Fall 2013 English 105-10
Syllabus and Schedule
Instructor: Lavina M. Ensor
Email: lmensor@uncg.edu
TR 12:30-1:45
BRY 204
Office: MHRA 3112F
Hours: T 9:30-10:30 a.m.; R
9:30-10:30 a.m., and by appt.
Welcome to English 105, Introduction to Narrative. In this course we will seek to understand better what
narrative is and how it shapes and impacts our daily experiences. To this end, we will think about the social,
cultural, political and personal value of narrative in our daily lives and the ways in which narrative concepts
change throughout the 20th century and across different ethnicities. We will also analyze different narrative
structures with an eye toward how and why these formal elements of narrative change across different genres
and mediums.
Student Learning Goals:
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:
For classes meeting twice a week, students are allowed a maximum of three absences without a grade penalty.
For every absence beyond those allowed, students will be penalized one- half letter grade. Students who miss
six classes on a two-day schedule will fail the course.
Email Response Policy:
I will make every effort to respond to your e-mail message within forty-eight hours. If I have not
replied to your message after forty-eight hours, please re-send the message.
Required Texts:
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Collins, Susan. The Hunger Games. New York: Scholastic P, 2008. Print. ISBN: 978-0439023528
Erdrich, Louise. Tracks. New York: Harperperennial, 1998. Print. ISBN: 0-06097245-9.
Gibson, Scott Thomas, Tammy Lancaster, and Summar C. Sparks. Lenses: Perspectives on Literature.
Plymouth: Hayden-McNeil, 2013. ISBN: 978-0-7380-5105-5
Larsen, Nella. Passing. New York: Penguin, 2003. Print. ISBN: 978-0142437278
Access to Blackboard and money for printing texts
Late Work
Students may not make up quizzes for any reason. Any make up midterm or final exams must be formerly
negotiated with instructor before test date and will not be granted lightly. Late papers will be reduced one full
letter grade for each day late; papers will not be accepted at all if more than 3 days late. **In order to pass this
class, students must complete and submit all assignments**
Laptops
Laptops may be used in class only to take notes pertaining to our class. Any student who uses a laptop for any
non-classroom activity during class time will not be allowed to use a laptop in class again. To be perfectly clear:
one violation means no laptop use.
Cell phones
Talking, texting, web surfing, or playing games on cellular phones is never, ever allowed. Turn phones off
or set them to silent before class. If a student makes a habit of accessing her/his cell phone during class,
s/he will simply be asked to leave, forfeiting attendance and participation points for that day.
Assignments:
Below, find brief descriptions of the assignments each student will be expected to complete over the course of
semester. Detailed instructions about papers, tests, and presentations will be handed out and discussed in class.
Quizzes: At least once a week, class will begin with a quiz over that day’s reading. Corresponds to Student
Learning Goal (SLO) 1.
Group Presentations: Students will divide into groups of 4-5 and plan a 10-12 minute presentation on one
short story, poem that is not listed on the syllabus. These presentations will incorporate outside contextual
research on the author, period, and text. Groups will give selections to instructor for approval no later than 2
weeks before presentation day. Corresponds to SLOs 1 & 4.
Midterm: the midterm exam will include short answer and essay questions covering class material up to Week
8. Corresponds to SLOs 1-4.
Final: the cumulative final exam, held during exam week, will include short answer and essay questions.
Corresponds to SLOs 1-4.
Literary Analysis Paper: Students will write a 5-6 page literary analysis essay of either one text or a selection
of texts. Students will receive detailed instructions about this essay during class, and we will discuss literary
analysis strategies and techniques throughout the semester. **Students are encouraged to begin thinking about
this essay early in the semester and to visit instructor and the Writing Center with questions and concerns.
Corresponds to SLOs 1-4.
Grading
A=90-100
on down
B=80-89
C=70-79
D=60-69
F=59
Final grades will factor accordingly:
Weekly quizzes: 10%
Participation: 10%
Group presentation: 15%
Midterm: 20%
Literary analysis paper: 20%
Final: 25%
Participation Grading Rubric
A Superior communication with class members; excellent preparation for class discussion; always volunteers;
student exemplifies mastery, rigor, and intellectual curiosity regarding course readings and concepts while also
introducing relevant independent insights to the discussion; student demonstrates enthusiasm and takes
initiative, particularly during group activities.
B Good communication with class members; solid preparation for class discussion; consistently volunteers;
student exemplifies interest and engagement regarding course readings and concepts; student demonstrates
positive attitude; makes meaningful contributions during group activities.
