Introduction to Literature, English 2020, Spring 2014

Instructor: Nina McConigley, Lecturer, Dept. of EnglishOffice: Hoyt 417Phone: 766-2651Email: nmcconig@uwyo.eduOffice hours: Tuesday 12:45-1:45 pm, Wednesday 1:00- 3:00 pm, or by appointmentEnglish Department office: Hoyt 201 (my box is here)

Textbooks & Materials

Backpack Literature, 4th Edition, edited by X.J. Kennedy and Dana GioiaAn active email account and access to WyoWeb Notebook for note-takingA good dictionaryCourse Overview: This course fulfills the University Studies WB requirement. Literature shows us language in its most beautiful form, exposes us to new experiences and ideas, and teaches us to understand and question our world.In this class, we will read literature from around the world, and through discussion, writing, and film, explore the many meanings presented.Course Objectives Engage in critical thinking about texts through writing, research, and dialogue with peers and the instructor Learn to respond to texts by recognizing and reflecting on the complex layers in literature Strengthen analytical writing skills, especially developing a clear thesis and organized, engaging, and well-developed essays You are expected to come to class prepared: Always bring your books Always have the days reading done Always be ready to engage in discussion of the days reading assignment Always be ready to participate in group work, as this is an integral part of the class

Office Hours and Email

Please feel free to visit me in my office during office hours, or by appointment. If you have any questions or concerns about anything related to the class, please let me know right away, preferably in person, and not via email.

Email policy: You are free to email me about class, but keep in mind that Im not checking my email 24 hours a day. So, emails should be limited to the hours between 8:00 am and 5:00 pm on weekdays. If you email me at night or on weekends, you may not expect a prompt reply. If you are having problems in class, it is best to come see me during office hours, rather than emailing me.

Emailing me to ask if we did anything in a class that you missed will not get a reply.

Attendance and ParticipationYou are expected to attend all classes: In order for an absence to be excused, you must show me proof that you had a medical appointment or a slip from the Office of Student Life. If you know that you will be absent for a University sponsored activity, you must hand in work before you leave and show me your excuse before you will be absent. For any other excused absences (emergencies, illness, etc.), you must show me your proof on the day you return to class. After that, I will not excuse the absence. Arriving late or leaving early is discouraged. If you consistently arrive late or leave early, your grade will suffer. After three unexcused absences, your overall grade will be lowered 5% for each additional unexcused absence.

DiscussionTwo major goals of the course are to discuss what we read and to write about what we read. There is seldom a single correct way to interpret a literary text and good readers often arrive at different interpretations. Through discussion, not only will we enjoy the stories, poems and plays but also we will listen to others interpretations, practice supporting our impressions with evidence from the readings, and evaluate the credibility of all our interpretations. Because discussion is our best tool for understanding and interpreting literature, you are expected to come to class ready to participate. This is not a class in which you can fall behind in the reading, miss class, or fail to participate.Assignments and Grading3 Response Papers 50 pts. each 150 Midterm Exam 50

Proposal &Annotated Bib for Final Paper 20 Research based Literary Analysis Paper 50Participation15Total 285 pts.

Written WorkAll writing assignments and papers, except in-class writing, must follow standard MLA formatting, and your grade will be affected by your following these rules: Provide 1-inch margins on the top, bottom, and sides of each page Provide your name, instructors name, course name and number, and date in the upper left-hand corner of page one only Provide your last name and page number in a header in the upper right-hand corner of each page Indent the first line of each paragraph inch Double space throughout; do not add extra spacing between paragraphs Use a standard New Times Roman, 12-point font For any paper of more than one page, make sure you STAPLE the pages together. I do not accept papers that have not been stapled. Citations must follow MLA rules.Late AssignmentsAll assignments must be completed and turned in on time. You must have prior permission (and a GOOD reason) to have an extension. If your assignments are late without permission, or a University Excuse, I will not accept them and they will receive a zero.PlagiarismPlagiarized writing is a form of academic dishonesty. Plagiarism, which means to use someone elses language or ideas and to represent the language or idea as your own work, is a serious offense. Plagiarism includes copying phrases and sentences from another source into you own writing without appropriate citation or documentation, using someone elses paper, or having someone else write all or part of your paper. If you are found to be plagiarizing, you will be turned in to the University for disciplinary action.Writing ConferencesTwo important sources for feedback on your writing are teacher conferences and the Writing Center. Teacher conferences can be made during office hours or by appointment. The Writing Center is located in Coe Library, Room 304. Call 766-5250 for an appointment.Cell phones: Please remember to turn off your cell phone before class begins. Policy or Syllabus changes: All changes to policies or syllabus will be announced in class or through a timely email.Instructional Modification and Accommodation: If you have a physical, learning, or psychological disability and require accommodations, please let me know as soon as possible. You will need to register with, and provide documentation of your disability to, University Disability Support Services (UDSS) in SEO, room 330 Knight Hall, 766-6189, TTY: 766-3073.

