Southern Utah University

Course Syllabus

Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Spring Semester 2026

British Literature I (Face-to-Face)

ENGL 3230-01

Course: ENGL 3230-01
Credits: 3
Term: Spring Semester 2026
Department: ENGL
CRN: 12166

Course Description

A study of British literature from its beginnings through the Elizabethan Era. Readings will include both canonical and non-canonical works.

During this particular semester, we will consider how we frequently understand the literature and culture of this period through modern fantasy writing and present-day notions of medieval and early modern history.

Required Texts

All texts will be provided via Canvas, either as pdf. documents or links.

Learning Outcomes

  1. Knowledge of Human Cultures: Students demonstrate the ability to identify, describe, and compare the features of a variety of genres across different historical periods and cultures.
  2. Communication: Students demonstrate the ability to articulate interpretations and critical positions through presentations and academic essays.
  3. Critical Thinking: Students demonstrate the ability to identify, clarify, and engage with the assumptions, contexts, and details surrounding texts and critical arguments.
  4. Information Literacy: Students demonstrate the ability to conduct scholarly research.

Course Requirements

  • Critical Reflections (15%): These 2-3-page end-of-unit, thesis-driven responses should allow you to engage more deeply with assigned literary works, as well as discuss them in relation to broader questions of literary history and the fantasy genre. See individual assignments for specific details. Outcomes 1, 2, 3
  • Interpretive Essay (25%). A 5–7-page interpretive essay (20%) on a text we’ve read in the first half of the semester (Beowulf through Sir Gawain and the Green Knight). Each student will submit an Introduction & Outline (5%) as part of the writing process. Outcomes 1, 2, 3, 4
  • Final Project (45%): There will be multiple options for this category, including a formal essay and a creative project (33%). Each student will write a Proposal & Research Plan (5%) as part of the writing process, as well as give a Presentation on their work during the final weeks of class (5%). Outcomes 1, 2, 3, 4
  • Classroom Engagement. 15%. I will evaluate the level and quality of your participation in class discussion and your productivity in small group activities. Although I will not grade based on attendance, I will utilize the attendance record to help determine this grade. Outcomes 1, 3

Grading. Final grades will be determined by the percentage of the 100 possible points earned: 94-100% A, 90-93% A-, 87-89% B+, 84-86% B, 80-83% B-, 77-79% C+, 74-76% C, 70-73% C, 67-69% D+, 64-66% D, 60-63% D-, and 59% and below F. If your grade lands at a .5, I will round it up (I.e., 89.5 = 90).

