Courses

ENG 3353.50

The Twentieth Century

English Novel

Spring 2009

Joseph Conrad	Arnold Bennett	Virginia Woolf	D.H. Lawrence	Henry Green

Course Name, Number, and Description:  ENG 3323.50.  American Fiction. The Texas Woman's University General Catalog 2007-2009 describes ENG 3353 in this way: "The Twentieth-Century English Novel.  Analysis of works by the major novelists from 1900 to the present, including such figures as Conrad, Joyce, Waugh, and Greene.  Prerequisite: Nine hours of English.  Three lecture hours a week.  Credit: Three hours."

Traditional literary history divides twentieth-century English literature into three periods: (1) high modernism--through the 1920s;(2) the reaction against modernism--through the 1950s; and (3) the period after the collapse of the British empire, beginning in the 1960s.  Frequently, the "high modernism" period is considered the period's greatest contribution to modern literature.  In this course, we will focus on this early, "high modernism," part of the twentieth century, by looking at four classic works: Nostromo (1904) by Joseph Conrad; The Old Wives' Tale (1908) by Arnold Bennett; The Rainbow (1915) by D.H. Lawrence; and To the Lighthouse (1927) by Virginia Woolf. We will end the course by examining one work representing the reaction to high modernism.  Our example will be Party Going (1939) by Henry Green.  Although we will not be reading any works from the late part of the century, I will provide some lists of novels for students interested in further reading.  Our primary approach will be that of literary history as we attempt to understand the characteristics of high modernism in the twentieth century English novel.

Please note that this course does not fulfill any requirements of the core curriculum.  However, it does the fulfill upper-level English requirements for the BA in English. For English majors choosing their own minors, it fulfills the requirement to take either ENG 3353 or ENG 3323 (the novels requirement).  For English majors seeking teaching certification, it fulfills the requirement for an upper-level British literature course.  It also serves as an upper-level English elective and can be taken by students seeking the Bachelor of General Studies if one of their concentration areas is English. 

ENG 3353.50 will be taught entirely asynchronously online.  If you have never taken a Blackboard course before or have questions about the format of the class, please contact me at rgreer@mail.twu.edu and arrange for an individual orientation with me during my office hours. 

Faculty Contact Information: Office Location, Phone, Hours:
Russell Greer, Ph.D.  Associate Professor.  Office: CFO 803.  E-mail: rgreer@twu.edu. Fax: (940) 898-2297 (English Department).  Office telephone: (940) 898-2346. Website: www.russellgreer.com

Most students find they can communicate with me quickly through the course itself online or by e-mail (rgreer@twu.edu).  In addition, I will host office hours in CFO 803 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Wednesdays unless otherwise indicated (20 January-10 May 2009).  If I cannot hold regular office hours on a particular day or time, I will make an announcement on my website.  I am typically not available in my office at other times, but I am available by phone and online.  You may also leave me a voice mail at (940) 898-2346.  I usually check for messages once a day (often in the evenings) and try to return calls promptly.

Please note that I am usually active and available online throughout the week (until 5 p.m.), but I reserve the weekends to be with my family.  Do not expect me to be available online on the weekends. 

Course Goals, Exemplary Educational Objectives, and Student Learning Outcomes:

We have two course goals (and exemplary educational objectives): (1) to learn the literary history of the twentieth-century English novel using five important and representative novels as examples; and (2) to learn the concepts and terms associated with that period.  We will demonstrate student learning outcomes in discussion, reading quizzes, short papers, and a final examination.

From the reading, discussion, and assignments, the student should be able to extrapolate from the course the main characteristics of the twentieth-century English novel.  As a result, the student will gain an approach that will sustain his or her intellectual engagement with the subject of twentieth-century English novel beyond the fifteen weeks of this semester. 

List of textbooks and supplies:

Required (four novels and two textbooks) 

Suggested: A Guide to MLA Documentation by Joseph Trimmer or an English handbook with MLA style information such as The Bedford Handbook by Diana Hacker.

