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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY
COURSE CODE: "EN 370"
COURSE NAME: "Introduction to Narrative Studies: Interdisciplinary Applications"
SEMESTER & YEAR:
Spring 2022
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SYLLABUS
INSTRUCTOR:
Alessandra Grego
EMAIL: [email protected]
HOURS:
MW 1:30 PM 2:45 PM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS:
45
CREDITS:
3
PREREQUISITES:
Prerequisite: EN 110 with a grade of C or above.
OFFICE HOURS:
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COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course focuses on the core function of narrative across disciplines. Understanding how narratives work is essential to communicate effectively on any subject, through any medium. We use stories to understand and interpret our world and our place in it. Students will be introduced to the critical principles, terminology, and applications of narrative studies as they were first developed in literary and cultural theory. From there, the course considers how narratives are used in selected fields, from film to business, from politics to artificial intelligence.
This is a reading and writing intensive course. Students in 300-level literature classes are required to produce 5-6,000 words of critical writing.
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SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:
"Narrative is [...] to be found wherever someone tells us about something,” in Monika Fludernik’s words. So, effectively, everywhere, at all times. Narrative is an essential means of human interaction with the world, a constitutional function, as fundamental as language. Through narratives we come to terms with reality - narrating our private lives and collective history, facts and fictions, we rebuild the past, forecast the future, engage with physical nature, and, generally, come to terms with existence. But how do words, sounds, images get strung together into narratives? How does the process work? Narratology, the branch of critical theory that studies the functions and elements of narrative, has a long history but becomes central to various disciplines with the so-called “Narrative-turn” of the 1980s.
This course proposes to reflect on the pervasiveness of narrative and its relevance across the disciplines. The first part of the course focuses on the evolution of narratology in literary studies, while the second half examines in depth the way narrative operates in other disciplines such as media studies, history, psychology, economics, and physics.
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LEARNING OUTCOMES:
This course introduces students to the concepts of narrative studies and provides them with the practical skills to identify the structures and functions of this theoretical approach to literature and culture. The ability to critically engage with narrative structures, understanding how texts work in themselves and on their receivers, provides actual power in communication through any medium. This knowledge is a useful to students across the disciplines.
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TEXTBOOK:
| Book Title | Author | Publisher | ISBN number | Library Call Number | Comments | Format | Local Bookstore | Online Purchase |
| Narrative Theory : Core Concepts and Critical Debates | Herman, David | Ohio State University Press, 2012. | 9780814251843 | | Narrative Theory : Core Concepts and Critical Debates Herman, David Ohio State University Press, 2012. 9780814251843 Ebook accessible from Frohring Library | | | |
| The Rhetoric of Fictionality : Narrative Theory and the Idea of Fiction | Walsh, Richard | Ohio State University Press, 2007 | 9780814252475 | | Ebook accessible from Frohring Library
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REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
| Book Title | Author | Publisher | ISBN number | Library Call Number | Comments |
| Fictions of Discourse : Reading Narrative Theory. | O’NEILL, P. | _University of Toronto Press, Scholarly Publishing Division, 1996_ | 978- 0802079480. | | Ebook accessible from Frohring Library |
| The Content of the Form : Narrative Discourse and Historical Representation | White, Hayden V. | Johns Hopkins University Press, 1987. | 978-0801841156 | | Ebook accessible from Frohring Library |
| Toward a Cognitive Theory of Narrative Acts | Aldama, Frederick Luis, editor. | University of Texas Press, 2010 | 978-0292728882 | | Ebook accessible from Frohring Library |
| Narrative Ethics. | Newton, Adam Zachary. | Harvard University Press, 1995. | 978-0674600881 | | Ebook accessible from Frohring Library |
RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
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GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
| Assignment | Guidelines | Weight |
| 2 home papers | 2500 - 3000 word research papers Investigating the uses of narrative in a specific disciplinary area | 60% |
| presentation | Case-study presentation: narratological analysis of a text
| 25% |
| class contribution and forum participation | informed participation to class discussions and forums | 15% |
-ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:
AWork of this quality directly addresses the question or problem raised and provides a coherent argument displaying an extensive knowledge of relevant information or content. This type of work demonstrates the ability to critically evaluate concepts and theory and has an element of novelty and originality. There is clear evidence of a significant amount of reading beyond that required for the course.
