Spring 2011 Syllabus: ENG 3123 (T/TR 2:00-3:15)
Instructor: Petra Bowman, Ph.D.
Office: H.S.S. 4.05.30
Office Hours: Tuesdays 1:00pm-2:00pm, and by appointment
Email: lapetra.bowman@utsa.edu
Phone: 458-6967
ENG 3123 Modern Fiction: Modern Fiction is the literal representation and expression of
Modernism. Not all contemporary or ‘modern’ literature may be considered Modern Fiction. This
course will examine the major tenants of Modernism and those texts which explore the concept
of individuality, reflect a general disbelief of an absolute truth, exhibit historical discontinuity,
and represent a sense of what may be termed Existential alienation, ennui, and, at times,
nihilism. Ultimately, this course will provide students the opportunity to examine the rise and the
r/evolution of Modernism from the end of the 19th century well into the 21st century, as we read
Irish, French, British, German, Chicana, Indian, and Dominican authors and their quintessential
Modernist texts.
Required Texts:
-Beckett, Samuel. Waiting for Godot.
-Camus, Albert. The Stranger.
-Cisneros, Sandra. Caramelo.
-Conrad, Joseph. Heart of Darkness.
-Joyce, James. Dubliners.
-Kafka, Franz. The Metamorphosis.
-Pérez, Loida Maritza. Geographies of Home.
-Rushdie, Salman. Midnight’s Children.
-Sartre, Jean-Paul. No Exit, and Three Other Plays.
-Wolf, Virginia. To the Lighthouse.
Grade Distribution:
-Reading Quizzes: 25%
-Midterm Exam: 25%
-Annotated Bibliography: 25%
-Final Paper (12-14 pages): 25%
Course Policies:
-All readings and essays are due on the date specified in the course schedule and are to be
done in preparation for class. All papers are due at the beginning of class on the date
announced on the syllabus. No late papers will be accepted.
-Papers are to be typed, double spaced, 12pt font, and written in MLA format. Papers are
scored according to the policy stated in the student handbook. All papers should include a
Works Cited page. N.B. the highest grade you may earn for papers which do not meet the full
minimum page requirements is 75%.
-Reading quizzes will be given at the start of class period. Students who are late for class will
not have the opportunity to ‘make-up’ the quizzes. Students with excused absences (see
below) will not be penalized for the missed quizzes.
-You are encouraged to ask questions, draw conclusions, and make inter-textual connections
between
the readings we cover and discuss. You are also encouraged to engage in conversation with
your classmates. If you disagree about your classmates’ opinion, feel free to respectfully say
so and to substantiate your claims.
-My office hours are set aside specifically so that I may help you. During the semester, I
encourage you to use my office hours to your advantage. If you are having difficulty
understanding something we may have covered in class, or if you simply wish to discuss
possible paper ideas, feel free to stop by my office, call me during my office hours, or email me.
-If you have a documented learning disability, please be sure to: 1) register with the Disability
Office (located 2nd floor of M.S. building) and 2) to meet with me so that we may discuss ways
in which you and I may work best to ensure your continued scholastic success.
-Please be sure to silence/turn off your cell phones before class begins.
-Please be advised that in-class computer use is limited to taking notes of our class
lectures. In the event that it is determined that you are using your laptop for any other
purposes, you will be prohibited from using your laptop for the remainder of the semester. See
me after class if you plan on using a laptop during this semester.
Attendance:
Attendance is required. You will be allowed a maximum of two “unexcused” absences and a
maximum of two excused absences for which you will not be penalized (N.B. only students
with excused absences are not penalized for missed quizzes). An absence will be considered
an “excused absence” in the following cases: 1) a doctor’s appointment, in which case you must
inform me ahead of time (in person, by phone, or by email) and provide me (on the day of your
return to class) with official documentation signed by your physician/clinic, and/or 2) an
approved UTSA activity, in which case you must also inform me ahead of time and provide me
(prior to your absence) with official documentation signed by a UTSA sponsor. For every
absence thereafter, two (2) points will be deducted from your final grade. Furthermore, whether
an absence is excused or not, you are fully responsible for all of the material presented in class,
including announcements about course procedures and/or syllabus changes. (N.B. ultimately,
in all cases, it is up to me to determine whether or not an absence is properly and, therefore,
acceptably documented.)
Academic Honesty (from student Information Guide):
The integrity of a university degree depends on the integrity of the work done for that degree by
each student. The University expects a student to maintain a high standard of individual honor
in his/her scholastic work. “Scholastic dishonesty” includes, but is not limited to, cheating on a
test or other class work, plagiarism (the appropriation of other’s work and/ideas in one’s own
written work offered for credit), collusion (the unauthorized collaboration with another person in
preparing course work offered for credit), taking an examination for another person, or any act
designed to give unfair advantage to a student, or the attempt to commit such acts. Academic
dishonesty is a violation of the Student Code of Conduct and is addressed in Appendix B, Sec.
