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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "EN 346"
COURSE NAME: "Study of the Works of a Single Modern Writer: Jane Austen - In Her Time and Ours"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Fall 2014
SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: Shannon Russell
EMAIL: [email protected]
HOURS: TTH 11:30 AM 12:45 PM
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:
The course aims to understand both Austen’s debt to previous writers and her own significant contribution to the genre of the novel. Students should be able to appreciate the cultural context from which these novels emerge and to have considered the reasons why they speak so enduringly to us today.
SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:
Students will read all of Austen's major novels and selections from the Juvenilia and letters, and will be expected to critique film adaptions of these books, as well.  Students will be exposed to a variety of critical approaches to Austen's work and will engage with these in class and in their research papers.
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
The course aims to have students understand both Austen’s debt to previous writers and her own significant contributions to the genre of the novel. By the end of the course, students should be able to appreciate the cultural and literary contexts from which these novels emerge and should have developed critical capacities to understand why they speak so enduringly to us today.  Students should also become aware of the act of reading and the process of translation of Austen's work from the page to film in their critique of a number of adaptations of these novels.
TEXTBOOK:
Book TitleAuthorPublisherISBN numberLibrary Call NumberCommentsFormatLocal BookstoreOnline Purchase
Mansfield ParkJane AustenBroadview Press ISBN-13: 978-1-55111-098-1     
Pride and PrejudiceJane AustenBroadview Press 1-55111-028-8     
Sense and SensibilityJane AustenBroadview Press ISBN-13:978-1-55111-125-4     
Northanger AbbeyJane AustenBroadview Press ISBN-13:978-1-55111-479-8     
PersuasionJane AustenBroadview Press ISBN-13:978-1-55111-131-5     
EmmaJane AustenBroadview Press ISBN 1-5511-321-X     
REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
NONE

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
NONE
GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
AssignmentGuidelinesWeight
3 Essays (7-9 pages each)Essays must be typed and conform to MLA style guidelines60% (20% for each essay)
Group Seminar Presentation involving a film critique of an adaptation of one of the novels 10%
Participation  10%
Final Exam 20%

-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 cours
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 is mandatory.  At three absences from class, your overall mark will be automatically reduced by a grade point (i.e. A- becomes B+).  Students with absences in excess of five will be advised to drop the class.
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

 NOTE:  There is NO mid-term exam in this course.

HONORS STUDENTS will have an extra assignment to be devised and agreed between student and teacher by the third week of class.

WEEK 1  

Tues. Sept. 2

Introduction to Course and its requirements: Who was Jane Austen and who is she now?

Thurs. Sept. 4

Read Lady Susan and selections from the Juvenilia on the website, particularly those writings Austen compiled in Volumes 1, 2 and 3: http://www.pemberley.com/janeinfo/juviscrp.html

WEEK 2

Tues. Sept. 9  Playing with the gothic and the novel of sensibility

Read:  Chapters 1-10 of Northanger Abbey    

Appendix C:  Examples of Jane Austen's Reading

Appendix D: Catherine Morland's Reading 

Thursday Sept. 11 

Read:  Chapters 11-20 Northanger Abbey

WEEK 3  

Tues. Sept. 16

Read:  Chapters 21 to end Northanger Abbey

Thurs. Sept. 18

Read:  Volume I of Sense and Sensibility

Appendix B:  Sensibility

WEEK 4  Makeup Class this Friday

Tues. Sept. 23 

Read:  Volume II of Sense and Sensibility

Thurs. Sept. 25

Read:  Volume III of Sense and Sensibility

Fri. Sept. 26

View DVD Sense and Sensibility in library

SEMINAR Group 1 Critique of film version of the novel:  

WEEK 5  FIRST ESSAY DUE

Tues. Sept. 30 First Essay Due this week

Read:  Volume I of Pride and Prejudice

Appendix B:  From the Conduct Books

Appendix C:  Burke on the French Revolution

Appendix D:  Discussion of Women’s Role after the French Revolution

Thurs. Oct. 2  First Essay Due

Read:  Volume II of Pride and Prejudice

WEEK 6 

Tues.  Oct. 7

Read:  Volume III of Pride and Prejudice

Thurs. Oct. 9

Pride and Prejudice 

WEEK 7


Tues. Oct. 14

View DVD Pride and Prejudice in library for today's class

SEMINAR Group 2: Critique of film version of the novel:  


Thurs. Oct. 16

Read: Volume 1 of Mansfield Park

Appendix A: The Theatricals at Mansfield Park

Appendix B: Religion


WEEK 8

Tues. Oct. 21

Read: Volume 2 of Mansfield Park

Appendix C: Ideals of Femininity

Appendix F: A Woman’s Education

Appendix D: “The Improvement of the Estate”


Thurs. Oct. 23

Read:  Volume 3 Mansfield Park

Appendix E: The West Indian Connection


WEEK 9 SECOND ESSAY DUE


Tues. Oct. 28
 Essay due today

Read: Volume 3 Mansfield Park

Thurs. Oct. 30

Seminar 3:  Critique of film version of Mansfield Park : Participating Honors Students 


WEEK 10  

Tues. Nov. 4

Read:  Volume I of Emma Appendix A:  The Composition and Receptionof the Novel

Appendix B:  Social Class and Landed Society

Appendix C:  The Landless:  Gypsies and Bastards

Thurs. Nov. 6

 
Read: Volume II of Emma


WEEK 11  

Tues. Nov. 11

Read:  Volume III Emma

Thurs. Nov. 13

Read:  To the end of Emma

WEEK 12

Tues. Nov. 18

View DVD’s of Emma and Clueless in library

SEMINAR Group 4:   Critique of film versions of the novel:  

Emma:

Clueless:  

Thurs. Nov. 20   

Read:   Volume I  Persuasion

Appendix G  From Thomson’s The Seasons

Appendix H  From Walter Scott’s Marmion

Appendix I  From Byron’s “The Gaiour”

WEEK 13

Tues. Nov. 25

Read:  Volume 2 of Persuasion 

Thurs. Nov. 28  NO CLASS -- THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY

 

WEEK 14  THIRD ESSAY DUE

Tues. Dec. 2  Essay due today

Read:  Volume 3 Persuasion

Thurs. Dec. 4

SEMINAR Group 5:  Critique of film version of the novel: