English 508W , Section 2, Schedule 21269
San Diego State University, Fall 2015
TTh 9:30-10:45, AH-4176
Dr. Edith Frampton Office hours:
T/Th 10:45-11:45 AH-1109 FIT Center eframpto@mail.sdsu.edu
; 594-6232
Course Description
Welcome! Academic writing can be a struggle. It can also be fun. This class will provide you with some tools and strategies that will help you to take more pleasure in the process of writing about literature and, as a result, to be more successful with it. Since literary scholars today must have an understanding of
“theory,” we’ll take a tour through aspects of this challenging field via British critic Terry Eagleton.
Experience with techniques of research and citation are equally important to critics, and so we’ll cover that too. Also essential is a thorough command of standards of English grammar, and we’ll therefore review a few basics that often get neglected. As a part of the entire process, we’ll read some wonderful poems, essays, and the novels Great Expectations and White Teeth , applying our studies to the analysis of these. There will be brief written assignments, a final research essay, a midterm, and a final exam.
Generous and tolerant participation in class discussions, debates, and exercises is an essential component of the course, helping to further develop your interpersonal and public speaking skills.
Expected Learning Outcomes on which Assessment Will Be Based
Students completing this course will be able to:
• constructively contribute to discussions and debates about aspects of literary analysis, research, and writing;
• accurately respond to questions about plot, characters, themes, styles, and historical contexts of literature read;
• correctly answer questions about key aspects of literary criticism & terminology, composition, and grammar;
• clearly articulate ideas to the class in the form of short oral presentations, according to the directions provided;
• also, collaborate successfully with fellow students in class on textual analysis, demonstrating tolerance of others;
• compose a carefully argued, well-structured, fully supported, and correctly cited research essay on a literary topic.
Required Texts and Other Resources:
• a series of grammar packets, available to be printed up from Blackboard, and a binder for these
•
Literary Theory: An Introduction. 2 nd
or 3 rd
Edition.
Terry Eagleton.
Minneapolis: University of Minnesota, 1996.
•
MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers . 7 th
Edition. New York: Modern Language
Association of America, 2009.
•
Great Expectations . Charles Dickens. Ed. Janice Carlisle. Boston: Bedford/St.
Martins, 1996 (only THIS EDITION of Great Expectations, with essays)
•
White Teeth . Zadie Smith. New York: Vintage, 2000.
Required Course Work and Grading: 1000 total points possible Grading Scale
140: attendance & prepared participation (5 pts each for 28 classes) A = 1000-920 C = 769-720
60: contributions to class-wide discussions (3 pts possible per class) A- = 919-900 C- = 719-700
100: 5 brief 20-point assignments and mini quizzes ( in bold )
200: midterm exam
300: final exam
200: final research essay, as described below and on handout
B+ = 899-870 D+ = 699-670
B = 869-820 D = 669-620
B- = 819-800 D- = 619-600
C+ = 799-770 F = 599 - 0

Class Procedure
While class sessions will typically include a lecture, much of this course will be conducted as a seminar, in which the emphasis will be on discussion , either among the class as a whole or within smaller groups. You are expected to come to class having done the reading very carefully and be ready to participate fully in all class activities. This is a very important aspect of the class and it is weighted correspondingly in your final grade. You are further expected to arrive promptly and stay until the end of every class, since arriving late and leaving early is very disruptive. Punctual attendance is included in the final grade. You will receive points for each day of attendance and additional points for extra contributions made in class. Points will be deducted for late arrival; early departure; inappropriate use of a cell phone, laptop, or other electronic devices during class; or any disruptive or distracting behaviour. The book that we are currently reading should always accompany you to class. Individual appointments are encouraged and may be scheduled during the office hours listed above. In preparation for the final research essay, a significant portion of class time will be devoted to composition issues.
