GERMAN 363. WITCHES: MYTH & HISTORICAL REALITY

Fall 2007.  TuTh 4-5:15.  ECSCII 119. UMass.
Professor Susan Cocalis

Course Website: courses.umass.edu/germ363

This course focuses on various aspects of witches/witchcraft in order to examine the historical construction of the witch in the context of the social realities of the women (and men) labeled as witches. The main areas covered are:   European pagan religions and the spread of Christianity; the “Burning Times” in early modern Europe, with an emphasis on the German situation; 17th-century New England and the Salem witch trials; the images of witches in folk lore and fairy tales in the context of the historical persecutions; and contemporary Wiccan/ witch practices in their historical context. The goal of the course is to deconstruct the stereotypes that many of us have about witches/ witchcraft, especially concerning sexuality, gender, age, physical appearance, occult powers, and Satanism. Readings are drawn from documentary records of the witch persecutions and witch trials, literary representations, scholarly analyses of witch-related phenomena, and essays examining witches, witchcraft, and the witch persecutions from a contemporary feminist or neo-pagan perspective.  The lectures will be supplemented by related material taken from current events in addition to visual material (videos, slides) drawn from art history, early modern witch literature, popular culture, and documentary sources.

Professor:   Susan Cocalis, e-mail address: cocalis@german.umass.edu. Campus tel. 5-6673 (Main Office: 5-2350). Office: Herter 525. Office hours: Wednesday most of the day; before or after class or by arrangement.

Teaching Assistants:
Kyle Frackman (grad): office = Herter 516, tel. 5-6687: will assist with class web site, audio-visual materials, interactive activities, and the grading of papers. Office hours TuTh 2.15-3.15 or by arrangement. e-mail: frackman@german.umass.edu

Laurie Taylor (grad): office = Herter 516, tel. 5-6687: will assist with class web site, audio-visual materials, interactive activities, and the grading of papers. Office hours TuTh 2.15-3.15 or by arrangement. e-mail: lktaylor@german.umass.edu

Visiting Authority on Modern Neo-Pagan Practice:
Laura Wildman-Hanlon, HPs will be joining us and conducting classes on modern neo-pagan religions during the last two weeks of the semester. She is the author of What's Your Wicca I.Q.? (Citadel Press 2002), Wiccan Meditations ( Citadel 2003), and Celebrating the Pagan Soul (Citadel Press 2005). Her research on Generational Retention within the New Religious Movement of Neo-Paganism is being included in the text book "Studies in Paganism" which will be published by Routledge in October 2008. She is the Administrative Dean of Cherry Hill Seminary, a virtual Pagan seminary offering graduate Pagan clergy education. She is also the Priestess of Apple & Oak, a coven in the Proteus/Gardnerian tradition, and a longtime member of the Covenant of the Goddess, where she also serves as the COG National Interfaith Representative. Recently she was appointed to the Five College Religious Affairs Committee, which is putting together a student Interfaith program for the Five Colleges. (We are very fortunate that she has agreed to assist us in this class. SC) Her e-mail: lwildman@psych.umass.edu

Animal Familiar:
Latte (non-degree): There is a dog who comes to school with me (SC), so she is often in my office. If you are allergic to dogs or are afraid of them, please contact me and I can arrange to meet you elsewhere.

Course Materials:
• E-reserves: All of the course readings are available through ereserves.library.umass.edu. When you get to the site: choose "Electronic Reserves and Course Materials"; choose German 363; and log in with the password: "hexen". You can access this from any computer on campus or through your local internet provider/browser.

• A course packet has been prepared and will be available at Collective Copies, 71 South Pleasant Street, Amherst (256-6425) if you prefer a printed format where you can make notes on the page. There are also used copies of this reader around. They contain the same material as the e-reserves.

• A. Miller’s The Crucible (Penguin edition) has been ordered at the Jeffrey Amherst Textbooks (behind its main store at 55 South Pleasant Street, tel: 253 7816). Be sure it is the play and not the film! This is not on e-reserve.

