ENG3014 | Syllabus

Course Description [top]
This introductory course aims to enable students to wrestle with several fundamental problems in between critical theory, literature and philosophy. These questions include:

• the nature of mimesis or representation;
• the reader's relation to the text;
• whether ethics matter in relation to the creation and reception of literature;
• what is the nature of aesthetic pleasure;
• what roles expression and emotion play in the generation and interpretation of texts;
• and whether literary texts, as art objects, are independent of external relations and depend upon a unique system of internal relations, among other questions.

The structure of the course is built around the attempt to illustrate how these basic questions generate various answers, grounded in different and yet related historical, political, and cultural environments. Hence, using these basic problems as guide questions, this course attempts to sketch the development of certain traditions of philosophy, literature and aesthetics through tracing the outlines of their Greek origins; their later European medieval and modern descendants; and finally, some contemporary trends. Because this course aims to display, in broad strokes, the historical outlines of the rise and decline of different ways of grappling with these recurrent and converging questions, which are always embedded in a prevailing cultural matrix, parallel developments in philosophy, visual and dramatic art, mythology, psychology, music, and politics, whenever these are relevant, will be used to frame the texts. The course ultimately culminates in the creation of a 5-7 page scholarly/creative reflection paper.

Course Format [top]
This course will employ principally a lecture and discussion format, and will integrate the effective use of technology (e.g., Blackboard, powerpoint, videos, when relevant). To fulfill the requirements of this course, you should sign up for a garnet or mailer account by going to: http://register.acns.fsu.edu/CARS/studentreg.html. If you already have a garnet or mailer account, and are registered properly for the course, then when you go to http://campus.fsu.edu/ (note: a new browser window will open) and log into ENG 3014 section ___. Using your garnet or mailer accounts and passwords, you should be able to access all information on the course that is available via the Blackboard shell.

Note that to fulfill the requirements necessary to not only pass, but do well in the course, you will need to learn the essentials of Blackboard as soon as possible. The essentials, other than registering, entail learning how to use threaded conversations (Under "Communication-Discussion Board" and "Communication-Small Groups-Discussion Board"); checking for "External Link" powerpoint posts and "Announcements," and checking posted grades (Under "Student Tools--Check Your Grade"). There are other additional features you may use, such as the e-mail feature under "Communication."

Students are required to come in, having read the assigned texts of the day, in order to present and defend their opinions, respectfully critique those of others, and pose clarificatory questions individually, and weekly via threaded conversations, during weeks 11-15, in consultation with the professor. A significant percentage of the marks will come from participation in class and via virtual threaded conversations, where literary and critical theory will be actively done, rather than written about. Students will also be required to learn how to use Blackboard in order to make threaded conversation posts and to use its various functions, such as to check posted lectures, announcements and grades. In addition, they are required to keep track of the Student Edition and Teacher Edition powerpoints that are posted on http://english3.fsu.edu/%7Ekpicart/crit-theory/slides.htm

Later on, students will be required to do one in-class group report (normally in pairs, depending on the size of the class) as part of fulfilling the requirements of the course. Students are highly encouraged to consult the professor early and regularly if they are having difficulties with the course.

Florida State University Handbook Related Issues:
Attendance [top]
According to university policy, students who accumulate more than two weeks' worth of absences are in danger of failing (that's six MWF classes or four TTH classes); those who are involved with university-sanctioned events (inclusive of, but not limited to athletics, band, ROTC, academic honor societies, and nursing) may not be counted absent on days scheduled as service work for the university. To be excused on such days, obtain a signed statement on FSU letterhead, authorizing such a schedule of projected absences, from your advisor, by the second week of classes. This is the student's responsibility; without such a document, those absences will be counted.

Documented illnesses (get an authorized note from your physician or Thagard) will also be counted as excused absences. In all these cases, however, the students are still held responsible for work due that day and for all material covered, inclusive of class announcements or if necessary, changes to the course calendar; if a major requirement is due, such as a final paper, it is the student's responsibility to get the paper to the instructor either ahead of time, or on the day itself, through e-mail (kpicart@english.fsu.edu). No late work is acceptable. However, in this class, you are allowed three free passes in terms of minor requirements such as quizzes or threaded conversation posts; that is, I will cancel the three lowest threaded conversation and quiz scores (note: one threaded c onversation post is weighted twice as heavily as a quiz), which are submitted weekly during the final third of the course. Use these three free passes wisely.