Reading Assignments, Class Participation, and Quizzes
It is absolutely essential that you do the assigned reading slowly and carefully enough that you can converse knowledgeably, and raise pertinent questions, about it in class. Allow yourself enough time to think about what you are reading as you read it and either to highlight or to take notes . As a motivational tool, there will be three mini quizzes on the grammar covered, worth twenty points each.
Research Essay
The entire semester of this course will be preparing for, and building towards, the culminating research essay, due in December. The brief written assignments, listed on our schedule in bold, are preparation for this, as are our study of grammar, composition strategies, research methods, approaches to literary analysis, and rules of correct citation. For the final essay, which must be ten pages long, you will research and read two peer-reviewed, scholarly essays or book chapters, in addition to the two primary texts that you are analyzing and any other sources you use. A copy of these scholarly essays/chapters must be handed in with your own essay. If you wish to make reference to the words or ideas of someone else in your writing, you are required to fully and accurately acknowledge your source. There are severe penalties for plagiarism. Plagiarism will be reported to the Office of
Student Rights and Responsibilities and will result in an F for the course .
You are required to submit an introductory paragraph with a clearly stated main point (or thesis), according to the class schedule. You must bring in five copies of this on the due date, in order that a small group of your classmates and I may read your work with you and comment constructively on it, in an informal, workshop setting.
Finally, you must have your essay proofread/edited and submit the comments/corrections with your final draft. The final draft must be typed and double-spaced , must include a works cited page, and must conform to MLA guidelines. Final drafts that are submitted late will be marked down one whole letter grade; no essays will be accepted more than one week late. Separate essay guidelines will be provided in class
Essay grades will be based on evidence of time, thought, creativity, and attention to detail invested in the analysis of the primary text and the additional research essays; on aspects of your writing, such as the inclusion of a clearly stated thesis, or main point, to the essay; on the inclusion of specific supporting details or examples to back up the thesis; careful organization; well-structured, interesting sentences and paragraphs; and a correctly formatted essay and works cited page.
Midterm and Final Exams
The midterm and final exams are intended to be rigorous enough to motivate you to read carefully and to pay close attention in class, since doing so will ensure that you will perform successfully. They will cover significant components of the assigned reading, class discussions, lectures, and presentations from the entire semester. You will be required to identify authors, characters, main events, themes, and prominent passages from the literary texts; to answer questions about fundamental aspects of literary criticism and theory; to respond to questions about scholarly practices; and to demonstrate knowledge of the grammatical and writing mechanics topics covered. You may only make up a missed exam or quiz if you provide documentation of your absence, such as a doctor’s note or a death certificate.
Special Needs
Students who need accommodation of their disabilities should contact me privately to discuss specific accommodations for which they have received authorization. If you have a disability, but have not contacted
Student Disability Services, at 619-594-6473 (Calpulli Center, Suite 3101), please do so, and please also make an appointment with me to discuss any accommodations that you might need.

You are responsible for carefully reading the assignment listed and any additional assignments . Note: pages in
MLA Handbook will vary according to edition, so refer to section numbers. “E”=Eagleton book.
Date Assignment to be completed BEFORE this class In-class plan
T 8/25
Th 8/27
The Writer’s Palette (Grammar Skills):
Print up and read handout on: subjects, verbs,
Introductions; go over syllabus
Go over any questions on handout; mini quiz on grammar handout
fragments, and run-on sentences, available on
Blackboard, completing activities provided.
Literary Analysis: Lecture: An Introduction to Theory
Read “What is Theory,” by Jonathan Culler (handout)
Composition:
+ completed contract & brief written assignment: Written assignment/contract due
T 9/1 Literary Analysis: Read Eagleton book, 1-14
Th 9/3
The Writer’s Palette (Grammar Skills):
Lecture: What is Literature?
Go over any questions on handout;
Print up and read handout on: regular and irregular mini quiz on grammar handout
verbs, agreement, and verb tense, available on
Blackboard, completing activities provided.
