Syllabus

English 2200: Writing about Literature, Fall 2008

Section 01: TR 2:00-3:15PM, Arts & Sciences 366

Section 02: MW 5:30-6:45PM, Bell Hall 340

 

Professor

Professor: Dr. Alex E. Blazer

Office: Arts & Sciences 3-30

Office Hours: MW 4:30-5:20PM, TR 1:00-1:50P, and by appointment

Phone: 478.445.0964

Email: alex.blazer@gcsu.edu

Web: www.faculty.de.gcsu.edu/~ablazer/

 

Course Description

 

The search is what anyone would undertake if he were not sunk in the everydayness of his own life.

—Walker Percy, The Moviegoer

 

The undergraduate course catalog describes English 2200 as "A course emphasizing theory and practice in writing literary analysis and practical criticism." In this course, we will learn how to critically write about literature by analytically reading and researching the five major genresshort story, novel, drama, poetry, and film.We will see how the techniques of literaturesuch as characterization, setting, plot, and point of viewcan be interpreted to reveal core psycho-existential conflicts of the human condition. This course's Academic Assessment page describes our topics:

as well as course outcomes:

We will informally answer study questions in order to prepare us to draft and revise three formal papers, which will dig deeper into each work and eventually include research; and we'll do a group project in which we analyze, research, and finally teach the rest of the class a new work of literature. I will guide class discussion, present concepts and modes of analysis, and assess assignments. I expect you to read and study the material, attend and participate in class regularly, turn assignments in on time, and approach assignments with intellectual curiosity, educational investment, and academic honesty. Note that this course's prerequisite is English 1102.

 

Course Materials

 

required (GCSU Bookstore or Amazon.com)

Gibaldi, MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers, 6th ed.

Percy, The Moviegoer

Roberts, ed., Literature, 4th ed.

required (online)

various stories and articles

 

Assignments and Grade Distribution

 

informal writing, 15%

Informal writing is comprised of responses to the reading and responses to the first drafts of your peers' papers. Approximately once per text, in class or out of class, you will write short, informal responses to a work of literature in order to practice writing about literature and work toward writing fully developed, interpretive papers. Groups of 3-4 will respond to their peers' first drafts for revision.

paper 1, 15%

In the first paper of 4-5 pages, you will rigorously analyze a key passage of a literary work, for example, discussing how it highlights the core conflicts and themes of the text.

paper 2, 20%

In the second paper of 5-6 pages, you will discuss a point of debate in interpretation of a work of literature and then argue your reading of the work.

paper 3, 30%

In the final research paper of 7-9 pages, you will interpret a literary work of your choice, using at least 4 works of scholarly criticism to support your analysis.

group project, 20%

Groups of 4-5 members will analyze, research, and then teach the class a text via both audiovisual presentation and written component.

 

Course Policies

 

Class Preparation and Participation

I expect you to come to class having read, annotated, and reviewed the assigned reading. Moreover, you should prepare at least two comments and two questions. We're going to be working with challenging texts; therefore, we'll all benefit from sharing our ideas and questions. If I feel that you're not participating because you're not keeping up with the reading, I will give a pop quiz.

Office Hours and Professor Email

I encourage you to stop by my office hours to discuss any aspect of the course, literature, or life. I'm happy to answer minor questions such as due dates over email, but I prefer face-to-face conversations for more substantive topics like papers and exams. Please use email etiquette.

GeorgiaVIEW Vista and Student Email

We will be using GeorgiaVIEW Vista and/or TurnItIn.com for assignments and GCSU email for class communication. It is your responsibility to learn Vista as well as to check your university email for possible course related messages. I suggest that you forward your university email to your private email account (or vice versa).

MLA Style

Formal assignments should adhere to the Modern Language Association (MLA) style. Formal papers and take-home exams require MLA style while in-class exams; discussion board responses, informal writing, and peer review may be informally formatted. One-third of a letter grade will be deducted from a formal paper or take-home exam for problems in each of the following three categories, for a possible one letter grade deduction total: 1) header, heading, and title, 2) margins, font, and line-spacing, and 3) quotation and citation format. Before you turn in a formal paper, make sure your work follows MLA style by using the checklist on the MLA style handout. I encourage students to use my MS Word template.

Attendance

There will be a one letter final grade deduction for every absence beyond three days. Therefore, missing four class periods will result in a one letter final grade deduction and missing seven classes will result in automatic failure of the course. I suggest you use your three days both cautiously and wisely; and make sure you sign the attendance sheets. Habitual tardies or consistently leaving class early will be treated as absences. Excuses like work, family, and scheduled doctor's appointment will be declined. The only acceptabled excuses are death in one's immediate family and one's own medical emergency. If you participate in an extracurricular activity that you anticipate will cause you to miss class, I suggest you switch sections now. You can check your attendance online by looking for your course number and the last four digits of your student identification number.

