LIT 101-D:
Introduction to Literature
Fall 2008 MWF
1:25-2:20 Building 2 Room 17
Professor Sharran S. Slinkard
Office: 2-05U
Hours: Monday-Friday: 11:30-12:30
And
by appointment
Telephone: 964-6549 E-Mail: ssslinkard@dmacc.edu
Webpage: http://www.dmacc.edu/instructors/ssslinkard
Course Description: Introduction to the study and
appreciation of poetry, fiction, and drama. Basic critical approaches are
emphasized and a broad range of authors from a variety of cultural and ethnic
groups and wide span of historical periods are presented.
Texts and Materials:
1. Sound and Sense: An Introduction to Poetry
12th edition,
Thomas R. Arp & Greg Johnson.
2. The Art of the Short Story. Ed. Dana Gioia and R.S. Gwynn. Pearson/Longman, 2006.
3. Hamlet, William Shakespeare. Ed. Scott Douglass. The Harcourt Brace Casebook Series in Literature, 1998.
4. Pocket
folder, loose-leaf paper, stapler
Attendance and Participation: Regular attendance is required because it is critical to understanding material in this discussion-oriented course. Successful literature students come to class prepared: their reading is done and they are ready to engage in intelligent and lively discussion. Students' well thought-out opinions, relevant questions, and astute observations will make the course more valuable for everyone. Because this is a discussion-oriented class, all students are required to participate. If you do not attend class for any reason, you miss that day’s lecture and discussion. Head’s up: coming to class unprepared could result in dismissal from the day’s discussion. Because coming to class late creates a disturbance, two tardies equal one absence. The same holds for leaving class early.
Late Work:
Literature Assignments:
Academic Journal (60%):
Students will keep a three-phase academic journal containing written responses
based on our readings, lecture, and class discussions. Details are distributed
in class with the syllabus.
Due dates:
Poetry: September 22
Fiction: October 22
Drama: December 5—no late option
Papers (40%): In lieu of
comprehensive midterm and final exams, students will write two literary analysis papers averaging five-seven
pages in length. Papers must be typed, double-spaced in the MLA style, New
Courier size 12 font, and written in correct Standard
English. Details are distributed in class with the syllabus. Incorrect
formatting will result in grade penalty.
Due dates:
Fiction Paper: October 27
Drama Paper: December 8—no late option
Extra Credit: Students who come on time and attend every class
for each discussion unit will earn an additional 1/3 letter grade on their
academic journal.
A+ 100 B+ 89 C+ 79 D+ 69
A 96 B 86 C 76 D 66
A- 93 B- 83 C- 73 D- 63
F 50
0 no work done
Integrity and
Civility: Students are expected to be respectful, honest, and,
courteous. There are consequences for cheating, dishonesty, rudeness, etc. as
will be discussed in class. In other words, the manners of polite society apply
in the classroom.
Special Needs: It is the policy of
DMACC to accommodate students with disabilities. Any student with a documented disability who
requires reasonable accommodation should contact the special needs coordinator
at (515) 964-6850 voice or TTY (515) 964-6810.
Additional Assistance: I highly
recommend that students take advantage of the academic services available free
of charge. Successful students visit the
DMACC EMAIL: In the event of my absence, I will email students early in the morning, if not the evening before (emergencies notwithstanding). All DMACC students are assigned a DMACC email address. Accessing your DMACC email:
On the DMACC web page (www.dmacc.edu) click on the “Web mail” link in the upper right hand corner of the screen.
Enter your user name and password. For assistance, click on the Help Desk link to obtain your user name and student ID#. Your password is the last four digits of your Student ID#. For additional information, call (515-965-7300 or 1-800-362-2127 ext. 7300) or email (helpdesk@dmacc.edu) the Help Desk.
DISCLAIMER:
I reserve the right to change this syllabus at any time. Changes will be
announced in class. Any exceptions to stated policies and requirements will be
addressed on an individual basis and only for reasons that meet specific
requirements.
Reminder: Assignments are due for discussion the day they are listed in the schedule.
WEEK ONE: August 25, 27, 29
Monday: Introduction to the course.
Wednesday:
Getting acquainted. Please have all your
course materials with you. Reread the syllabus and bring your questions about
course requirements.
Friday: Discussion:
Before you begin reading, write a pre-reading journal entry responding to the
following questions, 1. What is literature? 2. Why
should one study literature? Your journal entries will form the basis of
today’s discussion.
WEEK TWO: September 1, 3, 5
Monday:
Wednesday: Read “Critical Approaches to Literature,” “Biographical Criticism,” and “Historical Criticism,” in The Art of the Short Story text. Provide a well developed journal entry for each of these brief readings, addressing how each critical approach will be useful in your study of literature. Students are responsible for this material, whether or not the class discusses all of the assignment.
Friday: Unit One: Poetry. Read Chapter One: What Is Poetry?, paying close attention to page 11. Prepare questions following “The Red Wheelbarrow.” Read “Formalist Criticism” (fiction text). Again, provide a journal entry for this brief reading, addressing how it will be useful in your study of literature.
WEEK THREE: September 8, 10, 12
Monday: Read Chapter Two: Reading the Poem. Prepare the questions following “The Man He Killed.” Prepare question 1 Suggestions for Writing on page 41, explaining your reasoning.
Wednesday: Read Chapter Three: Denotation and Connotation. Prepare the questions following “When my love swears that she is made of truth.”
Friday: Read Chapter Four: Imagery. Prepare the questions following “The Forge” and “Those Winter Sundays.”
