Jenny Noller
McIver 224D
Office Hours: TBA and by appt.

You must write English in the subject heading: jknoller@hotmail.com

The country beneath/ the earth has a green sun/ and the rivers flow backwards:/ the trees and the rocks are the same/ as they are here, but shifted./ Those who live there are always hungry;/ from them you can learn/ wisdom and great power,/ if you can descend and return safely.
–Margaret Atwood, “Procedures for Underground”

BOOKS:
Lawn, Beverly. 40 Short Stories.
MacLean, Norman. A River Runs Through It.
O’Connor, Flannery. Wise Blood.
Faulkner, William. As I Lay Dying.
The Little, Brown Handbook

PURPOSE:

This course will help to build a framework with which to understand and more fully enjoy literature. The strategies that you will learn in creating and supporting arguments will be applicable in all your subsequent college courses. Confidence, though, is really the name of the game here. I want you to walk out of this class and be comfortable that you can read a short story, essay, or novel and analyze the work on many different levels. We will accomplish this by extensive reading, discussions, some formal writing, as well as peer presentations.
This class will require a great deal of effort both inside the classroom and out, as there is much reading and all good English classes are born from lively discussion, I expect to have engaging discussions, which means that you will be required to speak in class. One of the goals you will work towards is having a particular opinion on each work after reading it. Part of what will help you to come to this point is your reading responses and class discussion; I strongly encourage students to assert their viewpoints and to back up their arguments—there are no right or wrong opinions, only unfounded ones.
At the end of this course you should be able to interpret and evaluate stories to see how they have been constructed. You should be able to take a position of your own about a particular topic and convey that clearly to an audience. You should be able to find and use supporting information from online, the university library, and many other sources. You should also feel comfortable sharing your thoughts in class. You should feel more competent and confident in your abilities as a student of English.

CLASSROOM INFORMATION:

You will need to purchase all books at the beginning of the semester. The bookstore does not usually hold its stock beyond six weeks.

Texts on e-reserve are available through the UNCG library web site. (Library web page, select reserves and follow the steps using my last name to find readings.)

You will be responsible for keeping up with your reading response journal even if I do not ask for the work on that given day. At the end of the semester you will need all entries.

Always come to class with your text, notebook/journal, and something to write with. You will be responsible for material covered in class discussions. For example, I will be introducing you to new vocabulary words and such but will not always write them on the board—it is up to you to be alert and cognizant of the information being relayed to you. Everything covered in class is fair game for the exam.

Do not come to class unless you have completed the reading. If it becomes apparent that you have not read the text, I reserve the right to ask you to leave the classroom, in which case you will receive an absence.

If you miss a class, you are responsible for getting all handouts, notes, and assignments missed.

REQUIRED ITEMS:
three-ring binder
loose leaf paper
stapler

EXPECTATIONS:

Attendance
Attendance is required! You are allowed TWO absences during the semester—no exceptions. Your final grade will begin going down if you are absent beyond this limit. For each day you miss afterwards, your grade will drop one letter. If you miss six or more days, you will automatically fail the course.

If you are late to class by 10 minutes or more, or if you leave early from class, it counts as ½ absence.

Absences include illness, sporting events, car accidents, acts of nature, etc. In other words, an absence is an absence is an absence. I do not need notes from doctors or judges, as it will make absolutely no difference at all. In the most dire of circumstances, you will need to speak with me.

If you are not present on a day a paper is due, a test day, or a workshop, you will receive a zero for the missed assignment, unless you have turned it in prior to class.

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. Using someone else’s words or ideas is wrong and will not be accepted in my class or the university system (or in life for that matter). It is a violation of the Academic Integrity Policy as defined in the student handbook or at www.uncg.edu/saf/studiscp/Honor.html and will be treated as such. Please review UNCG’s policy in the student handbook. If you are concerned about inadvertently violating this policy, please see me before completing the assignment.

Adverse weather policy
In the event of canceled classes keep up to speed with the syllabus.

Tardiness
Don’t be late. It’s rude! I will take role as class begins. If you are not there, then you will be counted tardy. Excessive tardies (four or more) will result in a letter grade drop.

Mutual respect
We must respect each other in order for this class to function. Any behavior that distracts (eating, talking while others are talking, etc.) or is disrespectful (personal attacks, etc.) is unacceptable. Students may be asked to leave the classroom if they choose to behave in these ways. Cell phones and pagers should be turned off during class time. You may be reached during classes or conferences at the department phone number (334-5311) in the case of an emergency.

