Materials
Books: Exploring Fiction by Frank Madden
The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini
Two Pocket Folder and Loose Leaf Paper for Reading Response Journal
An email account
Blackboard Access
About this Course
In this course, we will read a number of short stories as well as a novel and
several other forms of short narrative. You will be reading not just to answer
questions about the plot of the story but to explore your reaction and how the
stories’ elements worked to elicit your response. You will respond in
writing to what you are reading at least once a week.
There is no right or wrong response to a narrative, as each of our responses will be somewhat different. However, when writing a formal analysis you will support your conclusions with evidence from the piece you have read and/or knowledge you have gained about the author or the time/place/culture in which it was written.
There will be a lot of reading and a fair amount of writing in this course, it is important that you keep up.
Learning Goals
* To understand the term ‘narrative’ and recognize the narrative
forms
* To confidently undertake the critical analysis of literature, including a
consideration of its elements
* To improve critical reading and writing skills
* To develop a greater understanding for the cultural context of literature
and its search for
fundamental truths
* To examine how authors and readers work together to create meaning in texts
Grading
Participation (including attendance, short assign’s and quizzes) 15%
Response Journal 20%
Exam One 20%
Exam Two 20%
Final Paper 25%
Response Journal
Every Tuesday (except where otherwise noted in the syllabus) you will hand in
a response journal entry at the beginning of class. You are required to spend
15-20 minutes on each entry and it must be a reaction to a narrative that you
have read for this class during the previous week.
There are response ideas to help you get started posted on Blackboard, but essentially these responses should be your considered reaction to the narrative that you have read. You are encouraged to reflect on the story that you have been told and evaluate it. Journal entries should NOT be a summary of what you have read.
These journal entries are helpful to you both in terms of developing critical reading skills and developing topics for your final paper, as well as providing you with review material at exam time.
Blackboard
All students are required to check blackboard frequently. Announcements may
be posted there. Additionally I will try to post copies of assignments and handouts.
There will also be helpful web links. Lastly, we will be looking at some related
articles and literary criticism throughout the semester and these will be posted
on blackboard.
The Classroom Community and Related Stuff
This class is meant to be a place where we can have thoughtful discourse. To
that end, I expect you to be open to what your classmates are saying and respectful
of others’ efforts in the class.
Regular contribution to class and active listening to what your classmates have to say is an important part of this class, thus your attendance and preparation for class is essential. Missing more than three classes will likely affect your grade. Being late to class twice will count as an absence.
Please try to come to every class and be on time! If you must be absent, email me in advance, whenever possible. You are responsible for finding out what you missed. Absent extraordinary circumstances, there will be no make-up exams or quizzes.
Also, please try to remember to turn off cell phones, pagers, etc. while in class.
Response Journal and Paper Collections
Collection of assignments will happen at the beginning of class, if you do not
hand them in at that time they will be considered late. Late work will likely
be accepted time permitting and depending on the degree of lateness, but your
grade will be affected.
Plagiarism
I don’t expect this will be an issue for any of you, but be aware, the
official college policy on plagiarism can be found at http://library.uncg.edu/depts/ref/tutorial/integrate/plagdef.html.
If you have a question about this policy, please see me before it becomes a problem. As you know, there is an academic integrity policy at UNCG, ask me if there are any questions about this.
Disability Services
Disability services are available by going to Suite 208 of the Elliott University
Center, calling 334-5440 or emailing ods@uncg.edu.
The Writing Center
Located at 101 McIver. The Writing Center can provide you with assistance related
to organization, grammar, development of ideas, etc. You can drop in or call
334-3125 for an appointment.
Adverse Weather
University closings will be posted at http://www.uncg.edu/psp/weather/weatheralert.htm
and related information can be obtained by calling 334-4400. Please do not assume
classes are cancelled, if you are unsure check with one of these resources.
If you absolutely cannot make it to class due to weather but classes have not
been cancelled, you must call or email me prior to class.
In the event that a class is cancelled, continue to follow the course schedule and do the readings for the next class, we will compress both classes into one when we meet again.