Late Assignments

There will be a one letter assignment grade deduction per day (not class period) for any assignment that is turned in late. I sparingly give short extensions if you request one for a valid need; however you must make the request at least one day before the assignment is due. I will inform you via email if I cannot open an electronically submitted assignment; however, your assignment will be considered late until you submit it in a file I can open. I neither read nor grade assignments that are turned in more than five days late for whatever reason, be it extension or computer error. Failing to submit (or resubmit) an assignment that is worth 15% or more of the course grade within five days (not class periods) of its due date will result in automatic failure of the course. Failing to submit (or resubmit) a final exam or final paper within two days of its due date will result in automatic failure of the course.

Plagiarism

Do not do it. The Honor Code defines plagiarism as "presenting as one's own work the words or ideas of an author or fellow student. Students should document quotes through quotation marks and footnotes or other accepted citation methods. Ignorance of these rules concerning plagiarism is not an excuse. When in doubt, students should seek clarification from the professor who made the assignment." Section 3.01 of the Academic Affairs Handbook elaborates other examples of academic dishonesty and outlines disciplinary procedures and appeals for academic misconduct. As plagiarism is not tolerated at GCSU, any student found guilty of willful plagiarism will fail the assignment and the course. Students must submit all formal papers to TurnItIn.com.

Failure of the Course

There are three ways to fail the course: 1) failing to regularly attend class, 2) plagiarizing, 3) failing an assignment that is worth 15% or more of the course grade, be it from poor quality, lateness of submission, or a combination of poor quality and lateness. By contrast, students who regularly attend class, complete their work with academic integrity, and submit assignments on time will pass the course.

Withdrawal

The last day to add a course is August 22. The last day to drop a course without fee penalty is August 26. The last day to withdraw without academic penalty (unless previously assigned an F by professor for absences) is October 16.

Disability Services

In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and GCSU's Policy For Students with Disabilities that Affect Learning, if there is a student in this class who has a disability that may affect her learning and progress, please meet with me so we can discuss your particular needs. Notification will be kept confidential. Students with disabilities should also contact Mike Chambers, mike.chambers@gcsu.edu or 445-5931, at Disability Services in Maxwell Student Union 133.

The Writing Center

The Writing Center is a free service available to all members of the university community. Consultants assist writers in the writing process, from conception and organization of compositions to revision to documentation of research. Located in Lanier Hall 209, the Center is open Monday through Friday. Call 445-3370 or email writingcr@gcsu.edu for more information.

Special Notice to Students in the Arts & Sciences Building

In the event of a fire alarm signal students should exit the building in a quick and orderly manner through the nearest hallway exit.  First and Second floor classes should exit through ground level exits; Third floor classes through nearest stairwell to a ground level exit.  Do not use elevator.  Third floor stairwells are areas where disabled people may communicate with rescue workers.  Be familiar with the floorplan and exits of this building.

 

Course Schedule

 

This schedule is subject to change, so check back in class and online for possible revisions.

 

Section 1: TR 2:00-3:15PM

[scroll down to see the schedule for Section 2: MW 5:30-6:45PM]

 

Week 1
R, 8-21

Introductions

Rachel, "mcpoem"

Week 2
T, 8-26

"Where is Donnie?"

R, 8-28

Faulkner, "A Rose for Emily" (75-80)

Bambara, "The Lesson" (373-7)

Roberts, Ch1 Introduction: The Process . . . of Literature (1-54)

Week 3
T, 9-2

M, 9-1: No Class: Labor Day

Hawthorne, "Young Goodman Brown" (331-8)

Roberts, Ch2 Fiction: An Overview (54-68)

Roberts, Ch4 Characters: The People in Fiction (151-7)

Informal Writing 1 Due

R, 9-4

Conrad, "The Secret Sharer" (202-25)

Roberts, Ch5 Setting: The Background of Place, Objects, and Culture in Stories (198-201)

Joyce, "Araby" (226-29)

Informal Writing 2 Due

Week 4
T, 9-9

Gass, "Emma Enters a Sentence of Elizabeth Bishop's" (online)

Roberts, Ch8 Symbolism and Allegory: Keys to Extended Meaning (321-5)

Roberts, Ch6 Structure: The Organization of Stories (244-46)

MLA Style

In Class Activity: The Most Important Passage(s)

R, 9-11

Daitch, "X ≠ Y" (online)

Carver, "Neighbors" (116-9)

Roberts, Ch3 Point of View: The Position of the Narrator or Speaker (107-15)

Informal Writing 3 Due

Week 5
T, 9-16

Percy, The Moviegoer

Roberts, Ch9 Idea or Theme: The Meaning and Message in Fiction (367-71)

Paper 1 Draft 1 Due

R, 9-18

Percy, continued

Roberts, Ch7 Tone and Style: Conveying Attitudes of Fiction (280-6)

Week 6

T, 9-23

**Due to peer response group meetings, regular class will not be held. You are only responsible for coming to your class on the day your peer response group meets.

