English 104.01: Approaches to Literature Spring 2014

English 104.01: Approaches to Literature • Spring 2014 MWF 9-9:50 am • School of Education 110

Ms. Corrie White Office Location: Curry 335-D English Department Office Hours: Mon/Wed 2-3:30 pm Email: [email protected] and by appointment

Course Description: How does our knowledge of genre influence our expectations of literature? What do we bring with us and what are we seeking when we sit down to read a poem versus a short story or play? In this class, we will read a sampling from each of these genres written as far back as the 19th century. We will interpret our reactions to the choices the author has made and learn to identify literary elements such as character, narration, setting, and figurative language. We will engage in the process of literary interpretation by asking questions about historical and social context, the author’s biography, and his/her signature use of language. Most importantly, we will learn how to communicate about literature through class discussion, small group discussion, exams, and informal and formal writing.

Required Texts and Materials:  Booth, Alison, and Kelly J. Mays, eds. The Norton Introduction to Literature. Portable 10th ed. New York: Norton, 2011. Print. ISBN: 9780393911640.  Gibson, Scott Thomas, Tammy Lancaster, and Summar C. Sparks. Lenses: Perspectives on Literature. Plymouth, MI: Hayden-McNeil Publishing, 2013. Print. ISBN: 9780738051055.  Blackboard Readings (BB): supplementary essays, poems, and stories will be scanned and uploaded into the “Course Documents” section on BB. Please bring a PRINTED copy of these to class and keep them collected in a folder or binder. .  You must have access to a dictionary (either online or a print version)  Notebook paper and writing utensils.

Technology Requirements:  Reliable online access. If you do not own a personal computer, familiarize yourself with the library’s computer lab.  Active I-Spartan email address. Please use this email when corresponding with me.  Blackboard Account. All of our course documents, including the syllabus, assignment sheets, and selected readings will be available to you on Blackboard.  Printer Access. The majority of our course reading will come from the two required texts, but when I ask you to print a supplementary reading off Blackboard, I ask that you comply. Please budget enough money to for printer paper and ink so you can be prepared for class.

Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs) for the GLT Marker

At the completion of this course, students will be able to: 1. Demonstrate the reading skill required for the student of literary texts.

1 English 104.01: Approaches to Literature • Spring 2014 MWF 9-9:50 am • School of Education 110 2. Identify and/or describe some of the varied characteristics of literary texts. 3. Demonstrate orally, in writing, or by some other means, a fundamental ability to use some of the techniques and/or methods of literary analysis. 4. Identify and/or describe some of the various social, historical, cultural, and/or theoretical contexts in which literary texts have been written and interpreted.

Course Policies

Academic Integrity: “Academic integrity is founded upon and encompasses the following five values: honesty, trust, fairness, respect, and responsibility. Violations include, for example, cheating, plagiarism, misuse of academic resources, falsification, and facilitating academic dishonesty. If knowledge is to be gained and properly evaluated, it must be pursued under conditions free from dishonesty. Deceit and misrepresentations are incompatible with the fundamental activity of this academic institution and shall not be tolerated” (from UNCG’s Academic Integrity Policy). To ensure that you understand the university’s policy on academic integrity, review the guidelines and list of violations at http://academicintegrity.uncg.edu. I expect you to abide by the Academic Integrity Policy.

To get the most out of your education, it is imperative that you do your own work. Trust, being an integral part of the classroom learning process, is compromised when you use another person’s work as your own (or allow another person to do so), or use an outside source (electronic device, written document, your neighbor) during a quiz or exam. Doing so once will result in the failure of that assignment. If you violate this policy a second time, you will fail the course. Incidents of cheating and plagiarism are reported to the Dean of Students and sanctions are aligned with the policies at http://sa.uncg.edu/dean/academicintegrity/violation/plagiarism/

Attendance: Our class, as a discussion-based class, depends upon your participation in the conversations, debates, and questions we bring up in class. Therefore, any absences are strongly discouraged and will affect your grade. Attendance means being physically and mentally present and ready to participate. Students who do not have their materials or are otherwise not prepared for class may be counted absent. Per departmental policy, you are allowed four absences without a grade penalty. For every absence beyond the first four, you will lose one-half of a letter grade from your final course grade. Students who miss eight classes will automatically fail the course. I will count an absence “excused” only if you bring documentation from the Dean of Student’s office or a doctor’s note. Furthermore, if there is a family or health emergency, please contact me immediately.

You are, by state law, allowed two excused absences due to religious holidays, which do not count toward your total allowed four absences. If you plan to miss class because of your faith, you must notify me at least 48 hours in advance of your absence.