Course Format:
Lectures:  Due to the large size of this course, the lecture format will be the standard teaching method. Students are invited to contribute in the form of comments, questions, or suggestions either during or outside of class. Guest speakers, references to current events, visual material (slides/transparencies), and films will supplement the lectures. The segment of the course dealing with modern Neo-Pagan practice will be conducted by Laura Wildman-Hanlon, HPs. An abbreviated outline of each day’s lecture will be available on the website linked to the course schedule to assist in note-taking.

Witches in the News: At the beginning of each class, I will bring in news stories, advertisements, illustrations, cartoons, etc. that relate what we are discussing in the course to current events or popular media images. You are welcome to submit anything you find interesting and relevant. (I give extra credit for this if you put your name on it.)

Film Clips: Short video clips illustrating lecture topics will be shown during most sessions, and classes will conclude with a short video clip demonstrating popular images of witches in the media. These are considered a part of the class material since they often illustrate how Hollywood distorts witches and contributes to the “myths” or prevailing stereotypes.

Honors Section:  There could be a 1-credit honors section to be scheduled on Wednesdays at 1.25. You do not have to be in Commonwealth College to register. The colloquium can be added online under “German H 03.” Students in this section will have an opportunity to discuss the readings and lectures in greater depth. Requirements: regular attendance and a weekly journal. The honors section will be conducted by Professor Cocalis.

Course Courtesies:  In a large class like this, certain courtesies can make the learning experience more pleasant for all of us.  In the case of any behavior we find disruptive to the other students (complaints) or the instructor, we will ask you to stop the behavior the first time. If the disruptive behavior continues during class, you will be asked to leave the classroom. If there is a repeated problem over time, this will be reported to the Dean of Students Office and we will request that you be disenrolled from the class. (Guidelines of the Dean of Students and Ombuds Offices)

• Please be punctual. Class starts at 4.00 pm.
• Please remain in your seat and do not pack up until the completion of the class at 5.15.
• Please don’t talk with your friends during the lectures. This interferes with everyone’s concentration (including the instructor’s).
• Please turn off cell phones during class. This includes text-messaging during the lecture.
• Please do not use laptop computers for purposes other than taking notes, since this is distracting for the people around you.
• Please do not send the instructor or the TAs anonymous, rude, threatening, or harassing e-mails or other anonymous communications.
• Please do not call the professor or teaching assistants at home unless specifically arranged. You can leave messages for us at the GSS Office: 545 2350.

Course Requirements:
In-Class Writing Assignments: Short written assignments will be collected in most classes. After the first two class sessions, when these will be on general topics, the in-class writing assignments will be related to the assigned reading for that class. I expect you to take the questions seriously and to try to answer them to the best of your ability.

• You will receive full credit (√) if I can see that you have done the reading assignment.
• You may obtain partial credit (√–) if the answer is too short or vague but I have a sense you have read the assignment.
• You will receive no credit (–) if the answer is too short, too vague, or not based on the assignment.
• If an answer is especially good, I assign extra credit (√+). 
• One-word answers or nothing at all are graded as insufficient (0) although you will receive partial credit (/) for attendance.

We will read through all of these in-class assignments, grade them, and report back to the class on them if they contain an opinion question. I will only return them to you if you pick them up in my office. If I see that you are having trouble with a particular area, I will suggest that you contact me or one of the TAs for help. Attendance counts 1 point per class; writing assignment @ full credit = 1.5 points: total attendance/writing assignment points = 50.

Reading Assignment & Make-Ups:  You are responsible for reading the texts assigned for each class period. If you are absent or if you cannot read an assignment for the designated day but can make up the work before taking the exam on that section, you can submit a short written text showing me that you have read it and I will give you credit for the writing assignment. Work will not be accepted in bulk at the end of the semester.

Examinations:  There will be three in-class examinations. Review sheets & grading guidelines will be posted on the course website at least two weeks prior to each examination. The tests will consist of both multiple choice and short essay questions. We will schedule an evening make-up exam for each test.