Course Outline

DateReading AssignmentsWriting Deadlines
W 1/7Introduction to Course; Introductions
F 1/9Unit 1: Earlier Literature in Translation
Read Norton, “The Middle Ages” (pp. 3-14) and Umberto Eco, “Dreaming of the Middle Ages” (pdfs in Canvas Module)
M 1/12Beowulf: Read translator Seamus Heaney’s introduction and lines 1-835 of the poem
W 1/14Beowulf, 836-2199
F 1/16Beowulf, 2200 to end
M 1/19No Class: MLK Day
W 1/21Bricriu’s Feast
F 1/23Geoffrey of Monmouth, The Life of Merlin
M 1/26Mabinogion, First and Second Branch, pp. 4-34
W 1/28Third and Fourth Branch, pp. 35-64
F 1/30Discuss Interpretive Essay RequirementsCritical Reflection 1 Due
M 2/2Marie de France, Prologue & Lanval
W 2/4Marie de France, Bisclavret & Chaitivel
F 2/6Read “Interpretive Essay Research Guide” and “TBA” Scholarly Essay on Marie de France (pdf. in Canvas Module)
M 2/9Unit 2: Middle English Literature
Read Norton, “The Middle Ages” (pp. 14-26) and Hilary Jane Locke, “Medievalism, Medieval History, and Perceptions in Game of Thrones”
Discuss Interpretive Essay Topics
W 2/11Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Part 1
F 2/13SGGK, Part 2
Review “Tips for Writing About Literature” & “Interpreting Literature” Handouts + Thesis Activity
M 2/16No Class: President’s Day
W 2/18SGGK, Parts 3 & 4
F 2/20Geoffrey Chaucer, The Canterbury Tales, General Prologue, lines 1-746Introduction and Outline Due
M 2/23Chaucer, “The Wife of Bath’s Tale” —while the tale begins on line 857, you are welcome to read the prologue as well
W 2/25Chaucer, “The Friar’s Tale”
F 2/27“The Harrowing of Hell” (read both the York and Townley)Interpretive Essay Due
M 3/2Thomas Mallory, Le Morte D’Arthur, Book 1
W 3/4Discuss Final Project Guidelines
F 3/6Le Morte, Book 6Critical Reflection 2 Due
SPRING BREAK
M 3/16Unit 3: The Tudor Era
Read Norton, “The Sixteenth Century” (pp. 359-89); John Lyly, Gallathea, Acts 1 & 2 (link in Canvas Module)
W 3/18Galathea, Act 3 + Discuss Final Project Ideas
F 3/20Galathea, Acts 4-5
M 3/23Christopher, Marlowe, Dr. Faustus
W 3/25Dr. Faustus
F 3/27Dr. FaustusFinal Project Proposal Due
M 3/30Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Queene, Letter to Ralegh & Proem to Book III, & Book III, Canto 1
W 4/1Book III, Cantos 2-3—I’ll assign order of final project presentations today!
F 4/3Book III, Cantos 4-5
M 4/6Book III, Cantos 6-8
W 4/8Book III, Cantos 9-10
F 4/10Book III, Cantos 11-12Critical Reflections 3 Due
M 4/13Presentations
W 4/15Presentations
F 4/17Presentations
W 4/22Final Project Due

The Final Project will take the place of a Final Exam; however, I will be available in my office during our official final examination period: Thursday, April 23 from 7-8:50 am.

Instructor's policies on late assignments and/or makeup work

Canvas Usage

All assignments must be submitted via Canvas for a grade. Under no circumstances will I grade essays that are emailed to me. Instructions for all writing assignments will be provided in Canvas.

Generative AI Policy

Students are not allowed to use generative AI tools (ChatGPT, Claude AI, etc.) to produce content for their essays in this class. Presenting AI-generated work as your own constitutes a violation of SUU Policy 6.33: Academic Misconduct and opens the violator up to a series of potential sanctions.

Late Assignments

All written work is due as indicated in the syllabus. In Canvas, there is a final turn-in date of 48 hours after the original due date, except for the Final Project, which has a 24-hour turn-in window. Thereafter, all assignments will receive a score of 0 unless you have arranged for an extension at least 24 hours before the deadline. Please note that extensions are not guaranteed, and I may require you to meet with me in person to discuss your needs before approving any extension request.

Obviously, cases involving extreme emergencies, as verified by university officials, will be excused.

Attendance Policy

Attendance. Attendance is required to earn a successful grade in this class. If you don’t attend class, you won’t be able to participate in classroom discussion and in-class activities, which count toward 15% of your final grade.

Course Fees

There is no course fee for ENGL 3230.

Prerequisite

ENGL 2400

ADA Statement

Students with medical, psychological, learning, or other disabilities desiring academic adjustments, accommodations, or auxiliary aids will need to contact the Disability Resource Center, located in Room 206F of the Sharwan Smith Center or by phone at (435) 865-8042. The Disability Resource Center determines eligibility for and authorizes the provision of services.

If your instructor requires attendance, you may need to seek an ADA accommodation to request an exception to this attendance policy. Please contact the Disability Resource Center to determine what, if any, ADA accommodations are reasonable and appropriate.

Academic Credit

According to the federal definition of a Carnegie credit hour: A credit hour of work is the equivalent of approximately 60 minutes of class time or independent study work. A minimum of 45 hours of work by each student is required for each unit of credit. Credit is earned only when course requirements are met. One (1) credit hour is equivalent to 15 contact hours of lecture, discussion, testing, evaluation, or seminar, as well as 30 hours of student homework. An equivalent amount of work is expected for laboratory work, internships, practica, studio, and other academic work leading to the awarding of credit hours. Credit granted for individual courses, labs, or studio classes ranges from 0.5 to 15 credit hours per semester.

