English 314 - Syllabus - Sandra Feldman

COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course is a survey of world literature from the 19th and 20th Centuries. Through reading, class discussion, lecture, and student writing, we will examine principal works of writers from around the globe. Reading, writing about, and discussing these works will introduce students to authors from a diversity of cultures and will expose students to new and different perspectives, opinions, and lifestyles, thus enabling individuals to better understand the world and their place in it.
English 314 is designed to give you a broad base in the area of modern world literature; the course is intended to help you develop and consolidate critical, analytical and expressive skills by applying them in the contexts of oral conversation, class discussions, a final presentation, and writing exercises about the literature. In this course you have the opportunity to interconnect disciplines and cultures; interface reading, thinking, writing, and speaking; and sharpen your awareness of various perspectives about the world, its history, its cultures, its changes as they relate to the players, the thinkers, the writers, and you.
Emphasis is on reading accurately, identifying differences and patterns, analyzing structures, critiquing content, developing ideas around themes, and presenting your thoughts about the readings. This is a wonderful course, make it work for you.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS
JOURNAL: Your journal is a tool for developing and polishing critical thinking and analytical skills as they apply in discovering meaning in literature; notetaking on the readings in preparation for class discussions and for exams; analysing ideas from the texts; and generating new ideas. You are required to keep a journal and I may check your progress occasionally. YOU MAY USE YOUR JOURNAL ON CLASS TESTS, so keep up to date. Make a note of significant quotes, excerpts or chapters for class discussion and for recall on tests. You may want to share some of your entries with me or with classmates in working through ideas for class discussion, exams, and/or for your final creative project.

WRITING EXERCISES/PAPERS: You will complete two papers which will be approximately 1500-2000 words (5-7 pages, typed, double-spaced). Each will be a critical analysis of a work of your choice from the syllabus. NO LATE PAPERS ACCEPTED.

READINGS: All readings on the syllabus are required. We may not discuss every reading in as much detail as others. Keep notes on the readings in your class journal to recall for writing exercises, tests, the midterm and final presentation.

A JOURNEY ACROSS CULTURES
English 314 Modern World Literature
Sandra Harrison Feldman

TESTS: You will have tests in which you will respond questions about the assigned readings. All of the tests are indicated in the syllabus; it is important that you stay abreast. Your journal will be invaluable for working through questions and ideas you have concerning the readings, so use it to your advantage; you may use your journal to assist you during SOME of the tests. A journal is a must in preparing your test essay type responses. Also the class discussions will be helpful in formulating ideas about the works, so class attendance is essential. Some tests will be administered on line.

ELECTRONIC CLASS: We will be meeting in Cyberspace on a regular basis. You must have email capacity and a browser for internet research. I will give the Electronic assignments on the week before they are due; if you miss explanations, please contact me via email <sandra.feldman@sonoma.edu> or by phone 6642437 to catch up.

CREATIVE PROJECTS/PRESENTATIONS: You will do two in class creative presentations (one of which is your final exam (*see below), each approximately 2-3 minutes. You will render a theme through art and briefly explain your interpretations to the rest of the class. I will give you more direction before the due dates. Get your thesis approved well in advance. Turning in your proposed thesis for your creative projects three weeks prior to the presentation is a good idea; you'll get ample feedback this way. Don't expect to fine tune a thesis overnight. Email me your ideas or turn them in during class. The first creative project will center on one novel. The final will focus on five novels.

FINAL CREATIVE PRESENTATION*: One of the informal oral presentations/creative projects falls at the end of the semester. The final exam/creative project is designed so that you can share with the class information you have uncovered about the works covered in the course. The focus of the creative presentations will be your choice. Consult with me for suggestions. Be thinking as we move through the semester about a theme that runs through five of the novels. This will be the center of your final.

PEER GROUP WORK: Exploring possible literary interpretations for the course will be accomplished both in class discussion and in small collaborative groups at regular intervals throughout the semester. Since the success of this mode of discovery depends heavily on the quality of participation of each member of the group, great importance is attached to class participation. Positive, creative, helpful modes of operation within groups are expected.

MIDTERM AND FINAL EXAMS: The Midterm Exam will cover the readings of the first half of the semester, and the Final Exam/ Final Creative Presentation (they are one in the same) will cover the works of the entire semester. On the midterm exam you will respond in writing to essay questions addressing 1) issues discussed in class, 2) themes in readings. On the final you will present a piece of art and a thesis that ties 5 works together.

EVALUATION: You will be evaluated on your papers (20%), tests and midterm exam (50%), creative project /pres. #1 (10%), and final creative project/presentation (20%.)

A JOURNEY ACROSS CULTURES
English 314 Modern World Literature
Sandra Harrison Feldman

STUDENT/TEACHER CONFERENCES: I am available weekly to discuss your papers, tests, classwork, readings, or your final creative presentation. Please make an appointment with me if you need help. If you cannot meet during my consultation hours, Tuesdays 4-5, we'll set another time. We can also talk via phone during my SSU office hours. I encourage you to meet often to discuss your progress and your needs. If you are having problems outside of school, please let me know, especially in the case of repeated absenses, so I can keep you informed of the work in class.

NOTE: To get the most out of this class, enjoy your time reading and discussing new ideas about the world, past and present, be prepared, and take advantage of the choices you have. The reading load is quite demanding, so keep up. Read quickly and for pleasure. Use your journal as a guide for recall and as a tool to get ideas for class presentations and class discussions. Continuously make connections among the works; work in study groups if you can to better grasp the larger concepts. Please connect with me often; I can help.

SPECIAL NEEDS: Please alert me early in the semester if you have special needs. I will do everything I can to accomodate you. My office hours are before class.

LIST of DUE DATES: ASSIGNMENTS, READINGS, TESTS, MIDTERM, FINAL EXAM, PROJECTS, and PAPER DUE DATES

Jan 29 Introduction to course
Feb 5 Masks/Enchi
Feb 12 Electronic class TEST#1/Enchi
Feb 19 The House of the Spirits/Allende TEST#2/Allende
Feb 26 Electronic class Websites due
March 5 A Doll's House/Ibsen TEST#3/Ibsen Creative Project #1 Due
March 12 Electronic class Midterm study questions
March 19 A Border Passage: From Cairo to America, A Woman's Journey/Ahmed March 19 MIDTERM/Enchi, Allende, Ibsen, Ahmed 3/19 THESIS for PAPER #1 Due
March 26 Electronic class
April 1-5 Spring Break
April 9 One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich/Solzhenitsyn PAPER #1 Due
April 16 Electronic class TEST#4/Solzhenitsyn
April 23 Things Fall Apart/Achebe TEST#5/Achebe THESIS for PAPER #2 Due
April 30 Electronic class THESIS for Final Exam/ Creative Project #2 Due
May 7 When Rain Clouds Gather/Head PAPER #2 Due
May 14 Electronic class
May 21 Final Exam/Creative Project #2 (Five works)

Keep all of your work to be turned in May 7. Copy and save all email assignments.

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