Disability Statement:

"If you anticipate the need for reasonable accommodations to meet the requirements of this course, you must register with the office of Disability Support Services (HDB 002, 940-898-3835, dss@twu.edu ) in order to obtain the required official notification of your accommodation needs.   Please plan to meet with me by appointment or during office hours to discuss approved accommodations and how my course requirements and activities may impact your ability to fully participate." (Statement supplied by Disability Support Services Office)

Grading Policy, Major Course Assignments and Examinations and Attendance:

1.  Discussion.  (30%) Credit is given for postings to the discussion questions, anything posted in your group’s forum for a particular week (if applicable), special assignments, and the weekly summary.  Almost one third of your final grade will depend on your regular participation online.  You must post a minimum of TEN times a week on the discussion question forums (including the weekly summary) and in your groups, when applicable, and once before the end of the day on Wednesday of each week (except for the final week).  Some of these postings will be responses to the study questions; others will be preparation of group responses; others will be responses to your classmates.  If you do not post at least ten times in the assigned week, do not expect a good participation grade for that week.  I will give you a participation grade weekly, but I will announce them only periodically.  Your grade will be determined by (1) the amount of postings and (2) the quality of the postings (equally weighted).  I calculate participation for a week that begins on Monday and ends at midnight on the following Sunday.  Your postings do not need to be long, but they DO need to advance the discussion helpfully. Postings only count in the week they are due; in other words you cannot “make up” late postings after the week is over.  Postings only count in the following places: (1) the discussion question forums; (2) the weekly summary forum; and (3) your group forum for the week in question (if applicable).  Note: Each week you will be asked to answer three discussion questions, one of which will may occasionally be a group question (after the first week) and/or a question about writing the research paper.  These discussion questions will allow you to earn participation credit and share ideas with your classmates.  At the end of the week you will also post a summary message and attach a Student Summary Form with your best ten postings pasted into the forum.  You may revise these postings for spelling, grammar, style, etc. but they should essentially be the same postings that you made in the forums. Please note that I will grade the postings you submit in your summaries carefully for spelling and grammar beginning in the first week, so proofread them carefully!  I will use your attached form to calculate your participation grade for the week. If you do not attach a summary form, you cannot get participation credit for the week.

2.  Short Essays.  (40%) You will be required to write four short essays of about 2-3 typed pages each.  You will write a short essay on Nostromo, The Old Wives' Tale, To the Lighthouse, and The Rainbow.  For sources, you will use the novel to which you are responding and two additional scholarly sources: (1) a scholarly journal article and (2) a book or book chapter.  You may use more sources if you wish, but you may not use web pages as sources.  Each essay will count for ten percent of your total grade, and I will grade the essays using a rubric.

Essay Deadlines:

The Old Wives' Tale.  Essay due by 5 April
To the Lighthouse.  Essay due 19 April
The Rainbow.  Essay due 5 May

As an option, you may write just two essays, and each essay would count 20%.

3.  Reading Quizzes.  (15%)  You will have a reading quiz for each week, and each quiz will count for one percent of your total grade.

4.  Final Examination. (15%).  The "open book" final examination will be comprehensive with a special focus on terms, literary history, and Party-Going. You will receive the questions a week before they are due.  Your answers to the final examination will be due during final examinations week.

Miscellaneous

Midterm Conference: Please note that if you have a failing grade after you receive your feedback in Week FIVE, I would like to meet with you in person in my office to discuss ways to improve your grade.  If will be your responsibility to make that appointment, but I assure you that I will do everything I can in that meeting to help you improve your grade.

Student Participation Summary Form

You will post a summary to a forum provided after you have completed all your week's postings and attach a "student participation summary" form.  You can find this form under "Course Documents" and on this syllabus.  In this form, you will cut and paste your "top ten" postings from the week.  You may edit your postings for grammar and spelling (in fact you SHOULD edit them for grammar and spelling) but not for content (I will check occasionally to make sure that the they represent your actual work from the week).  I will use this summary form to assign your participation grade.  If you do not submit a summary form, you cannot get credit for the week's work even if you fully participated otherwise.  You will post these summaries in the discussion forums provided.

Academic Dishonesty:

“Honesty in completing assignments is essential to the mission of the university and to the development of the personal integrity of the student. Cheating, plagiarism, or other kinds of academic dishonesty will not be tolerated and will result in appropriate sanctions that may include failing an assignment, failing the class, or being suspended or expelled.  Suspected cases in this course may be reported to Student Life. The specific disciplinary process for academic dishonesty is found in the TWU Student Handbook.  Tools to help you avoid plagiarism are available through the TWU Libraries’ “Quick Links” under “Research Help” (http://www.twu.edu/library/literacy/index.htm).” (This statement was authorized and mandated by the TWU Provost on November 10, 2005).

