Survey of English Literature 1

Prothro-Yeager College of Humanities & Social Sciences

ENGL 2813 X10 Online- Fall 2025

Instructor:

 Dr. Peter Fields 

Office:

 Bea Wood 230 - 2^nd floor of PY

Office hours:

 TR 11:15 AM -12:15 PM; 2:15 - 4:15 PM, & Friday 2:15 – 4:15 PM or by appointment.

Office Phone:

 (940) 397-4246 – call any time – Outlook records your call in my email.

E-mail:

peter.fields@msutexas.edu

Course Description

A survey of English literature from its seventh century beginnings through the neoclassical era. Emphasis is on the works of principal authors as they reflect literary and historical backgrounds.

Course Goals

·        Read English Literature of the medieval and early modern period (prior to 1800).

·        Develop two projects in stages: Par. w. Works Cited, 1a, 1b, 1c, 2a, 2b, 2c.

·        We add a Research Paragraph to 1b to create 1c Literary Research Project; we also add a Research Paragraph to 2b, which becomes 2c Literary Research Project.

·        For the Research Paragraph, students choose from scholarly articles the instructor has pre-vetted from the Moffett database Gale Academic OneFile.

·        For the AI team report each student contributes one fact w. bullets; adds their own personal comments.

·        We follow MLA for in-body citing and Works Cited (cross reference method).

·        Grading rubric for Literary Research Project(s) is adapted from the AACU rubric for social, personal responsibility, critical thinking, and communication skills.

THECB Core Course Objectives and Assessments

·        Critical Thinking

·        To assess the student’s critical thinking, the Research Project rubric will be applied to the Research Paper.

·        Communication

·        To assess a student’s communication, the Research Project rubric will be applied to the Research Paper.

·        Personal Responsibility

·        To assess a student’s personal responsibility, the Research Project rubric will be applied to the Research Paper.

·        Social Responsibility

·        To assess a student’s social responsibility, the Research Project rubric will be applied to the Research paper.

Required Textbook

Our required textbook is the E-book for Package 1 of The Norton Anthology of English Literature, 11th edition. Stephen Greenblatt, general editor. ISBN 978-1-324-07280-5. Volume A: The Middle Ages; Volume B: The Sixteenth Century and the Early Seventeenth Century; Volume C: The Restoration and the Eighteenth Century.

Links to Ebook Readings

In D2L on the navigation bar, click on Content and then on Textbook. Then click on Package 1 Ebook: The Norton Anthology of English Literature. You will see the chapter titles for Package 1 Ebook. Under Chapter Title, click on Contents. You will bring up the title-by-title table of contents. Each item is a link to a specific work. Pagination follows “Full” (not “Shorter). A-38 means this is the top of page 38 in volume A of the printed version of our anthology.

Academic Misconduct Policy & Procedures

Academic Dishonesty may take the form cheating, collusion, or plagiarism (the act of using source material of other persons, either published or unpublished, without following the accepted techniques of crediting, or the submission for credit of work not produced by the individual to whom credit is given). All assignments submitted to the D2L drop box are subject to Turnitin which also has the capability to detect AI. Plagiarism will result in an F (a “0” – no points) for the assignment, which may result in an F for the semester. Offenders may be reported to the Chair of the Department of English, Humanities, and Philosophy and/or the Director of Student Rights and Responsibilities. Use of AI to write Paragraph 3 w. Works Cited, Essays 1a, 1b, 1c and 2a, 2b, 2c is prohibited.

AI Teams & AI team report

Students will be assigned by D2L to 4 and 5 member AI groups. Students should prod their AI to think deeper. Each student will contribute one fact from AI about the life and work of John Milton. Each fact is one sentence with three bullet points for details. Group must choose a leader to whom each member reports with fact and three bullet points and type of AI used. The leader collects facts and bullet points for the group report and writes a brief preamble (introduction) that states which AI were used. Each member customizes their group report by adding a personal comment to each fact (after the bullet points, but not one of the bullet points). Students may mention facts about Milton’s life in 2a, 2b, 2c without citing (attributing the fact). However, students are not allowed to use AI to write 2a, 2b, 2c

Study Hours and Tutoring Assistance

Located on the first floor of Moffett Library, TASP's Learning Center provides free drop-in tutoring support in a number of core courses and subject areas.

Final Exam

We do not have a final exam.

Extra Credit

There is no individual extra credit in this course. I reserve the right to offer extra credit for the whole class as the opportunity presents itself.

Late Work (all late work due no later than Monday December 8)

Late assignments (defined as work flagged by D2L as late) will be accepted, but they are penalized 10 points out of 100 even if it is late by less than a minute. All late work must be submitted to their drop boxes before 11:59 PM Monday December 8. 

Submission Format and Policy

All formal assignments must be typed, double-spaced, 12 point (font is up to the student) with quotes and Works Cited (cross reference method) formatted according to MLA style. See also instructions and models for our assignments in Content in D2L.

All essays must be submitted to the drop box in D2L in order to count and be graded.

By enrolling in this class, students expressly grant MSU a “limited right” in all intellectual property created by students for the purpose of this course. The “limited right” shall include but shall not be limited to the right to reproduce the student’s work product in order to verify originality and authenticity, and for educational purposes. Please note that the D2L Dropbox folder will automatically run papers through Turnitin.com. Turnitin provides both an Originality Report and an AI Report. 

*Note: Students may not submit a paper for a grade in this class that already has been (or will be) submitted for a grade in another course, unless they obtain the explicit written permission of me and the other instructor involved in advance.

Last day for penalty-free “W”

Last Day to withdraw with a grade of “W:”

 Monday, November 24.

Desire-to-Learn (D2L)

Extensive use of the MSU D2L program is a part of this course. Students are expected to be familiar with this platform as it provides a primary source of communication regarding assignments, examination materials, and general course information.

Attendance

This is an online course. Students are well-advised to login on the first day of the semester and visit the modules and that way create login history. You are “present” if you have login history.

Change of Schedule

A student dropping a course (but not withdrawing from the University) within the first 12 class days of a regular semester or the first four class days of a summer semester is eligible for a 100% refund of applicable tuition and fees. Dates are published in the Schedule of Classes each semester.

Refund and Repayment Policy

A student who withdraws or is administratively withdrawn from Midwestern State University (MSU) may be eligible to receive a refund for all or a portion of the tuition, fees, and room/board charges that were paid to MSU for the semester. However, if the student received financial aid (federal/state/institutional grants, loans, and/or scholarships), all or a portion of the refund may be returned to the financial aid programs. Two formulas (federal and state) exist in determining the amount of the refund. (Examples of each refund calculation will be made available upon request).

Services for Students with Disabilities

In accordance with Section 504 of the Federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, Midwestern State University endeavors to make reasonable accommodations to ensure equal opportunity for qualified persons with disabilities to participate in all educational, social, and recreational programs and activities. After notification of acceptance, students requiring accommodations should make an application for such assistance through Disability Support Services, located in the Clark Student Center, Room 168, (940) 397-4140. Current documentation of a disability will be required in order to provide appropriate services, and each request will be individually reviewed.

College Policies

Smoking/Tobacco Policy

College policy strictly prohibits the use of tobacco products in any building owned or operated by WATC. Adult students may smoke only in the outside designated smoking areas at each location.

Alcohol and Drug Policy

To comply with the Drug-Free Schools and Communities Act of 1989 and subsequent amendments, students and employees of Midwestern State are informed that strictly enforced policies are in place which prohibit the unlawful possession, use, or distribution of any illicit drugs, including alcohol, on university property or as part of any university-sponsored activity. Students and employees are also subject to all applicable legal sanctions under local, state, and federal law for any offenses involving illicit drugs on University property or at University-sponsored activities.

Campus Carry

Effective August 1, 2016, the Campus Carry law (Senate Bill 11) allows those licensed individuals to carry a concealed handgun in buildings on public university campuses, except in locations the University establishes as prohibited. The new Constitutional Carry law does not change this process. Concealed carry still requires a License-to-carry permit, and openly carrying handguns is not allowed on college campuses.

Active Shooter

The safety and security of our campus is the responsibility of everyone in our community. Each of us has an obligation to be prepared to appropriately respond to threats to our campus, such as an active aggressor. Please review the information provided by the MSU Police Department regarding the options and strategies we can all use to stay safe during difficult situations. For more information, visit MSUReady – Active Shooter. Students are encouraged to watch the video entitled “Run. Hide. Fight.” which may be electronically accessed via the University police department’s webpage.  

Grade Appeal Process

Students who wish to appeal a grade should consult the Midwestern State University the MSU catalogue.

Course Schedule: Lists of Required Readings and Assignments

In D2L on the navigation bar, click on Content and then on Textbook. Then click on Package 1 Ebook: The Norton Anthology of English Literature. You will see the chapter titles for Package 1 Ebook. Under Chapter Title, click on Contents. You will bring up the title-by-title table of contents. Each item is a link to a specific work. Pagination follows “Full” (not “Shorter). A-38 means this is the top of page 38 in volume A of the printed version of our anthology.

Weeks 1-4 Aug 25-Sept 19

Course theme: The Intimacy of Conflict. We apply Freytag’s Pyramid (five stages of plot) to conflict in a scene from one of our works in our LIST Part 1.

LIST (Part 1): Required readings for Par. 3 w. Works Cited, 1a, 1b, and 1c Literary Research Project.

·        Beowulf, pp. 37-109.

·        Julian of Norwich, Showings (aka Revelations of Divine Love) pp. 220-232.

·        Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, pp. 412-67.

·        Sir Thomas Malory, Le Morte Darthur (Death of Arthur), pp. 603-622.

Freytag’s Pyramid: the plot stages of conflict

·        *Exposition: background, characters (esp. protagonist, antagonist), seeds of conflict.

·        *Rising Action: inciting incident, two parties in contention, the knot of conflict tightens

·        *Climax: peak of action, epiphany (revelation or discovery), decision, change in direction

·        *Falling Action: release of tension (dénouement – pronounced “dāne-Å«-mahn”), untying the knot of the conflict

·        *Conclusion: Resolution of the conflict; sometimes also epilogue (a post-resolution update)

Conflict is most profound if the two parties are connected to one another. Conflict, for purposes of Freytag’s Pyramid, is most profound in love. Freytag’s five stages of conflict, in truth, represent principles of attraction. They are dynamics of human intimacy.

Assignments for Weeks 1-4

Paragraph 3 w. Works Cited due Monday Sept 8:

·        Describe in detail one scene each from two different titles in our LIST (Part 1):

·        Emphasize climax, falling action, conclusion (resolution) for both scenes.

·        Quoting is optional.

·        No more than two quotes; meaning comes first, followed by quote.

·        Provide Works Cited (cross reference).

See these modules in D2L for Par. 3 w. Works Cited:

·        Instructions for Par. 3 w. Works Cited.

·        Model Paragraph 3 w. Works Cited.

·        Notes for Beowulf and Freytag’s Pyramid.

·        Notes for Julian of Norwich and Freytag’s Pyramid.

Essay 1a due Monday Sept 15:

·        Choose 2 titles from our A list (on the left).

·        Add paragraphs 2 and 4 to Paragraph 3.

·        Paragraph 3 is from our first assignment.

·        Paragraph two examines a scene from one of title in “A” list (first title mentioned in par. 3).

·        Paragraph four examines a scene from one of titles in “A” list (second title mentioned in par. 3)

·        Each paragraph relies on specific details.

·        Quoting is optional.

·        No more than two quotes; meaning comes first, followed by quote.

·        â€˜Provide Works Cited (cross reference).

See these modules in D2L Content for 1a:

·        Instructions for 1a.

·        Notes for Beowulf and Freytag’s Pyramid.

·        Notes for Le Morte Darthur and Freytag’s Pyramid.

·        Model Essay 1a

Weeks 5-7 Sept 22-Oct 10

Choose one article from this list of articles in the Moffett-supported database Gale Academic OneFile for the Research Paragraph for 1c Literary Research Project and another article for the 2c Literary Research Project:

·        Brent Nelson, “Cain-Leviathan Typology in Gollum and Grendel.” Extrapolation

·        Michael D. C. Drout and Caiden Kumar. “Aid from the Elf-Ruler.” Studies in Philology.

·        Kevin R. West, “Tokens of Sin, badges of honor: Julian of Norwich and Sir Gawain and the Green Knight.” Renascence

·        Taylor Patrick O’Neill, “DOCTOR OF PROVIDENCE: Taylor Patrick O’Neill defends Julian of Norwich.” First Things

·        Linda Rose, “The voice of a saintly woman: the feminine style of Julian of Norwich’s ‘Showings.’” Women and Language.

·        Manish Sharma, “Hiding the Harm: revisionism and marvel in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight.” Papers on Language and Literature

·        David N. Beauregard, “Moral Theology in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight: the pentangle, the Green Knight, and the perfection of virtue.” Renascence

·        Anca Magiru, “Legal Archetypes in the Arthurian legends: the theme of incest.” Journal of Research in Gender Studies

Assignments for Weeks 5-7

Essay 1b due Monday Sept 22.

·        Revise as per instructor evaluation of 1a.

·        Add paragraphs 1 and 5.

In Content in D2L, see these modules for 1b:

·        Instructions for Essay 1b.

·        Model Essay 1b.

1c Literary Research Project due Monday Sept 29.

·        Revise as per instructor evaluation of 1b.

·        Add Research Paragraph before epilogue.

·        Provide citation in Works Cited

In Content in D2L, see these modules for 1c:

·        Instructions for 1c.

·        Model 1c Research Paragraph

·        Model Essay for 1c Literary Research Project.

AI team report Monday Oct 6: John Milton

·        Contribute fact w. bullet points about John Milton.

·        Select leader to send facts w bullet point.

·        Leader writes preamble (introduction) identifying type(s) of AI used by group.

·        Each student customizes group report with personal comment for each fact.

See these modules in Content in D2L:

·        Instructions for AI team report

·        Model AI team report

Weeks 8-15 Oct 13 – Dec 8

LIST (part. 2) of required reading for 2a, 2b, and 2c:

·        William Shakespeare, The Tempest pp. 726-785.

·        Geoffrey Chaucer, pp. 467-540. General Prologue (GP), 473-493; The Miller’s Prologue & Tale, pp. 494-510; The Man of Law’s Epilogue, p. 511; The Wife of Bath’s Prologue & Tale, pp. 512-540.

·        John Milton, Paradise Lost, pp. 1427-1661. [Focus on Bks 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9.)

·        Eliza Haywood, 

·        Fantomina, pp. 650-668.

Choose one article from this list of articles in the Moffett-supported database Gale Academic OneFile for the 2c Literary Research Project:

·        Sebastien Lefait, “Prospera’s looks: adapting Shakespearean reflexivity in the tempest (Julie Taymor, 2010), Literature-Film Quarterly.

·        Matthew Ritger, “Time in The Tempest: Shakespeare, The Mock-Tempest, and Early Modern Carceral Labor,” Shakespeare Studies.

·        Greg Walker, “Rough girls and squeamish boys: the trouble with Absolon in the Miller Tale,” Essays and Studies.

·        Azime Peksenyakar, “I shall thee quyte: fabliau women’s spatial resistance in the Miler’s Tale and the Reeve’s Tale,” Interactions.

·        Oya Bayiltmis Ogutcu, “The Wife of Bath’s Sexual Poetics and Politics of Food and Drink,” Litera.

·        David Mikics, “Miltonic Marriage and the challenge to history in Paradise Lost,” Texas Studies in Literature and Language.

·        D. M. Rosenberg, “Epic warfare in Cowley and Milton,” CLIO.

·        Emily Hodgson Anderson, “Performing the passions in Eliza Haywood’s Fantomina and Miss Betsy Thoughtless,” Eighteenth Century: Theory and Interpretation.

Assignment for Weeks 8-15

Essay 2a due Monday Nov 10.

·        Choose two of our tiles from List (part 2.)

·        Par 2 addresses the conflict of a scene in the first title.

