Contact information:
Office: FH 114D
Phone: 294-3175
Office hours: TBA
Email: melinda.menzer@furman.edu
Course web site: http://www.furman.edu/~mmenzer/arthur

Goals: This course is designed to introduce you to the medieval and early modern tradition of Arthurian Literature in England, Wales, and France and to explore briefly some modern retellings.  In so doing, it will help you develop your reading, writing, and research skills.

Coursework and Grades: Your major assignments are two papers, a midterm and a final, and a research project (done with a group).  Your work will be evaluated according to the guidelines in The Furman University Catalogue.  The grade breakdown is

20% Paper 1
20% Paper 2
15% Midterm
20% Final
20% Research project (assignment online)
  5% Class participation

A paper will be docked one letter grade for each class day it is late.  This penalty applies to original as well as revised papers. All work is due at the beginning of class (10:50 AM) and must be typed.  Excuses about recalcitrant computers and printers will not be accepted.  Print out each paper the night before it is due, and always make a backup.

Required Materials:
Please obtain these editions of the the works.

Geoffrey of Monmouth, History of the Kings of Britain (Penguin)
The Mabinogion (Penguin)
Chrétien de Troyes, Arthurian Romances (Kibler’s translation, Penguin)
Sir Gawain and the Green Knight (Borroff’s translation—use the Norton if you have it)
Malory, Works (Oxford)
Steinbeck, The Acts of King Arthur and His Noble Knights
Cooper, The Grey King

There will also be handouts throughout the term.  You will need two folders: one to turn in revised papers with the originals and one to keep your work in during the semester.  By whatever means necessary, get a functioning stapler, with staples, and use it.

Lateness and Attendance: You are expected to attend every class and to participate in all in-class discussion sessions.  If you have six absences, you will receive a grade of F or W in the course, depending on the circumstances on your absences.  All absences (taken for whatever reason) count toward those six absences.  If you are not present when attendance is taken, you are considered absent.

Americans with Disabilities Act: If you have a condition that qualifies as a disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act, please see Ms. Susan Clark (ext. 2322), Furman's Disability Services Coordinator, early in the term to arrange for any necessary accomodations.  This arrangement needs to be worked out well in advance of January 22, when the first paper is due.

Plagiarism and Scholastic Honesty:  Using other people’s words or ideas without proper attribution is plagiarism and will result in major penalties (including possible failure of the course and/or dismissal from the university).  Please see the booklet Plagiarism and Academic Integrity at Furman University, which you received during orientation.  In this course, you must cite your sources according to MLA documentation, using both correct parenthetical documentation and correct works cited pages.  Information, whether quoted or paraphrased, must be cited; in addition, quotations must be clearly marked as quotations.  Consult the handbook that you bought for English 11 for proper citation form.  If you have any questions about plagiarism, please ask me either in class or during my office hours.

Complaints: Please bring questions you have about grades or policies to me first.  Any complaints about grades can be made one class day after the assignment has been returned.  I will not listen to grade complaints made immediately after class the day an assignment is returned.

Talk to me: My office hours are for your benefit.  Please take advantage of them. If these times are impossible for you, come talk to me before or after class to schedule an appointment.

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