C Adequate communication with class members; fair preparation for class discussion; occasionally volunteers;
student exemplifies competence regarding course readings and concepts; student demonstrates an inoffensive,
but noncommittal attitude; sporadic contributions during group activities.
D Limited communication with class members; uneven/inconsistent preparation for class; rarely volunteers;
demonstrates indifference or irritation when prompted; inattentive during class; rare contributions during group
activities. [Performance may be marked by other flaws: consistent tardiness; disruptive; etc.]
F Weak communicative skills; little to no preparation for class; little evidence of reading assignments (this may
include not buying the course texts; not bringing blackboard readings to class,
or not making up missed material); never volunteers, or doesn’t respond when prompted; demonstrates potential
hostility to discussion; irrelevant, distracting, or no contributions to group activities.
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; e-mail: ods@uncg.edu.
Academic Honesty
“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 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 who submit plagiarized or otherwise fraudulent work will fail that particular assignment and may
fail the course depending on the percentage of the assignment and/or the severity of the violation. Students who
plagiarize or cheat a second time will fail the course automatically. Students who violate the Academic Integrity
Policy may also be subject to further disciplinary action from the university.
Disability Services:
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; e-mail: ods@uncg.edu.
The Writing Center:
The purpose of the Writing Center is to enhance the confidence and competence of student writers by providing
free, individual assistance at any stage of any writing project. Staff consultants are experienced writers and alert
readers, prepared to offer feedback and suggestions on drafts of papers, help students find answers to their
questions about writing, and provide one-on-one instruction as needed. Located in the Moore Humanities and
Research Building, room 3211. **Students are highly encouraged to visit Writing Center for help with literary
analysis paper and in preparation for midterm and final.
Please note: The following schedule is subject to change
Week 1
8/20
8/22
Week 2
8/27
Topics: Techniques for reading and discussing literary texts
First day introductions; syllabus; class requirements and expectations
Lenses Ch. 1
Topics: Context and Setting in Literature
Sherman Anderson, excerpts from Winesburg, Ohio (1919)
8/29
Lenses Ch. 8; BB: Willa Cather, “Neighbour Rosicky” (1928)
Week 3
9/3
Topics: Narrative structures
Library day—class will meet in the library for research seminar
9/5
Week 4
9/10
9/12
Week 5
9/17
9/19
Week 6
9/24
9/26
Week 7
10/1
Begin Nella Larsen’s Passing (1929); Lenses Ch. 9
Topics: Narrative structures, voice, point of view; genre
Passing; BB: Excerpt from Zora Neale Hurston’s Their Eyes were Watching God (1937)
Lenses Ch. 3; Passing; BB: John Updike, “A & P” (1961)
Topics: Poetry as narration; structure of poetry; form and content
Lenses Ch. 6; BB: Selections from Robert Lowell’s Life Studies (1954)
Selections from Sylvia Plath’s Ariel (1965)
Topics: Poetic devices; writing about literature
Lessons Ch. 4; Simon Ortiz, “A San Diego Poem: January-February 1973”
Selections from Anne Sexton’s Transformations (1971); Lenses Ch. 2; review for midterm
10/3
Week 8
10/8
10/10
Week 9
10/15
10/17
Week 10
Lenses Ch. 7; Louise Erdrich’s Tracks (1988)
Topics: Characters, types and development
Tracks
Tracks; BB: Flannery O’Connor, “A Good Man is Hard to Find” (1976)
Topics: Deconstruction
Fall Break—No class
Lenses Ch. 5; David Henry Hwang’s M. Butterfly Act I (1986)
Topics: How narrative works through drama
10/22
10/24
Week 11
10/29
10/31
Hwang’s M. Butterfly Act II &III
Edward Albee, The Zoo Story
Topics: Narrative in popular culture; strategies for writing the literary analysis essays
Suzanne Collins’ The Hunger Games (2008)
Review Lenses Ch. 2; The Hunger Games
Week 12
11/5
11/7
Week 13
11/12
11/14
Week 14
11/19
11/21
Week 15
The Hunger Games
In class group presentations
Topics: Narrative in film
Discussion: Hunger Games film (Copies of DVD will be placed on reserve in Jackson library)
Hunger Games film
Topics: Narrative and meaning
Toni Morrison, “Nobel Prize Acceptance Speech” (1993)
Personal narrative selections; class evals; Literary analysis paper due on Blackboard by 5 p.m.
11/26
11/28
Last day of class; final exam preparation
Thanksgiving—No class
Midterm
Week 16
FINAL EXAM TO BE HELD Thurs, December 5, from noon-3 p.m.