Course Title: Late Middle English Literature; 3 credit hrs.
Spring '13 Location: Evans 258 (unless I change it)
Class Meeting Times: 6 pm Monday
ENG 5377
Adams
Office: 1.00-3.00 Mon & Wed.
936-294-1419
eng_ira@shsu.edu
Late Middle English Literature
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Required Texts: 1. Piers Plowman: The Prologue and Passus I-VII, ed. J A W Bennett (Oxford, 1972)
2. Troilus and Criseyde, ed. Stephen Barney (New York, 2006)
3. Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, tr. Marie Borroff (New York, 2009)
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Week
Monday
1
The Fourteenth Century: A Historical Introduction
2
Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
3
Sir Gawain and the Green Knight
4
Troilus & Criseyde
5
Troilus & Criseyde
6
Troilus & Criseyde
7
SPRING BREAK
8
Troilus & Criseyde
9
Troilus & Criseyde (Take--Home Midterm Essay Test)
10
Piers Plowman
11
Piers Plowman
12
Piers Plowman
13
Piers Plowman
14
Piers Plowman
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Grades: Term paper counts 40% of final grade. Each test (midterm & final) will count 30%.
Grading Scale: A = 100-92 B = 91-83 C = 82-70 F = 69 -->
There are no Ds in graduate classes at SHSU
Term paper: A research paper, typed and double-spaced, focusing on a central theme or problem
associated with one or more of the works read in this course. Clear topic with me before undertaking
research. All use of secondary materials must be properly acknowledged with endnotes or
parenthetical documentation (preferably MLA Handbook consulted for format). Inadvertent
plagiarism will be penalized as a serious flaw. Deliberate plagiarism will result in an F in the course.
COURSE DESCRIPTION AND OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this course is to introduce the MA student to the
prose and poetry of the late Middle English period. This will be achieved by required readings, lectures, and
class discussion.
Also, nota bene: Student Absences on Religious Holy Days Policy Section 51.911(b) of the Texas Education Code requires that an
institution of higher education excuse a student from attending classes or other required activities, including examinations, for the
observance of a religious holy day, including travel for that purpose. Section 51.911(a)(2) defines religious holy days as: "a holy day
observed by a religion whose places of worship are exempt from property taxation under Section 11.20, Tax Code...." A student whose
absence is excused under this subsection may not be penalized for that absence and shall be allowed to take an examination or complete an
assignment from which the student is excused within a reasonable time after the absence. University policy 861001 provides the procedures
to be followed by the student and instructor. A student desiring to absent himself/herself from a scheduled class in order to observe (a)
religious holy day(s) shall present to each instructor involved a written statement concerning the religious holy day(s). The instructor will
notify the student of a reasonable timeframe in which the missed assignments and/or examinations are to be completed. Americans With
Disabilities Act: SHSU adheres to all applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulations, and guidelines with respect to providing
reasonable accommodations for students with disabilities. If you have a disability that may affect adversely your work in this class, then I
encourage you to register with the SHSU Counseling Center and to talk with me about how I can best help you. All disclosures of
disabilities will be kept strictly confidential. NOTE: no accommodation can be made until you register with the Counseling Center. Please
contact the Chair of the Committee for Continuing Assistance for Disabled Students and Director of the Counseling Center, Lee Drain
Annex, or by calling 294-1720. For the policy regarding academic dishonesty, check the following link:
http://www.shsu.edu/administrative/faculty/sectionb.html#dishonesty