Literature 3300

Section 501
Fall 2005
Sigrid Koepke

University of Texas at Dallas

School of Arts & Humanities

DAYS/TIME/LOCATION:

MW 7:00 -- 9:45 PM CB1.110

OFFICE/OFFICE HOURS/CONTACT:

I will hold regular OFFICE HOURS Wednesdays from 5:00 to 6:00 PM in Dr. Bambach’s office,
JO 5.416
In addition, you can schedule ON-LINE MEETINGS with me via E-MAIL and WebCt. Due to
insufficient PHONE LINES in the faculty office (972-883-6287), your best way to CONTACT me is via
WebCt and, in case of emergencies via E-MAIL Sigrid@utdallas.edu ).

The syllabus, course information, and home work assignments are available on WebCt.

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

Homer, The Odyssey

Sophocles, Theben Plays
Euripides, Bakkhai
Shakespeare, A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Goethe, Faust I and II
Perkins Gilman, Herland
Woolf, A Room of One’s Own

Recommended Texts & Supplies

Tuana, The Less Noble Sex

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Hesiod, Theogony and Night and Day
MLA Handbook

Attendance Policy

Because participation is vital to successful completion of a summer session, 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 before class on Wednesdays. Additionally, you
can schedule (via e-mail or after class) on-line meetings in the WebCT.
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 your oral
work: class participation and presentation.

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.

I reserve the right to submit any student essay to a plagiarism checker. 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.

Major Assignments

Regular informal written responses to the readings

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One oral presentation with written outline, notes, and documentation
One five-page paper in two independent drafts
Final essay question (take home)

Syllabus Itinerary (subject to change)

[Assignments are due by the next class period unless noted otherwise]

WEEK ONE
Introduction
Syllabus
Begin reading of Homer’s Odyssey

WEEK TWO,
Odyssey, Discussion of the first seven books, known as the Telemache.

WEEK THREE,
Continuing Homer’s Odyssey

WEEK FOUR,
Finishing the Odyssey
Gorgias, “Encomium of Helen,” Aristotle, Poetics

WEEK FIVE,
Background for the tragedies

WEEK SIX,
Discussion of the tragedies

WEEK SEVEN
Finishing the tragedies

WEEK EIGHT
DUE: Essay 1st draft
Discussion of Shakespeare’s Midsummer Night’s Dream

WEEK NINE
Video of Hamlet

WEEK TEN:
Goethe: Faust

WEEK ELEVEN
Goethe: Faust

WEEK TWELVE
Introduction to Charlotte Perkins Gilman:
“The Chair of English” and “If I were a Man.”

WEEK THIRTEEN
DUE: Essay 2nd draft
Herland

WEEK FOURTEEN
V. Woolf: A Room of One’s Own

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WEEK FIFTEEN
Wrapping up the discussions

WEEK SIXTEEN
Final Take home essay questions