Guidelines

British Literature Survey
Course Guidelines

the basics / course goals / Path I / Path II / miscellany

THE BASICS

English 21.6: British Literature Survey
Topical Spin: Inter-Authorial Intersections
class location: Greeenlaw #304, T/Th, 12:30-1:45 p.m.
instructor: Paul Marchbanks, PhD
e-mail: marchban@email.unc.edu
office: Greenlaw #405
office hours:9:30 a.m. to noon, Mon & Fri
home phone: 929-4926 (9 a.m. to 9 p.m.)

COURSE GOALS

to complement the in-class discussion of poetry, non-fiction, and one novel ("Path 1" readings) with an equally weighted, outside course of novels and regular writing assignments ("Path 2" readings)
to combine a socio-historicist overview of traditional literary periods with a sustained consideration of inter-authorial influences and biographical concerns
to improve student recognition of tone
to develop critical thinking and writing skills
to hone public speaking skills through poetry readings and class discussion
to ask what literature can do that other modes of expression cannot

PATH 1: In-Class Discussion and Exams

Materials

The Norton Anthology of English Literature (Vol 2, 7th ed.)
The Broadview Anthology of Victorian Short Stories
George Eliot's Adam Bede (Broadview)
Mary Wollstonecraft's A Vindication of the Rights of Woman (Dover Thrift Editions)

Assignments

participation (10%, 2 grades of 5% each): participation scores determined by attendance, and one’s involvement in class discussion, and manifest familiarity with Path 1 readings
poetry recordings (5%): dramatic readings of individually assigned poems from the Path 1 syllabus, to be turned in to me as MP3 files on CD by Wednesday, Feb 22.
midterm (15%): an in-class exam composed of identifications, short answers, and short essays
comprehensive final (20%): a cumulative exam

PATH 2: Outside Research and Writing

Materials: go here for a list of groups, readings, and related reading calendars

Assignments

encylopedia-style entry (6%): short entry on assigned topic related to Path 2 readings, to be published as part of a reference section on the course website. Due Wednesday, Jan 25.
short essay responses (24% of grade, 3% each): each student will belong to a group of 3-4 students assigned to a list of weekly Path 2 readings. Students in a given group will engage their touchstone texts and each others’ ideas through short essays of 300-500 words. Fifteen prompts will be provided, and each student will respond to eight. These compact essays will be highly structured, creative, narrowly argued, and supported by appropriate detailed evidence. Essay responses are due by midnight the Sunday after an essay prompt has been assigned. Some strong sample essays can be found here.
long essay (20%): students will construct an 8-10 page argument that engages at least one of their Path 2 group's assigned texts.

MISCELLANY

Grading

A = 94-100	B+ = 87-89	C+ = 77-79	D = 65-69
A- = 90-93	B = 83-86	C = 73-76	F = 0-64
	B- = 80-82	C- = 70-72

Contact
Take advantage of my availability on Wednesdays from 9:00 a.m-11:30 a.m. and 1:30-5:00 p.m., in Greenlaw #405. If you cannot make my established office hours, we will schedule another meeting time. The fastest way to contact me is via email or Skype.

Writing Center
Experienced writers at the Writing Center offer free assistance with writing assignments for any course. Using this service will improve even the best writer’s output. Visit their website to schedule an appointment 4-5 days in advance of your desired date.

Plagiarism and the Honor Code
I encourage you to improve your writing with the help of peers, instructors, myself, and those at the Writing Center. Remember, however, that all work you submit must be your own. Any paper containing borrowed but undocumented thoughts or words will receive a failing grade, and I am obligated to report all instances of plagiarism to the Honor Court. Let me know if you have any further questions concerning this important issue.

Paul Marchbanks
marchban@email.unc.edu