English 104-01                                                             Bethany Perkins

Introduction to Literature                                              Office Hrs. MW 10:00-12/ 01H Petty

9:00-9:50 MWF                                                           bkperkin@uncg.edu

Petty 214                                                                     www.uncg.edu/~bkperkin

                                               

English 104, Introduction to Literature

"Reading, Responding, & Writing"

 

Reading:  So you think you know how to read?  Obviously you understand words and sentences and how they are combined to make meaning.  If you didn't, you wouldn't be in college!  But how many of us know how to really read?  To read critically? To see beyond the symbols on the page and interpret words and phrases in multiple ways?  To see beyond the literal?  To make larger connections between texts?  Between the text and the real world?  Reading can make you a better thinker, make you a better writer, make you a socially responsible person, build your vocabulary, help you understand the worlds of the past and present, and make you better looking.  O.K. - so that last one is a stretch.  But learning to read well, to read critically and to analyze is important because it gives you the tools to understand the world in a broader context.

 

Responding:  In this class, you will respond to the readings individually, as a class, and in smaller groups.  Your first job as an individual reader is to identify those words, phrases, passages, and ideas you find interesting.  This means reading with a pen or pencil in your hand so you can underline, highlight, or otherwise mark the material you want to discuss.  Each of you is expected to come to class every day with a specific question or discussion topic in mind.  You will sign up to lead the class on a specific day by posing questions designed to facilitate discussion.  My job as your instructor is not to give you the "meaning" of the text.  The secret is there is no right answer when it comes to responding to literature.  There may be strong and weak arguments about what a poem or short story “means."  There may even be conflicting opinions.  But as long as you can support your idea with evidence from the text it's a good one.  Participating in class discussion is a large part of what this class is about (and a large part of your grade).  Hearing what other students have to say will expose you to ways of looking at literature you may not have thought of and broaden your understanding of the work.  It is part of your job to contribute significantly to this larger conversation.

 

Writing:  In addition to a midterm and final exam you will be writing two formal papers and numerous in-class responses.  The papers are designed to introduce you to the world of academic writing.  You will be asked to incorporate outside sources, use proper citation, present a clear and interesting thesis, and draw connections between texts.  It is important to note that while we will be doing a lot of writing in this class this is not a composition class.  Therefore, if you have not yet taken 101 it is strongly advised that you do so before taking this class.  If you have taken 101 and feel you are not a strong writer there are several options available to you.  We will hold group workshops before each paper is due so you can get feedback from your peers.  You may consult with me on an individual basis or go to the Writing Center.  Remember, the only way to become a better writer is to practice.

           

Student Learning Goals:

At the completion of this course, the student will be able to: identify and understand varied characteristics of literature apply techniques of literary analysis to texts, use literary study to develop skills in careful reading and clear writing, demonstrate understanding of the diverse social and historical contexts in which literary texts have been written and interpreted

 

Required Texts:

The Norton Introduction to Literature: Eighth Edition. New York, Norton, 2002.

ISBN# 0-393-97687-4

Various E-Reserves

ENGLISH 104 / SPRING 2003

PERKINS

 

Course Requirements:

Paper #1 (3-5 pgs)                   20%                                         Mid-Term Exam           20%

Paper #2 (3-5 pgs)                   20%                                         Final Exam                   20%

Class Participation                    10%                                         Quizzes                        10%

 

Attendance:

1.  You are allowed up to five absences per semester -There is no distinction between excused and unexcused absences so use them wisely.

2.   Each absence beyond five will result in a deduction of one letter grade.

3.   If you miss more than 7 classes you will receive a final grade of F and be removed from the course. Attendance policies are absolutely non-negotiable.

 

Course Policies:

1. Tardiness - If you arrive in class after role has been called you will be marked as tardy.  Three tardies count as an absence.  No exceptions.  If you arrive late it is your responsibility to see me after class to let me know you are here.

2. Phones and Beepers - Don't bring them to class.

3.  Late Work - Late assignments will be penalized one letter grade for each day they are late.  All work is due in class on the assigned date or it will be counted as late.

4.  Respect for others - We will be participating in a great deal of discussion in this class everyone will not always agree.  I encourage you to be frank in your evaluations and to disagree with me and each other; however, you must do so in a respectful and considerate manner.

5.   Plagiarism:  Plagiarism of any sort will absolutely not be tolerated and academic penalties will be pursued to the fullest extent allowable.  See the University Academic Integrity Policy in your student Calendar/Handbook or at http://saf.dept.uncg.edu/studiscp/Honor.html.

6.   Participation: You are expected to keep up with all reading assignments and be prepared to discuss them in class. Showing up for class is not enough.  You must engage in discussion.