Plagiarism

The following definition of plagiarism appears in Joseph F. Trimmer’s A Guide to MLA Documentation (Sixth Edition), published by Houghton Mifflin Company (2004): “Plagiarism is theft.  It is using someone else’s words or ideas without giving proper credit—or without giving any credit at all—to the writer of the original.  Whether plagiarism is intentional or unintentional, it is a serious offense…You can avoid plagiarism by taking notes carefully, by formulating and developing your own ideas and by using quotes responsibly to support, rather than replace, your own work” (25).  Note that I have used this quotation from a source and have given it full attribution.  You should do the same with your sources.  I strongly urge you to read the discussion of academic dishonesty that appears in Section Four of The Student Handbook 2008-2009 (pages 154-156).  I intend to follow the TWU policy as outlined in this handbook exactly.  It defines plagiarism in this way: “Plagiarism occurs when a student obtains portions or elements of someone else's work, including materials prepared by another person or agency, and presents those ideas or words as her or his own academic work.  The intentional or unintentional use by paraphrase or direct quotation of the published work of another person without full and clear acknowledgement shall constitute plagiarism.  Students are responsible for following guidelines of the appropriate course or discipline (ie; MLA, APA)" (154).  In this course, we will use the Modern Language Association (MLA) format.  Penalties for first-time offenses include, at the instructor’s discretion, any of the following: (1) “Written reprimand”; (2) “Assignment of a 0 on an assignment"; (3) "Assignment of a lower grade on the test/paper/project in question, with an explanation from the instructor";  (4) “Assignment of a grade of F in the course" (155). A discussion of the more severe penalties for second offenses appears on pages 155-156.  If you have any questions about whether or not a practice constitutes plagiarism, please contact me before you turn in the assignment. 

WWW.TURNITIN.COM

Academic writing differs from other kinds of writing in that it is a conversation with other people who are writing and thinking about your topic.  As we will learn while reading They Say/I Say, when you write an academic essay you will agree with others, disagree with them, or do a little of both, but above all you will remain in a conversation.  If you do not clearly identify their words and ideas from your own, you are not in a position to demonstrate your own critical thinking.  Plagiarism, therefore, not only robs others other their proper credit, but it robs you of your ability to respond.

To protect the integrity of the course (in this age of the internet) and help you develop the critical thinking necessary to respond to academic arguments, our department asks students to submit their out-of-class essays to a plagiarism-checking website called www.turnitin.com.  That website, in turn, will generate a report for me and to you.  It will also archive your paper.  If you would prefer not to have your work checked by this plagiarism website and your work archived in it, that is your right.  However, instead of using turnitin.com, you would need to write a 250 word essay in my presence (during my office hours) explaining your objections.  After accepting this handwritten essay from you, I would then check your future out-of-class work with other electronic tools that do not archive your work. 

Turnitin.com has video tutorials on how to upload your papers, and it has tutorials on how to understand proper citation. I urge you to create an account as soon as possible by viewing the student training video found at http://www.turnitin.com/static/training.html) The video will tell you how to create a user profile and upload your paper (as you would with an attachment) and have it checked. It's a fairly easy and painless process, but you must create the user profile first (giving your email address, creating a password, etc.). You will do this only once.

After you create that user profile, you will need to know the class ID and the class password for this class (ENG 3203). Here they are:

Class ID: 2558210
Enrollment Password: English  

Let me also recommend that you watch the library's tutorial on plagiarism that you can find at http://www.twu.edu/library/tutorial/plagiarism/player.html

Above all, remember that if you have any questions as to whether or not you have used another person's work and not given proper credit, please see me before you submit the work.

Tentative calendar of classes, assignments.

Please check here for the Academic Calendar for spring 2009.  Also, please note that this daily syllabus is for planning purposes only and is subject to change. Page numbers for assigned reading (when applicable) are provided.

Week ONE (20-25 January 2009)

Reading:

• Nostromo by Joseph Conrad (Part First--"The Silver of the Mine")
• They Say/I Say: Preface (x-xviii), Introduction (1-14).

Lectures:

• Overview of the 20th Century English Novel
• Joseph Conrad
• Part First of Nostromo: "The Silver of the Mine"

Assignments:

• Post your autobiography.
• Form voluntary learning teams by the end of Week ONE (if you have no preference, I will assign you to a group at the beginning of Week TWO at your request).
• Answer three discussion questions, post weekly summary, and complete all participation requirements.
• Reading Quiz: Nostromo by Joseph Conrad (Part First--"The Silver of the Mine")

Week TWO (26 January-1 February 2009)

Reading:

• Nostromo by Joseph Conrad (Part Second--"The Isabels")
• They Say/I Say: Chapter One: "They Say: Starting with What Others Are Saying" (17-27).

