M/TH 11:10-12:25, Room HW-W707C
Instructor: Catherine Engh (instructorengh@gmail.com) she/her/hers
Office Hours: by appointment, 1238 HW
Spring 2020

Course Theme: Nature and Modern Society

In the Romantic period in England (1790-1820), writers hoped that literature might reform society by returning the reader to what is essential in (human) nature. This concept of literature has, however, been criticized as blind to social differences. Furthermore, it seems outdated at a time when climate change suggests that it is no longer possible to disentangle non-human nature from society. Who or what are we really talking about when we talk about nature? In this course, we will study the social, psychological and ecological dimensions of literature’s preoccupation with nature in genres ranging from Shakespearean romance to Romantic lyric poetry to science fiction. What problems freight literary efforts to return the human subject to nature? Can we sustain a critique of relations of social and ecological domination without calling for a return to an unspoiled natural world? 

Learning Outcomes

• Take responsibility for your own learning and participation.
• Annotate difficult texts in literature and literary criticism.
• Ask generative questions of literary texts.
• Develop the skill of close reading.
• Support a literary argument with appropriate examples from the text.
• Deepen your literary argument by consulting secondary sources.
• Learn to implement the conventions of MLA style.
• Reflect critically on your own assumptions about “nature” and those of others.

Required Texts

Purchase the editions that are listed below: different editions often have varied pagination and we will all need to be able to turn to the same page to conduct in-class discussion. You can purchase the books at the Hunter College bookstore. If you are ordering online, be sure to check the ISBN.

Shakespeare, William. The Tempest: A Case Study in Critical Controversy. Eds. Gerald Graff and James Phelan. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s. ISBN: 0312457529 $12.50

Shelley, Mary. Frankenstein: Or the Modern Prometheus–The 1818 Text Oxford: Oxford University Press ISBN: 9780198840824 $7.95

Le Guin, Ursula, The Word for World is Forest New York: Tom Doherty Associates, LLC ISBN: 9780765324641 $14.99

Total: $35.44

Grading Policies

Percentages are approximate.

Short Position Paper 1 (3-5 pages)	15%
Short Position Paper 2 (3-5 pages)	15%
Research Paper (5-7 pages)	30%
Possible Extra Credit	10%
Low-stakes writing and class participation	30%

Classroom Participation (30%)

This class will be conducted like a seminar, which means that we will all be talking together, both in groups and as a class, about the texts we are reading. The success of our discussions depends on everybody’s preparedness and openness to express their views and to discuss those of others. To get an A in participation, you must do the following: complete informal in-class writing assignments (5%), complete and discuss with the class low-stakes homework assignments (15%), post on the blog twice by noon a day in advance of our meetings (blog posts completed before the COV-ID situation count here too) (5%), and produce a creative project at the end of the semester (5%).

Short Papers (approx. 30%)

You will complete two short (3-5 page double-spaced) papers that respond to a question about The Tempest and Frankenstein.  These papers will not require outside research but will require close analysis of the literary text. To succeed on these papers, you must keep up with the reading, be present in class and start writing early. There will be an opportunity to revise the paper for a higher grade. Only substantial changes will, however, count towards a better grade.

Research Paper (approx. 30%)

Your final project for this class will be a 5-7 page (double-spaced) research paper based on a topic related to Le Guin’s The Word for World is Forest. A prompt will be handed out later in the semester. You will be required to meet with me outside of class to get feedback on your paper proposal, or the first draft of your research paper.

Final Exam (approx. 10%)

Note: the final exam has been cancelled. This 10% is now part of the participation grade. If you feel confident about your participation, then you do not have to do anything more in place of the exam. I will simply make participation 40% rather than 30% of your overall grade. Those who have been regularly completing the homework and participating in in-class activities will already have a strong grade. If you feel you have not done as well on participation as you would like, you may complete an “extra credit” essay comparing a film available on Netflix (Blade Runner) to Frankenstein and/or The Word for World is Forest. That will count towards 10% of your grade.

All written assignments will be emailed to me on the day they are due. You must send your assignments to me as .doc files (the Microsoft Word default). You will receive your papers back from me with comments within a 1-2 week period.  Papers should be printed in Times New Roman 12 pt, double-spaced, with 1” margins.

Late Assignments

For every day that we meet as a class that your paper is late, your grade will drop a half a letter grade (A will be A-). If your paper is more than one week late, I will not give feedback on the assignment. If your paper is more than two weeks late and you have not been in communication with me about your circumstances, then the highest grade you will be able to get is a C. My policy on late assignments is subject to flexibility in the event of extenuating circumstances. If you find you can’t complete a writing assignment on time, notify me as soon as possible to request an extension.

Electronics

I ask that you please put away your cell phones in class, unless we are doing an activity that requires them.

Email Etiquette

I check my email (instructorengh@gmail.com) a couple of times a week. If you have not heard back from me about a pressing matter after three days, remind me about your email in class. If you miss class, do not email me asking what you missed. Get the email of another student in the course and email them, so that you know what is going on. If you miss class the day that I am passing out an assignment, it is your responsibility to refer to Blackboard for assignments.

