| All written work will be
turned in and returned through the "Assignments"
function on Canvas. Participation: 20%. This course will be conducted as a guided discussion (with context provided by me when necessary), and so you should come to having done the readings and fully prepared to participate in discussion. Discussion forums for each week will also be available if you are more comfortable posting your initial comments online. Each student (in groups, depending on the size of the class) will facilitate class discussion for part of each class meeting. You will prepare a list of questions, topics, ideas, and/or activities around the text of your choice (in consultation with me). Creative approaches to class readings are encouraged; should you choose, you may also introduce outside resources to your discussion. Class facilitation suggestions: a. Instead of trying to cover a lot of ground, focus on a single text from the primary or scholarly readings (or even particular passages from one text) in order to generate discussion of broader issues; b. Incorporate visual or other aids (handouts, questions, c. Avoid yes/no questions; ask follow-up questions; incorporate as many voices in the room as possible d. Introduce new sources from outside the syllabus or bring back sources we've already discussed Short papers: 20% (5% each). You will choose four weeks in which to complete short papers (no more than 750 words) following one of the formats detailed below. You should make use of each of these formats at least once. Short papers may be turned in at any point in the semester; all response papers are due by the last day of class. a. Analytic paper Choose a primary or secondary source from the weak and outline how it works: what is its argument (or one of its arguments)? What evidence or sources does it use to make its argument (or arguments)? To whom would this argument be persuasive? What are the holes in this argument? b. Comparative paper Choose two primary or secondary sources (they may be from different weeks of the course) and choose at least one aspect of their basic structure (argument, evidence, or audience) to compare. c. Creative paper In a creative format, respond to one of the primary or secondary sources from the week. A creative response might be (for instance) a narrative, a poem, an image, a letter (or series of text messages), that directly engage with what you feel are critical aspects of the text. Midterm essay: 20%. A directed analysis of a primary source not read for class will be posted in the week of September 30 and due by the end of the week of October 14. Details of the assignment will be posted here. Final paper/project: 25%. Students have three options for a final assignment: 1. A take-home final exam, consisting of extended essays analyzing and comparing texts from the semester. The take-home exam will be distributed in the final week of class. 2. A focused research paper taking as its point of departure a topic or theme covered in class. Students interested in completing a research paper should meet with me early in the semester to discuss this option 3. An annotated bibliography of a topic or theme you would have liked to see covered in class. Students interested in completing an annotated bibliography should meet with me early in the semester to discuss this option. All final assignments are due by the end of final exams (Thursday, December 19). |