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ENGL 4325 Victorian Literature, Fall 2015 SYLLABUS
(Each team will select one class period during which they will be responsible for teaching class).
Week 1
M 8/24: What is team-based learning? Practice reading, writing, and conversing: excerpt from In
Memoriam.
[HMWK: Read in Longman Anthology Arthur Conan Doyle, “A Scandal in Bohemia” (p. 14661482) and Robert Browning, “Home Thoughts, from Abroad” (p. 1331-1332), “Meeting at Night”
and “Parting at Morning” (p. 1335-1336). Take I-RAT 1 on Blackboard.]
W 8/26 Form teams and take T-RAT 1 on Doyle and R. Browning. Applications: What do you already
know about reading, about short stories, poems, these two writers? How do you approach a short
story, esp. a mystery? What should you be looking for, ready to discuss? What about poetry? Same
questions. Reading process: Critical reading techniques handout.
[HMWK: Read in Longman “The Victorian Age at a Glance” (p. 1045 ff) and Longman
“Introduction” to the Victorian Period (p. 1049--1068). Take I-RAT 2 on Blackboard. Review
team notes and compile a list of study recommendations; prepare and be ready to share in
class.
F 8/28 T-RAT 2 on readings. Share study recommendations. Decide on and record team goals.
Discuss readings. What surprised you? Interested you? Bothered you? Prepare a list of five things to
keep in mind as you study literature of the Victorian Period.
[HMWK: Assessment: First polished draft of Theme 1: two or three paragraphs that express
your current thoughts, hopes, and concerns about the course. Bring three typed, double-spaced
copies of this short essay to class; one to turn in, two to use in a peer review exercise. Read in
Longman: “Perspectives: The Industrial Landscape,” (p. 1088- 1113). Take I-RAT 3 on BB.]
Week 2
M 8/31 Peer revision of short essays. Handout on peer revision T-RAT 3 and application questions:
questions, surprises, class, gender, and. . .?
[HMWK: Hard Times Book the First, Chapters I-XI (p. 5-61). Take I-RAT 4 on BB.]
W 9/2 T-RAT 4 and application exercises on Hard Times Book the First: similar to Monday’s questions
and discussion.
F 9/4 NO CLASS, Dr. Ross out of town.
Week 3
M 9/7 NO CLASS, Labor Day
[HMWK: Hard Times Book the Second Chapter VI- XII (p. 112-165). Take the I-RAT on BB.]
W 9/9 Turn in your revised Theme 1 at the beginning of class. Take T-RAT 5 and application exercises
on Hard Times Book the Second. Character comparison exercise. Preliminary comments on Dickens’
style.
[HMWK: Hard Times Book the Third, entire (p. 166-222). Take I-RAT 6 on BB. Work on your
character comparisons.]
F 9/11 T-RAT 6 and application exercises on Hard Times Book the Third: three big lessons from this
novel. What are two topics that his novel has made you want to think and write about?
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[HMWK: As a team revise and prepare to present Dickens’ character comparisons. Discuss your
ideas of writing topics.]
Week 4
M 9/14 Team presentations of character comparisons. Discussion of writing topics. Wrap-up
comments about the novel. What were the gains and losses of industrialization?
[HMWK: During the next week, draft and revise short Theme 2 on the writing topic you have
chosen. Be sure you exchange a draft with a team mate and get feedback. Include evidence
that you did this.]
W 9/16 Dr. Ross introduces poems by Elizabeth Barrett Browning (selected Sonnets from the
Portuguese), Matthew Arnold (“Isolation. To Marguerite”), and Christina Rossetti (“A Triad”).
[HMWK: Read in Longman, “Perspectives: Victorian Ladies and Gentlemen” (P. 1520-1556);
introductory comments on Elizabeth Barrett Browning, selected Sonnets from the Portuguese (p.
1138-1140, 1145-1148); introductory comments on Matthew Arnold, “Isolation. To Marguerite”
and “To Marguerite—Continued” (p. 1557-1561); introductory comments on Christina Rossetti
(1642-1644), “Song” (the first one on p. 1644), “A Triad” (p. 1647), “’No, Thank You, John’” (p.
1663-1664), and “in Progress” (p. 1664-1665). Take I-RAT 7 on BB.]
F 9/18 T-RAT 7 on the poems. Application exercises:
[HMWK: North and South Volume I, Chapters I-VIII (p. 7-69). Take I-RAT 8 on BB. Finishing
touches on Theme 2.]
Week 5
M 9/21 Short Theme 2 on Dickens topic due at the beginning of class (including evidence of a peer
review). T-RAT 8 on North and South p. 7-69 and applications exercises.
[HMWK: North and South Volume I, Chapters IX- XVII (p. 69-127). Take the I-RAT 9 on BB]
W 9/23 T-RAT 9 on North and South p. 69-127 and applications exercises: including beginning to
generate a team short-essay writing project.
[HMWK: North and South Vol. I, Chap XVIII-XXV (p. 127- 187). Take I-RAT 10 on BB ]
F 9/25 T-RAT 10 on North and South p. 127-187 and applications exercises.
[HMWK: Catch up as needed]
Week 6
M 9/28 Workshop in class
[HMWK: Volume II, Chapters I-X (p. 191-263). Take I-RAT 11 on BB]
W 9/30 T-RAT 11 on North and South p. 191-263 and application exercises: more on the team short
essay
[HMWK: North and South Volume II, Chapters XI- XV (p. 264-311). Take I-RAT 12 on BB]
F 10/2 T-RAT 12 on North and South p. 264-311 and application exercises.
