Don Bosco Technical College – Mandaluyong WORK

General Education Department

Course Syllabus and Course Learning Plan

Course Title Great Works

Course Code WORK
Credit/Schedule 3 units (3 hours every week for 18 weeks, or 54 hours in a semester)
This is an elective English course designed to introduce students to world literature. Students will be assigned titles to read
from different areas of the world and will be expected to compare the significance of the pieces from multiple cultural
perspectives. The class will also contain a creative writing component in which students will be given the opportunity to
Course Description
express, develop, and refine their individual creative voices. Throughout this course, the students will be assigned multiple
topics to write about in addition to the assigned reading and discussion materials they will be expected to prepare for each
class. The goal of this class is to allow students to drive discussions and the overall learning experience.
Prerequisite (Co-requisite) None
By the end of the semester, the students should be able to:

1. Create their own definition of culture and analyze its impact on a particular country or region’s literature;
2. Identify and describe major literary styles and genres from multiple parts of the world;
3. Identify the relationship between literature and its social context;
4. Write interpretations of texts and/or issues in literary studies in which they: a). perform close-reading by analyzing rele-
vant literary elements (techniques, themes, forms/genres, stylistic choices, or other literary devices); and, b). make ap-
propriate references to relevant texts;
5. Demonstrate how common or culturally specific heritages, perspectives, histories, and/or belief systems influence writ-
Learning Outcomes ers and the forms or genres in which they write;
6. Demonstrate how common or culturally specific heritages, perspectives, histories, and/or belief systems influence writ-
ers and the forms or genres in which they write;
7. Explain how and why socio-cultural factors influence our understanding and experience of a literary piece;
8. Discuss how and why socio-cultural factors impact the significance and meaning of a literary piece;
9. Demonstrate an awareness of literary and cultural manifestations of each country or region studied in this course;
10. Demonstrate analytic and oral skills related to the interpretation of different literary genres;
11. Identify and analyze connections between different authors and art forms;
12. Identify the literary, cultural, historical, political impact of literary works across the world;
13. Explore the importance of learning masterpieces in arriving at sound and established arguments about the world.
Course Outline and Week Topic
Timeframe Introductory Topic: Overview of Literary Masterpieces
1
Reading and Writing about Literature
Literary Elements and Styles
2
Plot and Structure, Character and Characterization, Theme, Setting, Literary Devices, Point of View
3 Comparing and Contrasting Literary Masterpieces and Great Books
4–5 Arabic and Middle Eastern Literature

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General Education Department

6–7 Asian and Far Eastern Literature

8–9 African Literature
10 – 11 Classical Greek and Roman Literature
12 – 13 European and English Literature
Northern American Literature
14 – 15
African American Literature
16 – 17 Latin American Literature
18 Philippine Literature
Grading Scale:
The numerical ranges for each number grade are as follows:

Equivalent Ranges Equivalent Ranges

Grade Grade
1.00 96 – 100 2.25 73 – 77
1.25 91 – 95 2.50 69 – 72
1.50 87 – 90 2.75 64 – 68
1.75 82 – 86 3.00 60 – 63
2.00 78 – 81 5.00 59 and below

Plagiarism:
The definition of plagiarism is passing someone else’s work (ideas, writing, concepts, theories, findings, etc.) off as your work
without giving proper recognition to the original source. Plagiarism in any form is considered grounds for serious discipline.
Homeroom Policies and
Regulations Attendance:
Students are allowed to be absent (excused or unexcused) only for a total of 9 hours. Beyond this, the instructor can drop you
from the roll without prior notice.

Submission of requirements:
Any requirement submitted late will be given a deduction of points equivalent to 10% of the perfect score. (i.e., perfect score is
100 points; 10% is 10 points. 10 points are automatically deducted from the scores of the requirement submitted late.

Missed exam(s):
Only students with valid reasons (sickness, death in the family) will be allowed to take make-up exam upon presentation of
medical certificate or letter of excuse from parents or guardian.

Cheating:
Student caught cheating during exams or copying another student’s laboratory report will automatically get a failing mark for
the course.

