The Catholic University of America The Metropolitan School of Professional Studies
MHU 410, 01, Women’s Literature Spring 2018
Credit Hours: 3
Nursing-Bio 154 Thursdays 6:10-8:40
The last day to drop this class without penalty is January 19, 2018. The last day to withdraw from this class with a grade of “W” is March 28, 2018.
Instructor contact information: Christina A Strain, M.A. 704-302-4786 [email protected] Office Hours at request
Course Description (from Cardinal Station) A social, psychological, and literary exploration of writings by or about women.
Instructional Methods Lecture
Required Text Behind a Mask by Louisa May Alcott. Publisher: Harper Collins The Awakening: The Norton Critical Edition by Kate Chopin. Publisher: W.W. Norton Beloved by Toni Morrison. Publisher: Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood. Publisher Random House
Recommended Text The Second Sex by Simone de Beauvoir The Madwoman in the Attic by Sandra Gilbert and Susan Gubar
Reading materials, web materials with full citations. (Note if on reserve) Adams, Abigail and John Adams. “Letters Between Abigail Adams and her Husband John Adams.” The Liz Library, http://www.thelizlibrary.org/suffrage/abigail.htm, Accessed 11 November 2017. Beecher Stowe, Harriet. “The Minister’s Housekeeper.” 1872, The Sarah Orne Jewett Text Project, Ed. Terry Heller, Coe College, http://www.public.coe.edu/~theller/soj/u- rel/stow-mh.html, Accessed 11 November 2017. Jacobs, Harriet A. Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl: Written by Herself. Ed. Child, Lydia Maria Francis, 1861, Documenting the American South, Carlene Hempel, Ji-Hae Yoon, Natalia Smith, Academic Affairs Library, UNC-CH, 2003, http://docsouth.unc.edu/fpn/jacobs/jacobs.html Accessed 11 November 2017. Martin, Wendy. “Anne Bradstreet.” Poetry Foundation, https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/anne-bradstreet, Accessed 11 November 2017. Libraries The CUA Libraries' wide range of resources and services, including databases, online journals, and FAQs are on the main web site. For assistance on papers and assignments, consult the research guides or schedule an appointment with a subject librarian.
Course Goals The purpose of this course is to expose students to the American woman’s experience as depicted in literature of female American writers. This course will strengthen students’ ability to express their comprehension of the readings through responsive written work.
Goals for Student Learning Upon completion of this course, students will be able to: understand and think critically about a variety of literary texts as they pertain to women; produce competent academic writing through planning, writing, and revising; identify and implement the appropriate research methods for each writing assignment; document sources responsibly; gain a deeper appreciation of the struggle women have gone through to maintain equality; develop an appreciation for those who came before us; and foster empathy for and a greater sense of civic responsibility towards those people who still struggle to reach equality.
Course Requirements Assignments/Projects 1. Blackboard Discussion Board Posts: Each week by Sunday night, you will post one discussion question about the reading for your classmates. You must respond to at least one discussion question by Tuesday evening of each week. 2. Students will prepare a seminar-style discussion once in the quarter pertaining to a poem or group of poems by a single female poet. 3. Students will hand-write a one page, opinion-based response to our in-class discussion each week. Examinations 1. Weekly reading quizzes 2. Students will complete a traditional midterm examination. 3. The final exam will be a take-home final in the form of an essay.
Expectations and policies Academic Integrity Academic integrity is not merely avoiding plagiarism or cheating, but it certainly includes those things. More than anything, having academic integrity means taking responsibility for your work, your ideas, and your effort, and giving credit to others for their work, ideas and effort. If you submit work that is not your own – whether test answers, whole papers or something in-between – I have a responsibility to hold you accountable for that action. I also have a responsibility to treat you with respect and dignity while doing so.
The following sanctions are presented in the University procedures related to Student Academic Dishonesty:
“The presumed sanction for undergraduate students for academic dishonesty will be failure for the course. There may be circumstances, however, where, perhaps because of an undergraduate student’s past record, a more serious sanction, such as suspension or expulsion, would be appropriate. ...In the more unusual case, mitigating circumstances may exist that would warrant a lesser sanction than the presumed sanction.”
At times, I may ask you to do group work for an in-class presentation or group project. For that specific assignment, you are allowed to share material, ideas and information; however, for any related work that is to be submitted on an individual basis, I expect your submission to be your own in its entirety.