Special needs
If anyone has extra needs in the classroom due to disabilities, learning differences or any other reason, please just let me know and I’ll be happy to accommodate you.

GRADING:

Student conferences
These meetings allow you and I to discuss writing issues one-on-one. As a result, missing a conference will count as a class absence. Please call and let me know when you cannot make it to your appointment. One student conference will be required during this course.

Late work/ missed testing
Late work is not accepted. Should you fail to hand in a paper, I will automatically fail you for that assignment. Talk with me immediately if you have an extenuating circumstance; if there is a situation, I expect to be notified well in advance. Excuses such as, “My computer failed,” or “I can’t take an exam because I have a cold,” don’t fly with me.

Essays 30%
Midterm 10%
Quizzes 20%
Reading responses &
class participation 20%
Presentations 10%
Exam 10%

FORMAL PAPER & READING SCHEDULE:
(Schedule may be modified based on the needs and interests of the class)

Mon., 8/16 Introduction to the course and classmates.
Wed., 8/18 Discuss A River Runs Through It (pgs. 1-35)
Fri., 8/20 Discuss A River Runs Through It (pgs. 36-70)

Mon., 8/23 Discuss A River Runs Through It (pgs. 71-end)
Wed., 8/25 Discuss “The Cask of Amontillado” (14) “The Story of an Hour” (73)
Fri., 8/27 Discuss “A White Heron” (55) “The Necklace” (65)

Mon., 8/30 Discuss “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” (406)
Wed., 9/1 Discuss “The Yellow Wall Paper” (92)
Fri., 9/3 Discuss “The Lady with the Dog” (76)
Paper Due #1

Mon., 9/6 No class. Labor Day.
Wed., 9/8 Discuss Philip K. Dick story found on e-reserve *Last day to drop without academic penalty
Fri., 9/10 Discuss Wise Blood (Chps. 1-3)

Mon., 9/13 Discuss Wise Blood (Chps. 4-6)
Wed., 9/15 Discuss Wise Blood (Chps.7-10 )
Fri., 9/17 Discuss Wise Blood (Chps. 11-14)

Mon., 9/20 Discuss “A Good Man Is Hard to Find” (372)
Wed., 9/22 Discuss “The Jilting of Granny Weatherall” (215)
Fri., 9/24 Discuss “The Lottery” (328)

Mon., 9/27 Discuss “A Worn Path” (295)
Wed., 9/29 Review
Fri., 10/1 Midterm

Mon., 10/4 Discuss “A Clean, Well-Lighted Place” (262)
Wed., 10/6 Discuss “The Chrysanthemums” (284)
Fri., 10/8 Discuss “Barn Burning” (245)

Mon., 10/11 No class. Fall Break.
Wed., 10/13 Discuss “The Metamorphosis” (156)
Fri., 10/15 Discuss “A&P” (399)

Mon., 10/18 Discuss short story (e-reserve) by Denis Johnson
Wed., 10/20 Discuss short story (e-reserve) by Denis Johnson
Fri., 10/22 Inclass exercise
Paper Due #2
Mon., 10/25 Discuss As I Lay Dying (pgs. 1-28)
Wed., 10/27 Discuss As I Lay Dying (pgs. 29-64)
Fri., 10/29 Discuss As I Lay Dying (pgs. 65-93)

Mon., 11/1 Discuss As I Lay Dying (pgs. 94-127)
Wed., 11/3 Discuss As I Lay Dying (pgs. 128-149)
Fri., 11/5 Discuss As I Lay Dying (pgs. 150-183)

Mon., 11/8 Discuss As I Lay Dying (pgs. 184-222)
Wed., 11/10 Discuss As I Lay Dying (pgs. 223-end)
Fri., 11/12 Discuss “Happy Endings” (434)

Mon., 11/15 Discuss “What We Talk About When We Talk About Love” (422)
Wed., 11/17 Discuss “The Management of Grief” (446)
Fri., 11/19 Inclass exercise
Paper Due #3

Mon., 11/22 Discuss “Everyday Use” (462)
Wed., 11/24 No Class. Thanksgiving Break.
Fri., 11/26 No Class. Thanksgiving Break.

Mon., 11/29 Discuss “The Things They Carried” (471)
Wed., 12/1 Discuss “Two Kinds” (490) and “The House on Mango Street” (501)
Fri., 12/3 Discuss “The Red Convertible” (503)

Mon., 12/6 Review

MWF 11:00 Exam Monday, December 13 8:00 a.m. –11:00 a.m.
MWF 12:00 Exam Friday, December 10 12 noon—3:00 p.m.