Academic Honor Code [top]
The Florida State University General Bulletin contains an Honor Code that is repeated verbatim in the Student Handbook. You are responsible for knowing and conforming to it; in addition to the information listed in the Handbook, you are also cautioned that:

1. If you take material that is not yours, from any source (inclusive of websites), and copy it into anything you submit, you are obligated to provide a footnote, endnote or parenthetical reference and works cited list at the end of the paper.
   
2. Material that is lifted verbatim from other texts must be placed in quotation marks or, in the case of anything longer than three sentences, blocked quotes, indicating its source, as in item # 1 above.
   
3. Material that is paraphrased must also be documented as in item # 1.
   
4. Persons who violate the Honor Code and any of the items above in any requirement, whether minor or major, will receive an "F" for the course.

Keep these in mind when you write your final papers. Remember that cheating constitutes adequate justification for expulsion. When you use a source (and your final paper will require 10 sources, from a collection of sources, such as books, articles, newpapers, reputable web sources-note that only ONE source may be taken from the web), these should be cited properly, either as direct quotes, or as paraphrased material. Go to: Drafts and Final Papers Criteria Presentation and Final Paper Guide Presentation for more information. You may use either the APA, MLA or Chicago Manual of Style for citations, as long as you are consistent throughout the paper.

ADA Statement [top]
Students with documented disabilities needing academic accommodations should, in the first week of class:

1. register with and provide documentation to the Student Disability Resource Center (SDRC) and
2. bring an authorized letter from SDRC to the professor, indicating the need for academic accommodations, if necessary.

This and all other class materials are available in alternative format, upon request. I will do everything I can to ensure fairness to everyone in class.

Course Requirements [top]
Requirements for the successful completion of the course include:

I. Graded participation in class group quizzes and threaded conversation discussions will take the place alongside formal attendance checks in class. Each threaded conversation post must be posted by midnight on Sunday of every assigned week. Each threaded conversation is worth 200 points or two quizzes because they require more forethought and organization. Every threaded conversation post must be done in the general discussion board (which will allow the entire class access to your post, and to each others' posts. Each group quiz, given at the start of each new section, will constitute 100 points; each threaded conversation will also be worth 100 points. A single lowest or missed quiz will be dropped from the final tally. In addition to replying to posted guide questions, the threaded conversations are venues you may use to ask questions concerning the lecture, to ground issues taken in class within a larger context, as well as simply to explore the subject matter, in accordance with your interests. All of these constitute 25% of the total mark: with quizzes worth 15%; threaded conversations are bonus opportunities; and in-class individual participation and attendance as 5% each. Often, if you are on the verge of the next higher mark (less than a point away, but close to a .5 or higher), extra effort in these categories may give the professor enough justification to be able to pull your grades up to the next level without violating standards of fairness.

II. II. One exam, which will be partly objective and partly essay. This exam will constitute 20% of the total mark.

III. A group report (usually in pairs) that requires the effective use of powerpoint, and which will constitute 15% of the total mark. After the usual 10 minute group quiz, each report will be 30 minutes long, with the remaining 10 minutes to be used by the professor for providing summary remarks. You will be graded on an individual basis on the following criteria:

Note: 24 hours before the group is due to report, you are required to e-mail me (kpicart@english.fsu.edu), requesting for help with ftp-ing the file to my webpage. On the day of the report itself, you are required to come in with a diskette back-up copy, just in case anything goes wrong with the web, and with two printed copies of the powerpoint presentations, printed as "hand-outs."

PowerPoint Printing [top]
Below are the instructions for printing out powerpoint presentations as hand-outs:

I. From the web (You must have the PowerPoint program installed in your computer to do it this way)

1. Use Netscape to get to http://campus.fsu.edu/.
2. After you log in and get to the course webpage, click to External Links.
3. Click on the PowerPoint presentation you would like to print out.
4. A window will open to ask if you would like to "save it to disk" or "run from the current location". For convenience's sake, click "run from current location." This will download and transfer the presentation to the PowerPoint program on your computer.
5. Go to "File" on the menu. Scroll down to "Print."
6. When the print menu pops up:
   • You can choose from "slides". This will print each slide on a full page.
   • To save paper, you can choose to print as "handouts". On a section on the right, you can choose how many slides you would like on each page.
   • Also, there are checklist options at the bottom, I recommend clicking "pure black and white" for clearer pictures on a black and white printer.
   • When you are finished, click the "OK" button.

