Table of Contents. Evaluation Procedures. Course Description (Catalog)

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1 STUDENT WARNING: This course syllabus is from a previous semester archive and serves only as a preparatory reference. Please use this syllabus as a reference only until the professor opens the classroom and you have access to the updated course syllabus. Please do NOT purchase any books or start any work based on this syllabus; this syllabus may NOT be the one that your individual instructor uses for a course that has not yet started. If you need to verify course textbooks, please refer to the online course description through your student portal. This syllabus is proprietary material of APUS. School: Arts and Humanities Course Number: LITR201 Course Name: World Literature Through the Renaissance Credit Hours: 3 Length of Course: 8 Weeks Prerequisite: ENGL 101 Course Description Course Scope Course Objectives Course Delivery Method Course Materials Evaluation Procedures Grading Scale Course Outline Policies Academic Services Selected Bibliography Course Description (Catalog) LITR201 World Literature through the Renaissance (3 hrs) Readings in translation from a variety of cultures and authors from the Ancient World through the European Renaissance will be the focus of this class. Representative selections will be drawn from Classical Greece, China, India, the Middle East, and Western Europe. Readings include the major genres of epic poetry, drama, lyric verse, religious texts, and prose fiction. Major themes include the characteristics of heroes, the sacred, romance, and virtue. (Prerequisite: ENGL101). Course Scope Over the course of the semester, you will read important works from the literary traditions of Europe and Asia in the major genres of the epic (a long, dramatic poem), drama, prose fiction, religious texts, and lyric verse. The works you read will span the history of literature from the beginning of writing to the European Renaissance. You will be exposed to the histories, cultures, and worldviews of peoples separated from you not only by geography but by time. You will also learn how to read, and how to write about, literature. While reading a great poem or a great book is a reward in itself, grappling with the words of writers from diverse cultures, identifying themes,

2 STUDENT WARNING: This course syllabus is from a previous semester archive and serves only as a preparatory reference. Please use this syllabus as a reference only until the professor opens the classroom and you have access to the updated course syllabus. Please do NOT purchase any books or start any work based on this syllabus; this syllabus may NOT be the one that your individual instructor uses for a course that has not yet started. If you need to verify course textbooks, please refer to the online course description through your student portal. This syllabus is proprietary material of APUS. analyzing symbolism and structure, and arguing your opinions persuasively in writing are all activities which will help you hone important professional and academic skills. Course Learning Objectives Students who successfully complete this course will be able to: CO-1: Recognize the literature of different cultures and time periods; CO-2: Identify distinctions between different types of literature (poetry, prose fiction, and drama) CO-3: Translate own personal responses to literary works into written responses that others can understand; CO-4: Analyze literary works for meaning beyond what is immediately visible; CO-5: Infer cultural ideals and values from literary works; CO-6: Demonstrate ability to collaborate with other students in developing a sense of the larger group's understanding of literary works; CO-7: Organize analysis of literary works and personal responses to literary works into effective and clear close-reading essays; and CO-8: Produce a final essay that investigates points of connection between literary works of different periods and cultures. Course Delivery Method This course delivered via distance learning will enable students to complete academic work in a flexible manner, completely online. Course materials and access to an online learning management system will be made available to each student. Online assignments are due by Sunday evening of the week as noted and include required class discussions (accomplished through a threaded forum), two close-reading essays, one final project (completed as a group), and reading quizzes that are included in the textbook. Forums also have mid-week (Wednesday) due dates in order to help the class discussion develop in a timely fashion; see the individual forums assignments for that information. Assigned faculty will support the students throughout this eight-week course.

3 STUDENT WARNING: This course syllabus is from a previous semester archive and serves only as a preparatory reference. Please use this syllabus as a reference only until the professor opens the classroom and you have access to the updated course syllabus. Please do NOT purchase any books or start any work based on this syllabus; this syllabus may NOT be the one that your individual instructor uses for a course that has not yet started. If you need to verify course textbooks, please refer to the online course description through your student portal. This syllabus is proprietary material of APUS. Course Materials Table of Content Required Course Textbooks The course textbook can be accessed through the link in the classroom. It is an interactive e- textbook, and the included quizzes are a graded part of the course. Additional Resources are located in the weekly lessons found in the Lessons Tab under Course Tools in the online classroom. Required Readings Required readings are embedded in the Course Overview Table below. All required readings will be found in the course e-textbook. Supplementary readings may also be present as links in the weekly Lessons in the online classroom. Websites In addition to the required course texts there are a number of public domain websites that may be useful; when applicable, these websites will be linked in the lesson for the appropriate week. Please abide by the university s Academic Honesty policy when using Internet sources as well, and note that web site addresses are subject to change. If you discover a broken link, please inform your instructor. Students who need assistance with MLA formatting or grammar, punctuation, and similar elements of writing should consult with websites such as Purdue University's Online Writing Lab. Software Requirements Microsoft Word; if you don't have MS Word, please save all files in Rich Text Format (.rtf). Open Office is an effective and free alternative office suite program with a good word processing program. Adobe Reader -- Go to to download the latest version. This download is free. Evaluation Procedures Please see the student handbook to reference the University s grading scale. Grading: Students will write 2 essays during the class as well as present well-formulated and thoughtful responses on all required forums. Students will also work in groups to complete a collaborative multimedia project by the end of the course. Required reading quizzes are present in