In-Class Exam 1. Witches in European Culture; Witch Persecutions (100 points). Thursday October 18. [Make-up Exam scheduled for Tuesday, October 23, 6-8pm. Room Bartlett 202]

In-Class Exam 2. New England Witches & Salem Witch Trials (100 points). Tuesday, Nov. 13. [Make-up Exam scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 27, 6-8 p.m. Room bartlett 202]

FinalExam. (as scheduled) (50 points).

Lateness Policy: 
In-Class Exams: If you cannot take an exam on the scheduled date or if you have three projects due on the same day, you can arrange with the instructor to take the make-up exam in the evening (6-8 p.m.) of the specified dates. This will be the only opportunity to make up this work. Make-up exams will have the same format but different questions.

Extra Credit Options:
Film Responses: Students can earn up to an extra 3 points per film toward their cumulative grade (see grading below) by writing a 2-page, double-spaced, typed response paper relating films to the readings or the lectures. These response papers should go beyond a simple plot summary (telling what happened in the film) to analyze and compare the presentation of witches in the film to what you have learned in class. What is the bias or viewpoint of the film? Is its representation of witches or the witch trials accurate? In an adaptation like The Crucible, how does it compare to the original text of the play or to the actual events? We will try to make the films available for viewing on Web CT/SPARK. If this is not possible, we will arrange screenings or reserve copies. Copies of the films may also be available in the 5-College libraries or local video stores. The films are: The Burning Times, Three Sovereigns for Sarah, and The Crucible.

Student-Initiated Reviews, Response Papers: If there is a book, film, TV show, computer game, website, etc. that you would like to relate to the course material, discuss your idea with the instructor. The same guidelines apply here regarding plot summaries.

Creative Option for Extra Credit: If you attend class regularly and have been keeping up with the reading assignments, you have the option of submitting a creative project for extra credit. Such projects could include creating a website or computer game; writing a story; illustrations; a musical composition; an artwork; a performance; or a film/video-project. A collaborative project is also possible if all participants document their share of the collective work: e.g., one student writes a text to be illustrated by another, one composes music and another performs it, etc. (This option is only possible with prior permission of the instructor).

Grading:
Each student can accumulate a maximum of 300 points during this course.  The first exam is worth 100 points, the second 100, and the final 50 points; in-class writing assignments/attendance are worth 50 points.  Up to an extra 3 points each can be earned by writing a response paper relating the extra-credit films mentioned above.  Final grades can be computed using the following scale:

                        A   =    300 –  279 points                        C     =   219 – 230 points

                        A- =     270 – 278 points                            C - =  210 – 218 points

                        B+   =  261 – 269 points                          D +   =  201 – 209 points

                        B     =  249 – 260 points                          D      =  189 – 200 points

                        B-  =   240 – 248 points                            F       = below  189 points

                        C +  =  231 – 239 points

There will be a conversion chart posted on the course website where you can determine the point value of each letter grade.

If you wish to dispute any grade, please contact the Teaching Assistant who graded your paper first. If you still have questions, please schedule a time to meet with the instructor. Any disputes concerning the final grades can be addressed to Professor Cocalis at the above address before February 15, 2008.  Incompletes must also be resolved by that date unless other arrangements have been made with the instructor.

Academic Honesty Policy:  Any form of cheating will result in a grade of zero on that written assignment and the request that the student withdraw from the course.  Cheating includes copying the work of another student on a test, unsanctioned use of reference notes during a test, plagiarizing a paper, buying a paper, or using an existing paper by modifying it slightly.  Students will be held to the standards of the University Writing Program. Cheating on papers includes using sentences directly or in a slightly modified form from books, websites, or other persons without naming the source or putting direct quotes in “quotation marks.” It also includes basing a paper on a friend’s computer file. More complete guidelines will follow. The instructor reserves the right to request an earlier draft or notes for a paper if circumstances warrant this course of action. If two papers appear suspiciously similar, both students will receive a grade of zero unless one of them agrees to accept responsibility.

Attendance Lists: If we send around a sign-in sheet for attendance, signing someone’s name other than your own is considered a form of cheating. If such incidents are reported or discovered both/all students will receive a “0” for that class. Repeated offenses will be reported to the Dean of Students Office.

Course Schedule and Readings
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