ZOOM Office Hours: MTWR 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM. Email me during my office hours and ask for a ZOOM. Please use your REGULAR email, not the D2L email.

ZOOM BY APPOINTMENT: Make an appointment with me by email. At the agreed-upon time, I will send you the link.

OFFICE PHONE: My campus office phone is 940-397-4246. Please leave your name, message, and the number to call you back.

LAND LINE: My students may also call me on my landline 940-766-6319 in the evenings, on Friday, or on the weekend. Please leave your name, message, and the number to call you back.

Required books (please purchase ACTUAL books with PAGE numbers):

Beowulf: A Verse Translation. Translated by Seamus Heaney. Edited by Daniel Donoghue. 2^nd Norton Critical Edition. Norton, 2019. ISBN: 978-0-393-93837-1.

Sir Thomas Malory. Le Morte Darthur: Selections. Broadview Anthology of British Literature Edition. Broadview Press: 2015. ISBN: 978-1-55481-159-5.

John Milton. Paradise Lost. Edited by Gordon Teskey. Norton Critical Edition. Norton, 2005. ISBN: 978-0-393-92428-2.

The Showings of Julian of Norwich. Edited by Denise N. Baker. A Norton Critical Edition. Norton, 2005. ISBN 0-393-97915-6.

Course goals

Read literary texts united by their interest in fate, destiny, and providence

Describe key moments in texts; discuss fate, destiny, and providence.

Engage in a writing process and utilize credible sources.

Use sources ethically and follow a designated style guide [MLA].

Demonstrate proficient use of Standard Written English.

PowerPoints 1 & 2 and the Essay

Each PowerPoint is 30 percent of the grade; the Essay is 40 percent.

PowerPoint 1 features description paragraphs and images relevant to Beowulf and Mallory’s Le Morte Darthur [Death of Arthur]. For one of the two texts, we need ONE description paragraph; for the other, we need TWO description paragraphs (you choose which). For the text that you write TWO description paragraphs, make sure they address a different moment from each other, a different passage with a different quote.

For PowerPoint 2—description paragraphs and images pertaining to Milton’s Paradise Lost and Julian of Norwich’s Showings [Revelations of Divine Love]—we do the same thing. We need TWO description paragraphs for one of the texts, and ONE description paragraph for the other. For the text that you write TWO description paragraphs, make sure they address a different moment from each other, a different passage with a different quote.

The PowerPoint starts with a title slide; each subsequent slide features a description paragraph and at least one relevant image for that paragraph. Students are free to gut the model PowerPoint (see CONTENT in D2L). They may find their own images by googling search terms and adding the word “images.” Students should NOT adapt the model PowerPoint’s description paragraphs for their own use; they should NOT use the same images. Please pick different scenes and passages from those in the model PowerPoints. Pick different scenes and passages from the models found in this syllabus.

A DESCRIPTION paragraph starts with a topic idea (one or two sentences) that say something about fate, destiny, or providence. The paragraph then uses dynamic descriptive details to capture the moment and convey the character’s experience in the story. Avoid broad summary and plot points; bear down on the moment in the text, convey the action, and paint a picture. The DESCRIPTION paragraph closes on a relevant quote that is complete in its own right. For Beowulf, provide parenthetical line numbers; for Mallory, parenthetical page; for Milton, parenthetical book and line numbers; and for Julian, parenthetical page and chapter.

The ESSAY (six paragraphs)

The ESSAY begins with an INTRODUCTORY paragraph that explains the student’s comparison between TWO of the four works we are examining. This introduction makes brief mention of the key scenes or moments in each of the two works that pertain to the comparison. The comparison is what both works have in common about fate, destiny, or providence—and/or how they might differ.

The ESSAY features TWO description paragraphs that were originally in a PowerPoint, one for each of the two works the student is comparing. They may need to be revised as per the instructor’s feedback and rubric comments when grading the paragraphs at the PowerPoint stage. For the Essay, the two description paragraphs (one from each work) becomes paragraphs 2 and 3.

The ESSAY now needs TWO supporting paragraphs. Each supporting paragraph becomes paragraphs 4 and 5 of the Essay. Each supporting paragraph begins by introducing the source (author, title of essay), explains the relevant idea, briefly reviews the key scene(s), and then closes on a relevant quote from the same supporting source. It should be a complete thought—an entire sentence (or two)—from the supporting source.

Supporting sources must come from our required books. Depending on which works you are comparing, here is what I need:  

For Beowulf (from our required book), choose one of these three essays: Marijane Osborn’s “The Great Feud: Scriptural History and Strife in Beowulf,” (esp.139-40, 142, 146-50), Roberta Frank’s “The Beowulf Poet’s Sense of History” (esp. 174-82), or Jane Chance’s “The Structural Unity of Beowulf” (esp. 160-67).

For Malory (from our required book), I would like everyone to use Ramon Lull, “The Book of the Order of Chivalry” (336-41).

For Milton (from our required book), choose ONE of these essays:  Lewis on Satan (401-07), Lewis on Adam & Eve (453-55), Gross on Satan (421-22), Lewalski on Adam and Eve (466-76), or Frye on Adam and Eve (458-65).

For Julian (from our required book), I would like everyone to use Denise Baker’s introduction (esp. xiii-xvii).

Concluding paragraph: The conclusion should start with dynamic description of a moment or scene in one of your two works (perhaps two or three sentences). Perhaps you are giving us more detail from the scene you already described in par. 2 or 3 of the Essay, or you are offering a different  but relevant moment. Then close the conclusion with a relevant thought or idea (perhaps two or three sentences). The conclusion is NOT a review of your paper; it is more like an epilogue or coda.

