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Dr. Nat Hardy |
BH 206‑E |
(918) 343-7588 |
nhardy@rsu.edu |
ENG2613 |
2613/02 |
BH201 |
MW 5:30-6:45 |
Course Introduction: Introduction to Literature is a course in English that may be a substitute for general humanities. This course is designed to help you learn about how to read, how to analyze, and how to write about literature. It may help you learn to appreciate (and even like) literature.
This course will consist of some lecture, to set the basic vocabulary and guidelines, and much discussion. That means you need to read the material so you can talk about it! Your input is invaluable. You must participate in class discussion to practice the skills necessary to successfully complete the required assignments.
Textbooks and Resources
Abcarian, Richard, and Marvin Klotz, eds. Literature: The Human Experience. 8th ed. New York: Bedford, 2002.
Dial‑Driver, Emily. The Guide to College Writing. Kansas City: Thomson, 2002/Phoenix: BentTree, 2004.
Other materials: Printer paper
Names, Phone numbers and emails of classmates
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Learning Objectives: In accordance with the Rogers State University mission and the mission of the Department of Communications and Fine Arts, this course is intended to provide the opportunity for students to develop and display critical and creative thinking; multicultural exposure; global perspective, an appreciation for the diverse views of art, knowledge, culture, and the world; and effective communication skills, both written and oral.
During the semester, you will study these literary genres: short story, drama, poetry, and film. You will
1. define and apply literary terms
2. learn and apply facts about works of literature
3. analyze a work of literature
4. evaluate literature in a number of ways
5. write evaluation(s) of a literary work
6. respond to questions about literature, especially in realms of synthesis and evaluation
Assessment Tools
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By the end of the semester you will have |
Fulfilled Objective |
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1. passed two tests on the reading and study material |
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 |
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2. written and handed in a Reading Journal |
3, 4, 5, and 6 |
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3. written an acceptable, short, documented paper using MLA format |
1, 2, 3, and 5 |
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4. created/submitted an image journal responding to text |
3,4, 5, and 6 |
Make-up Tests: Please take the tests on time. If you have to schedule a make-up test, your grade on the test cannot be more than 80%.
NOTE: Read the sections in The Guide to College Writing on journal entries, summaries, and reports.
A reading journal has two major elements: an academic element and a personal (but not a private) element. The academic element is the bibliographic data, the summary, and the analytic paragraph. The personal element is record of your responses to what you are reading, in the form of a personal reaction paragraph. The paragraph is informal in style; it should be interesting and revelatory. Put in your honest opinions, comments, interpretations, evaluations, insights, questions, etc. Give a response to the reading: emotional, moral and/or intellectual.
Academic Reading Journal Format: Each entry should be at least two typed pages. Each entry should contain four sections.
Section I: bibliographic data
Section 2: paragraph of summary
Section 3: paragraph of literary analysis
1. You may comment on ONE of the following: the language, literary devices, style, structure, content, classification, symbols, images, themes, characters, conflict OR
2. You may compare the work to real life or to other works you have read OR
3. You may evaluate the work. (See attached sheet headed “Types of Evaluation.) You may decide if it is good, if it is better than others you have read. You may tell why you made this decision.
Section 4: paragraph of personal reaction: Tell what you liked or disliked about the work.
The length for this paper is three to five pages of text, typed. (You will include a Works Cited page that is part of the paper but is not a page of text.)
Decide on a short story, play, novel, film or poem in which you are interested. You may choose more than one selection but not more than three. Do research on the selection(s) in order to write a literary analysis. Decide on the limited topic you intend to handle and on which you can find sufficient resource material. Do NOT do a biography of an author.
You should use five or more sources in the paper, three of which must be print sources, one of which must be an Internet or other electronic source. (General encyclopedias are not appropriate sources.) Be sure that you include not only paraphrased but also quoted material. Use MLA‑format documentation. You must include copies of the sources you used, with the material you used highlighted.
We will not be studying the research paper or how to write one. Make sure you read the noted sections in the Guide to College Writing. You will be graded on the conventions of essay writing, documentation, etc.
Reflective Essay: The length for this paper is three to five pages of text, typed. Decide on a short story, play, novel, film or poem which you have read/watched in this class and in which you are interested. You may choose more than one selection but not more than three. Discuss this work or these works in terms of your personal reaction/relationship to the work or works.
Creative Journal: Choose a piece of literature. Using the selection as a basis, develop the equivalent of a ten-page journal that is visual, tactile, imagistic. The purpose of this journal is to illuminate the work for other class members. You will be asked 1) why you choose the work you choose, (2) how you think your project illuminates/explicates the work you choose, 3) the significance of each element of your project. You must label the project with the title of the work you are dealing with. Be creative. Take chances. ENJOY THIS (yes, that's part of the assignment—and required!). Don't worry; we'll look at some examples. You won't die from this.
Grades: You need to keep track of your grades and not ask "How am I doing?" or "What is my average?" Do not expect to call and ask about a grade. As per university policy, grades will not be posted.
E-Mail Communication: You may, of course, e-mail me with questions. However, try to keep this to a minimum. I do not accept e-mail submissions or attachments of any kind.
Important Notice: You must complete all assignments to receive credit for the course.
Standards of Achievement: All student work will be held to the following academic criteria.
accuracy of information
organization and clarity of thoughts
depth of critical thinking and observation
satisfaction of defined requirements (deadlines, etc.)
acceptable writing mechanics
fidelity of work (no plagiarism, cheating, etc.)
evidence of creative or innovative thinking
effective cooperative learning
Grade Composition
Late assignments will lose 10% per day up to 30%; please turn things in on time.
Do not miss an exam. If you do, you will have to make special arrangements with me to come in at a special time and take a special make‑up exam. It is best to take the exam as scheduled.
Tests 100 points each 200 points
Documented Research Paper 100 points
Reflective Paper 100 points
Academic Reading Journal 100 points Creative Reading Journal (presentation will be part of this grade) 100 points
approximate TOTAL 600 points
Each written assignment will be graded using the following criteria: Appearance—10%, Content and organization—60%, Mechanics—30%
Grading Scale and Academic Profiles: The Department of Communications and Fine Arts Division has adopted a standard grading scale.
90-100% A
80-89% B
70-79% C
60-69% D
below 59% F
Academic Profile
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Descriptor |
Description |
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A |
Excellent |
Students receiving an “A” can be considered to have exhibited extraordinary effort in class and scholarship exceeding the expectations of the instructor and to have exhibited most or all of the following: to have attended regularly and on time (missed fewer than the equivalent of one week of class meetings); to have participated fully in peer evaluations and in class discussion, revealing personal initiative in both; to have used well-supported and well-structured logical arguments in essay writing; to have revealed a grasp of mechanics that prevents errors; to have revealed depth of critical thought and observation; to have exhibited timeliness in turning in assignments; to have revealed strong interest in intellectual, cultural, and personal growth by reading and discussing assigned material; to have shown consistent improvement in academics. |
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B |
Above Average |
Students receiving a “B” can be considered to have exhibited above-average effort in class, revealing noticeable improvement in academics, and showing accurate and complete scholarship. The student will have exhibited most or all of the following: have attended regularly (not missed more than the equivalent of one week of class meetings) and on time; have participated honestly and solidly in peer evaluations and in class discussion; have used supported and structured logical arguments in essay writing; have revealed a grasp of mechanics that prevents many errors; have revealed critical thought and observation; have exhibited a moderate grasp of timeliness in turning in assignments; have revealed interest in intellectual, cultural, and personal growth by reading and discussing assigned material. |
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C |
Average |
Students receiving a “C” can be considered to have exhibited average effort in class, performing satisfactorily but not above average, with some self-direction, and have shown signs of academic progress, meeting assignment parameters accurately. The student will have exhibited most or all of the following: attended regularly (not missed more than the equivalent of one week of class meetings) and on time; participated willingly in peer evaluations and in class discussion; have used supported and structured arguments in essay writing; have revealed an average grasp of mechanics that prevents most errors; have revealed average critical thought and observation; have exhibited a moderate grasp of timeliness in turning in assignments; have revealed average interest in intellectual, cultural, and personal growth by reading and discussing assigned material. |
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D |
Below Average |
Students receiving a “D” can be considered to have exhibited some effort in class, but not enough to show fully engagement with the subject and with the course material, showing little or no initiative and academic improvement, and not meeting the scholarship requirements of assignments. The student will have exhibited most or all of the following: have participated somewhat in peer evaluations and in class discussion; have attended somewhat regularly (missed more than the equivalent of one week and less than the equivalent of two weeks) and usually on time; have used some structured and supported arguments in essay writing; have revealed a sub-standard grasp of mechanics that prevents only some errors; have revealed below average critical thought and observation; have exhibited some grasp of timeliness in turning in assignments; have revealed below average interest in intellectual, cultural, and personal growth by reading and discussing assigned material; have not met the scholarship requirements of assignments; have not shown initiative; have not revealed academic improvement. |
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F |
Unsatisfactory |
Students receiving an “F” can be considered to have exhibited little or no desire to pass the course. This will usually involve poor participation and attendance (missed more than the equivalent of two weeks of class meetings) and little or no effort to attempt improvement as well as scholarship deficiencies and lack of effort to complete assignments. |
Attendance Policy: Attendance is vital. You cannot discuss if you are not here. Excessive absences (more than two—the equivalent of one week of class) will affect your grade. Please tell me if you come in late. Otherwise you will be marked absent. If you are more than 10 minutes late, you will not receive credit for attendance for that class meeting.
Important Considerations
o Essays and journal entries must be typed.
q All assignments should be properly assembled to hand in at the beginning of the class period in which they are due. Bring the assignments assembled and stapled, completely ready to submit. Do not expect time to finish or to assemble or to staple assignments during class. Assignments turned in more than five minutes after the beginning of the class period are late.
q Do not bring pagers or cell phones with audible notifications into the classroom.
q Failure to comply with these requests will be seen as denoting lack of respect for the class, the instructor, and your classmates.
Academic Integrity: Plagiarism is a form of academic dishonesty. Plagiarism is representing someone else's ideas or work as your own. To avoid plagiarism, when you use someone else's data, arguments, designs, words, ideas, project, etc., you must make it clear that the work originated with someone else by citing the source. Review The Guide to College Writing for documentation conventions. Also review the Student Code of Responsibilities and Conduct published by Rogers State University for a full discussion of “Code of Academic Conduct” and plagiarism penalties.
Late Work: Late work will lose 10% per day up to 30%. Tests taken late will be penalized at least 20%. There are no extra credit assignments for this course.
Course Content Disclosure: Our approach to all that we see, read, or discuss will center on its instructive or intellectual potential. Since film, like literature and the other arts, has the power to amuse, challenge, and offend, you may be disturbed at various times during the semester by the films we watch and the literature we read. Those students who wish to ensure against exposure to or discussion of such materials should enroll in another course.
ADA Statement: Rogers State University is committed to providing students with disabilities equal access to educational programs and services. Before any educational accommodation can be provided, any student who has a disability that he or she believes will require some form of accommodation must do the following: 1) inform the professor of each class of such need; and 2) register for services to determine eligibility for assistance with the Office of Student Affairs, located in the Student Union.
Students needing more information about Student Disability Services should contact:
Jan Smith-Clayton
Director of Student Development
Office of Student Affairs
Rogers State University
918-343-7579
Term Sheets: You may need to copy the sheets attached to the syllabus on literary and poetic terms since you will be using these in relation to several works this semester.
Closure Statement: The schedule and procedures in this course are subject to change in the event of extenuating circumstances.
Schedule and Text Assignments: Each assignment should be done by the first day of the class week. Pages numbers assigned are from Literature: The Human Experience (designated LTHE) or from the Guide to College Writing (designated GCW).
Consider all following questions as we work through the semester:
q What is the difference between essay and short story?
q What are the philosophies represented in the stories?
q What does narrative do for people?
q How are gender/race/class portrayed in these and above selections?
q What social commentary is made in these and above selections?
q How do setting and language affect the story?
q What is the theme of each selection?
q What selections are most appealing to you and why?
q What are the elements that make a poem?
q Are the selections related to each other? How?
q How are the play selections about the disenfranchised?
q Of what does a “play” consist?.
q What are the elements of a film?
q What elements does as film have in common with short story/play/essay/poem?
q How does each selection reveal the human experience?
An Open Letter to Students
Attending college is analogous to being employed. Success on the job is achieved only with hard work and effort. This is also true of college.
Your employer expects you to be on the job every day, on time, and prepared to work. You are allowed only a specific number of sick days each year after which your pay is “docked.” This is also true in literature classes. Regular and prompt attendance is essential.
Meetings are an essential part of the workplace culture, and everyone is expected to attend regularly and to contribute to the discussion. If you miss an excessive number of meetings and/or do not share information, your employment success is in jeopardy. The same holds true for this class. You are not only expected to attend all of our “meetings,” but you are expected to contribute to the discussion. This requires that you come to each class prepared to discuss the assigned material. Failure to do so will put your success in jeopardy.
Your employer requires you to submit all reports on time. Failure to do so will endanger your employer’s business and your success. The same is true for this class. All “reports” (papers, etc.) are due at the scheduled time (see syllabus). If, for a justified reason, you will not be able to meet the time schedule, you must notify me, just as you would contact your employer if you needed an extension. However, as in the workplace, such extensions do not come without a cost. Extensions result in a decrease in your “salary” (grade).
Performance reviews occur periodically in the workplace, and your employer determines the degree of your success during these reviews. Such is the case in this class. The “performance reviews” for this class are papers and other assignments. These reviews require you to show not only your knowledge of the material, but also your ability to use this knowledge. Your “pay” (grade) depends on the quality of your performance.
If you attend class regularly, participate in class discussions, and submit all materials, well prepared and in a timely fashion, you have the potential to excel in this class. I am looking forward to working with you and to learning with you. I am always available if you need assistance.
Good luck! Good writing!
Adapted, with permission, from Bremer, Joyce C. “The Responsible Student.” Innovation Abstracts 20.17 (4 Sep. 1998): 1.
Ticket to Final Examination
Bring,
as a ticket to the final, a one-page, typed, no name attached, evaluation of the
class. Tell what you liked and dislike about the class, what you think should be
added, deleted, or changed. Make any suggestions you might have. Remember, if
you don’t make suggestions, future students cannot benefit from your insight and
experience. I will not see these evaluations until after the grades go to the
Registrar’s office.
Name(s): _______________________ Name of work: _________________________
Author of work: _________________________
Genre of work: _________________________
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Plot
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Conflict(s) |
Flashback(s) |
Foreshadowing |
Epiphany |
Resolution |
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Climax |
Denouement |
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Character(s)
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Characterization: Flat/Round |
Style |
Tone |
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Allusion(s)
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Paradoxes |
Point of View |
Noteworthy Language |
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Setting |
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Image(s) |
Symbol(s) |
Theme(s) |
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Evaluation: affective mimetic aesthetic significance integrity and originality
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Interpretation: literal biographical historical sociological psychological religious |
Personal Reaction |
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Poetry Terms
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Literary Term |
Example |
Comment |
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Alliteration |
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Allusion |
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Anomaly |
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Assonance |
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Cacophony |
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Consonance |
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Euphony |
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Hyperbole |
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Image |
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Metaphor |
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Onomatopoeia |
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Oxymoron |
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Paradox |
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Personification |
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Simile |
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Style |
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Symbol |
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Theme |
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Tone |
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TYPES OF LITERARY EVALUATION
Literary works may be evaluated in a number of ways. You may choose to evaluate in any manner you wish. However, if you are feeling insecure about evaluation and if you wish some concrete guidelines, the following list of terms may serve as an aid.
