ENG 105-15/18, Introduction to Narrative
Williams
Spring 2013
TR 12:30-1:45/2:00-3:15
5:30
BRYN 117
cawilli9@uncg.edu
Cara
Office: MHRA 3112 E
Office Hours: TR 3:30email:
Introduction to Narrative
Course Overview
Narrative is a form of communication used by all human beings. It crosses cultural, religious, economic, racial, and
ethnic divides. It is the primary method by which we construct our identities, our histories, and our relationships;
therefore, it is the primary method by which we construct knowledge.
In this course, we will examine the form of narrative, the various elements from which narratives are constructed and
how that construction can shape or influence knowledge of our world and ourselves.
Course Objectives
This course satisfies the General Literature (GLT) requirement. Below are the Student Learning Objectives (SLOs) for
this course. At the completion of this course, the student will be able to:
1. Demonstrate the reading skill required for the student of literary texts.
2. Identify and/or describe some of the varied characteristics of literary texts.
3. Demonstrate orally, in writing, or by some other means, a fundamental ability to use
some of the techniques and/or methods of literary analysis.
4. Identify and/or describe some of the various social, historical, cultural, and/or
theoretical contexts in which literary texts have been written and interpreted.
Attendance Policy
There is no such thing as excused and unexcused absences in this course. Students are allowed a maximum of three
absences without a grade penalty (“absences” include those related to work, illness, children, court, the IRS, school
functions (including for other courses), mechanical difficulties, community events, and other disasters both natural
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and unnatural). A fourth absence will result in a half-letter grade deducted from the student’s final grade. A fifth
absence will result in a whole-letter grade deducted from the final grade. A sixth absence will result in failure of the
course as per English department policy.
For purposes of verification, student attendance is taken by signing the roll. If you, as a student, arrive late to class, it
is your responsibility to make sure you sign the roll.
You are, by state law, allowed two excused absences due to religious holidays, which do not count toward your total
allowed absences. If you plan to miss class because of your faith, you must notify me in advance of your absence.
Classroom Conduct
This course relies heavily on student participation and collaboration. Students should be prepared to share their
work with other students, read their work aloud if asked, and help other students through the writing process. It is
very important that each student attends class faithfully and is prepared engage in the day’s lesson. You, as a
student, are expected arrive on time for class with all required materials, homework, and assignments and behave
with attention and respect to both the instructor and fellow classmates.
Chronic tardiness, failure to bring required materials and homework to class, unpreparedness, use of cell
phones (including text messaging) and mp3 players in class, inappropriate or untimely use of laptops in
class, or disruptive, disrespectful behavior will result in the offending student being asked to leave the class
and receive an absence for the day.
Required Materials
Auster, Paul. City of Glass. New York: Penguin, 1985.
ISBN# 0-14-009731-7
Charters, Ann, Ed. The Story and Its Writer: An Introduction to Short Fiction. Compact 8th
Edition. New York: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2011.
ISBN# 0-312-59624-3
Gibson, Scott Thomas, Tammy Lancaster, and Summar C. Sparks, eds. Lenses: Perspectives on Literature. Plymouth,
MI: HaydenMcNeil, 2013.
ISBN# 978-073805105-5
A UNCG email account and Blackboard access
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Recommended Materials
Loose-leaf Paper for in class writing assignments and note-taking
A pen or pencil
Regular internet access
Assignments and Grading
Your final grade will consist of the following:
1. Close Reading…………………………………………...…….…….….10%
2. Mid-Term Exam.…….………………………………………….……...20%
3. Literary Analysis Paper…………………………….…………..………25%
4. Final Exam...………………………………………...……...….….……25%
5. Reading Quizzes/Discussion Board/Homework/Participation……….20%
1. Close Reading: A two-page explication of a text’s major literary elements and language and how those elements
create a specific meaning or interpretation. (SLOs 1 and 2)
2. Mid-Term Exam: A short-answer and short-essay exam on literary elements, devices, and historical periods.
(SLOs 1, 2, and 4)
3. Literary Analysis Paper: A five to six-page argument of interpretation about a specific text supported with
evidence from the text. Use of scholarly research to support claims is permitted but not required. (SLOs 1, 2, and 3)
4. Final Exam: A short-answer and short-essay cumulative exam that requires you to explain and or utilize
knowledge gained over the course. (SLOs 1, 2, 3, and 4)
5. Reading Quizzes/Discussion Board/Participation: Reading Quizzes (SLO 1) will be given at scheduled
intervals (see Course Calendar) through Blackboard but may also be given at random in class. The reading quiz is
designed to test you on your attention to the details of the text. Questions will vary between short answer, multiple
choice, and true/false. In order to do well on these quizzes, it is important that you read closely, annotate your texts,
and be able to summarize the reading selections for each class.
