Lit 190-A: Women Writers

Fall 2008 TR 9:40-11:05 Building 23 Room West

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 literature written by women. Examines major works from a variety of historical, social, and cultural contexts. Critical analysis is emphasized.

Required Text and Materials:

1. The Art of the Short Story. Ed. Dana Gioia & R.S. Gwynn

2. Loose-leaf paper, pocket folder, 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: Readings, responses to daily discussion questions, journals, and final paper are due on the dates listed in the schedule. Because I am aware that extenuating circumstances do arise, students are allowed to journals 1 and 2 late, as listed in the schedule. After this date, and once class ends, late work cannot be accepted for any reason, so please do not ask. There is no grade penalty for late work; however, late work will not receive commentary as will work that is submitted on time. The final paper and final journal are not subject to this late-work extension and must be turned in by the due date—no exceptions. Again, because the late option is generous, no extensions will be granted.

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:

Unit 1: September 30

Unit 2: October 30

Unit 3: December 2—no late option

Papers (40%): In lieu of comprehensive midterm and final exams, students will write 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:

Midterm Paper: October 16

Final Paper: December 4—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.

Grading: Grading standards for papers and journals are distributed in class with the syllabus.

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 Academic Achievement Center in building 6 and conference with me on a regular basis.

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 26, 28

Tuesday: Introductions.

Thursday: Getting acquainted. Read the syllabus carefully and bring your questions about course requirements.

Unit One: Laying a Foundation. For our first discussion, please prepare the following questions: 1. What is literature? 2. Why should we study literature? 3. Why should we study women’s literature as a course apart from literature written by men? Read “Critical Approaches to Literature,” “Biographical Criticism,” “Historical Criticism,” and “Formalist 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.

Week Two: september 2, 4

Tuesday: Read “The Art of the Short Story” (pages 3-6). “The Yellow Wallpaper,” 1892—Charlotte Perkins Gilman.

Read “Gender Criticism” and provide a journal entry, applying it to today’s reading.

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.

Thursday: “The Story of an Hour,” 1894—Kate Chopin.

Read “The Elements of Short Fiction: Plot.”

Week Three: september 9, 11

Tuesday: “The Storm,” 1898—Kate Chopin.

Thursday: “Paul’s Case,” 1905—Willa Cather.

Week Four: september 16, 18

Tuesday: “A Haunted House,” 1921—Virginia Woolf.

Thursday: “Miss Brill,” 1922—Katherine Mansfield.

Read “The Elements of Short Fiction: Characterization.”

Week Five: september 23, 25

Tuesday: “The Garden-Party,” 1922—Katherine Mansfield.

Thursday: “Sweat,” 1926–Zora Neale Hurston.

Read “The Elements of Short Fiction: Setting.”

Week Six: SEPTEMBER 30, october 2

Tuesday: Unit Two: Building a Canon of their Own.

“Flowering Judas,” 1930—Katherine Anne Porter.

Unit 1 journal due.

Thursday: NO CLASS.

Week Seven: october 7, 9

Tuesday: “Roman Fever,” 1936—Edith Wharton.

Late journal due—no exceptions.

Thursday: Discussion: 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 Eight: october 14, 16

Tuesday: “The Lottery,” 1949—Shirley Jackson.

Read “The Elements of Short Fiction: “Point of View.”

Thursday: “A Good Man Is Hard to Find,” 1955—Flannery O’Connor. Read “The Elements of Short Fiction: Theme.”

Midterm paper due.

Week Nine: october 21, 23

Tuesday: “A Woman on the Roof,” 1963—Doris Lessing.

Read “Psychological Criticism” and provide a journal entry, applying it to today’s reading.

Thursday: “A Company of Laughing Faces,” 1965—Nadine Gordimer.

Late midterm paper due—no exceptions.

Week Ten: october 28, 30

Tuesday: “Revelation,” 1965—Flannery O’Connor.

Thursday: Unit Three: More Voices, More Visions.

“Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” 1970—

Joyce Carol Oates.

Unit 2 journal due.

WEEK ELEVEN: NOVEMBER 4, 6

Tuesday: “Everyday Use,” 1973—Alice Walker.

Thursday: “How I Met My Husband,” 1974–Alice Munro.

Late journal due—no exceptions.

Week TWELVE: NOVEMBER 11, 13

Tuesday: “The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas,” 1975–Ursula K. LeGuin.

Thursday: “The Man to Send Rain Clouds,” 1981–

Leslie Marmon Silko.

WEEK THIRTEEN: NOVEMBER 18, 20

Tuesday: “Shiloh,” 1982—Bobbie Ann Mason.

Read “Sociological Criticism” and provide a journal entry, applying it to today’s reading.

Thursday: “Happy Endings,” 1983–Margaret Atwood.

Read “The Elements of Short Fiction: Style.”

Week FOURTEEN: NOVEMBER 25, 27

Tuesday: “Barbie-Q,” 1991—Sandra Cisneros.

Read “Cultural Studies” and provide a journal entry for it, applying it to today’s reading.

Final paper discussion. Please have the materials read and your questions ready.

Thursday: Thanksgiving Holiday—DMACC closed.

Week FIFTEEN: DECEMBER 2, 4

Tuesday: The Readings Oscars. Answer each question below, providing your reasons as well.

1. Which selection represents the best example of literature?

2. Which selection represents the worst example of literature?

3. Which is your favorite selection?

4. Which selection do you like the least?

5. Which selection disturbed you the most?

6. Which character do you like the most?

7. Which narrator do you find the most reliable?

8. Which selection taught you the most?

9. Which selection did you find the most challenging?

10. Post-Discussion Topic: Taking into account the selections made by the class, what ones seemed to be overlooked? Why do you think that these selections were not considered in this election?

Journal due—no exceptions. If you wish to have your paper returned, it must be submitted by today.

Thursday: Course Conclusions. Final paper due—no exceptions. Papers will not be returned.