ENGL 3000
British and American Literary History I

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Assignments and Policies

GRADES:
Grades will be based on the reading notebook, three research projects, a research paper, and an in-class essay written during the final examination period. The breakdown of the final grade is as follows:

  Research Project #1 10%
  Research Project #2 15%
  Research Project #3 15%
  Research Paper 30%
  In-Class Writings 15%
  Final In-Class Essay  15%
    100%

Final grades are averaged using a 4.0 scale (A=4.0, A-=3.66, B+=3.33, B=3.0, and so on). Only students with excused absences (preferably excuses given before the missed class) will not be penalized for missing an in-class writing. Not doing a major assignment (the research projects, the research paper, or the final in-class essay) will result in the final grade being dropped one full letter grade.



IN-CLASS WRITINGS:
There will be several short (1-2 paragraph), unannounced essay responses to reading assignments done throughout the semester. These are open-book and require the student to interpret one or more of the works read for the class (and, sometimes, earlier assignments).



RESEARCH PROJECTS:
Three short research projects will be due during the semester. These must be typed, and bibliographic material included should follow MLA format.

Project #1, Research Sources :
For the first project, do each of the following:

  1. Find a book on a topic in British and/or American literature or history before 1800 that another library owns that is not in Joyner Library. Give the required MLA bibliographic information about the book and tell at what library one could find the work.

  2. Find a journal article on a topic in British and/or American literature or history before 1800 that is available in both electronic and print formats. Describe what some of the major differences between the two formats are.

  3. Find two publicly accessible literary and/or historical sites on the World Wide Web. The web sites must treat part or all of the period and places we are discussing in this class (Great Britain and North America from roughly 700 CE to 1800 CE). Write a one-page description of each. These descriptions should discuss the web sites' general focuses (literary theory, eighteenth-century British literature, general American literature, etc.) and your own impression of the types of materials included on each site as well as the audience the materials are aimed for.
The purpose of the project is to familiarize yourself with what kinds of sources are available and to be aware of how you can evaluate their usefulness for your own work. DUE DATE: September 19.

Project #2, The Story of a Year:
For the second project, choose a year during the year period we are discussing (roughly 700 CE to 1800 CE). Compile a two to three page discussion of either the British or American culture of that year, being sure to include both the literary scene and the historical context of the literature. The purpose of the project is to get a sense of the interconnection between literature and the historical context within which it was written. DUE DATE: October 22.

Project #3, Periodicals Project :
For the third project, find a seventeenth- or eighteenth-century British or American periodical—a magazine, a journal or a newspaper (usually these are on microforms). Read through three issues of the magazine/journal or five issues of the newspaper. Write a two to three page description of the periodical, focusing on what you believe the periodical's purpose to be (especially if it has a thematic focus, a particular outlook on the world) and how that purpose relates to the culture in which the periodical was produced. The purpose of the project is to understand how literature is connected with the very processes through which it is disseminated. DUE DATE: November 21.



Research Paper
The seven to ten-page research paper will be an analysis of either a single work or a group of works that we have read for class. Papers which focus on works not read in class are also possible (even encouraged), but students doing such papers must discuss their topic with the professor before turning in their papers. In fact, all students are encouraged to discuss their paper topics with the professor. Papers are to be typed and documented using MLA format. If you are unfamiliar with this format or just need help concerning how to do citations, etc., see the MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers, 5th edition, available in the bookstore. This is a book that all English majors should own.

Your analysis should be based on your own close readings of the texts and on outside research. Your secondary sources should be used to provide background information and to help develop your own ideas and to show how your ideas compare (or contrast) with those other people have expressed about the same work, works, or general topic. Secondary sources may include other people's critical readings of the works, theoretical texts (e.g. literary theory, psychological theory, philosophy, etc.), histories, and so forth. DUE DATE: December 5.



Final In-Class Essay:
The final examination period will be used for students to write an open-book, open-notes, in-class essay, prepared in advance. Students will be asked to compare four works, two from American literature and two from British literature, on a single theme topic of the student's choosing. More will be said about the final essay as the semester comes to a close. FINAL EXAM: December 12 (2:00-4:00 p.m.).



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