 |
The School of Arts and Humanities Presents the
Syllabus for
ENG 2013
|
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| Introduction to Literature |
| Instructor: Dr. Anderson M. Rearick III |
Credit: 3 Hours / Founders
221
January 2009 Mondays through Fridays
Time: 11:30 am-01:40 pm
Dr. Rearick's Office:
Founders Hall 219
(Within 219: Lit., Lang., & Comm. Dept.)
Office Hours: Daily 8:00-11:30 & 2:00-3:00 or by appointment (there are meetings
sometimes at 10:20)
Office Ext. 3508
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:
The purpose of ENG2013, Introduction to Literature, As Described by the Online Catalogue: "A study of literary genres through representative readings. Prerequisite: ENG1053G." This class will meet five times a week for four weeks to discuss the nature of literature using as raw material the readings listed as well as a series of handouts to be dispersed during the semester. Discussions will center on some of the common themes that have haunted the human mind and heart throughout western history.
ENG2013 Introduction to Literature: This class will meet daily for four weeks to discuss the nature of literature using the below reading list as raw material as well as a series of handouts to be dispersed during the semester. Discussions will center around the some of the common themes which have haunted the human mind and heart throughout western history.
The following reading list is not exclusive and, in fact, many important works (probably including your favorites) have been excluded. This class can only function as an introduction, not an exhaustive study. I encourage you to think of the texts for this class not as a single resource but a series of inexhaustible treasure chests, capable of refreshment and inspiration time and time again.
Students will be evaluated by a series of three tests, four discussion collections, and a final. Also the option for extra credit will made available for those who are willing to do extra work.
The student will find that being comfortable with computers and blackboard will be of major help in this class since the required class discussion as well as the exams are all going to take place online. Follow this link to see what I recently said about online learning.
The purpose of this course is. . .
1. to expose the student to a wide range of literary genres: poetry, drama, novel and short story
2. to introduce the student to a wide ranger of authors of different cultures, genders and ages.
3. to encourage the student to consider what makes a work of literature worthy--how should the cannon be formed?
4. to introduce some of the important common issues which authors--in spite of their different backgrounds, cultures, and mediums--often examine.
I know at times you may feel like this
fellow below but stay with it.
A Note on the texts: The
central purpose of this class is to
enrich your life. This is not a vocational
training session in which the question of what information is
actually applicable to one's present or future job is central to
the class's worth. In point of fact most companies have
programs to deal with that need. The purpose of this course
is to broaden the student's understanding of the human
condition, to widen his or her understanding of how
people think, and develop their own sense of what is worthwhile
and beautiful. Thus these texts have value long after the
student completes this class and should be looked upon as the
beginning of what may become a treasure trove of future reading.
One final note, readings listed on a day in a syllabus are
expected to be completed by that day.
An Experiment in Criticism
by C.S.
Lewis
Cambridge University Press; Rep edition (January 31, 1992)
ISBN: 0521422817
List Price: $16.99
Not
Required
The Internet Literary Vocabulary Page accessed from Dr. Rearick's Reading Corner.
The Novella
A
Christmas Carol [e-text)
(Dover Thrift Edition) (Paperback) by
Charles Dickens
Dover Publications (Actually any
edition will be fine)
ISBN: 0486268659
Required
The Anthology:
Perrine's Literature: Structure, Sound and Sense
10th
ISBN-10: 1-4130-3308-3
ISBN-13: 978-1-4130-3308-3
© 2009
1744 pages
Required
Plays:
Please note that except for Othello which is in The Perrine's Anthology all the others on on web sites. Also we will not be reading all of these texts. For example Henry the Fifth will be only referenced.
Hand outs
Handouts will be given throughout the class. Unless specified by Dr. Rearick, such hand-outs should be considered required reading like any of the assigned texts. Click Here for the Word Document and Click here for the Cover Contents and Introduction Page and Here for the full text pages
6 Online Tests -- 50% -- (plus one "tryout" quiz which will not count
Class Participation 20%
Final Exam 30%
Attendance: Lecture will only play a part in this class' activities. Literature is meant to be talked about. Students are encouraged to express their opinions and share their unique insights. Each of us brings something special to a text that is ours alone. Thus, your comments are very important. Your online class home on Blackboard will have ongoing discussion questions. Students should interact online at least once a week. This amount of activity earns a 90%; more interaction raises the grade.