II. From the PowerPoint Program.

1. Click on the "my computer" icon.
2. Click on the icon representing where your file is saved (for example, if the PowerPoint presentation you wish to open is on your disk, click A:)
3. Click on the file in order to open.
4. Go to "File" on the menu. Scroll down to "Print".
5. When the print menu pops up:
   • You can choose from "slides". This will print each slide on a full page.
   • To save paper, you can choose to print as "handouts". On a section on the right, you can choose how many slides you would like on each page.
   • Also, there are checklist options, I recommend clicking "pure black and white" for clearer pictures on a black and white printer.
   • When you are finished, click the "OK" button.

IV. A 4-5 paged draft (Double spaced, typewritten, 1 inch margins all around), which will account for 20% of the final mark. These papers are going to be based on guide questions. An additional page should be added for the bibliography.

V. A 5-7 paged research-based and creative final paper (Double spaced, typewritten, 1 inch margins all around), which will account for 20% of the final mark. An extra page should be added for the bibliography.

The professor reserves the right to revise these requirements and the schedule listed below if these prove necessary. Full credit will be earned for the course only if all requirements are completed on schedule. There are no make-up quizzes and no make-up threaded conversation discussions. In case accidents or emergencies come up, it is the student's responsibility to inform the professor as soon as possible, preferably before an examination has been given so that alternative plans may be made, if warranted. If the student informs the professor only after the exam has been given, s/he must provide proof for why s/he missed taking the exam; in such cases, make-up exams may be given, but the student must be willing to accept a grade reduction to the next lower level (i.e., an "A" becomes an "A-" and so on). Unless there are clear and sufficient reasons, NO make-up exams will be given. Cheating in a major requirement (e.g. exams) will warrant a mark of "0" the first time; and instant failure for the course the second time.

Main Texts [top]

All of these readings are available online via the campus Blackboard course site, under Course Library; if you wish to acquire your own copies, optional copies are available via Bill's Bookstore. I earn zero royalties from the use of these books in my courses.

H. Adams, Critical Theory Since Plato (Orlando, FL: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1992) [hereafter referred to as CTSP].

C. Picart, An Introduction to Philosophy (Acton, Massachusetts: Copley, 1997) [hereafter referred to as IP].

C. Picart, Resentment and "the Feminine" in Nietzsche's Politico-Aesthetics (University Park, PA: Penn State University Press, 1999) [hereafter referred to as RFNPA] ISBN: 0-271-01889-5.

Supplementary Texts [top]

Books marked with * are available at Strozier Library, all others can be found at Bill's Bookstore.

Plato, The Republic, Desmond Lee, Trans. (Viking Press, 1955), 2nd revised edition. *

R. Kraut, The Cambridge Companion to Plato (Cambridge University Press, 1992). *

Aristotle, Aristotle’s Poetics, S. H. Butcher, Trans. (Hill and Wang Publications, 1989). *

Augustine, Confessions, Henry Chadwick, Trans. (Oxford University Press, 1998). *

Dante Alighieri, The Inferno, Trans. John Ciardi (Signet, 2001). *

Francis Bacon, The New Organon, Eds. Lisa Jardine and Michael Silverthorne (Cambridge University Press, 2000). *

Rene Descartes, Discourse on Method, and Meditations on First Philosophy, Trans. Donald Cress (Hackett, 1999). *

Edmund Burke, The Portable Edmund Burke, Trans. Isaac Kramnick (Penguin, 1999). *

Paul Guyer, The Cambridge Companion to Kant (Cambridge University Press, 1992). *

Immanuel Kant, The Critique of Judgment (Great Books in Philosophy), Trans. J.H. Bernard (Prometheus, 2000). *

Mary Wollstonecraft, A Vindication of the Rights of Woman: An Authoritative Text; Background; The Wollstonecraft Debate; Criticism (Norton, 1988). *

Bryan Magee, The Philosophy of Schopenhauer (Oxford, 1997). *

Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel, Phenomenology of Spirit, Trans. A.V. Miller and J.N. Findlay (Oxford University Press, 1979). *

Karl Marx, Capital: A Critique of Political Economy (Penguin Classics), Trans. Ben Fowles (Penguin, 1992). *

Friedrich Nietzsche, The Birth of Tragedy and the Genealogy of Morals (Anchor, 1956). *

Friedrich Nietzsche, Thus Spoke Zarathustra: A Book for All and for None, Trans. Walter Kaufmann (Modern Library, 1995). *

Sigmund Freud, Interpretation of Dreams, Ed. James Strachey (Avon, 1983). *

Sigmund Freud, Civilization and Its Discontents, Eds. James Strachey and Peter Gay (W.W. Norton & Company, 1989).