4 STUDENT WARNING: This course syllabus is from a previous semester archive and serves only as a preparatory reference. Please use this syllabus as a reference only until the professor opens the classroom and you have access to the updated course syllabus. Please do NOT purchase any books or start any work based on this syllabus; this syllabus may NOT be the one that your individual instructor uses for a course that has not yet started. If you need to verify course textbooks, please refer to the online course description through your student portal. This syllabus is proprietary material of APUS. the textbook. When writing essays, it is highly recommended that students follow a pre-writing, drafting, and revising process similar to that practiced in ENGL 101. Based on a point system, your final grade will be calculated as follows: Assessment Percentage of Course Grade 8 Forums 36% Textbook Reading Questions 20% 2 Essays 30% 1 Final Project* 14% Extra Credit: Syllabus and Course Policies Discussion, 1 points possible Total: 101% *The Final Project grade is split into two parts: consistent participation in project planning/coordination via the Final Project Prep forums, and the final submitted project. Please note that a solo version of the project is available to students for whom working in a group poses substantial challenges. The success of this course hinges on consistent participation in the forums and the submission of your work to the professor for feedback and tips for improvement. You must plan to work at this course continuously; you cannot succeed by working in fits and starts. If you plan to do a little work several days each week, you will accomplish much. If you do need an extension during or after the course, please note that bulk submissions are not accepted during the course or during an extension. Cognitive learning is accomplished by receiving consistent and incremental feedback that creates a positive change in performance (Untanir, 2012). Feedback is structured so students increase their cognitive learning and skill sets. Thus, submitting bulk-loaded late work (more than one assignment at a time) is highly discouraged and may even result in assignment(s) being returned for revision if the instructor feels his or her feedback from any submission would have improved the student s assessment of any assignment. Building feedback is essential to your success. Works Cited: Ultanir, E. (2012). An epistemological glance at the constructivist approach: Constructivist learning in Dewey, Piaget, and Montessori. Online Submission. Grading Standards Important information on plagiarism checks: Course forums will be run through Turnitin.com every week. Your instructor has the right to regrade assignments during the course if suspicion of plagiarism or any other misleading events present themselves. All assignments will also be run through Turnitin upon submission to the course Assignments area. The reports can be accessed through the Assignments area.

5 STUDENT WARNING: This course syllabus is from a previous semester archive and serves only as a preparatory reference. Please use this syllabus as a reference only until the professor opens the classroom and you have access to the updated course syllabus. Please do NOT purchase any books or start any work based on this syllabus; this syllabus may NOT be the one that your individual instructor uses for a course that has not yet started. If you need to verify course textbooks, please refer to the online course description through your student portal. This syllabus is proprietary material of APUS. Reading Quizzes: These are found in the textbook, and should be completed as you read. The short answer questions will be used in the forums as well. These reading quizzes are worth 20% of the course grade. Forums: There are different kinds of required forums in this course: Final Project Prep Forums (Weeks 2, 3, 4, 5, and 7), and Main Discussion forums (Weeks 1-8). For all forums, the initial response should be posted by Wednesday, and the required responses should be posted by Sunday, though in Week 1 ONLY, all posts are due by Sunday. Please see the individual forums for more specific requirements and grading information. In the main discussion forums, keep in mind that the extent of your participation is considered in the forum grading; making 1 main post plus word, solidly engaged responses will earn about 75% of the forum grade. In order to earn B- and A-level credit, students must engage more fully with other participants. Specifics on these requirements can be found in the forum instructions. The main discussion forums are worth 36% of the overall course grade. If you are away from the course for any reason, when you return, you may post your required main post and 2 responses, and earn at least 75% credit. Essays: 2 analytical/close reading essays will be graded according to the rubric posted in the Assignment and Lesson. The topics for these essays will be either assigned or approved by the instructor. Each of the essays requires the student to analyze an aspect of a literary work or works. In general, since these assignments are meant to allow students to give their own perspective on the topic/text in question, few if any secondary/critical sources should be used. Any secondary sources used must be approved by the instructor prior to submission. Together the essays are worth 26% of the overall course grade. Essay submissions should include the following items in 1 file and in the order listed below: A Self-Assessment page that responds to the self-assessment questions should be included before the written essay (see below for the questions; a sample selfassessment is provided in the. The essay, which should: be focused on arguing for a specific thesis; use quotations and specific details from the assigned reading for support; and include MLA-style citations for all material brought in from the assigned readings and approved secondary sources. A Works Cited List (submit this for all essays, even those with only a single source, just to stay in practice; see the Week 1 lesson for a discussion of citing the textbook). File Names: Please name all your essay files using your last name, first initial, and the name of the assignment: SmithJ_Week3Essay.doc.

