ENGL2450: Nature, Ecology and Literature Syllabus

1 English 2450.02: Nature, Ecology and Literature Heather Bozant Witcher TR 12:45­2pm Des Peres 208 2 English 2450.02: Nature, Ecology and Literature (CRN: 28166) TR 12:45-2:00PM , Des Peres 208 Spring 2015 Mrs. Heather Bozant Witcher, M.A. E-mail: [email protected] Website: witcherengl2450.wordpress.com Password: Witcher Office: Adorjan Hall, 209, Cubicle B6 Office Hours: TR 2-3:30 p.m., or by appointment Course Description The focus of this Nature, Ecology, & Literature course is on the question of the animal in literature and culture. We will read a selection of texts – novels, short fiction, non-fiction, poetry, drama, and essays about animals. We will also watch a documentary film, Project Nim and have a class visit to the St Louis Zoo. We will look at how animals are represented at different historical periods and in different media. We will consider the ethical questions raised by human interaction with, and use of, animals, and how human-animal relationships might be re-imagined. Required Texts and Materials Foer, Jonathan Safran. Eating Animals. New York: Black Bay Books (Little, Brown and Company), 2010. (ISBN: 9780316069885) Johnston, Devin. Creaturely and Other Essays. New York: Turtle Point Press, 2009. (ISBN: 9781933527222) Millet, Lydia. How the Dead Dream. Boston: Mariner, 2009. (ISBN: 9780156035460) Shaffer, Peter. Equus. Scribner, 2005. (ISBN: 9780743287302) Shelley, Mary. Frankenstein. New York: Penguin, 2003. (ISBN: 9780141439471) Wells, H.G. The Island of Doctor Moreau. London: Penguin, 2005. (ISBN: 9780141441023) Project Nim (documentary) *Selections from Kalof, Linda and Amy Fitzgerald, eds. The Animals Reader: The Essential Classic and Contemporary Writings. Oxford: Berg, 2007. (provided by instructor on class website) **Poetry and short stories to be provided by instructor on the class website. Course Goals and Objectives These courses are taken to satisfy the lower-division Core literature requirement of the College of Arts and Sciences. Each course is centered around a core theme through which students explore important theories and methods of literary and critical analysis. Through close reading, seminar discussion, lecture, and written analysis, students explore a diverse selection of imaginative and cultural texts, developing an enhanced appreciation of their structure and of the rich significance of their language and modes of representation. When appropriate, an instructor may assign or approve projects in new media, performance, debate, or other student work in lieu of more traditional writing. Departmental Objectives: Reading and Interpretive Practices: Students • Read texts or view films by authors from a variety of periods and nationalities. • Read closely and critically, learning to interpret literature, film, and modes of rhetorical argument in ways that are both intellectually rigorous and personally significant. Witcher ENGL 2450-02 Spring 2015 3 • Discuss their own written reflections on literature, film and rhetorical argument in group settings, enriching their ability to express clearly their points and insights. Writing and Cognitive Practices: Students will have the opportunity to write in both formative and summative modes: they will be able to practice their critical writing, with formative feedback, and they will also be expected to write high-caliber critical essays or creative responses (or their equivalent) that keep to word limits. They will: • Write a minimum of 12 pages of formal and informal graded prose (3750words), with one opportunity for revision. • Develop analytical thinking and writing skills through papers, quizzes, exams, and active participation in discussion. Course Work Course Requirements: 3 Literary Analysis Papers Discussion Leader (in-class presentation) Class participation (discussion, preparedness, etc.) Reading Journal/Class Blog Daily Reading Quizzes 40% (Paper 1—10%; Paper 2—15%; Paper 3 —15%) 20% 20% 10% 10% Before each assignment I will provide you with a handout with the requirements of the assignment. Please read the assignment sheets carefully and ask for clarification if you are unsure about anything. Due Dates: Analysis Paper 1 Analysis Paper 2 Analysis Paper 3 March 4, 2015 March 31, 2015 & April 16, 2015 May 8, 2015 (final exam day: 12-1:50pm) Coursework: Class time will be spent discussing texts in a group format, so active discussion is crucial to success in this course. To prepare for this discussion, bring any questions you have or passages in the text that you found interesting or confusing. For daily participation, I am looking for genuine engagement and sincere effort in all activities. Failure to actively participate on a consecutive basis will result in the lowering of your final grade by an entire letter grade. Discussion Leaders: You will be responsible for leading the discussion one time during the semester, providing the class with a series of three questions by noon the day before your discussion. You