honors111

Honors 111.01: The Literary Experience -- Fall 1998

Dr. Pidge Molyneaux Olney 146 e-mail: molyneam@lasalle.edu or molyneau@bellatlantic.net	Course Home Page: http://www.lasalle.edu/~molyneam (215) 951-1150 Fax: (610)449-0418)
Required Texts: Sophocles, Antigone A. R. Gurney, Another Antigone Dante, The Inferno Gloria Naylor, Linden Hills Shakespeare, King Lear Jane Smiley, A Thousand Acres Bertolt Brecht, The Life of Galileo

Philosophy of the Course:

In the Fall semester, this course has at its center literary representations of the "good life" in many of its manifestations. We will take as our hypothesis that no matter what perspective writers take toward the good life--philosophical, economic, political, spiritual, gender or racially specific, or any other point of view--the concept is not universal or transcendent but is inevitably grounded in contingent and provisional cultural values and historical realities. The course thus pairs texts perceived as canonical by Western standards--and certainly representative of the cultural values of the historical period in which they were written--with contemporary texts that examine similar concepts of the good life in contemporary America.

This course has a series of interrelated objectives:

an awareness of how literature both reflects and effects social attitudes, historical specifics, and cultural values

an appreciation of the aesthetic dimension of literature

a sense of the relationship between literature. history, and philosophy, and art at any given time

improved reading, writing, oral presentation, and classroom discussion skills

Course Requirements:

Papers: 3 short critical papers (3-4 pages); one research paper (8-10 pages)

Exams: 2 exams, midterm and final

Short Essays or Quizzes: occasional short in-class essays or unannounced quizzes on assigned readings

Readings: all readings are to be complete before we discuss them and careful preparation is required

Attendance: you are expected to be present and to actively participate in class discussion. Because you cannot participate if you are not present, one point will be deducted from your final grade for each unexcused absence. I have voice mail, two e-mail addresses, and a fax machine, so I can always be reached

Writing: research and writing instruction will be provided in class. You will receive general guidelines for papers and a specific assignment sheet for each paper. Late papers will be graded down. I am willing to discuss your papers in conference at any stage of the writing process.

Conferences: one conference is required over the course of the semester, though I encourage you to make an appointment whenever you need help. There is a sign-up sheet on my office door, Olney 146, but you may also drop by any time and I will see you if I can.

Wednesday Afternoon Activities: Attendance is required for Wednesday afternoon events. Material from these programs may be included on exams, essays, or quizzes.

Academic Honesty: You must fully and accurately document any research you use for this course. I will provide information on MLA style for documentation. For definitions of plagiarism, see http://www.dc.peachnet.edu/~shale/humanities/composition/handouts/plagiarism.html

Here is how I will calculate your grade:

3 short papers
research paper
exams
quizzes

45%
15%
30%
10%

A = 92-100
B = 84-91
C = 76-83
D = 68-75

Schedule of Readings and Assignments:

Aug. 31
Sept. 2

Sept. 7
Sept. 9

Sept. 14
Sept. 16

Sept. 21
Sept. 23

Sept. 28
Sept. 30

Oct. 5
Oct. 7

Oct. 12
Oct. 14

Oct. 19
Oct. 21

Oct. 26
Oct. 28

Nov. 2

Nov. 4

Nov. 9
Nov. 11

Nov. 16
Nov. 18

Nov. 23
Nov. 25

Nov. 30
Dec. 2

Dec. 7
Dec. 9

Introduction and syllabus
Sophocles, Antigone

Labor Day Holiday
Sophocles

Assignment for Paper #1; Writing Workshop
Film: Antigone

Paper #1 due: A.R. Gurney, Another Antigone
Gurney

Assignment for Paper #2; Writing Workshop
Dante, The Inferno;
Useful site: http://www.ilt.columbia.edu/projects/index.html

Paper #2 due; Dante
Dante

Midterm Exam
Gloria Naylor, Linden Hills

Naylor
Naylor; Assignment for Research Paper: Writing Workshop

Poetry (selections TBA)
Poetry

Shakespeare, King Lear, Act I
Useful site: http://www.library.upenn.edu/etext/furness/index.html
Shakespeare, Acts II & III

Shakespeare, Acts IV & V
Reflections on Shakespeare; Update on research papers

Research papers due; Jane Smiley, A Thousand Acres
Smiley

Smiley; Assignment for final paper
Thanksgiving Holiday

Bertolt Brecht, The Life of Galileo
Brecht

Reflections
Final paper due; course evaluations; prep for final exam