ENGLISH 2800: GREAT WORKS OF LITERATURE I
Baruch College, Fall 2010
Section JM24B
Room 23-709
Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10:45-12:25
Professor Cheryl Smith
Office: 55 Lexington Ave, Room 7-297
Office phone: 646-312-3973
Email: cheryl.smith@baruch.cuny.edu
Office Hours: Tuesdays and Thursdays 10-10:30 and by appointment
Required Texts
Please get the editions specified below; all are widely available, including at the Baruch College Bookstore.
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Homer, The Odyssey, the Fitzgerald translation (Farrar, Strauss, and Giroux)
Euripedes, Medea (Dover Thrift Edition)
The Norton Anthology of World Literature, Volume B: 100-1500, 2nd Edition
William Shakespeare, The Tempest (Folger Shakespeare Library)
Our discussions will involve close reading and in-class writing; you will often need to reference your book.
If you do not bring your book to class you will not be able to participate and you will be counted absent.
Course Objectives
This semester, we will dive into some of the most important literary works from the classical period up to
the 17th century in order to see the world, our common experiences, and our literary heritage in a new
light. We will actively read a broad range of texts—poetry, narrative fiction and non-fiction, and drama—
and practice the moves through which scholars generate close readings. The discipline of close reading
requires practice; accordingly, we will engage in regular in-class exercises that include free writing, reading
quizzes, and discussion and presentation done both individually and in groups. I’m also interested in your
creative vision inspired by a text and will ask you to apply the skill of invention to your reading. By
developing your ability to read one text deeply and creatively, and many texts comparatively, you will learn
how to generate and support your own interpretations; formulate compelling arguments; situate
yourself—your experiences, vision, and interests—in relation to a text; and better represent your thinking
through your writing.
Learning Goals
Students who successfully complete the Great Works courses should be able to:
 interpret meaning in literary texts by paying close attention to authors’ choices of detail,
vocabulary, and style
 discuss the relationship between different genres of literary texts and the multicultural
environments from which they spring
 articulate a critical evaluation and appreciation of a literary work’s strengths and limitations
 present their ideas orally
 write critical essays employing:
o a strong thesis statement
o appropriate textual citations
o contextual and inter-textual evidence for their ideas
Course Requirements
Attendance: Each absence, for any reason, beyond three will lower your grade by one step (an Abecomes a B+). Every two late arrivals (by no more than fifteen minutes) or early departures count as one
absence. If you arrive late to class, it is your responsibility to speak with me at the end of the session to
make sure you are recorded as present and to find out any information you may have missed. If you are
late by more than fifteen minutes, you will be counted absent.
Participation and Reading: This is not a large lecture course where you can remain anonymous: regular
attendance and active participation are required for success in this class. I expect you to complete reading
assignments before class so that you are always prepared both to participate in discussions and do the
unannounced, in-class writing assignments designed to demonstrate your preparedness. In addition, on
many occasions you will be given time in class to work individually or in groups to respond to some
questions about the text, develop an interpretation, and present your ideas back to the class. If you have
not done the reading, this kind of work will be impossible (not to mention very uncomfortable) for you.
That said, the reading load is very manageable; if you are having trouble keeping up with the reading, you
should speak with me immediately.
Please leave your cell phone off in this class.
Writing:
 In-Class Writing: we will have several in-class essay exams (short essays written in response to a
prompt on our readings up to that point) or reading quizzes (short answers in response to
questions about the reading for the day). These in-class essays/quizzes will be unannounced and
can occur on any class day. For some of these in-class assignments, you will be allowed to
reference your text. Remember to always have your book with you, so you’re prepared not only to
participate in class discussions but also to write. If you’re absent or late on the day of an in-class
essay/quiz, you will receive a grade of zero. There are no make-ups for in-class writing
assignments, but I will drop your lowest in-class essay/quiz grade.
 Formal Writing: you will write one fully developed, creative/analytical essay. We will have an inclass workshop to help you develop your topic and evidence. You will then write a first draft of
your essay, which will be read and responded to by at least two other students in class. Finally,
you will use the feedback you get from classmates to fully revise your essay before turning it in for
a grade.
Grading: Your final course grade depends on attendance and class participation (20%), in-class writing
and reading quizzes (25%), formal essay including draft, peer review, and revision (30%), and the final
exam (25%).