Since we only have fifty minutes per class session, it’s important also that you arrive on time. Keep in mind that you will be counted as absent if you miss roll call unless you see me after class to confirm that you’re present. Multiple tardies (or leaving class early) will negatively affect your class participation grade. If you must be absent, understand that it is your

2 English 104.01: Approaches to Literature • Spring 2014 MWF 9-9:50 am • School of Education 110 responsibility to make up any work you may have missed. This means you must check the course’s Blackboard site and contact a classmate to inquire about the day’s work, changes to the calendar, and/or homework assignments.

Appointments and Correspondence: At the top of the syllabus’ first page, you will find my office hours. I encourage you to stop in if you have questions about an assignment, a grade, or if you need clarity on something discussed in class. Email is also a great way to contact me and I will do my best to respond to you within 36 hours. If for some reason, I have not, please re-send your email. This is an opportune time to remind you that college is a preparation for the professional world, so please use email correspondence as an opportunity to practice professional (job-seeking) communication. In other words, do not compose an email in the same way you would compose a text message.

Accessibility for Special Needs : Students with documentation of special needs should arrange to see me about accommodations. If you believe you could benefit from such accommodations, you must first register with the Office of Accessibility Resources and Services on campus. The office is located on the second floor of the Elliot University Center (EUC) in Suite 215, and the office is open 8am to 5pm, Monday through Friday. Contact: 334-5440 or [email protected].

Submission of Work/Late Work : All papers are to be double-spaced in 12pt Times New Roman with 1-inch margins with appropriate works cited pages (MLA format) and stapled. Please include your name, course number and date that the assignment is due, as well as an original title. Papers are due at the start of class on the day in which they are due; otherwise, they are late. I do not accept late work, but I do accept early work. If you know ahead of time you are going to miss class when your assignment is due, please arrange to turn in your work early or have a classmate turn it in for you. I do not accept work via email.

Also, computer and printer problems do not count as emergencies. Please remember to frequently back-up your work, since computers crash unexpectedly, and this will not be an excuse for a late assignment. You should leave yourself plenty of time to get to a computer lab if your own equipment fails.

Technology Policy: Computers and other electronics are not to be used during class time UNLESS you are referring to a reading that has been posted on Blackboard and you do not have a hard copy. In this special case, you can only use a laptop or a tablet. That said, I prefer all readings to be printed out and brought to class. All cell phones are to be turned off or left on silent; no vibrate-mode. If special circumstances require a cell phone to be left on, please contact me to discuss the situation.

The Learning Assistance Center: This center offers free services to the entire UNCG undergraduate community and is located in McIver Hall, rooms 101-104, and 150. For help with study skills, contact Erin Farrior, Academic Skills Specialist. Contact: 334-3878 or [email protected].

3 English 104.01: Approaches to Literature • Spring 2014 MWF 9-9:50 am • School of Education 110 The Writing Center : The purpose of the Writing Center is to enhance the confidence and competence of student writers by providing individuals with assistance at any stage of any writing project. Staff consultants are experienced writers and alert readers, prepared to offer feedback and suggestions on drafts of papers, help students find answers to their questions about writing, and provide one-on-one instruction as needed. The Writing Center is located in the Moore Humanities and Research Building, room 3211. While the service is free, remember that you pay for such tools in your tuition and fees. Utilize them!

Graded Components

Grading Scale: I utilize the full range of grades from A to F (including plusses and minuses) in keeping with University grading policies. Your final course grade will be based on the following components that make up your course work for the semester. UNCG defines an A as excellent; a B as good; a C as average; a D as lowest passing grade; and an F as failure. In adherence to this scale, you should understand that a C means you successfully met the requirements of the course, not that you did poorly, which would be indicated by a D or an F. Likewise, an A or B indicates that you met or exceeded course requirements.

A+ 97-100 C 73-76 A 94-96 C- 77-79 A- 90-93 D+ 67-69 B+ 87-89 D 63-66 B 84-86 D- 60-62 B- 80-83 F 59 or below

Participation (15%): A huge part of engaging literature is learning how to talk about it. While speaking is not the only way to show that you’ve done your reading, it certainly makes for a more vibrant, dynamic classroom experience. That being said, showing up on time with a hard copy of the reading and notes for discussion is a large part of being present and participatory in class. I will periodically ask you in class to reflect or close-read on a particular passage or literary device. I may ask you to turn in these informal writings so I can assess this part of your participation grade. Writing about what you read is an integral step in understanding the choices the writer is making, while also employing the skill of critical thinking. This in-class reflection will provide you with good starting-material to take into the essay writing process. [SLOs 1 and 3]

To ensure that you keep up with the reading and apply your insights to the vibrancy of class discussion, you will sign up for four days when you will be a discussant for the class. Each one of these days should be for a separate author. While everyone should be participating, discussants in particular are responsible for the following:  Coming in with questions, topics, and passages you would like to discuss.  Keeping class discussion moving when it slows down.  Responding to comments and questions from your classmates.

