Course Work and Course Guidelines

And so, coming here, what I have done is strip away the human facade that usually stands between me and the universe, and I see more clearly where I am. What I am able to ignore much of the time, but find undeniable here, is that all wildernesses are one: there is profound joining between this wild stream deep in one of the folds of my native country and the tropical jungles, the tundras of the north, the oceans, and the desert. Alone here, among the rocks and trees, I see that I am alone also among the stars.--Wendell Barry, “An Entrance to the Woods.”

In “Literature and the Environment,” we will examine how literary works have represented nature and how these texts reveal environmental and personal values about the natural world in which we live. We will consider the varying perspectives from which authors have written, from concrete descriptions to symbolic landscapes, from projections of the human psyche to powerful, independent forces worthy of our awe and attention, from domination to stewardship.

The readings for the course include myth, poetry, fiction, personal essays, and nonfiction. The range of our texts and the pace of our reading demand that you stay on schedule.  Falling behind in readings or course work is not an option.  I expect you to come to class having completed the assigned readings, reflected on the texts, and prepared to participate in a lively class discussion. With your proper preparation, you will find both the readings and class meetings engaging, provocative, and rewarding.

Participation

I 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 contributions to our discussion will be valuable to us only if they are informed contributions--comments shaped by careful, critical reading and attentive listening to the remarks of all members of our class. Often, my role in the class can best be described as "moderator." An engaging and lively discussion occurs when you respond directly to each other's comments rather than to me or through me. The best class participation moves our discussion forward and deeper into the text and opens up important, new directions.

I assess class participation qualitatively not quantitatively. Your participation grade also includes any quizzes, homework, response papers, and in-class activities that I assign.

Formal Papers

You will write two formal papers during the semester. The first paper is a close reading of a single passage of your choice; the paper should be approximately 4 pages. The second paper is an analytical paper of approximately six pages responding closely and thoughtfully to a suggested paper topic or a topic of your choice.   Both papers must be produced on a computer, double-spaced, with one-inch margins.   Fonts should be clear and readable, such as New Times Roman or Arial, font size 12.  Our papers do not require cover page, but they should include an original title, page numbers, and correct citation and documentation following MLA style. Whenever possible, please try to print your papers double sided.

All assignments--especially the formal papers--are due at the beginning of the class period designated on the syllabus.   I accept no late work.   If you submit late work, it will receive a zero; I will, however, provide comments on it.  

You must complete all course assignments and papers to pass the course.

For guidance on writing papers about literature, see the Papers section of our course web site.

Literature for the North Woods Project

Like Isabel Bird, Henry David Thoreau, Wendell Berry, and Terry Tempest Williams, many members of the Skidmore and Saratoga Springs communities--especially students--retreat to the woods, our own North Woods surrounding the campus. The aim of the "Literature for the North Woods" project is to connect our academic work (the study of "Literature and the Environment") to our natural surroundings and to find creative ways in which the literature we read in EN 229 can enhance our experience of going into the woods. In other words, the project asks you to bring to bear concepts, themes, values, and images from literature on the North Woods. The challenge of the project is to translate or transpose literary ideas to new media and for our contemporary audience and situation. Your "Literature for the North Woods" project is to be a creative project, drawing upon course readings and resources and your own imagination to heighten our appreciation and understanding of the North Woods. The projects may take many forms, such as a photographic journal with captions from excerpts of the course readings, audio or video recording the experience of walking in the Woods, or your own original writing or artwork. I welcome collaborative projects.

The Literature for the North Woods project is a semester long project, with the completed project due at the end of the semester. To give you the time and the space to create your project, you will make plenary Snapshots throughout the semester using the KEEP Toolkit. Creating Snapshots with the KEEP Toolkit will keep you actively and intellectually engaged in your Literature for the North Woods project as the semester progresses so that you do not leave the project until the end and find it overwhelming. The Snapshots are an important digital tool for gathering your thoughts about the project, developing ideas for the format of your project, making connections among readings and the North Woods, and, most valuably, sharing your ideas with each other as your projects unfold. You will provide comments and suggestions to each other using our Discussion Forum.The four Snapshots you create and the responses you provide will count for 10% of your final grade.

I will introduce you to the KEEP Toolkit Program in class; individual Snapshot due dates are noted on the syllabus.

Regardless of the subject, medium, or format of your project, you will also prepare detailed reflective essay analyzing and assessing your experience, process, and learning.

Presentations of our "Literature for the North Woods" project will occur during our scheduled final examination. Attendance at these final presentations is required, so please make your travel plans accordingly.

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. If you miss more than five classes, you will fail the course.

I will start class promptly at 3:30 and do my best to conclude our discussion by 5:00. Please attend to all of your personal needs before class begins; leaving in the middle of our class is disrespectful to our materials, your fellow students, and to me, and I will not tolerate it. And as they say at the movies, please silence your cell phones before class begins.

Disabilities Statement

If you are a student with a disability and believe you will need any academic accommodations for "Literature and the Environment," please be sure that you have made your requests for such accommodations to the Coordinator for Students with Disabilities, Meg Hegener. You will also need to provide documentation that verifies the existence of a disability and supports your request. For further information, please call Meg at 580-8161, contact her by e-mail at mhegener@skidmore.edu, or stop by the Office of Student Academic Services in Starbuck Center.

Grading
Your grade in the course will be determined as follows:

I follow the description of letter grades as presented in the Skidmore College Catalog, Academic Standards and Review: