RESEARCH LINKS
AUTHORS
IN DEPTH
GLOSSARY |
Michael Meyer  Gerald Richman James
Van Sickle
English 250-01
Fall 1998 |
Michael Meyer
Office Hours: MWF 10:00-11:00
(and by appointment) |
Honors I: Approaches to
Literature
| I. Text |
|
Michael Meyer, The Bedford
Introduction to Literature (Bedford/St. Martin's, 5th ed.) |
|
|
| II. Course Requirements |
|
1. |
Readings (and perhaps occasional reading
quizzes) |
|
2. |
Class discussions and two oral presentations |
|
3. |
Four short papers (two in-class themes, two
outside papers); written responses to the readings due for each class. |
|
4. |
Research paper (ca. 8 pp.) |
|
5. |
Final exam |
|
|
|
| III. Grading |
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Discussion, quizzes and oral presentations |
25% |
|
Short papers and written exercises |
45% |
|
Research paper |
20% |
|
Final exam |
10% |
|
|
100% |
Please note: In order to
earn credit for the course, all of the above requirements must be met.
IV. Aims and Procedures
This course is designed to develop reading
and writing skills. In the course of the readings we will examine important elements of
fiction, poetry, and drama in order to better understand what they offer, how they are
constructed, and why they appeal to readers. Most of the works we read will be discussed
in detail in class. Class discussion is essential; hence, it is imperative to keep up with
the readings in order to participate. You are expected to attend every class and
contribute questions, comments and ideas.
In addition to the readings and
discussions, the third major element in the course is your writing. The papers will be
discussed in detail in class and related to the assigned readings. Each student will also
be responsible for two classroom presentations on the assigned works. The final exam will
contain no dreadful surprises. There will be two basic kinds of questions: 1) identifying
and using literary terms and concepts (e.g. antagonist, dramatic irony, symbol) and 2)
essay questions designed to evaluate your careful reading of the works.
For each of the assigned readings you will
write at least one page of typed comments in response to a question that will focus
on the work(s) read. The idea is to preserve your impressions of the readings, develop
useful notes, and to reflect upon what you're reading. These, along with the notes you
make in the margins of the texts, should prove helpful for the exam. These will be
collected at the beginning of each class and then returned to you at the next class. Date
and identify each of the entries and keep them in some kind of notebook or folder once
they are returned to you.
Please bring the text to each class
meeting.
| V. Tentative
Reading Schedule |
| Sept. 2 |
Introduction to the course |
| Sept. 4 |
Reading Imaginative Literature
(1-6); Reading Fiction (7-24) |
| Sept. 7 |
Labor Day |
| Sept. 9 |
A Comparison of Two Stories
(24-39) |
| Sept. 11 |
Writing About Fiction (40-59); no
class |
| Sept. 14, 16, 18 |
Critical Strategies for Reading
(2021-47) |
| Sept. 21, 23 |
Plot (60-96) |
| Sept. 25 |
In-class editing of first draft of
paper |
| Sept. 28, 30 |
Character (97-142); short paper
due 9/30 |
| Oct. 2, 5 |
Setting (143-59) |
| Oct. 7 |
O’Brien, "How to Tell a
True Story" (555-64); Point of View (174-79) |
| Oct. 9 |
Symbolism (215-33); Theme (243-46) |
| Oct. 12 |
No Class: Fall Break |
| Oct. 14 |
1. Style, Tone and Irony (268-72)
2. Carver, "Popular Mechanics" (272-75) |
| Oct. 16 |
1. Boyle, "Carnal
Knowledge" (275-90) |
|
2. Minot, "Lust"
(290-97) |
| Oct. 19 |
Mishima "Patriotism"
(593-609) |
| Oct. 21 |
1. King, "Suffer the Little
Children" (535-43) |
|
2. Oates, "The Night
Nurse" (653-64) |
| Oct. 23 |
In-class writing; Taking Essay
Examinations (2118-22) |
| Oct. 26 |
Reading Poetry (671-709) |
| Oct. 28, 30 |
Word Choice, Word Order, and Tone
(717-51) |
| Nov. 2, 4 |
Images (752-74); second short
paper due |
| Nov. 6, 9 |
Figures of Speech (775-96) |
| Nov. 11, 13 |
Symbol, Allegory, and Irony
(797-825); Research topics due |
| Nov. 16 |
Critical Case Study (1060-72) |
| Nov. 18 |
Sounds (826-37); Patterns of
Rhythm (856-62) |
| Nov. 20 |
Poetic Forms (876-901); Open Form
(902-924) |
| Nov. 23 |
In-class writing |
| Nov. 25 |
Library work |
| Nov. 27 |
No class: Thanksgiving |
| Nov. 30 |
In-class editing of first draft of
research paper |
| Dec, 2, 4 |
Reading Drama (1169-1209) |
| Dec. 7, 9, 11 |
A Doll House (1559-1635) |
| Dec. 14 |
Last day of class; final draft
of research paper due |
*FINAL EXAM: December
22; time to be announced*
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