english 3366: topics in literature and environment: animals · the animals reader: the essential...
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English3366:TopicsinLiteratureandEnvironment:Animals
Dr.Alaimo ProfessorofEnglishhttp://www.uta.edu/english/alaimo/ DistinguishedTeachingProfessorOfficeNumber:Carlisle411OfficeTelephoneNumber:None.TheEnglishDepartment:8172722692.EmailAddress:[email protected]:Tuesdays:12:30‐2:30andThursdays12:30‐1:00and5:00‐6:00.(Note:althoughIwillusuallybeinmyofficeduringthosetimes,Imayhavetoattendmeetings,dissertationdefenses,etc.PleaseemailmetoconfirmthatIwillbeinmyofficeortoarrangeanappointment.)TimeandPlaceofClassMeetings:1112:20:Tuesday/ThursdayPlace:TBACourseDescription:Thiscoursewillfocusontherepresentationofanimalsinliteratureandfilm,raisingphilosophicalandethicalquestionsabouthowhumansunderstand,imagine,value,andinteractwithotheranimals.Wewillreadanddiscussessays,poetry,andthefollowingnovels,AnnaSewell,BlackBeauty;JackLondon,CalloftheWild;BarbaraGowdy,TheWhiteBone;EvaHornung,DogBoy;PhilipK.Dick,DoAndroidsDreamofElectricSheep?;andMargaretAtwood,OryxandCrake.Wewillalsowatchthefilms,GrizzlyMan,PrincessMononoke,BeingCaribouandSharkwater.Topicswillincludeanimalethics;animaladvocacyandsentiment;animalculturesandmodesofbeing;human/animalcrossingsandkinships;andanimalart.WewillbefortunatetohearsuperbspeakersintheHermann’slectureserieson“AnimalStudies,”FridayMarch30th!Requirementsinclude:midterm
exam,shortpaper,finalproject,finalexam,grouppresentation,andattendanceattheHermannslectures.Classtimewillconsistoflecture,smallgroupwork,andmuchdiscussion.[Thiscoursecountsforthecross‐disciplinaryEnvironmentalandSustainabilityStudies(ESS)Minor.Formoreontheminorsee:http://www.uta.edu/supa/undergraduate/esst‐minor.php]RequiredTextbooksandOtherCourseMaterials
• Stapler.• LindaKalofandAmyFitzgerald,TheAnimalsReader:TheEssentialClassicand
ContemporaryWritings[purchaserightaway!]• AnnaSewell,BlackBeauty,PuffinClassics• JackLondon,CalloftheWild,PuffinClassics• BarbaraGowdy,TheWhiteBone• EvaHornung,DogBoy(availableonKindleorusedonAmazon)• PhilipK.Dick,DoAndroidsDreamofElectricSheep?• MargaretAtwood,OryxandCrake• PDFsofpoemsorotherreadings,availableonBlackboardandMavspace,
here:https://mavspace.uta.edu/xythoswfs/webview/_xy‐2619393_1[NotethatFirefoxworksbetterforaccessingMavSpacethandoesSafari.]
Purchaseorrentalofthefilms
• GrizzlyMan(HerzogandTreadwell2005)and• PrincessMononoke(HayaoMiyazaki1997).
IwillshowthefilmSharkwater(RobStewart2006)inclass,butyoumaywantaccesstoyourowncopytoo.ThefilmBeingCaribouisavailablefreehere:http://www.beingcaribou.com/necessaryjourneys/film.html#BC.Itisyourresponsibilitytowatchthefilmsbeforeclass,unlessotherwisenoted.YouwillneedtoobtainthefilmsbypurchasingorrentingthemonlineorbysigningupforNetflix.comoranequivalent.Youmaywanttowatchthefilmswithotherpeopleinthecoursetooffsetthecostorjustbecauseit’smorefun.
