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ENGLISH 382, BRITISH LITERATURE SINCE 1800

SPRING 2012

SECTION 01

COMBS 001

11:00 P.M. TR

Dr. Chris Foss

Office: Combs 307

Hours: MWF 2:55-3:55, TR 9:55-10:55, and by appt.

Email: cfoss@umw.edu

Phone: 654-1128

COURSE DESCRIPTION

English 382 is a course designed to introduce students to British literature from roughly 1800 to the present. It will provide you with a working knowledge of the authors and texts that have come to be associated with three distinct but overlapping periods in British literary history: Romantic, Victorian, and Twentieth-Century. It also will cultivate an understanding of the cultural forces that have helped to shape these shifting literary landscapes. Finally, it will explore issues of canonicity as we hear from over 55 different voices throughout the semester.

GOALS

The main goal of this course is to provide you with a broad introductory knowledge of British literature since 1800. By the end of the semester, you should be able to identify the major writers and works, as well as the primary themes and forms, of British literature since 1800. More generally, in terms of content, this course will help you become more familiar with

• literary history, including an understanding of historical context and its impact on literary periods;

• literary theory and its application;

• the major genres of literature;

• and how issues of class, disability, ethnicity/race, gender/sexuality, and historical period influence the development and interpretation of literary works.

In terms of skill competencies, you will need to

• adapt writing to a variety of purposes;

• and apply literary methods as a means for analyzing oral and written discourse.

ASSIGNMENTS

You will take three examinations this semester, one at the end of each unit (Romantic, Victorian, and Twentieth-Century). Each exam will consist of a mix of objective and essay responses, though weighted heavily toward the essay portion.

You also will be writing one paper, which will consist of a thesis-driven summary of a randomly-assigned class period. You will receive your individual assignments at the third class meeting. This essay will need to be posted to our course wiki by the beginning of the second class meeting following your randomly-assigned period (that is, one week later); you will be required to bring a hard copy to turn in to me at that meeting as well. I will formally assign this paper at our second meeting (at which time I will go over samples from past courses) and I will devote time for a wiki tutorial during this meeting as well.

A paper will be considered late if it is not posted to the wiki by the above deadline. A late paper will have its grade knocked down one full notch (e.g., from A- to B-) for each class that passes without your turning it in (beginning with the due date) unless I have granted you an extension ahead of time. Again, the official paper deadline is at the beginning (rather than the end) of the due-date class meeting.

Completing the assigned reading, attending class sessions, and participating actively during those sessions is the best way to make sure you succeed at the above assignments, so I suggest you make attendance and class participation a priority.

CLASS PARTICIPATION AND QUIZ GRADES

Your active class participation is required. The points for this portion of your grade primarily will come from oral contributions to in-class discussions (both in small group and in large group formats), plus any in-class writing assigned. Our discussions will ask you to practice close reading of the assigned texts. Accordingly, you need to take these discussions seriously by coming prepared to talk about what you have read. For those of you who wish to pad your oral class participation with extra-credit points, you also may earn extra-credit class participation points for posting content, images, and/or links to the course wiki and/or for participating in Canvas Discussions.

I also will be giving frequent unannounced quizzes (with no make-ups) as part of a separate quiz grade. Your points from these factual, content-based quizzes will be totaled and curved at the end of the semester.

GRADING

The distribution that will make up your grade is as follows:

Class summary essay = 15%

Exam #1 = 20%

Exam #2 = 20%

Exam #3 = 20%

Class participation = 15%

Quizzes = 10%

You must complete all four major assignments to pass this course. In all this work you must abide by Mary Washington's Honor Code and, thus, refrain from lying, cheating, and stealing in all their various forms.

TEXTS

You have three required texts. By registering for this course you agree to read/use the below editions:

Volume 2 of The Longman Anthology of British Literature, FOURTH EDITION

M. Shelley--Frankenstein (Longman Cultural Edition), SECOND EDITION

C. Dickens--Hard Times (Longman Cultural Edition)

DISABILITY ACCOMMODATIONS

I will make every effort to accommodate disabilities. The Office of Disability Resources has been designated by Mary Washington as the primary office to guide, counsel, and assist students with disabilities. If you already receive services through ODR and require accommodations for this class, please make an appointment with me as soon as possible to discuss your approved accommodation needs. Bring your accommodation letter with you to the appointment. I will hold any information you share with me in strictest confidence unless you give me permission to do otherwise. If you need accommodations (note taking assistance, extended time for tests, etc.) but do not yet have them in place, please see ODR as soon as possible or call ODR at 654-1266.

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