Dr. Gavin Schulz
English 2342, HCC--Southwest
Spring 2011
Introduction to Fiction (Gothic Horror)
PURPOSE OF THE COURSE
The purpose of the “Introduction to Fiction” course is to introduce students to Western
World literary forms, philosophical attitudes, and political trends--from a specifically fictional
vantage. We will be focusing in depth on the distinction between the Neoclassical and Romantic
traditions, psychological concerns of character development, and the argumentative process. On
the one hand, the course should demonstrate that to read is to learn; on the other hand, it will
hopefully show that even literary texts can be interesting (and that the more popular forms of
fiction can be literary).
CONTACT INFORMATION
E-mail address: gavin.schulz@hccs.edu
Office Hours: I am available M/W from 9:30-10:30 and T/Th 9:30-10:30
to meet with you on an appointment basis.
REQUIRED TEXTBOOKS
The Dark Descent. Ed. David G. Hartwell. New York: TOR, 1987.
Jackson, Shirley. The Haunting of Hill House. New York: Penguin, 1987.
The Penguin Book of Vampire Stories. Ed. Alan Ryan. New York: Penguin, 1987.
GRADING SCHEDULE
1] Short Research Essay
2] Mid-term In-Class Essay
3] Daily Quizzes
4] Oral Participation
5] Final In/Out-Class Analysis
25%
20%
20%
15%
20%
GRADING SCALE
Grades will be assigned on a +/- scale (point equivalents are 88/85/82 for a B+/B/B-,
etc.). Note, however, that final grades are on an A/B/C scale. For the purposes of grade
calculation, an average of 90-100 will result in an A for the course; 80-89 will result in a B; 7079 will receive a C; 60-69 will receive a D; and 59 or below will have earned an F.
For the two essays: an essay that does not meet the minimum grammatical requirements
for college level writing will be penalized. Students with papers that have failed grammar will
be given the opportunity to rewrite them in order to bring the material up to college. Essays that
fail to meet the minimum passing criteria for grammar after this rewrite will receive the average
of two grades: the grade for the essay and an F for grammar.
PAPERS
Out-of-class work (Essay #1 and Part I of the Final) must be submitted to me, in class, on
the day that it is due. Papers that are not in my hands by the time I have left class will be
considered late. Essays submitted electronically by the end of class will be accepted as having
been turned in on time if the hard copy (which you must still submit) is the same as the
electronic copy. Essays turned in to my box after class will be considered late.
Late papers will be penalized 10 points, with an additional penalty of 10 points each
successive day they are late.
The in-class essay and Part II of the Final must be completed on the dates assigned--no
exceptions unless you arrange in advance with me. Failure to write the in-class essays during the
scheduled periods will result in 0’s for the assignments.
Please keep a copy of your papers for your own file; should a paper be lost (or disappear
from my box), it is your responsibility to give me another.
ATTENDANCE AND WITHDRAWAL POLICY
Attendance is required by HCCS at all class meetings. I am instructed to withdraw
students who have missed six hours or more of class by the last day to drop. Note, however, that
showing up twenty minutes late to class each day does not mean you have perfect attendance; it
means that you have missed one-quarter of the semester (almost a month!).
You are, in any event, responsible for any material assigned or collected on those days in
which you are absent or tardy. If a paper is due on a day that you are absent, it is your
responsibility to find a way to turn it in; to be safe, submit it electronically in advance. Missed
exercises/quizzes may not be made up.
While I am instructed to withdraw students with excessive absences, it is ultimately the
student’s responsibility to withdraw; so, should you decide to drop the class, do not merely stop
coming. Note that we no longer have the option to assign "W"'s at the end of the semester, so all
students still on my roll at the end of the semester will receive grades.
DAILY QUIZZES
There will be a brief reading quiz during the first few minutes of each class. They will
consist of simple questions designed to merely find out whether or not you have read the
material. Students will be given 10 minutes to answer the questions, after which all quizzes will
be turned in and no make-ups will be allowed. I will, however, drop your four lowest scores at
the end of the semester.
These quizzes will be added together to get a percentage score that will be your Daily
Quiz grade. While it is possible to score 100%, it is also possible to score less than an F (55%)
in this category.
READINGS
Assignments listed in the “Course Reading Schedule” are due for class on the day listed,
so be sure to read the assignments in advance.