Lectures:

• Part Second of Nostromo: "The Isabels"
• They Say/I Say

Assignments:

• Answer discussion questions, post a weekly summary, and complete all participation requirements.
• Reading Quiz: Nostromo by Joseph Conrad (Part Second--"The Isabels")

Week THREE (2-8 February 2009)

Please note that 4 February 2009 is the last day to apply for May 2009 graduation.

Reading:

• Nostromo by Joseph Conrad (Part Third--"The Lighthouse")
• They Say/I Say: Chapter TWO: "'Her Point Is': The Art of Summarizing" (28-38).
• An Introduction to the English Novel by Arnold Kettle: "Introduction" (pages 69-61) and "Joseph Conrad: Nostromo (1904), pages 62-74.

Lecture:

• Part Third of Nostromo ("The Lighthouse") and An Introduction to the English Novel by Arnold Kettle: "Introduction" (pages 69-61) and "Joseph Conrad: Nostromo (1904), pages 62-74.

Assignments:

• Answer discussion questions, post a weekly summary, and complete all participation requirements.
• Reading Quiz: Nostromo by Joseph Conrad (Part Third--"The Lighthouse")

Week FOUR (9-15 February 2009)

Reading:

• The Old Wives' Tale by Arnold Bennett (Book 1: Mrs. Baines)
• They Say/I Say: Chapter THREE: "'As He Himself Puts It': The Art of Quoting" (39-47).

Lecture:

• The Old Wives' Tale by Arnold Bennett (Book 1: Mrs. Baines)

Assignments:

• Answer three discussion questions, post a weekly summary, and complete all participation requirements;
• Reading Quiz: The Old Wives' Tale by Arnold Bennett (Book 1: Mrs. Baines);
• Short Essay (2-3 pages) due on Nostromo.

Week FIVE (16-22 February 2009)

  Reading:

• The Old Wives' Tale by Arnold Bennett (Book II: Constance
• They Say/I Say: Chapter FOUR: "'Yes/No/Okay, But': Three Ways to Respond" (51-63). 

Lecture:

• The Old Wives' Tale by Arnold Bennett (Book II: Constance)

Assignments:

• Answer three discussion questions, post a weekly summary, and complete all participation requirements.

• Reading Quiz: The Old Wives' Tale by Arnold Bennett (Book II: Constance)

Week SIX (23 February-1 March 2009)

Note: 26 February is the last day to drop a class without academic penalty.

Reading:

• The Old Wives' Tale by Arnold Bennett (Book III: Sophia)
• They Say/I Say: Chapter FIVE: "And Yet" (64-73).

Lecture:

•  The Old Wives' Tale by Arnold Bennett (Book III: Sophia)

Assignments:

• Answer all discussion questions, and complete all participation requirements.
• Reading Quiz: The Old Wives' Tale by Arnold Bennett (Book III: Sophia)

Week SEVEN (2-8 March 2009)

Reading:

• The Old Wives' Tale by Arnold Bennett (Book IV: What Life Is)
• They Say/I Say: Chapter SIX: "'Skeptics May Object': Planting a Naysayer in Your Text" (74-87).
• An Introduction to the English Novel by Arnold Kettle: "Mr. Bennett and Mrs. Woolf," pages 75-99).

Lecture:

• The Old Wives' Tale by Arnold Bennett (Book IV: What Life Is)

Assignments:

• Answer all discussion questions, and complete all participation requirements.
• Reading Quiz: The Old Wives' Tale by Arnold Bennett (Book IV: What Life Is)

Week EIGHT (9-15 March 2009)

Reading:

• To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf ("The Window")
• They Say/I Say: Chapter SEVEN: "'So What?  Who Cares?': Saying Why It Matters" (88-97).

Lecture:

• To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf ("The Window")

Assignments:

• Answer three discussion questions, post the weekly summary, and complete all participation requirements;
• Reading Quiz: To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf ("The Window");

Spring Holiday--No classes 16-22 March

Week NINE (23-29 March 2009)

Reading:

• To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf ("Time Passes" and "The Lighthouse")
• They Say/I Say: Chapter EIGHT: "'As A Result': Connecting the Parts" (101-114).

