Go To Assignments For:

Jan/Feb

March

April

May

Course Requirements

Required Texts:

• Jackson, et.al., eds., Humanities in the Modern World
• Achebe, Things Fall Apart
• Wilson, Fences
• Shakespeare, Wheatley & Equiano: various on-line texts

In addition to assigned readings and homework questions, which must be completed before coming to class, there will also be one (1) brief (800 word minimum) critical response paper, one (1) museum response paper (500 word minimum), in addition to one (1) documented research paper (2500 word minimum), with at least six (6) documented secondary sources. You will also take part in a group presentation of a minimum thirty minutes to be given during the second part of the course.  There will also be a mid-term and a final examination.

All papers will follow MLA format: Typed, double-spaced, using parenthetical citations and a works cited page, including references made to the textbook.  The main point of the response papers is to allow you the opportunity to explore specific aspects of texts that you find interesting in terms of the literary terms we discuss:   metaphor, imagery, symbolism, setting, theme, etc. Basically, you will be exploring the ways in which use of such devices helps to develop the important themes of the works, etc., but the specific focus is largely up to you.  For the research paper ,  you will be required to use secondary sources to help support the argument you develop.

The museum response paper is a little more informal.  You will still follow proper MLA guidelines, but you will focus on a particular piece or exhibit that you saw, explaining in detail what it was that particularly interested you about it. Secondary source discussion is NOT necessary nor desired. Do Not Just Duplicate the Information Provided on the Little Plaque. That is Plagiarism and you WILL FAIL.  Just describe in your own words what YOU saw. A more detailed discussion of requirements can be found here .

• Plagiarism on any assignment will have dire consequences. Please familiarize yourself with the policy  and let Dr. Mekler know if anything is unclear.
• Homework questions are due at the beginning of class and must be typed. Handwritten assignments will NOT be accepted.
• Extra Credit:  Each day, you may hand in typed responses to either ALL or TEN (whichever is fewer) other discussion questions for the text assigned for THAT day only.
• Every five (5) sets of questions will give you one (1) bonus point, up to a possible total of five (5) to be added to your final average.
• Papers are due by the end of business on the due date. If they are not completed before class, they may be turned in to Dr. Mekler in his office or in his mailbox in Holmes 202.
• However, Dr. Mekler takes NO responsibility for "lost" submissions to his mailbox.
• Papers slipped under Dr. Mekler's door will be considered late.
• Late Papers will lose 2/3 of a letter grade for each class day.

Museum Paper	5%
Critical Response Paper	5%
Homework	10%
Class Participation/Attendance (See Policy )	10%
Group Presentation	10%
Research Paper	20%
Mid-Term Exam	20%
Final Examination	20%

Reading List (Subject to Subtle Revision):

Jan	26	Course Introduction
	28	"The Humanities Today," xxv-xxvi  European Background, 411-17
	30	Petrarch, 601-2 Shakespeare, 422  Sonnet #18, 606  Sonnet #130
Feb	2	Sonnets, cont.
	4	Shakespeare, Othello, Acts. 1-2, pp. 506-41
	5	Mitchell-Quarles Convocation
	6	Shakespeare, Othello, Acts. 1-2, cont.
	9	Shakespeare, Othello, Acts 3-5, pp. 542-99 Last Day to drop without a "W" Grade
	11	Shakespeare, Othello, Acts 3-5, cont.
	13	Shakespeare, Othello, concl. Discussion of Group Discussion Questions
	16	American Perspective, 3-8  African-American Literature, 101-5  African-American Poetry, 133-35  Phillis Wheatley, 136-37  “On Being Brought From Africa”  "To His Excellency George Washington" Walker, “In Search of Our Mothers’ Gardens”
	18	Wheatley / Walker cont.
	19	Frederick Douglass Convocation
	20	Equiano, Chs. 1-3, 193-217  from Chs. 4 and 5,
	23	Equiano, cont.
	25	Douglass, 271-91
	27	Douglass, 292-315
March	2	Jacobs, Author's Preface  Editor's Introduction  Chs. I-XI, 217-43
	4	Jacobs, Chs. XIV-XXX, 243-70
	6	Narratives Wrap-Up
	9	Mid-Term Review  Last Day to Submit Excuses and Assignments for the First part of the Course
	11	Mid-Term Examination (See Review )
	12	Women's History Month Convocation
	13	Mid-Term Examination, cont.
	16	Asian Background, 753-56  Wei, 757  Dau, 760 Group Presentation
	18	African Background, 715-19  African Poetry, 721-23 Tshakatumba, 726 Peters, 727-28 Group Presentation
	20	Njau, 733, 735-36  Pereira, 737, 740-41 Group Presentation Critical Response Paper Due (800 word min.)
	23	** Spring Break **
	25	** Spring Break **
	27	** Spring Break **
	30	Research Paper Discussion
April	1	African Narrative, 749-50 Achebe, 795-96 Things Fall Apart (Part One), 1-125 Glossary of Ibo Words and Phrases, 211-12
	2	Honors Convocation
	3	Achebe, Things Fall Apart (Part One), cont.
	6	Achebe, Things Fall Apart (Parts Two & Three), 129-209
	8	Achebe, Things Fall Apart, concl. Research Paper Topics Due  Last Day to Drop Undergraduate Classes
	10	European Narrative,  625-28 Kafka, 688-712  Group Presentation
	13	European-American Literature, 9-11 European-American Poetry, 13  Dickinson, 14-15  Frost, 16-17  Roethke, 18-19 Group Presentation
	15	Chopin, Chs. 1-20, pp.28-65
	17	Chopin, Chs. 21-39, pp. 66-99 ** I Love Morgan Day **
	20	Chopin, concl. Last Day to Submit Final Research Paper Topics  ** No Paper Will Be Accepted if Topic is Not APPROVED by Today **
	22	Native American Literature, 381-98 Group Presentation
	24	Latin American Literature, 399 Borges, "The Garden of the Forking Paths," 402-7 Group Presentation
	27	African-American Poetry, 133-35 McKay, 144, 147-48 Toomer, 149-51 Group Presentation
	29	Hughes, 159-60, 164-65  Angelou, 186-89  Group Presentation
May	1	Wright, “Ethics of Living Jim Crow,” 316-24  Group Presentation
	4	Wright, “The Man Who Lived Underground,” 325-52  Group Presentation Research Paper Due
	6	African-American Theater, 107-11  Wilson, Fences, Introduction, etc. Act One, pp.1-58
	8	Wilson, Fences, Act Two, pp. 59-101
	11	Final Exam Review  Museum Paper Due Final Day to Submit Excuses and Assignments for Second Part of Course
	14	Final Exam:  Date Subject to Change, Place and Time TBA