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Syllabus

ENGL112: Introduction to Literature

Summer 2013: May 28th – June 26th

9 am- 11:10 am, MTWR

Instructor: M. Mize

Contact: mmize@odu.edu

Office Hours: Immediately after each class or by appointment

COURSE DESCRIPTION

This introductory level literature class is designed to help students acquire the tools for understanding and critically analyzing three genres of literature: fiction, poetry, and drama. This semester you will be introduced to the major types of literary expression as well as recurrent conventions, concerns and values central to literature and to the understanding of literary texts and contexts. Students will read from and respond extensively to literary materials that reflect diversity in genre, historical period, and cultural expression. As a result, we will explore how literature might embody and generate meaning, reflect and create culture, and engage the imagination. A deeper understanding of how texts work can help us to understand the function of literature in society, and expose the nature of the culture out of which a particular text was produced. To help us situate the literary tradition within a contemporary framework, we will also be drawing on current and popular culture.

You’ll be expected to exercise your objective critical thinking skills as you read, analyze, and discuss a variety of stories, poems, and plays. 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.

COURSE POLICIES

 Attendance

Daily attendance and participation are vital for your success in this course. It is your responsibility to come to every class prepared and to participate in class activities. You will need to sign in either before or after class, not while I am lecturing.  You are considered absent if you are more than fifteen minutes late (without an appropriate reason).

Also, in accordance with English Department policies, you will receive an automatic F if you miss 25 percent of class time, (5 classes). However, in case of illnesses or other personal reasons (this includes work conflicts, court dates, etc.) you are permitted three excused absences. Should you miss a class, it is your responsibility to find out what was assigned for the next class period.

Electronics

I will be using the course website as our central communication point. Here, I will post homework, reading, and other course related information, including a list of your blogs. You will be looking at each other’s work from time to time as well. As for your final grades, they will be posted on Blackboard. You will also submit your final paper to Blackboard. In other words, we’ll be working with the digital medium, but don’t panic. Bumps in the road are always anticipated.

During class, computers and phones should not be a distraction to others, yourself, or the teacher. However, I strongly encourage you to use laptops and other digital devices within the class.

*Each class, I will ask for a few volunteer note-takers. At the end of the class, these individuals will email their notes to me; by the end of the week I will upload all of the notes to this website. That way, the entire class has notes, but isn’t forced to concentrate on note-taking. The volunteers should not always be the same people; being a note-taker certainly helps your participation grade.

Late Work

Late class-work and homework will not be accepted. Please note, if you miss a reading quiz, you will not be able to make it up (unless you have an acceptable reason).

For the paper, in the case of an emergency, you must notify me as soon as possible as well as attach a documented reason for the assignment’s tardiness. If you discuss the situation with me beforehand, I may make an exception. If I do make an exception for your paper, the grade will drop by a letter for every day that it is late.

Plagiarism

Plagiarism is the act of identifying another’s writing or ideas as one’s own. It is considered by the university and academia to be considered theft.  Any writing you produce in this class should be either your own ideas/writing or properly cited using MLA. Writing for this class will teach one how to use sources in an appropriate manner. If a student is caught plagiarizing, he or she will fail the assignment. A second act of plagiarism results in failure of the class. Plagiarism will be reported to the English Department and the Honor Council.

Students with Special Needs

In accordance with ODU policy, any students with disabilities who are taking this course and may need disability-related classroom accommodations are encouraged to soon make an appointment with Disability Services, 1525 Webb Center, 683.4655, disability@odu.edu. There, you can register for support services if you have not already done so. If you already have a letter of accommodation, it must be provided to me before classroom accommodations will be allowed.


SCHEDULE

The following schedule is tentative. I reserve the right to alter and adapt the schedule as necessary in order to best serve the needs of the class. I will announce such changes prior to the classes affected. It is your responsibility to be informed about such changes. This schedule will be updated throughout our time (the syllabus version will not).

 WEEK 1

5/ 28    Course Introduction and Syllabus Discussion/ Student Introductions/ Create Blogs

  • Site “Reading Tips” Jonathan Mooney and David Cole
  • Customize Blog

5/ 29    Syllabus Quiz/ Strategies for Reading

  •  Read: Chapter 1
  • Site   “A Secret Sorrow” and “A Sorrowful Woman” ( “Short Stories”)

5/ 30    Introducing the Genre: Reading Fiction

  • Read: Chapter 29 and “Writing in Response 1″
  • Blog: Visual Narrative

WEEK 2

6/3 Introducing the Genre: Writing about Literature

  • Read: Chapters 2-3

6/4  Discuss Point of View & Character

  • Read: Chapters 4-5

6/5   Discuss Setting, Tone, and Style

  • Read: Chapters 6-7

6/6   Discuss Theme and Symbol

  • Site: Bedford Theories

WEEK 3

6/ 10     Discuss Theories/ Review for Midterm Exam

  • Study!

6/ 11     Midterm Exam

  •  Read: Chapter 9, Chapter 21

6/ 12    Introducing the Genre: Reading Poetry

  • Read: Chapters 10, 12

6/ 13    Discuss Voice, Denotation, and Connotation

  • Read: Chapters 17-18

WEEK 4

6/ 17    Discuss Closed and Open Forms

  • Read: Chapter 30

6/ 18    Discuss Research Paper/ Citation

  • Read: Chapters 23, 24

6/ 19     Introducing the Genre: Reading  a Play/ Comedy & Tragedy

  • Read: Chapter 25: 725-755

6/ 20      Discuss Oedipus the King

  • Read Midsummer Night’s Dream

 WEEK 5

6/ 24   Discuss  Shakespeare / Midsummer Night’s Dream

6/ 25  Wrap-up / Final Review

  • Study!

6/ 26    Final Exam

  • Last Day to submit Final Paper