Honors Spring 2008

HON 101-1: Great Books & Ideas II-1: Making Modern Worlds (Spring 2008)

Caspar David Friedrich, The Wanderer (1818, oil on canvas, Kunsthalle, Hamburg)

MW 8:30-9:45 in DI 259
http://chss.montclair.edu/~nielsenw/hon08.html

Prof. Wendy Nielsen
Dickson Hall 352
Office Hours: M 2:15 - 3:45, W 11:15 - 12:45, & by appt.
Email: nielsenw@mail . . .

Texts available at University Bookstore (please use translations selected here; with advance notice, books are also available for scanning or copying):

Margaret Cavendish, The Blazing World and Other Writings (Penguin, 0140433724)
J. W. von Goethe, Sufferings of Young Werther (trans. Steinhauer, Norton, 039309880)
J. W. von Goethe, Faust (trans. W. Kaufmann, Anchor, 0385031149)
J. J. Rousseau, Confessions (trans. A. Scholar, Oxford, 9780192822758)
F. Voltaire, Candide, or Optimism (trans. R. M. Adams, Norton, 9780393960587)

Additional Texts Available on Blackboard (Bb):

Francis Bacon, New Atlantis
C. Hamlin, "Faust in Performance" (theater review of Faust I and II)
Supplemental readings to assist your learning process

Course description: This course introduces students to major works of world literature before 1900, from the Early Modern (Renaissance, Restoration) period through the early nineteenth century (eighteenth century, Sturm und Drang, Romanticism). This first-year seminar is subtitled “Making Modern Worlds” because our reading charts authors' engagement with creating new scientific, utopian, psychological, and colonial worlds. Authors include Francis Bacon (New Atlantis), Margaret Cavendish (The Blazing World), Voltaire (Candide), Rousseau (Confessions), and Goethe (Sufferings of Young Werther and Faust). Our thematic focus will be the formation of identity through gender, class, and racial roles. Students will leave this seminar with additional appreciation for the ways in which educational history privileges the works of certain writers and thinkers to endure throughout the ages.

Requirements:

The Spirit of a Democratic Classroom: Respect, Collegiality, and Integrity
Participation (incl. attendance, contribution to class discussion, discussion questions, peer review)--10%
3 in-class essay exams--60% (20% each)
Journal Portfolio (cover letter, 5 originals + at least 1 revision that highlights your editing skills)--30%

Policies:

Attendance policy: Students must attend a majority of class sessions in order to pass the class; long-term and repeated absences are unacceptable. Your first 3 absences are automatically excused and need no explanation please. Beyond that, you will need a note from your physician or the Dean of Students in order to excuse an absence for medical reasons or family death. Attendance is a part of your Participation Grade, which is also determined by your active and enthusiastic participation in class discussions; original and thought-provoking discussion questions; and informal writing assignments. Please make a friend in class to cover material missed while absent.

Papers should be no longer or shorter than the length assigned and should be submitted on time as stapled hard copies (no cover pages, loose pages, or folders please). With the exception of discussion questions, double space and use twelve-point type, in Times New Roman or CG Times (or 10 pt. in Veranda, etc.). 2 points are deducted from formal writing projects for every class day they are late. Click here to get an explanation of my shorthand on Style issues.
Late homework assignments (discussion questions, all ungraded writing assignments such as journals, etc.) cannot be accepted, but you may include these in an optional Participation Portfolio at the end of the semester and mandatory Journal Portfolio.

To teach students to avoid plagiarism, lectures will also include instruction in MLA documentation of all work. This course engages in questions of authorship, including web authorship (online link: web.html). Submitting work and words that are not your own will result in failing this course and disciplinary action by the Dean of Students. You can see my entire FAQ on plagiarism here.
Accommodations are always arranged for students with documented disabilities. Please call, email, or see the instructor personally, as well as Services for Students with Disabilities (Linda A. Smith in Morehead Hall 305, X5431).

Turn off and put away cell phones, blackberries, and related electronics in class please; laptops should be used to write lecture notes only

Tentative schedule subject to change; please check your Montclair email and <http://chss.montclair.edu/~nielsenw/hon08.html> for updates