The Discussion Board (SLO 2, 3, 4) is a space for you to brainstorm, to think largely and wildly about what
you have read, your impressions, or what you want to do with your assignments. It is a place for raw ideas, idealism,
and free-writing but it also requires that you do support your ideas on a basic level using evidence from the texts. At
times, I will ask you to respond to specific questions or ideas, but I would like for you to also use this as a place for
thinking, forming, shaping, and collecting ideas about the texts and your reactions to them. An “A” is regularly
responding in a thoughtful, considerate manner that advances discussion, provokes questions and other responses,
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and considers the readings or research done over the course of the semester. A “C” is usually responding in
thoughtful manner though not always thought provoking or supported. An “F” is a failure to respond regularly or
being late with your responses or responses that are unproductive, such as “This was stupid/boring topic,” or “I
don’t like this,” other comments that do not offer analysis or fail to raise interpretive questions, fail to incite further
discussion, or fail to be elaborated on by making references to assignments or readings.
Quizzes and Discussion Board posts are due before class begins. Late responses (after the start of class
on that day) will not be credited.
Finally, your participation (SLOs 1 and 3) grade is calculated based on in-class writing, informal writing
assignments, group work, homework, tardiness, attentiveness, engagement in class discussions, preparedness for
class, and productiveness in conferences or workshops. To do well, come to class regularly, on-time, with the texts
for that day, and voice any questions or comments you have about the texts.
Late Work: Work is due on the date listed on the calendar by the start of class. Late work will not be accepted.
Grades will be given by letter scale and be graded according to standards in the syllabus or writing assignment
rubric.
Electronics Policy
This class requires you to use Blackboard and your UNCG email regularly. Laptops, tablets, or other internet-enabled
devices may be used in class to take notes pertaining to our class, to view documents on our Blackboard website, or
to engage in class- related activities as approved by the instructor. Any student who uses a laptop for any activity not
relevant to this course during class time will not be allowed to use a laptop in class again. To be perfectly clear: one
violation means no laptop use.
The instructor reserves the right to revoke the use of electronics in the classroom at any time during the semester.
I will not take written assignments by email. Please print your work and bring it to class.
Academic Integrity Policy
“Academic integrity is founded upon and encompasses the following five values: honesty, trust, fairness, respect, and
responsibility. Violations include, for example, cheating, plagiarism, misuse of academic resources, falsification, and
facilitating academic dishonesty. If knowledge is to be gained and properly evaluated, it must be pursued under
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conditions free from dishonesty. Deceit and misrepresentations are incompatible with the fundamental activity of this
academic institution and shall not be tolerated” (from UNCG’s Academic Integrity Policy). To ensure that you
understand the university’s policy on academic integrity, review the guidelines and list of violations at
<http://academicintegrity.uncg.edu>.
I expect you to abide by the Academic Integrity Policy. Students found plagiarizing, cheating, falsifying, misusing
academic resources, or facilitating academic dishonesty will not be tolerated in this class and will be subject to
disciplinary action by the Office of the Dean of Students and either failure of the assignment and a requirement to
redo the assignment or may result in automatic failure of the course depending on the severity of the violation of
academic integrity and the overall value of the assignment to the final grade.
Disability Services Accommodations
Students with documentation of special needs should arrange to see me about accommodations as soon as possible. If
you believe you could benefit from such accommodations, you must first register with the Office of Disability Services
on campus before such accommodations can be made. The office is located on the second floor of the Elliott
University Center (EUC) in Suite 215, and the office is open 8am to 5pm, Monday - Friday. Telephone: 334-5440; email: ods@uncg.edu.
Grading Rubric for Writing Assignments
Thesis and Focus: The essay has a thesis—a single, central point that is interesting, original, striking and
substantial. The central idea is developed in the essay through well-chosen, appropriate, concrete details
and use of evidence. The writer does not stray from his/her point.
Organization: The essay is organized and well-structured (there is a beginning, a body, and a
conclusion). The essay exhibits a clear strategy for persuasion and pattern of development (chronological
order, spatial order, comparison/contrast, etc.). The organization works with the thesis so that the thesis
and the organization contribute to serving the purpose of the essay. Transitions help the paper flow
smoothly. Introductory paragraph(s) is (are) interesting and appropriate. Concluding paragraph is
satisfying.
Development: Assertions, claims, and generalizations are defended using appropriate evidence. Quotations are
explained and connected to the overall argument. The writer demonstrates his/her ability to evaluate evidence and
to avoid logical fallacies.
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Style: Paragraphs are connected and coherent. Each supporting paragraph has a controlling idea (which
may be expressed in a topic sentence). In supporting paragraphs, topic idea helps further the thesis. The
writer uses a variety of sentence constructions, demonstrates a wide vocabulary, and makes audience
appropriate choices in diction and tone. Writer avoids jargon and/or offensive language. Writer uses a
personal and accessible voice.
