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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY
COURSE CODE: "IT 321"
COURSE NAME: "Survey of Italian Literature II"
SEMESTER & YEAR:
Spring 2015
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SYLLABUS
INSTRUCTOR:
Federica Capoferri
EMAIL: [email protected]
HOURS:
MW 3:00 PM 4:15 PM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS:
45
CREDITS:
PREREQUISITES:
Placement or IT 301 or permission of the instructor
OFFICE HOURS:
by appointment
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COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course, which is a continuation of IT 320, analyzes the major writers of Italy from the 19th century to the present.
Students are exposed to the evolution of Italian literature from a historical perspective, with emphasis on the major literary, philosophical, and cross-cultural inluences that shaped Italy's modern literary production.
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SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:
The course will offer on an in-depth exploration of selected works by such authors as Foscolo, Manzoni, Leopardi, Verga, D'Annunzio, Ungaretti, Montale, Svevo, Pirandello, Moravia, Pasolini, Calvino. Please note that students will be required to read one full book (to be decided in accordance with the instructor by week 5) and to present it to the class.
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LEARNING OUTCOMES:
--To master the traditionally defined Italian literary canon.
--To learn concepts and theories in the subject of Italian Literary Studies.
--To develop skills in the interpretation and analysis of Italian literature, as well as to develop the critical-thinking skills necessary to provide a creative interpretation of the text.
--To improve reading and writing skills in Italian.
--To master bibliographical research skills.
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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 |
| Midterm exam | In class exam based on readings and class discussions. Format: 1) identification of texts and close readings of them 2) Short essay | 25% |
| Take home questionnaires (2) | Questionnaires on material covered in class. Students are required to expand the required readings with further research (at least 2 other sources). Answered should be developed in an academic format (MLA style). Students with grammar and language problems ARE REQUIRED to work REGULARLY on their written assignments at the Writing Center. This is not a language course but the Instructor cannot ignore spelling, grammar, synthax mistakes when grading. | 20% |
| final paper | 8 pages final paper on a topic to be approved by the Instructor by week 7 (outline and bibliography due by then). Students are required to submit a first draft by week 10. Final draft is due at the beginning of the last week. | 10% |
| final exam | In class CUMULATIVE final exam. Structure: texts identifications and critical explanation. Short essay. | 30 % |
| Class participation | Students are required to come to class ALWAYS prepared on readings and to actively partecipate to class discussions | 5% |
| Attendance | Students are allowed 3 absences. More than 3 absences will result in a 0 in this portion of your grade | 5% |
| oral presentation | 15 minutes oral presentation on a book covered in class. | 5% |
-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:
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| 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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| Week 1 |
Please note that Instructor can make changes to the schedule.
Introduction to the course. Critical and historical issues related to the notion of modernity in Italian literature.
Ugo Foscolo: a figure of transition from Neoclassicism to Romanticism.
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| Week 2 |
The birth of Italian novel: Foscolo's Le ultime lettere di Jacopo Ortis.
The debate on ancient and modern literature in Italy. Giacomo Leopardi's Canti
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| Week 3 |
Leopardi's Canti. The birth of a new poetic subject.
Literature and Philosophy: Leopardi's Operette morali. |
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| Week 4 |
The question of language and of a "letteratura popolare": Alessandro Manzoni and his I promessi sposi.
Literature and society: theatre, opera, and politics in the year of the Risorgimento.
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| Week 5 |
An introduction to the Scapigliatura.
GIovanni Verga's I Malavoglia. |
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Questionario 1 DUE not late assignments |
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| Week 6 |
New literary forms and genres. Critical and historical issues related to the transition from Ottocento to Novecento.
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| Week 7 |
Review for Midterm Exam
Midterm |
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Final paper outline and bibliography DUE--
Oral presentation topic DUE |
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| week 8 |
- Introduction to Symbolism and Decadentism
D'Annunzio VS Pascoli |
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| Week 9 |
-D'Annunzio vs Pascoli. Two different models for the XXth century Italian poetry.
The crisis of the traditional narrative subject and the crisis of the Positivism.
Oral presentations (2)
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| Week 10 |
Figures of modernity:Pirandello's theatre and novels.
Italo Svevo and the role of psychoanalysis in Italian novels.
Oral presentations (2)
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Final paper first draft DUE |
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| Week 11 |
Reacting against the Decandent Idea of the Poet-- Crepuscolari and futuristi.
Introduction to Ungaretti's poems
Oral presentations |
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| Week 12 |
Introduction to Montale's Poems.-
Montale vs Ungaretti. Two different examples of Ermetismo |
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Questionario 2 due |
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| Week 13 |
Introduction to Moravia, Pasolini, and Calvino.
Oral presentations
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| week 14 |
An idea of contemporary Italian Literature: critical issues and perspectives.
Review for Final Exam |
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Final Paper Due
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| Week 15 |
Final Exam |
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