English 201: Five British Authors
Fall 2010
MWF 10:00-10:50
Section 01
Wheatley 1-0012
Professor Nicki Buscemi
Office: Wheatley 6-040
Office Hours: MWF 11:00-12:00; I am happy to make appointments at other times, but I am rarely available
for meetings on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Office Phone: 617-287-6756
E-mail Address: nicole.buscemi@umb.edu (Email is the best way to reach me.)
Course Website: http://engl201-buscemi.wikispaces.umb.edu/
Course Description
An alternative to the traditional survey of British literature from the Middle Ages to the present, this course
will explore major features in the landscape of British literature by paying close attention to five of its key
writers. We will examine works by Geoffrey Chaucer, William Shakespeare, Daniel Defoe, Mary Elizabeth
Braddon, and Virginia Woolf. Course requirements include two formal essays, regular reading responses and
discussion questions, and a final exam.
Course Objectives:
 Learn how historical, cultural, and literary contexts shape literary development and vice versa.
 Analyze how a text comments on or responds to historical and social context.
 Understand aesthetic choices and judgments.
 Read closely and sensitively.
 Develop critical thinking skills.
 Synthesize information, arguments, and perspectives in order to create meaning, insight, and
understanding.
 Establish and support an argument in textual analysis.
Required Texts: (These books are available at the UMass Boston Bookstore.)
 Chaucer, Geoffrey. The Canterbury Tales. New York: Penguin Classics, 2003.
 Shakespeare, William. Shakespeare’s Sonnets. New York: Folger Shakespeare Library, 2004.
 Shakespeare, William. Twelfth Night. New York: Folger Shakespeare Library, 2009.
 Defoe, Daniel. Moll Flanders. Toronto: Broadview, 2005.
 Braddon, Mary Elizabeth. Lady Audley’s Secret. Toronto: Broadview, 2003.
 Woolf, Virginia. Mrs. Dalloway. New York: Harcourt, 2005.
Grade Breakdown
10% Participation and Unannounced, Surprise Reading Quizzes
25% Reading Responses and Discussion Questions
25% Essay 1
25% Essay 2
15% Final Exam
Reading Responses and Discussion Questions
Reading responses are brief (generally between one to two pages), typed responses to questions that I give
you one to two classes ahead of time regarding an assigned reading. The purpose of these assignments is to
facilitate class discussion, help you to make connections between various texts, and spur critical thought
about the texts that we are reading. They will be graded on a point scale, and I will inform you of the number
of points possible for each individual assignment as it is assigned. We will talk about discussion questions at
greater length in class. They too will be graded on a point scale.
Participation and Attendance
While I will provide some contextual lectures along the way, much of our time will be spent discussing what
we have read as a class. Because these discussions will help us to become better at reading texts, refining our
ideas, and expressing these ideas in both oral and written form, they are an integral component of this class’s
(and your) success. Thus, it is essential that you complete the reading for each class and come prepared to
talk about what you’ve read—failure to do so impedes your progress, and it is inconsiderate to your
classmates. What I hope to see from each of you is a willingness to share your responses and questions about
a text, courteous and thoughtful responses to others’ commentary, a high level of engagement with the text
and the issues it raises, and the incorporation of earlier readings and discussions we have had.
Please note: Cell phones should be off and headphones put away during class. Text messaging in class
is not permitted. Failure to follow these policies will result in a lowering of your participation grade in
this class.
You may not miss more than 6 class sessions and pass the course. Missing more than 3 classes will
negatively affect your grade. Persistent tardiness could also result in a lowering of your grade. Emergencies
will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Whatever the reason for your absence, though, it is your
responsibility to find out the content of the sessions you missed, including assignments distributed in class or
announcements made about due dates. Please note: quizzes given in class cannot be made up.
Late Work
Points will be subtracted for each day that an assignment is late. Absences from class and minor catastrophes
(such as having a cold or your printer running out of ink) are no excuse. When absences can be anticipated
(e.g., a planned extracurricular activity), it is the student’s responsibility to hand in the assignment before the
absence. If an assignment is due on a day that you know you will be absent, you should arrange to hand it in
early. Assignments may only be emailed to me in rare instances and with permission. If I do give you
permission, the assignment must be in .doc or .rtf formats (not .docx); if I cannot open your file, the paper
will be considered late.
