NATIONAL OPEN UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA SCHOOL OF ARTS AND SOCIAL SCIENCES COURSE CODE: ENG 181 COURSE TITLE: INTRODUCTION TO PROSE FICTION COURSE GUIDE ENG 181 INTRODUCTION TO PROSE FICTION Course Team Dr. OnyekaIwuchukwu (Developer) – NOUN Dr. OnyekaIwuchukwu (Writer) –NOUN Professor Abdul R. Yesufu (Editor) –NOUN Dr. I. Omolara Daniel (Programme Leader) – NOUN Dr. OnyekaIwuchukwu (Course Coordinator) – NOUN 1 2 National Open University of Nigeria Headquarters 14/16 Ahmadu Bello Way Victoria Island Lagos Abuja Annex 5 Dar es Salam Street Off Aminu Kano Crescent Wuse 2 Abuja E-mail: [email protected] URL:www.nou.edu.ng National Open University of Nigeria 2010 First Printed 2010 3 ISBN 978………………….. ALL RGHTS RESERVED Printed by………………………………. For National Open University of Nigeria 4 TABLE OF CONTENTS Pages Introduction…………………………………………………………………….. 5 Course Aims…………………………………………………………………… 5 Course Objectives………………………………………………………………. 5 Working through the Course……………………………………………………. 6 Course Materials………………………………………………………………… 6 Study Units……………………………………………………………………….. 6 Assessment………………………………………………………………………. 7 Tutor-Marked Assignment (TMA)………………………………………………. 7 Final Examination and Grading …………………………………………………. 8 Course Marking Scheme…………………………………………………………. 8 Presentation Schedule……………………………………………………………. 8 Course Overview …………………….……………………………………………. 8 How to get the most from this course……………………………………………… 9 Tutors and Tutorials…………………………………………………………………11 Summary…………………………………………………………………………….11 5 INTRODUCTION Welcome to ENG 181: INTRODUCTION TO PROSE FICTION ENG 181: Introduction to Prose Fiction is a 2 credit one semester undergraduate course. It comprises 15 study units subdivided into 3 modules. The materials have been developed to introduce the students to prose fiction which is a genre of literature. This course guide gives you an overview of the course and also provides you with information on the organisation and requirements of the course. 6 The course introduces you to the origin, development and the major elements of prose fiction. Some representative texts have been analysed to highlight some of the characteristics of prose fiction. The texts were also chosen to reflect the different types of prose fiction. Course Aim a. To expose students to the concept of Prose Fiction b. To acquaint the students with the origin and development of Prose Fiction c. To acquaint students with the idea of textual analysis of Prose Fiction Course Objectives To achieve the aims above, we have some overall objectives. Each unit also has the objectives that will guide you in your study. They are usually stated at the beginning of the unit and when you are through with studying the units, go back and read the objectives. This would help you assimilate the task you have set out to achieve. Also, you need to buy the textbooks and read them. On completion of the course, you should be able to: a. Trace the origin of Prose Fiction; b. Trace the evolution of Prose Fiction. c. Discuss the major phases in the development of Prose Fiction d. Discuss the major elements of Prose Fiction. e. Explain the major thematic thrusts of the selected texts. f. Analyse at least a short story. Working through this Course To complete the course, you are required to read the study units and other related materials. You will also need to undertake practical exercise for which you need a pen, a notebook, and other materials that will be listed in this guide. The exercises are to aid you in understanding the concepts being presented. At the end of each unit, you will be required to submit written assignments for assessment purposes. At the end of the course, you will write a final examination. Course Materials The major materials you will need for this course are: 1. Course guide 2. Study units 3. Relevant textbooks including the ones listed under each unit 4. Assignment file 5. Presentation schedule 7 Study Units There are 15 study units in this course as follows: Module I: What is Prose Fiction? Unit 1 – Definition /Meaning Unit 2 – Origins Unit 3 – Characteristics of Prose Fiction Unit 4 – Types of Prose Fiction Unit 5 – The Rise /Development of Prose Fiction Module II: Elements of Prose Fiction Unit 1 – Plot Unit 2 – Theme/ Subject Matter. Unit 3 – Characterisation Unit 4 – Setting. Unit 5 – Point of View. Unit 6 – Language. Module III: Textual analysis Unit 1 – The Short Story : Chinua Achebe’s “The Vengeful Creditor” Unit 2 - The Novella : Mariama Ba’s So Long a Letter Unit 3 – The English Novel: Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice Unit 4 – The African Novel: AyiKweiArmah’ The Beautyful Ones Are not Yet Born 8 Assignment File An assignment file and a marking scheme will be made available to you. In this file, you will find all the details of the work you must submit to your tutor for marking. The marks