Instructors: Maureen Godman (mo.godman@washburn.edu; ext. 1917)
Thomas Prasch (tom.prasch@washburn.edu; ext. 1892)
 

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

In this course, we will use the personal correspondence of Lady Jane Cornwallis (c. 1581-1659) as a launching pad for a wider discussion of the ways in which women of the period employed networks of connections (such as that embodied in Cornwallis's correspondents) to secure their social positions. As a significantly connected, educated, land-holding woman of the period, Cornwallis provides useful insight into a wide range of issues, from the social sphere women occupied to their influence on male politics, from their place within the developing class system to their contributions to British literature. We can think of the "web of connection" in a traditional sense: as a spider's web, emanating from a central point to connect a range of people and issues. Alternatively, we can think of the web in a modern sense: Lady Cornwallis's correspondence provides us with a portal from which we can link to the wider network of her familial and social circle, and from there to the broad themes concerning women's place in early modern Britain that these letters and linked literature illuminates. We will begin the semester with a close reading of Cornwallis's correspondence (Xeroxed copies will be provided), and move from there to consider a range of basic themes, illustrated by additional reading assignments.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS

This course is designed as a seminar, which means class participation is essential and will be given significant weight in the final grading. Attendance is not required, but, obviously, if you do not attend, your participation will be minimal.

For each reading assignment marked by an asterisk, students will be required to turn in a 1-2 page response paper on the day that reading appears on the course calendar. These will not be graded, although instructors will comment on them and they are required. The response papers have a dual purpose: first, to provide a check on students' keeping up with the reading; second, to prompt students to begin thinking about the themes they wish to raise in discussion.

Students will be expected to choose from among this range of issues and texts to develop their own analyses of women's place in the period, presenting those findings in papers and, in the case of final papers, class presentations. Papers can be close analyses of single texts, comparisons of texts, or discussions of central themes across a number of texts. Undergraduate students will be required to write two 7-10 page papers, one due on October 20 (with thesis statement and preliminary bibliography submitted for approval on October 6), and the other on the last day of class (with thesis statement and preliminary bibliography submitted on October 27); they will present their findings on their final paper before the class in one of the last meetings. Graduate students will be required to write one 7-10 page paper, due October 20, and one full-length paper (minimum 20 pages), due the last day of class, with the basic findings presented before the class in one of the last meetings; because that longer paper requires significant preparation, with readings both in primary sources and secondary works, graduate students will submit for approval topics and preliminary bibliography for both their papers on October 6, and a status report on their longer work on October 27.

Final grades will be based on assessments of the two papers, class presentations, and class participation (including regular submission of response papers).

Grading Scheme:

Undergraduates
Participation 20
Paper 1 35
Paper 2 35
Presentation 10
100

Graduates
Participation 20
Paper 1 25
Paper 2 45
Presentation 10
100

Evidence of plagiarism in the research papers will result in automatic failure. What plagiarism consists of and how to avoid it in written assignments will be discussed in class.

Students who are having difficulties with either the reading or writing demands of the class should avail themselves of assistance from departmental tutors in the History Department (Henderson 311) or from the English Department's Writing Center (Morgan 257). They might also get some assistance from the Center for Learning and Student Success (CLASS) in Morgan 122. Students having trouble with the material should also meet with the professors during scheduled office hours (or by appointment).

Students with disabilities may identify themselves voluntarily to the Services for Students with Disabilities Office (SSWDO) to request accommodations. The office is responsible for assisting in arranging accommodations and for identifying resources on campus. New requests for accommodations should be submitted two months or more prior to the date services should begin; however, check with the SSWDO office as soon as a need may arise. The SSWDO office is at Morgan Hall 150; their phone number is (785)231-1010 ext. 1629. Students may also voluntarily identify themselves to the instructor to discuss accommodations.

Because withdrawal policy has changed since the release of the last Washburn catalog, we have been asked to include the following information in syllabi: Students may withdraw from courses through the second week of class with no recorded grade. From the third through the eleventh week, a W is recorded for any dropped course. Beginning with the start of the twelfth week, there are NO withdrawals, and a grade will be assigned for the course. For the Fall 2003 semester, the last day to withdraw from a semester-length course is October 31.

Course Calendar

Aug. 18 M Introduction
20 W Historical background
25 M Literary background
27 W Correspondence of Jane, Lady Cornwallis: Conventions of Letter  Writing. Read the Preface and pp. 1-80*
Sep. 1 M LABOR DAY (no class)
3 W Letters pp. 81-180
8 M Letters pp.180-end*
10 W Further discussion of letters
15 M Courtship. Aughterson Chapter 3: "Conduct"
17 W Much Ado About Nothing*
22 M Film
24 W Film and discussion
29 M Family and Parenting. Aughterson Chapter 4: Sexuality and Motherhood
Oct. 1 W 2 Henry IV*
6 M Death and grieving--handouts*
Undergraduates: Thesis and bibliography due for paper 1
Graduates: Theses and bibliographies due for papers 1 and 2
8 W Money, loans and debt; attitudes toward wealth
13 M Law: Aughterson Chapter 5: Law and Politics
15 W Measure for Measure*
20 M The Court
Undergraduates and graduates: Paper 1 due
22 W Masque of Queens* (handout)
27 M Patronage
Undergraduates: Thesis and bibliography due for final paper
Graduate student status report on final paper
29 W Poems to Lucy, Countess of Bedford--handout*
Nov. 3 M Religion. Aughterson Ch. 1: Theology
5 W Devotional writing--handout*
10 M Women's work and women's writing: Aughterson Chs. 8 and 9
12 W Writing by women--handout*
17 M Responses to women's writing--handout
19 W Presentations
4 M Presentations
26 W THANKSGIVING BREAK (no class)
Dec. 1 M Presentations
3 W Conclusions
5 F Final papers due