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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY
COURSE CODE: "EN 315"
COURSE NAME: "Selected Topics in American Literature: Walt Whitman"
SEMESTER & YEAR:
Spring 2018
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SYLLABUS
INSTRUCTOR:
Carlos Dews
EMAIL: [email protected]
HOURS:
TTH 3:00-4:15 PM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS:
45
CREDITS:
3
PREREQUISITES:
Prerequisite: EN 110 with a grade of C or above.
OFFICE HOURS:
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COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This is a reading and writing intensive course. Students in 300-level literature classes are required to produce 5-6,000 words of critical writing.This course explores in some depth a particular period, theme(s), or genre in American Literature. Students study the major historical and cultural contexts out of which the works grew. An important aim of the course is to deepen students' knowledge of a certain topic through a choice of representative writers and works.
May be taken more than once for credit with different topics.
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SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:
The course will be conducted as a seminar. Students will be assigned specific topics and will responsible for presenting their topic to the class and leading discussion on one or more meetings of the class. This course covers the life and all major works of Walt Whitman as well as critical responses to his work. Note regarding texts for this course: There is no required textbook for this course. All course materials will be found via the Walt Whitman Archives, maintained by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln: http://whitmanarchive.org/
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LEARNING OUTCOMES:
Students who successfully complete this course will be familiar with and able to lead discussion on the major works of Walt Whitman. Students will be familiar with the research materials on Whitman and have considerable knowledge of the primary work of the poet.
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TEXTBOOK:
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REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
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GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
| Assignment | Guidelines | Weight |
| Participation | | 20 |
| Presentation(s) | | 30 |
| Seminar Paper / Final Digital Humanities Project | | 50 |
-ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:
AWork of this quality directly addresses the question or problem raised and provides a coherent argument displaying an extensive knowledge of relevant information or content. This type of work demonstrates the ability to critically evaluate concepts and theory and has an element of novelty and originality. There is clear evidence of a significant amount of reading beyond that required for the course.
BThis is highly competent level of performance and directly addresses the question or problem raised.There is a demonstration of some ability to critically evaluatetheory and concepts and relate them to practice. Discussions reflect the student’s own arguments and are not simply a repetition of standard lecture andreference material. The work does not suffer from any major errors or omissions and provides evidence of reading beyond the required assignments.
CThis is an acceptable level of performance and provides answers that are clear but limited, reflecting the information offered in the lectures and reference readings.
DThis level of performances demonstrates that the student lacks a coherent grasp of the material.Important information is omitted and irrelevant points included.In effect, the student has barely done enough to persuade the instructor that s/he should not fail.
FThis work fails to show any knowledge or understanding of the issues raised in the question. Most of the material in the answer is irrelevant.
-ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS:
Students are required to attend all scheduled class meetings and to participate in all classroom activities. Students are allowed only two absences (no questions asked, no excuses needed). However, each additional absence beyond the two allowed will result in the reduction of the final grade for the course by 5%. Students with more than seven total absences will fail the course. Please refer to the university catalog for the attendance and absence policy.
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ACADEMIC HONESTY
As stated in the university catalog, any student who commits an act of academic
dishonesty will receive a failing grade on the work in which the dishonesty occurred.
In addition, acts of academic dishonesty, irrespective of the weight of the assignment,
may result in the student receiving a failing grade in the course. Instances of
academic dishonesty will be reported to the Dean of Academic Affairs. A student
who is reported twice for academic dishonesty is subject to summary dismissal from
the University. In such a case, the Academic Council will then make a recommendation
to the President, who will make the final decision.
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STUDENTS WITH LEARNING OR OTHER DISABILITIES
John Cabot University does not discriminate on the basis of disability or handicap.
Students with approved accommodations must inform their professors at the beginning
of the term. Please see the website for the complete policy.
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SCHEDULE
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Note: This is an example schedule. The actual schedule for the term will be provided during the first week of the term.
Week 1: Course / Seminar Introduction
Week 2: Introduction to Whitman's life and work.
Week 3 Prosody: Blank Verse and Whitman's Voice
Week 4: Whitman's work as a journalist and earliest prose works. Student presentation and Student-led discussion of assigned Whitman topic.
Week 5: Whitman's fiction and early work on Leaves of Grass. Student presentation and Student-led discussion of assigned Whitman topic.
Week 6: First edition of Leaves of Grass. Student presentation and Student-led discussion of assigned Whitman topic.
Week 7: Whitman's sexuality and controversy over the publication of Leaves of Grass. Student presentation and Student-led discussion of assigned Whitman topic.
Week 8: Whitman and the U.S. Civil War. Drum Taps, etc. Student presentation and Student-led discussion of assigned Whitman topic.
Week 9: Whitman and Lincoln. Student presentation and Student-led discussion of assigned Whitman topic.
Week 10: Whitman and Race. Student presentation and Student-led discussion of assigned Whitman topic.
Week 11: The Mature Whitman. Student presentation and Student-led discussion of assigned Whitman topic.
Week 12: Subsequent editions of Leaves of Grass. Student presentation and Student-led discussion of assigned Whitman topic.
Week 13: The Final, Death-bed Edition of Leaves of Grass. Student presentation and Student-led discussion of assigned Whitman topic.
Week 14: The Good Gray Poet: Whitman's Lasting Reputation and Influence. Student presentation and Student-led discussion of assigned Whitman topic.
Week 15: Note: Although there is no final exam for this course, the seminar will meet during the time scheduled for the final exam.
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