4 English 104.01: Approaches to Literature • Spring 2014 MWF 9-9:50 am • School of Education 110  Making connections to ideas, questions, and readings from previous weeks.

Reading Quizzes (15%): Because it’s important that you keep up with the reading, I will give weekly, open-book quizzes on Blackboard. They will be due before the start of class on Fridays, and once they close, you will not be able to make them up. [SLOs 1, 2, 3]

Literary Analysis (25%): In 5 pages minimum, you will be asked to develop an argument and execute close, supported analysis of at least one literary text. I will give you an assignment sheet outlining this assignment at least three weeks before the due date. [SLOs 1-4]

Mid-term Exam (20%): This exam will cover what we have read and discussed up to this point in the semester. You can expect multiple choice, short answer and essay questions that require the skills of literary analysis and close-reading. Taking notes during class and while you read are two ways to prepare. We will have a review before the exam in which I will reveal more details about the exam’s formatting. [SLOs 1-4]

Final Exam (25%): The final exam will cover ALL the literary elements and terms we’ve read and discussed in class, but will focus on the readings from the latter half of the semester. Please do not wait until the last minute to prepare. I will use time in class to review, so come prepared with questions when that time comes. [SLOs 1-4]

Course Calendar Note: This calendar is open to revision at the instructor’s discretion. The readings and assignments listed should be completed before class time the day they are listed.

WEEK ONE

1/13 (M): Course Introduction: Print and bring syllabus to class; Sign up for discussant days.

1/15 (W): Reading: “To Read Is to Write” by Browning and Scudder [Lenses, pgs. 1-7]; “Cathedral” by Raymond Carver [Norton pgs. 32-44]

1/17 (F) Plot & Structure of Fiction Reading: Norton pgs. 59-75

WEEK TWO

1/20 (M): MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. HOLIDAY

1/22 (W): Narration & POV Reading: (1) “Narrators and Speakers” by Hall and Puzzo [Lenses, 107- 116]; (2) “Girl” by Jamaica Kincaid [Norton pg. 118-9]

5 English 104.01: Approaches to Literature • Spring 2014 MWF 9-9:50 am • School of Education 110 1/24 (F): Reading: (1) “Hills Like White Elephants” by Ernest Hemingway [Norton pgs. 113-117]; (2) “Bullet in the Brain” by Tobias Wolff [BB] Blackboard Quiz #1 due before class

WEEK THREE 1/27 (M): Reading: “Bartleby, the Scrivener” by Herman Melville [Norton, 367- 396]

1/29 (W): Characters & Characterization Reading: (1) Bartleby, the Scrivener” by Herman Melville [Norton, 367- 396]; (2) “The Characters of Literature” by Gibson [Lenses, 81-94]

1/31 (F): Reading: (1) Norton pgs. 126-129 (2) “In Broad Daylight” by Ha Jin [Norton, 146-156] Blackboard Quiz #2 due before class

WEEK FOUR

2/3 (M): Place & the Passage of Time Reading: (1) “Time, Setting, and Place” by Sparks and Webb [Lenses pgs. 95-106]; (2) “The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Perkins Gillman [Lenses pgs. 139-152]

2/5 (W): Reading: (1) Norton pgs. 161-165 (2) “The Lady with the Dog” by Anton Chekhov [Norton pgs. 165-178]

2/7 (F): Reading: “A Rose for Emily” by William Faulkner [Norton pgs. 308-315] Blackboard Quiz #3 due before class

WEEK FIVE

2/10 (M): Deciphering Meaning: Theme & Symbolism Readings: (1) Norton pgs. 246-249; (2) “A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings” by Gabriel Garcia Marquez [Norton pgs. 269-274]

2/12 (W): Readings: (1) “Symbol and Figurative Language” [Norton pgs. 212-217]; (2) “A Pair of Tickets” by Amy Tan [Norton pgs. 189-205]

2/14 (F): When genre-lines get fuzzy Reading: Flash Fiction packet [BB] Blackboard Quiz #4 due before class

WEEK SIX

2/17 (M): Intro to Poetry

6 English 104.01: Approaches to Literature • Spring 2014 MWF 9-9:50 am • School of Education 110 Reading: (1) Lenses pgs. 26-30; (2) Norton pgs. 438-444, 447-451 [focus on poems by Pastan, Dove, Sexton, and Heaney]

2/19 (W): Speakers and the Occasion of a Poem Reading: (1) “Song of Myself” by Walt Whitman [BB] (2) Norton pgs. 504-506; (3) Lenses pgs. 69-73

2/21 (F): “Song of Myself” continued Reading: (1) “The Poetry of the Present” by D.H. Lawrence [BB]; (2) “A Supermarket in California” by Allen Ginsburg [BB] Blackboard Quiz #5 due before class

WEEK SEVEN

2/24 (M): Norton pgs. 512-516; 534-536 [focus on poems by Dove, Pastan, Plath, and Collins]

