Welcome to World Literature!  The following pages address the most important information regarding this class.  On the pages that follow, you will find information about class expectations and policies, as well as selected campus resources.  Each student is responsible for reading and understanding the following information.
 
 

Instructor: Stephen Hagin

Office Location:   HU 139
Office Phone:   770-423-6745
Office Hours:
         M/W   11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
         T/Th     9:00 AM – 10:00 AM   
        or any afternoon M-F, by appointment

English Office/Mailbox:   HU 222
English Office Phone:   770-423-6297
English Office Fax:   770-423-6524
Campus E-mail:   shagin@kennesaw.edu
Mr. Hagin's Website: http://ksuweb.kennesaw.edu/~shagin
KSU Home Page:   http://www.kennesaw.edu
 
 
 

Mr. Hagin’s Fall 2002 Schedule

 

Course/Section	Meeting Times	Location	Computer Reg. #
ENGL 2110/02	MW  8:00 AM - 9:15 AM	HU 243	10803
ENGL 2110/04	MW  9:30 AM - 10:45 AM	HU 245	10806
ENGL 1101/55	F  8:00 AM - 10:45 AM	HU 134	10561
ENGL 1101/57	F  11:00 PM - 1:45 PM	HU 134	10563
KSU 1101/24	TTh 11:00 AM - 12:15 PM	BB 269	10915 (also 10170)

  
 

Required Textbooks

Blake, William.  Songs of Innocence and Songs of Experience.  New York: Dover, 1992.

Calvino, Italo.  The Nonexistent Knight and the Cloven Viscount.  Trans.  Archibald Colquhoun.  New York: Harcourt Brace, 1977.

Campbell, Joseph, and Bill Moyers.  The Power of Myth.  Ed. Betty Sue Flowers.  New York: Doubleday, 1991.

Hesse, Hermann.  Siddhartha.  Trans. Stanley Appelbaum.  New York: Dover, 1999.

Narayan, R. K., ed.  The Ramayana.  New York: Penguin, 1977.

Sandars, N. K., trans.  The Epic of Gilgamesh.  Revised Ed.  New York: Penguin, 1972.

Yohannan, John D., ed.  A Treasury of Asian Literature.  New York: Meridian, 1984.
 
 
 

Semester Assignment Breakdown

30%   Weekly Responses (10)
10%   Conference/Rough Draft
15%   Research Essay
10%   Test 1 (ancient Middle East)
10%   Test 2 (ancient East)
15%   Final Exam (comprehensive)
10%   Attendance
 
 
 

English 2110 / 02 & 04 Course Objectives

1. To approach each text as a myth: gods, characters, places, and events are viewed as metaphors

2. To better appreciate the human condition: mankind’s place in the world, our strengths and
weaknesses, our responsibilities and expectations, as well as our past, present, and future

3. To recognize the connections and similarities amongst world cultures, religions, and outlooks

4. To read, understand, and appreciate the wisdom of the ancients and some of the world’s best stories

5. To understand the relationship between the beliefs and the environments of different cultures

6. To use ancient literature to better understand the laws, structures, and purposes of societies today

7. To better understand the main differences between Western and Eastern points of view

8. To inspire a lifetime of learning and discovery about other people, places, and beliefs in the world
 
 

KSU Grading Standards for Final Essay Revisions

A – An essay receives an “A” if it “represents superiority in composition, content, and style” and contains “originality of thought, depth of understanding, and outstanding style” and “excellent grammar.”  (Range = 90-100)

B – An essay receives a “B” if it is “presented in an above-average manner with a minimum number of errors.”  (Range = 80-89)

C – An essay receives a “C” if it reflects “average” work.   It should have a “clearly stated thesis” and should avoid “serious errors,” but it lacks “vigor of thought, development, and expression” seen in papers of a higher grade.  A “C” is supposed to be “the grade that most papers receive.”  (Range = 70-79)

D – An essay receives a “D” if it represents “below-average, unsatisfactory work” with “errors in subject/verb agreement, comma splices or fused sentences, sentence fragments, illogical sentences, or numerous spelling errors.”  (Range = 65-69)

F – An essay receives an “F” if it demonstrates writing “unacceptable at the university level.”
(Range = 0-64)
 

Grade Disclaimer:
I reserve the right to adjust a borderline grade of any student due to one or more of the following circumstances: contributions, outstanding attendance, outstanding final exam performance, outstanding class discussion, a majority of important scores reflecting consistent performance at the next-highest grade, and/or extenuating circumstances.
 