Plagiarism: Plagiarism is not only uncool, it is illegal: The Department of English fully supports Baruch
College's policy on Academic Honesty, which states, in part: "Academic dishonesty is unacceptable and
will not be tolerated. Cheating, forgery, plagiarism and collusion in dishonest acts undermine the college's
educational mission and the students' personal and intellectual growth. Baruch students are expected to
bear individual responsibility for their work and to uphold the ideal of academic integrity. Any student
who attempts to compromise or devalue the academic process will be sanctioned." Additional information
can be found at http://www.baruch.cuny.edu/academic/academic_honesty.html
Sanctions for proven cases of plagiarism are strong and may include a grade of F on the assignment or a
final grade of F in the course. All cases of plagiarism will be reported to the Dean of Students.
Smith, fall 2010
English 2800 section JM24B
Syllabus Page 2
CLASS SCHEDULE
Read selections for the day they appear on the syllabus; always bring that day’s reading to class.
Week 1
Thu Aug 26: Introduction to the course; introduction to The Odyssey
Week 2
Tue Aug 31: The Odyssey, Books 1-4
Thu Sep 2: The Odyssey, Books 5-8
Week 3
Tue Sep 7: The Odyssey, Books 9-12
Thu Sep 9: No Class—Holiday
Week 4
Tue Sep 14: No Class—Tue is a Baruch Fri
Thu Sep 16: The Odyssey, Books 13-16
Week 5
Tue Sep 21: The Odyssey, Books 17-20
Thu Sep 23: The Odyssey, Books 21-24
Week 6
This week’s readings are on e-reserve; please print out the selections and bring to class for
discussion
Tue Sep 28: Selections from The Book of Songs (Classics of Chinese Poetry) : Read the brief introduction to
ancient Chinese poetry and The Book of Songs and then read the following poems: “Dark-Enigma Bird,”
“My Love’s Gone off to War,” “Nothing Left,” “In the Wilds There’s a Dead Deer,” “Gathering ThornFern,” “A Dove,” “Rats So Fat”
Thu Sep 30: “In the Wilds There’s a Grass Mat,” “He Built His Hut,” “Osprey’s Cry,” “I Climb a
Hilltop,” “Cut an Ax Handle,” “Willows Near the East Gate,” “We Cut Grasses,” and “Eastern
Mountains”
Week 7
Tue Oct 5: Medea (read entire play)
Thu Oct 7: Medea (continued)
Week 8
Note: all the readings from Oct 12-Nov 18 can be found in the Norton Anthology
Tue Oct 12: The Recognition of Sakuntala, Acts 1-4
Thu Oct 14: The Recognition of Sakuntala, Acts 5-7
Smith, fall 2010
English 2800 section JM24B
Syllabus Page 3
Week 9
Tue Oct 19: T’ang Poetry: introduction and the poetry of Wang Wei (Norton 1370-1376) and Po Chu-I
(1393-1398)
Thu Oct 21: T’ang Poetry: the poetry of Li Po and Tu Fu (1379-1389)
Week 10
Tue Oct 26: The Inferno, Cantos 1-6
Thu Oct 28: The Inferno, Cantos 7-11
Essay workshop: planning and execution
Week 11
Tue Nov 2: The Inferno, Cantos 12-20
Thu Nov 4: The Inferno, Cantos 21-27
Week 12
Tue Nov 9: The Inferno, Cantos 28-34
Thu Nov 11: The Pillow Book of Sei Shonagan, read the background on Shonagan through page 2279 of The
Pillow Book
Week 13
Tue Nov 16: The Pillow Book of Sei Shonagan, pages 2280-2295 (through “Awkward Things”)
Thu Nov 18: The Pillow Book of Sei Shonagan, pages 2295-2300
Essay with cover letter due; bring THREE copies (to exchange with classmates)
Week 14
Tue Nov 23: Essay workshop: revising
Peer review letters due
Thu Nov 25: Happy Thanksgiving
Week 15
Tue Nov 30: The Tempest, Acts 1-2
Thu Dec 2: The Tempest, Act 3
Essay revision due, with draft and peer review letters attached
Week 16
Tue Dec 7: The Tempest, Acts 4-5
Thu Dec 9: The Tempest, wrap up
Final Exam: Dec 16, 10:30-12:30
Congratulations and good luck!
Smith, fall 2010
English 2800 section JM24B
Syllabus Page 4