Lecture:

• To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf ("Time Passes" and "The Lighthouse")

Assignments:

• Answer three discussion questions, post a weekly summary, and complete all participation requirements.
• Reading Quiz: To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf ("Time Passes" and "The Lighthouse")

Week TEN (30 March-5 April 2009)

Reading:

• The Rainbow by D.H. Lawrence (Chapters 1 ("How Tom Brangwen Married a Polish Lady" through Chapter IV ("Girlhood of Anna Brangwen").

Lecture:

• The Rainbow by D.H. Lawrence (Chapters 1 ("How Tom Brangwen Married a Polish Lady" through Chapter IV ("Girlhood of Anna Brangwen").

Assignments:

• Answer three discussion questions, post a weekly summary, and complete all participation requirements;
• Reading Quiz: The Rainbow by D.H. Lawrence (Chapters 1 ("How Tom Brangwen Married a Polish Lady" through Chapter IV ("Girlhood of Anna Brangwen");
• If you are choosing to write an essay on each novel, then the short essay (2-3 pages) is due on The Old Wives' Tale at the end of Week TEN (5 April).

Week ELEVEN (6-12 April 2009)

Reading:

• The Rainbow by D.H. Lawrence (Chapter V ("Wedding at the Marsh" through Chapter VIII ("The Child").

Lecture:

• The Rainbow by D.H. Lawrence (Chapter V ("Wedding at the Marsh" through Chapter VIII ("The Child").

Assignments:

• Reading Quiz: The Rainbow by D.H. Lawrence (Chapter V ("Wedding at the Marsh" through Chapter VIII ("The Child").
• Answer three discussion questions, post a weekly summary, and complete all participation requirements

Week TWELVE (13-19 April 2009)

Reading:

• The Rainbow by D.H. Lawrence (Chapters IX "The Marsh and the Flood" through Chapter XI "First Love").

Lecture:

• The Rainbow by D.H. Lawrence (Chapters IX "The Marsh and the Flood" through Chapter XI "First Love").

Assignments:

• Reading Quiz: The Rainbow by D.H. Lawrence (Chapters IX "The Marsh and the Flood" through Chapter XI "First Love")
• Answer three discussion questions, post a weekly summary, and complete all participation requirements

Week THIRTEEN (20-26 April 2009)

Reading:

• The Rainbow by D.H. Lawrence (Chapters XII "Shame" through Chapter XVI ("The Rainbow").
• An Introduction to the English Novel by Arnold Kettle: "D.H. Lawerence: The Rainbow," pages 100-120.

Lecture:

• The Rainbow by D.H. Lawrence (Chapters XII "Shame" through Chapter XVI ("The Rainbow").
• An Introduction to the English Novel by Arnold Kettle: "D.H. Lawerence: The Rainbow," pages 100-120.
• If you are choosing to write an essay on each novel, then the short essay (2-3 pages) is due on To the Lighthouse at the end of Week THIRTEEN (26 April).

Assignments:

• Reading Quiz: The Rainbow by D.H. Lawrence (Chapters XII "Shame" through Chapter XVI ("The Rainbow").
• Answer three discussion questions, post a weekly summary, and complete all participation requirements

Week FOURTEEN (27 April-3 May 2009)

Reading:

• Party Going by Henry Green (about the first half of the novel)

Lecture:

• Party Going by Henry Green (about the first half of the novel)

Assignments:

• Answer three discussion questions, post a weekly summary, and complete all participation requirements
• If you are choosing to write an essay on each novel, then the short essay (2-3 pages) is due on The Rainbow at the end of Week FOURTEEN (3 May).
• If you are choosing to just write two essays (for 20%) each, you second essay is due at the end of Week FOURTEEN (by 3 May).

Week FIFTEEN (4-10 May 2009)

Reading:

• Party Going by Henry Green (the second half of the novel)

Lecture:

• Party Going by Henry Green (the second half of the novel)

Assignments:

• Final Examination Distributed
• Answer three discussion questions, post a weekly summary, and complete all participation requirements

Final Examination Period (9-15 May 2009)

The final examination will be due on digital dropbox by 5 p.m. on Wednesday, 13 May.

All changes after 20 January 2009 to the syllabus will be summarized here:

1 March: Modified schedule for returning feedback.

29 March: Essay Deadlines:

The Old Wives' Tale.  Essay due by 5 April
To the Lighthouse.  Essay due 26 April
The Rainbow.  Essay due 5 May

As an option, you may write just two essays, and each essay would count 20%.

19 April: Changed the due date for the To the Lighthouse essay to 26 April.

26 April: Modified the feedback schedule.

2 May: Quiz schedule modified.

Last updated: 2 May 2009