W 14.00-15.50 | 310 Rayzor Hall | 3 credits | Dr. Edward M. Anderson

Syllabus

In this seminar course (3 credits), designed for students with at least four semesters of university-level Italian language training, the language, literature, history, and culture of contemporary Italy will be explored in an interdisciplinary context. The central emphasis in the weekly seminar meetings (which are conducted exclusively in Italian) is on active discussion of all topics. Students will develop skills in argumentative prose though essay practice. The course is articulated in three parts:

1) Contemporary Italian literature (since 1950) — Writers, Industry, and Modern Society

Writers, Industry, and Modern Society will be studied though the works of major authors including:

    Italo Calvino, La nuvola di smog
    Goffredo Parise, racconti
    Pier-Paolo Pasolini, Lettere luterane (estratti)
    Walter Benjamin, L'opera d'arte nell'epoca della sua riproducibilità tecnica
        translated into Italian by Enrico Filippini from the original German —
        Das Kunstwerk im Zeitalter seiner technischen Reproduzierbarkeit
     Leonardo Sciascia, Il giorno della civetta


   *  the selection of texts may change during the term, with sufficient advance notice,
       in order to allow for variations in the focus and pace of discussions

2) Le comunità italiane

Students in this course will be expected to take initiative in exploring some of the many Italian cultural resources of Houston. Rice Univeristy's location in the center of America's fourth largest city calls us to broaden our perspective. The events page of the Italian Language and Culture website — http://lang.rice.edu/ital — will have suggestions for cultural exploration. Students will be expected to attend a number of events — films, concerts, opera and to offer cultural-critical comment on these in seminar. Additionally, students are expected to partcipate in two evening meetings at a private home in Montrose in which contemporary Italian culture and literature will be discussed.

3) Italian language and grammar

Individually tailored style diagnoses will be made through the assessment of writing assignments. Through active participation in seminar discussion, students will learn to converse more freely and articulately.

Attendance & Participation

Regular attendance at seminar is required. Failure to attend class and to participate will be reflected in your final grade. To prepare for most class meetings, you will have assigned readings and related exercises. Additionally, students are expected to attend culural events at Rice and beyond the hedges.

Required Written Work

In order to help advanced students develop literary-critical skills, study questions on the literary texts will be distributed five days in advance of the weekly meetings. Students will prepare written answers to these as a way of encouraging active discussion. Students will write five papers in this course (typically 3-4 pages). These will be due at the end of every third week. Papers must be type-written and double-spaced (12 pt Times New Roman). Each paper will receive two number grades of equal weight — one for content, one for style.

Rice Honor System

All assignments for this course respect the provisions of the Rice Honor System. Students are expected to affirm their commitmentment to the Rice Honor System on each assignment by writing and signing The Honor Pledge: "On my honor, I have neither given nor received any unauthorized aid on this [enter name of assignment]". In addition students may not use online materials in the preparation of papers other than www.garzantilinguistica.it (the online registration for this excellent resource is free).

Assessment

Attendance — 20 % | Participation (including exercises) 30 % | Papers 50%.
It is not possible to pass this course unless you submit all six papers. Only rare exception will be made for late papers.

Grading Scale

A+ 98-100 A 95-97 A- 90-94 B+ 87-89 B 83-86 B- 80-82
C+ 77-79 C 73-76 C- 70-72 D+ 67-69 D 63-66 D- 60-62
F below 60

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In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, I call your attention to the following : Any student with a documented disability and needing academic adjustments or accommodations is requested to speak with me during the first weeks of class, either after class or during office hours. If you have a documented disability that will impact your work in this class, it is important that we have a conversation. All discussions will remain strictly confidential. Students with disabilities will also need to contact Rice University Disability Support Services in the Ley Student Center. For further information you might contact: Jean Ashmore, M.S. Director, Disability Support Services

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Dr. Edward M. Anderson
327 Rayzor Hall - MS 34
Rice University
Houston, Texas 77251-1892
Telephone: 713.348.4373
Facsimile: 713.348.5846
Email: edward.m.anderson@rice.edu