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General Education Department

Preliminary Grading:
Quizzes 30%
Preliminary Examination 40%
Class Requirements, Activities, and Participation 30%

Midterm Period: 30% from Preliminary Grading

Quizzes 40%
Midterm Examination 40%
Evaluation and Grading
Class Requirements, Activities, and Participation 20%

Final Period: 60% from Midterm Grading

Quizzes and Examinations 30%
Class Requirements, Activities, and Participation 30%
Integrative Final Paper or Final Presentation 40%

Passing Score 60%

Week Topics and Content Methodology Materials/ Resources Assessment

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General Education Department

Introduction to the Course: Lecture and Class Discussion. Robert Frost, “Dust of Snow” Essay:
Overview of Literary
Masterpieces “What is literature? What is a Stephen Crane, “War is Kind” “How important is literature in
masterpiece?” understanding the contemporary milieu
1 Concept of Literature and Poetry of Walt Whitman of a nation?”
Masterpiece “What makes a literary work a
masterpiece?” “What are specific examples of literary
masterpieces that helped shape our
culture?”
Literary Elements and Style Lecture. Video: “Literary Devices: How to use Insight Paper:
Literary Elements to Improve Writing
Plot and Structure “Why is the understanding of the literary and Understanding Literature” “Choose your favorite fictional/poetic
Characterization and Character elements important?” piece. How are the literary elements
2 Theme https://www.youtube.com/watch? utilized in the piece?”
Setting Verisimilitude. v=JIFG3ojJSug
Point of View Quiz # 1
Literary Devices Politics of History.
Tone and Style
Arabic and Middle Eastern Individual Sharing. Selected Stories from “The Arabian Research and report on various cultural
Literature Nights: Tales from a Thousand and and intercultural modes in the Middle
“What are your preconceived notions One Nights” East.
Culture and History of the about the Middle East?”
Arabic Region and the Greater Religious Excerpts, “The Vedas” and Literary and cultural topics used in a
Middle East Concept of Exoticism and Orientalism. “The Upanishads” particular region or country to show
identity;
3–4 Postcolonialism and Politics of Postcolonialism. Salman Rushdie, “Midnight’s
Orientalism Children” Issues in the usage of politically-correct
words in today’s world.
Khaled Hosseini, “The Kite Runner”
Gender-sensitivity through language
Film: Three Idiots and television shows and literary works.

Quiz # 2
5–6 Asian and Far Eastern Lecture and class discussion on Asian Wu Cheng’en, “Monkey: Folktale of Invitation for people to join cause-
Literature and Far Eastern Literary Masterpieces. China” oriented events using various media

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General Education Department

such as email, social media, print,

East Asian Literature: Culture,  What are examples of literary Young Ha-Kim, “I Have The Right To and/or electronic advertisements to
History, and Tradition forms that are uniquely from Destroy Myself” analyze literary masterpieces.
the Asian Region?
Southeast Asia: Visibility and  What is the importance of Selected Poetry and Stories by Asian Quiz # 3
Invisibility learning these traditional forms Authors
in order to propel new forms?
Postcolonial History of Southeast Excerpts from Asian Philosophies
Asia
African Literature Class Discussion Chinua Achebe, “Anthills of the Oral Presentation:
Savannah”
Political Economy of African “How do people make sense of racism?” Audio-visual and/or web/based
History and Tradition Alan Paton, “Cry, the Beloved presentations that promote literature
“What are the atrocities and violent acts Country” and cultural studies as reflected in
Racism and the Struggle of the committed against people of color? How popular culture and how they are
7–8 African Race does this impact the way you conceive Uwem Akpan, “Say You’re One of influenced by the concept of
the notion of race and identity politics?” Them” postcolonialism and racism (Identity
politics).
Traditional Slavery and Contemporary Selected Tribal Short Stories and
Slavery Fables

Selected Yoruba Myths and Narratives

9 – 10 Classical Greek and Roman Lecture Discussion: Sophocles, “Oedipus Rex” Output:
Literature
“Why is there a great impact brought by Aristotle, “Nicomachean Ethics” Differentiate the aspects of Greek
Influence of Greek and Roman Greek and Roman Mythology? What Mythology and Roman Mythology.
Mythology in their Literature and aspects of Greek and Roman Mythology Aristophanes, “Oresteia”
Culture made it accessible and widely How are they different? How are they
renowned?” Voltaire, “Candide” the same?
Civilization: Literature and
Philosophy Contemporary Retellings of Classical Selected Poetry by Horace, Ovid, and Quiz # 4
Greek and Roman Literature Sappho of Lesbos

Deus Ex Machina: The Gods and Their Video: “Impact of Greek Mythology”
Decisions https://www.youtube.com/watch?

