ENGL 201-011: Reading and Writing about Texts
Fall 2011
Instructor: K. Clark
Meeting place/time: Robinson Hall, rm. B-105; TR, 3-4:15
Office/Hours: Robinson A462, TR: 1:30-2:45 and by appointment
E-mail: kclark1@gmu.edu
Texts: Hacker, A Writer’s Reference, 7th Edition; Hansberry, A Raisin in the Sun;
Kennedy and Gioia, Literature, 6th compact edition; Kennedy, Gioia, and Bauerlein,
Handbook of Literary Terms; Parks, Topdog/Underdog; Williams, A Streetcar Named
Desire. Works not included in these texts will either be distributed or placed on reserve
at the Johnson Center Library.
Course Description/Objectives: This course will introduce you to the fundamentals of
interpreting literature, focusing on fiction and drama. We will interrogate several texts
closely, paying careful attention to broad areas such as theme and characterization and
also unraveling concepts such as voice, tone, plot, symbolism, and setting; additionally,
we will focus on critical/theoretical interpretive frameworks such as Historical, Gender,
and Psychological criticism. Careful attention will be devoted to why writers make
particular choices in terms of literary devices and techniques, which will help to
illuminate connections between form and content. Our readings will include a diverse
group of writers as we explore various literary strategies, forms, and techniques. In
addition to helping you improve your ability to read and think critically, the course will
concentrate on strengthening your critical writing skills; thus we will devote class time to
the process of constructing a critical argument about literature, focusing on formulating
thesis statements, constructing unified and coherent paragraphs, and mastering the
fundamentals of grammar and mechanics.
Course Requirements: You should read texts exhaustively and thoroughly, marking key
passages and generating points to be discussed in class. Everyone will be expected to
contribute to discussions; though I will sometimes lecture, you are responsible for
creating a great deal of the course’s critical energy.
1. Class Participation/In-Class Assignments: Students should attend all
classes, contribute to discussions, and raise salient questions about the readings and/or
points made in class. Occasionally, you may have projects (in and out of class) in which
groups (two or three students) will undertake an assignment. For instance, a group might
have to present a response to a study question to the class. The amount of time required
for these assignments will vary: Sometimes you may complete the assignment in class
while at others you’ll need to meet outside of class. In addition to three formal papers,
there will be writings in and out of class. 10% of your grade
2. Quizzes/Homework: There will be unannounced quizzes throughout the semester
based on assigned readings. Though these cannot be made up, I’ll drop your lowest quiz
grade. Homework is due at the class meeting immediately following the one at which it
was assigned. I’ll accept late homework at the meeting after the due date, though a letter-
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grade will be deducted. Even if you’re absent when homework is assigned, you’re
responsible for submitting it on time. 15%
3. Mid-term and Final Examinations: These will be based on readings, lectures,
discussions, and audio-visual material. These tests will be pretty demanding, so it is
imperative that you attend all classes, stay alert, and take detailed notes. 10 and 20%,
respectively
4. Papers: You will write 3 five-to-six page papers; these essays will be critical analyses
of a work. A few weeks prior to the due date, I will distribute a handout outlining the
paper guidelines and submission standards. Your paper should be a critical argument-not a plot summary, a mere rehashing of events in the text--related to theme, structure,
characterization, or other relevant literary points. You should not consult secondary
sources for these papers. Each essay should be typed, double spaced with one-inch
margins, and stapled. All papers will be due in class on the due date. 45%
A note on plagiarism (see the English Department Statement on Plagiarism on page 6 of
the syllabus): GMU is governed by an honor code system, which is designed to punish
the theft of others’ work and ideas. Plagiarism includes the unacknowledged use of
someone else’s ideas, be he/she a literary critic, another student, or an Internet source.
Plagiarism is a very serious offense that carries severe consequences (i.e., course failure
and/ or suspension from the University).
Extra Credit Opportunity: Discussion Leadership: You’re welcome to lead the class
discussion of a text on the syllabus. In 10 minutes, you’ll guide the class through a
discussion of some section of a work. You should prepare a handout for the class, which
should contain at least 5 study questions (more if you wish), as well as other salient
information about the author/work as well as other materials (e.g., visual images).
You’re welcome to lead the discussion in any way you wish—some students, for
instance, have done PowerPoint presentations, while others have augmented their
presentations with DVDs or other audio-visual aids. If you’re interested in leading a
discussion, please email me the author/text in which you’re interested.
