Course Syllabus

JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "EN 205"
COURSE NAME: "Introduction to the Novel"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Fall 2023

SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: Shannon Russell
EMAIL: [email protected]
HOURS: TTH 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:

COURSE DESCRIPTION:
The course traces various developments in the genre of the novel from the 17th to the 20th centuries through a reading of selected representative texts. In addition, students are required to consider these works alongside of the development of theories about the novel.
This is a reading and writing intensive course. Students in 200-level literature classes are required to produce 4-5,000 words of critical writing.

SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:
This course traces the historical development of the genre of the novel through a consideration of its treatment of human desire. We begin with an example of amatory fiction and the novel that competes with Daniel Defoe's Robinson Crusoe as the first English novel, Eliza Haywood's Love in Excess. We then explore the novel's investment in realism through a reading of desire and imagination in Jane Austen's Emma and the later gothically-influenced, Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte. The innovations in the novel's style, form, and language that follow the first world war are then explored in our reading of Virginia Woolf's, Mrs. Dalloway. The course then considers another war and other desires in Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's post-colonial novel Half a Yellow Sun.

LEARNING OUTCOMES:
The course traces various developments in the genre of the novel from the 17th to the 20th centuries through a reading of selected representative texts. In addition, students are required to consider these works alongside of the development of theories about the novel.
This is a reading and writing intensive course. Students in 200-level literature classes are required to produce 4-5,000 words of critical writing.

TEXTBOOK:

Book Title	Author	Publisher	ISBN number	Local Bookstore
Love in Excess	Eliza Haywood	Broadview Press	1-55111-367-8	Almost Corner Bookshop
Emma	Jane Austen	Broadview Press	1-55111-321-X	Almost Corner Bookshop
Wuthering Heights	Emily Bronte	Penguin	ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0141439556	Almost Corner Bookshop
Half A Yellow Sun	Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie	Harper	ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0007200285	Almost Corner Bookshop
Mrs. Dalloway	Virgiina Woolf	Penguin	ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0241371945	Almost Corner Bookshop

REQUIRED RESERVED READING:

NONE

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:

NONE

GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:

Assignment	Guidelines	Weight
First Essay		20%
Second Essay		25%
Presentation of theoretical approaches to the novel		10%
Final Exam		20%
Participation		10%
Test on theoretical approaches		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:

Attendance is mandatory. Students who miss more than three classes will receive an overall reduction of the grade by 5% for for each additional absence. Where a third absence involves a meaningful conflict (see below) students will be required to produce makeup work. Should absences exceed six, students will receive a failing grade for the class. Students must notify the professor by the beginning of the second week of classes if they know they will be absent from class for religious or other excusable reasons. Two late arrivals count as one absence.Absences from class due to the observance of a religious holiday will normally be excused. Individual students who will have to miss class to observe a religious holiday must notify the instructor in writing by the end of the Add/Drop period to make prior arrangements for making up any work that will be missed.

Exam absences: You cannot make up a major exam (midterm or final) without the permission of the Dean’s Office. The Dean’s Office will grant such permission only when the absence was caused by a serious impediment, such as a documented illness, hospitalization or death in the immediate family (in which you must attend the funeral) or other situations of similar gravity. Students who will be absent from a major exam must notify the Dean’s Office prior to that exam. Absences due to other meaningful conflicts such as job interviews, family celebrations, travel difficulties, student misunderstandings or personal convenience, will not be excused.

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.

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.

SCHEDULE

Week 1

Tues.

Introduction to the course and its requirements

Thurs. Beginnings of the novel: amatory fiction, scandal narratives

Eliza Haywood Love in Excess Part the first, pp. 37-83

Week 2

Tues.

Eliza Haywood Love in Excess Part the second, pp. 84-160.

Thurs.

Eliza Haywood Love in Excess Part the third and last part.

Fri.

Eliza Haywood Love in Excess Part the third and last part.

Week 3

Tues.

Theoretical readings and presentations which may include TBA

In McKeon Ian Watt, “The Rise of the Novel,” p. 363

In Hoffman and Murphy: MM Bakhtin “Epic and the Novel,” p. 43

Henry James, “The Art of Fiction,” p. 14.

Thurs.

Jane Austen, Emma Vol. 1

Week 4

Tues.

Jane Austen, Emma Vol. 2

Thurs.

Jane Austen, Emma Vol. 2-3

Week 5

Tues.

Jane Austen, Emma Vol. 3

Thurs.

Theoretical readings and presentations, TBA

In Hoffman and Murphy,

Honeywell, “Plot in the modern novel,” p. 147;

Wayne Booth, “Distance and the Point of View,” p. 116.

Week 6 First Essay Due this week

Tues.

Emily Bronte Wuthering Heights

Thurs.

Emily Bronte Wuthering Heights

Week 7

Tues.

Emily Bronte Wuthering Heights

Thurs.

Emily Bronte Wuthering Heights

Week 8

Tues.

Theoretical readings and presentations

In Hoffman and Murphy,

Georg Lukacs “Marxist Aesthetics and Literary Realism, p. 134

Virginia Woolf “Mr. Bennet and Mrs. Brown”

Rachel Blau DuPlessis “Breaking the Sentence, Breaking the Sequence”

Thurs.

Virginia Woolf Mrs. Dalloway

Week 9

Tues.

Virginia Woolf Mrs. Dalloway

Thurs.

Virginia Woolf Mrs. Dalloway

Week 10

Tues.

Virginia Woolf Mrs. Dalloway

Thurs.

In Hoffman and Murphy

Linda Hutcheon “The Pastime of Past Time"

Essay on post-colonial theory

Week 11

Tues. TEST ON THEORETICAL APPROACHES

Thurs.