 
 

Class Attendance

Class attendance is imperative.  Classroom dynamics and synergies cannot be duplicated outside the classroom setting, so you need to make every effort to attend class each session.  In the event of an absence, please communicate your reason with me as soon as you can.  If you miss a class day, please submit your excuse one of four ways: (1) in person, (2) by telephone (voice mail), (3) by e-mail, (4) or by fax. I also expect you to provide a reasonable and timely excuse for any future absence.
 
 

Types of Absences

There are two types of absences: “excused” and “unexcused”:
 

§   DEFINITION OF AN EXCUSED ABSENCE

An excused absence is one where your attendance in class would be less reasonable than your devotion to a pressing outside issue, and one that also is communicated to me promptly.  An unexcused absence is one that is not confirmed, acknowledged, or communicated to me in a timely fashion.  NOTE: Students who do not submit an excuse within 24 hours of their absence will be considered “unexcused,” except in cases of emergencies.  Please make every effort to schedule appointments and vacations at times that do not remove you from class.

Likewise, chronic tardiness will not be tolerated.  I may count tardies as unexcused absences if I recognize that your tardiness is consistent or problematic.  I will not deduct any attendance points for tardies without first discussing this issue with you.
 

 

Penalties

Each student will be given a Semester Attendance grade that is worth 10% of your overall course grade.  Each student begins with a 100, and will maintain the 100 with perfect semester attendance.  Each absence will incur the following point deductions:
 

§   PENALTIES FOR ABSENCES

Each EXCUSED ABSENCE =         -2  points  Each UNEXCUSED ABSENCE =   -5  points

 

 

Make-Up Work

Students who miss any class may obtain original class handouts by pulling up my KSU web page, but any class notes must be acquired from a classmate.  Unfortunately, I cannot post any handouts that contain copyrighted information, such as supplemental readings.  Assignment questions will also be posted on my website, located under the link entitled “English 2110 Help.”

Any assignments submitted outside of class should be turned in my office (HU 139).  If I am not available, please submit your work to HU 222 (the English Office).  The office secretary will date your assignment and place it in my mailbox.  Some assignments may be e-mailed to me, but NO RESEARCH ESSAYS MAY BE SENT BY E-MAIL.

Do not attempt to stuff your assignments under my office door — it can’t be done!
 
 

Late Work

Failure to submit work on time is perhaps the single worst way to damage your grade.  Any assignment not submitted by the end of a scheduled class period is considered late work.  The penalties for late work in my class is as follows:
 

==>   5 points off the assignment grade for each day late.

For example, if an assignment is due on Monday, but I receive the essay on Tuesday via e-mail, I will deduct 5 points from your assignment’s final grade.
 

FOR YOUR INFORMATION

Exceptions:  Students who have cleared their absences with me (and therefore receive an “excused” absence” for a day in which an assignment is due) may have the late points waived.  All late points will apply for students who have unexcused absences (since they have not offered any reasons for the late submittal.

 

==>   Any assignment submitted “later that day” will incur a deduction of 2 points.
 

FOR YOUR INFORMATION

Some late work may be submitted by e-mail or fax (but it is safest if submitted directly into my hands of in my KSU mailbox -- HU 222).

 
I would like all students to complete all assigned work, even if it is submitted late.  You own the responsibility to bring to my attention any outside factors that may prevent you from completing an assignment on time.  I will always consider reasonable requests from students who communicate their unusual circumstances with me.  I also reserve the right to waive the late penalty for circumstances brought to my attention immediately (or ahead of time).
 

