Ins. Jenny Noller
136g McIver
Office Hours: 12-1 MWF
Email: jknoller@hotmail.com (you must write ENGLISH in subject heading)

How is one to live a moral and compassionate existence when one is fully aware of the blood, the horror inherent in life, when one finds darkness not only in one's culture but within oneself? If there is a stage at which an individual life becomes truly adult, it must be when one grasps the irony in its unfolding and accepts responsibility for a life lived in the midst of such paradox. One must live in the middle of contradiction, because if all contradiction were eliminated at once life would collapse. There are simply no answers to some of the great pressing questions. You continue to live them out, making your life a worthy expression of leaning into the light.
—from Artic Dreams by Barry Lopez

BOOKS:
The Norton Introduction to Literature, Shorter Eighth Edition
Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov
Little, Brown Handbook (optional)

PURPOSE:

In this course, we will study the different genres of literature: drama, poetry, and fiction. You will work to learn the defining characteristics of each genre. You will work to develop a critical eye and understand better your own aesthetic. The aim of this class is to help you nurture your analytical skills and provide you with an opportunity to develop a deeper appreciation of literature.

STUDENT LEARNING GOALS:

• 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

CLASSROOM INFORMATION:
You will need to purchase all books at the beginning of the semester. The bookstore dose not usually hold its stock beyond six weeks.

Texts on e-reserve area available through the UNCG library web site. (Library web page, select reserves, and follow the steps using my last name to find readings.)

Always come to class with your text, notebook/ journal, and something to write with. You will be responsible for material covered in class discussions.

Do not come to class unless you have completed the reading. If it becomes apparent that you have not read the text, I reserve the right to ask you to leave the classroom, in which case you will receive an absence.

REQUIRED ITEMS:
Stapler
Three-ring binder
Paper

EXPECTATIONS:
Attendance
Attendance is required! You are allowed TWO absences during the semester—no exceptions. Your final grade will begin going down if you absent beyond this limit. For each day you miss afterwards, your grade will drop one letter. If you miss six or more days, you will automatically fail the course.

Absences include illness, sporting events, car accidents, acts of nature, etc. In other words, an absence is an absence is an absence. I do not need notes from doctors or judges, as it will make absolutely no difference at all. In the most dire of circumstances, you should speak with me immediately.

If you are not present on a day a paper is due, a test/ quiz day, or a workshop, you will receive a zero for the missed assignment and an absence.

Plagiarism
Plagiarism is intentionally or knowingly representing the words of another as one’s own in any academic exercise. This is a SERIOUS offense punishable by failure or even expulsion from school. I will not tolerate any act of plagiarism in this course. Using someone else’s words or ideas is wrong and will not be accepted in my class or the university system (or in life for that matter). It is a violation of the Academic Integrity Policy as defined in the student handbook or at www.uncg.edu/saf/studiscp/Honor.html and will be treated as such. Please review UNCG’s policy in the student handbook. If you are concerned about inadvertently violating this policy, please see me before completing the assignment.

Tardiness
Don’t be late. It’s rude! I will take role as class begins. If you are not there, then you will be counted tardy. If you are late by 10 minutes or more, or if you leave from class early, it counts as a ½ absence. Excessive tardies (four or more) will result in a letter grade drop.

Mutual respect
We must respect each other in order for this class to function. Any behavior that distracts (eating, talking, while others are talking, etc.) or is disrespectful (personal attacks, etc.) is unacceptable. Students my be asked to leave the classroom if they choose to behave in these ways. Cell phones and pagers should be turned off during class time. You may be reached during classes or conferences at the department phone number (334-5311) in the case of an emergency.

Special needs
If anyone has extra needs in the classroom due to disabilities, learning differences or any other reason, please just let me know and I’ll be happy to accommodate you.

Adverse weather policy
In the event of canceled classes keep up to speed with the syllabus. (Movies will be viewed on the evening of the next class.)

GRADING:
Late work/ missed testing
Late work is not accepted. Excuses such as my computer failed or my disk was ruined don’t fly with me so don’t use them. You will need to print out copies of your paper as you’re writing it so as to have back up drafts.

You may always turn in work early or arrange to take a test early. Reading quizzes, however, are only offered in class.