Weekly Schedule- Changes may be made to this schedule as needed during the semester, but otherwise it will be as follows. Be sure to check the schedule regularly to keep up with readings and assignments, I may not always mention them in class, it is your responsibility to keep apprised of the syllabus and to do the assignments listed. If you have any questions about any of the assignments, feel free to ask or email me.
IN CLASS TO BE DONE PRIOR TO NEXT CLASS
WEEK ONE
Aug 16 Syllabus, What is a Narrative? EF p. 2-3 & 6-16
Reading Effectively Look at Blackboard
B (“Reading Blind”)
Aug 18 Responding to Literature EF p. 16-36
(“The Pied Piper” &
“Where Are You Going…”)
WEEK TWO
Aug. 23 Fiction vs. Nonfiction EF p. 39-55
(“Eleven” “Brave We Are”
“The Stolen Party” & “Araby”)
Aug. 25 Point of View, Narrative Voice, EF p. 89-96
Context of a Story
WEEK THREE
Aug. 30 The Elements of Fiction EF p. 162-167, 394-406, 286-296
(“The Lone Ranger & Tonto Fistfight
in Heaven” “The Things They Carried”
“Battle Royal”)
B (“The Influence of Folklore…”
“On Tim O’Brien’s…”)
Sept. 1 Conflict, Tension, Criticism EF p. 333-337, 304-311, 228- 237
Start Smoke Signals (“Hills Like White Elephants” “A Rose
For Emily” “What We Talk About…”)
B (“The Meaning of…”)
WEEK FOUR
Sept. 6 Finish Smoke Signals EF p. 98-104, 426- 432 Style, Narration (“One
Friday Morning” “I Stand Here Ironing”)
B “Tillie Olsen: The Iron…”
Sept. 8 Character, Sympathy EF p. 108-112, 119-124
p. 128-142
WEEK FIVE
Sept. 13 Metafiction, Magical Realism EF p. 368-373, 200-205, 220-228
The Traditional Story (“A Very Old Man…” “At the Tolstoy
Museum” “If On A Winter’s Night…”
B (“On Italo Calvino’s…”)
Sept. 15 Review for Exam/ Questions about Exam/ Prepare for Exam
Critical Writing
WEEK SIX
Sept. 20 Exam #1 None
Sept. 22 Theory EF p. 447-456, 311-323
(“Two Kinds” “The Yellow Wallpaper”)
B (“A Feminist Reading…”)
WEEK SEVEN
Sept. 27 Two Kinds film, Intro to Kite Runner KR chapters 1 & 2
Sept. 29 The Kite Runner KR chapters 3, 4, 5 & 6
WEEK EIGHT
Oct. 4 The Kite Runner KR chapters 7 & 8
Oct. 6 The Kite Runner KR chapters 9, 10, 11 & 12
WEEK NINE
Oct. 11 Fall Break
Oct. 13 The Kite Runner KR chapters 13, 14, 15 & 16
WEEK TEN
Oct. 18 The Kite Runner KR chapters 17, 18, 19 & 20
Oct. 20 The Kite Runner KR chapters 21, 22 & 23
WEEK ELEVEN
Oct. 25 The Kite Runner KR chapters 24 & 25
Oct. 27 Conclusion of Kite Runner Narrative Poems TBA
WEEK TWELVE
Nov. 1 Other forms of Narrative Narrative Essays TBA
Nov. 3 Narrative Essays Folktales TBA
WEEK THIRTEEN
Nov. 8 Folktales Prepare for Exam
Nov. 10 Review for Exam Prepare for Exam
(No Response Journ Due Next Tuesday)
WEEK FOURTEEN
Nov. 15 Exam #2 Narrative Lyrics
Nov. 17 Narrative Songs Begin Work on Final Paper
(No Response Journ. Due Next Tuesday)
WEEK FIFTEEN
Nov. 22 Paper Ideas Work on Final Paper
(No Response Journ. Due Next Tuesday)
Nov. 24 Thanksgiving
WEEK SIXTEEN
Nov. 29 Writing Final Papers Work on Final Paper
Dec. 1 Final Paper Due
(Last Day of Class)
*Final Papers can be picked up from my office Thursday December 8th 12-3p.m. or by appt.