CHABOT COLLEGE
DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH
ENGLISH 4
Introduction to Literature
Spring 2013
M/W 12-1:15 Room 857
MY CONTACT INFORMATION
Zac Walsh
Email address: zwalsh@chabotcollege.edu
Office Location: 451K
Office Hours: MW 10:30:11:30 (please make an appointment first)
“THE AMERICAN CENTURY”
We are poor passing facts,
warned by that to give
each figure in the photograph
his living name.
- from Robert Lowell’s “Epilogue”
English 4: Critical Thinking and Writing about Literature
3 units
Develops critical thinking, reading, and writing skills as they apply to the analysis of
fiction (short stories and novel), poetry and drama. Prerequisite: English 1A (completed
with a grade of “C” or higher.) 3 hours. Transfer: CSU; UC; CSU/GE: A3; IGETC: Area
1 Group B; AA/AS.
This semester we will be reading and writing about literature with our focus being on 20th
Century American Literature. The 20th Century is often referred to as “The American
Century” and we will be examining the historical, cultural and psychological reasons for
this by using American literature as our lens, or in some cases, our microscope. By
critically analyzing four major genres we will discover how successful works of literature
are not created for simple entertainment or artistic showmanship, but rather exist as
attempts to illuminate the uniqueness and complexities of our histories, our choices, our
failures, and our triumphs. In short, we will study this literature in the hopes of
understanding the worlds we come from so that, if we are fortunate, we might understand
ourselves a bit more fully as well.
REQUIRED TEXTBOOK AND MATERIALS (IN ORDER WE WILL BE READING THEM)
THE BEST AMERICAN ESSAYS OF THE CENTURY ED. BY JOYCE CAROL OATES
THE VINTAGE BOOK OF CONTEMPORARY AMERICAN SHORT STORIES ED. BY TOBIAS WOLFF
AMERICAN PASTORAL BY PHILLIP ROTH
THE VINTAGE BOOK OF AMERICAN POETRY ED. BY J.D. MCCLATCHY
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Syllabus A copy of the syllabus is posted on “Blackboard.” The syllabus is a guide to the
quarter’s activities and assignments for the course and will be referred to in class. Please
bring the syllabus to every class along with the textbook.
CAMPUS COMMUNICATION TOOLS
Blackboard
You will receive instruction on using Blackboard, an important online communication
tool used by this university. Throughout the quarter, grades, course materials, and
important announcements will be posted on “Blackboard.”
Email
It is important that your e-mail address is current. It is also important that you check,
read, delete and store your campus email on a regular basis so that you will receive
important course and university communications and communicate effectively with your
classmates.
CONTACTING THE INSTRUCTOR
The best way to contact me is through email (zwalsh@chabotcollege.edu). I will check
this account on a daily basis.
When emailing me, the language used should be written in a professional/academic
manner (no text message style words). Also, please include our course number, day and
time in the subject line to help me keep track of our correspondence.
FORMAT FOR FORMAL WRITTEN ASSIGNMENTS
(***LATE PAPERS LOSE ONE LETTER GRADE PER CLASS THEY ARE
LATE***)
1.
Assignments are graded on insight, quality of writing, creativity, and following
the directions of the assignment.
2.
All assignments must be typed on 8 ½ X 11” paper using 12 point font size and a
1” margin space along borders. Hand-written work will not be accepted.
3.
Double-space within each paragraph.
4.
One page = one full page. Assignments received that are ¼ or ½ page will
receive a reduced grade.
5.
Staple the pages of your assignments before arriving in the classroom. .
6.
Each out-of-class written assignment must have the title of the paper, your first
and last name, the name of this course, and the date the assignment is due.
7.
Written work will not be accepted by e-mail. HARD COPIES ONLY.
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THE ELEMENTS OF YOUR GRADE
1. ATTENDANCE/ PARTICIPATION: 150 POINTS
After 4 consecutive or 6 total absences you will be dropped from the class.
You are required to be at every class session on time and ready to participate. If
you miss class you miss any possible points to be earned that day. There are no make-ups
given for quizzes or class participation. If you are late you get 0 points for that day.
