fall 2004
T, R (9:30AM-10:45AM) Bryan 106
Instructor: Marcus Slease
Office: McIver 20C
Office Hours: M, W 1-2 PM
Email- postpran@yahoo.com
Description
The idea behind this course is not to have you read the ten greatest books ever written, if such a list is possible. I also will not attempt to impart a rigid kind of natural history of literature. It's not even to teach you to like reading—although I hope you enjoy some of the books.
I have three goals for this course. The first is to have you read a selection of poems, plays, novels, and short stories that I particularly like, and that you many not have encountered before. I think there's a good chance that you'll enjoy them—but even if it turns out you dislike one or two, you'll be exposed to something new, which is the basis of all education.
The second goal is to help you realize that, apart from liking or disliking a book, you can get interesting ideas from it—and that those ideas are often found between and around the text. Critical reading can be hard work. The tools of critical reading and thinking include learning to recognize the formal elements of literary composition; to search for and analyze theme, structure, and image; to read texts at many different levels, and from many different perspectives. Reading critically is a crucial life skill, one that you can use everywhere from reading for your other classes to watching TV.
Finally, because it's seldom enough to understand something and just keep it to yourself, I plan to make you talk and write about your ideas—a lot. Talking your ideas over with other people helps both you and them to think. Writing things down forces you to think them through more clearly, and pushes you to discover and develop your thoughts.
Objectives
? Appreciate and understand various types of literature
? Learn close reading, analysis, and criticism of a literary text
? Understand the social and historic forces in which literary texts are written
and interpreted
Texts:
Donald Allen (ed.), The New American Poetry Revised
Sander Hicks, The Breaking Manager
Lisa Jarnot, Ring of Fire
Denis Johnson, Jesus’ Son
Roddy Doyle, Paddy Clarke HA HA HA
Exams:
You will take an exam after each unit. The exam will consist of short essay
questions. These exams are designed to test your critical reading of the
assigned texts. Please bring a blue book for each exam.
Discussion
Since this class is built around discussion, it is vital that you come to class
prepared to participate. Make sure you have carefully read the assigned reading
and are ready to ask questions and make comments. You will have the opportunity
to participate in both small and large groups.
Group Presentations
You will be responsible for an oral presentation in which you'll introduce
an author, text, or historical or cultural issue of relevance to the assigned
reading. Some of you may choose to present biographical information about
an author, but you should not present only biography (most of our reading
includes brief biographical notes about each author, and you can assume everyone
will have read these). Rather, if you include biography it should be clearly
linked to bigger questions, about how the author's life sheds light on the
work or connects to broader issues about language and culture. You should
plan to speak for about 7-8 minutes, with another 2-3 minutes of question
and answer and discussion. You may wish to use a handout for your presentation,
and/or other audio-visual aids.
Evaluation
Exam # 1 (approx. 20%)
Exam # 2 (approx. 20%)
Exam # 3 (approx. 20%)
Exam # 4 (approx. 20%)
Oral Presentation (approx. 20%)
Other Requirements
Attendance: It is imperative that you show up to class, both physically and mentally every class period. I realize emergencies may come up which prevent you from attending class. That is why you have three freebies. It is also important to attend class on time.
Two tardies equals one absence.
4 absences = highest grade b
5 absences = highest grade c
6 absences = highest grade c-
More than 6 absences = consider withdrawing or risk failing the class
Conferences: The purpose of conferences is to give you individual time to talk about your reading and writing with the instructor. Take charge of these conferences; they’re designed to address your needs. Bring your questions, ideas, and your draft to the conference.
Late work: If you do an assignment after the fact, the reason for doing it is often lost. As with any professional environment, if you miss class, the work is still due that day. Give it to me early or have someone drop it off for you. If an emergency arises, contact me as soon as possible, hopefully before class, to see if we can work out an arrangement.
General Information
Plagiarism: Plagiarism is intentionally or knowingly representing the words of another as one's own in any academic exercise. This is a SERIOUS offense punishable by failure or even expulsion from school. I will not tolerate any act of plagiarism in this course.
Class Schedule (subject to change)
Unit 1: Short stories (Jesus’ Son)
T, Aug 17: introductions
R, Aug 19: discussion of short stories
T, Aug 24: begin discussion of Jesus’ Son
R, Aug 26: continue discussion of Jesus’ Son
T, Aug 31: continue discussion of Jesus’ Son
R, Sep 2: Exam 1: bring bluebook
Unit 2: The Novel (Paddy Clarke HA HA HA)
T, Sep 7: discussion of Paddy Clarke HA HA HA
R, Sep 9:continue discussion of Paddy Clarke HA HA HA
T, Sep 14: continue discussion of Paddy Clarke HA HA HA
R, Sep 16: Exam 2: bring bluebook
Unit 3: Poetry (New American Poetry and Ring of Fire)
T, Sep 21:Charles Olson and Robert Duncan
R, Sep 23: Jack Kerouac and Jackson Mac Low
T, Sep 28:Philip Whalen and Robin Blaser
R, Sep 30: Jack Spicer and Robert Creeley
T, Oct 5: Allen Ginsberg and Frank O’Hara
R, Oct 7: John Ashberry
T, Oct 12: No Class, Fall Break
R, Oct 14: Gregory Corso and Joel Oppenheimer
T, Oct 19: Gary Snyder and Michael McClure
R, Oct 21: Diane Di Prima and Anselm Hollo
T, Oct 26: Amiri Baraka and Joanne Kyger
R, Oct 28: David Meltzer, Edward Sanders, and Anne Waldman
T, Nov 2:Discuss Lisa Jarnot’s Ring of Fire
R, Nov 4: Discuss Lisa Jarnot’s Ring of Fire
T, Nov 9:Exam 3: bring bluebook
Unit 4: Drama (The Breaking Manager)
R, Nov 11: discuss The Breaking Light
T, Nov 16:discuss The Breaking Light
R, Nov 18: discuss Sealove, Manager
R, Nov 23:discuss Sealove, Manager
Thanksgiving Break: Nov 24th- Nov 26th
R, Dec 2: final discussion
T, Dec 7: Turn in final exam
(You will be free to leave after turning in your final since it is Reading
Day)
The final will be take-home (a 3-4 page essay on the plays).