 

Research Essay Revision

Writing well is not an easy accomplishment.  There are hundreds of details to which a writer must attend in order to write convincingly in both college-level courses and the “real world.”  Ultimately, the key to excellent writing is revision.  Please plan ahead and set aside enough time throughout the semester to nibble away at your revision-related tasks.

Spread your writing workload over several days so that you can approach each revision of your draft with fresh eyes.  Outstanding college-level essays cannot be written in one sitting.  Don’t place yourself in a situation where you are forced to shortchange this step in the writing process.  Plan ahead, start early, and work patiently.  Students who demonstrate the patience to write well will ultimately write well.

To assist you with your semester research essay, I will make available an optional coursepack that discusses the writing process and explains each evaluation item that I will use to evaluate your essay.  This booklet should be available by mid-September, and it should cost between $5 and $10.

I also have a website link to my Composition Resource Center, which I use with my English 1101 classes.  This website contains hundreds of links to English websites from around the world, covering topics such as documentation, grammar, and writer’s block.
 
 

ONLINE SUPPORT

Visit dozens of websites that can assist you with your grammar, punctuation, and composition questions at the Composition Resource Center.  http://ksumail.kennesaw.edu/~shagin/CRC

 
 
 

The KSU Writing Center (HU 242)

The Writing Center provides composition help to KSU students free of charge.  English professors and full-time tutors who work in the lab can assist you with some of the more difficult aspects of writing: limiting your topic, developing and supporting your arguments, organizing your thoughts, and revising your drafts.  It is a great place to turn if you have writer’s block or if you need grammatical or rhetorical explanations conveyed in different words.  The Writing Center does not proofread student essays, but its staff will guide you through the writing process from brainstorming to final revision (whatever you need).

The Writing Center also provides information and assistance with the Regents’ Test.  Any students who make the effort to attend a session or two in the Writing Center will be viewed very favorably, especially students who admit to struggling with their writing.
 

FOR YOUR INFORMATION

Writing Center Hours:      M-Th: 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM    F: 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM    Sat: closed  Sun: 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM  Contact the Writing Center at 770-423-6380.  Appointments have priority!  http://www.kennesaw.edu/english/WritingCenter

 
 

KSU Campus Computer Labs

KSU provides use of public campus computers for all registered students, and also provides technical support and educational workshops to become more technically savvy.
 

FOR YOUR INFORMATION

Open Labs are located on the 4th floor of the Burruss Building available for currently enrolled students.  Computer Labs and Hours:      M-Th: 6:30 AM – 12:00 midnight   F: 6:30 AM – 5:00 PM   Sat: 7:30 AM – 7:30 PM  Sun: 10:00 AM – 12:00 midnight  Computer Lab Locations:   BB 475  BB 465  BB 466  BB 467  BB 468  NOTE: Of course, no drinks or food are allowed in any of these labs.  You will need your Student-ID number to register (or print out a copy of your current schedule).    Technology Workshops:  Information Technology Services (ITS) offers FREE workshops for students, including how to use Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel, e-mail programs, and web page creation.  http://its.kennesaw.edu/labs/studentworkshop

 

 

Information for Students with Disabilities

If you have a specific physical, psychiatric, or learning disability that requires accommodations, please let me know early in the semester so that your learning needs may be appropriately met.  You will need to provide documentation of your disability to the DisAbled Student Support Services Office and obtain a list of approved accommodations.
 

ONLINE SUPPORT

The DSSS Office is located in the Student Center, room 267.  Their number is 770-423-6443, and the URL is listed below:  http://www.kennesaw.edu/stu_dev/dsss

 
 
 

Plagiarism/KSU Academic Integrity Policy

Plagiarism is the unacknowledged or unauthorized use of another person’s words, ideas, information, insights, conclusions, or lines of thinking.

Any facts or published opinions that are not specifically and properly cited can be considered to be plagiarism.  This includes students who “forget” to provide references to the published works from which their ideas may have originated.