Simone de Beauvoir, The Second Sex, Trans. H.M. Parshley (Vintage, 1989).

Michel Foucault, Discipline and Punish: The Birth of the Prison, Trans. Alan Sheridan (Vintage, 1995). *

Roland Barthes, S/Z, Trans. Richard Miller (Noonday Press, 1991). *

Roland Barthes, Image, Music, Text, Trans. Stephen Heath (Noonday Press, 1978). *

Jacques Derrida, Writing and Difference, Trans. Alan Bass (University of Chicago Press, 1980). *

Jacques Derrida, Of Grammatology, Trans. Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak (Johns Hopkins, 1998).

Kelly Oliver, Womanizing Nietzsche: Philosophy’s Relation to the Feminine (Routledge, 1995). *

Debra Bergoffen, Review of Kay Picart’s Resentment and the Feminine in Nietzsche’s Politico-Aesthetics, Hypatia 17:3 (2002): 268-270.

Larry Peer, Books Reviewed, Prism(s) 8 (2000).

 

Student Information Cards [top]
By the first day of the second week of class, please hand in the following information on the smallest sized index card with a recent photo of you.

Name:
Nickname:
Year:
Major:
Minor:
Background in English, Humanities, Philosophy, Criticism or Women's Studies (if any):
Home Phone:
E-Mail:

Threaded Conversations Grading Criteria [top]
In order to receive any grade higher than 40 points on a 100 point scale, the student must meet the word limits set, which is between 250 to 500 words. At the top of the post, kindly indicate the word count and double space your entries (hit enter twice at the end of every line). To check your word count, in MSWORD use "Tools" -> "Word Count" and look at the number after 'words.' Failure to do so results in deductions to the next lower grade per omission (i.e., not having a word count moves you from an A to an A-; not double spacing, on top of that, leaves you with a B+ as the highest mark possible).

93-100 points
The student shows detailed comprehension of the question and the material and provides a very clear argumentation. Proper English grammar and spelling are essential for this grade.

87-92 points
The student shows detailed comprehension of the question and the material and provides for the most part a very clear argumentation. Proper English grammar and spelling are essential.

80-86 points
The student shows detailed comprehension of the question and the material and provides a good argumentation. Very few spelling or grammar errors may occur.

73-79 points
The student shows average comprehension of the question and the material. There are either minor argumentation or spelling or grammar errors in the writing.

67-72 points
The student shows either problems with the comprehension of the question and/or the material and at times lacks adequate argumentation. Spelling/grammar errors may also be frequently present.

60-66 points
The student shows problems with the comprehension of the question and the material and lacks proper argumentation. Spelling and grammar errors are frequently present. There may also be a large amount of wordiness.

00-59 points
The student meets any of the following criteria:

• word count too low (compare the required word count set by your instructor(s)).
• not answering the question provided (i.e. writing about everything else, but the question asked).
• student has no grasp of the material.
• excessive spelling and grammar errors, including--but not limited to--frequent incomplete sentences. You have access to a free writing center on campus if you need help in improving your English.
• Student is caught plagiarizing: automatic 00 for that assignment. Further consequences may follow!
• 00 points for not turning in an assignment on time.

Draft and Final Paper Criteria and Guidelines [top]

This PowerPoint presentation gives you the general evaluation criteria for your final paper: spelling, mechanics, structural detail,  presentation of arguments, synthesis of critical theory and applications, comparative analysis and evidence of research.

The guide to Final Papers will instruct you about the things to do, the things to avoid and the things you shouldn't forget when writting your final paper.

Grading Scale: [top]

93-100% 90-92% 87-89% 83-86% 80-82% 79-77% 76-73% 70-72% 69-67% 66-63% 62-60% 59-0%

A A- B+ B B- C+ C C- D+ D D- F

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Last updated: November 2003