BThis is highly competent level of performance and directly addresses the question or problem raised.There is a demonstration of some ability to critically evaluatetheory and concepts and relate them to practice. Discussions reflect the student’s own arguments and are not simply a repetition of standard lecture andreference material. The work does not suffer from any major errors or omissions and provides evidence of reading beyond the required assignments.
CThis is an acceptable level of performance and provides answers that are clear but limited, reflecting the information offered in the lectures and reference readings.
DThis level of performances demonstrates that the student lacks a coherent grasp of the material.Important information is omitted and irrelevant points included.In effect, the student has barely done enough to persuade the instructor that s/he should not fail.
FThis work fails to show any knowledge or understanding of the issues raised in the question. Most of the material in the answer is irrelevant.
-ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS:
Class attendance is mandatory. If you miss more than 4 classes - whether they are formally excused or not - it will impact your grade (1/4 of a grade per successive absence, e.g. from A to A-) and if you miss 7 classes or more you will fail the class.
Students are required to follow some basic class rules: to arrive punctually, to stay in class for the whole period of the lesson, to refrain from using their mobile phones and laptops without authorization.
Permission to attend remotely must be granted by the Dean. Exceptional permission to attend remotely may be granted by the instructor upon request and at their discretion.
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ACADEMIC HONESTY
As stated in the university catalog, any student who commits an act of academic
dishonesty will receive a failing grade on the work in which the dishonesty occurred.
In addition, acts of academic dishonesty, irrespective of the weight of the assignment,
may result in the student receiving a failing grade in the course. Instances of
academic dishonesty will be reported to the Dean of Academic Affairs. A student
who is reported twice for academic dishonesty is subject to summary dismissal from
the University. In such a case, the Academic Council will then make a recommendation
to the President, who will make the final decision.
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STUDENTS WITH LEARNING OR OTHER DISABILITIES
John Cabot University does not discriminate on the basis of disability or handicap.
Students with approved accommodations must inform their professors at the beginning
of the term. Please see the website for the complete policy.
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SCHEDULE
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Week
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Session Focus
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Reading Assignment
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Other Assignment
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1
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Introduction to the course:
What is narrative and can we do without it?
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Kent Puckett, “Narrative Theory,” chap.1.
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2
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Story & Discourse /
Fabula & Sjuzhet
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Kafka, “Before the Law.”
Agamben, “On Kafka’s Before the Law”
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Forum: Before the Law in written & graphic form.
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3
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Space, Time and Causality
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Ricoeur,Time and Narrative [extracts]
Barthes, “Introduction to the Sturcutral Analysis of Narrative.”
Chatman, “Gerard Genette: Narrative Discourse.”
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Forum on time in narrative.
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4
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Time of the World and Narrative Time:
Diegesis and Metalepsis
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Gennette, Figure III. [extracts]
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Presentation Group A
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5
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Fictionality, Focalisation
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Herman, chap. 5 "How to Build a Storyworld"
Calvino, Italo (trans.)William Weaver.If on a Winter’s Night a Traveller. Vintage Clasics, 1998.
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Forum on Fictionality
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6
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Space and Time: Chronotopes
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Bakhtin, Mikhail. “Form of Time and Chronotope in the Novel.”
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7
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Tellability: Possible worlds and Unnatural Narrative
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Ryan, M.L. “Storyworlds across Media.”
Thon, “Thransmedial Narratology.”
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Presentation Group B
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8
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Narrative in Documentary film
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Watch episode 7 of “One Strange Rock.” and docufilm “Chicago 10”
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1st Home Paper due
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9
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Historiographic Narration:
Factual narratives
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Fludernik. “Experience, Experientiality, and Historical Narrative. A View from Narratology.”
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Forum discussion on Docufilm, Science and Narrative.
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10
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Narrative and Theory of Mind
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Laszlo, “The Place of Narrative in Psychology.”
McAdams & McLean, “Narrative Identity.”
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Forum on Theory of Mind
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11
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Urban Narratives
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De Certau, “Walking the city.”
Lynch, “The City Image and its Elements.”
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Presentation group C
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12
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Law and Narrative
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The Paquete Habana case
The Brown v. Board case.
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Research proposal due
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13
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Narrative Economics & storytelling as marketing strategy
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Schiller, “Narrative Economics.”
Forman, “Why Explore Storytelling in Business?”
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14
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Revision week
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15
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Research Paper due
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