The ESSAY requires a two-item Works Cited. Here are examples of citations

Works Cited

Note: For hanging indent, type the item without indenting, highlight with cursor, right click, click on paragraph, then special, and then hanging.

Baker, Denise N. Introduction, The Showings of Julian of Norwich, edited by Denise N. Baker, Norton, 2006, pp. ix-xix.

Lewis, C. S. "From Satan," Paradise Lost by John Milton, edited by Gordon Teskey, Norton, 2005, pp. 401-07.

Lull, Ramon. The Book of the Order of Chivalry. Le Morte Darthur: Selections, by Thomas Malory. Broadview, 2015, pp. 336-41.

Osborn, Marijane. “The Great Feud: Scriptural History and Strife in Beowulf.” Beowulf: A Verse Translation, 2^nd Norton Critical Edition, translated by Seamus Heaney, edited by Daniel Donoghue. Norton, 2019, pp. 39-53.

DISCUSSION FORUM, TOPIC, and the THREAD

The most dynamic point of contact between your thinking and that of the instructor is the THREAD. Go to CONTENT in D2L. Click on the relevant Discussion Forum. Next to the forum’s title is a drop-down arrow for VIEW TOPIC. Click on that topic for an opportunity to start a THREAD.

A THREAD is a paragraph (or more than one) that you draft for input from the instructor. You can copy and paste from your own document. NOTE: do NOT use the attachment feature. Put the paragraph(s) directly into the text box for the THREAD. When you submit the THREAD, D2L notifies the instructor who replies with input about your paragraph. Students can OPEN anyone’s THREAD.

The THREAD is optional; it is for those who want input before submitting their assignment to the drop box for a grade. The THREAD is only useful if the submitter does so in a timely fashion.

If students submit a paragraph (or even a whole PowerPoint) by email attachment, the instructor will examine it for the most obvious concerns. If the student then feels confident, he or she can submit the word-content to the THREAD for closer word-for-word inspection and specific suggestions.

SUBMISSION TO THE DROP BOX

Students must submit their PowerPoints and Essay as documents to the DROP BOX in order for them to be evaluated (by feedback box and attached rubric) and graded. The PowerPoints cannot simply be a link or URL. I do NOT have permission to open password-protected links in Google.

The DROP BOX for an assignment opens on a Friday at 12 AM. It closes on a Monday evening at 11 PM. If you are late or, for some reason, locked out, please contact me by your regular email and ask for SPECIAL ACCESS. The penalty for late submission is 10 points.

Tentative Daily Schedule & Due Dates for the Drop Box

January 11-15 Week 1

Discussion Forum and Topic for PowerPoint 1: Beowulf & Mallory

Reading Beowulf: esp. lines 1-1061 and lines 1158-1250.

Start a thread with a description paragraph.

January 18-22 Week 2

Reading Beowulf: esp. lines 1251-1887 and lines 2200-3136.f

Start a thread with a description paragraph.

January 25-29 Week 3

Reading Thomas Malory’s Le Morte Darthur [The Death of Arthur]: The Marriage of King Uther unto King Arthur, pp. 31-43; A Noble Tale of Sir Launcelot de Lake, pp. 44-61; also, pp. 69 -78.

Start a thread with a description paragraph.

February 1-5 Week 4

Reading Malory: Sir Launcelot and Elaine of Corbin, pp. 79-109; The Noble Tale of the Sankgreal pp. 110-160; also, “The Death of Arthur” pp. 246-322.

Start a thread with a description paragraph.

February 8-12 Week 5

The drop box for PowerPoint 1 opens 12 AM Friday morning February 12 and closes 11 PM Monday night, February 15.

February 15-19 Week 6

Discussion Forum and Topic for PowerPoint 2: Milton & Julian.

Reading Milton’s Paradise Lost. Books 1-2.

February 22-26 Week 7

Reading Paradise Lost. Books 4-6.

Start a thread with a description paragraph.

March 1-5 Week 8

Reading Paradise Lost. Books 8-10.

Start a thread with a description paragraph.

March 8-12 Week 9

Reading Julian’s Showings. Start with Denise Baker’s Introduction pp. ix-xix. Then read Chs. 2-7 (pp. 4-14); Chs. 26-27 (pp. 39-40).

March 15-19 Week 10

Reading Julian’s Showings: Chs. 50-51 (pp. 68-79).

Start a thread with a description paragraph.

March 22-26 Week 11

Reading Julian’s Showings: Chs. 58-60 (pp. 90-95).

Start a thread with a description paragraph.

March 29-31; April 1-2 Week 12

Drop Box for PowerPoint 2: Milton & Julian opens 12 AM Friday, April 2, and closes at 11 PM, Monday evening, April 5.

April 5-9 Week 13

Discussion Forum and Topic for ESSAY: Comparing TWO of our texts.

Start a thread for supporting paragraphs.

April 12-15 Week 14

Start a thread for introduction and conclusion.

April 19-23 Week 15

Drop Box for ESSAY opens 12 AM Friday April 23 and closes 11 PM Monday evening, April 26.

April 26-29 Finals

We do NOT have a final exam. Our ESSAY (due by Monday April 26 at 11 PM) is our final assignment.

Attendance

In D2L the class list (under communication) indicates the most recent date the students have logged into the course. I will use D2L to track attendance.

Submission to the Drop Box/Special Access

All assignments must be submitted to the drop box in order to be evaluated, graded, and counted. If students are locked out of the drop box (due to the drop box officially closing), they need to email the instructor to ask for SPECIAL ACCESS. The late penalty for missing the 11 PM closing of the drop box is 10 points out of 100.

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.