English
305A: English Novel 1700-1900
English
305A:
English Novel 1700-1900
Fall
2011
Stephen C. Behrendt
319 Andrews; 472-1806
office hours: 1230 - 2 TR
and by appointment
sbehrendt1@unl.edu
Course Information
Aim of this Course
We will study some well known British novels of the 18th and 19th centuries as well as some less well known ones, in order to explore their relation to the culture that produced them and which they both reflect and influenced. While one of my aims is to help you become familiar (and comfortable) with this material and its cultural contexts, another aim is to help you learn to discuss such materials with increasingly greater sophistication, confidence, and skill, both in class and on paper.
My Approach to Teaching
I prefer a “conversational” classroom that revolves around engaged discussion. While I will do some brief lecturing to help to provide backgrounds and contexts, I will rely on you to be both ready and willing to talk about the assigned reading within broader historical, cultural, intellectual, political and economic contexts. My ideal classroom is a very interactive one, and I will try to make our own classroom a congenial environment for each of you.
Requirements
1) Dedicated reading, in advance, of all the assigned novels, plus class discussion of them. This course requires a lot of reading , all semester long, and if you are unprepared – or unable – to commit yourself to this much reading, and to the in-class discussion it will involve, I suggest that you not stay in this course.
2) Writing: Each of you will write one final, comprehensive examination over the course material and a formal mid-term essay project, probably in the form of a directed essay or “working paper.”
3) There will be some informal in-class writing, often previously unannounced, relating to our work.
4) Discussion. I have designed this course to be discussion-oriented, with only a bare minimum of lecturing. Each of you will participate in two or more group presentations involving our reading. In addition, I expect each of you to contribute faithfully, regularly, and meaningfully to our classroom discussions of the material we read.
Grade Basis
Because our daily work will revolve around discussion, I plan to grade that discussion – and your individual contributions to it – in a way that reflects how important I consider it to be. Your course grade will reflect your performance on your mid-term project, your final examination, and your class discussion, each of which will be worth approximately one-third of your course grade.
Discussion: c. 33%
Mid-term Project: c. 33%
Final Examination: c. 33%
I use the following 10-point grade distribution on a 100-point scale:
96+ A+ 74-76 C
93-95 A 70-73 C-
90-92 A- 67-69 D+
87-89 B+ 64-66 D
84-86 B 60-63 D-
80-83 B- 0-59 F
77-79 C+Course grades are based on the following requirements:
1. Regular attendance (see English Department attendance policy, below)
2. In-class discussion, activities and exercises
3. A formal Mid-term project (probably a directed essay or “working paper”)
4. A Final Examination, written at the scheduled exam time
Disclaimer Section
What this Course "Counts" for
This course has been approved as an Integrative Studies course under the General Education program and meets the criteria for including and satisfying the following components:
1. Critical thinking which may include but is not limited to investigating arguments, engaging in research, gathering data, performing qualitative and quantitative analysis, assessing conclusions, analyzing controversies, exploring assumptions underlying beliefs and concepts, uncovering the origins and consequences of intellectual bias.
2. Writing on which the instructor comments.
3. Oral expression.
4. Consideration of human diversity appropriate to the subject matter of the course.
This course has also been certified for the Achievement Centered Education (ACE) program, instituted beginning fall 2009. (This is the “new” general education required of incoming students.By passing this course, you will fulfill ACE Learning Outcome 5: “Use knowledge, historical perspectives, analysis, interpretation, critical evaluation, and the standards of evidence appropriate to the humanities to address problems and issues.” Your work will be evaluated by the instructor according to the specifications described in this syllabus. At the end of the term, you may be asked to provide samples of your work for ACE assessment as well.
Department of English Policy on Class Attendance
“The Department of English expects students registered for English classes to attend all scheduled class meetings and to have a reasonable excuse for any absence. Instructors are expected to lower the grades of students who miss classes without reasonable excuses and to penalize any work turned in late because of such absences. Students who miss more than twenty percent of the scheduled class meetings of any course will ordinarily fail the course for that reason alone, except that (1) if absences occur before the Withdrawal Passing period ends, the student may receive a “W” grade, and (2) if the absences are excused by the instructor or approved UNL policy and a large majority of them occur after the work of the course has been substantially completed, the student may receive an Incomplete (“I”) grade. In both of these cases, it is assumed that the student meets the eligibility requirement stated in the Schedule of Classes. Members of the teaching staff may have more restrictive attendance policies than are here stated.”
You should know that I support this policy. I believe that, especially in a class like this one, the in-class work is a vital part of the overall course. Because of its interactive and unscripted nature, the in-class work cannot be “made up,” and if you choose to “blow off” the class attendance requirement, you will fail the course. Twenty percent of the “scheduled meetings” in a regular semester course equals six class periods; do keep that number in mind. I will.
Students with Disabilities
Students with disabilities are encouraged to contact the instructor for a confidential discussion of their individual needs for academic accommodation. It is the policy of the University of Nebraska - Lincoln to provide flexible and individualized accommodation to students with documented disabilities that may affect their ability to fully participate in course activities or to meet course requirements. To receive accommodation services, students must be registered with the services for students with Disabilities (SSD) office, 132 Canfield Administration, 472-3787 voice or TTY.
Questions, Problems, Issues, etc.
If at any time you have questions about the course, my expectations, or your performance – as well as about anything else that may be relevant to our work as a class and/or your own individual work, goals, plans, or whatever – please feel free to speak with me privately. I will hold regular office hours at the announced times, but I am on campus most days until mid-afternoon and so we can generally arrange appointments at other mutually convenient times.