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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY
COURSE CODE: "EN 215-2"
COURSE NAME: "Introduction to Literary and Cultural Theories"
SEMESTER & YEAR:
Spring 2024
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SYLLABUS
INSTRUCTOR:
Carlos Dews
EMAIL: [email protected]
HOURS:
MW 7:30 PM 8:45 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:
Designed as an introduction to the theoretical approaches to literature, the course will stimulate students to think and write critically through the study of the principal topics of literary theory. The course will adopt both a historical approach, covering each theory in the chronological order of its appearance on the scene, and a critical approach - putting the theories to the test by applying them to a literary text. The course will also help students to move on to an advanced study of literature by introducing them to the research methods and tools for the identification, retrieval, and documentation of secondary sources.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.
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SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:
SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:
Students will learn to identify and employ the principal literary and cultural theories and develop their own critical skills, approaching texts in an theoretically informed way, using research methods and writing critical papers of academic quality. Students will also learn to take into due consideration the interactions between literature, history, politics, cultures and theory. Students will test their understanding of the various theories by performing critical readings of a single text from different perspectives.
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LEARNING OUTCOMES:
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
This class will demonstrate how a single text can appear radically different depending on the theoretical approach employed. Studying the key concepts and basic terminology of each literary and cultural theory, students will exercise their critical skills as they experiment how to effectively use theory to analyze cultural texts.
On completing this course students will be able
- to approach a text from a theoretical perspective
- to focus on form rather than content
- to reflect deeply, research effectively, and write critically
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TEXTBOOK:
| Book Title | Author | Publisher | ISBN number | Library Call Number | Comments | Format | Local Bookstore | Online Purchase |
| The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter | Carson McCullers | any edition acceptable, ebook, PDF, or print edition | NA | | | Ebook | | |
| Literary Theory : An Anthology.Third edition | Rivkin, Julie, and Michael Ryan, editors | Wiley Blackwell, 2017. | 9781118718384 | | | Ebook | | |
| The Bloomsbury Handbook of Literary and Cultural Theory. | Di Leo, Jeffrey R, editor. | Bloomsbury Academic, 2019 | 9781350012806 | | | Ebook | | |
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REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
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GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
| Assignment | Guidelines | Weight |
| Research Papers | | 50 |
| Final Exam | | 20 |
| Participation | | 10 |
| Presentation | | 20 |
-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:
Students are required to attend all scheduled class meetings and to participate in all classroom activities. Students are allowed only two absences (no questions asked, no excuses needed). Each additional absence beyond the two allowed will result in the reduction of the final grade for the course by 5%. Students with more than five absences will fail the course. Please refer to the university catalog for the attendance and absence policy.
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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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Note: This a sample schedule. The actual schedule for the course will be found in the Moodle Course.
Week 1
Introduction to the course: what is Theory? Structuralist Theory
Routledge Companion, Chap. 1 and Definition of "sign" p. 296.
Read Carson McCullers's The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter
Week 2
Structuralism and Semiotics
Routledge Companion, chap. 2 "Structuralism and Semiotics." Saussure "Linguistic Value" in Routledge Theory Reader.
Forum on Structuralism / Quiz on Structuralism
Week 3
Marxist Theory
Routledge Companion, chap. 4 "Marxism." Marx, "Preface to Critique of Political Economy" in Routledge Theory Reader.
Forum: Comment on Marx's Preface.
Week 4
Later Marxism: Frankfurt School/Gramsci/Althusser
Gramsci, "Observations on Folklore"; Althusser, "Ideology and Ideological State Apparatus" in Routledge Theory Reader
Quiz on Marxism.
Week 5
Psychoanalytic Theory. Presentations Group A.
Routledge Companion, chap. 7, "Psychoanalytic Criticism." Freud, "Group Psychology" in Routledge Theory Reader
Forum on adolescence and child development.
Week 6
Psychoanalytic Theory continued: Jung & Lacan
First Research Paper due
Week 7
Feminist Theory: Feminist Waves
Routledge Companion, chap. 9, "Feminism." Wollstonecraft, "A Vindication of the Rights of Woman." Woolf, "A Room of One's Own."
Week 8
Feminist Theory Continued. Presentation Group B
Reading on McCullers and feminism.
Week 9
Gender Theory: Foucault / Butler/ Haraway
Butler, "Subjects of Sex/Gender/Desire" in Routledge Theory Reader Lorde, "Age, Race, Class, and Sex."
Watch Adichie's Ted Talk "We Should All be Feminists," and Beyoncè's video "Flawless." Forum: discuss Adichie's Ted Talk.
Week 10
Race and Postcoloniality
Routedge Companion, chap. 11, "Race and Postcoloniality." Said, "Orientalism."
Quiz on postcolonial Theory.
Week 11
Postcolonial Theory continued: Presentations Group C
Said, "Orientalism." Perrault, "Bluebeard."
Forum on Orientalism.
Week 12
Postructuralism
Routledge Companion, chap. 5, "Postructuralism." Barthes, "The Death of the Author."
Second Home Paper Due
Week 13
Postmodernism
Routledge Companion, chap. 11, "Postmodernism." Foucault, "Panopticism."
Quiz on Postructuralism & Postmodernism Forum on Foucault's "Panopticism."
Week 14
Presentations Group D Revision & Exam preparation
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