Syllabus
English 2200 Writing about Literature, Spring 2021
TR 9:30-10:45 a.m., Online
Dr. Alex E. Blazer
478.445.0964
Office Hours: TR 12:30-1:45 p.m. and 5:00-5:30 p.m. by appointment
The undergraduate course catalog describes English 2200 as "A course emphasizing theory and practice in writing literary analysis and practical criticism." While the course in the core curriculum, English 1102, teaches students how to analyze and write about three traditional literary genres—poetry, fiction, and drama—this course in the literature major also includes three contemporary genres—graphic literature, film, and television. In this section, we will learn to interpret both canonical literature and critically acclaimed works from the past two years. 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 teach the rest of the class a new work of literature. Note that this course's prerequisite is English 1102.
required textbooks (Amazon or GCSU Bookstore)
Brown, The Tradition
Drury, Fairview
Ferris, My Favorite Thing Is Monsters
Gardner and Diaz, Reading and Writing about Literature, 5th ed.
Powers, The Overstory
required articles (GeorgiaVIEW)
required film and television (JustWatch)
Un Chien Andalou
Contempt
Dragnet, "The Big LSD" (Season 1, Episode 1)
The End of the F***ing World, Episode 1 (Season 1, Episode 1)
First Cow
Fleabag, Episode 1 (Season 1, Episode 1)
Leave It to Beaver, "Beaver Gets 'Spelled" (Season 1, Episode 1)
Watchmen, "This Extraordinary Being" (Season 1, Episode 6)
recommended textbook (Amazon)
Gibaldi, MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers, 8th ed.
Assignments and Grade Distribution
close reading paper (poetry or fiction explication), 20%
In a 4-6 page close reading paper, you will explicate a short poem or passage from a work of fiction.
idea and significance paper (graphic literature or drama theme), 20%
In a 4-6 page idea and significance paper, you will interpret the theme and argue the significance of a work of drama or graphic literature.
summary and evaluation paper (film review or television recap), 20%
In a 4-6 page summary and evaluation paper, you will review a film or recap a television episode.
group project, 20%
You will work in groups of 3-4 members to research and teach a canonical work of literature from one of the six genres covered in class (poetry, fiction, drama, graphic literature, film, and television).
research paper, 20%
You will compose an 7-10 page research paper, either by revising a previous paper with newly incorporated secondary sources or composing a paper from your group project work. Here's how to calculate your final grade.
Technology
We will use the course site for the syllabus schedule and assignment prompts; supporting documents include an attendance record, a course grade calculation spreadsheet, FAQ, a GeorgiaVIEW walkthrough, a guide to literary analysis, a research methods guide, and paper templates. We will use GeorgiaVIEW for assignment submission and the course packet; if you experience technical issues with GeorgiaVIEW, contact the Center for Teaching and Learning at ctl@gcsu.edu or 478.445.2520. We will use Zoom for large class discussions and small group activities during the scheduled class time. Check your university email for course-related messages. Use an online backup or cloud storage service to not only save but also archive versions of your work in case of personal computer calamities.
Attendance
Our course includes three kinds of participation: making a comment or asking a question in the large class lectures and discussions conducted virtually over Zoom during the scheduled meeting time, active engagement in small group activities conducted virtually over Zoom during the scheduled meeting time, and 100-200 word posts in the GeorgiaVIEW discussion board that respond to assigned reading outside of the scheduled class time yet by Sunday of the week in which the questions were posted. Each week with two meeting days, you are required to participate twice: attend 1 or 2 Zoom sessions and submit 0 or 1 discussion posts. Each week with one meeting day, you are required to participate once: either attend a Zoom session or submit a discussion post. If you do not turn on your Zoom video, or if you do not fulfill the minimum participation in a given week, then your weekly participation is considered zero. You can receive two zeros without penalty. However, for each week of below minimum participation beyond two, you will receive a one-third letter grade deduction on your final course grade. You can check your attendance here.
