I. ASCRC General Education Form (revised 2/8/13)
Use to propose new general education courses (except writing courses), to change or
renew existing gen ed courses and to remove designations for existing gen ed courses.
Note: One-time-only general education designation may be requested for experimental courses
(X91-previously X95), granted only for the semester taught. A NEW request must be
submitted for the course to receive subsequent general education status.
Group
II. Mathematics
VII: Social Sciences
(submit
III. Language
VIII: Ethics & Human Values
separate forms
III Exception: Symbolic Systems * IX: American & European
if requesting
IV: Expressive Arts
X: Indigenous & Global
more than one
X V: Literary & Artistic Studies
XI: Natural Sciences
general
w/ lab  w/out lab 
education
VI: Historical & Cultural Studies
group
*Courses proposed for this designation must be standing requirements of
designation)
majors that qualify for exceptions to the modern and classical language
requirement
Dept/Program MCLL/RUSS
Course #
RUSS 312L/
MCLG 306L /
LS 306L
Course Title
Intro to Russian Literature I
Prerequisite
N/A
Credits
3
II. Endorsement/Approvals
Complete the form and obtain signatures before submitting to Faculty Senate Office
Please type / print name Signature
Instructor
Phone / Email
Program Chair
Dean
Clint Walker
Clint.walker@mso.umt.edu
MCLL: Liz Ametsbichler/
Jannine Montauban
____________________
Date
______
Liberal Studies: Stewart Justman
Chris Comer
III. Type of request
New
One-time Only
Renew X
Change
Remove
Reason for Gen Ed inclusion, change or deletion
Description of change
IV. Description and purpose of the general education course: General Education courses
must be introductory and foundational within the offering department or within the General
Education Group. They must emphasize breadth, context, and connectedness; and relate course
content to students’ future lives: See Preamble:
http://umt.edu/facultysenate/archives/minutes/gened/GE_preamble.aspx
A historically contextualized survey of nineteenth-century Russian literature covering various
genres (novels, short stories, poetry). The course begins with the poetry and prose of Pushkin,
the recognized “Shakespeare” of Russian literature, and includes the work of Gogol, Turgenev,
Rostopchina, Pavlova, Dostoevsky, Tolstoy and Chekhov. Although the course addresses a
number of larger cultural issues, the dominant theme explored is Russian national identity and
Russia’s complex relation to Western Europe. Whenever appropriate, parallels are drawn
between Russia and the United States, whose literature еxplores similar questions but in very
different ways. Students are encouraged to relate Russia’s search for its national identity to
their own individual quests for self-definition. This is an introductory course and assumes no
prior knowledge about Russia.
V. Criteria: Briefly explain how this course meets the criteria for the group. See:
http://umt.edu/facultysenate/documents/forms/GE_Criteria5-1-08.aspx
This course examines a wide range of
literary genres (novels, poems, short stories)
and periods. The class is taught seminarstyle,
with brief lecture followed by
moderated group and paired discussion.
Students complete focused writing
assignments in class and as homework. Texts
are analyzed using a wide spectrum of
critical approaches (formalism,
structuralism, semiotics, gender theory,
psychoanalysis, etc).
VI. Student Learning Goals: Briefly explain how this course will meet the applicable learning
goals. See: http://umt.edu/facultysenate/documents/forms/GE_Criteria5-1-08.aspx
Students analyze works in a number of
literary periods (sentimentalism,
romanticism, realism, nascent modernism)
using a wide range of critical approaches,
from formalism and semiotics to
deconstruction and gender studies.
Particular emphasis is placed on reading the
text in its historical and cultural context in
order to develop and support arguments
more convincingly.
VII. Justification: Normally, general education courses will not carry pre-requisites, will carry
at least 3 credits, and will be numbered at the 100-200 level. If the course has more than one
pre-requisite, carries fewer than three credits, or is upper division (numbered above the 200
level), provide rationale for exception(s).
