Syllabus

English 2200: Writing about Literature, Spring 2009

Section 01 (CRN 20246): TR 2:00-3:15PM, Arts & Sciences 351B

Section 02 (CRN 21432): MW 3:30-4:45PM, Arts & Sciences 236

Professor: Dr. Alex E. Blazer

Phone: 478.445.0964

Office: Arts & Sciences 3-30

Email: alex.blazer@gcsu.edu

Office Hours: MW 2:30-3:20PM,

TR 1:00-1:50PM, and by appt

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

Course Description

The daughter who transports him out of the longed-for American pastoral and into everything that is its antithesis and its enemy, into the fury, the violence, and the desperation of the counterpastoral—into the indigenous American berserk.

—Philip Roth, American Pastoral

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 genres—short story, novel, drama, poetry, and film.We will see how the techniques of literature—such as characterization, setting, plot, and point of view—can be interpreted to reveal core psycho-existential conflicts of the human condition. This course's Academic Assessment page describes our topics:

The interpretation and critical analysis of a variety of literary works;
The methods for locating appropriate secondary sources;
The development of a critical essay that uses one or more secondary sources as the theoretical basis for a thesis or as evidence in the argument;
The development of a full-length research paper that incorporates the thoughtful and appropriate use of secondary sources as theoretical foundations or evidence.

as well as course outcomes:

Students will be able to discuss a variety of literary works within a theoretical framework;
Students will be able to write coherent, consistent critical essays incorporating secondary works on a variety of literary works;
Students will be able to write coherent, well-developed research papers incorporating a full sample of relevant secondary sources.

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)

Roth, American Pastoral

Schakel and Ridl, eds., Approaching Literature, 2nd ed.

required (online)

various stories and articles

recommended (GCSU Bookstore or Amazon.com)

Gibaldi, MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers, 6th ed. (7th ed. forthcoming in April)

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, 20%

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, 25%

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, 10%

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, TurnItIn, and Student Email

We will be using GeorgiaVIEW and TurnItIn.com for assignments and GCSU email for class communication. It is your responsibility to learn GeorgiaView as well as to check your university email for possible course related messages.

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, consistently leaving class early, texting, and surfing the internet will be treated as absences. Excuses like work, family, and scheduled doctor's appointments will be declined. The only acceptable 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/SafeAssign.

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 January 14. The last day to drop a course without fee penalty is January 16. The last day to withdraw without academic penalty (unless previously assigned an F by professor for absences) is March 9.

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 3:30-4:45PM]

