Syllabus

CLASS HOURS: TTH 11:00-12:15 PM, JR215, Class Number 16786
OFFICE: 803 Sierra Tower
TELEPHONE: 677-0901
E-MAIL: scott.kleinman@csun.edu
OFFICE HOURS: To be determined
COURSE WEB SITE: http://www.csun.edu/~sk36711/WWW/engl414.htm

COURSE DESCRIPTION

Chaucer is at once one of the greatest and the most dynamic of English poets. His best-known work, The Canterbury Tales, shows him as a master of narrative and of stylistic variety which has few rivals. His minor works focus on themes of particular interest in present-day criticism, such as the cultural formations embodied in the literary landscape, gender politics, and the workings of dreams and the imagination. In this course we will explore Chaucer’s most important themes and literary strategies by reading a selection of The Canterbury Tales and some of Chaucer’s shorter poems in his original Middle English. The scope of the course also embraces the study of Chaucer’s sources and literary analogues and will reflect on his influence on later writers.

COURSE OBJECTIVES

Students in this course will:

• Acquire a basic reading knowledge of Chaucerian Middle English.
• Acquire knowledge of the historical and cultural background which informs Chaucer’s works, as well as a familiarity with the issues that have been discussed in Chaucer scholarship.
• Learn to read and discuss Chaucer’s works for enjoyment and for their insight into the human condition.
• Demonstrate the skills associated with the professional practices of literary criticism, including writing and formatting conventions, research skills, and methods of analysis.

TEXTS

• The Canterbury Tales: Complete, ed. by Larry D. Benson (New York, 2000).
• Class Handouts

TENTATIVE COURSE SCHEDULE
Note: readings for all tales also include the prologues to those tales.

Class Cancellations: Classes are cancelled on 1 March and 10 May, when I will be participating at scholarly conferences. Students should be aware that the faculty union is currently in the midst of a dispute over inadequate pay. If contract negotiations fail, the union may call for a strike, causing further class cancellations or other types of disruption. Updates on this situation will be provided throughout the course.

COURSEWORK

Grading will be based on a midterm exam (25%), a final exam (30%), a research paper (30%), and participation (15%). I regret that I am unable to handle extra-credit assignments. Note: To receive a grade other than a W, you must have completed more than half the coursework (no exceptions).

Exams: The two exams will test your knowledge of factual material and your understanding of the plot, characters, and themes of Chaucer’s works.

Research Paper: The research paper, which will be approximately 2000-3000 words long (2500-3500 for graduate students), will be on a topic of your choice, which must be approved by me in advance. This paper will be graded substantially on your ability to write and format clear and effective scholarly prose.

Participation: Enrolling in this class requires a commitment to participate in a community of learners in which you agree to contribute to and not to detract from the learning environment. In order to receive full credit for participation, you must do the readings in advance, bring your textbook to each class, be prepared to discuss the materials, and complete all assignments additional to the exams and research papers. You must also arrive to class on time, remember to turn off your cell phones completely (vibrate is not good enough), and remain in the classroom for the duration of the class period. For disruptive behaviour (e.g. cell phones, frequent exits from the classroom), I reserve the right to increase the proportion of your final grade allotted to participation as I feel appropriate. There is no automatic credit for attendance, and frequent absences will be noted and may be reflected in your final grade.

ATTENDANCE AND ACADEMIC HONESTY

It is extremely important that all aspects of your work are come by honourably. Efforts to gain an advantage not given to all students are dishonest and regarded as an extremely serious matter by the academic community. Consequences range from probation to expulsion. University policy stipulates that plagiarism, the submission of another person’s work as your own, is a violation of academic honesty, even if it arises out of ignorance or oversight, rather than deliberate cheating. Enrolling in this class means that you agree to abide by my decision regarding the appropriate action to take in cases of academic dishonesty. If you have any questions about plagiarism, paraphrasing, quoting, or collaboration, please consult me.

ADD/DROP POLICY

Students should make sure that they follow the university’s add/drop deadlines, outlined in the Schedule of Classes. According to university policy, drops are only allowed after the set date when "a) there is a serious and compelling reason--specifically the student’s emotional or physical health or financial condition is clearly in jeopardy, and b) there is no viable alternative--including repeating the class". Students will need to provide documentation on official letterhead--a letter, on official stationery, from a doctor or an employer--to support their reasons. No adds will be allowed unless a student can provide documented proof--e.g., a clerical error--for the reason for the tardiness. Please make sure to meet the deadline!