EVOLVING CANON I is the first of a coordinated pair of courses offering instruction in key writers, important texts, and the historical sequence of literary movements from classical, continental, British, and American literature. Evolving Canon 1 and 2 are core courses for the English Major. Evolving Canon I extends chronologically from classical Greece through the first half of the seventeenth century.  During the semester, we will read texts from Antiquity, the Middle Ages, and the Renaissance. Our readings are a part of the Western literary canon and have shaped the literary canon as well.   As we study these texts and the themes that unite them, we will also explore large issues such as the nature of literary canons and how a canon is formed, the relationship between religion and literature, and the relationship between literature and history.

Papers

During the semester you will write two (2) analytical papers responding closely and thoughtfully to the assigned readings.   Each paper will be approximately five pages long.   All papers must be typed (produced on a computer and word processor), double-spaced, with one-inch margins.   Fonts should be clear and readable, such as New Times Roman or Arial, font size 12.  All papers must also include an original title for your essay, page numbers, and a correct works cited page, using MLA style.

All assignments--especially papers--are due at the beginning of the class period designated on the syllabus.   I accept no late papers.   If you submit a late paper, it will receive a zero; I will, however, provide comments on it.   You must complete all papers to pass the course.

Exams

We will have two exams:  a midterm, in-class exam on Wednesday, 9 March and a cumulative final examination on Thursday afternoon, 12 May.

Texts And Contexts Notebook

To enhance your reading, engagement, and appreciation of the texts, you will keep a Texts and Context Notebook throughout the semester.   I expect you to select 1-3 passages from each reading (one for shorter selections, 3 for longer texts), carefully copy the quotation into your notebook, and then provide a discussion of the passage within a context that highlights why the pasage is significant (for example, to you personally, to the larger text, to the Evolving Canon 1 readings, to broader literatary connections).

Entries should be approximately one page in length.  Your Texts and Contexts Notebook does not need to be typed, but it should be exceptionally legiblle. In keeping a Texts and Contexts Notebook you are creating a little book of your own that will reflect your interests and relation to the readings in EN 201.  I encourage your to be creative and artistic in making your notebook.

I will collect your notebooks twice during the semester:  16 February and 29 April.

Participation

As much as possible, I will conduct our class as a discussion.  Therefore, your regular attendance and active participation in class discussion and small group activities is essential.  Participation is not simply a matter of talking a lot. Your contribution to our discussion will be valuable to us only if they are informed contributions--comments shaped by careful and critical reading and attentive listening to the remarks of all members of our class. I assess class participation qualitatively not quantitatively. The best class participation moves our discussion deeper and forward into new and important directions.

Your participation grade also includes any quizzes, homework, response papers, and in-class activities that I assign.

Attendance

I expect each of you to attend all class meetings, having completed the assigned reading and prepared to participate.  If you are unable to attend a class, please contact a classmate or me to find out what you missed. More than four unexcused absences will lower your final grade by a third of a letter grade. If you miss more than one-third of the classes, you can expect to fail the course.

Grading

Your grade in the course will be determined as follows: