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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "EN 200"
COURSE NAME: "Introduction to Literature"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Summer Session I 2012
SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: Russell Shannon
EMAIL: [email protected]
HOURS: MTWTH 9:00-11:00
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS: 45
CREDITS: 3
PREREQUISITES: Prerequisite: EN 110 with a grade of C or above
OFFICE HOURS: By appointment after class 11-12

COURSE DESCRIPTION:
Presupposing no previous knowledge of literature, this course deals in an intensive manner with a very limited selection of works in four genres, poetry, short story, drama and novel.  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 text, use various critical approaches and write critical essays on the specified readings.
SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:
Students are introduced to the basic tools for literary analysis and appreciation and are asked to apply them to the analysis of a limited selection of texts from four genres:  poetry, short story, drama and the novel. 
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
Students should gain an appreciations of the basic means and modes of literary analysis so that they may apply these to later in-depth courses in English literature.  
TEXTBOOK:
Book TitleAuthorPublisherISBN numberLibrary Call NumberCommentsFormatLocal BookstoreOnline Purchase
A Midsummer's Night's DreamWilliam ShakespeareOxford World's Classics978-0-19-953586-6     
Dance of the Happy ShadesAlice MunroVintage978-0-099-27377-6     
OleannaDavid MametVintage978-0-679-74536     
Black DogsIan McEwanVintage0000     
REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
Book TitleAuthorPublisherISBN numberLibrary Call NumberComments
Broadview Anthologies of English Literature -- Complete SetVariousBroadviewVarious  

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
NONE
GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
AssignmentGuidelinesWeight
2 Essays Each essay should be 8 pages typed, double-spaced, using MLA citation style.40% (20% each)
In-class Poetry, Prose and Drama AnalysisIn-class assignments involving detailed analysis of poetry, prose and drama.24% (8% each)
Definitions and Examples of Assigned Literary Terms 8%
Participation Participation is required and may involve in-class presentations or responses to the assigned readings8%
Final Exam 20%

-ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:

Assessment Guidelines for assigning main letter grades: A, B, C,D, and F.

A:  Work of this quality directly addresses the question or problem raised and provides a coherent argument displaying an extensiveknowledge 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.

B:  This 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.

C:  This is an acceptable level of performance and provides answers that are clear but limited, reflecting the information offered in the lectures and reference readings.

D:  This 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.

F: This 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.  At 3 absences the overall mark for the course is automatically reduced by a grade point.
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 May 21-24  Introduction and Poetry Analysis

Monday Introduction:  What is Literature? Silvia Plath "Metaphor" (Hand-out on Poetic Metre and Literary Terms); Exercise involving scansion of poetry.
Tuesday  Sir Gawain and the Green Knight   http://www.yorku.ca/inpar/sggk_neilson.pdf  "The Dream of the Rood" 
Wednesday  Christopher Marlowe "The Passionate Shepherd to his Love," Walter Raleigh "The Nymphs Reply," John Donne "The Flea," "A Valediction Forbidding Mourning," Andrew Marvell "To His Coy Mistress," Robert Herrick "To the Virgins to Make Much of Time," George Herbert "Easter Wings," "The Altar" Ezra Pound "In a Station of the Metro" and others
Thursday  Class held next Friday June 1st 9-10:45am

Week 2  May 28-31    Poetry and Short Story


Monday  The Sonnet
Tuesday Poetry Selection
Wednesday Kate Chopin's "The Story of an Hour"  http://www.vcu.edu/engweb/webtexts/hour/ 
Guy de Maupassant "The Necklace"
Thursday "A Good Man is Hard to Find" Flannery O'Connor  http://flavorwire.com/272890/10-wonderful-short-stories-to-read-for-free-online;  Conan Doyle "The Red-Headed League"  http://ignisart.com/camdenhouse/canon/redh.html
Friday In-class Assignment  (Poetic Analysis 8%)

Week 3 June 4-8  Short Story and Drama  FIRST ESSAY DUE 20%


Monday  FIRST ESSAY (20%) DUE TODAY
"The Nose" Nikolai Gogol "The Monkey's Paw" W. W. Jacobs
Tuesday  Alice Munroe  "Thanks for the Ride"  and "Red Dress 1942"
Wednesday Shakespeare A Midsummer's Night's Dream 
Thursday  In-class Assignment (Prose Analysis 8%)

Week 4   June 11-14  Drama  


Monday   Shakespeare A Midsummer's Night's Dream  
Tuesday David Mamet's Oleanna
Wednesday  David Mamet's Oleanna
Thursday In-class Assignment (Analysis of Drama 8%)
  

Week 5 June 18-21 The Novel  SECOND ESSAY DUE 20%

Monday   

Ian 

McEwan Black Dogs  

ESSAY DUE TODAY 20%

Tuesday 

 

Ian 

McEwan Black Dogs


Wednesday

Ian 

McEwan Black Dogs 

Literary Terms and definitions, with your own examples due in today (8%)  

Thursday 

Ian 

McEwan Black Dogs; REVIEW

Friday Final Exam