The School of Arts and Humanities Presents

Instructor: Dr. Anderson M. Rearick III
Fall 2004, 1:50-2:50 p.m. MWF: CAMP: 301

Office: Founders Hall 219C
(Within 219: School of Arts and Humanities.)

Sec I

Office Ext. 3508

Office Hours: Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays 10:20- 12:30 and 

on Tuesdays and Thursdays 10:20-11:10 and 2:00pm - 2:50pm

Be aware that appointments will become more tight towards the end of the semester during personal reviews with Research Students. (Please note that in foul weather Prof. Rearick must catch the 4:00 MOTA bus)

Home Phone 392-3738
(but please do not call after 8:00--Andy and Laura are hopefully in Bed)
email: anderson.rearick@mvnu.edu
(checked twice, daily)

Course Index:

• Course Description

[objectives][texts][procedure][paper] [required forms][grading scale] [attendance] [evaluation][tests][midterm &final][online discussion] [paper]

• Class Schedule

Course Description:

ENG 4089, Selected Topics in Literature, is described in the school catalogue as "A topical course dealing with the major authors, genres, "isms" critical concepts or schools, or important chronological periods. This particular class is going to examine literature of the imagination.  Beginning with theories of archetypes and reading mythic narratives, the class will move through several subgenera including satires, gothic, fantasy, and science fiction.

Course Procedure:

Selected Topics, Literature of the Fantastic, will meet three times a week to discuss the development of cosmic world views using the below reading list as raw material. Some points which will be especially emphasized is the nature of the fantastic, its development, the influence of Christianity on as well as Christianity's concerns to the power of alternative world views on today's society. This class can only function as an introduction, not an exhaustive study.  Finally, there will be one major paper to be handed in towards the end of the semester

Texts:

    Author: James Gunn

Title The Road to Science Fiction: From Gilgamesh to Wells (Vol. 1)

    Author: James Gunn

Title The Road to Science Fiction: From Wells to Heinlein (Vol. 2)

    Author: James Gunn

Title The Road to Science Fiction: From Heinlein to Here (Vol. 3)

    Author: C.G. Jung

Title The Archetypes and The Collective Unconscious (Collected Works of C.G. Jung Vol.9 Part 1)

    Author: Bulfinch, Thomas

Title Bulfinch's Mythology (Laurel Classic)

    Author: JRR Tolkien

Title The Hobbit: or There and Back Again

    Author: JRR Tolkien

Title The Tolkien Reader

    Author: J.K. Rowling

Title: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (Book 3)

    Author: Bram Stoker

Title: Dracula

    Author: William Shakespeare

Title: Macbeth

    Author: C.S. Lewis

Title: Out of the Silent Planet (First of the Space Trilogy

    Author: Arthur C. Clarke

Title: 2001: A Space Odyssey

    Author: H G Wells

Title: War of the Worlds

    Author: Susan Power

Title: The Grass Dancer

    Author: Ray Bradbury

Title: Something Wicked This Way Comes

    Author: Alfred Bester

Title: The Stars My Destination

    Author: Walter M. Miller Jr.

Title: A Canticle for Leibowitz (Bantam Spectra Book)

Course Objectives:

• To develop in students the ability to listen receptively, think critically, reason clearly, evaluate objectively, and communicate clearly while examining the world and works gathered under the heading of "literature of the fantastic."

• To encourage students toward acquiring attitudes within the study of imaginative literature which stimulate awareness of self and environment, enabling them to respond creatively and positively

• To encourage students through their readings and discussion toward the maximum development of communication skills and abilities.

• To promote within students the vision and ability to apply communication skills and knowledge to enhance personal relationships, human society and God's kingdom.

• To come to some sense of where orthodox faith stands with the realms of the fantastic.

• To enable students to improve written communications through directed experience in their online discussions and a paper

• To acquire a knowledge of the assigned content matter 

The Paper:

Since this is an upper division literature class you are expected to produce a paper within the subject range by the end of the semester. However, the process will be monitored by a series of sub-assignments throughout the fall. 