will also be “on-call” during class discussion for one of your classmates during the semester. Guidelines for the discussion leader will be distributed in class, and you will fill out a request sheet for the class periods you would prefer. Reading Journals/Class Blogs: To help aid your ability to contribute to class discussion and prepare for the daily reading quizzes, you will keep a weekly reading journal on the class blog where you record your thoughts, questions, and experiences as you read. These journals should not summarize the readings, but they are a place for you to record significant passages/quotes, themes, connections between previous readings, and the beginnings of critical analysis. You will use this space to develop your close reading skills and annotating capabilities. Witcher ENGL 2450-02 Spring 2015 4 Quizzes: I expect students to come to class prepared to discuss the assigned readings thoughtfully. To ensure that the reading is being done, I will assign brief, daily reading quizzes. Analysis Papers: You will complete three literary analysis papers. These papers are meant to develop your analytical and close reading skills as you formulate a specific argument about a fictional work. The first paper will be a close reading of a passage from one of the texts studied (3 pages, due March 4). The second paper will be an ungraded literary analysis (4-5 pages, due March 31). You will receive my comments, revise, and expand this paper for a grade (6-7 pages, due April 16). Instead of a final exam, you will submit a final paper (6-7 pages, due May 8). Specific instructions for each paper will be included in the assignment sheet. All papers will be submitted in hard copy, following MLA style. I will provide guidance for citation. Grading To receive a passing grade, make sure to at least meet the basic criteria of a successful assignment, as outlined in the grading rubrics attached with each assignment sheet. The grading scale used for this course is: A 100-94 C+ 79-77 A93-90 C 76-73 B+ 89-87 C72-70 B 86-83 D 69-60 B82-80 F 59 and below Class Expectations Submitting Work and Late Assignments: Assignment deadlines and specifications will be included on assignment sheets handed out in class, and provided on the class website. You will always turn in hard copies of your essays. Late Work: Assignments are due when they are due. If for some reason you feel you cannot complete an assignment by the provided due date, please speak with me or email me ([email protected]) in advance of the due date, and I will grant an extension for an emergency. Assignments will not be accepted (without an agreed upon extension) and will result in a failed grade. Failure to turn in an assignment due to an absence will result in a failed grade for that assignment because it is considered to be late. Class Etiquette: Readings are to be done in advance for the day listed on the course schedule. Always bring your copies of the text (including assigned readings from the course website) to class. You will lose participation points if your texts are not with you. Check the course website and your SLU e-mail often for class announcements and supplemental readings. Active reading is an essential part of this course and will help prepare you for the daily reading quizzes. You should be prepared for a heavy emphasis on close reading. You should read with a pen/pencil in hand, taking notes in the margins and underlining words as you read. These Witcher ENGL 2450-02 Spring 2015 5 notes will be the starting point for your reading journals, which should help you develop ideas for your analysis papers. Cell phones should be turned off or put on silent while in the classroom. Texting during class will not be tolerated, and will result in a lowered participation grade. If you choose to bring a laptop or tablet to class for note-taking, use it wisely. Do not check Facebook, Twitter, e-mail, chat, or any other site that is not pertinent to class. If I see you on one of these sites, I will ask you to close the laptop and e-mail you with a loss of your laptop privileges. Do not arrive late to class. If you cannot arrive on time, please consider taking a different section. If you miss class, you are responsible for finding out what you missed. E-mail a classmate, but please do not email me to ask what you missed. Attendance You are allowed three (3) unexcused absences over the course of the semester. For every unexcused absence after that, your final grade will drop one level. So, if you earn a B for your final grade, but have four unexcused absences, your grade becomes a B-; if your final grade is a B but you have five unexcused absences, your grade becomes a C+, and so forth. I reserve the right to contact your academic advisor if your absences exceed three; if you achieve six (6) or more absences, you will receive an Absence Fail (AF)—there will be no negotiations. Be aware that I will not check with you when you have reached your three allowed absences— it is your responsibility