2. READING RESPONSES AND QUIZZES: 200 POINTS (20 x 10 points)
There will be twenty (20) quizzes throughout the semester totaling 200 points. Quizzes
will be given at the beginning of class. If you are late for the quiz you will not be able to
take it. There will be NO make-up quizzes. I will drop the lowest quiz score. You MAY
use any reading notes that you HANDWRITE before the quiz.
3. CREATIVE NON-FICTION ANALYSIS ESSAY: 150 POINTS
4. SHORT STORY ANALYSIS ESSAY: 150 POINTS
5. NOVEL RESEARCH ESSAY: 250 POINTS
6. POETRY ANALYSES: 100 POINTS (2 x 50 points)
***TOTAL = 1,000 POINTS (900-1,000 = A / 800-899 = B / 700-799 = C)
**** YOU MUST EARN AT LEAST 700 POINTS TO PASS THIS COURSE****
CELL PHONES AND OTHER ELECTRONIC DISTRACTIONS
I WILL NOT ALLOW ANY CELL PHONE, PDA, OR LAPTOP USE IN THIS CLASS. IF YOU IGNORE THIS
RULE AND CHOOSE TO USE ANY OF THESE THINGS DURING OUR CLASS TIME, YOU WILL LOSE
YOUR ATTENDANCE POINTS. IF YOU CONTINUE TO IGNORE THE RULE YOU WILL BE ASKED TO
LEAVE AND RECEIVE AN ABSENCE FOR THE DAY.
* PLEASE REMEMBER, 3 ABSENCES = DROPPED FROM CLASS.
ACCOMMODATIONS FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES
If you have a documented disability and wish to discuss academic accommodations, or if you
would need assistance in the event of an emergency evacuation, please contact me as soon as
possible.
UNIVERSITY POLICY ON ACADEMIC DISHONESTY
Violation of policies concerning cheating and plagiarism will be strictly enforced. Such
violations can lead to receiving a failing grade on the assignment, receiving an “F” in the course,
being placed on disciplinary probation, suspension, or expulsion. If you have questions on what
constitutes cheating, plagiarism, inadequate citation of sources, or inappropriate collaboration
with other students, do not hesitate to ask.
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TENATIVE COURSE SCHEDULE
*** You must have the reading completed by the date listed ***
1/23 – Course Introduction
UNIT ONE: Creative Non- Fiction
1/28 – Twain, Dubois, Bourne, and Hemingway
1/30 – Fitzgerald, Thurber, Wright, and Agee
2/4 – Perelman, Porter, Wolfe, and Nabakov
2/6 – Herr, Thomas, Rich, and Didion
2/11 – Ehrlich, Hoagland, Dillard, and Bellow
2/13 – NO CLASS: FACULTY FLEX DAY
2/18 – NO CLASS: PRESIDENT’S DAY
2/20 – *** CREATIVE NON-FICTION ESSAY DUE ***
UNIT TWO: The Short Story
2/25 – Allison, Bausch, and Beattie
2/27 – Carver, Dubos, and Ford
3/4 – Gaitskill, Gurganus, and Johnson
3/6 – Jones, L’Heureux, and Lombreglia
3/11 – Oates, O’Brien, and Olmstead
3/13 – Offutt, Phillips, and Power
3/18 – Simpson, Vaughn, and Wideman
3/20 – Short Story Review/ Paper Questions
3/25 – *** SHORT STORY ESSAY DUE*** / Begin Film
3/27 – Finish Film: The Most Dangerous Man in America
4/1 and 4/3 – NO CLASS: SPRING BREAK!!!
UNIT THREE: The Novel
4/8 – Begin American Pastoral Chapters 1-2
4/10 – Chapter 3
4/15 – Chapter 4
4.17 – Chapter 5
4/22 – Chapter 6
4/24 – Chapter 7
4/29 – Chapter 8
5/1 – Finish the Novel!!!
UNIT FOUR: Poetry
5/6 – Roethke, Jarrell, Dickey, Levertov, O’Hara
5/8 – Creeley, Merwin, Sexton, Levine, Rich
5/13 – ***POETRY ANALYSIS #1 DUE ***
5/15 – Critical Article Workshop/ Presentations for American Pastoral Research
5/20 – Plath, Williams, Simic, Gluck, Phillips
5/22 – *** POETRY ANALYSIS #2 DUE ***
5/29 – FINAL DAY: *** NOVEL RESEARCH ESSAY DUE *** NO LATE PAPERS ACCEPTED***
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