·        Par 4 addresses the conflict of a scene in the second title.

·        Par 3 focuses on climax and resolution of both scenes.

·        Provide Works Cited (cross reference).

See these modules in D2L Content for Essay 2a

·        Notes for 2a.

·        Instructions for Essay 2a.

·        Model Essay 2a.

Essay 2b due Monday November 24.

·        Revise as per evaluation of 2a.

·        Add paragraphs 1 and 5 to 2a.

See these modules in D2L Content for 2b:

·        Instructions for Essay 2b.

·        Model Essay 2b.

Essay 2c due Monday Dec 8: add Research Paragraph to 2b. Here is how to create a Research Paragraph:

·        Choose one of articles in list for 2c.

·        Explain idea from article in your own paragraph

·        Quote at least once from the article

·        Research paragraph should be next-to-last paragraph in 2b

·        Provide citation in Works Cited

See these modules in Content in D2L:

·        Instructions for Essay 2c

·        Model 2c Research Paragraph

·        Model 2c Literary Research Paragraph

*Reminder: All late work is due before 11:59 PM Monday December 8.

·        We do not meet for a Final Exam.

Our “Final” is 2c Literary Research Project due in its drop box before 11:59 PM Monday December 8.

The percentage/letter grading scale is as follows: A = 90-100; B = 80-89; C = 70-79; D = 60-69; F = 0-59. Grades are NOT rounded up. Therefore, whether for a specific assignment or the final calculated grade in D2L, a 79.9 is a C, not a B. A 69.9 is a D, not a C. A 59.9 is an F, not a D. An 89.9 is a B, not an A. 

Percentages for 8 assignments: Par. 3 w. Works Cited, 1a, 1b, 1c, AI Team Report, 2a, 2b, 2c

·      Par 3 w. Works Cited (due 9/8) compares climax, falling action, and conclusion in 2 scenes, one each from two titles in List (Part. 1) in course schedule, vis-à-vis Freytag’s Pyramid.  10%

·      Essay 1a – pars. 2, 3, 4, WC (due 9/15) describes five stages for both scenes vis-à-vis Freytag. 10%

·      Essay 1b – adds pars 1, 5 (due 9/22) – revise 1a as per evaluation, add pars 1, 5. 10%

·      1c Literary Research Project (due 9/29) – add Research Paragraph to 1b from articles listed in Course Schedule. 20%

·      AI Team Report (due 10/6) – contribute fact about Milton w. bullets; customize with personal comments. 10%

·      Essay 2a – pars 2, 3, 4, WC (due 11/10) follows same model as 1a; titles from LIST (part. 2) in Course Schedule. 10%

·      Essay 2b – pars 1, 15 (due 11/24). Revise 2a as per evaluation; add pars 1 & 5 to 2a. 10%

·      2c Literary Research Project (12/08). Add research paragraph & Works Cited item to 2b. 20%

·      Total 100%

Mid-Term Grades & Percentage – Letter grade equivalence in this course

I will report a midterm grade for each student based on an average of the numeric grades of five assignments: Par. 3 w. Works Cited, 1a, 1b, 1c Literary Research Project, and the AI Team report, all of which should be logged in as of the end of Monday, October 6 (the beginning of our seventh week). 1c Literary Research Project counts twice; therefore, I am adding together 6 grades and dividing by 6 to arrive at the midterm grade, which is not an official grade, just an approximate snap-shot of your current progress, which on Navigate becomes a letter grade. The numeric/letter equivalence will be A+ (97-100) A (93-96), A- (90-92), B+ (87-89), B (83-86), B- (80-82), C+ (77-79), C (73-76), C- (70-72); D+ (67-69), D (63-66), D- (60-62); F (59 and below).

Attendance

This is an online course. Students are well-advised to login on the first day of the semester and visit the modules and that way create login history. You are “present” if you have login history.

Late Work (all late work due no later than Monday December 8)

Late assignments (defined as work flagged by D2L as late) will be accepted, but they are penalized 10 points out of 100 even if it is late by less than a minute. All late work must be submitted to their drop boxes before 11:59 PM Monday December 8. 