to keep track of these absences. In all cases (including Universitysanctioned absences), your work is still due at the assigned deadline. If you know in advance that you will miss class, drop your work off in my mailbox (Adorjan 125) so that it is not considered late. Excused absences include: - Religious holidays - Participation in SLU-sponsored activities (note from sponsor/coach is required in advance) - Illness (doctor’s note is required) - Civil responsibilities (documentation is required) - Unavoidable absences deemed reasonable by the instructor (documentation is required) Concerns? If you feel you may not be able to meet these requirements, please come see me at the beginning of the semester to discuss your concerns. I recognize that many people are naturally reserved and less comfortable speaking in class. While every student is still expected to participate in class discussions, if this is a particular concern, please come and see me. Make sure to speak with me as your concerns arise, not during the final weeks of class. I will not be able to help you if you wait until the end of the semester. Conferences: I encourage you to visit me during my office hours or schedule an appointment with me outside of my office hours to discuss your assignments or any aspects of course work. My office hours are TR, 2-3:30pm in Adorjan 209, and by appointment. Witcher ENGL 2450-02 Spring 2015 6 Student Success Center Syllabi Statement: In recognition that people learn in a variety of ways and that learning is influenced by multiple factors (e.g., prior experience, study skills or learning disability), resources to support student success are available on campus. The Student Success Center, a one-stop shop, which assists students with academic and career related services, is located in suite 331 in Busch Student Center and in suite 114 of the School of Nursing Building. Students who think they might benefit from these resources can find out more about: Course-level support (e.g., faculty member, departmental resources, etc.) by asking their course instructor. University-level support (e.g., tutoring services, university writing services, disability services, academic coaching, career services, and/or facets of curriculum planning) by visiting the Student Success Center or by going to slu.edu/success. Disability Services Academic Accommodations Students with a documented disability who wish to request academic accommodations are encouraged to contact Disability Services to discuss accommodation requests and eligibility requirements. Please contact Disability Services, located within the Student Success Center, at [email protected] or 314-9773484 to schedule an appointment. Confidentiality will be observed in all inquiries. Once approved, information about academic accommodations will be shared with course instructors via email from Disability Services and viewed within Banner via the instructor's course roster. University Writing Services We encourage you to take advantage of university writing services in the Student Success Center; getting feedback benefits writers at all skill levels. Trained writing consultants can help with writing projects, multimedia projects, and oral presentations. University Writing Services offers one-on-one consultations that address everything from brainstorming and developing ideas to crafting strong sentences and documenting sources. For more information, call 314-977-3484 or visit the University of Writing Services website. Academic Integrity and Honesty Students are expected to be honest in their academic work. The University reserves the right to penalize any student whose academic conduct at any time is, in its judgment, detrimental to the University. Such conduct shall include cases of plagiarism, collusion, cheating, giving or receiving or offering or soliciting information in examinations, or the use of previously prepared material in examinations or quizzes. Violations should be reported to your course instructor, who will investigate and adjudicate them according to the policy on academic honesty of the College of Arts and Sciences. If the charges are found to be true, the student may be liable for academic or disciplinary probation, suspension, or expulsion by the University. *Note: Such papers will receive a zero F—there will be no negotiations. Course Content Disclaimer In this course, students may be required to read texts or view materials that they may consider offensive. The ideas expressed in any given text do not necessarily reflect the views of the instructor, the English Department, or Saint Louis University. Course materials are selected for their historical and/or cultural relevance, or as an example of stylistic and/or rhetorical strategies and techniques. They are meant to be examined in the context of intellectual inquiry of the sort encountered at the university level. A certain amount of maturity is required. Witcher ENGL 2450-02 Spring 2015 7 Tentative Schedule of Readings * This class is designed to meet the students’ needs. For this reason, the syllabus is subject to change throughout the semester. The readings are listed on the days we will discuss them. So, for example, on Jan. 15, we will be discussing Little Red Cap, etc., so I expect that reading to be done in time for class.