Requirements:
Translation Quizzes (5, lowest grade dropped, 5 points each)
20%
Class participation
10%
15%
20%
Midterm exam
15%
Final exam
20%
Evaluation:
My grades are based on following scale:
A
90-100
B
80-89
C
70-79
D
60-69
Throughout the course of the semester, you will receive "points" corresponding to a version of this scale conforming to the percentage of the total grade a given assignment is worth. Thus the paper/project will be worth 30 points; the final exam 20 points; participation 10 points; each quiz 5 points. In a five-point scale, for example, the grades break down as follows):
5-point scale A+
5
A
4.75
A-
4.5
B+
4.4
B
4.25
B-
4
C+
3.9
C
3.75
C-
3.5
Thus if a student received a 'B,' on an assignment worth a possible 5 points, 4.25 points would be added to the cumulative grade, with 100 points being the number possible. If this student received perfect scores on everything else the final grade would be based on a cumulative score of 96.6 points out of 100 (an A+ in my book).
Plagiarism is a violation of the Tech Honor Code and, more to the point, a violation of intellectual integrity. Such violations will be subject to the severest academic penalties. DON'T DO IT! If you don't understand what plagiarism is, be sure to visit the link at the head of this paragraph. If you still have questions, or have questions at anytime during the semester, ASK BEFORE YOU TURN IN YOUR WORK.
The second week of classes, each of you will draw a lot to determine which pilgrim you will adopt. Three times during the semester, you will submit two journal entries: the first will cover the first "day" of the pilgrimage, providing an account from your pilgrim's point of view. The second will create an entry in which you imagine your pilgrim in the spring of 2005--what would his/her medieval occupation, social status, etc. translate into in the 21st century? What kind of "pilgrimage" or social setting might your pilgrim participate in? With whom would they interact?
Remember, for the modern versions, clergy members, assuming they would remain such 600 years later, would have the Reformation and many other factors to account for. Some pilgrims mentioned in the General Prologue never tell tales (the Knight's yeoman, the Plowman, the guildsmen and their wives); the Canon's Yeoman joins up with the pilgrims late in the journey; Mrs. Bailey (the Host's wife) stays back at the Tabard Inn; we know a lot about the Wife of Bath's life from her prologue, but that doesn't tell us what she's thinking and experiencing on the pilgrimage (though her "autobiography" does provide some clues). Thus, each pilgrim will require a different strategy.
It has been estimated that a journey from Southwark to Canterbury, at "Canterbury pace," would take about three days, so think of this as a set of journal entries for each "day" of the journey.
These journals will require a fair amount of research, including a close reading of the text and notes, and the discussions in Cooper. I would encourage you to allow this work to feed into your project.
I am looking for these kinds of things: evidence of close reading of your pilgrim's materials (General Prologue portraits; interaction in linking texts: prologues, epilogues, interruptions; your pilgrim's own narratives); a sense that you understand that pilgrim's place in the medieval world (occupation, social position, gender roles); a lively and imaginative engagement with these "facts"; some thoughtful and imaginative reflection on what the passage of 600 years would mean for that pilgrim (i.e., "relevance"). I don't expect to see all of this fully-realized in the first set of entries, but this should be your goal over the course of the semester.
Figure on a minimum of 250 words per entry (or 500 for each of the three journal submissions).
Please send your journal entries to the class list (Chaucer.05@wiz.cath.vt.edu). Try to keep formatting to a minimum, since not all email programs parse formatting commands the same way ("text only" is the safest bet).
You may, of course, choose to produce a "traditional" essay/research paper. This should be 8-10 double-spaced, typed/word-processed pages and follow the MLA format for citations and works cited.
There are other options. I have had a student, for example, write a play based on the historical record of Geoffrey Chaucer's being accused of the "rape" of Cecily Chaumpagne. Other students have composed music and lyrics inspired by the Canterbury Tales and cut a CD. These are not necessarily the safest options, but occasionally they produce spectacular results.
If your project suggests that such a format is appropriate, you may create a hypertext/web-based structure for your commentary, exploration, demonstration, or persuasive argument. The content should be roughly equivalent to that for the essay option. Your focus should be on content and structure primarily; bells and whistles will not earn a significantly higher grade. For hypertext projects, please consult the guidelines, evaluative criteria, and caveats at the web site at: http://wiz.cath.vt.edu/ht.assessment/.
There are a number of tools at your disposal on the TEXTS & MATERIALS page and I will be happy to consult with you about strategies and resources.
Tuesday, March 15, you should bring a one-page proposal to class and share your project ideas with the class. The project is due Thursday, April 21.