Required Text:
Longman Anthology of World Literature, Three-Period Package Volume 1 (Volumes A-C)
Voices of World Literature audio CD (accompanies Longman Anthology) recommended

Description:
EN 231 provides a survey of major texts of World Literature from antiquity to the early modern period, including texts from many different cultures that address common themes of creation, heroism, love, death, chivalry, and the role of women. Non-print texts, such as music and art from related cultures will also be discussed. While one emphasis of the course will be to trace the Western tradition from its Mesopotamian roots to its medieval European branches, significant texts from India, China, Japan, Africa, and North America will also be studied for comparison. Students will also gain an appreciation of how the genres of the myth, the epic, the lyric, the drama, and the essay have been used around the world during this period.

Goals:

• to gain an increased awareness of other cultures through the study of literature
  
• to read and respond to literary works and to compare themes across these works
  
• to relate literary works to visual and oral art from related cultures
  
• to analyze complex works of literature and defend your interpretation in writing
  
• to incorporate interpretation with quotations and paraphrases from the texts in your essays

Requirements:
Writing Assignments: students will complete a number of short writing assignments in which they will respond to images or actions described in the assigned readings and interpret visual or oral materials associated with the texts we are reading. Participation in the online discussion forum for the class may earn extra credit toward the writing assignment grade.

Quizzes: there will be at least 4 unannounced quizzes, probably more. These will be multiple choice or short answer questions that test your comprehension of the assigned reading for the day. Quizzes will be timed and should be completed without referring to the text. Quizzes may not be made up, but one quiz score may be dropped at the end of the semester to account for one absence.

Essays: Students will write three analytical essays in response to the texts they read. Students will be expected to present an interpretation and comparison of specific texts. Detailed explanations of each essay will be provided at the time they are assigned. All essays should be typed, double spaced in 12 point Times or Helvetica with page numbers and 1 inch margins.

Exams: There will be two midterm exams and a comprehensive final exam. These will consist of short answer and essay questions and will be timed:1.5 hours (maximum) for the midterms and 3 hours for the final.

Attendance:
Since discussion of the readings is essential to success in the course, attendance is mandatory and will be recorded at the beginning of each class. If you arrive late, please inform me after class that you were present; otherwise, you will be counted absent. I will record late arrival (or early departure) as such, and it will be considered in your final grade. I reserve the right to count students absent if they miss a substantial portion of the class period. Students are required to attend a minimum of 75% of all scheduled classes to receive a passing grade. Excessive absences (more than 4) will be considered due cause for lowering your final grade. Near perfect attendance with quality class participation may be considered cause for raising your final grade.

Method of Evaluation:
Writing Assignments and Quizzes will be graded on a scale of 1 to 10 and are usually due the class period after they were assigned. Quizzes may not be made up, though one score may be dropped. Writing assignments may not be turned in late, though extra assignments will be given, so you can make up ones you missed. If you miss class, check the Study Materials web page to see whether a writing assignment is due. Grades on essays will be determined by how well the essay addresses the assigned topic. Grammar and style will be taken into consideration. I expect your essays to be grammatically correct and written in an engaging style. Late assignments will be penalized, unless I have approved an extension prior to the assignment due date. The final due date for all late assignments is the last scheduled class day of the semester.

Letter grades assigned to essays will have the following numeric values:

A+ = 98	B+ = 88	C+ = 78	D+ = 68	F = 0-59
A   = 95	B   = 85	C   = 75	D   = 65
A-  = 92	B-  = 82	C-  = 72	D-  = 62

Exams are worth 100 points (midterms) or 200 points (final). The raw score for the exam will be used in calculating the final grade. (If you earn an 89, that’s what I’ll use in your final grade.) Final grades will be based on the same system and will be a composite of the following:

Writing Assignments	10%
Quizzes	10%
Essays	30%
Tests	25%
Final Exam	25%

Students with disabilities: A reasonable attempt will be made to accommodate students with documented disabilities. Students must first obtain an accommodations plan through Academic Support Services and make a request for accommodations prior to the due date of the assignment. When a general accommodations plan is presented, it will be tailored to the demands of the World Literature Survey to create a plan that is fair to all students. All information regarding a student’s disability will be kept confidential.

A final reminder: plagiarism will result in an F (0) on the assignment, and in severe cases is grounds for failure in the course. Plagiarism includes using paraphrased or quoted information from a source without proper documentation. Using quoted information without putting it in quotes (or indenting long quotes) is also considered plagiarism, regardless of whether the source is cited. Cliffs Notes, Masterplots, and other study aids must be treated as a source: i.e., if you use them (which I do not recommend), you must cite them. If you are unsure whether you have used material and cited it appropriately, see me before the final draft of the assignment is due. Once you have turned in your assignment it is too late to plead ignorance. It is your responsibility to understand the rules regarding plagiarism. Please refer to the Student handbook for MUW's policies regarding plagiarism and other forms of academic dishonesty.