Academic Freedom

SUU is operated for the common good of the greater community it serves. The common good depends upon the free search for truth and its free exposition. Academic Freedom is the right of faculty to study, discuss, investigate, teach, and publish. Academic Freedom is essential to these purposes and applies to both teaching and research.

Academic Freedom in the realm of teaching is fundamental for the protection of the rights of the faculty member and of you, the student, with respect to the free pursuit of learning and discovery. Faculty members possess the right to full freedom in the classroom in discussing their subjects. They may present any controversial material relevant to their courses and their intended learning outcomes, but they shall take care not to introduce into their teaching controversial materials which have no relation to the subject being taught or the intended learning outcomes for the course.

As such, students enrolled in any course at SUU may encounter topics, perspectives, and ideas that are unfamiliar or controversial, with the educational intent of providing a meaningful learning environment that fosters your growth and development. These parameters related to Academic Freedom are included in SUU Policy 6.6.

Academic Misconduct

Scholastic honesty is expected of all students. Dishonesty will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent (see SUU Policy 6.33). You are expected to have read and understood the current SUU student conduct code (SUU Policy 11.2) regarding student responsibilities and rights, the intellectual property policy (SUU Policy 5.52), information about procedures, and what constitutes acceptable behavior.

Please Note: The use of websites or services that sell essays is a violation of these policies; likewise, the use of websites or services that provide answers to assignments, quizzes, or tests is also a violation of these policies. Regarding the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI), you should check with your individual course instructor.

Emergency Management Statement

In case of an emergency, the University's Emergency Notification System (ENS) will be activated. Students are encouraged to maintain updated contact information using the link on the homepage of the mySUU portal. In addition, students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Emergency Response Protocols posted in each classroom. Detailed information about the University's emergency management plan can be found at https://www.suu.edu/emergency.

HEOA Compliance Statement

For a full set of Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) compliance statements, please visit https://www.suu.edu/heoa. The sharing of copyrighted material through peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing, except as provided under U.S. copyright law, is prohibited by law; additional information can be found at https://my.suu.edu/help/article/1096/heoa-compliance-plan.

You are also expected to comply with policies regarding intellectual property (SUU Policy 5.52) and copyright (SUU Policy 5.54).

Mandatory Reporting

University policy (SUU Policy 5.60) requires instructors to report disclosures received from students that indicate they have been subjected to sexual misconduct/harassment. The University defines sexual harassment consistent with Federal Regulations (34 C.F.R. Part 106, Subpart D) to include quid pro quo, hostile environment harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking. When students communicate this information to an instructor in-person, by email, or within writing assignments, the instructor will report that to the Title IX Coordinator to ensure students receive support from the Title IX Office. A reporting form is available at https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?SouthernUtahUniv

Non-Discrimination Statement

SUU is committed to fostering an inclusive community of lifelong learners and believes our university's encompassing of different views, beliefs, and identities makes us stronger, more innovative, and better prepared for the global society.

SUU does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex (including sex discrimination and sexual harassment), sexual orientation, gender identity, age, ancestry, disability status, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, military status, veteran status, or other bases protected by applicable law in employment, treatment, admission, access to educational programs and activities, or other University benefits or services.

SUU strives to cultivate a campus environment that encourages freedom of expression from diverse viewpoints. We encourage all to dialogue within a spirit of respect, civility, and decency.

For additional information on non-discrimination, please see SUU Policy 5.27 and/or visit https://www.suu.edu/nondiscrimination.

Pregnancy

Students who are or become pregnant during this course may receive reasonable modifications to facilitate continued access and participation in the course. Pregnancy and related conditions are broadly defined to include pregnancy, childbirth, termination of pregnancy, lactation, related medical conditions, and recovery. To obtain reasonable modifications, please make a request to title9@suu.edu. To learn more visit: https://www.suu.edu/titleix/pregnancy.html.

Disclaimer Statement

Information contained in this syllabus, other than the grading, late assignments, makeup work, and attendance policies, may be subject to change with advance notice, as deemed appropriate by the instructor.