Requirements/Grading:Youmustcompletealltherequiredworkinordertoobtaincreditforthecourse.Participation:10%ShortPaper:10%Mid‐TermExam:20%FinalProject:25%GroupPresentation:5%FinalExam:30%
SpecialRequirement:StudentswillberequiredtoattendatleastoneHermann’slectureonFridayMarch30thandwriteaone‐pagesummaryandresponse.Thisisrequiredtopassthecourse.Pleaseplanahead.Youwillreceiveadayofffromclasstocompensate.[Thefinalgradewillbecalculatedaccordingtothepercentagesabove.Participationwillbegradedaccordingtothequalityandquantityofeachstudent’scontributionstoclassdiscussionsthroughoutthecourse.Theinstructorwillassessparticipationattheveryendofthecourse.Pleasenote:YouMUSTcometoclassONTIMEtoplanyourpresentation,Thursday,April12th.Ifyoudon’t,youmaybekickedoutofthegroup,whichwillloweryourgradeintheclass.]DueDatesDescriptionsofpapersandexaminations:4pagePaper:Tuesday,February7,atthestartofclassMidTermExam:Tuesday,February14,duringclassFinalProject:ThursdayApril19th,atthestartofclassFinalExam:Tuesday,May8th,11‐1:30AttendanceattheHermanns:Friday,March30th.One‐pagesummary/responsetoaHermannstalkduethefollowingTuesday,April,2nd.GroupPresentations:thepenultimateweekofclassExamsTherewillbeonemid‐termexamandonefinalexam.Theexamsmaycontainsomeidentificationandshort‐answerquestions,butmostofthepointswillbefromessayquestions.Thefinalexamwillbecomprehensive.Bringbluebooksandpensfortheexams.ShortPaper,FinalProjectThecourserequiresoneshort,4pageessay,andalongerfinalproject,whichconsistsofan8‐pageresearchpaperoravideoormultimediaproject.PresentationYourgrouppresentationwillbecollaborativebutitwillemergefromyourfinalindividualproject.ParticipationYouractive,informedparticipationiscrucialtothesuccessofthecourse.Carefullyprepareforeachclassperiodbydoingthereadingandwatchingthefilmsinarigorousandinquisitivemanner.Keepingyourownjournalornotebookwouldbeveryhelpful.Everydaythatyoucometoclassyoushouldhavesomethingvaluabletosay.[Participationwillbegradedaccordingtothequalityandquantityofeachstudent’scontributionstoclassdiscussionsthroughoutthecourse.Theinstructorwillassessparticipationattheveryendofthecourse.]
Attendance/PunctualityPleasecometoclassONTIME!!Itisextremelydisruptivetotheinstructorandthestudentstohavepeoplecomeinlate.Iwillgradeonactualparticipation,ratherthanonmereattendance,sotherewillbenoofficialattendancepolicy.Thereisnoneedtotellmethatyouwillbeabsentorwhyyouwillbeabsent.Pleasebewarned,however,thatanytimeyoumissclassyouwillmissimportantcoursecontentandyouwillbehurtingyourparticipationgrade.Itisimpossibletoreplicatewhatyoumissedinclassduringofficehoursorbyanyothermeans.Ifyouwanttodowell,youshould,ofcourse,cometoclassandcomepreparedtowork.KEEPCOPIESOFYOURWORK.Youarerequiredtokeepanextracopyofallpapersandprojects,yourself.Youarealsorequiredtokeepallgradedcopiesofpapersandexamsuntilafteryouhavereceivedyourfinalgrade.Thiswillprotectyourworkfromunforeseencatastrophesandprotectyourgradefromclericalerrors.(Thesearewisethingstodoforanyclass.)
CourseObjectives1)Tointroducestudentstothemostsignificantconcepts,questions,andideasin
cross‐disciplinaryanimalstudies.2)Toprovidestudentswiththetoolsandtheopportunitiestoanalyzeandinterpret
literatureandfilmbyapplyingconceptsandquestionsfromanimalstudies.3)Toimprovestudents’skills,moregenerally,inreading,writing,researching,and
publicspeaking.
StudentLearningOutcomes1.Studentsshoulddemonstrateanunderstandingofawiderangeofideas,
questions,andconceptsinanimalstudies.2.Studentsshoulddemonstratetheirabilitiestothinkcriticallyabouttheessays
andtheoriesusinganalysis,comparison,contrast,argument,critique,andevaluation.
