English 508W, Section 2, Schedule 21206
San Diego State University, Fall 2014
TTh 11-12:15, AH-4176
Dr. Edith Frampton Office hours:
T/Th 8-9 a.m., AL-288, & by appoint.
eframpto@mail.sdsu.edu; 594-6232
The Writing of Criticism: Joys of the Keyboard
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. 2nd or 3rd Edition. Terry Eagleton.
Minneapolis: University of Minnesota, 1996.
• MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers. 7th 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
60: contributions to class-wide discussions (3 pts possible per class) A- = 919-900
100: 5 brief 20-point assignments and mini quizzes (in bold)
B+ = 899-870
200: midterm exam
B = 869-820
300: final exam
B- = 819-800
200: final research essay, as described below and on handout
C+ = 799-770
C =
C- =
D+ =
D =
D- =
F =
769-720
719-700
699-670
669-620
619-600
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 into 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.
Tentative Class Schedule (subject to change)
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
T 8/26
In-class plan
Introductions; go over syllabus
Th 8/28 The Writer’s Palette (Grammar Skills):
Go over any questions on handout;
Print up and read handout on: subjects, verbs,
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 9/2
Literary Analysis: Read Eagleton book, 1-14
Lecture: What is Literature?
Th 9/4
The Writer’s Palette (Grammar Skills):
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 10/7 & 10/9 in class
of your own problem areas for possible presentation
T 9/9
Literary Analysis: Read Eagleton, mid 26-46
Lecture: English Studies Historically
Th 9/11 The Writer’s Palette (Grammar Skills):
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
Scholarship; What is the M.L.A.?!
T 9/16 Literary Analysis: Read Eagleton, mid 92-109
Lecture: Structuralist Theory
Th 9/18 Literary Analysis: Read Eagleton, 110-30
Lecture: Post-Structuralist Theory
T 9/23 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 9/25 Literary Analysis: Read Eagleton, 131-68
Lecture: Psychoanalytic Theory
T 9/30 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: Plagiarism;
writing workshop: introductory
paragraph due (bring 5 copies)
Th 10/2
Literary Analysis: Read Eagleton, 169-208
Lecture: “Political Criticism”
T 10/7
MLA Handbook, 77 - middle of 122 (3.1 thru 3.8)
+ prepare a 2-min lesson on your problem area
Presentations on the mechanics of
writing
Th 10/9 Prepare a 2-min lesson on your problem area;
begin reviewing for midterm exam
Presentations continued; review for
midterm exam
T 10/14 Review for midterm exam
Midterm exam
Th 10/16 Great Expectations, 23-77
Lecture: Victorian Historical Context
T 10/21 Great Expectations, 78-172
Lecture: Dickens’s Life and Work
Th 10/23 Great Expectations, 172-232
Discussion: Great Expectations
T 10/28 Great Expectations, 232-380
Discussion: Great Expectations
Th 10/30 Finish reading Great Expectations, 380-441;
prepare to debate Great Expectations
Debate Great Expectations
T 11/4
Great Expectations and Psychoanalytic Criticism:
read 463-501
Lecture: A Psychoanalytic Approach to
Great Expectations
Th 11/6
Great Expectations and Deconstruction and
Cultural Criticism: read 502-26 + 592-623
Lecture: A Deconstructivist and Cultural
Approaches to Great Expectations
T 11/11 Veteran’s Day – No Class
Th 11/13 White Teeth, sections 1: “Archie” (1-102)
Lecture: Black British Culture/Writing
T 11/18 White Teeth, section 2: “Samad” (105-217)
Lecture: Zadie Smith
Th 11/20 White Teeth, section 3: “Irie” (221-339)
Discussion: White Teeth
T 11/25 White Teeth, section 4: “Magid, Millat,
and Marcus” (343-448)
+ choose topic for your research essay
Lecture: Multiculturalism
and White Teeth
Thanksgiving Break
T 12/2
Finish draft of essay intro., make 5 copies;
find two peer-reviewed essays, photocopy
Writing workshop on intros: bring 5
copies; bring in peer-reviewed essays
Th 12/4
Prepare to debate White Teeth + work on essay
White Teeth Debate
T 12/9
Finish final essay
ESSAY DUE; review for final exam;
bring WT and GE to class
T 12/16 Study for final exam
10:30-12:30: FINAL EXAM