ELECTRONIC DEVICES
Use of recording devices, including camera phones and tape recorders, is prohibited in
classrooms and other locations where instruction, tutoring, or testing occurs. Inappropriate use
of a recording device will be reported to the police and may be a felony offense.
SPECIAL CONDITIONS/CIRCUMSTANCES
Any student with a documented disability (e.g. physical, learning, psychiatric, vision,
hearing, etc.) who needs to arrange reasonable accommodations must contact the Disability
Services Office at the beginning of each semester.
POLICY ON ACADEMIC DISHONESTY
Scholastic dishonest includes, but it not limited to:
1] ‘Plagiarism’—using another person’s work in one’s own work written for credit, in any way,
without acknowledging that use.
2] ‘Collusion’--the unauthorized collaboration with another person in preparing written work
offered for credit.
3] ‘Cheating’—obtaining or providing answers from/to another person during a quiz.
A student guilty of a first offense will receive a grade of 0 on the assignment involved.
For a second offense, the student will receive a grade of F for the course.
Calendar/Reading Schedule
** Short stories will be found in
(PBV): Penguin Book of Vampire Stories
(DD): Dark Descent
Week 1
Jan. 18] Course Introduction / Edgar Allan Poe “Tell-Tale Heart” (xerox)
The Evolution of the Vampire: Neoclassicism vs. Romanticism
20] John Polidori “The Vampyre” (PBV--pgs. 7-24)
Week 2
25] Bram Stoker “Dracula’s Guest” (PBV--pgs. 163-174)
27] P. Schuyler Miller “Over the River” (PBV--pgs. 322-333)
Week 3
Feb. 1] Suzy McKee Charnas "Unicorn Tapestry" (PBV--pgs. 505-561)
3] Carl Jacobi "Revelations in Black (PBV--pgs. 282-300)
Week 4
8] Chelsea Quinn Yarbro "Cabin 33" (PBV--pgs. 451-504)
10] Fritz Leiber “The Girl with the Hungry Eyes” (PBV--pgs. 334-348)
Week 5
15] C. L. Moore “Shambleau” (PBV--pgs. 255-281)
17] Mary Wilkins Freeman “Luella Miller” (PBV--pgs. 175-187)
Week 6
22] Workshop Day
24] Workshop Day
Week 7
Mar. 1] ** Essay #1 due today **
Haunted Houses: The Psychology of Terror
3] Shirley Jackson The Haunting of Hill House (pgs. 3-33)
Week 8
8] Shirley Jackson The Haunting of Hill House (pgs. 34-92)
10] Shirley Jackson The Haunting of Hill House (pgs. 93-163)
Week 9
15]
17]
SPRING BREAK
HOLIDAY !!!
Week 10
22] Shirley Jackson The Haunting of Hill House (pgs. 164-end)
24] Workshop Day
Week 11
29] * Mid-term In-Class Essay *
Monster, Monsters, Monsters, and Approaches to Literary Criticism
31] Edith Wharton “Afterward” (DD--pgs. 887-908)
Elizabeth Bowen "The Demon-Lover" (xerox)
Week 12
Apr. 5] Ramsey Campbell “Mackintosh Willy” (DD--pgs. 591-601)
Charlotte Perkins Gilman "The Yellow Wallpaper" (DD--pgs. 460-471)
7] Fritz Leiber "Smoke Ghost" (DD--pgs. 629-640)
Sheridan Le Fanu "Shalken the Painter" (DD--pgs. 445-459)
Week 13
12] Michael Shea "The Autopsy" (DD--pgs.175-202)
14] M. R. James "The Ash-Tree" (DD--pgs. 40-49)
Charles Dickens “The Signal Man” (DD--pgs. 680-689)
Week 14
19] H. P. Lovecraft “Call of Chthulhu” (DD--pgs. 85-107)
Ambrose Bierce “The Damned Thing” (DD--pgs. 880-886)
21] Edgar Allan Poe “Fall of the House of Usher” (DD--pgs. 368-381)
Nathaniel Hawthorne “Young Goodman Brown” (DD--pgs. 132-141)
Week 15
26] Steven King “Crouch End” (DD--pgs. 690-711)
28] Clive Barker “Dread” (DD-pgs. 339-367)
Week 16
May 3] Workshop Day
5] **Part I of Final Project due today
*
*
*
*
Final Exam Day (Part II of Final Project): Thursday, May 12 @ 12:00-1:50 p.m. in our regular
classroom.
(** Note that changes can and may be made by the Instructor **)
There are currently no items in this folder.