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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "EN 200-1"
COURSE NAME: "Introduction to Literature"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Spring 2026
SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: Jonathan Jones
EMAIL: [email protected]
 HOURS: MW 11:30 AM 12:45 PM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS: 45
CREDITS: 3
PREREQUISITES: Prerequisite: EN 110 with a grade of C or above
OFFICE HOURS:
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
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. Presupposing no previous knowledge in particular of literature, the course deals in an intensive manner with a very limited selection of works in the three genres of fiction, drama, and poetry. Students learn the basic literary terms that they need to know to approach literary texts. They are required to do close readings of the assigned texts, use various critical approaches, and write several critical essays on specified readings.
SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:
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. Presupposing no previous knowledge in particular of literature, the course deals in an intensive manner with a very limited selection of works in the three genres of fiction, drama, and poetry. Students learn the basic literary terms that they need to know to approach literary texts. They are required to do close readings of the assigned texts, use various critical approaches, and write several critical essays on specified readings.
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
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. Presupposing no previous knowledge in particular of literature, the course deals in an intensive manner with a very limited selection of works in the three genres of fiction, drama, and poetry. Students learn the basic literary terms that they need to know to approach literary texts. They are required to do close readings of the assigned texts, use various critical approaches, and write several critical essays on specified readings.
TEXTBOOK:
Book TitleAuthorPublisherISBN numberLibrary Call NumberCommentsFormatLocal BookstoreOnline Purchase
An Introduction to Literature, Criticism and TheoryAndrew Bennett and Nicholas RoyleRoutledge9781032158846  Hard CopyAlmost Corner Bookstore Amazon - (English Website) 14.99
REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
NONE

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
NONE
GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
AssignmentGuidelinesWeight
Essay - Poetry/Fiction (2,000 words) 40%
Final Exam - Drama (1,500 words) 40%
Midterm - Three Study Questions - Fiction (1,500) 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:
ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS AND EXAMINATION POLICY
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. Absences due to other meaningful conflicts, such as job interviews, family celebrations, travel difficulties, student misunderstandings or personal convenience, will not be excused. Students who will be absent from a major exam must notify the Dean’s Office prior to that exam. 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 should notify the instructor by the end of the Add/Drop period to make prior arrangements for making up any work that will be missed. The final exam period runs until ____________
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

 

Deadlines 

Midterm -  4th March Three Study Questions (Week 7)

Essay - 20th April   (Week 13)

Final - Three Study Questions TBA

 

FICTION

Week 1  - Monday Introduction to the course - Why study literature? 

  Wednesday - Death in the Woods - Sherwood Anderson

 Week 2  Monday - What We Talk About When We Talk About Love - Raymond Carver

    Wednesday - Roman Fever - Edith Wharton

Week 3 - Monday - Indian Camp - Ernest Hemingway

    Wednesday - The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas- Ursula Le Guin

Week 4  - Monday - Metamorphosis  - Franz Kafka

  Wednesday  - Bullet in the Brain  - Tobias Woolf

Week 5  -  Monday - The Birds - Daphne Du Maurier

   Wednesday - Potion  - Marion Harrigan

Week 6 -   Monday - The Machine Stops - E. M. Forster

  Wednesday - Gabriel Ernest - Saki

POETRY

Week 7  - Monday  - The Second Coming - W. B. Yeats.

                  Wednesday - MCMXIV - Philip Larkin

Week 8  Monday - Musee de Beaux Arts - W.H.Auden

                Wednesday - One Art - Elizabeth Bishop

Week 9  Monday -  My Last Duchess and Porphyria's Lover - Robert Browning

               Wednesday - Her Kind - Anne Sexton

Week 10   Monday - Ode to the Nightingale - John Keats and Acquainted with the Night - Robert Frost

                 Wednesday - Spring and Fall - Gerald Manley Hopkins and Like as the Waves make unto the pebbled shore - William        Shakespeare.

DRAMA

Week 11 (Prologue) - Murder in the Cathedral - T.S.Eliot 

Week 12  (Rising Action) - Murder in the Cathedral - T.S.Eliot

Week 13 - (Falling Action) Murder in the Cathedral - T.S. Eliot

Week 14 - (Denouement) Murder in the Cathedral - T.S. Eliot