Plagiarism
Plagiarism means borrowing another person’s specific words or ideas, wholly or partially, intentionally or
unintentionally, without giving proper credit (this includes information found on web sites). Students must
abide by the University’s code on student conduct, including policies on plagiarism and academic
dishonesty. Any student who plagiarizes work should expect to fail the course and may be asked to leave the
university. Please read the University’s explanation of plagiarism and how to avoid it at:
www.umb.edu/admissions/ugrad_catalog/plagiarism.html
Support Services
The Academic Support Office offers both individual tutoring and drop-in workshops for students who need
help with the critical reading, thinking and writing skills necessary for courses such as this one. More
information on their programs is available online at www.academicsupport.umb.edu/rwsscenter.html, or at
their Campus Center office (CC1-1300). If it appears that you might not pass this course and I am unable to
support your success in the course, I may inform the Director of the Student Referral Program in the
University Advising Center. This strictly confidential program is part of an early warning system designed to
help students address personal and academic difficulties that may interfere with their progress in the
University.
Disabilities
The Ross Center for Disability Services (CC2-2010) provides accommodations and educational resources for
students with demonstrated needs, as outlined on their website (www.rosscenter.umb.edu). Should you be
eligible for these services, you should contact the Ross Center right away so that their staff can help you
identify appropriate accommodations in this and other courses. The Ross Center’s number is 617-287-7430.
Course Schedule
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This schedule may change as the semester progresses. I will note these changes in class, but even if you
are not in class when the changes are made, it is ultimately your responsibility to be aware of the
readings and assignments. Make sure to check our course website (http://engl201buscemi.wikispaces.umb.edu/) regularly for updates.
I will sometimes assign additional, contextual readings to accompany the primary texts that we will be
looking at. These will usually be announced the class before they are due.
Week 1 (9/8-9/10)
W: Introduction to the course
F: Canterbury Tales, “The Prologue” (3-14)
Week 2 (9/13-9/17)
M: Canterbury Tales, “The Prologue” (14-26)
W: Canterbury Tales, summary of “The Knight’s Tale” (on course website); “Words Between the Host and
the Miller” (86-8) and “The Miller’s Tale” (88-106)
F: Canterbury Tales, “The Reeve’s Prologue” (106-08) and “The Reeve’s Tale” (108-19)
Week 3 (9/20-9/24)
M: Canterbury Tales, “The Pardoner’s Prologue” (241-44) and “The Pardoner’s Tale” (244-58)
W: Canterbury Tales, “The Wife of Bath’s Prologue” (259-80) and “Words Between the Summoner and the
Friar” (280-81)
F: Canterbury Tales, “The Wife of Bath’s Tale” (281-92)
Week 4 (9/27-10/1)
M: Shakespeare’s Sonnets
W: Shakespeare’s Sonnets
F: Shakespeare’s Sonnets
Week 5 (10/04-10/08)
M: Twelfth Night, Act I (7-45)
W: Twelfth Night, Act II (48-87)
F: Twelfth Night, Act III (90-137)
Week 6 (10/11-10/15)
M: Columbus Day – No Class
W: Twelfth Night, Act IV (140-57); Essay 1 Due
F: Twelfth Night, Act V (160-89)
Week 7 (10/18-10/22)
M: Moll Flanders (39-89)
W: Moll Flanders (89-140)
F: Moll Flanders (141-99)
Week 8 (10/25-10/29)
M: Moll Flanders (200-60)
W: Moll Flanders (260-303)
F: No Class Meeting; Outside Exercise on 18th-Century Crime Writing
Week 9 (11/1-11/5)
M: Moll Flanders (304-34)
W: Lady Audley’s Secret (43-97)
F: Lady Audley’s Secret (97-142); Outside Materials on Victorian Womanhood (website)
Week 10 (11/8-11/12)
M: Lady Audley’s Secret (142-92)
W: Lady Audley’s Secret (193-257)
F: Lady Audley’s Secret (257-319)
Week 11 (11/15-11/19)
M: Outside Materials on Serialization (website)
W: Lady Audley’s Secret (319-66)
F: Lady Audley’s Secret (366-419); Essay 2 Due
Week 12 (11/22-11/24)
M: Lady Audley’s Secret (420-46); “Victorian Medical Jurisprudence” (website)
W: Concluding discussion of Lady Audley’s Secret
F: Thanksgiving Recess – No Class
Week 13 (11/29-12/3)
M: WWI poetry (on course website)
W: Mrs. Dalloway
F: Mrs. Dalloway
Week 14 (12/6-12/10)
M: Mrs. Dalloway
W: Mrs. Dalloway
F: Mrs. Dalloway
Week 15 (12/13)
M: Concluding discussion of Mrs. Dalloway