When students plagiarize they do not possess the knowledge or understanding that they claim to have (and for which they plan to receive credit).
 

§   KSU ACADEMIC INTEGRITY POLICIES

II. Academic Honesty: “[…] Any student found guilty of an infraction of a regulation for academic honesty shall be suspended for at least one semester […]” (223).  II.A. Plagiarism and Cheating: “No student shall receive, attempt to receive, knowingly give or attempt to give unauthorized assistance in the preparation of any work required to be submitted for credit as part of a course […].  When direct quotations are used, they should be indicated, and when the ideas, theories, data, figures, graphs, programs, electronic based information or illustrations of someone other than the student are incorporated into a paper or used in a project, they should be duly acknowledged” (223-224).  II.C. Misrepresentation, Falsification of University Records or Academic Work: “No student shall knowingly provide false information […] in any work submitted for credit as part of a course” (224).  NOTE: Page numbers refer to KSU’s 2002-2003 Undergraduate Catalog.

 

ONLINE SUPPORT

Michael Harvey’s website, The Nuts and Bolts of College Writing, provides the following definition:   “The Random House dictionary defines plagiarism as ‘the unauthorized use or close imitation of the language and thoughts of another author and the representation of them as one's own original work.’  Imitation or borrowing by themselves are not plagiarism.  Drawing on other people's ideas is perfectly reasonable and in fact unavoidable when you write academic essays — but you must acknowledge the borrowing.”  http://nutsandbolts.washcoll.edu/plagiarism.html

 

FOR YOUR INFORMATION

Giving credit to other people’s genius is the best reflection on you, for it demonstrates your scholarship, knowledge, and influences.  Using outside sources to develop ideas about a topic shows that the writer understands what experts in the field have written.  You must, however, give credit to the source of your inspiration.

 

 

Discussing World Religions and Cultures

We cannot understand these readings without addressing their cultural influences.  This means that we will be learning about each culture’s belief systems, including their customs, philosophies, and religions.

During this semester, you will be introduced to most of the world’s most influential religions and philosophies.  When I discuss philosophies and religions in this class, I do so to enhance your understanding of the authors’ purposes and the characters’ motivations for taking action (or not taking any).

I often discuss the readings as if I were speaking for the author and his/her culture, not myself.  Please try to recognize that I will be role-playing in order to animate the voices from our past.  I will examine many ideas this semester that often will conflict with one another unless we can recognize the history and motivation of a given culture.

The ideas and conclusions presented in this class by me are not necessarily the opinions of KSU, the English Department, or myself.  Likewise, the concepts presented in this class are theories based on the work of literary scholars, comparative mythologists, and researchers in related fields.  I have an extensive bibliography posted online that represents my main resources that I have used to prepare for this course.  Please feel free to consult these resources in my office at any time.
 
In this class, we need to treat each reading as a work of literature, written in metaphors and symbols that are universal to early human civilizations.  I am not qualified (or interested) in promoting one religion as superior to another, and I try to avoid speaking in absolute terms (for example, I try not to use words such as “better” or “worse” when discussing diverse beliefs).  One purpose of this class is to validate the common human desire to seek spiritual experiences, not to confirm specific religious doctrines or rituals.

Often, ideas expressed in this class will conflict with ideas promoted by established religious groups and organizations.  This happens because I will be speaking from the viewpoint of the objective center, not through the filter of and one denomination over another.  Messages delivered in a church or temple belong to that specific house of worship.  Academic ideas are most appropriate in the public classroom.

Finally, I have selected the readings for this class that promote diversity of human expression.  One semester, however, is not enough time to examine adequately all of the major beliefs, philosophies, or attitudes of human history.  I have selected this semester’s readings based on the following criteria: 1) are these titles significantly influential to humans?  2) are these titles diverse in representing different points of view from around the world?  3) do these titles address the human condition or mystery of life?  and 4) do these titles allow us to comparatively examine common issues of humanity?

Although I strive to treat this information objectively, please speak with me if you are uncomfortable with the religious or philosophical concepts that we discuss in this class.