English 530, HWC 530, HIST 552, EURS 512: Irish Culture
Prof. Kathryn Conrad and Prof. Ann Rowland
Spring 2004
4019 Wescoe Hall, 7-10 pm
Office hours: 2035 Wescoe, Tuesdays 1-3 pm and by appointment
Administered on Blackboard
Course Description and Texts
This course provides an accelerated overview of Irish history, literature, and culture from prehistory to the present day, with the main focus on recent (19- and 20th-century) Ireland, North and South. The course will explore a number of questions about Irish culture: What is "Irishness"? What cultural, political, and economic forces have influenced Irish culture? What is the relationship between Ireland past and present? By examining a variety of primary source readings (such as laws, poetry, short fiction, and plays), art, music, film, and modern historical writing, we will try together to answer these questions.
The course is an advanced interdisciplinary introduction to Irish culture. No previous knowledge of Irish history or literature is required or expected, but students will be responsible for building a working knowledge of a wide variety of material over the course of the semester. In order to provide the widest selection of texts and topics possible, many of the required texts for the course will be online at this website or on electronic reserve. Students are responsible for checking the online syllabus regularly for the most up-to-date information (although what is assigned in the classroom takes precedent over anything posted at this site). A selection of additional online resources was available.
These books will be available for purchase. Please note that the books may be listed under any of the course numbers:
- T.W. Moody and F. X Martin, ed., The Course of Irish History
- Thomas Kinsella, trans., The Táin
- John Harrington, ed., Modern Irish Drama
- Colm Tóibín , ed., The Penguin Book of Irish Fiction
Grades (consist of three major components)
Attendance, participation in discussion, and short assignments. All readings to be completed by date listed on the syllabus. Students are expected to attend every class and should contact me by e-mail or phone before your absence if you must miss class. Students will be expected to access materials online and participate in Blackboard discussion boards. One of the short assignments is the Spencer Research Library annotated bibliography, which should include at least five separate entries with paragraph descriptions of each of the materials viewed.
Exams: quizzes (identification and short essay) as listed on the syllabus and a final comprehensive essay examination.
Paper of 8-10 pages on a topic of your choosing related to the course; grade also includes paper topic, annotated bibliography, and paper draft, due in advance of the final paper. It is an interpretive research paper; that is, you will do outside research of both primary and secondary materials (at least one primary source and one secondary source not assigned for class reading) and develop an interpretive argument based on your research. All papers must be typed, double-spaced, and contain consistent, full citations. Topic, annotated bibliography (bibliography plus paragraph descriptions of at least two works, not including those used in the Spencer Research Library bibliography), first draft (three copies), and final draft are due as marked on syllabus.
Other Resources
Students with Disabilities: The staff of Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD), 135 Strong (Lawrence), 785-864-2620 (V/TTY), coordinates accommodations and services for KU courses. If you have a disability for which you may request accommodation in KU classes and have not contacted them, please do as soon as possible. Please also see me privately in regard to this course (Adopted from SSD statement).
Writing Center: Most colleges and universities have a writing center, a place for students to talk about their writing with trained peer consultants. At KU, we call our writing centers Writer's Roosts. When you visit, bring your work in progress and an idea of what you would like to work on-organization, support, documentation, editing, etc. The Roosts are open in several different locations across campus; please check the Writing Center website for current locations and hours. The Roosts welcome both drop-ins and appointments, and there is no charge for their services. For more information, please call 785-864-2399 or send an e-mail to writing@ku.edu. (Adopted from Writing Center Statement).
Irish Resources Page
Irish language: Speakwrite, a do-it-yourself Irish language program, is available on CD at the Ermal Garringer Resource Center. Or for fun, trying Googling in Irish Gaelic!
Plagiarism: Plagiarism is stealing and passing off someone else's ideas or words as one's own or using information from another's work without crediting the source. Any detected cheating offense--including but not limited to plagiarism, the unauthorized use of crib sheets, texts, or other materials during an examination or quiz, the copying of another student's work (even with the permission or aid of that student, who is thereby culpable), the use of prewritten essays (the student's own or someone else's), or the unauthorized use of work written for another assignment or class--will be reported to the University. A record of each verified offense will be kept throughout the student's association with the University (Adopted from FSE statement).
If after reading the statement above, you are still unclear about what constitutes plagiarism, ask me before turning in an assignment. A plagiarized assignment will result in failure of the assignment and may result in failure of the course. Plagiarism will be reported to the college.
Updates
5/9: Alternative examination date for those with scheduling conflicts: May 18, 4076 Wescoe. If you choose this option, you must let me know by May 10 in class.
4/26: Paper grading guidelines on Blackboard
Reading and Assignment Schedule
This schedule is likely to change. For the most accurate reading and assignment schedule, pay attention to updates given in class. Updates will eventually be reflected on this website.
COLOR CODED: Weekly assignments are in blue. Major assignments (and alerts) are in red. Other material is in green.
NOTE: Material on websites should be read fully unless preceded by the word "Browse." "Recommended" material is exactly that: recommended, not required.
| Date | Reading |
|---|---|
| January 26 | Introduction. |
| February 2 | The Celts and Pre-Christian Ireland |
| February 9 | Early Christianity |
| February 16 | Early Irish Literature and the Irish Language |
| February 23 | The Medieval Ireland through Plantation: Seeds of Discontent |
| March 1 | Penal times to the Act of Union |
| March 8 | Famine |
| March 15 | Fenianism, Home Rule, and the Emerging Irish Revival |
[March 22: SPRING BREAK] | |
| March 29 | The Irish Revival: the Politics of Representation |
| April 5 | RESEARCH WEEK; class will not meet. (Prof. Conrad in Northern Ireland March 31-April 7) |
| April 12 | Revolution Come Again: Writers of the Revolution; the Easter Rising |
| April 19 | The Anglo-Irish War and the Civil War |
| April 26 | A Divided Ireland: The Free State, the Republic, and the North |
| April 29 | Recommended: The Crying Game (film); to be screened Thursday evening, 7 pm, 4034 Wescoe. |
| May 3 | Northern Ireland |
| May 5 | Recommended: Bloody Sunday (film); to be screened Thursday evening, 7 pm, 4034 Wescoe. |
| May 10 | Contemporary Ireland |
| May 17 | FINAL EXAMINATION |
| May 18 | Alternative date for Final Examination, 4076 Wescoe. IF YOU CHOOSE THIS OPTION, you MUST INFORM ME BY MAY 10. |
Final examination as scheduled.