ENG 251
Fantasy in Literature: Game of Thrones and Epic Fantasy
Dr. Peter Sands || winterim 2016
Class: online only, 4-21 Jan 2016
Office: HON 146
Office hours: by appt.
sands@uwm.edu
http://www.uwm.edu/~sands
229.4804
Introduction
This course introduces the academic study of fantasy texts, concentrating on a
variety variously called epic or heroic fantasy. These are a form of “immersive”
fantasies involving the wholesale creation of alternate worlds. We will consider how
these texts operate, their relation to other forms of literature, and what we can glean
from them as readers. For instance, is there any social function or use-value other than
pleasure in so-called “escapist” texts? We will also look at the various issues introduced
by adaptation, through readings of a novel and then both graphic novel and television
adaptations.
This course assumes vigorous engagement with texts comes from frequent
writing and reflection about our reading. We will write both short, informal responses,
and one brief formal essay in the service of learning, dialogue, and interpretation.
Winterim courses are intensive. An ordinary Winterim course meets five days a
week for 3 hours and 15 minutes, plus outside reading and writing. The standard
expectation in an undergraduate class is that you will spend 2-4 hours outside class
work for every 1 hour in class. Here, because this course meets wholly online via
Desire2Learn (D2L) and email—you will be expected to be online at least once a day
during the week, and you will be expected to put in time equivalent to that for a course
which meets in the classroom. All of our time will be spent in reading the assignments,
discussing them online, and writing two short papers. There are no lectures other than
some short essays/guides that I will post online, and, possibly, some live “chat” sessions
via D2L. The bulk of your grade comes from your online, written responses, so come
online prepared to discuss both what you’ve read and what you’ve written.
Course Goals
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Examine one kind of fantasy text and its relationship to other forms of
literature.
Explore the problems and other aspects of adaptation.
Practice writing and revising skills for literary and cultural studies.
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Required Materials
A Game of Thrones. ISBN: 0553593714.
A Game of Thrones: The Graphic Novel: Volumes One and Two. ISBN: 9780440423218
and 0440423228.
A Game of Thrones season one on DVD or via streaming media.
Additional readings are on D2L. You will also need a good attitude and reliable Internet
connection.
Recommended:
Any handbook of critical theory, such as Lois Tyson’s Critical Theory: a User-Friendly
Introduction, a dictionary, and a good style manual, such as the MLA Handbook.
Course Procedures
Each day and week will look like this:
Read/Write Alone
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Discuss Together
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Reflect on Learning
I highly value collaboration, sharing, and creative interplay. In the absence of
lectures, we will have self-guided readings, followed by student-led discussion and
question-and-answer. This means that it is incumbent upon each of you to engage the
readings critically and to make significant contributions to discussions. You are
expected to puzzle over, worry at, think upon, write about, and otherwise actively
engage the material rather than simply imbibe it. Specifically, you must:
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Complete all reading and writing assignments by their due dates.
Complete online tasks on time.
Participate vigorously and with respect for the ideas of others, the newness of
the material to everyone in the class, and the need for patience, patience,
patience.
University Syllabus Policies
For a complete statement of University policies on disabilities, incompletes, and
other relevant issues, visit http://www.uwm.edu/Dept/SecU/SyllabusLinks.pdf.
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Online Courses
Because this course meets online, you must be able to:
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Open, edit, save, and store files in MS-Word or Rich Text format. No other
format will be accepted, no exceptions given.
Move data between applications through cut-and-paste or other techniques.
Create, send, receive and read email, including attachments, using UWM
email. You must use your UWM email account to contact me.
Use Desire to Learn (D2L) to read assignments and post your work.
Help files are available at http://d2l.uwm.edu. See me for further assistance.
Online courses release participants from some ties to times and places. You still
need to be at a physical computer, and you still need to involve yourself regularly with
the course. In ENG 215, that means daily.
But your responsibilities are distributed more evenly throughout the week, at
times and places mostly of your choosing. You don’t have to wait for a deadline to
post—you choose when you contribute within the time-frame. You should think in
terms of the “week,” rather than just the “day” or “class.”
Thus, a week generally looks like:
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Monday – reading/write/post online work
Tuesday – read/write/post online work
Wednesday – read/write/post online work
Thursday – read/write/post online work
Friday – read/write/post online work
Sat/Sun – read/think
And the three weeks look like:
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Week 1: read/write/discuss
Week 2: read/write/discuss—and reflect
Week 3: read/write/discuss—and reflect
Writing Assignments
The difference between informal and formal writing assignments is the
difference between trying ideas out with friends versus presenting them for evaluation.
Please take the informal writing as a serious obligation from which you can reap
great rewards by thinking your way into and through problems. This writing should
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generate class discussion, testing your ideas before making full arguments in essays.
Imagine, think implications through, throw ideas out for discussion, but worry more
about content than form.
This course’s informal and formal writing assignments should:
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Increase fluency in producing, revising and editing writing.
Distribute as much as possible responsibility for generating discussion.
Prepare you for writing longer projects and for writing in other courses.
If you find yourself taking more than my suggested times, please contact me.
Informal Writing Tasks
1. Reading responses (30-40 minutes each time):
See the handout “Commentaries and Responses.”
2. Reflections (30-60 minutes each time):
See the handout “Reflective Letters Assignment.”
Formal Writing Projects:
Everyone will complete one written paper of 5-7 pages. A separate document
detailing the assignment is on D2L. I will read a preliminary draft for anyone who
chooses, and I encourage you to ask members of your reflections group to read a draft
as well. Because of the compressed time in Winterim, a first draft is not required. I
encourage you to write about one of the texts discussed in Guerin, or on one of the two
novels.
Each member of the class will have at least four partners in their reflection group.
Your group will be your support system as well as the first line of response to your
writing. Dr. Sands will also be a member of each group.
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Grades
Your grade will be calculated by averaging together two separate grades:
1. Informal writing: includes Commentary/Response and Reflections.
2. Formal writing: your major essay.
Informal-Writing Contract:
A grading contract is an advantage to students: because you don’t stand or fall
on a single assessment, your grade more accurately reflects the quality of your work
over time, rather than how you do on a particular day or at a particular task. What’s
more, this contract emphasizes the quality of your understanding and interaction with
the texts and each other over less-relevant measures.
Informal writing will be assessed as Acceptable or Unacceptable. You will be
notified if your work is Unacceptable; otherwise assume that completion = Acceptable.
Acceptable
On-task
Actively engaged/cites reading/reflective
Around 250 words
On time
Unacceptable
Sloppy, careless, rushed, mechanical errors
Factually/logically inaccurate
Too short/non-substantive
Late
90-100 % Acceptables = A; 80-90 % = B; 70-80 % = C; 60-70 % = D; 0 - 60 % = F
Major Projects:
The essay will be graded on an A-F scale, focusing on quality of writing and
research, the writer’s demonstrated understanding of literature, literary critical terms
and practices, and culture and history, not time and effort expended. A rubric
explaining grade ranges is available on the course website.
A late paper will be reduced in grade, and may result in a failing grade for the
assignment.