2/26 (W): Diction, Imagery, & Figurative Language Readings: Norton pgs. 545-554 [focus on poems by Bernstein, Roethke, and Olds]

2/28 (F): Readings: (1) Norton pgs. 554-561 [focus on poems by William Carlos Williams]; (2) “A Few Don’ts” by Ezra Pound [BB]; (3) “In the Station of the Metro” by Ezra Pound [Norton pg. 709] Blackboard Quiz #6 due before class

WEEK EIGHT

3/3 (M): Readings: Norton pgs. 564-570 [focus on poems by Shakespeare, Burns, Pastan, and Anonymous]

3/5 (W): MIDTERM REVIEW

3/7 (F): MIDTERM EXAM *Last day to drop courses without academic penalty.

WEEK NINE

3/10 (M): NO CLASS: SPRING BREAK!

3/12 (W): NO CLASS: SPRING BREAK!

3/14 (F): NO CLASS: SPRING BREAK!

WEEK TEN

7 English 104.01: Approaches to Literature • Spring 2014 MWF 9-9:50 am • School of Education 110

3/17 (M): Writing About Literature/MLA Formatting Reading: (1) “Writing about Literature,” Lenses [Wooten and Babb]; (2) Literary Analysis Assignment Sheet [BB]

3/19 (W): Meter & External Form Readings: (1) Norton pgs. 632-639 [focus on poems by Thomas, Moore, and Bishop]; (2) Lenses pgs. 73-78

3/21 (F): Reading: (1) “The Figure a Poem Makes” by Robert Frost [BB]; Norton pgs. 592-597; (2) “The Road Not Taken” and “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening” by Robert Frost [Norton 677- 678] Blackboard Quiz #7 due before class

WEEK ELEVEN

3/24 (M): Reading: Norton pgs. 641-654 [focus on sonnets by Brooks, Wordsworth, Millay, and Shakespeare]

3/26 (W): Internal Form: The Ode, Elegy, & Pastoral Reading: “The Ode” from The Making of Poem [BB] [Discussion Focus: Shelley, “Ode to the West Wind”; Simic, “Miracle Glass Co.”; Harjo, “Perhaps the World Ends Here”]

3/28 (F): Reading: (1) “The Elegy” from The Making of a Poem [BB]; (2) Bb: Howe, “What the Living Do” [Discussion Focus: Whitman, “O Captain! My Captain!”; Bidart, “To the Dead”; Howe, “What the Living Do”] Blackboard Quiz #8 due before class

WEEK TWELVE

3/31 (M): Reading: “The Pastoral” from The Making of Poem [BB]

4/2 (W): Prose Poetry Reading: (1) “Story About the Body” by Robert Hass; (2) “Be Drunk” by Charles Baudelaire [BB]; (3) “It Could Be a Bird” by Karen Volkman [BB]

4/4 (F): Poetry in Contemporary Culture Reading: (1) “Slow Dance” by Matthew Dickman; (2) “Winter Stars” by Larry Levis; “Town of Unspeakable Things” by Alison Seay [BB] Blackboard Quiz #9 due before class

WEEK THIRTEEN

4/7 (M): Introduction to Drama Reading: (1) “Trifles” [Norton pgs. 744-758]; (2) Lenses pgs. 30-35

4/9 (W): Reading: (1) A Doll’s House Act I [Norton pgs. 821-843]; (2) “Character” [Norton pgs. 809-811]

4/11 (F): Reading: (1) A Doll’s House Act II [Norton pgs. 843-860]; (2) “Plot” [Norton pgs. 812-814] Blackboard Quiz #10 due before class

WEEK FOURTEEN

4/14 (M): Reading: (1) A Doll’s House Act III [Norton pgs. 860-876]; (2) “States, Sets, and Setting” [Norton pgs. 814-817]

4/16 (W): PEER REVIEW FOR LITERARY ANALYSIS

4/18 (F): SPRING HOLIDAY

WEEK FIFTEEN

4/21 (M): LITERARY ANALYSIS DUE! Reading: (1) The Piano Lesson by August Wilson [Norton pgs. 879-896]; (2) “Tone, Language, and Symbol [Norton pgs. 818-819]

4/23 (W): Reading: (1) The Piano Lesson by August Wilson [Norton pgs. 896-928]; (2) “Theme” [Norton pgs. 820-821]

4/25 (F): Reading: (1) The Piano Lesson by August Wilson [Norton pgs. 929-946]; (2) Lenses pgs. 53-60 Blackboard Quiz #11 due before class

WEEK SIXTEEN

4/28 (M): Reading: (1) Larry David, Excerpt from “The Pitch” episode of Seinfeld [BB]

4/29 (T): FINAL EXAM REVIEW

WEEK SEVENTEEN

5/5 (M): FINAL EXAM 8:00-11:00 A.M.