Dr. Carol L. Robinson
Assistant Professor of English
Kent State University Trumbull
Office: A210D
Office Hours: 6:00-6:45pm Mondays, 4:00-4:45pm Tuesdays, 9:00-9:45am Thursdyas, and other times by appointment
Online Hours (AIM & Yahoo!Messenger): by appointment only
ONLINE ID: postmedievalist
Phone: 330-675-8907
Emails:postmedievalist@cyberspacerobinson.net OR clrobins@kent.edu
|
ENG 34065
Chaucer |
Chaucer reading from Troilus and Criseyde
|
Required Text:
The Complete Canterbury Tales of Geoffrey Chaucer (Paperback)
Edited by John H. Fisher & Mark Allen
Publisher: Wadsworth Publishing (November 15, 2005)
In addition, we will be using internet sources, library materials and class hand-outs.
Optional Texts :
The Canterbury Tales (Norton Critical Editions) (Paperback)
by Geoffrey Chaucer
Edited byV. A. Kolve and Glending Olson
Publisher: W. W. Norton; 2nd edition (May 19, 2005)
Chaucer's Language (Paperback)
by Simon Horobin
Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan (January 9, 2007)
|
Course Description: This course will conduct a close study of Geoffrey Chaucer's poetry, focusing mostly upon The Canterbury Tales. A poet, politician, and (perhaps above all) an example of medieval man at his most creative best, Chaucer is one of the great storytellers of all time. His tales range in tone and content from the sublimity of godliness to the hilariousness of a good dirty joke. We will read his works in their original Middle English and within the medieval contexts of religion, politics, gender, technology and science. Lessons, lectures, online supplemental readings, an online forum, and assignments have been structured to help you become comfortable with Middle English, particularly Chaucer's dialect, and to learn to appreciate his works. Assignments will include participation in an online forum, a special project, 2 language tests, and a final exam. This course can serve as a required historical course for English majors as well as an upper division elective in many majors.
Attendance, Tardiness, Participation: These classes are your time, your energy, and someone’s money: do not waste them senselessly. You are expected to attend class regularly and to arrive to class on time. You are also expected to come prepared to participate in class. If you miss a class, you alone are responsible for finding out what you missed in class and for doing whatever work has been assigned. Cellphones must be set to "silent" mode (or shut off) during class--if a phone rings in class, I reserve the right to answer your phone.
Assignments & Grades:
|
| SCORES |
LANGUAGE TESTS (30%): There will be three tests of your reading skills. Each of the first two tests will be from something we have read or are reading; the 3rd test will be from something we will be reading. Each test is worth 100 points (10% of your grade). The dates for these tests are September 9th, Septmeber 16th , and September 28th.
ONLINE FORUM (30%): The online forum will be conducted at http://houndingproductions.net/bb/. Join the Chaucer forum at this bulletin board. The purpose of this forum is to expand and otherwise supplement class discussion. The advantage is that you can provide carefully constructed posts. The length and number of of each entry posted isn't important; however, you must participate in at least 2 topics, and the total number of words posted must be no less than 1500 for each set. One final note: these words must reflect quality of thought and directly pertain to the topic, so if you want to be clever or silly (or anything else), such verbage does not count toward the grade (but will most likely be enjoyed by all who read it).
SET ONE: The focus of this set will be upon background material: Chaucer's Life, Middle English concepts. Posts for this section must be completed by 11:59pm on Sunday, September 28th (10% of your grade).
SET TWO: The focus of this set will involve close textual readings of the assigned works. Posts for this section must be completed by 11:59pm on Sunday, November 12th (10% of your grade).
SET THREE: The focus of this set will be both critical and analytical and must include supplementary research (one different quality source for each post). Posts for this section must be completed by 11:59pm on Sunday, December 7th (10% of your grade).
FINAL EXAM (40%): The final exam will be comprehensive for the semester. Part of it will be with opened books and opened notes, out-of-class, to be assigned on the last day of classes (December 4th) and turned-in on the Final Exam date (December 9th), at which time you will do the second part, which will be with closed books and closed notes.
|
| A RANGE |
| A+ |
100 |
50 |
| A |
95 |
48 |
| A- |
92 |
46 |
| B RANGE |
| B+ |
88 |
44 |
| B |
85 |
43 |
| B- |
82 |
41 |
| C RANGE |
| C+ |
78 |
39 |
| C |
75 |
38 |
| C- |
72 |
36 |
| D RANGE |
| D+ |
68 |
34 |
| D |
65 |
33 |
| F RANGE |
| F |
55 |
28 |
A Note on Plagiarism & Cheating: We no longer live in the Middle Ages, when copying wasn't so much a right as it was a duty, usually by a member of the clergy, and when cheating was usually punished in the afterlife. Bottom line: don't do either. Please see University Policy Register #3342-3-07.
Students with Disabilities: KKent State University recognizes its responsibility for creating an institutional climate in which students with disabilities can succeed. In accordance with university policy, if you have a documented disability, you may request accommodations to obtain equal access and to promote your learning in this class. Please contact the disability coordinator Ms Elaine Shively located in the Skill Center or call 330 675-8932. After your eligibility for accommodations is determined, you will be given a letter, which when presented to instructors, will help us know best how to assist you.
|
|
|
|
