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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "EN 311"
COURSE NAME: "Slavic Literature in Translation"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Spring 2024
SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: Stephanie Richards
EMAIL: [email protected]
 HOURS: MW 10:00 AM 11:15 AM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS: 45
CREDITS: 3
PREREQUISITES: Prerequisite: EN 110 with a grade of C or above.
OFFICE HOURS: by appointment
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
Introduces major Slavic literary works of different genres (stories, novels, poetry, essays) focusing on this literature’s profound contributions to global literature and culture, providing historical background and analyzing foundational examples. 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.
SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:

In this course, students will be introduced to Slavic literature's distinct and profound contributions to global literature and culture. We will discuss the rise and development of poetry and prose in the Slavic and East European context, from Poland to The Czech Republic to Ukraine to Serbia to Russia. The course approaches the literatures of this region through an anti-imperialist lens, providing historical background and analyzing several foundational examples of oppositionist Slavic literature. 

Through a close analysis of the context and content of selected texts, students will understand the distinct features of various traditions in relation to contemporary European counterparts. This course will provide valuable historical and cultural context for a wide range of students, from those studying political science and history to international affairs and business. We will read a selection of poetry, short stories and three novels. 

 
LEARNING OUTCOMES:

By the end of the course, students will 1) be able to analyze and discuss major themes and ideas that appear throughout the texts we have studied; 2) better understand literary genres; 3) have an enriched understanding of the major historical and cultural global players from the Slavic and East European context; 4) be better equipped to perform comparative analyses of texts and intercultural thinking in general; 5) be able to communicate complex ideas in an organized and efficient written format.
TEXTBOOK:
NONE
REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
NONE

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
NONE
GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
AssignmentGuidelinesWeight
Paper 1 - Short Paper800-1000 word analytical research paper — 3 sources minimum. Topics chosen by students. Essays should include research and conform to MLA standards.15%
quizzesEach text will be followed by a quiz on general information taken from your reading and our class discussions of the texts, e.g., character names, plot details, major ideas, publication information10%
presentationStudents will do one 5-7 minute presentation on an academic article.10%
Paper 2 - Long Paper3000-4000 word analytical research paper — 4 sources minimum. Topics chosen by students. Essays should include research and conform to MLA standards. 25%
In-class writing assignment800-1000 words. The assignment is in two parts. 1) You will be given a passage to analyze and write about in-class. 2) You will revise the in-class writing at home.15%
Final ExamThe final exam will be cumulative. In format it will resemble the quizzes and contain various types of questions. There will be some short answer questions, multiple choice, and essay questions.25%

-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:
ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS AND EXAMINATION POLICY
You cannot make-up a major exam (midterm or final) without the permission of the Dean’s Office. The Dean’s Office will grant such permission only when the absence was caused by a serious impediment, such as a documented illness, hospitalization or death in the immediate family (in which you must attend the funeral) or other situations of similar gravity. Absences due to other meaningful conflicts, such as job interviews, family celebrations, travel difficulties, student misunderstandings or personal convenience, will not be excused. Students who will be absent from a major exam must notify the Dean’s Office prior to that exam. Absences from class due to the observance of a religious holiday will normally be excused. Individual students who will have to miss class to observe a religious holiday should notify the instructor by the end of the Add/Drop period to make prior arrangements for making up any work that will be missed.
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.
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.
SCHEDULE

SCHEDULE (subject to change - see Moodle for most updated information):

 

Week 1:     Introduction to the course; general historical background on Slavic and East European literature and major writers in comparison with the Western European literary tradition; selected readings from Polish and Russian golden age poetry: Adam Mickiewicz and Alexander Pushkin. Introduction to relevant databases for performing academic research on literature

 

Week 2:     Background on The Petersburg Text. Gogol’s “Nevsky Prospect,” “The Nose,” and “The Overcoat” (Russian). Selected readings from Kat Scollins, Acts of Logos in Pushkin and Gogol. In-class close reading module.

 

Week 3:     Finish Gogol. Begin reading Mikhail Bulgakov's Master and Margarita.  Quiz on Gogol’s stories. information workshop at the Frohring Library, arranged with a librarian, on how to conduct academic research. 

 

Week 4:     Introduction to Bulgakov (Russian); historical background and philosophical context; Students will be assigned an article to read on M&M, on which they will do a 5-7 minute presentation in class

 

Week 5:     Bulgakov's Master and Margarita; in-class close reading written exercise.

Week 6:     Bulgakov Master and Margarita; student presentations; How can we summarize Bulgakov's moral philosophy in the novel? Quiz on Master and Margarita; outline of short paper due.

Week 7:     Bulgakov continued. Begin reading selected stories by Zabuzhko (Ukraine).

 

Week 8:     Background for Oksana Zabuzhko; Discussion of Zabuzhko. short paper due.

 

Week 9:     Zabuzhko continued. 

 

Week 10:    Background for Borislav Pekic's How to Quiet a Vampire (Serbia).

  

Week 11:   Pekic How to Quiet a Vampire. Quiz on Zabuzhko. 

 

Week 12:   Background for Karel Čapek's R.U.R. Discussion of R.U.R. (Czech Republic) 

 

Week 13:   Čapek's R.U.R.; Bohumil Hrabal's Too Loud a Solitude (Czech Republic). Student presentations on R.U.R article; outline of long paper due.  

Week 14:   Bohumil Hrabal's Too Loud a Solitude. Student presentations on Czech literature articles. Final draft of long paper due.