A Moveable Feast: The Literature and Culture of the Western Mediterranean ENG 4913 Fall 2013 Dr.

Rochelle Gregory

Instructor Information

The world is a book and those who do not travel read only a page. -St. Augustine

Course Instructor: Rochelle Gregory, Ph.D. Office Telephone Number: 940 498 6297 Cell Number: 940 206 8232 Primary Email Address: XXX Secondary Email Address: Rochelle.gregory@gmail.com Facebook Account: https://www.facebook.com/rochelle.gregory.79 Website: www.rochelledgregory.com Honors Office Contact: Dr. Guy Litton Associate Professor of English Department of English, Speech, and Foreign Languages P.O. Box 425829 Texas Womans University Denton, TX 76204-5829 Office: Stoddard Hall 104 & CFO 912 Office Telephone: 940-898-2331

Course Description, Theme, Required Texts, and Assignments ENGL 4913: Independent Study: Directed study of a specific focus in literature. Readings, conferences, special projects. May be repeated for credit when the topic varies. Prerequisite: Nine hours of English or permission of the instructor. Credit: Three hours.

Texts: Fitzgerald, F. Scott, Tender is the Night (NY: Scribner, 1995). ISBN 9780684801544 Hemingway, Ernest, A Moveable Feast (NY: Scribner, 1996). ISBN 068482499X Zafon, Carlos Ruiz, The Shadow of the Wind (NY: Penguin, 2005). ISBN 0143034902 Poetry packet (Eugenio Montale, Byron, Shelley) Federico Fellinis 8 (Italy) Jean de Florette and Manon of the Spring (French Films) (http://www.amazon.com/Florette-Manon-Spring-DoubleFeature/dp/B0009P7EI2) Pedro Almodovars All About My Mother (Spain) Gilbert, Elizabeth, The Best American Travel Writing, 2013 (NY: Mariner, 2013) ISBN 978-0547808987

Our Theme: A Moveable Feast. Well be discovering new experiences and feasting upon the literary, cultural, artistic, and historical delights arrayed before us. Consider the course an intellectual buffet. Dont be afraid to sample the unusual!! Heres a little of what you can expect. Appetizer: Research. Collaborative research into the history, art, architecture, and geography of the western Mediterranean from ancient to modern times. We will be dividing into small research teams, conducting electronic and library research in different areas, and sharing our findings with each other. Teams will get to get to conduct research and make presentations on the following: Finding in Northern Italy Feasting in Northern Italy Finding in Southern France Feasting in Southern France Finding in Catalunya Feasting in Catalunya

Course Description: This course is the companion course to the Honors/ESFL Study Abroad Program. It is a class in which we will be studying a broad selection of literary works in from and about the Western Mediterranean. All of the works have important connections to the places we will be visiting on tour. In addition to our goals of exploring different authors from different eras, we will also be examining works that are from several countries and from three major genres.

Other selections may be posted from time to time on the links provided on the class Blackboard site.

Entre: Readings, Film, and Culture. Readings in the literature (in translation) and culture of and about the Western Mediterranean. We will read selections from Hemingway, Fitzgerald, Montale, and others. We will also view films and examine art, architecture, fashion, music and other elements of pop culture.

The purpose of each of these presentations will be to allow us to educate each other about these places and about their contribution to Italian, French, and Spanish culture, literature, and history prior to our departure.

Assignments and Activities Breakdown of Grades

Dessert: On-Site Discussions, Activities, and Recitations. While we are on tour, we will meet together periodically for small group discussions regarding the historic and cultural sites that we see.

In-Class Mini-Exam: We will be asking you to take three mini-exams. The exams will be a combination of multiple-choice questions and an opportunity to explicate a passage. The exams will be approximately 30 minutes in length and will be offered at the outset of each regular class prior to December. Group Research Presentations: Each person will be assigned to one of study/research groups based on this years specific itinerary. You will work with a graduate student team leader to develop a Group Research Project that will have a written and an oral component. The Graduate Research Assistants will assist you with research and writing. They are here to help you get the most out of this experience!

In-Class Mini-Exam #1 In-Class Mini-Exam #2 In-Class Mini-Exam #3 Travel Writing Assignment Group Presentation On-Site Discussions, Activities, and Recitations End-of-Semester Portfolio

10% 10% 10% 10% 15% 10% 25% 100%

On-Site Discussions, Activities, and Recitations: We will have an opportunity to do some on-the-ground investigations, activities, and recitations into the local cultures of the countries we will be visiting. These Field Activities will be an interesting and exciting opportunity to expand you knowledge of the social, cultural, culinary, and linguistic diversity of these regions that will include recitations, video/print journals, and airport discussions.

