Welcome to English 632: Literature of the Renaissance

In this course, we will read, discuss,and perform the works of writers of the English Early Modern Period (often called Renaissance).

Books

Kenney, Arthur F., editor. Renaissance Drama: An Anthology of Plays and Entertainments. Wiley/Blackwell. 2nd edition. ISBN 1405119675.
Norton Anthology of British Literature, 9th edtion, Volume B.
Milton, Paradise Lost (Kastan edition, 978-0872207332, Hackett Publishing).

Assignments/Weight

25%	Essay 1: Annotated bibliography or bibliographical essay one of the following topics (feel free to narrow): Piracy and captivity narratives Encounters with Islam Picarism and Spanish literary influence in England Animal rights in the early modern period Witchcraft, occult, and magic Jest books Courtesy books Libels and ballads Poverty Broadsides Natural history and science writing Women’s work in theater Memory and cognition: general studies or approaches to a particular author Work (vocation, labor) as a subject of inquiry in prose and drama Cultural geography (as applied to a specific work) Reading and/ or audience studies
40%	Essay 2: An original 10-page paper in which you examine one or two works in light of the bibliography you prepared in Essay 1. Again, feel free to narow
10%	Participation
25%	Periodic short presentations on a criticial approach (3-4 per semester)

Policies

Attendance Policy

This class meets once a week, so I begin lowering your grade by one letter starting with the second missed class. This class is small, so your absence will be keenly felt. I know you may have to be late because of traffic, but obviously you should try to avoid that if possible.

Digital Incivility

You may use an ebook reader in my class, but please don't use a computer, phone, or laptop for anything else. Please don't text in this class. I'm sorry to have to ask this of graduate students, but I have learned the hard way.

If you need to use a computer to take notes or if you have a disability that requires the use of certain tools, please let me know in advance.

Academic Integrity Policy and Process

This policy addresses academic integrity violations of undergraduate and graduate students. Graduate students should read inside the parenthesis below to identify the appropriate entities in charge of that step of the process.

Students, faculty, staff, and administrators of Western Carolina University (WCU) strive to achieve the highest standards of scholarship and integrity. Any violation of the Academic Integrity Policy is a serious offense because it threatens the quality of scholarship and undermines the integrity of the community. While academic in scope, any violation of this policy is by nature, a violation of the Code of Student Conduct and will follow the same conduct process (see ArticleVII.B.1.a.). If the charge occurs close to the end of an academic semester or term or in the event of the reasonable need of either party for additional time to gather information timelines may be extended at the discretion of the Department of Student Community Ethics (DSCE).

Violations of the Academic Integrity Policy include:

Cheating - Using or attempting to use unauthorized materials, information, or study aids in any academic exercise.
Fabrication – Creating and/or falsifying information or citation in any academic exercise.
Plagiarism - Representing the words or ideas of someone else as one’s own in any academic exercise.
Facilitation - Helping or attempting to help someone to commit a violation of the Academic Integrity Policy in any academic exercise (e.g. allowing another to copy information during an examination)

Any violation of the Academic Integrity Policy will result in no less than failure of the assignment and, if aggregious enough, failure of the course. I report all violations to Student Community Ethics. I am required to meet with you to discuss any violations,and will withold your grade until you have attended that meeting and signed all required forms.

WCU instructors reserve the right to use plagiarism prevention software (such as SafeAssignment.com) as well as Google, Yahoo, and/or other Internet search engines to determine whether or not student papers have been plagiarized. With plagiarism prevention software, instructors may upload student papers into a
searchable database or teach students how to upload their own work as part of the course requirements.

Disability statement

Accommodations for Students with Disabilities: Western Carolina University is committed to providing equal educational opportunities for students with documented disabilities and/or medical conditions. Students who require reasonable accommodations must identify themselves as having a disability and/or medical condition and provide current diagnostic documentation to Disability Services. All information is confidential. Please contact the Office of Disability Services for more information at (828) 227-3886 or [email protected] You may also visit the office’s website: disability.wcu.edu