Frequently Asked Questions
About the Nature of WL Courses
About Classroom Activities
About Assignments and Grades
About Registration in World Literature Courses
Getting Help
About the nature of GB Courses
2. Why is every class's reading list different in World Literature?Answer: Both classes build on analytical skills from Freshman Composition. World Literature I covers the literature of the world to 1650, while World Literature II covers the literature of the world from 1650 to the present.
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3. What are the course objectives for World Literature? What should I expect to gain from the sequence?Answer: Some of the texts you read in World Literature have been thought of for a long time as important and worthy of study. When you read an epic like Homer's Odyssey, a philosophical work like Plato's Republic, or a novel like Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, you join many generations of readers who have thought about and taken pleasure in them. These works are often thought of as "foundational" in Western civilization; they have helped to shape the way we think and act, the way we understand both the past and the present.
But like all fields of study, the study of literature has been expanded and energized by new knowledge. Some of the texts you read in World Literature are ones people of an earlier generation will never have heard of; they are works whose greatness is just being discovered by the students and scholars who are encountering them. Works such as Frederick Douglass's Narrative, Leslie Silko's "Yellow Woman," and Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart reflect the diversity of our world and bring us voices--of minority writers, of women, of non-Western cultures--which are new and exciting.
Working within established guidelines, individual instructors choose readings for their sections of World Literature. Some make their selections from an anthology while others prefer to work with individual texts. In either case, instructors try to select works which have a lot to offer students and which provide the kinds of challenges which can lead to rewarding reading, writing, and class discussion experiences.
While you are taking World Literature you will probably develop your own criteria and your own sense of what qualities make a work great. Additionally, most instructors build their classes around specific themes or ideas which allows the works to be read in different contexts from one another, making each reading a new experience.
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Answer: World Literature is intended to foster literacy in both senses of the term: (1) to develop students' ability to read and write with facility and effectiveness; and (2) to acquaint students with a selection of significant and valuable texts. Although discussion takes into account historical and cultural contexts that are essential to an understanding of the texts studied, emphasis is on reading, analyzing, and interpreting the texts themselves.
As part of the Core Curriculum, World Literature should help you increase your appreciation the arts, understand ethical considerations, understand how individuals and societies work, and increase your abilities to reason well and communicate effectively.
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About Classroom Activities
5. How much time should I spend per week on this class?Answer: Every instructor conducts his or her classes differently, but you can expect a combination of discussion, lecture, and small group work. Most classes rely on some form of discussion. Many instructors require frequent quizzes and in-class writing assignments as well. You should bring your book to every class meeting.
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6. How important is class attendance?Answer: Think about the regular study guidelines of three out-of-class hours per week for every class hour. If you enjoy reading, the time you spend will seem shorter! You should write notes for yourself as you read. Write down reactions and questions as you go; you will then have more things to talk about in class as well as some preparation for drafting any response papers or essays for the class.
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Answer: Because discussion is important for each class, you should attend all classes. Consult the University attendance policy if you have a question about whether your absence can be considered a university-sanctioned excuse. Excuses should be presented on the first day you return to class after an absence. Your instructor may request appropriate verification for an excuse. You are responsible for initiating arrangements to make up work due to excused absences.
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About Assignments and Grades
Answer: You should expect to write a minimum of 2400 words to be graded and returned before the last day of class. Because writing is an important mode of learning in World Literature, you should also expect to do a substantial amount of informal writing as part of your daily work for the course. Your writing assignments may include creative, analytical, or interpretive projects; in any case they will ask you to do more than merely summarize a work you are reading. Each class should require either [1] two longer papers or [2] one longer paper and a full revision which will be treated as a separate assignment. Some instructors also assign reading journals and response papers.
Your instructor will provide you with written instructions or topics for these papers. Be sure your essays observe these guidelines and follow the assignment your instructor has given. Papers which fail to carry out the assignment may be given a grade of zero.
All of your written work for World Literature should show careful attention not only to ideas but to grammar, syntax, and style. It should be carefully proofread. Unless your instructor indicates otherwise, it should be typed. For information on resources which may help you with your papers, see Resources for World Literature Students.
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8. What is plagiarism and how can I avoid it?
Answer: Plagiarism is representing someone else's words or ideas as your own. It is a violation of the University Honesty Code and can result in your failing the course or even possibly being expelled from Auburn. It is not worth the risk.
Your instructor and the consultants in the English Center will be happy to teach you how to cite any sources you might use in your papers.
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9. Will there be quizzes and tests in World Literature?
Answer: You can expect to have midterms and finals in World Literature; many instructors frequently give reading quizzes.
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10. If there will be a mixture of quizzes, tests, and papers for these classes, how will my grade be determined?
Answer: Your World Literature instructor will indicate on the syllabus how your final grade for the course will be determined. For more information about the grades on your written work, see What Essay Grades Mean.
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About Registration in World Literature Courses
11. What courses do I need to take before I can take World Literature?
Answer: You need to complete the freshman composition requirement. You should complete World Literature I before World Literature II.
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12. What can I transfer in for World Literature credit?
Answer: Consult the AU Core Curriculum Lit requirement in the AU Bulletin. See also the STAR Articulation document on transferring credits.
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13. I transferred credit but the transfer credits aren't showing up yet. What can I do?
Answer: Fill out a Request to Add World Literature Form available in the English Main Office (HC 9030).
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14. Every time I try to register for World Literature, I just can't seem to get into a class. What can I do?
Answer: Fill out a Request to Add World Literature Form available in the English Main Office (HC 9030).
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15. How will I know if I've gotten in after I've filled out this form?
Answer: You will have to keep checking your schedule.
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Getting Help
16. What if I'm covered by the Americans With Disabilities Act?
Answer: All Auburn students are entitled to full access to courses, course materials, services, and activities offered by the university. If you have a disability and require accommodations in a World Literature course, you should make an appointment at the beginning of the semester to discuss these with the instructor. For more information about disabilities services and accommodations, contact Dr. Kelly Haynes, Director, Program for Students with Disabilities, 844-2096.
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Answer: Your primary resource is your instructor with whom you should consult concerning any written work that you do for World Literature. Another resource specifically to help your writing is the English Center.
The English Center, 3183 Haley Center, is staffed by faculty, GTA, and peer consultants and offers several kinds of assistance. Consultants in the English Center will:
- Provide help in improving your reading and analytical skills.
- Coach you on techniques to improve your writing process and help you become more confident and competent writers.
- Help you learn basic grammar and mechanics.
- Explain the principles of composition when you need help in addition to what your instructor provides.
- Discuss your ideas about an essay assignment and help you arrive at a proper organizational plan for the essay. You should bring your assignment sheet with you to the English Center if you are seeking this kind of help.
- Read your completed paper and tell you if it contains grammatical or mechanical errors, but without specifying where those errors are in the paper. It is your responsibility to proofread and edit your own papers but English Center tutors will help you learn to do this effectively.
There are some things English Center consultants won't do. These include editing, pointing out specific errors, rewriting sentences, or making corrections in your papers. They are also asked not to interpret texts or passages for you. English Center staff will not discuss the grade your instructor has assigned or predict what grade a paper will receive.
The English Center Hours will be posted each semester.
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18. Where do I go if I have specific problems or concerns with World Literature?
Answer: You will need to visit the office of Dr. Constance Relihan, Coordinator of World Literature (HC 8060).
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Last updated December 1, 2003