Text: Davis, et al. The Bedford Anthology of World Literature , Compact Edition Volume 2. New York: Bedford/St. Martin's, 2009.

Department-Wide Student Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, a student should be able to:

1. Demonstrate familiarity with literary language, periods, and genres.

2. Construct written interpretations of literary texts in their intellectual, cultural, social, and historical contexts.

3. Illustrate and analyze the commonalities and distinctive features of literatures produced by different world cultures.

Course Requirements : Regular attendance; regular participation in classroom and electronic discussion; regular preparation of reading; 2 tests, which will include either quotation identification or essay questions or both; and a final exam.

Grading Policy:

Tests will consist of paragraph answers in which you identify passages and discsuss their significance and an essay. The essay question will be provided in advance and we will discuss it during the review sessions. In short, the tests will consist of written work in which you demonstrate your mastery of all three learning outcomes with an emphasis on the first two. Your mastery of the higher-level outcome (#3) will be evaluated by your oral and written discussion and on the final examination, which will be a single essay that asks you to draw connections over the course of the semester's work. Click here for further information on tests and grading standards.

Test 1: 25%

Test 2: 30%

Participation: 20%

Final: 25%

Failure to complete any assignment is in and of itself grounds for failing the course regardless of the percentage the assignment is worth. For example, if you have a 100% average going into the final and you skip the final, you will receive an F for the course, regardless of the math.

Attendance Policy:

Regular attendance is required. Because it is unlikely that you will be able to pass the tests without attending class, you may miss no more than 1 class without your grade being affected adversely.

For documented instances of major illness or for documented travel on official University business, I may grant excused absences at my discretion.

Nevertheless, any student missing more than 3 classes, for whatever reason, will automatically fail the course.

Absence for religious holidays will be excused. Please see the policy on page 40 of the University Catalogue.

The portion of your final grade based on preparation and participation is based on just that. If you come to every class, but do not talk or never do the reading on time, do not expect to get 100% just for being in class. The University Catalogue states that Georgia Southern professors are responsible for setting specific attendance policies.

Finally, you are expected to be on time for class and to stay for the duration of class. This means you must refrain from engaging in distracting activities, such as reading newspapers, eating meals, getting up in the middle of class to use the facilities, and other forms of rude and distracting behavior. You are absolutely expected to buy the book and to bring it to every class meeting.

Academic Honesty:

Cheating, including but not limited to plagiarism, will result in an F for the course, and the filing of charges with the Office of Student Conduct, at the very least. Please familiarize yourself with the code of conduct regarding academic honesty. Here is a good site to help you recognize and avoid plagiarism.

You must click here and read and sign the Georgia Southern Campus Honor Pledge!

Policy on Make-Up Work

You must take the tests and final at their scheduled times. No make-up work will be allowed, except in the most extraordinary circumstances. Whether or not I allow a make-up is entirely at my discretion, and any make-ups I do allow will be scheduled at my convenience rather. You may be certain that if you miss a test and come to me after the fact seeking a make-up I will say no.

A word about reading:

The major work of this course involves reading, and there is a substantial amount of it. Department policy states that the amount of reading you can expect in World Literature courses is about 800-1000 pages. Because the reading load is substantial, if you believe that you will be unable to keep up with the reading, you may want to consider taking this course at such a time as you will be able to keep up. Furthermore, reading literature is not like reading a textbook; it requires time for reflection and, often, re-reading.