Paper 1 Peer Response Due (Groups 1-3)

R, 9-25

**Due to peer response group meetings, regular class will not be held. You are only responsible for coming to your class on the day your peer response group meets.

Paper 1 Peer Response Due (Groups 4-5)

Week 7
T, 9-30

Percy, criticism (online)

Group Presentation Sign Up

Informal Writing 4 (In Class)

Paper 1 Draft 2 Due (Optional)

R, 10-2

various poems

Roberts, Ch11 Meeting Poetry: An Overview (456-93)

Roberts, Ch12 Words: The Building Blocks of Poetry (494-527)

Week 8
T, 10-7

Ferlinghetti, A Coney Island of the Mind (online)

Roberts, Ch13 Imagery: The Poem's Link to the Senses (528-9)

Roberts, Ch14 Figures of Speech, or Metaphorical Language (560-2)

R, 10-9

Ferlinghetti, continued

Roberts, Ch15 Tone: The Creation of Attitude in Poetry (599)

In Class Activity: Reading a Book of Poetry

Week 9
T, 10-14

Olds, Satan Says (online)

Roberts, Ch17 Symbolism and Allusion; Windows to Wide Expanses of Meaning (691-92)

R, 10-16

Olds, continued

Roberts, Ch16 Form: The Shape of Poems (241-43)

In Class Activity: Reading a Book of Poetry

Week 10
T, 10-21

Albee, The Sandbox (883-90)

O'Neill, Before Breakfast (907-13)

Roberts, Ch20 The Dramatic Vision: An Overview (862-74, 914-22)

R, 10-23

Shakespeare, The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark (981-1090)

theoretical approaches: deconstruction, feminism, psychoanalysis, New Historicism, reader-response (online)

In Class Activity: Putting Theory into Practice I: General Theory

Informal Writing 5 Due

Week 11
T, 10-28

Shakespeare, criticism (online)

R, 10-30

W, 10-29: Shakespeare, concluded

R, 10-30: No Class: Professor at Conference

Week 12
T, 11-4

Roberts, Ch10A Writing and Documenting the Research Essay (428-55)

Film Screening: The Big Lebowski (Joel and Ethan Coen, 1998) (transcript)

Paper 2 Draft 1 Due

R, 11-6

Film Screening: continued

Week 13
T, 11-11

Paper 2 Peer Response Due (All Groups)

R, 11-13

The Big Lebowski, discussion

Informal Writing 6 Due (In Class)

Week 14
T, 11-18

The Big Lebowski, criticism (online)

MLA Style: Works Cited

Informal Writing 7 Due (In Class)

R, 11-20

Individual Conference regarding Paper 3

Group Projects meeting time

Paper 2 Draft 2 Due (Optional)

Paper 3 Thesis and Sources Due

Week 15
T, 11-25

Individual Conference regarding Paper 3

Group Projects meeting time

R, 11-27

No Class: Thanksgiving Holidays

Week 16
T, 12-2

Group Presentations

Dorothy Parker, "Love Song" and "Now at Liberty" (poems, project)

Student Opinion Surveys

R, 12-4

Group Presentations

Ngugi wa Thiong'o, "A Meeting in the Dark" (online, project)

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (transcript, project) [the film is widely available to rent or watch online]

Finals
R, 12-11

Group Presentations

Shakespeare, A Midsummer Night's Dream (text, project)

American History X (transcript, project) [the film is widely available to rent or watch online]

Paper 3 Due

 

This schedule is subject to change, so check back in class and online for possible revisions.