Class Participation: Since we are functioning on an intensive schedule, it is vital that you be in class throughout the semester--even on days when a play is being shown in class. Therefore attendance will factor into your class participation grade. Three absences will be allowed and then five points will be taken from the student's "participation" score starting at 85 (90 - 5) and continuing. Students who are involved in a recognized activity for the school (Mandate weekends, traveling musical groups, athletes) need to see the instructor ahead of time so arrangements can be made. Your online class home on Blackboard will have ongoing discussion questions. Students should interact online at least once a week. This amount of activity earns a 90%; more interaction raises the grade.
Tests: Three tests based on the readings and class discussion will be given throughout the semester. They will be given online. However copies will be handed out as keys following the tests. They will be held on the 9th 14th, 16th 21st, 23rd . and the 28th
Final Exam: This is scheduled for the last half of the last day of class, Jan.30th, is accumulative and based strongly on the tests given throughout the semester. Do not be surprised if part of the day is used to cover NEW material. This class is so cramped I may need some time for some final readings. The exam itself will not take more than an hour.
Extra Credit: Although there will be no papers required for this class, a student can add extra credit to his or her grade by writing a paper or papers--using MLA format--on outside reading concerning any of the works or authors covered in class. Furthermore, another option for extra credit is to view or listen to and then write a review about tapes or video films on reserve in the library. Credit will vary according to the assignment. Extra points will be added directly to the final score for work handed in before or on the class just at the end of the third week, Friday Jan. 20th.
A Cautionary Comment About “Extra Credit:” Many students take advantage of the option of extra credit and I am pleased to offer the opportunity. However, students should understand that extra credit does not make up for the overall performance in class. Extra Credit is a boost. If pursued to its fullest it can add up to about five points on your over-all numerical score. That pushes a “B+” to an “A-” or an “A-” to an “A”. Do not expect a solid “B” [85] to be changed to an “A” [93] by extra credit. There have been cases when a high “B” [87] has been kicked up to an A- [90] but students in such cases were close to a B+ from the start. Extra Credit works, but don’t expect more from it than it can give.
Disability Services Access: Students who qualify for and desire accommodations in this course due to a disability, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, must follow the Disability Services Policies and Procedures as put forth by the office of Academic Support. The guidelines can be accessed in electronic form at the web address http://www.mvnu.edu/academics/services/dservices.html and in a hard copy at the Academic Support office. Call extension 4540 for further information.
On a personal note, I am disabled because of eyesight; my son is disabled by breathing complications from the existence of an artificial trace and struggles with Aspergers; my wife and daughter are attending school with ADHD and so I am especially sensitive to the needs and challenges faced by otherwise qualified students. I "toughed" it out when I was at ENC, but the world has changed for the better and there are many resources available to you I wish I had--resources I, in fact, presently use in my office such as a close circuit TV attached to the screen of my computer as well as speaking programs which allow text to be read to me. Pursue these things and see me if you have any such needs.
As we make our way through the readings you may
wish to visit my web page,
Dr. Rearick's Reading Corner, located at. . .
http://nzr.mvnu.edu/faculty/trearick/english/rearick/readings/re_intro.htm
This address is reachable both on and off campus. Those of you who are local and do not have a computer should remember that the Knox Public Library offers web access for a limited time, and--of course--the labs of the campus library and computer labs are available to you.
Other web pages relating to works of literature which might be of interest to the student can be accessed from this index page by title, author, genre, sub-genre, time period, or nationality.
I have tried to place some ideas and even sometimes some test questions connected with our class readings within these files. Also in several cases there are links to study guides, e texts, and even connections to relevant web pages on the net.
Note that every
work is connected to a page which gives biographical information
about the author taken from the Encyclopedia Britanica.
If you wish to make your way through the front
door and see what other faculty
are up to check out the MVNU internal web page at http://mvnc.edu/nzr
which for some reason comes up on my computer with the address of.
. .
http://nzr.mvnu.edu/
One special point of note:
Please do not print off my pages until you find out how long the
document is and have asked yourself if you really need a hard
copy. You can check the document size by going into
print preview and then zoom in so you can read the text. At
the bottom of the first page will be the page number in
comparison with the total pages. For example, my "Dickens’
Christian Carol in Prose" article has at the bottom
‘1 of 13.’ This tells you that there will be 13
pages of text printed. Not bad, but my Pride and Prejudice
study guild developed by Monarch Notes is 75 pages.
Librarians and computer lab assistants have been dismayed to find
piles of such text flowing from their printers. Please do
not abuse this resource!
