The Fictional and Not-So Fictional=
Lives
of Animals
Fall 2009
Instructor: Dr. Williams
Office: Daniel 208
Office Phone: 597-4907
Email: WilliamsNM@wofford.edu
Office Hours: MW 2-3; TH 2:30-3:30
Class Time/Location: MWF 10:30-11:20/Daniel 101
Course Descri=
ption
The course will examine fictional and nonfictional representations of the lives of animals and our complex relationship with t= hem. We will analyze some of the ethical issues relating to animal welfare and t= he human-animal relationship. As a class, we will attempt to answer the follow= ing questions: What is the nature of our relationship with animals? When animals “speak” and we “listen,” what are they saying? What= can we learn about ourselves from our relationship with other animals? How shou= ld animals be treated?
Required text=
s/readings
●Ishmael= by Daniel Quinn
●The=
●The Liv= es of Animals by J. M. Coetzee
●Speakin= g Out for Animals by ed. Kim W. Stallwood
●WE3 by Grant Morrison
●Dead Me= at by Sue Coe
●E-R= eserve/handouts
Learning Outc= omes
Students are expected to:
●improve their reading comprehension and writing= skills;
●cultivate a deeper understanding of our complex= moral relationship with animals;
●have some familiarity with the different litera= ry ways in which to represent the lives of animals.
Methods of Ev= aluation
●Essays= : You are required to write five essays (3-4 pages) for this class.
●Short = writing assignments: The best way to understand what we are reading is for you = to write about it. However, not all writing assignments need to be formal essa= ys. Sometimes fruitful discussions and good paper ideas come from short but frequent writing assignments. In light of this, I will assign frequent writ= ing assignments that require you to think about a question posed in the reading= or our discussion, and have you type a short response (1-2 pages) and turn the= se into to me. Grades are based on clarity, organization, and reading comprehension and on a scale from 5 (weak) to 10 (excellent).
Distribution =
of
Graded Work
●Essay 1 =3D 15%
●Essay 2 =3D 20%
●Essay 3 =3D 15%
●Essay 4 =3D 20%
●Essay 5 =3D 15%
●Short writing assignments =3D 15%
Grading Scale* (percentage): A =3D100-94; A- = =3D 93-90; B+ =3D 89-87; B =3D86-84; B- =3D83-80; C+ =3D 79-77; C =3D76-74; C- =3D73-7= 0; D =3D69-60; F =3Dbelow 60
*Grades in this course are based on academic achieveme= nt and competence.
All work is due at the beginning of class. For = every hour an assignment is late, one letter grade will be deducted.
Attendance is required in this class. You are allowed = three absences with no grade reduction, thereafter one point off your final g= rade for every unexcused absence. I will record attendance at every class meetin= g. You are required to arrive at class on time and remain for the entire perio= d in order to be counted as present. I have the right to drop you from the class= due to excessive absences. Persistent tardiness may result in a lower grade.
Honor Code
Academic dishonesty will be handed in accordance to Wofford’s honor code, which can be found at http://www.wofford.edu/st= udentlife/honor_code.pdf
If you have a disability that requires my attention pl= ease let me know as soon as possible so that I may accommodate you.
Week 1 –=
; Sept.
7-11
Introduction and Ishmael
(One Foot in <=
st1:City
w:st=3D"on">
Week 2 –=
; Sept.
14-18
Ishmael
Week 3 –=
; Sept.
21-25
Ishmael / Handouts: factory farming and the environment/religious teachings about ani= mals
Essay #1 due
Week 4 –=
; Sept.
28-Oct. 2
The
Week 5 –=
; Oct.
5-9
The
Handouts: animal experimentation
Week 6 –=
; Oct.
12-16
Essay #2 due
WE3
Video: Hole in=
the Paper
Sky
Week 7 –=
; Oct.
19-23
E-reserve: “Elephant Vanishes” and “Big-Bellied Cow”
E-reserve: Orwell: “Shooting an Elephant”<= /p>
F-Fall Break
Week 8– Oct. 26-30
E-reserve: Pollan: “This Steer’s Life̶= 1;
Film: Babe (McMillan Theater, Oct. 28 at 6:00 pm)
= Essay #3 (dialogue or fictional short story)
Week 9 –=
; Nov.
2-6
Dead Meat
Video: Meat yo= ur Meat, The Witness
Week 10 ̵=
1; Nov.
9-13
E-reserve: Nagel: “What’s it like to be a Bat”
The Lives of A=
nimals
Week 11 ̵=
1; Nov.
16-20
The Lives of A=
nimals
Film: Gorillas= in the Mist (McMillan Theater, Nov. 18 at 6:00 pm)
Week 12 ̵=
1; Nov.
23-27
M- Essay #4 due /Speaking Out
W-No class
F- No class
Week 13 ̵=
1; Nov.
30-Dec. 4
Speaking Out
Week 14 ̵=
1; Dec.
7-11
Speaking Out
Essay #5 due (non-fictional short story) due on= exam day (TBA)
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