On this page you’ll find some basic information about the course. For additional information, read these pages:
- Calendar: A week-by-week guide to the semester.
- Policies: Students in my classes are responsible for reading and understanding these course policies.
- Updates: Announcements and information posted from time to time.
Course Description
Between the years 1660-1740 British literary culture changed in many significant ways. An unprecedented increase in the production or printed material led to new classes of readers, writers, and literary genres. Audiences in the first forty years of the period had the privilege of watching some of the best plays ever written in English, especially comedy. A new form of fiction emerged for the first time and became extremely popular: the novel. Periodicals—first newspapers and then magazines—began to be produced, providing a lively venue for debates about matters of public interest. And caustic political and social satire became amusing hobbies that also sought to effect real change.
These and other developments will be our concerns as we read a broad selection of material this semester. Students are expected to think for themselves, to form strong opinions, to disagree, to argue persuasively and eloquently when they speak and when they write.
Course Objectives
Students will
- Become familiar with British literature during this time period,
- Become familiar with the relevant contexts that affected the production, distribution, and reception of literature during this time period,
- Practice and improve their ability to conduct scholarly research,
- Practice and improve their ability to give effective oral presentations,
- Practice and improve their ability to write effective scholarly essays that incorporate scholarly resources.
Course Requirements
- 15% 2 class presentations (each worth 7.5%)
- 20% 2 short papers based on those presentations (each worth 10%)
- 15% A midterm exam
- 15% A final exam
- 25% A research-based term paper
- 10% Class participation