1.   to assist students in a close, careful reading of selected texts;
2.   to develop the sensibility and skills which will enable readers to assimilate these texts;
3.   to develop skills in argumentative writing to explore these texts;
4.   to strengthen the writing/thinking relationship;
5.   to become familiar with the vocabulary appropriate to literary analysis and argumentation.

1.   There will be reading and writing assignments for each class.  You must complete these assignments before class, in order to participate in class activities and discussions.
2.   You will keep a journal of critical responses to the readings for class.  The journal will be a record of reactions, questions, and comments on the reading; you can use it to develop your analytical skills and to generate ideas for writing.
3.   There will be three formal papers, about 2-3 double spaced, typewritten pages.  These papers should be genuine explorations of problems of each text.  Papers should demonstrate a growing sensitivity to strategies of argument and literary nuance.  In addition to the three papers, you will write an explication of a short poem (or a passage of a longer poem) at the end of the semester.
4.   There will be no mid term or final exam, but students should expect occasional quizzes or written class work based on the readings.

1.   College policy allows students one week’s worth of absences.  You may miss one three hour class, provided you have  your missed work ready to hand in at the next class and you are up-to-date on your assignments.
2.   Lateness of 15 minutes or more counts as a partial absence, so be punctual.

V.  Required text:
             Barnet, Sylvan, Morton Berman, William Burto, and William Cain, eds. An Introduction to Literature, 12th ed.
 
 
 

-Weekly Agenda-

Introduction   Week 1
     What is literature?  Analyzing fiction:  point of view, setting, tone, style, characters, theme.  Literary terms.

Reading and Responding.  Beginning the Journal   Week 2
Kate Chopin:  “Ripe Figs”(47), “The Story of an Hour”(26), “The Storm”(76).
John Updike:  “A&P”(89), “The Rumor”(handout.)

Writing Essays on Fiction   Week 3
James Joyce:  “Araby”(345).
Shirley Jackson:  “The Lottery”(handout.)

Essays on Fiction:  the Working Outline   Week 4
Response journals handed in.

First Paper Due   Week 5
Margaret Atwood:  “Rape Fantasies”(handout).
Joyce Carol Oates:  “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?”(425.)

Reading and Analyzing Drama   Week 6
Aspects of drama:  theme, plot, conventions, and characterization.
The vocabulary of drama.
Sophocles:  Oedipus Rex (974.)

Writing about Drama   Week 7
Arthur Miller:  Death of a Salesman (1401.)

Second Paper Due   Week 8
Death of a Salesman concluded.

Reading and Analyzing the Novel   Weeks 9-11
F. Scott Fitzgerald:  The Great Gatsby.  (Obtain from your local library.)
Third paper due week 11.

Poetry   Weeks 12-14
Responding to poetry.  The vocabulary of analysis.  Writing about poetry:  explication of a text as a useful technique.
Poetry selections to be announced.
Journals handed in week 13.
Explication of a poem or a passage due week 14.
 

Best wishes for an interesting and productive semester.

special note to verizon students

web page modified 8/6/2002