VIII. Syllabus: Paste syllabus below or attach and send digital copy with form.  The syllabus
should clearly describe how the above criteria are satisfied. For assistance on syllabus
preparation see: http://teaching.berkeley.edu/bgd/syllabus.html
Prof. Clint Walker
Literature
LA 330, x2501
clint.walker@mso.umt.edu
Introduction to 19th Century Russian
RUSS 312L/MCLG 306L/LS 306L
Tues and Thurs, 2:10—3:30 pm, LA 342
Office Hours: M, W 10-11am, Th 12-1pm LA330
Russian Literature of the 19th Century
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
A historically contextualized survey of nineteenth-century Russian literature covering various
genres (novels, short stories, poetry). The course begins with the poetry and prose of Pushkin,
the recognized “Shakespeare” of Russian literature, and includes the work of Gogol, Turgenev,
Rostopchina, Pavlova, Dostoevsky, Tolstoy and Chekhov. Although the course addresses a
number of larger cultural issues, the dominant theme explored is Russian national identity and
Russia’s complex relation to Western Europe. Whenever appropriate, parallels are drawn
between Russia and the United States, whose literature еxplores similar questions but in very
different ways. Students are encouraged to relate Russia’s search for its national identity to
their own individual quests for self-definition. This is an introductory course and assumes no
prior knowledge about Russia.
STUDENT LEARNING GOALS:
Students will be introduced to a number of literary periods (sentimentalism, romanticism,
realism, nascent modernism) using a wide range of critical approaches, from formalism and
semiotics to deconstruction and gender studies. Particular emphasis is placed on reading the
text in its historical and cultural context in order to develop and support arguments more
convincingly.
GENERAL REQUIREMENTS:
Regular attendance and timely reading of all assigned works.
Active participation in class discussion.
Two in-class response papers (1-2 pages, handwritten)
One 4-5 page short paper
Midterm
One longer 8-10 page paper* (minimum of two outside sources)
REQUIRED TEXTS:
Available from your instructor: [$29 for six books and coursepack]
St. Petersburg: Knopf Guides $3.25
Literary Russia: A Guide by Rosamund Bartlett $6.25
Dead Souls by Nikolai Gogol $3
Hero of Our Time by Mikhail Lermontov $3
The Gambler, Bobok and A Nasty Story by Fyodor Dostoevsky $6.25
Stories by Anton Chekhov. Trans. Pevear and Volokhonsky $5.25
Coursepack (“Queen of Spades,” “Nevsky Prospect,” “The Nose”) $2
Available in the bookstore:
The Portable Nineteenth-Century Russian Reader Ed. George Gibian.
GRADING:
25%
Attendance, Class Participation, In-class Response Papers
25%
Midterm
20%
Short Paper (4-5 pages)
30% Long Paper* (8-10 pages):
GRADING SCALE
A = 93-100
A- = 90-92
B+ = 87-89
B = 83-86
B- = 80-82
C+ = 77-79
C = 73-76
C- = 70-72
D+ = 68-69
D = 66-67
D- = 65
F = 64 and below
PAPER GUIDELINES:
All papers should be typed or done on a computer. Respect your work—give each paper a title
and include your name and the date! Use a standard 12 point font (Times New Roman
recommended) and double-space. Proofread each assignment for typos, poor wording,
mechanics, etc. Late work will be penalized one letter grade per day. Plagiarism will not be
tolerated in any form. Please ask if you have a question about what constitutes plagiarism, but
on the whole, if you consult another work for ideas, copy or paraphrase from another source,
etc., then you need to acknowledge the source (including the work you consulted and the page
number/s) in your paper with a footnote.
IN-CLASS RESPONSE PAPERS:
Two times during the course of the semester you will be asked to write short in-class response
papers based on the reading for the day. You will be given a choice of at least two topics and
will have about ten minutes to write on one of them. You may use your books and notes for
reference, but no extra time will be given. If you have done the reading, ten minutes will be
plenty of time to respond to one of the topics. The response papers will be graded on a scale of
1-10, with ten being the highest possible grade. NB – If you miss class the day of an in-class
response, you will get no credit for that day’s response. Class attendance counts for part of your
class grade, and the in-class response papers are intended to emphasize this fact and to reward
those who come to class and keep up with the reading assignments.
CLASSROOM ETIQUETTE:
It is essential to the learning process that students treat each other and the instructor with
respect. Under the Student Conduct Code, students who are found to be disruptive may be
asked to leave the classroom. Disruptive behaviors may include but are not limited to:
 Using electronic communication devices, including cell phones and laptops for purposes
unrelated to ongoing class activities.
 Carrying on side conversations that are distracting to the instructor and other students.
 Verbally interrupting the class with comments or questions not relevant to the course or
to the current discussion.
 Failure to participate in assigned group activities.
 Significantly interfering with instructor’s work activities during or outside of class.
The University of Montana assures equal access to instruction through
collaboration between students with disabilities, instructors, and Disability
Services for Students (DSS). If you think you may have a disability adversely
affecting your academic performance and you have not already registered with
DSS, please contact DSS in Lommasson 154. I will be glad to work with you and
DSS to provide an appropriate accommodation.