 

Section 2: MW 5:30-6:45PM

[scroll up to see the schedule for Section 1: TR 2:00-3:15PM]

 

Week 1
W, 8-20

Introductions

First Day Poem

Week 2
M, 8-25

Faulkner, "A Rose for Emily" (75-80)

Bambara, "The Lesson" (373-7)

Roberts, Ch1 Introduction: The Process . . . of Literature (1-54)

W, 8-27

Hawthorne, "Young Goodman Brown" (331-8)

Roberts, Ch2 Fiction: An Overview (54-68)

Roberts, Ch4 Characters: The People in Fiction (151-7)

Informal Writing 1 Due

Week 3
M, 9-1

No Class: Labor Day Holiday

W, 9-3

Conrad, "The Secret Sharer" (202-25)

Roberts, Ch5 Setting: The Background of Place, Objects, and Culture in Stories (198-201)

Joyce, "Araby" (226-29)

Informal Writing 2 Due

Week 4
M, 9-8

Gass, "Emma Enters a Sentence of Elizabeth Bishop's" (online)

Roberts, Ch8 Symbolism and Allegory: Keys to Extended Meaning (321-5)

Roberts, Ch6 Structure: The Organization of Stories (244-46)

MLA Style

In Class Activity: The Most Important Passage(s)

W, 9-10

Daitch, "X ≠ Y" (online)

Carver, "Neighbors" (116-9)

Roberts, Ch3 Point of View: The Position of the Narrator or Speaker (107-15)

Informal Writing 3 Due

Week 5
M, 9-15

Percy, The Moviegoer

Roberts, Ch9 Idea or Theme: The Meaning and Message in Fiction (367-71)

Paper 1 Draft 1 Due

W, 9-17

Percy, continued

Roberts, Ch7 Tone and Style: Conveying Attitudes of Fiction (280-6)

Week 6

M, 9-22

**Due to peer response group meetings, regular class will not be held. You are only responsible for coming to your class on the day your peer response group meets.

Paper 1 Peer Response Due (Groups 1-3)

W, 9-24

**Due to peer response group meetings, regular class will not be held. You are only responsible for coming to your class on the day your peer response group meets.

Paper 1 Peer Response Due (Groups 4-5)

Week 7
M, 9-29

Percy, criticism (online)

Group Presentation Sign Up

Informal Writing 4 (In Class)

Paper 1 Draft 2 Due

W, 10-1

various poems

Roberts, Ch11 Meeting Poetry: An Overview (456-93)

Roberts, Ch12 Words: The Building Blocks of Poetry (494-527)

Week 8
M, 10-6

Ferlinghetti, A Coney Island of the Mind (online)

Roberts, Ch13 Imagery: The Poem's Link to the Senses (528-9)

W, 10-8

Ferlinghetti, continued

Roberts, Ch14 Figures of Speech, or Metaphorical Language (560-2)

In Class Activity: Reading a Book of Poetry

Week 9
M, 10-13

Olds, Satan Says (online)

Roberts, Ch15 Tone: The Creation of Attitude in Poetry (599)

W, 10-15

Olds, continued

Roberts, Ch17 Symbolism and Allusion; Windows to Wide Expanses of Meaning (691-92)

In Class Activity: Reading a Book of Poetry

Week 10
M, 10-20

Albee, The Sandbox (883-90)

O'Neill, Before Breakfast (907-13)

Roberts, Ch20 The Dramatic Vision: An Overview (862-74, 914-22)

W, 10-22

Shakespeare, The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark (981-1090)

theoretical approaches: deconstruction, feminism, psychoanalysis, New Historicism, reader-response (online)

In Class Activity: Putting Theory into Practice I: General Theory

Informal Writing 5 Due

Week 11
M, 10-27

Shakespeare, criticism (online)

W, 10-29

Shakespeare, continued

Week 12
M, 11-3

Roberts, Ch10A Writing and Documenting the Research Essay (428-55)

Film Screening: The Big Lebowski (Joel and Ethan Coen, 1998) (transcript)

Paper 2 Draft 1 Due

W, 11-5

Film Screening, continued

Week 13
M, 11-10

Paper 2 Peer Response Due (All Groups)

W, 11-12

The Big Lebowski, discussion

Informal Writing 6 Due (In Class)

Week 14
M, 11-17

The Big Lebowski, criticism (online)

MLA Style: Works Cited

Informal Writing 7 Due (In Class)

Paper 2 Draft 2 Due (Optional)

W, 11-19

Individual Conference regarding Paper 3

Group Projects meeting time

Paper 3 Thesis and Sources Due

Week 15
M, 11-24

Individual Conference regarding Paper 3

Group Projects meeting time

W, 11-26

No Class: Thanksgiving Holidays

Week 16
M, 12-1

Group Presentations

John Keats, "The Eve of St. Agnes" (text, project)

Fight Club (transcript, project) [the film is widely available to rent or watch online]

W, 12-3

T. S. Eliot, "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock" (poem, project)

Ibsen, A Doll House (available in our textbook, project)

Student Opinion Surveys

Finals
W, 12-10

Group Presentation

Fitzgerald, "Winter Dreams" and "Babylon Revisited" (texts, project)

Paper 3 Due