Note: You may not submit a paper for a grade in this class that already has been (or will be) submitted for a grade in another course, unless you obtain the explicit written permission of me and the other instructor involved in advance.

Plagiarism is the use of someone else's thoughts, words, ideas, or lines of argument in your own work without appropriate documentation (a parenthetical citation at the end and a listing in "Works Cited")-whether you use that material in a quote, paraphrase, or summary. It is a theft of intellectual property and will not be tolerated, whether intentional or not.

Student Honor Creed

As an MSU Student, I pledge not to lie, cheat, steal, or help anyone else do so."

As students at MSU, we recognize that any great society must be composed of empowered, responsible citizens. We also recognize universities play an important role in helping mold these responsible citizens. We believe students themselves play an important part in developing responsible citizenship by maintaining a community where integrity and honorable character are the norm, not the exception.

Thus, We, the Students of Midwestern State University, resolve to uphold the honor of the University by affirming our commitment to complete academic honesty. We resolve not only to be honest but also to hold our peers accountable for complete honesty in all university matters.

We consider it dishonest to ask for, give, or receive help in examinations or quizzes, to use any unauthorized material in examinations, or to present, as one's own, work or ideas which are not entirely one's own. We recognize that any instructor has the right to expect that all student work is honest, original work. We accept and acknowledge that responsibility for lying, cheating, stealing, plagiarism, and other forms of academic dishonesty fundamentally rests within each individual student.

We expect of ourselves academic integrity, personal professionalism, and ethical character. We appreciate steps taken by University officials to protect the honor of the University against any who would disgrace the MSU student body by violating the spirit of this creed.

Written and adopted by the 2002-2003 MSU Student Senate.

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal anti-discrimination statute that provides comprehensive civil rights protection for persons with disabilities. Among other things, this legislation requires that all students with disabilities be guaranteed a learning environment that provides for reasonable accommodation of their disabilities. If you believe you have a disability requiring an accommodation, please contact the Disability Support Services in Room 168 of the Clark Student Center, (940) 397-4140.

The professor considers this classroom to be a place where you will be treated with respect as a human being - regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, national origin, religious affiliation, sexual orientation, political beliefs, age, or ability. Additionally, diversity of thought is appreciated and encouraged, provided you can agree to disagree. It is the professor's expectation that ALL students consider the classroom a safe environment.

All instructors in the Department have voicemail in their offices and MSUTexas e-mail addresses. Make sure you add your instructor's phone number and e-mail address to both email and cell phone lists of contacts.

Obligation to Report Sex Discrimination under State and Federal Law

Midwestern State University is committed to providing and strengthening an educational, working, and living environment where students, faculty, staff, and visitors are free from sex discrimination of any kind. State and federal law require University employees to report sex discrimination and sexual misconduct to the University’s Office of Title IX. As a faculty member, I am required to report to the Title IX Coordinator any allegations, personally observed behavior, or other direct or indirect knowledge of conduct that reasonably may constitute sex discrimination or sexual misconduct, which includes sexual assault, sexual harassment, dating violence, or stalking, involving a student or employee. After a report is made, the office of Title IX will reach out to the affected student or employee in an effort to connect such person(s) with resources and options in addressing the allegations made in the report. You are also encouraged to report any incidents to the office of Title IX. You may do so by contacting:

Laura Hetrick

Title IX Coordinator
Sunwatcher Village Clubhouse
940-397-4213

laura.hetrick@msutexas.edu

You may also file an online report 24/7 at Maxient 

Should you wish to visit with someone about your experience in confidence, you may contact the MSU Counseling Center at 940-397-4618. For more information on the University’s policy on Title IX or sexual misconduct, please visit MSU Texas Title IX

Senate Bill 11 passed by the 84th Texas Legislature allows licensed handgun holders to carry concealed handguns on campus, effective August 1, 2016. Areas excluded from concealed carry are appropriately marked, in accordance with state law. For more information regarding campus carry, please refer to the University’s webpage at https://msutexas.edu/campus-carry/rules-policies.

If you have questions or concerns, please contact MSU Chief of Police at police@msutexas.edu.