Syllabus
August
Tues, 27
Introduction, Discussion of Syllabus
Peter the Great and Russian Culture
Founding of St. Petersburg
Read: Intro on Pushkin and “The Shot”
(in Portable 19th-Century RR, pp. 1-4, 22-33)
Thurs 29
Petersburg, Pushkin and the Flowering of Russian Literature
Pushkin: Biography and Lyrics
Discussion of lyrics and “The Shot”
Read: 1) Pushkin: The Bronze Horseman
(in Portable 19th-Century RR, pp. 8-21)
2) St. Petersburg: Knopf Guides, pp. 30-31, 38-39, 78-87,
114-118, 190-195
3) Literary Russia, pp. 288-290
September
Tues
3
Pushkin: The Bronze Horseman
Read: Pushkin, “The Queen of Spades” (coursepack)
Thurs 5
Pushkin: “The Queen of Spades”
Read: 1) Gogol, “Nevsky Prospect” (coursepack)
2) St. Petersburg: Knopf Guides, pp. 212-223
3) Literary Russia, pp. 265-266
Tues
10
Gogol, “Nevsky Prospect”
Read: 1) Gogol, “The Nose” (coursepack)
2) Literary Russia, pp. 307-308
Thurs 12
Gogol, “The Nose”
Read: Gogol, “The Overcoat” (in Portable 19th-Century RR, pp.
202-232)
Tues
17
Gogol, “The Overcoat”
Read Gogol, Dead Souls, Chaps I-V, pp. 5-97
Thurs 19
Gogol, Dead Souls
Read Gogol, Dead Souls, Chaps VI-end of Part I, pp. 97-186
Tues
24
Gogol, Dead Souls
Read Gogol, Dead Souls, all of Part II, pp. 187-292
Thurs 26
Gogol, Dead Souls
HW: Begin working on your short paper that is due on Oct 3
October
Tues
1
Gogol, Dead Souls (overview of entire novel)
Read: Lermontov and Rostopchina lyrics and note that the
Short Paper is due on Thursday, Oct 3
Thurs 3
work
Souls
Short Paper (4-5 pp) Due Today: Close analysis of a short
or close analysis of one chapter from Gogol’s Dead
Lecture: Lermontov Bio and Overview of his Work
Lermontov and Rostopchina lyrics
Read: 1) Lermontov, Hero of Our Time, all of Part I (through
“Taman”)
2) Literary Russia, pp. 425-435
Tues
8
Lermontov, Hero of Our Time (discussion of all of Part I)
Read: Lermontov, Hero of Our Time (“Princess Mary”)
Thurs 10
Lermontov, Hero of Our Time (discussion of “Princess Mary”)
Read: Lermontov, Hero of Our Time (to the end of the novel)
Tues
15
Thurs 17
Lermontov, Hero of Our Time (“The Fatalist” and Overview)
Midterm Exam (Pushkin through Lermontov)
Read: Turgenev, “First Love” (in Portable 19th-Century RR, pp.
334-390)
Tues
22
Turgenev, “First Love” (in Portable 19th-Century RR)
Read: No homework today – take a night off!
Thurs 24
Lecture and Video: Dostoevsky Biography
Tues
Dostoevsky, The Gambler, chaps I-VIII
29
Thurs 31
Dostoevsky, The Gambler, chaps IX-XIII
November
Tues
5
Dostoevsky, The Gambler, chaps XIV-End
Thurs 7
Lecture and Video: Tolstoy Biography
We will begin “The Death of Ivan Ilych” in class today
(in Portable 19th-Century RR, pp. 437-489)
Tues
Tolstoy, “The Death of Ivan Ilych” (in Portable 19th-Century RR)
12
Thurs 14
Chekhov, “Anyuta,” “The Darling” (in Stories)
Tues
Chekhov, “Rothschild’s Fiddle,” “Man in a Case”
19
One-page outline of Long Paper Due Today
Thurs 21
NO CLASS – Professor Walker at ASEEES
Tues
Chekhov, “Ward No. 6”
26
Thurs 28
NO CLASS -- THANKSGIVING BREAK
December
Tues
3
Thurs 5
Chekhov, “Anna on the Neck,” “The Lady with the Little Dog”
Chekhov, “In the Ravine”
Your long paper for this course will be due on Tues., Dec 10 by 5pm (in LA
330).
Please note: Approved general education changes will take effect next fall.
General education instructors will be expected to provide sample assessment items and
corresponding responses to the Assessment Advisory Committee.