Discussion Entry # 3 Jan 11, 2009
The Role of Nature in Rime of the Ancient Mariner Seems Important
In my latest reading of Coleridge "Rime of the Ancient Mariner" I noticed that even though the work is filled with supernatural elements, the hard edged description of nature itself also plays a dominate role in in the work in setting the mood and cueing the reader to what is going to happen. What I mean is that as memorable as the the vampire-like woman who claims the narrator or the celestial beings who possess the dead crew members bodies are, there are also striking moments of natural beauty such as the storm which fills his water buckets and then clears to reveal a starry night.
At present it is impossible to give you an exact breakdown of
what will be discussed, but there is a listing of the major works
and some of the minor ones within the time frame I hope to cover
them during this Summer. Also there are several longer
works which will be covered at the end of the class.
Although A Grief Observed and
A Christmas Carol will not be
overtly touched until then, the student will find recommended
reading schedule throughout the schedule. Unless otherwise
indicated all page numbers refer to the Perrine's text.
The Nature of Literature and its depiction of Isolation
Terms:
Here are some
terms which you should know by the end of this section.
Look up the literary
meaning for. . .
Note: this is not an Option; it
is expected:
Remember to look at the Glossary available at
Dr. Rearick's Reading Corner
under the heading: "Resources."
Wednesday: Jan 7
Practice Quiz online (click online link below)
My Lecture on Pleasure: the Cornerstone of Literature
What should be the requirements that guide a professor to include a work in an Introduction to Literature Class
Does Dr. Rearick's definition of literature change your original concept of the material to be covered?
More Possible Discussion Topics:
My Lecture on The Changing Canon
My Lecture on What Everyone Doesn't
Know About the Christmas Carol
My Lecture on Dickens' "Christian" Carol
An Experiment in Criticism by C. S. Lewis: Chap. One: "The Literary Reader"
Possible Discussion Topics:
More Possible Discussion Topics:
Friday: Jan. 9
Test # 1
My Lecture on The Romantics and Two Young Men Who Turned the
World of Poetry Upside down!
What is Going On in Kubla Khan?
Possible Discussion Topics:
Gender Difference and Cultural
Expectations
Learn the literary meaning for. . .
Remember
that there is a Glossary available at
Dr. Rearick's
Reading Room under the heading: "Resources."
Monday: Jan 9
Othello [online text] by William Shakespeare (Act Four and Act Five) 1336-1368
Tuesday Jan. 10
My Lecture on Gender Differences
Shakespeare's Bad/Good Woman &
Good/Bad Woman
Here is a helpful Study Guide on the Taming of the Shrew
Love and Marriage
Wednesday Jan. 11
Test # 2
Thursday Jan. 12
Friday Jan. 13
Test # 3
The
Power of love and Marriage Against The Isolating Force of Culture:
Terms you should learn about Lit and Love:
Note: this is not an Option: it is strongly recommended. Web
pages have been created with further information, study guides and sometimes
even sample questions at Dr.
Rearick's Reading Room
Monday Jan. 16, 2005
Possible Discussion Topics:
Very likely you found "The White Man's Burden" problematic. However, included in that mind set was the great missionary works of the time (like David Livingston). Since Christendom (countries where Christianity was strongest) was populated by mostly white people, did it suggest a burden? Has the missionary movement changed since then?
How Does Society Treat and Perceive its Young and its Old?
Possible Discussion Topics:
Various works within this section examine the family and the relationships between parents and children. What do you see as being of special concern among our authors?
In "The Bride Comes to Yellow Sky" what is the significance of the sheriff getting married? What kind of society will be replaced in Yellow Sky?
Tuesday
Jan. 17, 2003
What is it like to be Marginalized by Society?
Wednesday Jan. 18, 2005
Thursday Jan. 19, 2005
A Grief Observed pp. 68-71
Friday Jan. 20, 2005
Death and Consolation
Learn the literary meaning for. . .
Be sure to look up definitions for these terms in the Glossary
provided by Prof. Rearick and linked and from his Readers'
Corner.
Monday, Jan. 23
Poems on Death
Tuesday, Jan. 24
Death and Consolation Continued a Bit. . .
A Grief Observed pp. 80-89
Shadowlands
On the nature of Death
Test #
6
Chivalry and War
Learn the literary meaning for. . .
Romance (review)
Heroic
Chivalry
Realistic
Be sure to look up definitions for these terms in the Glossary
provided by Prof. Rearick and linked and from his Readers'
Corner.
A Grief Observed pp. 81-89
Wednesday, Jan. 25
Thursday, Jan. 26
Final
Last Updated Jan 7 2009
