Texas A&M - Central Texas
ENGL 305
Critical Analysis of Literature
Fall 2015
ONLINE
Instructor
Dr. Geoffrey Stacks
gstacks@tamus.edu
The best way to get in touch with me is to use the “Message” tool on Blackboard and send me a
message.
Course Description
This course is designed to introduce students to the basic techniques/theories/ideas of the
critical analysis of literature. What does it mean to read a literary text with a critical eye? This
has been an essential question throughout the history of literature and literary analysis, and
various theories or approaches have developed. We will look at a few of these theories and
practice applying them to a specific text.
Course Objectives
This course is designed to help students do the following:
 Understand the key questions and ideas regarding critical analysis
 Recognize and understand a few important theories of critical analysis
 Practice applying those theories to a specific text
Required Texts
The following two books will be used extensively throughout the term. Please get them as soon
as possible.
 Critical Theory Today: A User-Friendly Guide, 2nd edition
by Lois Tyson
http://amzn.com/0415974100
 Housekeeping (a novel)
by Marilynne Robinson
http://amzn.com/0312424094
Grade
 Exercises (50%)
I use the term “exercises” to cover a wide variety of smaller assignments. We will do
many “exercises” throughout the course. These will range from short papers (usually
shorter than two pages) to online posts in the Discussion Board. The grades for all of
your exercises will be averaged for this grade.
 Mid-term paper (15%)
This will be a short essay due around week 8 or 9.

Final paper (35%)
This will be a longer paper due at the end of the course.
Technology Requirements
For this course, you will need reliable and frequent access to a computer and to the Internet.
Blackboard supports the most common operating systems. For technological or computer
issues, students should contact the TAMU-CT Blackboard Support Services 24 hours a day, 7
days a week:
Support Portal: http://www.ct.tamus.edu/bbsupport
Online chat (through the support portal at: http://www.ct.tamus.edu/bbsupport)
Phone: (855)-661-7965
Note: Technology issues are not an excuse for missing a course requirement. Please make sure
your computer is configured correctly and address issues well in advance of deadlines.
THIS SYLLABUS SUBJECT TO CHANGE AT THE DESCRETION OF THE INSTRUCTOR
Late-work/Make-up Policy
Late work WILL NOT exist in this course. Assignments that fail to be submitted in the prescribed
manner by the time specified when the assignment is given will not be accepted. There are no
exceptions to this policy.
Academic Integrity
Texas A&M University - Central Texas expects all students to maintain high standards of
personal and scholarly conduct. Students guilty of academic dishonestly are subject to
disciplinary action. Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, cheating on an
examination or other academic work, plagiarism, collusion, and the abuse of resource
materials. The faculty member is responsible for initiating action for each case of academic
dishonestly. More information can be found at www.tamuct.org/studentconduct.
Depending on the severity of a student’s act of academic dishonesty, a student found to have
committed any of the above infractions will receive nothing less than a zero on the assignment
on which the infraction occurred and nothing more than expulsion from the university. A minor
infraction includes but is not limited to improper citations or allusions to a source never cited.
A major infraction includes but is not limited to the undocumented lifting of a phrase from a
source that finds its inspiration some place other than the student.
Disability Support Services
If you have or believe you have a disability, may wish to self-identify. You can do so by providing
documentation to the Academic Support Programs Coordinator. Students are encouraged to
seek information about accommodations to help assure success in this class. Please contact
Ryan Thompson at (254) 519-5796 or Main Building Room 114. Additional information can be
found at www.TAMUCT.org/StudentAffairs.