6 STUDENT WARNING: This course syllabus is from a previous semester archive and serves only as a preparatory reference. Please use this syllabus as a reference only until the professor opens the classroom and you have access to the updated course syllabus. Please do NOT purchase any books or start any work based on this syllabus; this syllabus may NOT be the one that your individual instructor uses for a course that has not yet started. If you need to verify course textbooks, please refer to the online course description through your student portal. This syllabus is proprietary material of APUS. Essay Self-Assessment: The essay self-assessment is designed to give you practice evaluating your own writing, and also to give you a chance to request specific feedback from the instructor. In the Self-Assessment, please respond to the following questions: 1. What specific topic did you decide to respond to and why? 2. What do you feel are the strengths of your essay? 3. What parts of the essay do you feel are weaknesses or areas that could use more work? 4. Are there any particular parts of the essay on which you would like more feedback? NOTE: Your responses should be in the form of a letter. See the sample essay linked in the essay assignments for an example. Try to be as clear and specific as possible so that I have a strong context through which to consider your essay. Final Project The final project will, for the most part, be completed groups (working alone is possible; see Note below). The project is to create a PowerPoint presentation (or other multimedia presentation) on a legendary/mythological figure, place, or event from world literature (1600 CE or earlier). The final project will be due during Week 8, when groups will upload it to the Week 8 forum and to the Final Project assignment. Full details can be found in the Final Project assignment and in the attachments on your Final Project forum, which is where the main part of your group s communication should take place. The Final Project is worth 12% of the overall grade. MLA Format NOTE: If necessary, individuals may break off from groups to complete a solo project. Please contact the instructor if you feel that you will need to do this. Valid reasons include known availability conflicts (someone who is going to be out of regular internet range for large portions of the course) or group members who are unresponsive during the first half of the course. All essays should be submitted in the 2009 MLA format, which includes in-text documentation and a Works Cited page. NO EXCEPTIONS. See the sample paper in the Assignment for examples of how your essay should be formatted.

7 STUDENT WARNING: This course syllabus is from a previous semester archive and serves only as a preparatory reference. Please use this syllabus as a reference only until the professor opens the classroom and you have access to the updated course syllabus. Please do NOT purchase any books or start any work based on this syllabus; this syllabus may NOT be the one that your individual instructor uses for a course that has not yet started. If you need to verify course textbooks, please refer to the online course description through your student portal. This syllabus is proprietary material of APUS. 8 Week Course Outline Learning Objectives Week and Topic Readings Assignment 1 Introductions and Beginnings Section 1, What is Literature?, in Early World Literature (e-text; see link in Week 1 Lesson Week 1 forums: Introductions (required) Syllabus and Course Policies (extra credit) 2 Ancient Greece and China on Fate Section 2, Fate, in Early World Literature (e-text; see link in Week 2 Lesson Week 2 Forum Final Project Forum: Choose a Topic LO 2 LO 6 3 The Sacred in Hinduism and Islam Section 3, The Sacred, in Early World Literature (e-text; see link in Week 3 Lesson Week 3 forum Final Project Forum: Choose a Project Type Week 3 Essay LO 8 4 Learning Virtue in Buddhism, Christianity, and Confucianism Section 4, Virtue, in Early World Literature (e-text; see link in Week 4 Lesson Final Project Forum: Divide the Load Week 4 forum LO 8 LO 2 5 Heroes in Ancient Persia Section 5, Heroes, in Early World Literature (e-text; see link in Week 5 Forum Final Project Forum: Check In

