LIT 2110H - Honors World Literature I (Ancient World through Renaissance)

Communications Department

Credit(s): 3
Contact Hours: 47
Effective Term Spring 2015 (495)

Requisites

(Prerequisite ENC 1101 with a minimum grade of C and
Prerequisite appropriate score on the college placement test) or
Prerequisite ENC 1101H with a minimum grade of C or
Prerequisite IDS 1101H with a minimum grade of C or
Prerequisite IDS 1111H with a minimum grade of C or
Permission of the Program

Course Description

This course is designed to study the major poetry, fiction, drama, and essays of world literature from the Ancients through the Renaissance. Emphasis is placed on the intellectual and moral issues in literature that unite humankind despite differences in time, place, and language. This honors course will include personalized experiences, collaborative learning experiences and an emphasis on analysis and synthesis of abstract questions relating to world literature. This course also stresses methods of research and emphasizes writing research-based papers, including literary interpretation and critical analysis using primary and secondary sources. Independent research and interdisciplinary connections are encouraged for students to make connections to other related areas of humanities, philosophy and literature in the Honors Program. (Note: This course partially satisfies the writing requirements outlined in the General Education Requirements. Credit is only given for LIT 2110 or LIT 2110H.)

Learning Outcomes and Objectives

  1. The student will understand the formative influences of political, social, and artistic developments as demonstrated in world literature from the Ancients through the Renaissance through the use of primary and secondary source materials by:
    1. identifying, distinguishing, and critiquing the effects of various political movements on world literature.
    2. identifying, distinguishing and critiquing the effects of various social movements on world literature.
    3. identifying, distinguishing, and critiquing the effects of various artistic movements on world literature.
  2. The student will understand the various poetic forms developed by both Western and non-Western writers from the Ancients through the Renaissance through the use of primary and secondary source materials by:
    1. applying rules of prosody to a variety of poems.
    2. identifying and critiquing poetic styles of representative poets.
  3. The student will understand the various prose forms developed by both Western and non-Western writers from the Ancients through the Renaissance through the use of primary and secondary source materials by:
    1. applying this understanding to other literary forms through comparative analysis.
    2. identifying the development of literary criticism in various cultures.
  4. The student will identify major writers and their contributions to the individual literary periods of world literature from the Ancients through the Renaissance through the use of primary and secondary source materials by:
    1. comprehending and analyzing the principal works across world cultures.
    2. stating and explaining the principal ideas of the major Western and non-Western writers of this period.
    3. stating and explaining the principal literary innovations of the major Western and non-Western writers of this period.
    4. comparing and contrasting the works, ideas, and influences of major Western and non-Western writers of this period.
    5. recognizing and explaining the influence of the previous writers upon major Western and non-Western writers of this period and their works as well as their influences on later Western and non-Western literary movements.
  5. The student will demonstrate the knowledge of independent research by examining critical perspectives related to a work of literature and synthesizing relevant secondary sources in history, culture, and philosophy relating to the context of the work by:
    1. selecting and presenting materials from specified sources to:
      1. identify and paginate sources correctly.
      2. use ellipses and brackets as needed in parenthetical citations and works cited.
      3. summarize, paraphrase, quote and combine these types of sources effectively.
    2. composing papers which integrate the student's own words and ideas with those of primary and/or secondary sources by introducing and following primary and secondary sources effectively with commentary and interpretation.
    3. using parenthetical references throughout the paper to credit information from a primary source.
    4. using parenthetical references correctly to credit information from secondary sources.
    5. preparing a works cited list of the sources used in the research paper that matches parenthetical citations and the works cited.
    6. using correct forms for parenthetical references, and for works cited entries, according to Modern Language Association (MLA) format.
    7. composing an oral report and writing an analytical paper.
  6. The student will acquire the skill to retrieve, interpret and evaluate information effectively and efficiently from electronic sources and use proper documentation in citing these sources by:
    1. selecting the most appropriate investigative methods.
    2. constructing and refining search strategies.
    3. locating information using a variety of strategies.
    4. extracting, recording, and managing the information and its sources.
  7. The student will acquire the skill to evaluate the credibility of sources and critically evaluate both primary and secondary sources for credibility and reliability by:
    1. summarizing the main idea extracted from the information.
    2. articulating and applying basic criteria for evaluating both the information and its sources.
    3. synthesizing main ideas to construct new concepts.
    4. comparing new knowledge with prior knowledge to determine the value added, contradictions, or other unique characteristics of the information.
    5. determining whether the new knowledge has an impact on the individual’s value system and taking steps to reconcile differences.
    6. validating understanding and interpretation of the information through discourse with other individuals, subject-area experts, and/or practitioners.
    7. assessing assumptions or hidden political or cultural agendas held by secondary sources.

Criteria Performance Standard

Upon successful completion of the course, the student will demonstrate mastery of 70% of the above stated objectives. Evaluated writing will meet the criteria of at least Level 4 in the SPC Analytical Rubric for Writing.

History of Changes

C&I 5/25/04, BOT 6/22/04, Effective 20041 (0340 PS). Flexible Access 20041. Removed GR word count reference per State mandate, effective 20061(0370). 3 Year Review 2007.
C&I Approval: 05/16/2014, BOT Approval: 10/21/2014, Effective Term: Spring 2015 (495)