MLA Style and Length Requirements
Part of writing in a discipline is adhering to the field's style guide. While other disciplines use APA or Chicago style, literature and composition follows MLA style. Assignments such as in-class exams, discussion board responses, informal/journal writing, and peer review may be informally formatted; however, formal assignments and take-home exams must employ MLA style. 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) margins, header, and heading, 2) font, font size, and line-spacing, and 3) quotation and citation format. A formal paper or take-home exam will be penalized one-third of a letter grade if it does not end at least halfway down on the minimum page length (not including Works Cited page) while implementing 12 pt Times New Roman font, double-spacing, and 1" margins. Each additional page short of the minimum requirement will result in an a additional one-third letter grade penalty. Before you turn in a formal paper, make sure your work follows MLA style by referring to the MLA style checklist. Feel free to use these templates that are preformatted to MLA style.
Late Assignments
We're all busy with multiple classes and commitments, and adhering to deadlines is critical for the smooth running of the course. There will be a one letter assignment grade deduction per day (not class period) for any assignment that is turned in late. I give short extensions if you request one for a valid need 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. Because your completion of this course's major learning outcomes depends on the completion of pertinent assignments, failing to submit an assignment that is worth 15% or more of the course grade within five days of its due date may result in failure of the course. Failing to submit a final exam or final paper within two days of its due date may result in failure of the course.
Academic Honesty
The integrity of students and their written and oral work is a critical component of the academic process. 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." The Undergraduate Catalog and Graduate Catalog define academic dishonesty as "Plagiarizing, including the submission of others’ ideas or papers (whether purchased, borrowed, or otherwise obtained) as one’s own. When direct quotations are used in themes, essays, term papers, tests, book reviews, and other similar work, they must be indicated; and when the ideas of another are incorporated in any paper, they must be acknowledged, according to a style of documentation appropriate to the discipline" and "Submitting, if contrary to the rules of a course, work previously presented in another course," among other false representations. As plagiarism is not tolerated at GCSU, "since the primary goal of education is to increase one's own knowledge," any student found guilty of substantial, willful plagiarism or dishonesty may fail the assignment and the course. This course uses plagiarism prevention technology from TurnItIn. The papers may be retained by the service for the sole purpose of checking for plagiarized content in future student submissions.
Passing or Failing of the Course
There are three ways to fail the course: failing to regularly participate in class, plagiarizing, 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 participate, complete their work with academic integrity, and submit assignments on time will pass the course. You can calculate your final course grade here.
Writing Center
Writing consultants will work with any student writer working on any project in any discipline. To learn more about Writing Center locations, hours, scheduling and services, please go to https://www.gcsu.edu/writingcenter. If you have questions about the Writing
Center, send an email to writing.center@gcsu.edu.
Required Syllabus Statements
Additional statements regarding COVID-19, Religious Observance Policy, Assistance for Student Needs Related to Disability, Student Rating of Instruction Survey, Academic Honesty, Student Use of Copyrighted Materials, Electronic Recording Policy, Academic Grievance or Appeals, and Fire Drills can be found here.
Recommended COVID-19 Links
BOR Management of Risk details University System of Georgia policy regarding exposure of students, employees, or others to unsafe environments or activities. BOR Code of Conduct maintains that University System of Georgia employees will protect human health and safety. GC COVID-19 Reporting & Confirmed Cases lists the number of infections reported by faculty, staff, and students. DPH County Indicator Reports provides weekly test positivity rates for Baldwin County. COVID-19 Event Risk Assessment Planning Tool calculates the probability of an infected person attending a gathering of 10, 15, 20, or 25 people in a given county. Pandemics Explained COVID-19 Risk Levels provides recommendations for local governments regarding contact tracing and stay-at-home orders based on level of containment or spread in a state or region.
- Texts without links are textbooks available for purchase at a bookstore. Texts marked GeorgiaVIEW are available in the course packet. Locate films and television episodes using JustWatch.
- This schedule is subject to change, so check back in class and online for possible revisions.