For more information about what academic integrity means at CUA, including your responsibilities and rights, visit http://integrity.cua.edu.
Accommodations for students with disabilities: Any student who feels s/he may need an accommodation based on the impact of a disability should contact the Office of Disability Support Services. Please contact Disability Support Services by email at dss.cua.edu, or call 202- 319-5211 to make an appointment to discuss reasonable accommodations. DSS is located in PRYZ 127.
Other Policies or Expectations: Note your policies or expectations (e.g. Attendance and punctuality policy, Participation expectation, note re: cell phones, timeliness on papers, form of submission of papers electronic vs. hard copy, policy on making up (or not) quizzes, tests etc.)
Academic Support Services The university’s primary academic support resources are located on the 2nd floor of Mullen Library, McMahon Hall, and at the Pryzbyla Center. These affiliated offices and services include:
The Undergraduate Advising Center (UAC) offers guidance to all undergraduates, especially first-year students, as they move toward their academic goals. The UAC is located in B 10 McMahon Hall. Office hours are Monday through Friday from 9:00am to 5:00pm. Phone: (202) 319-5545 Email: [email protected] Web: advising.cua.edu
The Center for Academic Success (CAS) provides academic support services for all students through a broad base of programs and services, including Tutoring Services, Workshops, Individual Skills Meetings, Peer Mentoring, and more. CAS is located at Mullen Library Second Floor. Phone: (202) 319-5655 Email: [email protected] Web: success.cua.edu
The Writing Center is an excellent resource for any student. The Writing Center is committed to supporting the writing needs of students at all stages of the writing process. If, at any point in the semester, you feel that you are struggling to draft, revise, or properly reference sources in a writing assignment, make an appointment at http://english.cua.edu/wc; we also welcome walk-in appointments at the Writing Center, which is located in 219 Mullen Library. Phone: (202) 319-4286 Email: [email protected] Web: english.cua.edu/wc/
The Office of Disability Support Services provides reasonable accommodations for the classroom and testing environment for students with documented disabilities. DSS is located in Pryz 127. Office hours are Monday, Wednesday, and Friday 8:00am-5:00pm, and Tuesday and Thursday 8:00am -6:30pm. Phone: (202) 319-5211 Email: cua- [email protected] Web: dss.cua.edu
The Counseling Center provides free individual and group counseling services, psychiatric consultation, alternative testing, and emergency services to CUA students. In addition, we provide consultation services and outreach programs to the CUA community. Appointments can be scheduled in person in 127 O’Boyle Hall, or by phone. Phone: (202) 319-5765. Web: counseling.cua.edu
Assessment
Weekly Reading Quizzes = 5 pts
Weekly Class Reflections = 5 pts
Weekly Blackboard Posts = 5 pts
Emily Dickinson Poetry Presentation = 10pts
Midterm Exam = 25 pts
Final Paper = 50 pts
Total Points Possible = 100
Grading Scale
The grading scale for Undergraduate Classes is:
Grade Meaning Scale A Excellent 93-100 A- 90-92 B+ 87-89 B Good 83-86 B- 80-82 C+ 77-79 C Satisfactory 73-76 C- 70-72 D Lowest Passing 60-69 F Failure – student failed to < 60 demonstrate an adequate understanding of course concepts F* Failure – student ceased to participate in or attend the class
Incomplete Grades
A student may request the provisional grade of I (incomplete) in a course when the student is unable to complete the course requirements for grave reasons (e.g., family emergency, person illness or injury, death in family, etc.). The student must make the request by submitting a signed MSPS Incomplete Grade Request Form to the Associate Dean after the last day to withdraw from class but before the last day of the class in which the student wishes to receive the incomplete. The Dean’s office will only approve a grade of incomplete when all of the following conditions are met:
1. The student requests a grade of incomplete from the instructor by using the MSPS Incomplete Grade Request Form which can be obtained from the student’s advisor; and 2. The student provides specific evidence to verify that the reason for the request is legitimate; and 3. The student must be passing the course at the time of the request; and 4. The amount of work remaining in the course can be reasonably and sufficiently completed after the conclusion of the course session; and 5. Both the student and the instructor sign and submit the MSPS Incomplete Grade Request Form to the Associate Dean; and 6. The Associate Dean approves the request by signing the MSPS Incomplete Grade Request Form.