3.Studentsshouldbeabletoanalyzeandinterprettheliteratureandthefilmsbyapplyingtheconcepts,texts,questionsandparadigmscontainedinthelecturesandreadings.
4.Studentsshouldbeabletoperformindependentresearch,usingtheMLAbibliographyandothermethods,andtoincorporatethatresearchintoanoriginalscholarlyessayandagrouppresentation.[Orifdoingamultimediaprojectforthefinalproject,studentsshouldincorporatetheirresearchandtheirargumentsinaneffective,organized,substantialworkofmultimedia.NoPowerpointswillbeallowed.]
5.Studentsshouldbeabletoformulateoriginal,illuminating,andpersuasiveideasaboutalltheessays,literatureandfilmsintheclass.Theseideasshouldreflectanunderstandingofthecontentofthecourse.
6.Studentsshouldbeabletoexpresstheirideasinclear,logical,organized,concise,andpersuasiveways,inbothwrittenandoralforms.
RESOURCES:UTALibrarians:TakeadvantageoftheUTAlibrarianstogethelpwithyourresearch.LibraryDataBases:UsetheMLAInternationalBibliographyformostofyourresearch;itistheessentialbibliographictoolforEnglishStudies.TheWritingCenter:TheWritingCenteroffersfreehelpwithyourpapersatanystageofthewritingprocess.TheyarelocatedintheCentralLibrary,room411.Youcanjustwalkinwithyourpaperoryoucanmakeanappointment:Theyevenofferanonlinelab:http://www.uta.edu/owl/Purduehasagreatdealofinformationonline:http://owl.english.purdue.edu/TheEnglishDepartment’swebpages:http://www.uta.edu/english/undergrad/index.htmlMywebpageforUndergraduates:http://www.uta.edu/english/alaimo/forundergrads.htmlEnvironmentalandSustainabilityStudiesMinoratUTA:http://www.uta.edu/supa/undergraduate/esstminor.phpAnimalStudiesBibliographies,AnimalEthicsessays,AnimalArt
• BBCEthicsGuide:AnimalEthics:http://www.bbc.co.uk/ethics/animals/• “TheMoralStatusofAnimals”http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/moral‐
animal/• AnimalsandEthics:InternetEncyclopediaofPhilosophy:
http://www.iep.utm.edu/anim‐eth/• AnimalStudiesBibliographyatMichiganState:
http://animalstudies.msu.edu/bibliography.php• DavidAnderson’sLiteratureofHuman‐AnimalStudies
http://www.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/CCAB/haibooks.htm• Human‐AnimalStudies:APreliminaryBibliography:UofCanterbury,NZ
http://www.nzchas.canterbury.ac.nz/bibliography.shtml• Antennae:TheJournalofNatureinVisualCulture:
http://www.antennae.org.uk/• AnimalArt:TheGreenMuseum:http://greenmuseum.org/
AnimalAdvocacyandBiodiversity:
• GreatApeProject:http://www.greatapeproject.org/
• SeaShepherds:http://www.seashepherd.org/• HumaneSociety:http://www.humanesociety.org/• PETA:http://www.peta.org/• UniversalDeclarationofAnimalWelfare:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universal_Declaration_on_Animal_Welfare• IUCNRedLitofThreatenedSpecies:http://www.iucnredlist.org/• CensusofMarineLife:http://www.coml.org/
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OFFICIALUTAPOLICIES:DropPolicy:Studentsmaydroporswap(addinganddroppingaclassconcurrently)classesthroughself‐serviceinMyMavfromthebeginningoftheregistrationperiodthroughthelateregistrationperiod.Afterthelateregistrationperiod,studentsmustseetheiracademicadvisortodropaclassorwithdraw.UndeclaredstudentsmustseeanadvisorintheUniversityAdvisingCenter.Dropscancontinuethroughapointtwo‐thirdsofthewaythroughthetermorsession.Itisthestudent'sresponsibilitytoofficiallywithdrawiftheydonotplantoattendafterregistering.Studentswillnotbeautomaticallydroppedfornonattendance.RepaymentofcertaintypesoffinancialaidadministeredthroughtheUniversitymayberequiredastheresultofdroppingclassesorwithdrawing.Formoreinformation,contacttheOfficeofFinancialAidandScholarships(http://wweb.uta.edu/ses/fao).AmericanswithDisabilitiesAct:[TheUniversityofTexasatArlingtonisonrecordasbeingcommittedtoboththespiritandletterofallfederalequalopportunitylegislation,includingtheAmericanswithDisabilitiesAct(ADA).AllinstructorsatUTArlingtonarerequiredbylawtoprovide"reasonableaccommodations"tostudentswithdisabilities,soasnottodiscriminateonthebasisofthatdisability.AnystudentrequiringanaccommodationforthiscoursemustprovidetheinstructorwithofficialdocumentationintheformofalettercertifiedbythestaffintheOfficeforStudentswithDisabilities,UniversityHall102.Onlythosestudentswhohaveofficiallydocumentedaneedforanaccommodationwillhavetheirrequesthonored.Informationregardingdiagnosticcriteriaandpoliciesforobtainingdisability‐basedacademicaccommodationscanbefoundatwww.uta.edu/disabilityorbycallingtheOfficeforStudentswithDisabilitiesat(817)272‐3364.AcademicIntegrity:[AtUTArlington,academicdishonestyiscompletelyunacceptableandwillnotbetoleratedinanyform,including(butnotlimitedto)“cheating,plagiarism,collusion,thesubmissionforcreditofanyworkormaterialsthatareattributableinwholeorinparttoanotherperson,takinganexaminationforanotherperson,anyactdesignedtogiveunfairadvantagetoastudentortheattempttocommitsuchacts”(UTSystemRegents’Rule50101,§2.2).SuspectedviolationsofacademicintegritystandardswillbereferredtotheOfficeofStudentConduct.ViolatorswillbedisciplinedinaccordancewithUniversitypolicy,whichmayresultinthestudent’ssuspensionorexpulsionfromtheUniversity.StudentSupportServices:UTArlingtonprovidesavarietyofresourcesandprogramsdesignedtohelpstudentsdevelopacademicskills,dealwithpersonalsituations,andbetterunderstandconceptsandinformationrelatedtotheircourses.Resourcesincludetutoring,major‐basedlearningcenters,developmentaleducation,advisingandmentoring,personalcounseling,andfederallyfundedprograms.Forindividualizedreferrals,studentsmaycontacttheMaverickResourceHotlinebycalling817‐272‐6107,[email protected],orvisitingwww.uta.edu/resources.ElectronicCommunication:UTArlingtonhasadoptedMavMailasitsofficialmeanstocommunicatewithstudentsaboutimportantdeadlinesandevents,aswellastotransactuniversity‐relatedbusinessregardingfinancialaid,tuition,grades,graduation,etc.AllstudentsareassignedaMavMailaccountandareresponsibleforcheckingtheinboxregularly.Thereisnoadditionalchargeto
studentsforusingthisaccount,whichremainsactiveevenaftergraduation.InformationaboutactivatingandusingMavMailisavailableathttp://www.uta.edu/oit/cs/email/mavmail.php.StudentFeedbackSurvey:Attheendofeachterm,studentsenrolledinclassescategorizedaslecture,seminar,orlaboratorywillbeaskedtocompleteanonlineStudentFeedbackSurvey(SFS)aboutthecourseandhowitwastaught.InstructionsonhowtoaccesstheSFSsystemwillbesentdirectlytostudentsthroughMavMailapproximately10daysbeforetheendoftheterm.UTArlington’sefforttosolicit,gather,tabulate,andpublishstudentfeedbackdataisrequiredbystatelaw;studentparticipationintheSFSprogramisvoluntary.FinalReviewWeek:AperiodoffiveclassdayspriortothefirstdayoffinalexaminationsinthelongsessionsshallbedesignatedasFinalReviewWeek.Thepurposeofthisweekistoallowstudentssufficienttimetoprepareforfinalexaminations.Duringthisweek,thereshallbenoscheduledactivitiessuchasrequiredfieldtripsorperformances;andnoinstructorshallassignanythemes,researchproblemsorexercisesofsimilarscopethathaveacompletiondateduringorfollowingthisweekunlessspecifiedintheclasssyllabus.DuringFinalReviewWeek,aninstructorshallnotgiveanyexaminationsconstituting10%ormoreofthefinalgrade,exceptmakeuptestsandlaboratoryexaminations.Inaddition,noinstructorshallgiveanyportionofthefinalexaminationduringFinalReviewWeek.Duringthisweek,classesareheldasscheduled.Inaddition,instructorsarenotrequiredtolimitcontenttotopicsthathavebeenpreviouslycovered;theymayintroducenewconceptsasappropriate.‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐
PLEASERESPECTTHELEARNINGENVIRONMENT
1.UNPLUG!TUNEINTOCLASS,TURNOFFallpagers,beepers,cellphonesandotherelectronicdevices!Youmaynothavethesedevicesturnedonwhileinclass.Youmaynottextmessageorreademailorengageinanyotherelectronicactivitiesduringclass.IrealizeFBandtextmessagesandemailhaveademonicholdovermanyofusbutIamconfidentyoucansurvivewithoutthemforthelengthofourclass.Youmaynotuselaptopsinclass,exceptifyouareusingittoaccessanelectronictext.2.ArrivetoclassONTIME.Itisdistractingtoboththeprofessorandthestudentstohavesomeonecomeinlate.Ifyoucomeinlate,youwillbemarkedabsent.3.AlwaysarrivePREPAREDtowork.Everydaywewillhaveworktodoinclass.Somedayswewillworkinsmallgroups.Ifyouarenotpreparedthenyouwillnotbeabletocontributetotheclassortoyoursmallgroup.Youmaybeaskedtoleaveclassifyouarenotprepared.Also,rememberthatforEnglishclassesyouMUSTBRINGwhateverTEXTSwearediscussingthatdaytoclass.3.TreatyourclassmateswithRESPECT.Learntodisagreewithoutbeingdisagreeable.Wewilloftendiscusscontroversial,volatiletopics,soeveryoneneedstolearnhowtodisagreewithsomeone’sviews,beliefs,orperspectiveswhilemaintainingasenseofcivility.Thisisarareskillinourculture,butaskillthatisnecessaryforaneducated,humane,democraticsociety.
SYLLABUS
Unlessotherwisenoted,youshouldreadorwatchwhateverislistedfortheday,beforeyoucometoclass.Alwaysbringthebookorreadingtoclass.PLEASECOMETOCLASSONTIME.AR=AnimalsReader,ed.KalofandFitzgerald[PDF]=availableonMavSpaceandBlackboard
Introductions:AnimalsEthics?WeekOne.January17&19Tuesday:Introductions.Discusspoemsinclass,ElizabethBishop,“PinkDog;”W.S.Merwin,“ForaComingExtinction,”andMaryOliver,“WildGeese.”[Handoutsprovidedinclass.]Thursday:MichelledeMontaigne,RenéDescartes,JeremyBenthem,andMarjorieSpeigel,inTheAnimalsReader[AR].JoyWilliams,“TheAnimalPeople”[PDF].WeekTwo.January24&26Tuesday:TomRegan,“TheRightsofHumansandOtherAnimals”AR;MarthaNussbaum,“TheMoralStatusofAnimals”AR.RobinsonJeffers,“HurtHawks”[PDF];PhilipLevine,“AnimalsarePassingfromOurLives”[PDF].
AnimalSympathies,AnimalAdvocacyThursday,January26:AnnaSewell,BlackBeauty,PartsIandII
WeekThree.January31andFebruary2Tuesday:AnnaSewell,BlackBeauty,totheendCoralLansbury,“TheBrownDogRiotsof1907,”inAR.Thursday:JackLondon,CalloftheWildYi‐Fu‐Tuan,“AnimalPets:CrueltyandAffection”inAR.WeekFour.February7&9Tuesday:FirstPaperDue.Noreadingfortoday.WatchSharkwaterinclass(pleasecome5minutesearlyifyoucan.)