Course Policies:
a. Please be on time: Class will begin promptly at 3:00. As well, quizzes will usually be
given at the beginning of class, and late students will not receive extra time.
b. In addition to being in class on time, your full INTELLECTUAL presence is required
for each class. Surfing the Web, talking on cell/smart phones, text/instant
messaging, tweeting, listening to iPods, doing homework, carrying on private
conversations--all of these distractions impede upon your ability to think and
participate fully in classroom discussions/lectures. See notes immediately following
“Course Policies” section.
c. At the beginning of each class meeting, I will write the readings to be discussed at the
next meeting on the board. It’s especially critical that you get these assignments,
since the reading schedule below only gives you projected readings for each class.
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d. Please bring to each meeting the text(s) which contains the readings we’ll be
discussing. Additionally, you should ALWAYS bring to every meeting a
dictionary and the Handbook of Literary Terms. Failing to bring these books
demonstrates that you are unprepared for class and will be reflected in your class
participation grade.
e. If you are unable to attend a class, please contact another student to get the notes
and/or assignments. Please do not call or e-mail me concerning readings or other
missed work. I strongly urge you to “partner” with someone on whom you can call to
get missed assignments.
f. I do not accept work via e-mail. Your papers and other assignments will be due in
class on the due date.
g. Unless otherwise indicated, any work written outside of class should be typed.
h. Though I frown upon students submitting work after the due date, if you are unable to
turn in your paper or homework assignment on that date, I will accept the assignment
at the following class meeting. For instance, if a paper is due on Tuesday, I will
accept your late essay at the following Thursday class meeting. All late work will be
penalized a letter grade. After that time, NO LATE WORK WILL BE
ACCEPTED. Therefore, please complete your written work by the due dates;
computer and/or printer problems are not valid excuses for submitting late work.
Please do not inquire about extensions. Remember, in-class work (quizzes, exercises,
etc) cannot be made up.
i. If you have an inquiry regarding a grade you’ve received on any assignment, please
make an appointment or visit during office hours. I will not engage in discussions
concerning grades via e-mail.
j. Because we will be covering a great deal of material, you should attend all classes,
take detailed notes, contribute to discussions and ask questions, and keep up with the
readings. I can assure you that the schedule is only tentative and will change, so
you are responsible for keeping up with such changes in readings/assignments. Also,
be mindful that this is not an online or distance-learning course: Habitual and
excessive absences will be reflected in your class participation grade.
k. Extra Credit: Feel free to inquire about extra credit opportunities. There will be
several campus and community events that address the issues raised in our readings-for instance, author readings and panel discussions that will take place during GMU’s
annual “Fall for the Book.” Within a week of attending an approved event, you
should submit a one-page typed response, offering your interpretation of its strengths,
weaknesses, and scholarly/intellectual merit. Although I encourage extra credit, you
should focus first and foremost on the required assignments. Extra credit counts
exclusively at the instructor’s discretion.
l. The GMU Writing Center (writingcenter.gmu.edu; ext. 3-1200): Housed in
Robinson A114, the Writing Center is a valuable resource for students seeking to
improve their writing. The knowledgeable staff includes instructors and tutors who
can help you in all areas of composition--drafting, thesis statements, paragraph
development, unity and coherence, grammar, punctuation, and syntax. Throughout
the semester, I may suggest or require you to visit the Center to work on a specific
facet of your writing.
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*A NOTE ON ELECTRONIC DEVICES: You certainly may use laptops to take
notes. However, students using these and other devices for other purposes will be
penalized on quizzes, exams, or papers. I will not give you warnings regarding
violations of this policy; during class, I’ll simply make a note of who’s surfing,
texting, i-messaging, tweeting, i-poding, i-phoning, cell phoning, Blackberrying, etc.
and deduct points on the next scored assignment.
Additionally, be sure to disable your cell phones, Blackberries, i-phones, and other
noisemakers prior to entering the classroom to avoid disrupting discussions. Students
whose devices go off during class will also be penalized on assignments.
Students with Disabilities: from the GMU Disability Resource Center website
(www.gmu.edu/students/drc/): “The DRC is available to serve all students with
disabilities, including those with cognitive (e.g., learning, psychological, and closed head
injury), sensory, mobility, and other physical impairment.” DRC hours are M-R: 8am7:30pm; F: 8:30am-5pm
TENTATIVE Schedule (through Fall Break)
*Most of the following readings can be found in the Literature anthology
**Throughout the semester, I will assign readings from the Handbook of Literary Terms,
though I have not included them in the schedule below.
***Please keep up with any changes in the schedule; I can assure you some dates
will change.
