HONORS 200 SEM 006 (MW 12:30-1:45) and SEM 009 (MW 3:30 – 4:45)
Dr. W. Tyson Hausdoerffer, Honors College Lecturer
Office: 158 Honors House
Office Hours: M&W 10-12 and 2-3, R 1-3, and by appointment hausdoer@uwm.edu
Pulp (pŭlp) > n. 1. A soft, moist, shapeless mass of matter. . . . 5. A publication, such as a magazine, containing lurid subject matter.
Fict·ion (fǐk' shәn) > n. An imaginative creation or pretense. 2. A lie. 3a. A literary work, such as a novel, whose content is produced by the imagination and is not necessarily based on fact.
Course Description
A glance around any airport, train, or beach will confirm that pulp fiction—whether in the form of trashy detective novels, lurid romances, or spy thrillers—is alive and well in our times. But did you know that trashy, lurid, thrilling novels thrived in ancient times as well? Yes, we might think of classical literature as high-minded and elegant, but during the Roman Empire, stories about desperate lovers, rapacious criminals, and muscled heroes were a hit from Britain to Babylon. In this course, we will delve into seven examples of ancient pulp fiction in an effort to understand why such stories were so popular in their time. Is it simply that they are thrilling and titillating entertainments?
Do they explore any important social or political issues? Do they offer important moral lessons? Are they philosophical or intellectually engaging in any way? What, in short, is the nature of ancient pulp fiction? And how is it like and unlike modern pulp fiction? How much have popular tastes really changed these past 2000 years?
Required Texts
Petronius, The Satyrica . ISBN-10: 0140444890
Apuleius, The Golden Ass . ISBN-10: 0140435905
B. P. Reardon, Collected Ancient Greek Novels . ISBN-10: 0520256557
Five Fundamental Goals of the Course
#1 to help you improve your writing
#2 to help you become a more confident and articulate speaker
#3 to help you discover new ways of analyzing and appreciating literature and film
#4 to help you investigate the nature of ancient fictional narrative
#5 to help you consider how ancient fictional narratives are like and unlike those of our own culture
Grade Scheme
Short assignments (4 @ 10 points)
Essay 1 First Draft
Essay 1 Second Draft
Essay 2 First Draft
40 points
30 points
50 points
40 points
Essay 2 Second Draft
Presentation 1
Presentation 2
Participation
60 points
20 points
20 points
40 points
Total 300 points (divided by 3 to calculate final grade)
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Short Assignments
There will be four short assignments. These assignments will involve writing a brief, but formally complete argument using the argumentative strategies I will distribute.
Essays
There will be two essays, both of which will go through two drafts. The first essay will focus exclusively on one of the first three works we read, while the second will be a comparison of two or more works.
Presentations
Each student will give two presentations. The first will be a group presentation focusing on a recent popular film; the second will be an individual presentation on one of the readings.
Participation
Participation will be worth forty points. These points are calculated based on how positive an impact you have on the course, for the success of an Honors Seminar depends almost entirely on the enthusiasm and dedication of the students in it. To have a positive impact, you must be present and engaged in the discussion at all times, be respectful of your fellow students, respond regularly to questions, offer comments and questions of your own, volunteer to read passages aloud, and take a constructive role in any group work.
Attendance Policy
All students are expected to attend class everyday and to arrive on time. Absences can be excused only for religious holidays and military service, as per UWM policy (see link at bottom of page). If you are absent for any other reason, your absence will affect your grade according to the following schedule:
1-2 absences no direct penalty
3 absences: -6 points from 300 point total (2% impact)
4 absences: -15 points from 300 points total (5% impact)
5 absences: -30 points from 300 points total (10% impact)
6 or more absences will result in failure regardless of your performance.
Late arrivals will count as half an absence.
Late Assignments
Assignments must be handed in on time in order to receive full credit. You will lose half a letter grade if you turn your assignment in during the first 24 hours after the deadline and an additional half a letter grade for each day that your assignment is overdue beyond that.
A Note on Plagiarism
No plagiarism of any kind will be tolerated in this course. The consequences of plagiarism range from a failing grade on the assignment to an F in the course depending on the severity of the case.
A Note on Laptops, E-Readers, Cell Phones, and Other Devices
This is a discussion-based seminar. The use of electronic devices is therefore prohibited unless you have a disability that requires you to use one. Yes, this includes E-readers.
Further Resources
If you would like additional help with your writing, please remember that you can always make an appointment to see Lydia Equitz, the Honors College Writing Specialist (Honors House 189). If you are having more general academic difficulties, you should talk to one of the Honors College Advisors. Finally, if you are feeling stressed out or are facing difficult issues in your life, please take immediate advantage of the confidential support services available at the Norris Health Center (location: 3351 Downer Avenue).
Link to Important University Policies: http://www.uwm.edu/Dept/SecU/SyllabusLinks.pdf
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