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v=gmLIepQPqas
Religion VS Mythology
European and English “Why is there a seemingly superior William Shakespeare, “The Taming Think of possible texts that highlight the
Literature quality in understanding European and of the Shrew” impact of existentialism in today’s
English forms of literature as compared contemporary imagination.
Continental Philosophy elsewhere?” Jean-Paul Sartre, “No Exit”
What is the direct impact of theater in
Existentialism as a Philosophy Continental VS Analytic Philosophy: The Dante Alighieri, Selected Cantos the life of an ordinary citizen? How is
Power and Impact of Language in the from “The Divine Comedy” theater optimized by popular culture?
11 – 12 Shakespearean Aesthetics Exploration of Theory
Albert Camus, “The Stranger” Quiz # 5
Theater and the Power of Heaven and Hell: Idea of the After-Life in
Spectacle and Stage Existentialism Geoffrey Chaucer, Excerpts from
“The Canterbury Tales”
Greek Drama, Shakespearean Spatializing Existentialist Concepts
Theater, and Contemporariness EM Forster, “A Passage to India”
of Spectacle Shakespeare as a Playwright
Northern American Literature Lecture and Discussion: Selected Works of Edgar Allan Poe Vlog-Making: Concept of Existence and
(The Cask of Amontillado) Essence
Americanizing Literature Importance of Organic Unity
Selected Poetry of Emily Dickinson “Existence comes before essence. What
13 – 14 Gothic and Macabre Literatures The Impact of Using Objective Point of do you think does this statement mean?
of the Empire View Joseph Heller, “Catch-22” How is this connected with the dire
philosophy of existentialism?”
Literary Impact of Wars Anti-Essentialism and Anti-Romanticism Ernest Hemingway, “For Whom the
Bells Toll”
15 – 16 African-American Literature Group Dynamics: August Wilson, “Fences” Presentation of Group Work

Producing Hybrid Literature: “Is political correctness an imperative in Lorraine Hansberry, “A Raisin in the Quiz # 6
Tackling the Reality of Targeted addressing people?” Sun”
Bigotry
Lecture Discussion: Selected Poetry of Langston Hughes
Racism in America and Selected Works by Maya Angelou
Bigotry and Hatred in the West:
Culture and History of Violence Historicizing and Politicizing Racism in WEB Du Bois, Excerpt from “The

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Committed Against People of America Souls of Black Folk”

Color
Toni Morrison’s “Beloved”
Latin American Literature Lecture Discussion: Gabriel Garcia Marquez, “Chronicle Poetry and the Visual Arts
of a Death Foretold”
Magic Realism and Latin America La Chingada: Sacrificing the Virginity of Poetry and the Performing Arts
the Women-Figure in Latin American Selected Poetry of Pablo Neruda and
Postcolonial Dreams: Accessing Literature Selected Short Stories and Poetry of Preparation of the Final Requirement
the History and Culture of Jorge Luis Borges
17 – 18
Violence in Latin American Marveloso Real! What is fantasy? What
Literature is reality? Laura Esquivel, “Like Water for
Chocolate”

Octavio Paz, Excerpt from “The

Labyrinth of Solitude”
FINAL REQUIREMENT:
Final Project: Class Play. Retelling of an OPM Song. Narrative should follow the selected OPM song with adjustments in terms of narrative, characters, point of view,
setting, and literary devices.

GREAT WORKS – Required Readings and Other Materials

 DiYanni, R. (2009). Literature: Reading Fiction, Poetry, and Drama. 6th Edition. Boston: McGraw Hill.

Teacher’s Information
Professor/ Instructor: _________________________________
E-mail: ______________________________________________
Consultation hours/ room number: ______________________

Verified by: Endorsed by: Approved by:

Revised by: Juan Miguel Leandro L. Quizon, MA Revision No./ Date: Rev 1.1 | February 2020
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General Education Department

Juan Miguel Leandro L. Quizon, MA Engr. Winston G. Dereje, MECpE Dr. Cecilia I. Anido
Program Coordinator – General Education Director for College Vice President for Academic Affairs

Revised by: Juan Miguel Leandro L. Quizon, MA Revision No./ Date: Rev 1.1 | February 2020