8 STUDENT WARNING: This course syllabus is from a previous semester archive and serves only as a preparatory reference. Please use this syllabus as a reference only until the professor opens the classroom and you have access to the updated course syllabus. Please do NOT purchase any books or start any work based on this syllabus; this syllabus may NOT be the one that your individual instructor uses for a course that has not yet started. If you need to verify course textbooks, please refer to the online course description through your student portal. This syllabus is proprietary material of APUS. Week 5 Lesson LO 6 LO 2 LO 6 6 Knights, Ladies, and Romance Section 6, Romance, in Early World Literature (e-text; see link in Week 6 Lesson Week 6 Forum Week 6 Essay LO 2 LO 6 7 Satire and the Unreality of the Heroic Section 7, Satire, in Early World Literature (e-text; see link in Week 7 Lesson Week 7 Forum Final Project Forum: Assemble the Project LO 2 LO 6 LO 8 8 Conclusions No reading; review all assigned readings as necessary Week 8 Lesson Week 8 Forum Final Project (full draft due WEDNESDAY on Week 8 Forum; final/polished draft due SUNDAY through Assignments) LO 9 Policies Please see the Student Handbook to reference all University policies. Quick links to frequently asked question about policies are listed below.

9 STUDENT WARNING: This course syllabus is from a previous semester archive and serves only as a preparatory reference. Please use this syllabus as a reference only until the professor opens the classroom and you have access to the updated course syllabus. Please do NOT purchase any books or start any work based on this syllabus; this syllabus may NOT be the one that your individual instructor uses for a course that has not yet started. If you need to verify course textbooks, please refer to the online course description through your student portal. This syllabus is proprietary material of APUS. Drop/Withdrawal Policy Plagiarism Policy Extension Process and Policy Disability Accommodations Writing Expectations As this is a 200-level Literature course, students are expected to have a solid background in grammar and mechanics, and to have a basic understanding of the elements of academic argument. Students who feel that they need to review these aspects of composition should consult with websites such as Purdue University's Online Writing Lab ( for information on grammar and mechanics and consult the instructor for information on argument structures and expectations. Citation and Reference Style Attention Please: Students are required to follow MLA as the sole citation and reference style used in this course. The citation style as described at Purdue University's Online Writing Lab ( will be our final word for MLA formatting questions. Late Assignments Students are expected to submit classroom assignments by the posted due date and to complete the course according to the published class schedule. As adults, students, and working professionals I understand you must manage competing demands on your time. Should you need additional time to complete an assignment please contact me before the due date so we can discuss the situation and determine an acceptable resolution. Routine submission of late assignments is unacceptable and may result in points deducted from your final course grade. Netiquette Online universities promote the advance of knowledge through positive and constructive debate-- both inside and outside the classroom. Discussions on the Internet, however, can occasionally degenerate into needless insults and flaming. Such activity and the loss of good manners are not acceptable in a university setting--basic academic rules of good behavior and proper Netiquette must persist. Remember that you are in a place for the fun and excitement of learning that does not include descent to personal attacks, or student attempts to stifle the discussion of others. Technology Limitations: While you should feel free to explore the full-range of creative composition in your formal papers, keep layouts simple. The Educator classroom may not fully support MIME or HTML encoded messages, which means that bold face, italics, underlining, and a variety of color-coding or other visual effects will not translate in your e- mail messages. Humor Note: Despite the best of intentions, jokes and--especially--satire can easily get lost or taken seriously. If you feel the need for humor, you may wish to add emoticons to help alert your readers: ;-), : ), and so forth.

10 STUDENT WARNING: This course syllabus is from a previous semester archive and serves only as a preparatory reference. Please use this syllabus as a reference only until the professor opens the classroom and you have access to the updated course syllabus. Please do NOT purchase any books or start any work based on this syllabus; this syllabus may NOT be the one that your individual instructor uses for a course that has not yet started. If you need to verify course textbooks, please refer to the online course description through your student portal. This syllabus is proprietary material of APUS. Disclaimer Statement Course content may vary from the outline to meet the needs of this particular group. Online Library The Online Library is available to enrolled students and faculty from inside the electronic campus. This is your starting point for access to online books, subscription periodicals, and Web resources that are designed to support your classes and generally not available through search engines on the open Web. In addition, the Online Library provides access to special learning resources, which the University has contracted to assist with your studies. Questions can be directed to librarian@apus.edu. Charles Town Library and Inter Library Loan: The University maintains a special library with a limited number of supporting volumes, collection of our professors publication, and services to search and borrow research books and articles from other libraries. Electronic Books: You can use the online library to uncover and download over 50,000 titles, which have been scanned and made available in electronic format. Electronic Journals: The University provides access to over 12,000 journals, which are available in electronic form and only through limited subscription services. Tutor.com: AMU and APU Civilian & Coast Guard students are eligible for 10 free hours of tutoring provided by APUS. Tutor.com connects you with a professional tutor online 24/7 to provide help with assignments, studying, test prep, resume writing, and more. Tutor.com is tutoring the way it was meant to be. You get expert tutoring whenever you need help, and you work one-to-one with your tutor in your online classroom on your specific problem until it is done. Selected Bibliography