Thursday:DiscussSharkwater.WatchClipsfromFoodInc.inclass.WeekFive.February14&16Tuesday:MidTermExam
AnimalCultures,AnimalWorldsThursdayFebruary16:SyMontgomery,“DeepIntellect:InsidetheMindofanOctopus”[PDF];CarolP.VanSchaik,et.,al,“OrangutanCulturesandtheEvolutionofMaterialCultures”[AR];JeffreyMoussaieffMassonandSusanMcCarthy,“Greif,Sadness,andtheBonesofElephants,”[AR];startTheWhiteBone,ifyouhavetime.WeekSix.February21&23Tuesday:Firsthalf,BarbaraGowdy,TheWhiteBone.Thursday:Secondhalf,BarbaraGowdy,TheWhiteBone.WeekSeven.February28andMarch1Tuesday:SelectedPoems,includingWallaceStevens,“ThirteenWaysofLookingataBlackbird,”afewfromLesMurray,TranslationsfromtheNaturalWorld;”afewfromJeffreyYang,AnAquarium,StanleyKunitz,“TheWellfleetWhale,”LindaHogan,“MountainLion”[PDF].JeanPainlevéfilmsinclass.Thursday:Berger,“WhyLookatAnimals?”Film:BeingCaribou(LeanneAllisonandDianaWilson)2005:available:http://www.beingcaribou.com/necessaryjourneys/film.html[Watchbeforeclass,discussinclass.]
Human/AnimalConstructions,Crossings,andKinships
WeekEight.March6&8Tuesday:PhillipK.Dick,DoAndroidsDreamofElectricSheep?Thursday:Franklin,“Dolly’sBody:Gender,GeneticsandtheNewGeneticCapital,”inAR;Haraway,“CyborgstoCompanionSpecies:ReconfiguringKinshipinTechnoscience”inAR:pages362‐367only.
SPRINGBREAK:March1216WeekNine:March20&22Tuesday:MasonandFinelli,“BraveNewFarm”inARFirsthalfofMargaretAtwood,OryxandCrakeThursday:SecondhalfofMargaretAtwood,OryxandCrake
WeekTen.March27&29Tuesday:LindaHogan,“Crossings”[PDF];RobinsonJeffers,“Vulture.”[PDF]NancyTurner,“AKincentricApproachtoNature,”69‐84[PDF];LindaHogan,“NamingtheAnimals”[PDF].Thursday:PrincessMononoke(HayaoMiyazaki1997).[Watchbeforeclass;discussinclass]FRIDAYMARCH30TH:HERMANNSLECTURESERIESFROM114,SixthFloorCentralLibrary.REMEMBERTHATYOUAREREQUIREDTOATTENDATLEASTONELECTUREANDHANDINAONEPAGESUMMARY/RESPONSEPAPERTOPASSTHISCLASS.WeekEleven.April3&5Tuesday:Film:GrizzlyMan(TreadwellandHerzog)2005.[Watchbeforeclass;discussinclass.]One‐pagesummary/responsetoaHermannstalkdue.Thursday:NoclassTimeofftocompensateforHermanns.Timetoworkonyourfinalprojects.WeekTwelve.April10&12Tuesday:FirsthalfofEvaHornung’sDogBoy.Thursday:SecondhalfofEvaHornung’sDogBoy.
Conclusions
WeekThirteen.April17&19.Tuesday:LectureanddiscussionofAnimalArt.Noreading;justcometoclass.Thursday:FinalProjectsDueatthestartofclass.Plangrouppresentationsinclass.YouMUSTcometoclassONTIMEtoplanyourpresentation.Ifyoudon’t,youmaybekickedoffthegroup,whichwillloweryourgradeintheclass.WeekFourteen.April24&26:[Pleasenote,onyourownsyllabus,whichdayyouarepresenting.Materialfromthegrouppresentationswillbeonthefinalexamsobesurenottomisstheothergroups’presentations.]Tuesday:GroupPresentationsThursday:GroupPresentationsWeekFifteen.May1&3:ReviewWeekTuesday:DiscussFinalThursday:NoClassFINALEXAM:TUESAY,MAY8TH,11:001:30Bringloosepaper,bluebooks,andpens.