| Dr. Alex E. Blazer | Course Site | Assignments | Description |
| Materials | Assignments | Policies | Schedule |
Coming of Age / Coming of Anxiety
English 310: Writing about Literature, Fall 2004
Section 02 MWF 1:00-1:50PM, Bingham Humanities Bldg 104
Section 75 MW 5:30-6:45PM, Bingham Humanities Bldg 104
| Professor: Alex E. Blazer | Office: Bingham Humanities Bldg 335A |
| Mailbox: Bingham Humanities Bldg 315 | Office Hours: MW 2:00-3:00PM |
| Email: alex.blazer@louisville.edu | Office Phone: 852-2185 |
| Web: www.louisville.edu/~a0blaz01/ | Departmental Phone: 852-6801 |
He did not want to play. He wanted to meet in the real world the unsubstantial image which his soul so constantly beheld. —James Joyce, A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man |
When one comes of age, one comes into anxiety. But what is anxiety? Where does it come from? What does it do to us? In this course we will read coming of age literature by inquiring into the anxieties that produce it. We will learn how to critically write about literature by analytically reading the literature of anxiety. We will read the six major genres of literature—poetry, short story, novel, drama, film, and television—in order to see how the symptomatic techniques of literature—such as characterization, setting, plot, and point of view—can be interpreted to reveal the psychological truths, the core conflicts, and the thematic kernel of anxiety associated with coming of age. We will answer study questions and read scholarly criticism to prepare us to write three formal papers, which will allow us to dig successively deeper into each work; and we'll do a group project in which we'll teach the rest of the class a new work of literature. Note that this course fulfills a General Education Writing (WR) requirement and is graded on a plus and minus letter grade scale.
required
Hill, Selima, Bunny (online)
Joyce, James, A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man, Bedford/St. Martin's edition only
Roberts, Edgar V., Writing about Literature, 10th ed.
Shakespeare, William, Hamlet, Bedford/St. Martin's edition only
course packet (online)
Carter, Angela, "The Company of Wolves"
Rilke, Rainer Maria, poems
Plath, Sylvia, poems
Assignments and Grade Distribution
informal writing, 20%
Informal writing is comprised of 1) responses to the reading and 2) responses to the first drafts of your peers' papers. 1) Approximately once per text, in class and/or out, 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. 2) Groups of 3-4 will respond to their peers' papers.
paper 1, 10%
In the first paper of 500-750 words or 2-3 pages, you will rigorously analyze a key passage of a literary work, for example, how it highlights the core conflicts and themes of the text.
paper 2, 20%
In the second paper of 1000-1250 words or 4-5 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 1500-2000 words or 6-8 pages, you will interpret a literary work of your choice, using 3-4 works of scholarly criticism to support your analysis.
group project, 20%
4 groups of 4-5 members will analyze, research, and then teach the class a work of literature of their choice via audiovisual presentation and/or website. Among the 4 groups each genre will be covered (poetry, drama, prose, film).
Office Hours
I encourage you to stop by my office hours to discuss any aspect of the course, literature, or life. I'm happy to answer small questions such as due dates over email, but I prefer face-to-face conversations for more substantive topics like papers and exams. I don't regularly check my email on weekends.
Class Participation
We're going to be working with challenging works of literature; therefore, we'll all benefit from sharing our questions and ideas. A bit of an internet addict myself, I recognize that the computers can be quite tempting; however, refrain from using them during class lecture and discussion. Finally, if I feel that the majority of the class isn't participating because they're not keeping up with the reading, I will give a pop quiz, which will factor into your informal writing grade.
Attendance
There will be a one letter final grade deduction for every absence beyond four days. If you miss five days, you can only earn a B, at best, in the course; if you miss eight days, you will automatically fail the course.
Late Assignments
There will be a one-letter grade deduction per day (not class period) for any assignment that is turned in late.
Plagiarism
Don't do it. Using someone else's words, ideas, or work without proper citation and representing it as your own is the most serious of academic offenses. See the Code of Student Rights and Responsibilities, Sections 5 and 6 on page 17 of the 2004-2006 Undergraduate Catalog for further information. Proven plagiarism can result in a failing grade for the assignment or the course and will be reported to the Dean of the College for further action, which can include notice in the permanent record, dismissal, or expulsion.
Blackboard and Netmail
We'll be using Blackboard and email to collect and return assignments. You can review the Blackboard student manual and student login instructions for Blackboard and Netmail at Blackboard @ UofL.
Disabilities Resource Center
If you have any specific needs or concerns, please feel free to discuss the issue with me outside of class. Contact the Disabilities Resource Center (Robbins Hall, 852-6938) for information and auxiliary aid.
Writing Center
The Writing Center (Ekstrom Library, Room 312, 852-2173) provides drop-in assistance for planning, drafting, revising, and editing papers.
This schedule is subject to change, so listen in class and check online for possible revisions.
