Dr. Lucy Price, Instructor Case 305C, ext. 8471 lprice@bakeru.edu Office Hours: 10:30 11:30 a.m.

MWF

2 3 p.m. TTh. and by appt. English 120 - Introduction to Literature Syllabus Spring 2009 Course Description: This course introduces students to the major literary genres of narrative fiction, poetry, and drama and examines the interrelationships between language and aesthetic experience. Literary works will serve as the basis for study of the ways in which writers consciously employ language to create aesthetic expressions which reflect experiences of the senses, emotions, intellect, and imagination, as well as ways in which human experience itself is shaped by language. This course is listed as a writing course and as a general education course in literature (Aesthetics Perspective). Course Goals and Objectives: The purpose of this course is to make students conscious of the aesthetic qualities and potential of the English language and to introduce them to the various ways in which writers have employed and responded to the major literary genres and their traditions as they create literary works of art. At the completion of this
course students will demonstrate ability

to understand the ways in which writers employ and respond to the conventions of the major literary genres through the study of significant representative texts; to analyze and evaluate works of literature based on their understanding of literary language and genre forms; to interpret and evaluate literary works, using textual evidence to support their ideas, in both oral class discussion and written critical essays.

Assignments: The schedule of assignments provides an outline of the reading assignments to prepare for each class period and the dates for the midterms exam and essays. Since this class develops skills of reading and literary analysis, the final exam for this class is comprehensive in the sense that students will have the opportunity to demonstrate their ability to analyze and interpret a variety of types of literary texts. Students may also expect occasional short quizzes and/or writing assignments. Some writing assignments will be completed as homework to be handed in; some writing assignments will be completed in class. These writing assignments are designed to permit students to demonstrate that they have read and reflected on the assignment and will provide the class as a group with initial ideas for discussion. In-class quizzes and writing assignments cannot be made up.

Introduction to Literature Spring 2009 Syllabus

Students are expected to read the assigned literary works carefully and thoughtfully. A single hurried or casual reading will not suffice for our in-class writing assignments or our discussions. Many more facets of the works or layers of meaning can be discovered through rereading and further reflection on our class discussions. Finally each student will be expected to prepare poems to present and discuss in class. Not every student will be asked to present a poem each time this assignment is scheduled, but everyone will present at least once during the course of the semester. Required Text: There is one textbook required for this class: Abcarian and Klotz, eds. Literature: Reading and Writing the Human Experience. Shorter 9th Ed. New York: St. Martin's Press, 2006. Students are expected to bring the textbook to each class meeting as we will want to look at specific texts and poems in the course of our discussions. Grading:

3 essays 15% each = 45% Midterm exam = 15% attendance and class participation (including discussion of poems) = 10% daily quizzes, writing, and assignments on Blackboard = 10% final exam = 20% Total = 100%

Attendance and Academic Expectations: Since the quality of class discussion is in part a function of both the quality and quantity of student participation, attendance and participation are expected of all students at all sessions. If an absence is unavoidable, it is the responsibility of the student to check with the instructor regarding missed work and possible make up. Make-ups are unavailable except in the most extraordinary cases, subject to the instructor's approval, and must be completed within one week of an absence. More than three absences will result in a lowering of the class participation grade by 5% for each additional absence. Absence from more than 25% of the class sessions, i.e., 10 absences for a MWF class, will result in course failure. The discussion format of this course means that the class is student-centered. Students will have ample opportunity to ask questions, to participate in dialogue, and to argue for positions they are taking while listening and responding to arguments of others. Thus, the abilities to think, communicate, and listen are equally valued as we focus on the assigned topics and issues. Attention to and participation in the class discussion is expected of everyone; activities and behavior that distract from participating in and listening to the discussion, including

Introduction to Literature Spring 2009 Syllabus

private conversations and use of electronic devices, late arrivals and early or unnecessary departures from the classroom, and eating, are unacceptable and will result in a lowered class grade. Each student is expected to adhere to the standards of academic integrity outlined in the Student Handbook. Any work determined to be plagiarized or counterfeit in any part represents an instance of academic misconduct will result in penalties up to and including a grade of "F" for the course. Accommodations: Students with documented disabilities that will affect their work in this class should contact me to discuss their needs. You should also meet with Cindy Novelo, Coordinator of Disability Resources, to arrange for accommodations for this course.

The following is a tentative schedule of readings and assignments for the semester and is subject to modification as needed.
26 Jan 28 Jan 30 Jan 2 Feb 4 Feb 6 Feb Syllabus Available on Blackboard Read pages 3 - 6 and 22 - 30 in our textbook on Responding to Literature and Reading Drama no class meeting Read Sophocles, Oedipus Rex Discussion of Sophocles, Oedipus Rex continued Reading Poetry; Robert Browning, My Last Duchess; Thomas Hardy, The Ruined Maid William Blake, The Chimney Sweeper; John Keats, On First Looking Into Chapmans Homer; Gerard Manley Hopkins, Spring and Fall; A.E. Housman, When I Was One-and-Twenty; Stevie Smith, Not Waving but Drowning Reading Fiction and Hemingway, A Clean, Well-Lighted Place Reading Essays and Langston Hughes, Salvation Herman Melville, Bartleby the Scrivener Herman Melville, Bartleby the Scrivener Herman Melville, Bartleby the Scrivener First Essay Due Ursula LeGuin, The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas Wordsworth, The World Is Too Much with Us; Claude McKay, If We Must Die Alfred, Lord Tennyson, Ulysses

9 Feb 11 Feb 13 Feb 16 Feb 18 Feb 20 Feb 23 Feb 25 Feb 27 Feb

Introduction to Literature Spring 2009 Syllabus

2 Mar 4 Mar 6 Mar 9 Mar 11 Mar 13 Mar 16 20 Mar 23 Mar 25 Mar 27 Mar 30 Mar 1 Apr

Henrik Ibsen, A Dolls House Henrik Ibsen, A Dolls House Henrik Ibsen, A Dolls House Midterm Exam Looking Deeper, From History to Literature Martin Luther King, Jr., Letter from Birmingham Jail Spring Break William Faulkner, A Rose for Emily; Alice Walker, Everyday Use Sherman Alexie, This is what it means to say Phoenix, Arizona T.S. Eliot, The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock ; e.e. comings, The Cambridge ladies who live in furnished souls; Henry Reed, Naming of Parts; M. Carl Holman, Mr. Z; Etheridge Knight, Hard Rock Returns to Prison from the Hospital for the Criminal Insane Second Essay Due Kate Chopin, The Storm Charlotte Perkins Gilman, The Yellow Wallpaper Joyce Carol Oates, Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been? Good Friday no class Shakespeare, Sonnets numbers 18, 29, 130 John Donne, The Flea; Theodore Roethke, I Knew a Woman; Sharon Olds, Sex without Love William Shakespeare, Othello William Shakespeare, Othello William Shakespeare, Othello William Shakespeare, Othello William Shakespeare, Othello Third Essay Due John Donne, Death Be Not Proud; Robert Frost, Nothing Gold Can Stay, Emily Dickinson, After great pain, a formal feeling comes Dylan Thomas, Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night Woody Allen, Death Knocks Last Class Day Review for Final Exam Final Exam time and date to be announced

3 Apr 6 Apr 8Apr 10 Apr. 13 Apr 15 Apr 17 Apr 20 Apr 22 Apr 24 Apr 27 Apr 29 Apr 1 May 4 May 6 May 8 May TBA

Introduction to Literature Spring 2009 Syllabus