Fall 2018 Course Syllabus

ENG 108-01: History and Literature:

Literature and the Development of Environmental Thought

TTh 2:40 – 3:55 p.m.

Hays 002

 

Professor: Matthew Lambert                               Email:  lambertm@wabash.edu

Office Location: Center Hall 311                         Office Hours:  MWF 11:00-12:00pm

Office Phone:  765-361-6049                                                      TTh 1:00-2:00pm

 

Course Description

From Henry David Thoreau and John Muir to Aldo Leopold and Rachel Carson, literary descriptions of the natural world helped build environmental thought in the U.S. and elsewhere.  Fictional prose, poetry, and film have also depicted major environmental issues and themes in ways that call attention to the value of nature.  In this class, we will examine a range of literary nonfiction, fiction, and poetry—as well as some film, photography, and music—that depict environmental ideas and themes.  To explore environmental thought from a variety of vantage points, we will read authors of different social, economic, and national backgrounds. Ultimately, we will trace how literature and other cultural forms have influenced and been influenced by major historical events in the development of modern environmentalism.

Class Books:

Required:

American Earth: Environmental Writing Since Thoreau (ed. Bill McKibben)

A River Runs Through It and Other Stories (Maclean)

Parable of the Sower (Butler)

Course Goals

• Learn to read literary and other cultural texts through an ecocritical lens.
• Identify major tropes, themes, and stylistic aspects of works associated with environmental literature and other forms of culture.
• Become familiar with major and less known examples of environmental literature.
• Gain an overview of the development of environmental thought in the U.S.

Class Participation

It’s imperative that you complete all assigned homework/reading and come prepared to participate in class.  You are expected to contribute to general class discussions, to contribute to small group discussions, to seek feedback from other class members on work in progress, and to provide thoughtful feedback to other class members on their work.  You will be graded on class participation.

Attendance and Lateness

Since this is a small discussion class, attendance is mandatory.  You are allotted three absencesin this class without penalty—once you miss your fourth class, your grade will begin to drop by half a letter grade for each additional absence.  You need to plan your semester carefully so that you do not use all of your personal/sick days at once.  In the case of university-sanctioned activities (e.g., athletics or a course-specific trip that takes you out of town), you must provide a Dean’s Excuse. If you miss a class meeting, you are responsible to contact your peers for materials and information youmissed.  You should also complete and turn in all homework by the due date.

Please arrive on time.  Lateness not only disrupts the class but also shows a good deal of disrespect for your peers and instructor.  If you are more than 15 minutes late to class, you can be marked absent—talk to me after class if you think that you were over 15 minutes late for unavoidable reasons.    

Academic Integrity

At Wabash College, we believe in the excellence of our students and in the integrity of our academic programs.  As stated in the Gentleman’s Rule,

“The student is expected to conduct himself at all times, both on and off campus, as a gentleman and a responsible citizen.”

Being “a gentleman and a responsible citizen” includes not taking credit for the work of others. This means properly attributing/citing the ideas of others in your written assignments, not turning in somebody else’s work as your own, and not submitting an essay already submitted for a previous course.  Failure to follow these guidelines can result a failing grade for the entire course and referral to the Dean’s office for further disciplinary action.

Meeting Deadlines

All written assignments must be submitted on the due date.  For every day that a rough draft, in-class assignment, or homework assignment is late, I will deduct one point.  For every day that a final draft is late, I will deduct half a letter grade.

Writing Assignment Extensions

Everyone has one extension pass good for up to two days.  The extension is only good for final drafts of essays and must be requested by email l48 hours before the essay is due.

Cell Phones, Laptops, and Other Related Technologies

By the time class starts, cell phones and laptops should be turned off and put away.  Cell phones, laptops, tablets, etc. are distracting to you, me, and other members of the class.  There will be certain days during the semester you will be able to bring a laptop to class, which I will inform you of as they approach.

Religious Observance

If you have a conflict between a religious holiday and a graded assignment, please contact me in advance so that we can make appropriate arrangements.

Writing Center

The Wabash Writing Center is dedicated to coaching Wabash Men to become the best writers that they can be. When a Wabash Man comes into the Wabash Writing Center, he will meet one-on-one with a trained writing consultant, or the director. Writing Center sessions are scheduled to last 45 minutes, which is enough time to review 6-7 pages of writing.  Writing consultants can work with writers at any stage of their writing process. A writer can come to the Wabash Writing Center with a couple of notes on a napkin, and our consultants can help him turn it into the best paper the writer can produce. Writers have to do their own work, but our consultants will make suggestions and offer advice to make a paper better. Consultants are also well versed in grammar concerns, MLA, and APA, and they are happy to answer questions or make minor corrections. However, we leave the line editing and final revisions to the writer.  Located on the second floor of the Lilly Library, the Wabash Writing Center is open to all students, faculty and staff.  To make an appointment, go to http://www.wabash.edu/writingcenter, select the button labeled “Click HERE to make an appointment,” and register in the scheduling system. If you have any questions, please email the director, Dr. Koppelmann, at koppelmz@wabash.edu.