203 of the student Information Guide at www.utsa.edu. Should a student be accused of
scholastic dishonesty, a faculty member may initiate disciplinary proceedings. The writing you
do in all courses must be your own.
COURSE SCHEDULE
JAN 11
-Introduction to the course and course overview: What is Modern Fiction?
JAN 13
-A Brief History of Literary Movements and their major tenants: Medieval,
Renaissance,
Restoration and 18th century, Romantic, Victorian, Modernist, and PostModernist
Post-
-A Brief History of Literary Movements and their major tenants (cont’d): Medieval,
Renaissance, Restoration and 18th century, Romantic, Victorian, Modernist, and
Modernist
JAN 20
-Read Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness (pages ix-xix, and 3-77)
JAN 25
386,
-Read “Essays in Criticism” in Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness (pages 326-
JAN 18
396-415, 429-444, and 455-474)
JAN 26
drop an
**CENSUS DATE (5pm): Last day to drop or withdraw without a grade or
individual course and receive a 100% refund. No refunds given for
dropping an
individual course after this date**
JAN 27
-Read James Joyce’s Dubliners: “The Sisters,” “An Encounter,” “Araby,”
“Eveline,” “After
the Race,” “Two Gallants,” “The Boarding House,” “A Little Cloud,”
“Counterparts,”
“Clay” (pages ix-xliii, and pages 3-89)
FEB 01
Room,” “A
-Read James Joyce’s Dubliners: “A Painful Case,” “Ivy Day in the Committee
Mother,” “Grace,” “The Dead” (pages 89-194)
FEB 03
365)
-Read “Essays in Criticism” in James Joyce’s Dubliners (pages 253-317, 327-
FEB 08
-Read Franz Kafka’s The Metamorphosis (pages ix-xi, and 3-42, 61-75)
FEB 10
210)
-Read “Essays in Criticism” in Franz Kafka’s The Metamorphosis (79-172, 195-
FEB 15
-Read Virginia Wolf’s To the Lighthouse
FEB 17
-Class Discussion (cont’d): Virginia Wolf’s To the Lighthouse
FEB 22
-In-Class Midterm Review
FEB 24
**MIDTERM EXAM**
MAR 01
-Read Samuel Beckett’s Waiting for Godot (pages 3-357)
MAR 03
-Class Discussion (cont’d): Samuel Beckett’s Waiting for Godot
MAR 08
-Read Albert Camus’ The Stranger (pages v-vii, and pages 3-123)
MAR 10
-Class Discussion (cont’d): Albert Camus’ The Stranger
MAR 15
**NO CLASS: SPRING BREAK**
MAR 17
**NO CLASS: SPRING BREAK**
MAR 22
Plays
-Read Jean-Paul Sartre’s “No Exit” and “The Flies” in No Exit and Three Other
(pages 1-46 and 47-124)
MAR 24
Exit and
-Read Jean-Paul Sartre’s “Dirty Hands” and “The Respectful Prostitute” in No
Three Other Plays (pages 125-241 and 243-275)
MAR 29
-In-Class DVD
MAR 31
-Read Salman Rushdie’s Midnight’s Children, Book I (xi-xvi, and pages 3-133)
APR 05
-Read Salman Rushdie’s Midnight’s Children, Book II (pages 137-393)
APR 07
-Read Salman Rushdie’s Midnight’s Children, Book III (pages 397-533)
APR 12
-Read Loida Maritza Pérez’ Geographies of Home (Prologue and pages 1-176)
APR 14
-Read Loida Maritza Pérez’ Geographies of Home (pages 177-321)
APR 15
**Graduation Application Deadline (5pm): Undergraduate online Fall 2011
graduation application and commencement participation deadline**
APR 19
-Read Sandra Cisneros’ Caramelo (pages 1-235)
APR 21
-Read Sandra Cisneros’ Caramelo (pages 236-439)
APR 25
**Last day to drop an individual course via ASAP online system and last
day to
withdraw from all classes (5pm): Students must see Academic
Advisor to drop
developmental classes or withdraw from all classes. Withdrawal forms are
available online at http://www.utsa.edu/registrar/forms/html. Please
refer to
attached Spring 2011 Calendar for additional information)**
APR 26
-ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY DUE
-End of semester review and closing remarks
APR 28
**NO CLASS: STUDENT STUDY DAY**
MAY 05
Absolutely
-FINAL PAPER DUE: All papers are due at the start of class at 10:30 am.
no late papers will be accepted