WEEK FOUR: September 15, 17, 19
Monday: Read
Chapter Five: Figurative
“The Road Not Taken” and “Digging.”
Wednesday:
Read Chapter Twelve: Rhyme and Meter. Prepare the questions following “Because
I could not stop for Death” on pages 106-107. In addition, mark the stressed
and unstressed syllables, rhymes, etc. Read “My Papa’s Waltz” on pages 401. I
want you to analyze this poem as well as you can, drawing on what we have
discussed and learned about poetry.
Friday: Read Chapters Fifteen and Sixteen: Evaluating Poetry 1&2 pages. As a journal entry for these chapters, answer the following questions: Examining only the poems we discussed,
1. Which poem do you think is the best example of literature?
2. Which poem did you find the most challenging?
3. Which poem is your favorite?
4. What have you learned from reading and discussing poetry?
5. What stands out about this unit?
Explain your
reasoning for your choices.
WEEK FIVE: September 22, 24, 26
Monday: Unit Two: Fiction. Read “The Art of the Short Story.” Prepare a journal response for this reading.
Poetry academic journal due.
Wednesday: Read “The Elements of Short Fiction: Plot.” Read and prepare “Miss Brill,” Katherine Mansfield.
Note: For all short stories, read the biographical material preceding the stories and “Author’s Perspective,” which follows the readings. Discussion questions for the short stories are distributed in class with the syllabus.
Friday: “The Death of Ivan Ilych,” Leo Tolstoy. Read “The Elements of Short Fiction: Characterization.”
WEEK SIX: September 29, October 1, 3
Monday:
“Barn Burning,” William Faulkner. Read “The Elements of Short Fiction: Setting”
and “Critical Approaches to Literature:
Sociological Criticism.” Provide a journal entry for this brief reading,
applying it to today’s story.
Late poetry journal due—no exceptions.
Wednesday:
“The Lottery,” Shirley Jackson. Read “The Elements of Short Fiction: Point of
View.”
Friday: NO CLASS.
WEEK SEVEN: October 6, 8, 10
Monday: “The
Metamorphosis,” Franz Kafka. Read “The Elements of Short Fiction: Theme” and “Critical Approaches to Literature:
Psychological.” Provide a journal entry for this brief reading, applying
it to today’s story.
Wednesday: “The Tell-Tale Heart,” Edgar Allan Poe.
Friday: “A Clean, Well-Lighted Place,” Ernest Hemingway.
Read “The Elements of Short Fiction: Style.” Be sure to read the “Author’s Perspective” since one of the discussion questions draws on it.
WEEK EIGHT: October 13, 15, 17
Monday: “Young
Goodman Brown,” Nathaniel Hawthorne.
Wednesday: Catch-up Day.
Friday:
Discussion: Writing About Literature. Read “Writing about Fiction” (863-877)
and the midterm paper materials found below. Prepare your questions about the
paper as pre-discussion responses.
WEEK NINE: October 20, 22, 24
Monday:
Short Story “Oscars.” Answer each question below, providing your reasons as
well.
1. Which story represents the best example of literature?
2. Which story represents the worst example of literature?
3. Which is your favorite story?
4. Which story do you like the least?
5. Which story disturbed you the most?
6. Which character do you like the most?
7. Which narrator do you find the most reliable?
8. Which story taught you the most?
9. Which story did you find the most challenging?
10. Final fiction journal entry: How has reading and discussing fiction contributed to your education? What stands out about this unit?
Read “Critical
Approaches to Literature: Reader-Response Criticism.” Provide a journal entry for
this brief reading, addressing how they will be useful in your study of
literature.
Wednesday: Unit Three: Drama. Introduction. Lecture outline is distributed in class with the syllabus.
Fiction academic journal due.
Friday: Introduction, continued.
WEEK TEN: October 27, 29, 31
Monday: Hamlet. Introductions. Lecture outline is distributed in class with the syllabus. Please have the entire play read by this date.
Fiction paper due.
Wednesday:
Hamlet. Class Discussion: Act I. It is
essential that you reread each act for each discussion. Discussion questions
are distributed in class with the syllabus.
Late fiction academic journal due—no exceptions.
Friday: NO CLASS.
WEEK ELEVEN: November 3, 5, 7
Monday: Hamlet. Act I discussion continued.
Late fiction paper due—no
exceptions.
Wednesday: Hamlet. Class Discussion: Act II. (be sure to reread this act for today).
Friday: Hamlet. Act II discussion continued.
WEEK TWELVE: November 10, 12, 14
Monday: Hamlet. Class Discussion: Act III.
(be sure to reread this act for today).
Wednesday: Hamlet. Act III discussion continued.
Friday: Open.
WEEK THIRTEEN: November 17, 19, 21
Monday: Hamlet. Class Discussion: Act IV.
(be sure to reread this act for today).
Wednesday: Hamlet. Act IV discussion continued.
Friday: Discussion: drama paper. Please review fiction paper materials and have your questions ready regarding the drama topic.
WEEK FOURTEEN: November 24, 26, 28
Monday: Hamlet. Class Discussion: Act V.
(be sure to reread this act for today).
Wednesday: Discussion continues.
Friday:
Thanksgiving
WEEK FIFTEEN: December 1, 3, 5
Monday: Hamlet. Act V discussion continued.
Wednesday: Hamlet. Class Discussion: General Questions and conclusions.
Friday: Discussion continues. Drama academic journal due—no exceptions. If you wish to have your paper returned, it must be submitted by today.
WEEK SIXTEEN: December 8
Monday: Course Conclusions. Drama paper due—no exceptions. Papers will not be returned.