Verkmenntaskólinn á Akureyri
Spring Term, 2007
Course Outline
English 503
Course material:
One Flew Over the Cuckoo´s Nest by Ken Kesey (novel).
A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams (play).*
Indian Camp by Ernest Hemingway (short story).*
Bernice Bobs Her Hair by F. Scott Fitzgerald (short story).*
Various photocopied texts and assignments (hand-outs).
* A folder containing the short stories and the play is sold at the VMA-office.
Course description:
The course is aimed at developing further the skills that have been the focus of preceding English
courses, such as reading, writing and vocabulary. Special emphasis on writing, style and layout.
Discussion of language in regard to nationalities, class and culture. Various material will be used,
such as newspaper-and magazine articles, short stories, poetry, novels, TV programmes, films, and
material from the Internet as well as music(if time allows). Student participation is essential in this
course as a great deal of the work will take place during class discussions and group work. If
possible, visiting lecturers will be introduced to the class.
Course objectives:
Students
- should be able to write texts that are more or less free of most grammar and spelling mistakes
- will have been introduced to organized writing that can be adapted to all their other work
- will know the difference between styles of writing and appropriateness
- will be able to use basic terms in their literary analyses
Assessment:
Short stories
14%
Tests and assignments on novel
30%
Various assignments on chosen texts 6%
Assignments on play
15%
Presentation
10%
Oral examination
15%
Class participation
10%
Attendance in this course must not be below 90% since there is no written final examination. The
same applies to graded assignments.
This outline is open to discussion and alterations in the first session.
English 503
Work Plan
Weeks
Assignments/Discussions
 Introduction to the course. Teacher / student introduction.
 The basic analysis of prose and literary terms.
2.-5.
(9. jan.2. feb.)
 "Indian Camp" by Ernest Hemingway, written assignment (7%).
 "Bernice Bobs Her Hair" by F. Scott Fitzgerald+ video, written assignment (7%).
 Miscellaneous texts, plus assignments.
 Students start to read One Flew Over the Cuckoo´s Nest and read and read and ...
Class discussions.
6.-9.
(5. feb.2. mars)
 One Flew Over the Cuckoo´s Nest Parts I, II, III and IV - short tests ( equ. 16%),
during a reading and discussion period.
 Final exam from Cuckoo´s Nest (14%) at the end of the period.
 Discussion of language in regard to time, culture and class.
 Introduction to oral presentation.
10.13.
(5. mars30. mars
 Presentation preparation
 Oral presentations done in class. (10%)
 A Streetcar Named Desire, start reading, class discussion.
 Short quiz on Streetcar (5%).
 Class discussion continues and students watch a cinema version of the play.
15.-18  Written assignment on a theme from Streetcar (10%).
(11. apríl
– 4. maí)
 Miscellaneous texts, plus assignments.
 Oral exams in class during last week of term. (15%).
Looking forward to working with you,
Erna Gunnarsdóttir (erna@vma.is)
Ómar Kristinsson (omar@vma.is)
Consultation: Thu., 11:25-12:05 – teachers’ lounge.
Consultation: Mon., 10:30-11:10 - English cage –D.