Subject and Topic with Source of Subject Headings for final paper -- Oct. 11th
Research Question for final due -- Nov. 8th
Annotated Bibliography for final paper due -- Nov. 15th

First page of text due -- Nov. 24^th Right Before Thanksgiving
Final Paper due -- Dec. 3-6

It is not possible to pass the class and not hand in this paper and it is impossible to do well on the paper without handing in these steps.

You are to write a paper of 1000-1250 words (four to five pages). Use MLA style. For your use, I have included pictures of the way your paper should look (see bottom of page). You will be graded on content as well as grammatical correctness and style.

A variety of topics will be brought up in class. You may choose one of them and prepare a research paper. Or if you have some other topic you would like to work on, clear that topic with me. 

Otherwise, you are to choose one of the authors whose work we have already read this semester or one of the authors we will read before the end of the semester. Then read another work by this author (the work should be fairly substantial—don’t focus on just one short poem, for example). If you choose this option, you can approach the assignment by doing a research paper on the new work you have read. Or you can discuss or analyze the new work, in which case research is optional. Or you might want to compare and contrast the work you read with the piece we read in class, again making research optional. 

Please avoid using biographical information about the author unless a brief mention of biographical information is needed to clarify some point you are making. Also, do not summarize what you have read except briefly if necessary to make some point. 

Papers are due on Friday Dec.3 or Monday Dec. 6. Late papers will be penalized 10 points for each 24-hour period they are late.

Required Forms:

NOTE: All assignments (including homework) MUST BE TYPED, must be in MLA Format and must be done in 12 to 14 Font. There will be NO EXCEPTIONS. If an assignment is handed in which does not meet these requirements it will be returned without being graded and will be marked down when it is handed in as LATE. See Scott Foresman Handbook for Writers on page 780-833 for examples of MLA layout.

How I Grade:

As an upper division class there will be plus (+) and minuses (-) in the grading system this year.

• 90 to 100 is an "A" Exceptional! A cut above--unusually good.

• 87 to 89 is "B+" Very Well Done!

• 84 to 86 is a "B" Well Done! A fine Job!

• 80 to 83 is a "B-" Fairly Good.

• 77 to 79 is a "C+" Solidly in there!

• 74 to 76 is a "C" Good, a concrete understanding of the subject.

• 70 to 73 is a "C-" Understanding of subject is workable.

• 60 to 70 is a "D" Passing but weak.

• 59 and below is an "F" Fell short of required understanding of material.

Evaluation:

Paper - 30% (4-5, double-spaced pages using MLA format; at least three secondary sources required)
Quizzes - 30% (11 quizzes given; 10 best scores counted)
Midterm exam - 20% (covers second half of course)
Final exam - 20% (covers second half of course) 

Helpful Power Points:

Material:

• The Textuality of Science Fiction and Fantasy

• Archetypes in literature

Paper Guidelines:

• Tad Bits (A presentation of elements in student writing which drive Dr. Rearick crazy!)

• MLA Guidelines (A power point presentation provided by Cornell University's Writing Lab)

Attendance:
Attendance / Participation: Regular, punctual attendance is required. More than 3 un-excused absences will negatively affect your grade. Only official MVNU activities produce an excused absence, and even these must be verified by "hard copy', from the university. Students must be in class to take all quizzes. Read the assignment before coming to class. No papers submitted after the due dates will he accepted unless prior arrangements have been made.

Tests:
There will be a very short quiz each week--mo more than 15 questions--on reading and class discussions.  Multiple choice, true and false, and matching.

Midterm and Final
These will be based on the exams. The Midterm will be on Wednesday Oct. 13 in class. The Final will be on Wednesday, Dec. 8 from 1:00 to 2:50

Class Calendar: MWF, Fall 2004

Week One