Dr. C.’s Learning Web

Here’s the syllabus we’re starting with. Like any syllabus, it is subject to change, but it will at least give you a firm idea of assignments, scope of reading, and the shape of the course of study.

This syllabus also exists as a wiki. Anyone may view the wiki, but only registered members of this course of study may edit it.

ENGL 474: Seminar in Milton Dr. Campbell/Combs 123

Spring 2007/Combs 25 654‑1131/gcampbel@umw.edu

TR 9:30-10:45 MWF 10-11:30, R 2-3 & by appt.

Goals:

1. To begin to come to grips with some of the most astonishing verbal art ever created, by researching, reflecting, presenting, and writing on the art, life, and times of John Milton.

2. As a seminar, this course emphasizes particular speaking skills, and is designed to teach you how to speak effectively in presenting your research to a group of fellow students, how to respond orally to a fellow student’s presentation and lead a discussion on it, and how better to discuss one’s own work and the work of one’s fellow students in a conference setting. In addition, we will learn to recite poetry with fluency, accuracy, and feeling, both in the recitation assignment and during our all-night Paradise Lost readathon, when as a community of students we will read a great poem aloud to each other over several hours, thereby giving voice to the printed word and bringing the drama of Milton’s verse to life. This is a Speaking Intensive Course.

Syllabus (subject to change)

1/16 Introduction

1/18 “On the Morning of Christ’s Nativity,” Cambridge Companion (CC) 1‑24, Wilson (handout)

1/23 Research (Mr. Jack Bales)

1/25 “L’Allegro” and “Il Penseroso,” CC 54‑69

1/30 Sonnet VII, “Ad Patrem,” “At A Solemn Musick”

2/1 A Mask (Comus), CC 25‑38

2/6 A Mask, cont.

2/8 “Lycidas,” CC 39‑53

2/13 “Apology for Smectymnuus” (selections), Reason of Church Government (selections), CC 84-97

2/15-20 Areopagitica CC 236-252

2/22 PL I, CC 160-174

2/27 PL II

3/1, 3/13 PL III, CC 144‑159, Sonnet XXIII

3/15, 3/20 PL IV, CC 175‑192

3/22 PL V, CC 253-267

Eleventh Annual UMW Paradise Lost Reading: 3/23 5:30 p.m. 3/24 Dawn. Location: TBD

3/27 PL VI, CC 193-201

3/29 PL VII

4/3 PL VIII, CC 130-143

4/5, 4/12 PL IX (no class 4/10)

4/17, 4/19 PL X (Recitations must be done by this week)

4/24 PL XI

4/26 PL XII Seminar paper due (15 pp. plus works cited)

FINAL EXAM: Thursday, May 3, 8:30-11:00 a.m.

Assignments:

· One class presentation on an individual poem, prose work, or book of Paradise Lost, including an annotated bibliography (in MLA style) of at least two books and four critical essays (to be posted to the wiki and handed out to the class).

· One turn as presentation respondent, both to reflect aloud on the oral presentation’s content and to lead the class in a discussion of that presentation.

· Consistent, informed participation in class discussions and the syllabus wiki. Since you must be present to participate in class discussion, more than two absences will lower your class participation grade. Satisfying these minimum requirements earns a grade of “C” for class participation. A grade of “B” in class participation characterizes unusually active, engaged, and informed participation in nearly every class. A grade of “A” for class participation characterizes unusually active, engaged, and informed participation, in nearly every class, that is also exceptionally acute, interesting, and responsive. The same standards apply to your postings to the wiki.

· Recitation of fourteen to twenty-five consecutive lines of Milton’s verse or prose, by 4/22. Your recitation will be one of our seminar podcasts.

· One 15 pp. seminar paper (may be based on your oral presentation) to include both your critical work and substantial work with secondary sources (documented in MLA style). All papers are due in class on the due date. Late papers will receive no credit. I will grant extensions for genuine emergencies only. All papers must be typed, double‑ spaced, and secured with a paper clip only.

· A final exam.

· I reserve the right to give you brief reading quizzes, which may be graded.

GRADING: Papers, exams, and class participation are graded on a 100‑ point scale:

A+ 98‑100 B+ 87‑89 C+ 77‑79 D+ 67‑69 F 59 and below

A 93‑97 B 83‑86 C 73‑76 D 63‑66

A‑ 90‑92 B‑ 80‑82 C‑ 70‑72 D‑ 60‑62

Weighting for each assignment:

Seminar Paper 30% Seminar presentation 20% Respondent 10%

Recitation 05% Final exam 25% Class/Wiki participation/Quizzes 10%

ATTENDANCE: Voluntary, but see above under class participation. You are (of course) responsible for all material covered during your absence.

Books on reserve in Simpson Library:

Carey, John. Milton: Complete Shorter Poems.

Davies, Stevie. Images of Kingship in Paradise Lost.

Hunter, W. B. et al., eds. A Milton Encyclopedia (9 vols.).

Ingram, W. and K. Swaim, eds. A Concordance to Milton’s English Poetry.

Kendrick, Christopher, ed. Critical Essays on John Milton.

Kerrigan, William and Gordon Braden. The Idea of the Renaissance.

Lewis, C. S. A Preface to Paradise Lost.

McColley, Diane Kelsey. Milton’s Eve.

Parker, William R. Milton: A Biography.

Turner, J. G. and D. Loewenstein, eds. Politics, poetics, and hermeneutics in Milton’s prose.

BLACKBOARD: I will use our course Blackboard site for the gradebook only. The course syllabus (static) and other class materials will be posted to my Learning Webs for this term, at http://blogs.elsweb.org/gcampbel. You should check it regularly. You’ll find the link to our dynamic syllabus wiki on this site as well.

HONOR SYSTEM: The UMW Honor System is in effect for our course, as per Article 1, Section 1, paragraph B of the University of Mary Washington Honor Code.