Description: English 4620 is an introduction to the best works of the Sixteenth and Seventeenth Centuries. We cover a variety of genres in order to appreciate the extraordinary diversity and richness of the period. Throughout the semester, we'll be reading with a consciousness of the historical continuity of the period, its connection with the artistic works of the Medieval period, and its difference and similarity to our own time.
You are the architects of this class. It is only worth as much as you put into it. I am a resource, not a supplier of produce. What you learn will depend on the work you do, and therefore your grade will reflect to a large extent how well you keep up with the reading (more so than perfect understanding) and the amount you participate (almost as much as how well you write).

Writing Requirements: A midterm (10%) a final exam (20%), a critical paper of about 10 pages on a topic suggested or approved by the instructor (25%), a short essay of 2 pages (10%) and a journal (20%). You may, if you wish, hand in the long essay, at least a week before it is due, and receive written feedback–but no grade–on it. Failure to submit a required paper within a week of the due date, without prior consent of the instructor, will result in an "E" for the final grade for the course.

Journal Assignment: (Easy A) You will submit journal entries on the reading by 9:00 am on Friday of the week for which they are assigned. The entry should be at least one-half page, typewritten, with the date and your name. You may focus on one or two readings. Your grade for journaling begins as an A. You can only lower it by a) failing to hand entries in at the start of class on the day they are due or b) by inappropriate responses (summary rather than interpreting or critiquing; lacking enough specifics to show you read the work). Sample Journal

DISCUSSION REQUIREMENT (Another easy "A"!) Not only does your attendance contribute to the community we make in this class, your contribution to class discussion is crucial to helping others understand the texts in different ways and to clarifying your own position--ideas that will show up in your papers. I grade your participation according to the number of times you attend class during the semester, working on the basis that you can't participate if you don't attend.
0-4 absences = A; 5 absences = A-; 6 absences = B+;7 absences = B; and so forth. Your 4 freebies are intended to cover such emergencies as the day you were sick, the day the baby sitter didn't make it. After your four freebies, every absence counts against your attendance/participation grade. You can't hand in a journal entry after it is due, but 2 missing journal entries are free!
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Possible Alternate Grading System: If you wish not to be responsible for the class day-by-day, you may sign a contract to be graded on only the following: A midterm (15%) a final exam (35%), a critical paper of about 10 pages on a topic suggested or approved by the instructor (35%), a short essay of 2 pages (15%). This contract must be submitted, signed and dated, by January 21. These are the only conditions under which this grading system will be used.

I, _______________________________________, wish to be graded according to the system described immediately above. I understand that once this contract is submitted, it is non-negotiable.
Warning: This contract assumes you are self-motivated and well disciplined. You will find it almost impossible to pass the class if you don't keep up with the reading. The assignments and test will assume you have done all of it. Also, while you won't lose credit for absences, neither will you gain it for attendance or journaling. Your entire grade will depend on your writing skills.

Week 1
M. Intro to class; Book; expectations. Computer Teaching Room: Assignments
W. Introduction to the 16th C; 469-498; Outlined background: Social and Political; Literary historical; Indepth: Socio-political description; literary history; definition and history of European Renaissance (optional reading):http://www.luminarium.org/renlit/renaissanceinfo.htm
F. Castiglione: outline; lecture; reading guide

Week 2
M. Holiday
W. Wyatt; Surrey 569-75; notes
F. More's Utopia; overview; reading guide; notes

Week 3
M. Bible Translations 538-42 and Calvin, "The Institution of the Christian Religion" 544-47; medieval notions of predestination
W. Sidney 933-54; "The Defense of Poesy," reading guide; notes
F. Queen Elizabeth, notes and reading guide; Herbert: 957-61, notes; Sidney's Astrophil and Stella 916-23; 926; 929-30, notes