you obtain from these assignments will count towards the final mark you obtain for this course. Further information on assignments will be found in the assignments file itself and later in this Course Guide in the section on assessment. Tutor-Marked Assignment (TMAs) You will need to submit a specified number of the Tutor Marked Assignments (TMAs). Every unit in this course has a tutor-marked assignment. You will be assessed on four of them but the best four (that is, the highest four of the fifteen marks) will be counted. The total marks for the best three (3) assignments will be 30% of your total work. Assignment questions for the unit in this course are contained in the Assignment File. When you have completed each assignment, send it, together with the TMA (tutor-marked assignment) form to your tutor. Make sure each assignment reaches your tutor on or before the deadline for submission. If, for any reason, you cannot complete your work on time, contact your tutor to discuss the possibility of an extension. Extension will not be granted after due date unless under exceptional circumstances. Final Examination and Grading The final examination for ENG 181 will be of three hours’ duration. All areas of the course will be examined. Find time to read the units all over before your examination. The final examination will attract 70% of the total course grade. The examination will consist of questions which reflect the type of self-testing, practice exercises and tutor-marked assignments you have previously come across. All areas of the course will be assessed. You are advised to revise the entire course after studying the last unit before you sit for the examination. You will also find it useful to review your tutor-marked assignments and the comments of your tutor on them before the final examination. Course Marking Scheme The following table lays out how the actual course mark allocation is broken down. Assessment Marks 9 Assignments (Best three Assignments out of Four marked) = 30% Final Examination =70% Total =100% Presentation Schedule The dates for submission of all assignments will be communicated to you. You will also be told the date for completing the study units and dates for examinations. Course Overview This table brings together the units, the number of weeks you should take to complete them, and the assignments that follow each unit.. Unit Title of Work Assessment (End of Week’s Unit) Activity Course Guide 1 Module 1: What is Prose Fiction? 1 Definition/Meaning 2 Assignment 1 2 Origins 3 Assignment 2 3 Characteristics of Prose Fiction 4 Assignment 3 4 Types of Prose fiction 5 Assignment 4 5 The Rise and Development of Prose 6 Assignment 5 Fiction Module 2: Elements of Prose Fiction 1 Plot 7 Assignment 6 2 Theme/Subject Matter 8 Assignment 7 3 Characterisation 9 Assignment 8 10 4 Setting 10 Assignment 9 5 Point of View 11 Assignment 10 6 Language Module 3:Textual Analysis 1 The Short Story - Chinua Achebe’s “The 12 Assignment 11 Vengeful Creditor” 2 The Novella - Mariama Ba’s So Long A 13 Assignment 12 Letter 3 The English Novel – Jane Austen’s Pride 14 Assignment 13 and Prejudice 4 The African Novel – AyiKweiArmah’s the 15 Assignment 14 Beautyful Ones Are Noy Yet Born How to get the most from this Course In distance learning the study units replace the lecturer. This is one of the advantages of distance learning; you can read and work through specially designed study materials at your own pace, and at a time and place that suits you best. Think of it as reading the lecturer instead of listening to a lecturer. In the same way that a lecturer might give you some reading to do, the study units tell you when to read your set books or other materials. Just as a lecturer might give you an in-class exercise, your study units provide exercises for you to do at appropriate points. Each of the study units follows a common format. The first item is an introduction to the subject matter of the unit and how a particular unit is integrated with the other units and the course as a whole. Next is a set of learning objectives. If you make a habit of doing this, you will significantly improve your chances of passing the course. The main body of the unit guides you through the required reading from other sources. This will usually be either from your set books or from your course guides. The following is a practical strategy for working through the course. If you encounter any difficulty, telephone your tutor. Remember that your tutor’s job is to help you. When you need assistance, do not hesitate to call and ask your tutor to provide it. Follow the following advice carefully: 1. Read this Course Guide thoroughly, it is your first assignment 2. Organisea study schedule. Refer to the “Course Overview” for more details. Note the time you are expected to spend in each unit and how the assignments relate to the units.