Date	Class Activities	Reading / Homework Due
1. W 1/23	Course + student intro.	Monday's reading assignment is in the cell below
Unit I: Early Modern Utopias (Renaissance through Restoration)
2. M 1/28	New Atlantis	Read F. Bacon, New Atlantis (pdf on Blackboard); DISC. #1: Bring 3 ORIGINAL discussion ques. to class (will be collected), either ones you would pose as an instructor of the class, things you are confused about in the reading, or a mix between the two. The purpose of discussion questions is to open a dialogue between you and me; to make this a student-centered classroom; and to help students become better writers by becoming critical thinkers, or people who question what they read. Discussion questions are evaluated on a check (average, show you did the reading), check plus (insightful, original, possibly brilliant, probably shared during class), or check minus (you didn't do the reading or simply copied questions discussed in class) basis. Discussion questions are not mandatory but are taken into consideration for your Participation Grade. See also note in Policies above.
3. W 1/30	Blazing World	Read Cavendish, ix (0) - xv, 119-155; DISC. #2: Bring 3 original discussion ques. to class (will be collected).
4. M 2/4	Blazing World	Read Cavendish, 156-225 JOURNAL #1: Write one page (250 words) on any aspect of New Atlantis and/or Blazing World. You might answer your own or another student's discussion question, or reflect on any aspect of either or both of these texts. (NB: When more than one text is available to write about, you may choose your own scope; I don't expect you to write about both, but you may if you wish). Bring a copy to class and post your response to Blackboard/Discussion as well.
5. W 2/6	Review for Exam #1: Early Modern Utopias	Bring any questions you have about Bacon or Cavendish to class; suggested reading: Price, B., Bacon's 'New Atlantis': New Interdisciplinary Essays; Iyengar, S. "Royalist, Romancist, Racialist;" & Trubowitz, R., "The Reenchanment of Utopia and the Female Monarchical Self: Margaret Cavendish's Blazing World" (Bb)
6. M 2/11	In-class Exam #1: Early Modern Utopias	Bring Bacon, Cavendish, and one page of notes (written on back of exam) to class. Make-up date Wed. 2/11 11:15-12:30 in 352 Dickson (office hours); please note that make-up exams are only given to students with a medical note from a physician, or the Dean of Students.
Unit II--The Revolution in Sentiment: Discovering Psychological Worlds (18th c./Sturm und Drang)
7. W 2/13	Confessions	Read Rousseau, 1-43
8. M 2/18	Confessions	Read Rousseau, 44-128; DISC. #3: Bring 3 original discussion ques. to class (will be collected)
9. W 2/20	Confessions	Read Rousseau 172-219
10. M 2/25	Confessions	Read Rousseau 268-339; JOURNAL #2: Write one page (250 words) on any aspect of Confessions. Bring a copy to class and post your response to Blackboard/Discussion as well.
11. W 2/27	Confessions	Read Rousseau 340-91
12. M 3/3	Werther	Read Goethe 1-61; DISC. #3: Bring 3 original discussion ques. to class (will be collected)
13. W 3/5	Werther	Read Goethe 62-96
14. M 3/10	Review for Exam #2: The Revolution in Sentiment: Discovering Psychological Worlds	Bring ques. about Rousseau and Goethe to class; bring journal entry, and texts, in order to review; recommended reading: Herbold, S. "Rousseau's Dance of Veils;" Nielsen, W. C., "Staging Rousseau's Republic" & Bennett, B., "Goethe's Werther" (Bb)
15. W 3/12	In-class Essay Exam #2: The Revolution in Sentiment: Discovering Psychological Worlds-- NO MAKE-UP DATES!	Bring Rousseau, Goethe, and one page of notes (written on back of exam) to class.
Unit III: A Rational Revolution? Conquering New Worlds
16. M 3/24	Candide	Read Voltaire, 1-24
17. W 3/26	Candide	Read Voltaire, 24-56; DISC. #4: Bring 3 original discussion ques. to class (will be collected)
18. M 3/31	Candide; about Faust	Read Voltaire, 56-89 & Kaufman's introduction to Goethe, 1-61; JOURNAL #3: Write one page (250 words) on any aspect of Candide. Bring a copy to class and post your response to Blackboard/Discussion as well. 4/1 = last day to drop w/a W/D grade
19. W 4/2	Faust I	Read Goethe, 65-123
20. M 4/7	Faust I	Read 125-209; DISC. #5: Bring 3 original discussion ques. to class (will be collected)
21. W 4/9	Faust I	Read 209-263; JOURNAL #4: Write one page (250 words) on any aspect of Faust. Bring a copy to class and post your response to Blackboard/Discussion as well.
22. M 4/14	Faust I	Read Goethe 263-359; DISC. #6: Bring 3 original discussion ques. to class (will be collected)
23. W 4/16	Faust I	Read Goethe 359-421
24. M 4/21	Faust II	Read Goethe 423-503; JOURNAL #5: Write one page (250 words) on any aspect of Faust. Bring a copy to class and post your response to Blackboard/Discussion as well.
25. W 4/23	Faust in Performance	Read Hamlin, C., "Faust in Performance" (available on Blackboard)
26. M 4/28	Review for Exam #3: Conquering New Worlds	Bring any questions about Voltaire, Rousseau, or Goethe to class; Recommended reading: Hoezel, "The Conclusion of Goethe's Faust" & any of the interpretive essays at the back of Candide (Bb)
27. W 4/30	In-class Exam #3: Conquering New Worlds	Bring Voltaire, Rousseau, two Goethe books, and one page of notes (written on back of exam sheet); make-up date Monday 5/5 2:15-3:30 in 352 Dickson (office hours); please note that make-up exams are only given to students with a medical note from a physician, or the Dean of Students.
28. M 5/5	Exam returned	Journal Portfolio due; optional (and separate): Participation Portfolio (all discussion questions, incl. new/late ones, old ones, simply stapled or clipped) due; Part. Port. is not accepted after this date
M 5/12	Optional: Rewrite your lowest-scoring exam from 8am to 10 am in DI 259	Please notify me no later than Wednesday, May 7th, that you want to take advantage of this option.