pages 708-709; read Matthew 5-7, Luke 17, and Matthew 26
found on pages 711-718; review study questions
Wednesday, August 23
o Class Discussion on the ancient Middle East, the Roman Empire and
on Genesis 1-3, Genesis 4, Matthew 5-7, Luke 15, Matthew 26
o Homework: In the Norton Anthology, read introductory information about
the ancient Middle East and the Old Testament found on pages 3-6 and
48-49; read Genesis 1-3 and Genesis 4 found on pages 52-56; read introductory
information about the Roman Empire and the New Testament found on pages
703-704 and pages 708-709; read Matthew 5-7, Luke 17, and Matthew 26
found on pages 711-718; review study questions
Monday, August 28
o Class discussion Genesis 1-3, Genesis 4, Matthew 5-7, Luke 15, Matthew
26
o Homework: In the Norton Anthology, read introductory information about
the ancient Middle East and the Old Testament found on pages 3-6 and
48-49; read Genesis 1-3 and Genesis 4 found on pages 52-56; read introductory
information about the Roman Empire and the New Testament found on pages
703-704 and pages 708-709; read Matthew 5-7, Luke 17, and Matthew 26
found on pages 711-718; review study questions
Wednesday, August 30
o Class discussion on Genesis 1-3, Genesis 4, Matthew 5-7, Luke 15,
Matthew 26
o Homework: In the Norton Anthology, read introductory information about
the ancient Middle East and the Old Testament found on pages 3-6 and
48-49; read Genesis 1-3 and Genesis 4 found on pages 52-56; read introductory
information about the Roman Empire and the New Testament found on pages
703-704 and pages 708-709; read Matthew 5-7, Luke 17, and Matthew 26
found on pages 711-718; review study questions
September
Monday, September 4
o Labor Day-No Class
o Homework: In the Norton Anthology, read introductory information about
the ancient Middle East and the Old Testament found on pages 3-6 and
48-49; read Genesis 1-3 and Genesis 4 found on pages 52-56; read introductory
information about the Roman Empire and the New Testament found on pages
703-704 and pages 708-709; read Matthew 5-7, Luke 17, and Matthew 26
found on pages 711-718; review study questions
Wednesday, September 6
o Class discussion on the Genesis 1-3, Genesis 4, Matthew 5-7, Luke
15, Matthew 26
o Homework: Review Old and New Testament readings and all other class
notes, including information about the ancient Middle East and the Roman
Empire, for Examination 1 on September 11
Monday, September 11
o Examination 1
o Homework: In Norton Anthology, read information about the formation
of Western Literature and the Middle Ages found on pages 951-953. Read
the background information about Dante Alighieri and the Divine Comedy
on pages 1010-1016. Finally, read Cantos I-XII of the Divine Comedy
found on pages1017-1060.
Wednesday, September 13
o Class discussion on the formation of Western Literature, the Middle
Ages, Dante Alighieri, and the Divine Comedy.
o Homework: In Norton Anthology, read information about the formation
of Western Literature and the Middle Ages found on pages 951-953. Read
the background information about Dante Alighieri and the Divine Comedy
on pages 1010-1016. Finally, read Cantos I-XII of the Divine Comedy
found on pages1017-1060.
Monday, September 18
o Class discussion on the Divine Comedy
o Homework: In Norton Anthology, read information about the formation
of Western Literature and the Middle Ages found on pages 951-953. Read
the background information about Dante Alighieri and the Divine Comedy
on pages 1010-1016. Finally, read Cantos I-XII of the Divine Comedy
found on pages1017-1060.
Wednesday, September 20
o Class discussion on the Divine Comedy
o Homework: In Norton Anthology, read information about the formation
of Western Literature and the Middle Ages found on pages 951-953. Read
the background information about Dante Alighieri and the Divine Comedy
on pages 1010-1016. Finally, read Cantos I-XII of the Divine Comedy
found on pages1017-1060.
Monday, September 25
o Class discussion on the Divine Comedy
o Homework: Prepare for Examination 2 on Wednesday, September 27 by
reviewing all the Divine Comedy, class notes, and all textbook reading
on the formation of Western Literature, the Middle Ages, and Dante Alighieri
Wednesday, September 27
o Examination 2
o Return of graded Examination 1
o Homework: Read handout on modern African literature and Ngugi wa Thiong'o;
begin reading The River Between by Ngugi wa Thiong'o
o Class discussion on The River Between
October
Monday, October 2
o Class discussion on modern African literature, Ngugi wa Thiong'o,
and The River Between
o Homework: Continue reading The River Between
Wednesday, October 4
o Class discussion on The River Between
o Homework: Continue reading The River Between
Monday, October 9
o Class discussion on The River Between
o Homework: Continue reading The River Between
Wednesday, October 11
o Class discussion on The River Between
o Homework: For Examination 3 on Monday, October 16, review The River
Between and all class notes on the novel, on Ngugi wa Thiong'o, and
on modern African literature.
o (October 13-Last Day to Withdraw without Academic Penalty)
Monday, October 16
o Examination 3
o Return of graded Examination 2
o Homework: Read handout on twentieth-century India. Begin reading Salman
Rushdie's Midnight's Children
Wednesday, October 18
o Class discussion on twentieth-century India and Midnight's Children
o Homework: Continue reading Midnight's Children
Monday, October 23
o Class discussion on Midnight's Children
o Homework: Continue reading Midnight's Children
Wednesday, October 25
o Class discussion on Midnight's Children
o Homework: Finish reading Midnight's Children
Monday, October 30
o Class discussion on Midnight's Children
o Homework: Review Midnight's Children and class notes for Examination
4 Wednesday, November 1
November
Wednesday, November 1
o Examination 4
o Return of graded Examination 3
o Homework: In Norton Anthology, read pages 2587-2606 on the Twentieth
Century. Read pages 2723-2726 on Lu Xu. read pages 2723-2726 on Lu Xu.
Then, read Lu Xun's "Diary of a Madman" in The Diary of a
Madman and Other Stories
Monday, November 6
o Class discussion on modern Chinese literature, Lu Xu, and "The
Diary of a Madman
o Homework: Read Lu Xun's "Kong Yiji" in The Diary of a Madman
Wednesday, November 8
o Discuss "Kong Yiji" in The Diary of a Madman
o Homework: Read LuXun's "Medicine" in The Diary of a Madman
Monday, November 13
o Discuss "Medicine" in The Diary of a Madman
o Homework: Read Lu Xun's "Tomorrow"
Wednesday, November 15
o Discuss "Tomorrow" in The Diary of a Madman
o Homework: Review "Diary of a Madman," "Kong Yiji,"
"Medicine," and "Tomorrow" and literary analysis
assignment
Monday, November 20
o Return of graded Examination 4
o Homework: Begin literary analysis assignment
Wednesday, November 22
o Fall Break and Thanksgiving holiday-No classes
(No classes from Wednesday., Nov. 22-Sunday, Nov. 26)
o Homework: Continue working on literary analysis assignment
Monday, November 27
o Submit rough drafts of literary analysis assignments
Wednesday, November 29
o Discuss rough drafts of literary analysis assignment
(Private conferences throughout the week)
December
Monday, December 4
o Discuss rough drafts of literary analysis assignment
(Private conferences throughout the week)
Wednesday, December 6: Last Day of Classes
o Discuss rough drafts of literary analysis assignment
Wednesday, December 13
· Between 8 am-10 am, submit to the professor in her office
the final draft of the literary analysis
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