The Office of Student Enrichment

The Office of Student Enrichment (OSE) provides Wabash Men with one-on-one counseling regarding time management skills, study skills, reading skills, and Academic Honesty. The OSE also offers one-on-one support for English Language Learners.  Contact Dr. Koppelmann at koppelmz@wabash.edu to arrange for a meeting if would like assistance regarding time management, study skills, reading skills, understanding Academic Honesty, or if would like support for learning American English.

Disability Statement

Students with disabilities (apparent or invisible) are invited to confidentiallydiscuss their situation with the disability coordinator, Heather Thrush, Director of Student Engagement and Success. If a student wishes to receive an academic accommodation, it is required that his documentation of the disability be on file with Heather Thrush, who can, in confidence, provide information and guidance. Early notification helps us all work together in the most effective ways.  Heather Thrush can be reached at her office (Center Hall 112A), by phone (x6347), or by email (thrushh@wabash.edu).

Communicating Through Email

Emailing about coursework is a type of formal communication. Be sure to include a salutation (e.g. “Hello Prof./Dr. Lambert,”) and a signature (your first name is fine).  Use appropriate language and proofread your emails—mechanical errors can cause readers—in this case, me—to misunderstand your message or question your ethos/credibility.

Grades

Essays

Essay 1                                                                   20%

Essay 2                                                                   20%

Essay 3                                                                   20%

Daily Work

Quizzes, journal, canvas postings.                            20%

Class Participation                                                      10%

Presentation                                                                 5%

Final Portfolio                                                               5%

Total:                                                                          100%

Point Ranges for Letter Grades

 

A (93 – 100%), A- (90 – 92%), B+ (87 – 89%), B (83 – 86%), B- (80 – 82%), C+ (77 – 79%), C (73 – 76%), C- (70 – 72%), D (60 – 69%), F (0 – 59%)

 

Canvas Posting Rubric (3 point assignments)
3: excellent	2: acceptable	1: poor
The assignment criteria have been met thoughtfully and with insight.  Assignment is well planned and articulated with convincing detail.There are no mechanical errors.	The assignment criteria have been met, and there is evidence of effort and thought in this assignment, however there may be a minor problem with completion of task.	The assignment criteria may have been met, but these assignments do not move beyond broad generalizations. The work is hard to read or presented sloppily.

 

Tentative Reading Schedule

Week 1

Thursday, Aug. 23:  Rd. Wohllenen (in class)

Week 2

Tuesday, Aug. 28:  Rd. Thoreau (pp. 1-25)

Thursday, Aug. 30:  Rd. Thoreau (pp. 26-36), Rd Marsh (pp. 71-80).

Week 3

Tuesday, Sept. 4:  Rd. Audobon (Canvas), Rd. Jewett (Canvas)

Thursday, Sept. 6:   Rd. Muir

Week 4

Tuesday, Sept. 11: Rd. Muir, Pinchot, and Roosevelt

Thursday, Sept. 13:  Class tip to Shades State Park

Week 5

Tuesday, Sept. 18: Rd. Leopold

Thursday, Sept. 20:  Rd. Steinbeck and Henderson (The Dust Bowl)

Week 6

Tuesday, Sept. 25:   Watch Godzilla (1954)

Thursday, Sept. 27: Watch Godzilla (1954)

Week 7

Tuesday, Oct. 2:  Rd. Merrill, White

Thursday, Oct. 4:  Rd. Carson

Week 8

Tuesday, Oct. 9:  Rd. Olmstead, Jacobs (Class trip to downtown)

Thursday, Oct. 11:  Midsemester Break.  No class

Week 9

Tuesday, Oct. 16:  Rd. Abbey

Thursday, Oct. 18:  Rd. Abbey

Week 10

Tuesday, Oct. 23:  Rd. Berry

Thursday, Oct. 25:  Rd. Maclean

Week 11

Tuesday, Oct. 30:  Rd. Maclean

Thursday, Nov. 1: Rd.  Maclean

Week 12

Tuesday, Nov. 6:  Rd. Butler

Thursday, Nov. 8:  No class.  Prof. Lambert at conference.

Week 13

Tuesday, Nov. 13:  Rd. Butler

Thursday, Nov. 15:  Rd. Butler

Week 14

Tuesday, Nov. 20:  Thanksgiving.  No class

Thursday, Nov. 22:  Thanksgiving.  No class.

Week 15

Tuesday, Nov. 27:  Rd. Butler

Thursday, Nov. 29:  Rd. Butler

Week 16

Tuesday, Dec. 4:  Rd. Butler

Thursday, Dec. 6:  Presentations.  Last day of class.

Final Exam:  Portfolio due by the end of scheduled final exam period.