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This discussion-oriented seminar will focus on Alexandre Dumas’s great work The Three Musketeers and on some of the films that it inspired. Students will spend most of their class time discussing the novel and the films, occasionally preparing brief, written responses to study questions on the novel and the films. During the semester, a group of students (3 or 4 to a group) will adopt each film, taking responsibility for introducing it orally to the viewers and producing a set of program notes to hand out at the screening that will explain key details about the film and its presentation of Dumas’s legend and other fun facts about production. Students will be expected to engage critically with the text and films, while learning to be thoughtful film viewers.
Students who complete this seminar should be able to
Required text: You will need to have only one book for the course and that is an unabridged translation of The Three Musketeers. There are slightly cheaper editions, but I recommend (on Amazon, not sure how much these cost anywhere else) The Three Musketeers (Oxford World's Classics) by Alexandre Dumas père and David Coward (1998).
Any other readings or resources for the course are available in .pdf format through the links on the interactive assignment schedule, found on the course website at <http://www.public.iastate.edu/~gbetcher/hon322b/hon322bsched.html>. All .pdfs are password protected. You will need the class password to read them: hon322b.
Students may miss up to a week of class with instructor approval but should attempt to attend all sessions, as discussion is extremely important for this course. Students must be present 1) when their group introduces their evening film and 2) during all presentations in the last two weeks of the semester.
To pass this class, students must comply with the attendance policy (see above) and complete all assignments thoughtfully. Assignments will be graded on a Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory scale, "Satisfactory" indicating that the requirements outlined for each assignment have been met. Plagiarism of any assignments or portions thereof will earn an automatic "Unsatisfactory" for the course.
Responses to Study Questions, 50% of course requirement
Study questions will be collected at least five times during the semester. Most readings will have study questions provided, but not all will be collected. I will let you know which weeks are collection weeks. Grading on responses to study questions will be as follows.
Satisfactory responses:
++ = Questions answered clearly, thoroughly, and thoughtfully, using complete sentences. Where appropriate, the respondent makes an effort to link characters and events in responses, create a sense of cause and effect, or synthesize what s/he is currently reading with what s/he has already read.
+ = Questions answered clearly, but very briefly and not always in complete sentences. This is an average answer that demonstrates the respondent has read the text but does not go beyond the basics required for a clear, correct response. A perfectly acceptable response but one that shows little extra effort expended.
Unsatisfactory responses:
- = Questions answered incompletely or unclearly. This is an unacceptable response that indicates either a lack of preparation on the part of the respondent or a lazy handling of the assignment.
Group Program Notes and Oral Introductions for Films (approximately 500-700 words)
Group project film introductions and program notes will earn a Satisfactory or Unsatisfactory grade (see above) for the entire group. Introductions to the films can be entertaining, but they must be well researched, and based on well-written informative, clear, and coherent program notes that show care taken in spelling, grammar, and punctuation. While making a creative or glitzy program cover might be fun, the grade will come from the note content that groups provide. See the course links page for resources to consult for this project.
Final Project --10-12-minute in-class presentation in week 15 or 16 on some aspect of the Three Musketeers in literature, film or popular culture, on Alexandre Dumas as an author, or on seventeenth-century French history. Creative projects that draw on your own major are welcomed. Talk to me about it!
Final project presentations must be clear, coherent, and well prepared. While a student may use presentation software, posters, or other aids during the talk, s/he will be graded primarily on presentation content and overall presentation. Basic presentations can be just as good as presentations with lots of bells and whistles. When not presenting, audience members should be courteous, active listeners during others' presentations; attendance in these final weeks is mandatory to pass the class (if you need to be gone, clear it with the instructor in advance).
Participation--The primary component of participation is presence in class and active discussion. It's easy to participate satisfactorily; just speak up and share ideas.
NOTES: Generally speaking, I follow the policies outlined in the ISU Student and Faculty Handbooks and expect that you will too, but please take special note of the following:
Automatic Failure: You will automatically fail this course if you
Cell Phones : I don't allow cell phones in class because they disrupt the classroom environment. Please turn them off when you enter the classroom. I'll ask you to leave if you insist on using them during class. Emergency situations should be cleared with me in advance.
Accommodation: If you require any special accommodations, please see me at the beginning of the semester or as soon as you become aware of your needs. If you're seeking accommodations based on disabilities, you should obtain a Student Academic Accommodation Request (SAAR) form from the Disability Resources (DR) office (515-294-6624). DR is located on the main floor of the Students Services Building, Room 1076.