ENGL 3142: Major English Novels of the The Nineteenth Century: Syllabus

Readings

All textbooks will be available for free on the course’s website: https://libguides.brooklyn.cuny.edu/engl3142

Pride and Prejudice

Jane Eyre

Great Expectations

Middlemarch

Tess of the D’Urbervilles

The Aspern Papers

The Picture of Dorian Gray

Course structure

Class sessions will consist of a combination of lectures, seminar discussions and small group work. We have a lot of material to cover in a short time; you’ll get the most out of the course (and the best grade) if you’re diligent about keeping up with the reading.

Papers

1. (750-1000 words), due Apr 12      

2. (1500-2000 words), due May 21     (Topics TBD)

Tentative Schedule (subject to change)

Feb 5: Introduction to the Course

Feb 11,18: Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice

Feb 25, Mar 4: Charlotte Bronte, Jane Eyre

Mar 11, 18: Charles Dickens, Great Expectations

Mar 25: George Eliot, Middlemarch

Apr 1: Spring break – no class

Apr 8, 15: Middlemarch

Apr 12: First paper due

Apr 22, 29: Thomas Hardy, Tess of the D’Urbervilles        

May 6: Henry James, The Aspern Papers

May 13: Oscar Wilde, The Picture of Dorian Gray

May 21:  Final paper due

Class participation: It is important that each of you engage both with the texts and with your classmates. I expect you to participate actively in discussions, so come to class prepared to discuss the day’s material, i.e. having done the reading and having made extensive notes on it.  Participation is a significant percentage of your grade.

Grading

Quizzes                                             25%

Almost every class will start with an open book quiz. The quizzes are analytical. You might be asked to analyze a passage or consider a theme. In order to earn a good grade, you’ll need to assess the readings critically, rather than summarizing what you read.

Participation/Effort                           20%

You will be graded based on attendance, preparedness for class, and other factors indicating participation and effort.

Paper 1                                               20%

Paper 2                                               35%

Online course etiquette

Turn your video on and keep it on during class meetings.

Attendance, Lateness

Attendance is mandatory. You’re entitled to miss 2 class sessions, but there are no excused absences beyond these 2. Class starts promptly at 6:30. Please make sure to arrive on time; 2 latenesses = 1 absence More than 2 absences may result in a lower grade for the course.  Even if you aren’t in class, the paper and assignment due dates will not change—you are still responsible for getting the work to me as specified in the schedule (below).

Plagiarism

Plagiarism is academic theft, and it bears serious consequences. Papers that are plagiarized will receive a zero; you may be expelled from the course. The works that we’re studying are well-known and there’s a lot of information about them on the web. To avoid plagiarism, I recommend that you do not consult the internet.  CUNY’s policy about academic integrity can be found here: www.brooklyn.cuny.edu/pub/pdf/academicintegritypolicy.pdf

Students with Disabilities

Students who have a documented disability or suspect they may have a disability should contact the disabilities office to learn about their policies and procedures. If you are already registered with the Center for Student Disability Services, please provide me with the course accommodation form.

Learning Center

You can find free peer tutoring and supplemental writing help through the Learning Center. Visit their website for more information: http://lc.brooklyn.cuny.edu/ or call them at (718) 951-5821.