Literary Analysis
Read “The Rise of English” (Eagleton:15-mid 26)
Planning Ahead: Assign topics for 2-min. presentations
Look over Ch. 3 of MLA Handbook & choose 3 to be given 10/6 & 10/8 in class
of your own problem areas for possible presentation
T 9/8 Literary Analysis: Read Eagleton, mid 26-46
Th 9/10
The Writer’s Palette (Grammar Skills):
Lecture: English Studies Historically
Go over any questions on handout;
Print up and read handout on: pronouns, pronoun mini quiz on grammar handout
agreement, reference, point of view, on Blackboard,
completing activities provided.
Literary Analysis Lecture: “Peer-Reviewed” Essays and
Read Eagleton 79-middle 92
T 9/15 Literary Analysis: Read Eagleton, mid 92-109
Scholarship; What is the M.L.A.?!
Lecture: Structuralist Theory
Th 9/17 Literary Analysis: Read Eagleton, 110-30 Lecture: Post-Structuralist Theory
T 9/22 Literary Research + Research Assignment: Read Works cited assignment due
MLA Handbook : 3-40 (1.1-1.7)+126-133 (5.1-5.3.3)
+, using all Ch. 5, compile Works Cited of 1 book, * Lecture: Strategies for composing
1 peer-reviewed essay, & 1 Web site with info. a strong essay introduction*
on (not by) Terry Eagleton, using correct
M.L.A. standards of citation
Th 9/24 Literary Analysis: Read Eagleton, 131-68
T 9/29 Composition: Read MLA Handbook , 51-61
(2.1 - 2.8); write an introductory paragraph
to an imagined essay on Terry Eagleton,
following composition guidelines from class
Lecture: Psychoanalytic Theory
Lecture: Plagiarism;
writing workshop: introductory paragraph due (bring 5 copies)

Th 10/1 Literary Analysis: Read Eagleton, 169-208 Lecture: “Political Criticism”
T 10/6 MLA Handbook , 77 - middle of 122 (3.1 thru 3.8) Presentations on the mechanics of
+ prepare a 2-min lesson on your problem area writing
Th 10/8 Prepare a 2-min lesson on your problem area ; Presentations continued; review for
begin reviewing for midterm exam midterm exam
T 10/13 Review for midterm exam Midterm exam
Lecture: Victorian Historical Context Th 10/15 Great Expectations , 23-77
T 10/20 Great Expectations , 78-172
Th 10/22 Great Expectations , 172-232
T 10/27 Great Expectations , 232-380
Th 10/29 Finish reading Great Expectations , 380-441;
Lecture: Dickens’s Life and Work
Discussion:
Discussion:
Debate
Great Expectations
Great Expectations
Great Expectations
prepare to debate Great Expectations
T 11/3 Great Expectations and Psychoanalytic Criticism: Lecture: A Psychoanalytic Approach to
read 463-501 Great Expectations
Th 11/5 Great Expectations and Deconstruction and Lecture: A Deconstructivist and Cultural
Approaches to Great Expectations Cultural Criticism: read 502-26 + 592-623
T 11/10 White Teeth
, sections 1: “Archie” (1-102)
Th 11/12 White Teeth , section 2: “Samad” (105-217)
T 11/17 White Teeth
, section 3: “Irie” (221-339)
Th 11/19 White Teeth , section 4: “Magid, Millat,
and Marcus” (343-448)
Lecture: Black British Culture/Writing
Lecture: Zadie Smith
Discussion: and
White Teeth
White Teeth
Lecture: Multiculturalism
+ choose topic for your research essay
T 11/24 Finish draft of essay intro., make 5 copies; Writing workshop on intros: bring 5 find two peer-reviewed essays, photocopy
Thanksgiving Break
T 12/1 Finish White Teeth ; work on final essay copies; bring in peer-reviewed essays
Lecture: Genetics and White Teeth
Prepare to debate White Teeth Th 12/3 Work on essay
T 12/8 Work on essay
Th 12/10 Finish final essay
T 12/15 Study for final exam
Debates on White Teeth
ESSAY DUE; final review; bring bks.
8-10 a.m.: FINAL EXAM