Schedule

M 1/13 Class Introductions, Course OverviewW 1/15 Reading a Story pgs. 5-17, Why Literature MattersF 1/17 Plot , A & P, pgs. 18-23, Where are You Going, Where Have You Been? pgs. 323-337

M 1/20 No class, MLK DayW 1/22 Point of View pgs. 28-33, A Rose for Emily pgs. 33-41, The Things They Carried pgs. 337-351F 1/25 Character, pgs. 54-55, Cathedral 77-90

M 1/27 Setting, pgs. 93-95, To Build a Fire pgs. 106-118, The Half-Skinned Steer (handout)W 1/29 Tone and Style pgs. 138-142, A Clean Well-Lighted Place 142-146, Irony, 162-163, The Gift of the Magi pgs. 164-168, Prompt for Paper #1F 1/31 Theme, pgs. 174-177, Brownies 177-194, The Parable of the Prodigal Son pgs. 215-216

M 2/3 No ClassW 2/5 Symbol, pgs. 225-228, The Yellow Wallpaper 237-251, The Lottery pgs. 258-265F 2/7 A Good Man is Hard to Find pgs. 352-365

M 2/10 Writing About Literature, pgs. 1083-1095, Peer Review DayW 2/12 What it Means to Say Phoenix Arizona pg 272F 2/14 Response Paper #1 due

M 2/17 The Fat Girl (handout), Bullet to the Brain (handout) W 2/19 Dialogue, Hills Like White Elephants (handout)F 2/21 Story TBA, In-Class author visit

M 2/24 Introduction to Poetry, pgs. 377-391, Prompt for Paper #2W 2/26 No Class F 2/28 No Class

M 3/3 Words (poems TBA) W 3/5 Listening to Voice (poems TBA), Saying and Suggesting, Figures of Speech (poems TBA)F 3/7 Imagery, Myth and Narrative (poems TBA)

M 3/10 Sound (poems TBA)W 3/12 Rhythm (poems TBA)F 3/14 Response Paper #2 due, MIDTERM

M 3/17 SPRING BREAKW 3/19 SPRING BREAKF 3/21 SPRING BREAK

M 3/24 Closed Form (poems TBA), Prompt for Paper #3W 3/26 Open Form (poems TBA)F 3/28 Symbol (poems TBA)

M 3/31 Read Othello, Act I-IIW 4/2 Read Othello, Act IIIF 4/4 Read Othello, Act IV-V

M 4/7 Read A Dolls House, Act IW 4/9 A Dolls House, Act IIF 4/11 Response Paper #3 due, A Dolls House, Act III

M 4/14 The Glass Menagerie, Scenes I-IVW 4/16 Writing a Research Paper pgs. 1137-1155, The Glass Menagerie, Scenes V-VIIF 4/18 Annotated Bibliography due

M 4/21 Nonfiction essays TBAW 4/23 Nonfiction essays TBAF 4/25 Nonfiction essays TBA

M 4/28 No Class, conferencesW 4/30 No Class, conferencesF 5/2 Last day of class, Final Paper due

Final Exam:

Your final paper is your final in the class. We will not meet on the final exam day. 5

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