Tutoring

One-on-one tutoring is available in the Reading/Writing Center (located in the Library, Hunter East Room 508; for hours, go to http://rwc.hunter.cuny.edu/index.html). You may visit the center at any stage of the writing process—brainstorming, drafting, outlining, revising, etc. The writing center tutors will not proofread your paper, but they will give you feedback on your work and help you become a stronger writer. Take advantage of this resource!

Diversity Statement

It is my intent that students from diverse backgrounds and perspectives be well served by this course and that students’ learning needs be addressed both in and out of class. I value language diversity: If you would like to supplement a course reading with a related reading in a language other than English, let me know. Your suggestions about how course policies, materials and activities can be made more respectful of diversity are encouraged and appreciated. Please let me know ways to improve the effectiveness of the course for you.

Hunter College Academic Integrity Policy

Hunter College regards acts of academic dishonesty (e.g., plagiarism, cheating on examinations, obtaining unfair advantage, and falsification of records and official documents) as serious offenses against the values of intellectual honesty. The College is committed to enforcing the CUNY Policy on Academic Integrity and will pursue cases of academic dishonesty according to the Hunter College Academic Integrity Procedures.

Accommodations

Please let me know what I can do to accommodate your disability. You may also go to the diversity office to seek accommodations. Here is Hunter’s official policy: “In compliance with the American Disability Act of 1990 (ADA) and with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Hunter College is committed to ensuring educational parity and accommodations for all students with documented disabilities and/or medical conditions. It is recommended that all students with documented disabilities (Emotional, Medical, Physical and/ or Learning) consult the Office of AccessABILITY located in Room E1124 to secure necessary academic accommodations.  For further information and assistance please call (212- 772- 4857)/TTY (212- 650-3230).”

Important Dates

3/2	Essay #1 on Shakespeare’s The Tempest
3/30	Essay #2 on Shelley’s Frankenstein
4/30	Draft of research paper on The Word for World is Forest
5/7	Research Paper on The Word for World is Forest
TBD	Final Exam

 

Week One: Introduction

Monday January 27th—Syllabus review

Thursday January 30th—Shakespeare, The Tempest, act I

 

Week Two: Natural Transformation and Colonial Authority in Shakespeare

Monday February 3— CLASS CANCELLED

Thursday February 6—Shakespeare, The Tempest, act II

 

Week Three: Natural Transformation and Colonial Authority in Shakespeare

Monday February 10—Shakespeare, The Tempest, act III

Thursday February 13—Shakespeare, The Tempest, act IV and V  

 

Week Four: The Nature Cure in Romantic Writing

Monday February 17—NO CLASS

Thursday February 20—SUMMARY OF CRITICAL ESSAY DUE Frances Barker and Peter Hulme, “Nymphs and Reapers Heavily Vanish” & Reuben A Brower, “The Mirror of Analogy”

 

Week Five: The Nature Cure in Romantic Writing

Monday February 24—PAPER PROPOSAL DUE Wollstonecraft, from Letters Written in Sweden, Norway and Denmark 

Thursday February 27—Wordsworth, Preface to Lyrical Ballads 

 

Week Six: The Nature Cure in Romantic Writing 

Monday March 2—PAPER DUE Wordsworth, Tintern Abbey

Thursday March 5—Shelley, Frankenstein

 

Week Seven: Modern Science and the Nature Problem

Monday March 9—Shelley, Frankenstein

Thursday March 12—instructional pause

 

Week Eight: Modern Science and the Nature Problem

Monday March 16—instructional pause

Thursday March 19—Shelley, Frankenstein

 

Week Nine: Ecology in Science Fiction

Monday March 23—PAPER PROPOSAL DUE Shelley, Frankenstein 

Thursday March 26—Ursula K. Le Guin, The Word for World is Forest  chapters 1-2

 

Week Ten: Ecology in Science Fiction

Monday March 30—NO CLASS / PAPER DUE

**last day to drop the course and receive a “W” is Wednesday April 1st

Thursday April 2—Ursula K. Le Guin, The Word for World is Forest chapters 3-4

 

Week Eleven: Ecology in Science Fiction

Monday April 6—Ursula K. Le Guin, The Word for World is Forest chapters 5-6

Thursday April 9—SPRING BREAK, NO CLASS

 

Week Twelve: Ecology in Science Fiction

Monday April 13—Ursula K. Le Guin, The Word for World is Forest chapter 7

Thursday April 16—SUMMARY #1 DUE  Ursula K. Le Guin, “Carrier Bag Theory of Fiction” & “Deep in Admiration”

 

Week Thirteen: Ecology in Science Fiction

Monday April 20—SUMMARY #2 DUE Rob Latham, “Biotic Invasions” & Douglas Barbour, “Wholeness and Balance”

Thursday April 23—PAPER PROPOSAL DUE Leslie Marmon Silko, Landscape, History and the Pueblo Imagination 

 

Week Fourteen: Conferences and Film

Monday April 27—student conferences

Thursday April 30—RESEARCH PAPER DRAFT DUE student conferences

 

Week Fifteen: Climate Change

Monday May 4—Elizabeth Kolbert, from Field Notes from a Catastrophe

Thursday May 7—RESEARCH PAPER DUE Naomi Klein, from This Changes Everything

 

Week Sixteen: Climate Change

Monday May 11—Beth Gardiner, “Coronavirus holds key lessons” & Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, “A Message from the Future”

Thursday May 14—CREATIVE PROJECTS DUE