Week 1	T, 1-13	Introductions Addonizio, "The First Line is the Deepest" (online)
Week 1	R, 1-15	O'Connor, "A Good Man Is Hard to Find" (455-66) Oates, "Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?" (81-93) Schakel and Ridl, Ch 1 Reading Literature (1-20) Schakel and Ridl, Ch 3 Reading Fiction (55-59)
Week 2	T, 1-20	Gass, "Order of Insects" (online) Updike, "A & P" (529-33)
Week 2	R, 1-22	Joyce, "Araby" (393-6) Carver, "What We Talk about When We Talk about Love" (337-46) Schakel and Ridl, Ch 4 Plot and Character (60-97) Text Selection Survey Due (Selected Reading) Informal Writing 1 Due
Week 3	T, 1-27	Alexie, "An Author in Depth" (251-91) Schakel and Ridl, Ch 5 Point of View and Theme (98-134)
Week 3	R, 1-29	Murakami, "Birthday Girl" (445-54) Munro, "Child's Play" (online) Schakel and Ridl, Ch 6 Setting and Symbol (135-194) Informal Writing 2 Due
Week 4	T, 2-3	Michael Joyce, Twelve Blue Schakel and Ridl, Ch 2 Writing in Response to Literature (21-50) MLA Style
Week 4	R, 2-5	Roth, American Pastoral Schakel and Ridl, Ch 8 Writing about Fiction (233-50) In Class Activity: The Most Important Passages Informal Writing 3 Due
Week 5	T, 2-10	Roth, continued Schakel and Ridl, Ch 7 Style, Tone, and Irony Paper 1 Draft 1 Due
Week 5	R, 2-12	Roth, criticism (online) Informal Writing 4 To Be Written in Class
Week 6	T, 2-17	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)**
Week 6	R, 2-19	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, 2-24	various poems, part one Schakel and Ridl, Ch 11 Reading Poetry (541-5) Schakel and Ridl, Ch 12 Words and Images (546-69) Group Presentation Sign Up Paper 1 Draft 2 Due
Week 7	R, 2-26	various poems, part two Schakel and Ridl, Ch 13 Voice, Tone, and Sound (570-99)
Week 8	T, 3-3	Carruth, Contra Mortem, from For You (online) Schakel and Ridl, Ch 14 Form and Type (600-30) Group Project: Individual List of Possible Works Due
Week 8	R, 3-5	Carruth, continued Schakel and Ridl, Ch 15 Figurative Language (631-54) In Class Activity: Reading a Book of Poetry
Week 9	T, 3-10	Olds, Satan Says (online) Schakel and Ridl, Ch 16 Rhythm and Meter (655-74)
Week 9	R, 3-12	Olds, continued Schakel and Ridl, Ch 17 Writing about Poetry (675-90) In Class Activity: Reading a Book of Poetry
Week 10	T, 3-17	Miller, Death of a Salesman (1316-86) Schakel and Ridl, Ch 20 Reading Drama (907-912) Schakel and Ridl, Ch 21 Character, Conflict, and Dramatic Action (931-32) Schakel and Ridl, Ch 22 Setting and Structure (933-63)
Week 10	R, 3-19	play, continued Schakel and Ridl, Ch 23 Theaters and Their Influence (964-84) Schakel and Ridl, Ch 24 Dramatic Types and Their Effects (985-1007) Schakel and Ridl, Ch 25 Writing about Drama (1008-1023) Informal Writing 5 To Be Written in Class Film Selection Survey Due
Week 11	T, 3-24	No Class: Spring Break
Week 11	R, 3-26	No Class: Spring Break
Week 12	T, 3-31	Shakespeare, Hamlet (1151-1262) theoretical approaches (online) Informal Writing 6 To Be Written in Class
Week 12	R, 4-2	Shakespeare, criticism (online) In Class Activity: Putting Theory into Practice II: Criticism Literary Research Methods Group Project: Individual Informal Response Due Paper 2 Draft 1 Due
Week 13	T, 4-7	Film Screening: Psycho (Hitchcock, 1960, 109min) (transcript)
Week 13	R, 4-9	Film Screening: Psycho, continued Group Project: Individual List of Sources Due Paper 2 Peer Response Due (All Groups)
Week 14	T, 4-14	Psycho, discussion Paper 2 Draft 2 Due (Optional)
Week 14	R, 4-16	Psycho, criticism (online) Group Project: Individual Annotations Due
Week 15	T, 4-21	Individual Conference regarding Paper 3 Group Projects meeting time Paper 3 Thesis and Sources Due
Week 15	R, 4-23	Individual Conference regarding Paper 3 Group Projects meeting time
Week 16	T, 4-28	Group Presentantations Rossetti, "Goblin Market" (online) Orwell, 1984 (online)
Week 16	R, 4-30	Group Presentations Rostand, Cyrano de Bergerac (online) Peter Weir, The Truman Show (online)
Finals	T, 5-5	Paper 3 Due