Affective
Affective evaluation is evaluation of emotional appeal.
Does the work emotionally involve you? Were you excited and interested?
Aesthetic
Aesthetic evaluation is evaluation on artistic principles of complexity, unity, and economy.
A work is simple when only a few of the possibilities of a situation are being dealt with. A work is complex when the author attempts to include or suggest many facets. A work is unified when all the parts contribute to the whole of the work. A work is economical when the writer says as much as possible in the fewest words.
Integrity and originality
Evaluation of the integrity and originality of the author is based on the judgment of whether the author is using trite ideas and formula plots, etc., or if the author is using new and original ways to present ideas.
Mimetic
Mimetic evaluation is evaluation of plausibility or verisimilitude.
Does the work seem as if it could have happened, given the parameters set up by the writer? Does the work seem to present the truth, given the parameters set up by the author? A fantasy may be plausible and "real" if the reader can accept it.
Significance
Evaluation by significance is related to mimetic evaluation.
The work is judged on how significant, how penetration, how useful the statement about experience is. Is what the author says of any importance?
Work Sheet: Films
For each film, determine the following:
1. character elements
2. plot elements
i. inciting incident
ii. points of conflict
iii. plot twists
iv. climax
v. resolution
vi. denouement
vii. foreshadowing
3. cinematography elements
4. images
5. symbols
6. themes
Consider the following:
1. Why do you think each of these films was chosen? What quality does each film have that makes it appropriate for an Introduction to Literature class?
2. Why do you think all of these films were chosen? What qualities/themes/elements do these films have in common that makes them appropriate as a unit?
"
Name: ___________________________
Date: ___________________________
Student Contract for Introduction to Literature
Initial each statement and turn this contract in. This contract must be on file for you to attend the class.
_____ I have read and understood the guidelines and requirements in the syllabus.
_____ I understand that this class is for three hours college credit; this implies three hours of class meeting per week.
_____ I understand that each hour of college credit usually requires two or more hours per week study time outside of class; this implies a total of six to nine hours per week study time outside of class.
_____ I understand that attendance is required.
_____ I understand what plagiarism is, and I understand that strict penalties will incur if I plagiarize material.
_____ I understand that peer critiquing may be required in this class; this means that any work I do for this class may be subject to peer review by my classmates.
_____ I understand literary selections for this class may contain controversial or “offensive” material; this is the nature of literary works.
_____________________________
(signature)
______________________________
(date)
Rogers State University
Course Outline
Spring 2005
The following readings for each week should be completed ahead of class as required: You will be held responsible for this material when it is appropriate.
