English 328: Holocaust Literature (Fall 2008)
Instructor: Dr. Laurie Cannady
Office: Raub 402
Telephone: (570) 484-2429 E mail: lcannady@lhup.edu
Office hours: 11-12:20 on MWF and 2:15-3:15 on F/By Appointment on TR
Description of the Course:
A thematic or topical approach to literature, with emphasis on close textual analysis and an exploration of the relationship between literature and historical or social contexts. Texts might be drawn from American, British, or world literature, and could include poetry, prose, drama, or nonfiction. Topics might include, among others: images of women, representations of the American West, medical themes in literature, novels about war, domestic fiction, or literary realism. This specific course will focus on texts written during and about the Holocaust.
Objectives:
A student who has taken this course will know and be able to do the following:
1. Articulate the philosophy and general nature of Holocaust survivors and writers of the Holocaust.
2. Discuss a wide variety of materials written by survivors and literary scholars who have studied the Holocaust.
3. Use literary standards for critical evaluation of writings on the Holocaust.
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Quizzes |
There will be three non-comprehensive quizzes, which are each worth 15% of your final grade. Typically, the quizzes will include identification of significant themes, characters, and phrases; identification and explication of passages we’ve read; and one or more synthesis questions. |
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Papers |
There will be one paper in the course. It will be worth 15% of your final grade. |
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Presentations |
Along with your group, you will have one 25-minute presentation in the course. It will be worth 20% of your grade. Detailed instructions on the presentation will be handed out in Part II of the course.
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Participation/Discussion Post
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Your class participation grade will be based on your participation in class discussion and your attendance. It is worth 10% of your grade.
You will be allowed three unexcused, unquestioned absences. After the fourth unexcused absence, your class participation grade will be lowered 5%. After the fifth unexcused absence, your class participation grade will be lowered 10%. After the sixth unexcused absence you will receive a “0” for your class participation grade. You may also be asked to drop the course. If you refuse to drop the course, you could receive a grade of “E” in the course.
Excused absences are illnesses (accompanied by a doctor’s note,) military obligations, and university obligations.
Since tardiness disrupts the class and will obviously affect the people in your group, you are required to come to class on time. Three unexcused tardies will equal an unexcused absence.
Discussion responses must be posted weekly. They are worth 50% of your participation grade. |
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Literary Events |
You are required to attend two literary events that are performed and/or scheduled by the university. You must also write a review of both of the attended performances. This would include literary readings, performances, and forums. As event dates arise, I will let you know. This assignment is worth 10% of your final grade. |
The grading scale for this course is shown in the following table:
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100-95%=A |
89-87%=B+ |
79-77%=C+ |
69-67%=D+ |
59-Below=E |
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94-90%=A- |
86-84%=B |
76-74%=C |
66-60%=D |
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83-80%=B- |
73-70%=C- |
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Essay and in-class writings: The essay will range from 3-5 pages. It must be typed, double-spaced, 1-inch margin, and 12-font. Any essay that is turned in late will be lowered one grade for every class meeting that it is late. If you know that you will be turning your essay in late, inform me as soon as possible for assistance.
All essay topics are subject to approval. If you are having a problem with a topic that you have chosen, do not hesitate to contact me for assistance.
Every, every, every assignment must be turned in and completed in order to pass the class.
Classroom Conduct: Respect is a must. We will have differing opinions, but it is important that we respect each other at all times. That means that every opinion is valid and that there should be no profanity used toward anyone in the course.
Plagiarism: Plagiarism is a serious offense. If I find that you have plagiarized someone’s writing, you will receive an “E” for the assignment and/or for the course. If you have any questions about plagiarism, don’t hesitate to ask me for help.
Note: Any student who has a condition that may affect his/her academic performance should inform me and schedule an appointment with the coordinator of disability issues. Appropriate provisions will be made.
Course Calendar
PART I
Week 1
08/25/08: Intro to course
08/27/08: Hitler, Mein Kampf/Volume 1: Chapter 2
08/29/08: The World Must Know Assignment/Wiernik, “A Year in Treblinka”
Week 2
09/01/08: Labor Day/No Classes
09/03/08: Levi, Survival in Auschwitz/“The Journey”-“The Canto of Ulysses”
09/05/08: Levi, Survival in Auschwitz/“The Events of Summer”-“The Story of Ten Days”
Week 3
09/08/08: Wiesel, “A Plea for the Dead”
09/10/08: Furmanski, “Conversation with a Dead Man”
09/12/08: Sutzkever, “Resurrection” and Radnoti, “Forced March”
Week 4
09/15/08: Borowski, This Way for the Gas/ “The Way for the Gas”-“The People Who Walked On”
09/17/08: Borowski, This Way for the Gas/ “Auschwitz, Our Home (A Letter)”-“The World of Stone”
09/19/08: Pagis, “The Roll Call” and “Testimony”
Week 5
09/22/08: Movie/The Pianist
09/24/08: Movie/The Pianist
09/26/08: Movie/The Pianist
PART II
Week 6
09/29/08: Nomberg-Przytyk, Auschwitz: True Tales/“Alienation”-“The Block of Death”
10/01/08: Nomberg-Przytyk, Auschwitz: True Tales/“Morituri te Salutant”-“The Dance of the Rabbis”
10/03/08: Nomberg-Przytyk, Auschwitz: True Tales/“Revenge of a Dancer”-“The Road Back”
Week 7
10/06/08: Fall Holiday/No Classes
10/07/08: Delbo, “Voices”
10/08/08: Fink, “The Key Game” and “Spring Morning”
10/10/08: Sachs, “Oh Night of the Weeping Children” and “Even the Old Men’s Last Breath”
Week 8
10/13/08: Schneider, Let Me Go
10/15/08: Schneider, Let Me Go
10/17/08: Schneider, Let Me Go
Week 9
10/20/08: Philip Terman Visit
10/22/08: Assignment on Dr. Mengele
10/24/08: Assignment on Dr. Mengele
Week 10
10/27/08: Movie/Sophie’s Choice
10/29/08: Movie/Sophie’s Choice
10/31/08: Movie/Sophie’s Choice
PART III
Week 11
11/03/08: Sutzkever , “For My Child”
11/05/08: Sachs, “Chorus of the Unborn”
11/07/08: Rumkowski, “Give Me Your Children” speech
Week 12
11/10/08: Zelkowicz, “Days of Nightmare”
11/12/08: Zelkowicz, “Days of Nightmare”
11/14/08: Sierakowiak, The Diary/ “Notebook 1”
Week 13
11/17/08: Sierakowiak, The Diary/ “Notebook 2”
11/19/08: Sierakowiak, The Diary/ “Notebook 3”
11/21/08: Sierakowiak, The Diary/ “Notebook 4”
Week 14
11/24/08: Sierakowiak, The Diary/ “Notebook 5”/Final Paper Discussion
11/26/08: Thanksgiving Holiday
11/28/08: Thanksgiving Holiday
Week 15
12/01/08: Presentation
12/03/08: Presentation
12/05/08: Presentation
Week 16
12/09/08: Movie/Lena: My 100 Children