Writing About Literature English 1118
Summer 2002

Office: MH 336
Phone: 285-7518
Hours: MWF: 8-9

Introduction

Catalog Description:

Composition II: Literary Interpretation and Analysis--This course emphasizes appreciating and understanding literature as well as writing critical analyses of poetry, fiction and drama. Students will demonstrate their ability to support interpretations using textual evidence.

Goals:

Beyond the general goals of all English classes to enhance your ability to read and write critically and intelligently, we will try to achieve the following specific goals:

1) to develop knowledge, understanding, and appreciation of imaginative literature (fiction, poetry, and drama).

2) to recognize and apply literary terms and concepts.

3) to demonstrate comprehension of literature through thoughtful oral and written discourse.

4) to learn the various methods of literary criticism.

and above all:

5) to find the reflection of life and the aesthetic pleasure from good literature, and to value it throughout one's life.

Required Text:

Literature: An Introduction to Fiction, Poetry, and Drama
by X.J. Kennedy and Dana Gioia, 8th ed., 2002

Reference Books:

You don't have to buy the following books. For those who have more time and energy to expand your horizon of study, you can consult and read the following books:

1) A Handbook to Literature by C. Hugh Holman and William Harmon; MacMillan.

2) Writing Themes about Literature by Edgar V. Roberts; Prentice Hall.

3) A Short Guide to Writing About Literature by Sylvan Barnet; HarperCollins.

4) Literary Theory Today by Peter Collier and Helga Geyer-Ryan; Cornell University Press.

5) Backgrounds of American Literary Thought by Rod W. Horton and Herbert W. Edwards; Pretice Hall.

6) The Educated Imagination by Northrop Frye

7) Literary Criticism, by Charles E. Bressler, 1998

Individual Goals and Pace of Study: I encourage you to let me know your individual goals and expectations of the course. At any point of the semester, if you feel that the class is not challenging enough for you or is progressing too fast for you, let me know. I will be happy to tailor some of the assignments to your ability (e.g. giving you more challenging assignments).

Requirements and Policies of the Course:

Papers: Two formal critical essays (double spaced, three each, with formal documentation--the MLA style), one on fiction and one on poetry, are due during the semester. Together they count for 50% of the final grade. You may also write a bonus paper on drama for extra credit.

The Reading Assignments: The key to the success of this course to read all the assignments carefully. You need to budget your time so that you can read ahead of the schedule. Check the syllabus for the assignments and their due dates.

The Reading Notes and Virtual Discussion: Regular reading notes (summaries, questions, comments, etc.) are essential to class discussion. You need to turn in a page of reading notes for each class. Together, they count for 20% of your final grade.

Portfolio: You need to keep all your reading notes, free writings, and drafts--anything you write for this class--in a portfolio and hand this in by the end of the semester. The portfolio counts for 10% of the final grade.

Oral Reports: Each person will give at least one oral report (on a story or a poem, five minutes) to the class; the oral report counts 10% of the final grade. You may choose to give a second report as an extra credit (on drama). The report may be on the author's biography, literary influence, other literary works, and your understanding and interpretation of the present work. It will be graded on a pass-fail basis.

Computer Lab: We will be doing quite a bit of virtual discussion for this class. You need to have a 3 1/2" computer disk. You don't have to have extensive knowledge of computers or internet to attend this class. We will learn the basics quickly.

Quizzes: Not necessary if the whole class reads carefully the reading assignments. I will add some quizzes if many of you do not read the assignments.

Class Participation: This is not a lecture class. Class participation in this course is extremely important and counts for 10% of the final grade. If you rarely participate in class discussion, your final grade will drop half a letter grade. Needless to say, you won't be able to contribute to class discussion without careful pre-class preparation. Check the syllabus before each class, pace yourself to finish all the reading assignments, and bring a card of questions to class.

Attendance: Not an option! You can miss two classes for emergency without penalty. Missing three classes, you may lose a letter grade unless you do additional work. And missing four or more classes, you may fail the class unless you make special arrangements with me to make up for the loss. (For the evening class) Missing three classes will result in lower grade, and missing four or more classes will result in failure.

Deadlines: Papers handed in after deadlines will be down-graded by a letter grade. Check the syllabus for deadlines.

Lateness: Please be courteous to other people in the class. Habitual lateness disrupts both the teaching and the studying of the teacher and the students, and will result in a reduction of the final grade. If you come in late, after I have taken the attendance, you need to let me know after class in order to change the absence.

Grades: Your course grade is cumulative, with the emphasis on your progress through the semester.

Plagiarism: "Kidnaping" someone else' idea or paper is a serious offence, for which you could fail the paper and the course immediately. To avoid plagiarism, you need to acknowledge your sources clearly in all your papers.

Disruptive Behaviors: Disruptive behaviors include (but not limited to) chatting, passing notes, eating noisy food, leaving classroom during a class (except for an emergency), and repeated lateness. For repeated offenses, you will be asked to leave the classroom and be withdrawn from the class.

Personal Conference: One of the best ways of learning is to talk to the instructor informally. I encourage you to see me either for a serious academic discussion or just for a chat. Your suggestions and comments about the course are most welcome and valued.