Week 1
1/10 Introduction to Course
1/12 “Introduction” LTHE 3-38; “Shooting an Elephant” LTHE 993-1000; Literary Terms; “On Morality” LTHE 299-303; GCW 61-66 (“Reading”); GCW 107-134 (“Writing . . . Literature”)
1/17 Analysis/interpretation/criticism; “On Dumpster Diving” LTHE 304-313; “American History” LTHE 322-328; GCW 67-74 (reports, summaries, reviews); GCW 11-60 (essay writing)
1/19 History of the language; “A Modest Proposal” LTHE 615-623; “The American Way of Death” LTHE 1485-1489; GCW 83-106 (“The Research Paper”); GCW 147-152 (“Library Discovery”)
1/24 Formats; “A Rose for Emily” LTHE 666-673; “The Naked and the Nude” LTHE 161-162
1/26 “The Yellow Wallpaper” LTHE 1016-1021; “Love is Not All” LTHE 1111; “One Perfect Rose” LTHE 1111
1/31 “The Hunger Artist” 362-369; “Not Waving but Drowning” LTHE 163-164
2/2 “Bartleby the Scrivener” LTHE 334-361; “With His Venom” LTHE 1083
2/7 “Sonny’s Blues” LTHE 674-698; “Euphoria” LTHE 184-185; “I Felt a Funeral in My Brain” LTHE 153;
2/9 “Good Country People” LTHE 118-133; “Protestors” LTHE 453-454
2/14 Welcome to the Dollhouse (Film)
2/16 Welcome to the Dollhouse (Film); Discussion/Analysis
2/21 “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” LTHE 1063-1076; “There is a Girl Inside” LTHE 1129
2/23 “The Red Convertible” LTHE 732-739; “A Clean, Well-Lighted Place” LTHE 105-108
2/28 “Everyday Use” LTHE 717-723; “Latin Women Pray” LTHE 788-789; Prepare for Mid-Term Exam. This test will cover all material to this point.
3/2 Mid-Term Exam “A Loaf of Bread” LTHE 409-423; “Letter to the Dead” LTHE 174-175;
3/7 “The Second Coming” LTHE 440; “Hard Rock Returns to Prison” LTHE 778-779; “Things Cheaply Had” LTHE 789; “Right Through the Heart” LTHE 1139-1140
3/9 “My Papa’s Waltz” LTHE 1114; “This Be the Verse” LTHE 168; “Daddy” LTHE 1124-1127; “Power” LTHE1127-1128; “The Actuarial Wife” LTHE 1136-1137; “Nobody Loses All the Time” LTHE 1407-1408; “Mid-Term Break” LTHE 1420;
3/14 Spring Break
3/16 Spring Break
3/21 King of Masks [China] (Film)
3/23 King of Masks [China] (Film) Discussion/Analysis
3/28 “Bad Child” LTHE 176-177; “Our Room” LTHE 178; “Plus C’est la Meme Chose” LTHE 179; “Portrait d’une Femme” LTHE 765-766; “Warning” LTHE 455; “An Old Man” LTHE 464-465
3/30 “The Cask of Amontillado” LTHE 1280-1285; “Naming of Parts” LTHE 772-773; “The Victims” LTHE 1132-1133; Research Paper Due
4/4 “I Knew a Woman” 1115-1116; “The Mutes” LTHE 1120-1121; “The Farmer’s Wife” LTHE 1122-1123; “Revenge of the Ex-Mistress” LTHE 1143; “After Fighting for Hours” LTHE 1143;
4/6 “The Flea” LTHE 1100; AIDS LTHE 1116-1117; “Living in Sin” KTGE 1123-1124; “Getting Through” LTHE 1133; “The Bride Comes to Yellow Sky” 91-99; “Sex Without Love” LTHE 1131-1132; Academic Reading Journal Due
4/11 “The Things They Carried” LTHE 1360-1374; “If We Must Die” LTHE 446; “The Unknown Citizen” LTHE 449
4/13 “Young Goodman Brown” LTHE 80-91; “Musee des Beaux Arts” LTHE 1397-1399; “In Goya’s Greatest Scenes” 1399-1401; “The Starry Night” 1401-1403; “The Great Wave: Hokusai” 1403-1404; Reflective Essay Due
4/18 Death of A Salesman LTHE 790-867
4/20 Death of A Salesman LTHE 790-867
4/25 Creative Reading Journals Due; Presentations
4/27 Presentations; General Review; Prepare for the final test: Test is comprehensive and will cover all chapters and works in the textbook, exercises, presentations, handouts, reports, etc.
5/2-6 Finals Week
Exam Dates and Times
Wednesday, May 4 @ 5:15 PM – 7:15 PM