Percentages
Tests 60%
Quizzes 20%
Cultural activity response 10%
Writing assignments 10%

Grading scale
A+ 97-100
A 93-96
A- 90-92
B+ 87-89
B 83-86
B- 80-82
C+ 77-79
C 73-76
C- 70-72
D 65-70
F 64 and below

FORMAL ASSIGNMENT & READING SCHEDULE
(Schedule may be modified based on the needs and interests of the class)

1/10 Introduction to course and classmates
1/12 Discuss Trifles by Susan Glaspell and student writing on Trifles by Caryl Zook
1/14 Discuss The Piano Lesson by August Wilson Last day to drop

1/17 No class—MLK day
1/19 Discuss A Doll House by Henrik Ibsen
1/21 Discuss The Children’s Hour by Lillian Hellman

1/24 Discuss A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry (full play)
1/26 Discuss A Raisin in the Sun
1/28 View Hamlet on film (Mel Gibson version—rent or watch in the McNutt building off reserve)

1/31 Discuss Hamlet viewing
2/2 Discuss view The Importance of Being Ernest on film
(2002 version—rent or watch in the McNutt building off reserve)
2/4 Discuss The Importance of Being Ernest

2/7 TEST on drama
2/9 Discuss reading poetry
“ Persimmons” by Li-Young Lee
“Spring and Fall” by Gerard Manley Hopkins
“The River-Merchant’s Wife: A Letter” by Ezra Pound
“Wedding Ring” by Denise Levertov
“[Stop all the clocks, cut off the telephone]” by W.H. Auden
2/11 Discuss (pay special note to tone)
“Barbie Doll” by Marge Piercy
“Leaving the Motel” by W.D. Snodgrass
“Hard Rock Returns to Prison” by Etheridge Knight
“Woodchucks” by Maxine Kumin
“After Making Love We Hear Footsteps” by Galway Kinnell

2/14 Discuss (pay special note to voice)
“ Death of a Young Son by Drowning” by Margaret Atwood
“She Dwelt among the Untrodden Ways” by William Wordsworth
“Needs” by A.R. Ammons
“We Real Cool” by Gwendolyn Brooks
“I celebrate myself, and sing myself” by Walt Whitman
2/16 Discuss (pay special note to language precision and ambiguity)
“After Great pain, a formal feeling comes-” by Emily Dickinson
“My Papa’s Waltz” by Theodore Roethke
“Sex without Love” by Sharon Olds
“The Red Wheelbarrow” and “This is Just to Say” by William Carlos Williams
“in Just-” by E.E. Cummings
2/18 Discuss (pay special note to situation and setting) Six weeks
“Cherrylog Road” by James Dickey
“ To a Daughter Leaving Home” by Linda Pastan
“ Dover Beach” by Matthew Arnold
“ How I Discovered Poetry” by Marilyn Nelson
“ Peeling an Orange” by Virginia Hamilton Adair
2/21 Discuss (pay special note to metaphor, simile, and symbol)
“Marks” by Linda Pastan
“My Father’s Garden” by David Wagoner
“A Red, Red Rose” by Robert Burns
“The Leap” by James Dickey
“What the Motorcycle Said” by Mona Van Duyn
2/23 Discuss (pay special note to form)
“Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night” by Dylan Thomas
“The White House” by Claude McKay
“The Jungle Husband” by Stevie Smith
“[l(a)]” by E.E. Cummings
“The Goose Fish” by Howard Nemerov
2/25 Discuss (pay special note to pulling it all together)
“My Last Duchess” by Robert Browning
“The Negro Speaks of Rivers” by Langston Hughs
“Evening” by Karen Volkman
“Mr. Tambourine Man” by Bob Dylan
“Mid-Term Break” by Seamus Heaney

2/28 Read all of Poetry section 21 (Adrienne Rich)
3/2 Read all of the Haiku in section 22
3/4 TEST on poetry

3/7 No class—spring break
3/9 No class—spring break
3/11 No class—spring break

3/14 Discuss “Happy Endings” by Margaret Atwood
3/16 Discuss “How” by Lorrie Moore Last day to drop course without penalty
3/18 Discuss “A Pair of Tickets” by Amy Tan

3/21 Discuss “Boys and Girls” by Alice Monroe
3/23 Discuss “Cathedral” by Raymond Carver
3/25 No class—Easter break

3/28 Discuss “Janus” by Ann Beattie
3/30 Discuss “Why I Live at the P.O.” by Eudora Welty
4/1 Discuss “Hills Like White Elephants” by Ernest Hemingway

4/4 Discuss “The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Perkins Gilman
4/6 Discuss Lolita (pgs.1-40)
4/8 Discuss Lolita (pgs. 41-89)

4/11 Discuss Lolita (pgs. 89-154)
4/13 Discuss Lolita (pgs. 154-198)
4/15 Discuss Lolita (pgs. 198-253)

4/18 Discuss Lolita (pgs. 253-end)
4/20 Discuss “A Rose for Emily” by William Faulkner
4/22 Discuss student writing on “A Rose for Emily”

4/25 Discuss “The Lame Shall Enter First” by Flannery O’Conner and Passages from Essays and Letters
4/27 Discuss “A Good Man Is Hard to Find” by Flannery O’Connor
4/29 Discuss “Everything That Rises Must Converge” by Flannery O’Connor

5/2 Discuss “The Story of an Hour” by Kate Chopin and
“A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings” by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
5/3 TEST on fiction

Exam 104-01 (MWF 9:00) Friday, May 6 from 8:00-11:00 a.m.
Exam 104-02 (MWF 10:00) Friday, May 6 from 12:00-3:00 p.m.