 

The Writing Center:  101 McIver.  M-Th 9 a.m-8 p.m. and F 9 a.m-3 p.m.  334-3125

 

Spring 2003 Course Schedule

M 1/13             Introduction

FICTION

Plot

W 1/15                        "Plot" p.15-20.

                        "Happy Endings" p.20 - Margaret Atwood

F 1/17              "Sonny's Blues" p.41 - James Baldwin

M 1/20             MLK Holiday - no class

Point of View

W 1/22                        "Narration and Point of View" p.66-69

"Hills Like White Elephants" p.75 - Ernest Hemingway

F 1/24              "The Cask of Amontillado" p.70 - Edgar Allan Poe

                        Homework: write a paragraph answering question #1 on p.100

 

Characterization

M 1/27             "Character" p.102-107

                        "Why I Live at the P.O." p.107 - Eudora Welty

W 1/29                        "The Story of an Hour" p.470 - Kate Chopin

Setting

F 1/31              "Setting" p.157-159

"A Southern Landscape" E-RESERVES - Elizabeth Spencer

M 2/3               "The Lady with the Dog" p.182 - Anton Chekov

                        Homework: write a paragraph answering question #3 on p.194

Understanding Symbols           

W 2/5              "Symbol" p.195-197

                        "Young Goodman Brown" p.198 - Nathaniel Hawthorne

F 2/7                "Everyday Use” E-RESERVE - Alice Walker

Understanding Criticism

M 2/10             "A Rose for Emily" p.531- William Faulkner

W 2/12                        "We all said, 'she will kill herself'" p.542 - Lawrence R. Rogers

                        "A Rose for 'A Rose for Emily'" p.558 - Judith Fetterly

F 2/14              Workshop Essay #1

Tone

M 2/17             "Girl" p.476 - Jamaica Kincaid

Essay #1 Due

W 2/19                        "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge" p.633 - Ambrose Bierce

F 2/21              "Araby" p.462 - James Joyce

Homework: choose a passage you find interesting in the story and write a paragraph explaining why.

Theme 

M 2/24             "Theme" p.223-227

                        "Revelation" E-RESERVE - Flannery O'Connor

W 2/26                        "The Yellow Wallpaper" p.673 - Charlotte Perkins Gilman

F 2/28              "The Yellow Wallpaper"

M 3/3               "The Rocking Horse Winner" p.373 - D.H. Lawrence

                        Homework: choose a passage you find interesting in the story and write a paragraph

explaining why.

W 3/5              Review for Mid-term exam

F 3/7                Mid-term Exam

M 3/10             Spring Break :)

W 3/12                        Spring Break :)

F 3/14              Spring Break :)

POETRY

M 3/17             "Poetry: Reading, Responding and Writing" p.810

                        "How Do I Love Thee?" Elizabeth Barrett Browning p.811

                        "To My dear and loving husband" - Anne Bradstreet p.825

W 3/19                        "The Red Wheelbarrow" & "This Is Just To Say" - William Carlos Williams p.936

F 3/21              "The Raven" - Poe p.997

M 3/24             "The Negro Speaks of Rivers" p.1157 & "Harlem (A Dream Deferred)" p.1175 - Langston Hughes

"We Real Cool" - Gwendolyn Brooks p.881

W 3/26                        "Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night" - Dylan Thomas p.1060

F 3/28              "Aunt Jennifer's Tigers" - Adrienne Rich p.842

M 3/31             "The Flea" - John Donne p.889

                        "[a narrow Fellow in the Grass] - Emily Dickinson p.1003

W 4/2              No reading assignment

Homework: bring in a copy of the lyrics to your favorite song

F 4/4                No reading assignment - continue song lyric discussion in class

DRAMA

M 4/7               Workshop Essay #2

W 4/9              Death of a Salesman, Act I, p.1935-1967 Arthur Miller

F 4/11              No class - Conferences

M 4/14             No class - Conferences

W 4/16                        No class - Conferences

F 4/18              Spring Holiday - no class

M 4/21             Death of a Salesman, Act II & Requiem, p.1967-2004

Essay #2 Due

W 4/23                        Student Writing "Dream of a Salesman," Sherry Schnake p.2006-2008.

                        Homework: write a paragraph answering one of the questions on pgs.2004-2005

F 4/25              A Streetcar Named Desire, Scenes i-v, Tennessee Williams

M 4/28             A Streetcar Named Desire, Scenes vi-xi

W 4/30                        A Streetcar Named Desire - film (1951)

F 5/2                A Streetcar Named Desire - film (1951)

M 5/5               A Streetcar Named Desire - film (1951)

T 5/6                Discussion of film/ Final Exam Review

Final Exam during scheduled exam time