Section 75 MW 5:30-6:45PM [Scroll down for Section 02 MWF 1:00-1:50PM]
Rilke, "Duration of Childhood" (online) |
||
Carter, "The Company of Wolves" " (online) Roberts, Ch1 (preliminary) |
||
Joyce, A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man Roberts, Ch4 (character) In Class Activity: The Conflict and Character of Stephen Dedalus |
||
Joyce, continued Roberts, Ch7 (setting) |
||
| No Class: Labor Day | ||
Joyce, criticism Roberts, Ch8 (idea and theme) |
||
Joyce, criticism continued |
||
Shakespeare, Hamlet Roberts, Ch5 (point of view) Roberts, Ch6 (plot and structure) |
||
Shakespeare, continued Roberts, Ch10 (symbolism and allusions) |
||
Shakespeare, criticism |
||
|
Shakespeare, criticism continued Roberts, Ch16 (film) film screening: Donnie Darko (Richard Kelly, 2001) |
|
|
film screening: Donnie Darko |
||
Donnie Darko, criticism |
||
Group Projects Assigned |
||
| No Class: Mid-term Break | ||
television screening: Buffy the Vampire Slayer, "Blood Ties" |
||
Buffy the Vampire Slayer, criticism |
||
Plath, poems and criticism Roberts, Ch11 (tone) |
||
Plath, continued Roberts, Ch9 (metaphors and similes) |
||
Hill, Bunny (online) Roberts, Ch13 (poetic form) |
||
Hill, continued |
||
Literary Research Methods Tutorial Roberts, Ch18 (research essay) |
||
| Paper 2 Peer Response Due | ||
Netscape Navigator Tutorial |
||
Microsoft Powerpoint Tutorial |
||
Individual Conferences for Paper 3 Lab Time for Group Presentations |
||
Individual Conferences for Paper 3 Lab Time for Group Presentations |
||
| No Class: Thanksgiving Break | ||
|
Twain, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Kipling |
||
|
Lynch, Mulholland Dr. Williams, A Streetcar Named Desire |
||
| No Class: Reading Day | ||
| No Class: Reading Day | ||
This schedule is subject to change, so listen in class and check online for possible revisions.
Section 02 MWF 1:00-1:50PM [Scroll up for Section 75 MW 5:30-6:45PM]
Rilke, "Duration of Childhood" " (online) |
||
Carter, "The Company of Wolves" " (online) Roberts, Ch1 (preliminary) |
||
| Carter, continued | ||
Joyce, A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man Roberts, Ch4 (character) In Class Activity: The Conflict and Character of Stephen Dedalus |
||
Joyce, continued Roberts, Ch7 (setting) |
||
| Joyce, continued | ||
| No Class: Labor Day | ||
Joyce, criticism Roberts, Ch8 (idea and theme) |
||
| Joyce, criticism continued | ||
Joyce, criticism continued |
||
Shakespeare, Hamlet Roberts, Ch5 (point of view) |
||
Shakespeare, continued Roberts, Ch6 (plot and structure) |
||
Shakespeare, continued |
||
Roberts, Ch10 (symbolism and allusions) Shakespeare, criticism |
||
| Shakespeare, criticism continued | ||
|
Shakespeare, criticism continued Roberts, Ch16 (film) film screening: Donnie Darko (Richard Kelly, 2001) |
|
film screening: Donnie Darko |
||
film screening: Donnie Darko |
||
Donnie Darko, criticism |
||
Group Projects Assigned |
||
| Peer Response, continued | ||
| No Class: Mid-term Break | ||
television screening: Buffy the Vampire Slayer, "Blood Ties" |
||
| Buffy the Vampire Slayer discussion | ||
Buffy the Vampire Slayer, criticism |
||
Plath, poems and criticism Roberts, Ch11 (tone) |
||
| Plath, continued | ||
Plath, continued Roberts, Ch9 (metaphors and similes) |
||
Hill, Bunny (online) Roberts, Ch13 (poetic form) |
||
| No Class: Professor at Conference | ||
Hill, continued |
||
Literary Research Methods Tutorial Roberts, Ch18 (research essay) |
||
| Literary Research continued | ||
| Paper 2 Peer Response Due | ||
Netscape Navigator Tutorial |
||
| Lab Time for Group Presentations | ||
Microsoft Powerpoint Tutorial |
||
Individual Conferences for Paper 3 Lab Time for Group Presentations |
||
Individual Conferences for Paper 3 Lab Time for Group Presentations |
||
Individual Conferences for Paper 3 Lab Time for Group Presentations |
||
| No Class: Thanksgiving Break | ||
| No Class: Thanksgiving Break | ||
|
Ellis, Less Than Zero Williams, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof |
||
|
Poe |
||
|
Friedkin, The Exorcist |
||
| No Class: Reading Day | ||
| No Class: Reading Day | ||
| No Class: Reading Day | ||
Finals |
M, 12-13 |
Paper 3 Due by 8:00PM |