ENG 251 Survey of World Literature I Fall 2000

What are the grading standards for students’ work? Dr. Long holds himself and his students to high standards. Excellent (and therefore unusual, remarkable, conspicuously proficient) work is awarded an "A." Very good work (with some room for improvement) is awarded a "B." Average work (which gets the job done, but not done particularly well) receives a "C." Work that is seriously deficient (either does not fulfill the assignment or is poorly written) is awarded a "D" or "F," depending on the severity of the documents' problems or errors. Students are urged to read the specifications for each assignment, to ask Dr. Long questions about those specifications, and to produce their work carefully and attentively.

How will the course grade be determined? Averaged quizzes will comprise 20% of the grade; printed reports, 30%; exams, 20%; seminar presentations, 20%; attendance and general participation, 10%.

What is the class attendance policy? Students must attend at least 80% of the class meetings; Dr. Long will withdraw from the course those who fall below that minimum.

How firm are the report deadlines? Because community college students live complex lives, they sometimes need to request an extension of a deadline. Students in this course may request in advance of a deadline an extension of 24 hours. They should not do so habitually because it jeopardizes their other work and can delay the professor's evaluation and return of the work to the student. Any seminar presentation assignment and the final project of the course will not be accepted after the deadline.

Can students receive an "I" if they have not completed the work at the end of the semester? Under extraordinary circumstances a student may request an incomplete for a current semester, that is the deferral of work due for the course until the end of the following term. This work due cannot constitute more than 50% of the course work; the student must otherwise be passing the course; and the circumstances prompting the request for an incomplete must be serious and beyond the student’s control.

Can students withdraw from the course later if they have to? Students may withdraw from any course on their own until the mid-term date designated in the current academic calendar. A professor may also process an administrative withdrawal of the student whose absences are excessive. If this withdrawal occurs after the mid-term date, the student receives an "F" for the course. Only under the most serious mitigating circumstances (requiring the student's providing written documentation) can a student be withdrawn without penalty after the withdrawal date.

What are the course's required reports? Students will prepare (following the term paper standards of the MLA) three printed reports: 1.) a site visit report, 2.) a non-fiction book review, 3.) a live performance review; one seminar oral report.

1. Site Visit Report. Students will visit the Chrysler Museum, the Hampton University Museum, or another cultural collection devoted to world arts and culture. Focusing on one exhibit from the same culture or comparing two or more artifacts from different cultures, students will describe what they have seen and relate the material culture to the literary culture. The report should demonstrate a carefuly scrutiny of selected artifiacts or objects, a thorough study of the signs and background information that the museum provides, and a thoughtful discussion of how those objects/artifacts illuminate world literature. The professor will arrange a tour for interested students early in the semester. [Click here for an example of a site visit report. or Click here for another exemplary site visit report.]
2. Non-fiction Book Review. Students will select (with the professor's approval) a non-fiction book in history, literary study, archeology, or other field that can shed light on one or more of the texts assigned in the course. The professor will place pre-approved selections on reserve in the library, though students are free to make other selections, provided they seek approval first. The review must provide complete bibliographic data about the book, summarize its contents and main ideas, describe its critical apparatus (notes, bibliography, illustrations, index, etc.), and evaluate its effectiveness and assess its intended audience (at least one paragraph for each of those things). [Click here for an example of a book review.]
3. Live Performance Review. Students will attend a live performance of an art form related to literature that derives from a global or world culture (i.e. not North American or English-speaking culture). The professor will provide a list of possible local performance events, though students are welcome to find their own, provided that they secure approval from the professor first. The review must provide all relevant details of the event (date, time, place, performers, pieces performed), a description of the performance, and evaluation of the skill of the performers, an analysis of its relation to literature and the themes of the course, and your personal response to the performance (at least one paragraph for each of those things). [Click here for a list of preapproved performances] [Click here for an example of a performance review.]
4. Seminar Oral Report. During the course of the semester, each student will prepare and present an oral report on one of the selections below. This will require students, in consultation with the professor, to identify a narrow, specific question or problem, researching that question, and presenting their findings (both how they conducted their research and what conclusions they reached) in 10 minutes. [Click here for seminar schedule.]

What are the on-line forums? On four occasions (see below) we will not meet in the classroom, but will instead participate in an on-line Web-based discussion forum in which students will post one original response to that week’s prompt and at least one response to another student’s posting.