* Date T: Jan. 13 R: Jan. 15 T: Jan. 20 R: Jan. 22 T: Jan. 27 R: Jan. 29 T: Feb. 3 R: Feb. 5 F: Feb. 6 T: Feb. 10 R: Feb. 12 T: Feb. 17 R: Feb. 19 Readings Assignments Introduction: How to Read Literature; Marie de France, Bisclavret; See interpretations of the wife’s nose [all on course website] Brothers Grimm, Little Red Cap and Perrault’s Little Red Riding Hood (trans. by Andrew Lang); Boria Sax, “Animals as Tradition,” The Animal Reader p. 270-277 [all on course website] “Reading Poetry” Selections from Michael Field’s Whym Chow: Flame of Love and Journals; Yi-Fu Tuan, “Animal Pets: Cruelty and Affection,” The Animals Reader p. 270-277 [all on course website) NO CLASS: INSTRUCTOR OUT OF TOWN Intro to Frankenstein—read extracts from Luigi Galvani, De Viribus Electricitatis (1791) and Sir Humphry Davy, Discourse (1802) [all on course website] Mary Shelley, Frankenstein, Author’s Introduction and Preface, Volume 1 Shelley, Frankenstein, Volume 2 Shelley, Frankenstein, Volume 3 Shelley, Frankenstein: Critical Article (website) Jackson Petsche, “An Already Alienated Animality: Frankenstein as a Gothic Narrative of Carnivorism” Screening of Project Nim from 3-5pm in XVA 203 Discussion of Project Nim Tom Regan, “The Rights of Humans and Animals” (p. 23-29); Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson and Susan McCarthy, “Grief, Sadness, and the Bones of Elephants” (p. 91-103); and Lynda Birke, “Into the Laboratory” (p. 323-335) [on website] Discussion of Project Nim; continued discussion from readings above Intro to Moreau—extracts from Darwin, The Origin of Species; Claude Bernard, An Introduction to the Study of Experimental Medicine [on website] H.G. Wells, Island of Dr. Moreau, Chapters 1-5 Wells, Island of Dr. Moreau, Chapters 6-14 Week 1 Journal Due, 5pm Week 2 Journal Due, 5pm Week 3 Journal Due, 5pm Mandatory Attendance Week 4 Journal Due, 5pm Week 5 Journal Due, 5pm Witcher ENGL 2450-02 Spring 2015 8 M: Feb. 23 T: Feb. 24 R: Feb. 26 T: March 3 R: March 5 March 9-13 T: March 17 T: March 17 W: March 18 10-10:50am, XVA 203 R: March 19 T: March 24 R: March 26 R: March 26 S: March 28 T: March 31 April 2-6 T: April 7 R: April 9 T: April 14 T: April 14 R: April 16 Scott Blackwood Reading—Sinquefield Stateroom in Dubourg Hall @ 4pm Wells, Island of Dr. Moreau, Chapters 15-22 (XIIXXII); Critical Article (website): Philip Armstrong, “The Gaze of Animals.” Theorizing Animals: Re-thinking Humanimal Relationships. Ed. Tania Signal and Nik Taylor. Sylvia Plath, “Zookeeper’s Wife” and Ted Hughes, “Life After Death” [on website] Devin Johnston, Creaturely, essays TBD Johnston, Creaturely, essays TBD In-Class: Intro to Equus—readings TBD NO CLASS: SPRING BREAK “Reading Drama” (website) Peter Shaffer, Equus, Act 1 Robert Adamson Poetry Reading-- Sinquefield Stateroom in Dubourg Hall @ 4pm Adamson visits ENGL2450.01. Read “The Stone Curlew” slowly and carefully. Read the 11 poems here fairly quickly but attentively. Shaffer, Equus, Act 2 Shaffer, Equus, Critical Article (website): Graham Wolfe, “Enjoying Equus: Jouissance in Shaffer’s Play” Intro to How the Dead Dream—read essays on zoo spectatorship (website): Randy Malamud, “Zoo Spectatorship” Animals Reader, p. 219-237 John Berger, “Why Look at Animals?” Animals Reader, p. 251-261 Robert Adamson Craft Talk—Pius Library @ 4pm Class Field Trip to STL Zoo (Free Admission) Kurt Vonnegut, “Welcome to the Monkey House” (website) NO CLASS: EASTER BREAK Lydia Millet, How the Dead Dream, Chapters 1-3 Millet, How the Dead Dream, Chapters 4-5 Millet, How the Dead Dream, Chapters 6-9 SLU Students Group Reading—Sinquefield Stateroom in Dubourg Hall @ 4pm Millet, How the Dead Dream, Critical Article (website): Ella Soper, “Grieving Final Animals and Other Acts of Dissent: Lydia Millet’s How the Dead Dream” Extra Credit Opportunity Week 6 Journal Due, 5pm Paper 1 due; no journal due Extra Credit Opportunity Extra Credit Opportunity Week 8 Journal Due, 5pm Week 9 Journal Due, 5pm Extra Credit Opportunity Complete Zoo Assignment Paper 2 due; no journal due Week 10 Journal Due, 5pm Extra Credit Opportunity Revised Paper 2 due; no journal due. Witcher ENGL 2450-02 Spring 2015 9 T: April 21 R: April 23 T: April 28 R: April 30 T: May 5 F: May 8 Intro to Eating Animals, TBD Jonathan Safran Foer, Eating Animals, “Storytelling” and “All or Nothing” (p. 1-41) Foer, Eating Animals, “Words/Meaning” and Week 12 Journal Due, 5pm “Hiding/Seeking” (p. 43-115) Foer, Eating Animals, “Influence/Speechlessness” and “Slices of Paradise/Pieces of Shit” (p. 117-199) Foer, Eating Animals, “I Do” and “Storytelling” (p. Week 13 Journal Due, 5pm 201-267) STUDY DAY: NO CLASS Final Exam 12-1:50pm Paper 3 due in ADJ 209 Witcher ENGL 2450-02 Spring 2015