[HMWK: North and South Volume II (p. 311-395). Take I-RAT 13 on BB]
Week 7
M 10/5 T-RAT 13 on North and South p. 311-395 and application exercises.
[HMWK: Begin drafting short Theme 3 on North and South and a list of five things your
classmates need to know or think about for the Midterm]
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W 10/7 In class review for Midterm.
[HMWK: Review for Midterm.]
F 10/9 Midterm Examination.
[HMWK: Take a break.]
Week 8
M 10/12 Discuss Midterm and short essay topics, work in teams on drafts.
[HMWK: Read in Longman, “Perspectives: Religion and Science” (p. 1291- 1321), introductory
comments on Charles Darwin (p. 1260-1262), and selections from On the Origin of Species, The
Descent of Man, and his Autobiography (p. 1272-1290). Take I-RAT 14 on BB]
[HMWK: Finish polished draft of short Theme 3 on North and South.]
W 10/14 Take T-Rat 14 on Religion and Science Perspectives readings. Dr. Ross gives short lecture on
Religion and Science in the Victorian Period. Application exercises.
[HMWK: Read introductory comments on Alfred, Lord Tennyson (p. 1175-1178) and the
following passages selected from In Memoriam: Lines 1- 44 (p. 1205-1206); Stanza 30 (p. 1216);
Stanza 34 (p. 1216-1217); Stanzas 54-56 (p. 1218-1219); Stanza 96 (p. 1226-1227); Stanza 106 (p.
1228-1229); Stanza 124 (p. 1233), and Stanza 131 (p. 1234). Treat each passage as if it were a
separate poem, but with similar themes. Take I-RAT 15 on BB)
F 10/16 T-RAT 15 on In Memoriam readings. Application exercises
[HMWK: Read introductory comments on John Henry Cardinal Newman and excerpt from
Apologia Pro Vita Sua (p. 1305-1312); introductory comments on Gerard Manley Hopkins (p.
1701—1702), and all poems from p. 1702 to 1707 (ending with “As Kingfishers Catch Fire”).
Read also poems from p. 1708 to p. 1710—the so-called “terrible sonnets” and the excerpt from
his Journal and the letter to R. W. Dixon (p. 1710-1713). Take I-RAT 16 on BB. Revise Theme 3].]
Week 9
M 10/19 . T-RAT 16 on Newman and Hopkins. Application exercises.
[HMWK: Revise Theme 3]
W 10/21 Peer revision workshop in class.
[HMWK: Revise Theme 3, be prepared to read it in class.]
F 10/23 Theme 3 due at the beginning of class, we will read some of these essays in class
[HMWK: Start reading Middlemarch.]
Week 10
M 10/26 Workshop on the novel.
[HMWK: Middlemarch Book I Miss Brooke (p. 5-78). Take I-RAT 17 on BB]
W 10/28 T-RAT 17 on Middlemarch Book I. Application exercises.
[HMWK: Middlemarch Book II Old and Young (p. 79-144). Take I-RAT18 on BB]
F 10/30 T-RAT 18 on Middlemarch Book II. Application exercises.
[HMWK: Middlemarch Book III Waiting for Death (p. 145-200). Take I-RAT 19 on BB]
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Week 11
M 11/2 T-RAT 19 on Middlemarch Book III. Application exercises. Last day to withdraw from class
without penalty
[Hmwk: Middlemarch Book IV Three Love Problems (p. 201-267). Take I-RAT 20 on BB]
W 11/4 NO CLASS (Dr. Ross out of town)
F 11/6 Workshop in class.
Week 12
M 11/9 T-RAT 20 on Middlemarch Book IV. Application exercises.
[HMWK: Middlemarch Book V The Dead Hand (p. 267-330). Take I-RAT 21 on BB]
W 11/11 T-RAT 21 on Middlemarch Book V. Application exercises.
[HMWK: Middlemarch Book VI The Widow and the Wife (p. 331-393). Take I-RAT 22 on BB]
F 11/13 T-RAT 22 on Middlemarch Book VI. Application exercises.
[HMWK: Middlemarch Book VII Two Temptations (p. 395-451). Take I-RAT 23 on BB]
Week 13
M 11/16 T-RAT23 on Middlemarch Book VII. Application exercises.
[HMWK: Middlemarch Book VIII Sunset and Sunrise (p. 453-515). Take I-RAT 24 on BB]
W 11/18 T-RAT 24 on Middlemarch Book VIII. Application exercises.
[HMWK: Read The Importance of Being Earnest (p. 1829-1869). Take I-RAT 25 on BB
F 11/20 T-RAT 25 on Importance of Being Earnest
[HMWK: prepare your Term Project Presentations]
11/23-27—Thanksgiving Vacation
Week 14
M 11/30 Term Project Presentations: Three things your classmates should know about your Term
Project topic
W 12/2 Term Project Presentations: Three things your classmates should know about your Term
Project topic
F 12/4 Term Project Presentations. Three things your classmates should know about your Term Project
topic. This is the last day to turn in hard copies of the project (please do so at the beginning of class).
Week 15
M 12/7—Study day
W/F 12/9 or 12/11 Final exam for anyone with a course average lower than 91%.