Mechanics: The writer avoids errors in spelling, punctuation (including commas, semicolons, colons, quotation
marks, hyphens), and formatting. Run-on sentences or fragments are not present.
Course Calendar
DATE
T Jan 15
UNIT 1
R Jan 17
T Jan 22
R Jan 24
T Jan 29
R Jan 31
T Feb 5
UNIT 2
R Feb 7
T Feb 12
READINGS
ASSIGNMENTS
LITERARY ELEMENTS AND DEVICES
“The Necklace,” by Guy de Maupassant p. 554
Chapter 1 in Lenses p. 1
“I Stand Here Ironing,” by Tillie Olsen p. 689
Chapter 4 in Lenses p. 39
“A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings,” by Gabriel Garcia
Marquez p. 334
Chapter 7 in Lenses p. 81
“A&P” by John Updike p. 835
Chapter 8 in Lenses p. 95
“The Veil” from Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi p. 754
“The Invisible Art,” by Scott McCloud p. 1062
“Prisoner on Hell Planet: A Case History,” by Art Spiegelman
p. 779
LITERARY PERIODS AND HISTORICAL CONTEXTS
“The Wife of Bath” from The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey
Chaucer on Blackboard
Excerpt from Gulliver’s Travels by Jonathan Swift on
Blackboard
“Young Goodman Brown” by Nathaniel Hawthorne p. 357
ENG 105 Syllabus
Reading Quiz
Reading Quiz
Reading Quiz
Close Reading Due
Discussion Board
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“The Lady of Shalott” by Alfred, Lord Tennyson on Blackboard
R Feb 14 “A White Heron,” by Sarah Orne Jewett p. 404
“The Open Boat,” by Stephen Crane p. 271
“The Hill” from Spoon River Anthology by Edgar Lee Masters
on Blackboard
T Feb 19 “The Dead,” by James Joyce p. 434
Discussion Board
“Hills Like White Elephants,” by Ernest Hemingway p. 368
“Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening” by Robert Frost on
Blackboard
R Feb 21 “Old Father, Old Artificer,” by Alison Bechdel p. 78
Discussion Board
T Feb 26 “Good People,” by David Foster Wallace p. 859
“Howl” by Alan Ginsberg on Blackboard
Mid-Term Exam
R Feb 28
UNIT 3
LENSES FOR READING AND UNDERSTANDING
T Mar 5
“The Story of an Hour” by Kate Chopin p. 203
Reading Quiz
Chapter 5 in Lenses p. 53
R Mar 7 “The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Perkins Gilman p. 340
Discussion Board
“A Feminist Reading of Gilman’s ‘The Yellow Wallpaper,’” p.
940
Chapter 2 in Lenses p. 9
T Mar 12 NO CLASS—SPRING BREAK
R Mar 14 NO CLASS—SPRING BREAK
T Mar 19 “Heart of Darkness” by Joseph Conrad p. 208
Reading Quiz
“An Image of Africa: Racism in Conrad’s ‘Heart of Darkness,’”
p. 893
R Mar 21 “Sweat” by Zora Neale Hurston p. 378
Discussion Board
“How It Feels to Be Colored Me” by Zora Neale Hurston p. 946
T Mar 26 “The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson p. 387
“Job History” by Annie Proulx p. 741
R Mar 28 “Interpreter of Maladies” by Jhumpa Lahiri p. 510
Reading Quiz
“The Red Convertible” by Louise Erdrich p. 305
T Apr 2
In Class Writing Workshop
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UNIT 4
FORMS, FUNCTIONS, AND NARRATIVE CRISES
Literary Analysis Papers Due
R Apr 4
“Girl” by Jamaica Kincaid p. 507
T Apr 9
“The Swimmer” by John Cheever p. 180
R Apr 11 City of Glass by Paul Auster p. 7-53 (Chapters 1-3)
Reading Quiz
T Apr 16 City of Glass by Paul Auster p. 54-113 (Chapters 4-8)
Reading Quiz
R Apr 18 City of Glass by Paul Auster p. 115-158 (Chapters 9-10)
Reading Quiz
T Apr 23 City of Glass by Paul Auster p. 159-203 (Chapters 11-13)
Discussion Board
R Apr 25
Final Exam Review
nd
Final Exam at 3:30pm
May 2 or Thursday May 2 for 105-18
rd
May 3
Friday May 3 for 105-15
*** THE INSTRUCTOR RESERVES THE RIGHT TO CHANGE, ALTER, ADD, OR REMOVE ASSIGNMENTS, IN CLASS
WORK, OR TEXTS AS SHE DEEMS NECESSARY.***
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