Students granted an incomplete for the fall semester must complete the outstanding work by January 15 of the following spring semester; students granted an incomplete for the spring semester must complete the outstanding work by June 15 of the following summer term; and students granted an incomplete for the summer term must complete the outstanding work by September 15 of the following fall semester. In extraordinary circumstances, the student or the instructor may request an extension of the deadline for the outstanding work to be submitted. Such a request must be approved in writing by the Associate Dean. An incomplete grade not resolved by the deadline automatically becomes a failing (F) grade.
The student is responsible for completing all outstanding work and submitting it to the instructor on time.
Class Attendance and Absences Success in college coursework requires regular attendance and participate by the student enrolled in a course, and all classes sessions are enhanced by the presence and participation of the whole course roster. Therefore, while recognizing that extraordinary circumstances prevent a student from being able to attend a specific class session, all students are expected to attend and arrive on time for all class sessions. Students who are absent from more than 33% of a given course (i.e., students who miss more than 5 classes in a 14-week course or more than 3 classes in a 7-week course) will be given a failing grade (F*) automatically. The Metropolitan School of Professional Studies makes no distinction between “excused” and “unexcused” absences. Instructors teaching in MSPS may include supplemental attendance policies for their courses.
Course Schedule Jan. 11: Overview of Syllabus. The Founding Mothers: Anne Bradstreet, “To My Dear and Loving Husband,” “Before the Birth of One of her Children,” “In Honour of that High and Mighty Princess, Queen Elizabeth.” Abigail Adams, “Letters Between Abigail Adams and Her Husband John Adams” from March 31, 1776 – May 7, 1776.
Jan. 18.: Early Voices of a New America: Julia Ward Howe, “Battle-Hymn of the Republic.” Judith Sargent Murray, “On the Equality of the Sexes.” Phillis Wheatley, “On Being Brought from Africa to America.” Sojourner Truth, “Ain’t I a Woman?”
Jan. 19 Add/Drop deadline
Jan. 25. Civil War Voices: Louisa May Alcott, Behind a Mask: or A Woman’s Power
Feb. 1. Civil War Voices: Harriet Beecher Stowe, “The Minister’s Housekeeper.” From Harriet Jacobs, Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl. Elizabeth Cady Stanton, “Address to the New York State Legislature.”
Feb. 8. Civil War Voices: Emily Dickinson’s poetry presentations
Feb. 15 Southern Voices: Kate Chopin, The Awakening.
Feb. 19 Midterm
Feb. 22. Southern Voices: Katherine Ann Porter, “The Jilting of Granny Weatherall.” Flannery O’Connor, “Good Country People,” Zora Neale Hurston, “Sweat.”
March 1. Edith Wharton, “The Angel at the Grave.” Willa Cather, “Coming, Aphrodite!”. Amy Lowell, “The Sisters.” Susan Glaspell, “Trifles.”
March 8: No class, spring break
March 15: Gertrude Stein, “Picasso.” Hilda Doolittle, “Helen.” Marianne Moore, “Poetry.” Edna St. Vincent Millay, “Love is not all,” “First Fig,” “Second Fig,” “I, being born a woman and distressed.” Dorothy Parker, “Penelope.”
March 22: Toni Morrison, Beloved
March 28: Last day to Withdraw
March 29: No class, Easter break
April 5. Writing Workshop
April 12 Margaret Atwood, The Handmaid’s Tale
April 19 Elizabeth Bishop, “Gender and Art.” Mary McCarthy, “Memories of a Catholic Girlhood.” Muriel Rukeyser, “The Power of Suicide,” “Myth.” May Swenson, “The Centaur.” Tillie Olsen, “I stand here ironing.” Judith Wright, “Half-Caste Girl.” Shirly Kaufman, “His Wife.” Margaret Atwood, “Siren Song.”
April 26 Anne Sexton, “Her Kind,” “In Celebration of my Uterus.” Adrienne Rich, “Aunt Jennifer’s Tigers.” Sylvia Plath, “Lady Lazarus.” Maxine Hong Kingston, “No Name Woman,” Sharon Olds, “Sex without Love.” Linda Pastan, “Marks.” Sandra Cisneros, “Eleven.” Jhumpa Lahiri, “A Temporary Matter.” Mary Oliver, “The Black Walnut Tree.”
May 3: Final exam due
Final Exam May 3rd – Essay Deadline