English 104-11

Approach to Literature

Spring 2002

Class: TTh 11-12:15, Graham 212                                                                                                        E-mail: jlfunder@uncg.edu

Instructor: Julie Funderburk                                                                                                            Office: McIver 136-F McIver

Phone: 334-5837                                                                                                                          Hours: By appointment; W 111

                                                                                                                                                                                                               

Overview:

In this introductory course, we will study a variety of literary genres, including poetry, short fiction, a novel, and a play. We will approach the texts with an attention to technique as well as theme. As we read and analyze poems, we will concern ourselves both with what the work means as well as how it means: figurative language, sound, structure, style, and more. We will examine short stories, exploring the elements of narrative. We will then shift our attention to larger works. This will be a lecture and discussion-based class.

 

Student Learning Goals:

At the end of the course, you should be able to:

Identify and understand varied characteristics of poetry, fiction, and drama, apply techniques of literary analysis to texts, and use literary study to develop skills in careful reading and clear writing. This course will be broad and foundational in nature; it will not assume extensive previous knowledge of literature.

 

Texts:

Do not try to substitute other editions of the text. Please inform me if the bookstores do not have sufficient stock.

 

Kelly, Joseph, ed. The Seagull Reader: Poems, Norton.

Kelly, Joseph, ed. The Seagull Reader: Stories, Norton.

Bausch, Richard. The Selected Stories of Richard Bausch, Modern Library.

Doerr, Harriet. Stones for Ibarra, Viking Penguin.

Williams, Tennessee. The Glass Menagerie, New Directions Publishing Corp.

Highly recommended text: Merriam-Websters Collegiate Dictionary.

A few handouts. It is your responsibility to keep these handouts in an available and sacred place.

 

Attendance:

Attendance is required. You are forgiven two absences. After that, each absence lowers your final grade one letter, even if your reasons for missing the class are legitimate. Missing five classes will make it almost impossible to pass the course; logic will necessitate that you be dropped. If you are absent, you are responsible for obtaining any materials and completing any assignments prior to the next class meeting. You are responsible for information covered in your absence.

 

Requirements:

You are required to come to class having read the material, ready to participate in class discussion. This is time-consuming, as I expect you read actively (annotating your text, reading prose carefully, reading poems at least twice) so that you understand the text before we begin to uncover it further. Have comments, responses, and questions ready. You should always bring the

appropriate book and handouts with you. There will be frequent quizzes, two tests, one paper, and one final examination.

 

Grading:

Participation (quizzes, contribution to class discussion, attendance, attentiveness) = 15%

                (Please note: you cannot make up a missed quiz);

Test on poetry = 25%;

Test on short fiction = 25%;

Paper = 15%;

Final Exam = 20%.

Late work policy: You must make prior arrangements to hand in an assignment one day  late, and you lose a letter grade. After that, I will not accept the work. No exceptions. All writing assignments must be typed or computer generated.