First Day Reading |
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Canonical Poetry Cullen, "Threnody for a Brown Girl" (GeorgiaVIEW) Dickinson, [A not admitting of the wound] (GeorgiaVIEW) H. D., "Sheltered Garden" (GeorgiaVIEW) Stevens, "The Man on the Dump" (GeorgiaVIEW) Williams, "The Crowd at the Ball Game" (GeorgiaVIEW) Gardner, 1 Introduction to Reading and Writing about Literature (Gardner 1-5) (GeorgiaVIEW) |
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Contemporary Poetry Bidart, "Mourning What We Thought We Were" (GeorgiaVIEW) Smith, "Incendiary Art" (GeorgiaVIEW) Stallings, "Pencil" (GeorgiaVIEW) Vuong, "Partly True Poem Reflected in a Mirror" (GeorgiaVIEW) Gardner, 2 The Role of Good Reading (Gardner 6-23) (GeorgiaVIEW) |
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Poetry Collection Brown, The Tradition, Part I (Brown 1-24) Gardner, 6 Writing about Poems (Gardner 106-119) |
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Poetry Collection Brown, The Tradition, Parts II and III (Brown 25-77) |
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Canonical and Contemporary Short Stories O'Connor, "Parker's Back" (GeorgiaVIEW) Wilson, "Kennedy" (GeorgiaVIEW) Gardner, 5 Writing about Stories (Gardner 82-105) |
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Contemporary Novel Powers, The Overstory, Roots (Powers 1-152) Gardner, 3 The Writing Process (Gardner 24-51) |
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Contemporary Novel Powers, The Overstory, Trunk (Powers 153-352) |
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No Class: Family Medical Emergency |
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Writing and Conferencing Day |
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Peer Response Day |
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Contemporary Novel Powers, The Overstory, Crown-Seeds (Powers 353-502) Gardner, 4 Common Writing Assignments (Gardner 52-81) Recommended: Bookworm, "Richard Powers: The Overstory" |
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Graphic Literature Eisner, "A Contract with God" (GeorgiaVIEW) Barnet, "Graphic Fiction" (GeorgiaVIEW) |
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Graphic Literature Ferris, My Favorite Thing Is Monsters (first half, to Lynch's True Terror Tales) |
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Graphic Literature Ferris, My Favorite Thing Is Monsters (second half, to end) Small Group Activity: From Conflict and Theme to Idea and Significance Recommended: Bookworm, "Emil Ferris: My Favorite Thing Is Monsters" Recommended: Fresh Air, "Emil Ferris" |
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Classic and Contemporary Drama Glaspell, "Trifles" (Gardner 123-34) Ionesco, "The Lesson" (GeorgiaVIEW) Gardner, 7 Writing about Plays (Gardner 120-38) |
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Contemporary Drama Drury, Fairview (Drury 1-106) Small Group Activity: Developing an Idea and Significance Thesis |
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Writing and Conferencing Day |
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Classic Film Un Chien Andalou (Buñuel, 1929, 16 min) (Archive or JustWatch) Corrigan, "Film Terms and Topics for Film Analysis and Writing" (GeorgiaVIEW) |
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Classic Film Contempt (Godard, 1963, 103 min) (JustWatch) |
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First Cow (Reichardt, 2019, 122 min) (JustWatch) Gardner, 8 Writing a Literary Research Paper (Gardner 139-72) |
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Classic Television Dragnet, "The Big LSD" (Season 1, Episode 1) (JustWatch or YouTube) Leave It to Beaver, "Beaver Gets 'Spelled" (Season 1, Episode 1) (JustWatch or YouTube) O'Donnell, "Television Style" (GeorgiaVIEW) |
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The End of the F***ing World, Episode 1 (Season 1, Episode 1) (JustWatch) Fleabag, Episode 1 (Season 1, Episode 1) (JustWatch) Small Group Activity: Developing a Summary and Evaluation Thesis |
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Contemporary Television Watchmen, "This Extraordinary Being" (Season 1, Episode 6) (JustWatch) Gardner, 9 Literary Criticism and Literary Theory (Gardner 173-86) |
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Writing and Conferencing Day |
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