to the schedule of readings and assignments
prerequisites: approval of Honors College
required texts: The Authentic Animal (Dave Madden); Do Fish Feel Pain? (Victoria Braithwaite); Last Chance to See (Adams & Carwardine); My Dog Tulip (JR Ackerley); Oyster (Rebecca Stott); What I Don't Know about Animals (Jenny Diski); The Year of the Hare (Arto Paasilinna)
grading: There will be seven in-class papers. Each of the in-class papers will ask you to summarize a book we read, and compare it critically to one other book from our syllabus. You must write six satisfactory in-class papers to pass the course. No make-up work is allowed.
There will be two substantial writing projects: an essay about a real animal or animals, and an essay about a representation (or representations) of animals. Assuming satisfactory completion of six in-class papers, your course grade will be a holistic assessment of your overall work, including participation in class discussion and writing workshops.
academic dishonesty policy: It is the philosophy of The University of Texas at Arlington that academic dishonesty is a completely unacceptable mode of conduct and will not be tolerated in any form. All persons involved in academic dishonesty will be disciplined in accordance with University regulations and procedures. Discipline may include suspension or expulsion from the University. "Scholastic dishonesty includes but is not limited to cheating, plagiarism, collusion, the submission for credit of any work or materials that are attributable in whole or in part to another person, any act designed to give unfair advantage to a student or the attempt to commit such acts." [Regents' Rules and Regulations, Part One, Chapter Vi, Section 3, Subsection 3.2, Subdivision 3.22]
disability policy: The University of Texas at Arlington is on record as being committed to both the spirit and letter of federal equal opportunity legislation; reference Public Law 93112—The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended. With the passage of new federal legislation entitled Americans with Disabilities Act – (ADA), pursuant to section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, there is renewed focus on providing this population with the same opportunities enjoyed by all citizens. As a faculty member, I am required by law to provide "reasonable accommodation" to students with disabilities, so as not to discriminate on the basis of that disability. Student responsibility primarily rests with informing faculty at the beginning of the semester and in providing authorized documentation through designated administrative channels.
schedule of assignments and readings:
24 Aug: Syllabus, introductions, policies
27-31 Aug: Initial writing and activities
3 Sept: LABOR DAY: NO CLASS MEETING
5 Sept: in-class essay #1: Adams & Carwardine, Last Chance to See
7 Sept: discuss Last Chance to See
10 Sept: in-class essay #2: Ackerley, My Dog Tulip
12-14 Sept: discuss My Dog Tulip
17 Sept: in-class essay #3: Braithwaite, Do Fish Feel Pain?
19-21 Sept: discuss Do Fish Feel Pain?
24-28 Sept: writing workshops: invention for first writing project: real animals
1 Oct: in-class essay #4: Diski, What I Don't Know about Animals
3-5 Oct: discuss What I Don't Know about Animals
8-12 Oct: writing workshops: drafts of first writing project
15-17 Oct: more writing
19 Oct: first writing project due
22 Oct: in-class essay #5: Stott, Oyster
24 Oct: discuss Oyster
26 Oct: HERMANNS LECTURES: NO CLASS MEETING
29 Oct: in-class essay #6: Madden, The Authentic Animal
31 Oct-2 Nov: discuss The Authentic Animal
5 Nov: in-class essay #7: Paasilinna, The Year of the Hare
7 Nov: discuss The Year of the Hare
9 Nov: SCMLA: NO CLASS MEETING
12-16 Nov: writing workshops: invention for second writing project: representations of animals
19-21 Nov: more writing
23 Nov: THANKSGIVING: NO CLASS MEETING
26-30 Nov: writing workshops: drafts of second writing project
3-5 Dec: workshops and conferences
Second writing projects due by 1100am Monday 10 Dec; NO FINAL EXAM