Literature 3300

Section 001
Spring 2005
Sigrid Koepke

University of Texas at Dallas

School of Arts & Humanities

DAYS/TIME/LOCATION:

MW 2:00 – 3:15 PM JO 3.908

OFFICE/OFFICE HOURS/CONTACT:

I will hold regular OFFICE HOURS on Wednesdays from 3:30 to 4:30 PM

In addition, you can schedule ON-LINE MEETINGS with me via E-MAIL or by TALKING TO ME after
class.
Due to insufficient PHONE LINES in the faculty office (972-883-2168), your best way to CONTACT
me is via E-MAIL through WebCt or (koepke-lit@sbcglobal.net).

The syllabus, course information, and home work assignments are available on line as links from my
main website:

Holzwege
http://www.geocities.com/koepke-lit@sbcglobal.net/index.html

This syllabus is merely a “plan” that can and will change anytime
if and when class or news events require an adjustment.
However, I will continuously keep you informed about changes
and assignments on the “Idea” and “Daily Activities” pages off
my website, “Holzwege.”

Course Description

The aim of this course is to introduce students to a number of texts from the Western Literary tradition
and discuss one of the recurring themes. By looking at a variety of works, from the ancients to the
modern, from Greece to America, we will pay special attention to the roles of women as they are
described or implied in these works.
While the background to the texts will be provided by lectures, our class will adopt a seminar format
that will include the viewing of videos, student presentations, class discussions, and group work.

Required Texts & Supplies

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Homer. The Odyssey. Trans. Robert Fagles. New York: Penguin, 1996. ISBN: 0 14 02.6886 3

Euripides. Bakkhai. Trans. Reginald Gibbons. Oxford: University Press, 2000). ISBN:
0195125983.
nd
Sophocles. Sophocles I. 2 ed. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1992. ISBN:
0226307921

Shakespeare, William. A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Oxford World Classics. Peter Holland,
Ed. Oxford: University Press, 1994. ISBN: 0-19-283420-7.

Goethe, Johann Wolfgang. Faust I & II (Goethe : The Collected Works, Vol 2). Princeton:
University Press. Reprint edition 1994. ISBN: 069103656X.

Perkins Gilman, Charlotte. Herland, The Yellow Wall-Paper, and Selected Writings. New
York: Penguin, 1999. ISBN 0-14-118062-5.

Woolf, Virginia. A Room of One's Own. San Diego: Harvest Book. Harcourt, 1989. ISBN 0-
15678733-4.

Recommended:
MLA Handbook for Writers of Reseach Papers. 6th edition by Joseph Gibaldi (New
York: Modern Language Association of America, 2003)

Attendance Policy

Because participation is vital to successful completion of a course, you should attend every class. If
you must be absent, then you have to check with me for any work missed that can be made up.
However, much of the work is done collaboratively in class. Alternative assignments are generally
not given, nor can I “re-teach” missed classes for individual students. If you miss three classes, your
grade will be negatively affected and/or you may be encouraged to drop the class.
Chronic tardiness is unacceptable, as are coming to class unprepared, doing work that is not for this
course during class, sleeping in class, or using computers or other personal electronic devises for
personal messaging, research, or entertainment. Please turn off cellular/mobile phones, pagers, and
other personal electronic devices during class. (If you are required to carry a pager, please inform me
in writing and turn the volume off).

Office Hours

Please note that I will hold office hours on campus on Tuesdays. Additionally, you can schedule (via
e-mail or after class) on-line meetings in the MOO or on messenger—I will try to make myself
available as much as possible.
Please make use of the internet for contact.

Grading Policy

This course is concerned with your development as a critical reader and writer; the grading strategy
will track and monitor that development by grading multiple drafts of your papers. Your grades will be
based on your written work: observations and various drafts of the main essays, as well as the written
and oral work for your presentation and your class participation.

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No late submission of drafts, late submission of the written part for the presentation will be subject to
½ grade deduction.

Plagiarism Policy

Plagiarism is the representation of another person’s work as your own, whether you mean to or not.
For example, copying or paraphrasing passages from another writer’s work without acknowledging
that you have done so is plagiarism. Allowing another writer to write any part of your essay is
plagiarism. Copying or purchasing a paper from any source is plagiarism.

Plagiarism is a serious offense. The possible consequences range from failing the assignment to
failing the course, or worse. Each incident of plagiarism at UTD must be reported to the
administration. If you are not sure how to properly cite a quoted or paraphrased source, or if you need
help with the format of a citation, check with the MLA Handbook and/or with your teacher. Although
you can (and, in fact, should) seek help and advice from friends, classmates, tutors, and others, be
sure that your written work is your own.

See the Undergraduate Catalog for information about the consequences of Scholastic Dishonesty, or
view the policy here (which is also a link on the Rhetoric Program website):

http://www.utdallas.edu/student/slife/dishonesty.html.

I will use electronic search engines that help in the detection of plagiarism.

Major Assignments

Regular informal written responses to the readings

One (short) oral presentation with written outline and documentation that is due one week before the
presentation
Two five-page papers, both in two drafts

Syllabus Itinerary (subject to change)

University Closings:
Martin Luther Kind Day: January 17th
Spring Break: March 7th to March 12th
Last day of classes: April 25th
Finals Week: April 26th to May 2nd

[The written preparation for Presentations is due one week before the Oral Presentation, other
Assignments are due by the beginning of the class period unless noted otherwise]

WEEK ONE
Introduction
Syllabus

WEEK TWO
Introduction to the Odyssey, Discussion of the first four books, known as the Telemache.
Discussion of books five through seven

WEEK THREE
Discussion of books eight through fourteen

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Discussion of books fifteen through nineteen

WEEK FOUR
Finishing the discussion of the Odyssey

WEEK FIVE
Introduction and discussion of Greek tragedy
Oedipus Rex

WEEK SIX
Introduction and discussion of Antigone
Discussion of Antigone

DUE: First Draft of First Essay

WEEK SEVEN
Introduction and discussion of the Bakkhai

WEEK EIGHT
Shakespeare
Continuing the discussion of A Midsummer Night’s Dream

WEEK NINE
Goethe. Introduction and discussion of Faust

DUE: First Essay, Final Draft

WEEK TEN
Finishing the discussion of Faust

WEEK ELEVEN
Introduction to Gilman
Discussion of Herland

WEEK TWELVE
Finishing Herland

WEEK THIRTEEN
Introduction to A Room of One’s Own

Final Essay, First Draft

WEEK FOURTEEN
Discussion of a Room of One’s Own and Mona Lisa Smiles

WEEK FIFTEEN
Wrapping up the discussions

FINALS WEEK
Final Draft of Final Paper due