SYLLABUS

Approaches to the Study of Literature

English 303W.03, T 6:30-9:20pm, McIver 327

Instructor: Professor Stephen R. Yarbrough

Office: 121 McIver

Office Hours: TTh 10-11am, 4:30-5:30pm

Office Phone: 334-5650

Home Phone: 292-1186

Email: sryarbro@uncg.edu

Required Text:

Keesey, Donald. Contexts for Criticism. 3^rd ed. Mayfield Publishing, 1998.

Course Requirements:

1. You must submit four brief (3-5 pages), typed papers—three on one each of the eight approaches to literary criticism we will read about and discuss in class, and one reflective paper at the end of the course (10% of your final grade, each). Two of the first three papers must focus on theory; one must be an application of theory to either The Awakening or “Ode: Intimations of Immortality from Recollections.” Which papers are theoretical and which is practical is your choice.

2. For each short paper there will be a workshop. Failure to attend a workshop without a medical excuse or excuse from the instructor in advance will result in a five-point deduction from your final grade.

3. You must revise and expand (to 5-7 pages) two of the first three brief papers and resubmit them for an additional grade (25% each). You must submit the revised versions less than two weeks after I’ve returned the brief version you (or before the last day of class, whichever comes first).

4. Each student must keep a journal. You should use this journal to record your reflections upon each of the reading assignments. Occasionally, I will place a question or a quotation upon the board for in-class writing, so bring your journal to every class. I will grade the journal pass-fail; a failure will lower your final grade by 10%. I will take up your journals for inspection at irregular intervals during the semester.

5. Class participation is required. I expect you to come to class with your reading done and to be prepared to ask questions (10%). More than two unexcused absences will result in a lowering of this grade.

6. There will be no examinations.

Blackboard Site

The syllabus and other course materials may be found at our course site on Blackboard.

On your browser (Internet Explorer works best with Blackboard) go to the following url address: http://blackboard.uncg.edu I’ve heard reports that Blackboard does not work with Windows XP. If so, and your computer uses Windows XP for its operating system, you may need to find access to another computer.

Use your Novell Netware username and password, and then click on the link to English 303W.03.

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Those who have not activated their UNCG accounts will not appear in Blackboard since they have not been assigned a UNCG username. Accounts can be activated at http://accounts.uncg.edu by selecting Unix Communications, Netware and Campus Pipeline Account Creation.

Email accounts are automatically set in Blackboard to the UNCG account. However, you may choose to forward your UNCG account to another email address. This can be done at http://email.uncg.edu. You will need to know your UNCG email username and password to do this. If you have previously activated your account and do not know your UNCG email password, go to http://acounts.uncg.edu and select Self-Service Password Resetting. On one screen you will be asked to indicate the account password you are resetting. Select the Unix account. If you have not previously activated your account, see above.

Once online, use your browser to go to http://blackboard.uncg.edu. Log in.

“Student Learning Goals”:

(I am required by the SACS bureaucracy to post on this syllabus the following “student learning goals.” They are, of course, utterly misleading and pedagogically worthless.)

“At the completion of this course, the student will be able to

§ Demonstrate the ability to write clearly, coherently, and effectively about a particular discipline.

§ Adapt modes of communication to the audience.

§ Incorporate constructive feedback from readers to improve the written work.

The student will also have the ability to

§ Understand several critical approaches to interpreting texts

§ Apply these approaches to specific texts

§ Relate the study of texts in English to other disciplines

§ Understand the general nature, purpose, and methods of English studies.”

Schedule:

(Note: This schedule is subject to change at the instructor’s discretion.)

· Week 1: Jan. 14

Introduction to the course.

Begin reading The Awakening and “Ode.”

Introduction to Formal Criticism

Read CC 71-79.

· Week 2: Jan. 21

Read CC 80-96; CC 133-138.

· Week 3: Jan. 28

Literary Research. Meet in Jackson Library.

· Week 4: Feb. 4

Introduction to Historical Criticism.

Read CC 9-28, 34-39, CC 65-70.

Assign: Brief Paper #1.

· Week 5: Feb. 11

Introduction to Reader Response

Read CC 139-49, 150-65.

· Week 6: Feb. 18

Due: Draft of Brief Paper #1 (Formalist/Historical). Workshop.

Read CC 166-180.

· Week 7: Feb. 25

Read CC 190-195.

Due: Brief Paper # 1.

Introduction to Marxist and New Historicist Criticism

Read CC 451-59.

Assign: Brief Paper #2.

· Week 8: Mar. 4

Read CC 460-67, 477-82, 498-504.

-------------------- Spring Break!! --------------------

· Week 9: Mar. 18

Due: Draft, Brief Paper #2 (Reader-response). Workshop.

· Week 10: Mar. 25

Introduction to Intertextual Criticism

Read CC 279-92, 302-11, 346-53.

Due: Brief Paper #2.

· Week 11: April 1

Introduction to Feminist Criticism

Read HANDOUT. Read CC 235-45.

Assign: Brief Paper #3.

· Week 12: April 8

Read CC 354-70, 433-49.

· Week 13: April 15

Introduction to Poststructuralism.

Read CC 371-82.

Due: Draft, Brief Paper #3 (Marxist, New Historicist, Intertextual, Feminist). Workshop.

Assign: Reflective Paper.

· Week 14: April 22

Read CC 383-94, 395-404.

Due: Brief Paper #3.

Due: Draft, Reflective Paper. Workshop.

· Week 15: April 29

Due: Reflective Paper.

Journal

Review of the course.

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