kate-kelly@tamu.edu
862-4368 (leave messages via email rather than telephone)
Office Hours: 219C Blocker 2-3:30 TR and by appointment
Introduction to Literature: Mapping Reading
Required Texts: X. J. Kennedy and Dana Gioia, Literature: An Introduction to Fiction, Poetry, and Drama, 7th ed. (New York: Longman, 1999).
Susan Murphy, The Aggie Critic (Edina, MN: Burgess International Group, Inc., 1998).
N.B. If you notice discrepancies between the Murphy and Kennedy books, notify me but generally follow Murphy.
Recommended: A handbook of English usage (e.g., The St. Martin's Handbook; A Writer's Reference. 3rd ed. Lunsford and Connors; Harbrace College Handbook, current edition)
Journal Notebook
Purpose: In this course, you will become skilled in reading literature and writing about how it works and what it means. Students are not expected to be highly skilled readers when they enter, but they are expected to have mastered the fundamentals of composition. English 104 or its equivalent is a prerequisite for this course. We will read examples of various literary genres--prose fiction (short stories, novel), poetry, and drama--with an eye to discovering the conventions or rules governing the choices authors make when they write. You will learn to discover patterns in the language and forms used in various kinds of literature and you'll see that those patterns influence how we decide what a particular work "means." In the papers you write, you will practice expressing your growing understanding in a series of essays. In addition, you'll learn how to do research in the library and to write a paper based upon your research discoveries.
Requirements: Prerequisite English 104; regular attendance and informed participation (see The Aggie Critic [AC] pp. 152-3); you are permitted 2 unexcused absences to be taken on days when papers/exams are not scheduled. (Each unexcused absence in excess of 2 will lower your final grade by a whole grade); 3 short essays (500-700 words or 2-3 pp. each); research paper (1,200-1,500 words or 5-6 pp.); in-class writing; corrections to marked errors due following class period; quizzes; final examination. Extra Credit: add up to 10 pts. on final exam with play/poetry/etc. review following format provided.
Grading: (See AC p. 157) All assignments (quizzes, in-class writing, etc.) must be completed to pass the course. Essay #1 = 5% of grade Essay #2 = 10% of grade Essay #3 = 15% Research Paper = 20% Quizzes = 15% In-class writing and participation = 15% Final exam 20%
Plagiarism (see AC p. 153) will be punished by a failing grade for the course.
Disabilities: Anyone who needs accommodations related to a disability, please contact me asap.
Syllabus
SHORT FICTION
Week 1 Introduction; complete "Student Information Sheet" and
Sept 1-3 "Confirmation of Prerequisite for Eng 203" in The Aggie
Critic. Turn in on Thurs., Sept 3. Also for Thurs. read in Kennedy pp.
1-19.
For next Tues, read Kennedy, pp. 20-25; 38-54.
Week 2 Discuss plot and point of view. In-class writing.
Essay #1 due Tuesday. For
Sept 8-10 this essay, read the story by Faulkner or Poe. Follow
directions given on p. 54 ("discuss how the author's choice of a particular
point of view....") Write at least 500 words. For next week, read Kennedy
pp. 60-63; 78-90.
Week 3 Essay #1 due at start of class. Discuss readings on
character. For Thurs., read
Sept 15-17 Kennedy 92-95; 119-135. Discuss Amy Tan's story and
comments. For next Tues., read Kennedy pp. 137-144; 172-73.
Week 4 Discuss tone and style (Hemingway). In-class writing.
For Thurs., read Kennedy pp. 175-195.
Sept 22-24 Essay #2 due next Tuesday. For this essay, read
Kennedy pp. 172-3 and follow the assignment described under "writing
assignment" on p. 173. Write at least 600 words. Also for Tues., read
Kennedy pp. 175-76; 208-214.
Week 5 Essay #2 due at start of class. Discuss "theme". For
Thurs., read Kennedy 217-
Sept 29-Oct 1 218; 228-34; 242. For next Tues., read Kennedy 1195-1226; 1243.
DRAMA
Week 6 Discuss drama; Glaspell's Trifles. In-class writing. For
Thurs., read 1410-13 &
Oct 6-8 start Doll House. Complete Ibsen's Doll House, etc., for
next Tues., pp. 1414- 1469.
Week 7 Discuss Ibsen's play. Essay #3 due next Tues. For this
essay, write at least 700
Oct 13-15 words on Ibsen's play. You may want to use one of the
questions on p. 1470 to focus your essay, or you may want to focus your
paper on one or two formal elements in the play (theme, symbol, character,
tone, etc.). For next 2 weeks, read pp. 1480, 1636-1710.
Week 8 Essay #3 due at start of class. This week we will begin
discussing Miller's Death
Oct 20-22 of A Salesman and his famous essay, "Tragedy and the
Common Man."
Week 9 Complete discussing Miller's play and essay. For next
week, read David Henry
Oct 27-29 Hwang's "The Sound of a Voice" and his essay, pp.
1762-1777.
Week 10 Discuss Hwang; 1-pg. "Research Problem and Sources" due
Thurs. 11/5
Nov 3-5 Thurs. discuss research issues, including problems. For
next week, read August Wilson, Joe Turner . . . pp. 1797-1848.
Week 11 Discuss Joe Turner. Continue discussing Joe
Nov 10-12 Turner on Thurs. Nov. 12. For Tues. read pp. 647-657;
664.
POETRY
Week 12 Adrienne Rich's "Aunt Jennifer...". In-class writing.
For Nov 24, read 667-669;
Nov 17 read pp. 673 ("The Person in ...") - 674 (up to "Luke
Havergal"); 676 (Wordsworth) - 678 (up to "A Glass of Beer"). No class
Thursday: Library Day.
Week 13 Discuss Rich and Wordsworth sections. Thanksgiving
holiday. For Week 14,
Nov 24 read pg. 667 and "My Papa's Waltz"; p. 680 and "Oh No"; p.
699 and "This Is Just to Say"; p. 705 and "In the Elegy Season".
Week 14 Discuss poems. Research papers due December 8.
Dec 1-3
Week 15 Summary and review.
Dec 8 Research papers due at start of class.
Final examination Friday December 11, 3-5 p.m.