Course website: http://www.public.iastate.edu/~gbetcher/373/373home.html

Course Description:This class will situate the earliest literature of the British Isles in its varied cultural, historical, and religious contexts by exploring the development and use of the English language in some typical literary genres of the British Middle Ages (e.g., poetry, prose, and drama; epic, romance, fabliaux, and chronicle). To complement this exploration, the class will also delve into cultural "texts," such as art, architecture, and music.

Student Learning Outcomes: English 373 will provide basic tools and information that will enable you to enjoy and understand the earliest literature in English, to articulate its connection to the literature of other periods, and to see how medieval literature continues to influence our own popular culture. By the end of this whirlwind tour of 1,000 years of texts, students who complete assignments should be able to

• use the terminology pertinent to the study of early British literature and culture,
• identify the characteristics of early literary genres,
• conduct library research on subjects related to the literature and culture of the British Middle Ages, and
• demonstrate that you can analyze literary texts in papers and exam essays by effectively supporting a thesis with evidence presented articulately and succinctly.

Though I've provided a rough schedule of reading and discussion topics, we may spend more or less time on some works depending on class interest and comprehension. Try to remain flexible, and check for schedule updates on the board in class and on the class Website assignments page, available online at <http://www.public.iastate.edu/~gbetcher/373/373sched.html>.

Texts for the Course: The Longman Anthology of British Literature: Vol. 1a—The Middle Ages, 3^rd edition, Longman, 2006, is required. It should be available at the bookstore; if you can't get it, let me know immediately. We will begin using it today. I'll also ask you to do some reading from handouts or from .pdfs that will be linked into the course Website .

Grades: Your grades for the class will be based on a combination of class participation, 2 short essays (1-2 pages each, due by Thurs. of WK 2 and Tues. of WK 8); 1 final project long essay (5-7 pages) with accompanying annotated bibliography (7 entries, due Tues. of WK 16); at least 5 quizzes on readings (unannounced); and 2 in-class exams. I reserve the right to cut assignments if they become too burdensome and unproductive or, if necessary, to adjust those that I have described below. Please check with me for class schedule and requirement updates if you miss class.

REQUIREMENTS

Participation: 10% of overall grade This component includes contributing to class discussion and attending class regularly. My attendance policy is simple: I expect you to attend class. However, you may miss up to 4 classes and still pass. If you miss more than 4 classes (2 weeks) without providing me with an adequate excuse prior to your absences and arranging to make up missed material, you will fail the course. Keep in mind that missing class could cause you to miss a quiz (see Short Essays and Quizzes below).

Short Essays and Quizzes: 30% of overall grade You'll be expected to write 2 short essays (1-2 pages, typed, double-spaced) that will cover questions that I assign at the beginning of the semester to prepare you for class discussion. You can choose the questions you wish to answer, but you must meet the following deadlines: Essay 1 due by Thurs., WK 3; Essay 2 due by Tues., WK 8. I will grade the essays on 2 major categories of components: content (i.e., ideas, organization, expression, coherence, etc.) and correctness of spelling, punctuation, mechanics, diction, and syntax. Each essay will be worth 100 points. Be aware that I'll allow an average of ONLY 3 errors per page of text (approximately 1 per 100 words) before dropping your grade for correctness. You'll receive an initial content score and error points (2 per error) will be subtracted from that initial content score to provide a correctness score. The content score and the correctness score will be averaged to form your final grade on each paper. For an optional third essay, due Thurs., WK 12, you may do one of the following:

• write a new essay to replace a poor grade on one of your other essays. If the grade on the fourth essay is higher than the lowest grade on one of your 3 required essays, it will replace that grade. If not, it will not be averaged into your grades.

OR

• revise one of your earlier essays to average with the original. If the grade on the revised essay is higher than the grade on the original essay, the two grades will be averaged together for a final grade. If the revision grade is lower, it will not be counted.

I recommend that you look at a writing handbook or talk with me if you expect to have editing problems. I'm always happy to help students become better writers.

Quiz questions may elicit responses in the form of short answers (not graded for correct grammar, etc.) or indications of whether statements are true or false. Often they will include Terms to Know that I will give to you throughout the course. These quizzes will be unannounced, and I will not allow make-up quizzes without prior arrangement. You have my phone number and my e-mail address; use one of them to let me know that you won't be in class. If you know in advance that you'll be absent, we can make arrangements in case you'll miss a quiz.

Long Essay and Annotated Bibliography Project: 20% of overall grade

For your long essay (5-7 pages, typed, double-spaced), due Tues., WK 16 by 4 p.m., you will choose one of the topics listed on the long essay assignment page, research it, and turn it in with an accompanying 7-entry annotated bibliography on the topic.

Seven Annotations with Photocopies of the First Page of Text: 100 points On Tuesday of WK 13, you will turn in the seven annotations for your bibliography with photocopies or print-outs of the first page of text of each of the sources. I will check these entried for correct MLA style and return them to you for fixing and resubmission with your long essay, due in week 16.

This typed bibliography, due Tuesday of WK 16 of the semester, will have

• 7 entries in MLA style (graded on correctness, see below) including the following types of sources:
  • at least 5 print (or electronic) sources, including
• 2 library print books (NOT popular literature or textbooks, but scholarly monographs or article collections that include citations and bibliography),
• 3 journal articles from at least 3 different journals or 3 issues of one journal
  1. At least 1 of these articles must be taken from a journal that can be found ONLY on the shelves of Parks library (not available as an online e-journal through ISU)
  2. At least 1 of these articles must be taken from journals that can be accessed through one of the university's e-journal resources (JSTOR and Project MUSE will be particularly useful)
• no more than 1 online source that is a reliable site created and maintained for a professional organization, a university, a university/college class, a library, a museum, or a government agency (NOT a personal Webpage, maintained by an individual—Questions? See me.)
• Brief (25-100 word) annotations identifying how each source listed relates to the topic of your long essay (graded on correctness of spelling, etc., but need not be written in complete sentences)

You should use MLA Style for documentation. Your annotated bibliography grade will account for 100 points of your 500-point project. As with short essays, you must meet a minimum standard of no more than 1 error per 100 words of text.

Long Essay : 400 points This typed, double-spaced, paper due Tuesday of WK 16 of the semester, will have

• a clear thesis that poses a research question or presents an argument that you will prove
• a body that proves your thesis with evidence. You should synthesize the information from your annotated bibliography sources and cite them n essay appropriately. Most evidence will take the form of paraphrase, though you may also quote directly from sources. For a relatively short paper such as this, quoting should be kept to a minimum. Consider whether the words of your source are absolutely necessary to make your point or if your own paraphrase might be better option. It will often be better to use shorter quotations of words or phrases if you want to direct a reader to specific phrasing in the text.
• a conclusion that wraps up your argument and draws conclusions about your thesis.
• an accompanying 7-entry annotated bibliography or sources as outlined above.

You should use MLA notation style for paraphrases, quotations, and summariesof sources since your bibliography can serve as your works cited list. Your long essay grade will account for 400 points of your 500-point project. As with short essays, you must meet a minimum standard of no more than 1 error per 100 words of text.

Exam I and Exam II:each worth 20% of overall grade These exams will be 50-minute, essay/fill-in-the-blank/short-answer exams. Before each exam, I'll give you approximately 3 study questions. On exam day, you'll answer one of those 3 questions and at least 2 0 other short questions. Essays on exams are not graded for correctness of punctuation, grammar, syntax, etc., but rather for the correctness of content and your ability to answer the questions asked.