ENGLISH 213: LITERATURES OF THE WORLD -- MIDDLE EAST
Spring Term 2009 /  MWF 1500-1550 / Moreland 332
Oregon State University

Instructor:      Dr. Laura Rice
Office:             340 Moreland Hall
Telephone:      737-1656 (You can also leave a message on voice mail)
E-mail:             lrice@oregonstate.edu
Office Hrs:     MWF 16:00-16:50 pm, and other times by appointment.
Bac Core:        Cultural Diversity

COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This introductory course covers writing from across North Africa and the Middle East. We'll begin with early forms of oral literature: folk tales shared among the different cultures across the Middle East, stories from A Thousand and One Nights (also called Arabian Nights), and the "Golden Odes" or Mu'allaqat, the pre-Islamic poetry from the Arabian peninsula which influenced so many of the cultures in the Middle East. Next, we'll look at chronicles concerning the Crusades as they were experienced by the inhabitants of the Middle East, and briefly at the arts in the Moorish Kingdoms in Al-Andalus (now Spain). Finally, two collections of short stories from around the region, and a contemporary memoir. The main goal of this course is to introduce students to oral and written literature set in a wide range of countries in the historic Middle East and North Africa. In addition to this geographic range, the course will also introduce students to various kinds of literature including traditional poetry, historical chronicles, folk stories, personal memoirs and contemporary fiction.

LEARNER OUTCOMES:

1) The ability to say what some of the particular features defining Middle Eastern Literature are;
2) The ability to define basic literary conventions and techniques of Middle Eastern literature;
3) The ability to identify those literary conventions and techniques in literary passages;
4) The ability to interpret those literary conventions/ techniques in written & cultural contexts;
5) An understanding of some of the obstacles to and benefits of cross-cultural understanding;

6) A familiarity with some of the virtual archives and information portals about Middle Eastern Art, Literature and Culture.

 

TEXTS:

Husain Haddawy, trans. The Arabian Nights

Michael Sells,trans.  Desert Tracings (Wesleyan)

Denys Johnson-Davies, trans. Under the Naked Sky: Short Stories from the Arab World (AUC Press)

Jo Glanville, ed. Qissat (Telegram)

Suad Amiry, Sharon and My Mother-in-Law (Anchor)

 

Other Course Readings:
Amin Maalouf, "Tears of Saladin" in The Crusades Through Arab Eyes (Schocken);

Ibn Zaydun, “From Zahra”

Wallada, Excerpts of her poetry

COURSE REQUIREMENTS:

For some of the readings early in the term, study guide questions will be posted on Blackboard to start you thinking about texts that are more difficult or unfamiliar in form.  Attendance is important and counts as an important part of your participation grade (see attendance policy below). You will have midterm and final examinations during the course. You will also be asked to write an essay demonstrating historical and cultural understanding of the material in the first part of the course; developed on a role-playing topic chosen early in the term, the essay will be developed in stages and peer-reviewed before being graded; it will be based on evidence from literary works read in class, on internet archives and museum sites, and library databases.

Attendance Policy: Because class attendance is part of class participation, excessive absences will be penalized: each absence over 3 will lower your grade by one letter; more than 6 absences will result in failure. If you use your absences, do so wisely. Exceptions will not be made if you have used your absences and then have emergencies requiring additional absences. Tardiness: Please be on time for class. If you are late, it is your responsibility to see that you are not counted absent (more than 15 minutes late will count as an absence).

GRADING:

Grading Percentages:

Participation (10%): based on your contribution to class through attendance, evidence of familiarity with study guides, participation in writing to learn exercises and dialogue;
Essay Assignment (20%): a role-playing essay showing evidence ;

Quizzes (10%): unannounced quizzes on readings;

Midterm  (30):this short-answer examination will test your ability to identify, define and interpret the conventions of Middle Eastern literary forms;

Final Examination (30): the goal of the examination is to test your ability to identify, define, and  interpret literary concepts found in contemporary Middle Eastern literature by responding to an in-class essay question.

Grading Scale:

	A: 100 to 93	A-: 92 to 90
B+: 89 to 87	B: 86 to 83	B-: 82 to 80
C+: 79 to 77	C: 76 to 73	C-: 72 to 70
D+: 69 to 67	D: 66 to 63	D-: 62 to 60
F: 59 or less

Final scores will be rounded up to the closest half-percentage point. 

LEARNER EXPECTATIONS:

 1.  Come to class on time, with your homework, and stay the entire class period;

 2. Complete reading and homework assignments by the date indicated on the syllabus;

 3. Participate in class discussions and activities.

COURSE POLICIES:

 1. You must be in class to receive full credit for homework and group activity;

 2. Makeup work will be given for excused absences only, and at the discretion of the instructor.

 3. When contacting the instructor by email, please put ENG 213 first on the subject line;

 4. Cheating and plagiarism by students are subject to the disciplinary processes outlined in the Student Conduct Regulations. (See http://www.orst.edu/admin/stucon/achon.htm)

 5. Statement Regarding Students with Disabilities.  Accommodations are collaborative efforts between students, faculty and Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD). Students with accommodations approved through SSD are responsible for contacting the faculty member in charge of the course prior to or during the first week of the term to discuss accommodations. Students who believe they are eligible for accommodations but who have not yet obtained approval through SSD should contact SSD immediately at 737-4098.