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

Section 2: MW 3:30-4:45PM

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

Week 1	M, 1-12	Introductions Addonizio, "The First Line is the Deepest" (online)
Week 1	W, 1-14	O'Connor, "A Good Man Is Hard to Find" (455-66) Oates, "Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?" (81-93) Schakel and Ridl, Ch 1 Reading Literature (1-20) Schakel and Ridl, Ch 3 Reading Fiction (55-59)
Week 2	M, 1-19	No Class: Martin Luther King Holiday
Week 2	W, 1-21	Joyce, "Araby" (393-6) Carver, "What We Talk about When We Talk about Love" (337-46) Schakel and Ridl, Ch 4 Plot and Character (60-97) Text Selection Survey Due (Selected Reading) Informal Writing 1 Due
Week 3	M, 1-26	Alexie, "An Author in Depth" (251-91) Schakel and Ridl, Ch 5 Point of View and Theme (98-134)
Week 3	W, 1-28	Murakami, "Birthday Girl" (445-54) Munro, "Child's Play" (online) Schakel and Ridl, Ch 6 Setting and Symbol (135-194) Informal Writing 2 Due
Week 4	M, 2-2	Michael Joyce, Twelve Blue Schakel and Ridl, Ch 2 Writing in Response to Literature (21-50) MLA Style
Week 4	W, 2-4	Roth, American Pastoral Schakel and Ridl, Ch 8 Writing about Fiction (233-50) In Class Activity: The Most Important Passages Informal Writing 3 Due
Week 5	M, 2-9	Roth, continued Schakel and Ridl, Ch 7 Style, Tone, and Irony Paper 1 Draft 1 Due
Week 5	W, 2-11	Roth, criticism (online) Informal Writing 4 To Be Written in Class
Week 6	M, 2-16	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)**
Week 6	W, 2-18	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, 2-23	various poems Schakel and Ridl, Ch 11 Reading Poetry (541-5) Schakel and Ridl, Ch 12 Words and Images (546-69) Group Presentation Sign Up Paper 1 Draft 2 Due
Week 7	W, 2-25	various poems, continued Schakel and Ridl, Ch 13 Voice, Tone, and Sound (570-99)
Week 8	M, 3-2	Carruth, Contra Mortem, from For You (online) Schakel and Ridl, Ch 14 Form and Type (600-30) Group Project: Individual List of Possible Works Due
Week 8	W, 3-4	Carruth, continued Schakel and Ridl, Ch 15 Figurative Language (631-54) In Class Activity: Reading a Book of Poetry
Week 9	M, 3-9	Olds, Satan Says (online) Schakel and Ridl, Ch 16 Rhythm and Meter (655-74)
Week 9	W, 3-11	Olds, continued Schakel and Ridl, Ch 17 Writing about Poetry (675-90) In Class Activity: Reading a Book of Poetry
Week 10	M, 3-16	Miller, Death of a Salesman (1316-86) Schakel and Ridl, Ch 20 Reading Drama (907-912) Schakel and Ridl, Ch 21 Character, Conflict, and Dramatic Action (931-32) Schakel and Ridl, Ch 22 Setting and Structure (933-63)
Week 10	W, 3-18	Miller, continued Schakel and Ridl, Ch 23 Theaters and Their Influence (964-84) Schakel and Ridl, Ch 24 Dramatic Types and Their Effects (985-1007) Schakel and Ridl, Ch 25 Writing about Drama (1008-1023) Informal Writing 5 To Be Written in Class Film Selection Survey Due
Week 11	M, 3-23	No Class: Spring Break
Week 11	W, 3-25	No Class: Spring Break
Week 12	M, 3-30	Shakespeare, Hamlet (1151-1262) theoretical approaches (online) Informal Writing 6 To Be Written in Class
Week 12	W, 4-1	Shakespeare, criticism (online) Literary Research Methods In Class Activity: Putting Theory into Practice II: Criticism Group Project: Individual Informal Response Due Paper 2 Draft 1 Due
Week 13	M, 4-6	Film Screening: Psycho (Hitchcock, 1960, 109min) (transcript) Paper 2 Peer Response Due (All Groups)
Week 13	W, 4-8	Film Screening: Psycho, continued Group Project: Individual List of Sources Due
Week 14	M, 4-13	Psycho, discussion Paper 2 Draft 2 Due (Optional)
Week 14	W, 4-15	Psycho, criticism (online) Group Project: Individual Annotations Due
Week 15	M, 4-20	Individual Conference regarding Paper 3 Group Projects meeting time Paper 3 Thesis and Sources Due
Week 15	W, 4-22	Individual Conference regarding Paper 3 Group Projects meeting time
Week 16	M, 4-27	Group Presentations Wilde, The Importance of Being Earnest (online) Mendes, American Beauty (online)
Week 16	W, 4-29	Group Presentations Rossetti, "Bride Song" (online) Atwood, "Siren Song" (online)
Finals	M, 5-4	Group Presentations Lahiri, "A Temporary Matter" (Schakel and Ridl 398-412) "Interpreter of Maladies" (online) and "Mrs. Sen's" (online)
Finals	F, 5-8	Paper 3 Due