Week One (Aug. 30-Sept 1): Course Introduction; Definitions of “Texts”; Fundamentals
of Interpretation
Week Two (Sept. 6-8): “Reading a Story” (5-6); “Plot” (13-15); “The Short Story” (1516); “Point of View” (25-29); Hemingway, “A Clean, Well-Lighted Place” (142-45);
Faulkner, “A Rose for Emily” (29-36)
*IMPORTANT: For each story and play, be sure to read the Head Note, the italicized
prefatory section that discusses the writer’s life and writing
Week Three (Sept. 13-15): Faulkner, cont’d; “Character” (75-77); Baldwin, “Sonny’s
Blues” (49-71)
Week Four (Sept. 20-22): “Biographical Criticism” (1471-72); “Setting” (105-108);
Jackson, “The Lottery” (213-19)
Week Five (Sept. 27-29): “Tone and Style” (138-41); “Irony” (157-58); Hurston,
“Sweat” (336-44)
*Sept 27 (Tuesday): PROSPECTUS DUE by 5:00 p.m. via email
(kclark1@gmu.edu)
+Revised Prospectus due Sept. 29 via email by 9:00 pm
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Week Six (Oct. 4-6)
Hacker, A Writer’s Reference, readings TBA; from Literature: “Writing about Literature”
(1357-75); “Writing about a Story” (1377-91); WRITING WORKSHOP
*First paper due, OCTOBER 7th in my office by 2:00 pm
Week Seven (Oct 13; University closed on Monday, Oct 10, so Monday classes meet on
Tuesday the 11th): “Theme” (173-75); “Symbol” (189-91); Gilman, “The Yellow
Wallpaper” (325-36)
REMAINING READINGS TO BE ANNOUNCED
Important Dates for Papers/Exams:
Sept. 27: Prospectus due via email by 5:00 pm (Petry or Boyle)
Sept. 29: Revised prospectus due by 9:00 pm
Oct. 7: First Paper due in my office by 2:00 pm
Oct. 18: Midterm Examination
Nov 1: Prospectus for second paper due by 5:00 p.m. (Alexie or Solomon)
Nov 11: Second paper due in class
Nov. 29: Prospectus for third paper due by 5:00 pm
Dec. 6: Third paper due by 6:00 pm (Parks or writer TBA)
Dec. 15: 10:30- 1:15 pm: FINAL EXAMINATION
Important Dates from the University Calendar (please consult the official “Fall
Schedule of Classes” booklet to verify the dates below in case I’ve made any errors):
Sept 5: Labor Day, University Closed
Sept 30: Last Day to Drop
Oct. 10: Columbus Day Recess (Monday classes/labs meet on Tuesday; Tuesday classes
do not meet this week)
Nov. 23-27: Thanksgiving Recess
Dec. 10: Last day of classes
ENGLISH DEPARTMENT STATEMENT ON PLAGIARISM:
Plagiarism means using the words, opinions, or factual information from another
person without giving the person credit. Writers give credit through accepted
documentation styles, such as parenthetical citation, footnotes, or endnotes; a simple
listing of books, articles, and Internet sources is not sufficient. Plagiarism is the
equivalent of intellectual robbery and cannot be tolerated in the academic setting.
Student writers are often confused as to what should be cited. Some think that
only direct quotations need to be credited. While direct quotations do need citations, so
do paraphrases and summaries of opinions or factual information previously unknown to
the writers of which the writers did not discover themselves. Exceptions to this include
factual information that can be obtained from a variety of sources, the writers’ own
insights or findings from their own field of research, and what has been termed common
knowledge. What constitutes common knowledge can sometimes be precarious; what is
common knowledge for one audience may not be so for another. In such situations, it is
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helpful to keep the reader in mind and to think of citations as being “reader friendly.” In
other words, writers provide a citation for any piece of information they think their
readers might want to investigate further. Not only is this attitude considerate of readers,
it will almost certainly ensure that writers will never be guilty of plagiarism.
“FALL FOR THE BOOK”: September 18-23
Each year, GMU and the Fairfax Public Library collaborate to host a wonderful book
festival that features an array of diverse authors--novelists, short story writers, poets,
memoirists, journalists, historians, et al--in various forums (readings, panel discussions,
etc). These readings/discussions take place on campus and throughout Northern Virginia
and DC. Please visit the festival’s official website, fallforthebook.org, for a complete
listing of events. Most of the events are free, though you may want to check the website
to make sure the dates, times, or venues have not changed.