English 105-07, MWF 12-12:50

Spring 2002

Instructor: Cameron Golden

Office: 01E Petty, 334-3294

e-mail: cgpass@triad.rr.com

Office hours: M 2-4 and by appointment

INTRODUCTION TO NARRATIVE

Narratives are, at their most basic level, stories. In this class we will be reading many different kinds of stories from many different genres and traditions featuring very different approaches to story telling. As a class, well try to come to some conclusions about what each author is trying to do, what techniques they are using to accomplish their goals, and how we as an audience respond to their work. After 16 weeks of this kind of discussion, you will feel more comfortable analyzing parts of a story and seeing beyond plot to be able to speak critically about what an author is doing in their work. Even though we will be reading different kinds of stories about different time periods and different kinds of people, it will be our purpose as a class to unite them all, to look beyond these differences to unearth the storytelling techniques used by each author. Well also be watching a film and discussing how the filmmakers deal with telling a similar story. I expect that you will look at this film as another text, and that you will analyze it just as you would a novel. This class will challenge you as a reader, a viewer, and a writer.

TEXTS

The Day of the Locust, Nathanael West

Seize the Day, Saul Bellow

The Woman Warrior, Maxine Hong Kingston

First Light, Charles Baxter

The New York Trilogy, Paul Auster

REQUIREMENTS

1. Daily Expectations

For this class to be successful, you need to be a dedicated and serious member of the classroom community. Your responsibilities will include doing a careful and thoughtful job of reading the assignments for the day they are assigned, coming to class prepared to ask and be asked questions, and being an active participant in class discussions. Class participation will count for 15% of your final grade. While I will be sympathetic towards shyness, I will encourage you to make an effort to share your thoughts on the readings with the class.

2. Quizzes and in-class writings

I will be giving periodic (and announced) quizzes and in-class writing assignments. In order to do well on these assignments you will need to do a careful job of reading the assigned material. There will be a quiz or in-class writing assignment on every book we are reading. If you are absent, you will not be able to make these up. Your grades on these in-class assignments will comprise 10% of your final grade.

3. Group presentations

During the first week of class, I will assign you to a group (each group will have 4-5 members) that you will work with during the semester. One of the projects you will work on with your group will be a formal presentation at the end of the semester. Your group will form a book club and choose a book that complements one of the texts we are using in class and then work together to teach the class about this book. (Much more on this to come.) Your work on this project will comprise 15% of your final grade.

4. Short paper/lead class discussion

You will choose one text and identify a major issue, question, or problem within the book, write a two page analysis of the issue, and then present your work to the classwith you acting as the expert on that issue. Your presentation will lead into our class discussion, so you might want to consider posing a question to the class to get the discussion going. This paper and presentation will be 10% of your final grade.

5. Exams

You will be given a chance to show how well you understand theories and components of narrative in the works youve read on the midterm and final exams. The exams will consist of short answer and essay questions. The midterm exam will be 20% of your final grade and the final exam will be 30% of your final grade.

CLASS POLICIES

1. Attendance

This class will be centered on reading and class discussion of this reading, which cannot happen if you are absent. Therefore, you are allowed only 3 absences. More than three will hurt your grade. I will not distinguish between excused and unexcused absences; if you present me with explanations, doctors notes, etc. I will not excuse your absenceabsent is absent. After 4 absences, your grade will drop one letter grade (for example, from A to B); after 5 absences, you will be dropped one more letter grade, and after 6 absences, your grade will drop one more. Seven absences will result in a failing grade and being automatically dropped from the class. I will circulate an attendance sheet each class period for you to sign; if you are late, it will be your responsibility to sign the sheet.

2. Lateness

Coming to class late is rude and disruptive. Chronic lateness will also affect your grade. If you are frequently late, your late arrivals will begin to be counted as absences.

3. Plagiarism

According to UNCGs Academic Integrity Policy, plagiarism occurs when you use someone elses words and call them your own on any class assignment. Please refer to the entire policy at www.uncg.edu/studiscp/Honor.html. If you have questions about plagiarism, please consult me before any problems arise. Plagiarism will result in an automatic F in the class and you will be subject to University sanctions which could eventually end in expulsion.

GRADES

Your grade will be based on:

1. Satisfactory completion of all assignments
2. The quality of your workwritten assignments, comments in class discussions, and performance on exams
3. Your willingness to try new ideas and to take chances in your thinking

Your final grade will be determined according to the following percentages:

Quizzes/in-class writing assignments10%

Group presentation15%

Short paper and presentation10%

Class participation15%

Midterm exam20%

Final exam30%

SCHEDULE

Week 1

Monday January 14: introduction to the class

Wednesday January 16: background on Nathanael West and The Hollywood Novel; group activity

Friday January 18: chapters 1-7, The Day of the Locust

Week 2

Monday January 21No class

Wednesday January 23: chapters 8-13, The Day of the Locust

Friday January 25: chapters 14-18, The Day of the Locust

Week 3

Monday January 28: chapters 19-23, The Day of the Locust

Wednesday January 30: finish The Day of the Locust; in-class writing

Friday February 1: The Day of the Locust; group activity

Week 4

Monday February 4: chapters 1-2, Seize the Day

Wednesday February 6: chapters 3-4, Seize the Day

Friday February 8: No class

Week 5

Monday February 11: finish Seize the Day; quiz #1

Wednesday February 13: Seize the Day; group activity

Friday February 15: No Name Woman, The Woman Warrior

Week 6

Monday February 18: White Tigers, The Woman Warrior; in-class writing

Wednesday February 20: White Tigers, The Woman Warrior

Friday February 22: no class

Week 7

Monday February 25: Shaman, The Woman Warrior

Wednesday February 27: At the Western Palace, The Woman Warrior

Friday March 1: At the Western Palace, The Woman Warrior

Week 8

Monday March 4: A Song for a Barbarian Reed Pipe, The Woman Warrior; quiz #2

Wednesday March 6: review for midterm exam; group activity

Friday March 8: MIDTERM EXAM

Week 9

SPRING BREAK!

Week 10

Monday March 18: First Light (part 1)

Wednesday March 20: First Light (part 2)

Friday March 22: First Light (part 3)

Week 11

Monday March 25: chapters 10-20, First Light; quiz #3

Wednesday March 27: finish First Light; mini-group presentations

Friday March 29: no classSpring Holiday

Week 12

Monday April 1: chapters 1-6, City of Glass, The New York Trilogy

Wednesday April 3: chapters 7-10, City of Glass, The New York Trilogy

Friday April 5: finish City of Glass, The New York Trilogy; quiz #4

Week 13

Monday April 8: pages 161-189, Ghosts, The New York Trilogy

Wednesday April 10: finish Ghosts, The New York Trilogy

Friday April 12: chapters 1-3, The Locked Room, The New York Trilogy

Week 14

Monday April 15: chapters 4-7, The Locked Room, The New York Trilogy

Wednesday April 17: finish The Locked Room, The New York Trilogy; in-class writing

Friday April 19: movieSmoke

Week 15

Monday April 22: movieSmoke

Wednesday April 24: no classprepare for presentations

Friday April 26: no classprepare for presentations

Week 16

Monday April 29: group presentations

Wednesday May 1: group presentations

Friday May 3: group presentations

Week 17

Monday May 6: review for the final

Final exam

Wednesday May 15--noon