End-of-Semester Portfolio: At the end of the semester, youll submit an electronic or print end-of-semester portfolio of your work. Your portfolio will also include a letter of reflection/submission based your experiences and the benefits of travel abroad. This assignment should blend your academic experiences with your personal observations while on tour. You can use various media to produce this portfolio (Microsoft Word, Apple Pages, Travelpod, Webs.com, Weebly, Tublr). This project can be as creativeand privateas you wish to make it. Students in this course, as opposed to those in ENG 2043.91, will be asked to write an additional short essay response related to travel writing.

Travel Writing Assignment: Each student taking this independent study course will consult individually with the instructor to research, plan, draft, writing, and revise an extended travel essay of approximately 1500-2000 words. The essay will be based on one or more experiences from the tour itself. We will be reading and discussing selections from the Gilbert text to serve as models and inspirations for this sort of writing. Core Outcomes and Course Specific Outcomes Core Outcomes: This course meets requirements for Humanities courses. Thus, students will demonstrate the ability to do the following:

Course Specific Outcomes: Students will demonstrate the ability to

1. To demonstrate awareness of the scope and variety of works in the arts and humanities. 2. To understand those works as expressions of individual and human values within an historical and social context. 3. To respond critically to works in the arts and humanities. 4. To engage in the creative process or interpretive performance and comprehend the physical and intellectual demands required of the author or visual or performing artist. 5. To articulate an informed personal reaction to works in the arts and humanities. Recognize/define/utilize literary terms introduced in the course. Explain key characteristics of historical periods, movements, and/or texts introduced in the course. Compare/contrast historical periods, texts, cultures, themes introduced in the class. Read and discuss secondary/research materials related to the texts assigned. Formulate an assertion about a text and support it with evidence. Critically analyze works of film, art, and architecture within the context of the cultural systems that created them. Make original observations about texts and works of art and architecture.

Other Course Considerations

Recognize and explain the relationship between texts and cultural influences.

Attendance Policy: Students must be present for every class. When students miss class, they miss opportunities to take quizzes or earn class participation points. Additionally, they lose valuable information to assist them with larger assignments. The instructors reserve the right to deduct one letter grade from the students final grade for absence. Late arrivals and early departures are considered partial absences.

Students with Disabilities: If you anticipate the need for reasonable accommodations to meet the requirements of this course, you must register with the office of Disability Support Services (CFO 106, 940-898-3835, www.twu.edu/dss/) in order to obtain the required official notification of your accommodation needs. Please plan to meet with me by appointment or during office hours to discuss approved accommodations and how my course requirements and activities may impact your ability to fully participate. Academic Dishonesty: Honesty in completing assignments is essential to the mission of the university and to the development of the personal integrity of the student. Cheating, plagiarism, or other kinds of academic dishonesty will not be tolerated and will result in appropriate sanctions that may include failing an assignment, failing the class, or being suspended or expelled. Suspected cases in this course may be reported to Student Life. The specific disciplinary process for academic dishonesty is found in the TWU Student Handbook. Tools to help you avoid plagiarism are available through the TWU Libraries at http://www.twu.edu/library/res/res_plagiarism.htm. Class Schedule All classes will be held in MCL 504 at 2:00 to 5:00 pm on the dates below. Each evening will have a theme, and you should read the works and view the films listed for the evening in advance of the class session. September 15 (2:00-4:00): Information Session/Meet n Greet [Mandatory for all participants on tour.] Basics of Our Trip Meet n Greet Game Paperwork Check with Beth Meet Group Leaders Pass out information on Mini-Exam #1 Optional Info Sessions on: o Money Matters o Packing and What to Expect

October 27 (2:00-5:00): Mini-Exam 2 (30 min) Trip Information Q&A (15 min) Fitzgeralds Tender is the Night (45 min) Discussion of Jean de Florette and Manon of the Spring (45 min) Group Presentation Meeting (20 min)

September 29 (2:00-5:00): Mini-Exam 1 (30 min) Trip Information Q&A (10 min) Discuss Poetry Packet (30 min) Discussion of Fellinis 8 (film) (45 min) Hemingways A Moveable Feast (45 min) Group Presentation Meeting (10 min)

o Safety

November 17 (2:00-5:00): Mini-Exam 3 (30 min) Trip Information Q&A (15 min) Zafons The Shadow of the Wind Discussion of Almodovars All About My Mother (film) Group Presentation Meeting (20 min)

Special Guest: Mr. Chris Morrison is tentatively scheduled to visit TWU the week of October 30th. Please keep your calendar open that week for a reception and information session about our trip!

January 6 (Layover): Well have a special activity to occupy any layover time. February 2: Final Meeting End-of-Semester Portfolio Due

December 8 (2:00-5:00): Group Presentations Each of our six groups will offer their researched presentations.