English 508W, Section 3, Schedule 21119 San Diego State University, Spring 2015 TTh 3:30-4:45, AH 1112 (LRS) Dr. Edith Frampton Office hours: T/Th 12:45-1:45 AH 1109 (FIT Center) 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 140: attendance & prepared participation (5 pts each for 28 classes) 60: contributions to class-wide discussions (3 pts per class) 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 Grading Scale A = 1000-920 A- = 919-900 B+ = 899-870 B = 869-820 B- = 819-800 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 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 May. 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 minimized 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 handouts. 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 Th 1/22 T 1/27 In-class plan Introductions; go over syllabus 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 all activities. 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 Th 1/29 Literary Analysis: Read Eagleton book, 1-14 Lecture: What is Literature? T 2/3 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 all activities. 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 on March 5th &10th in class of your own problem areas for possible presentation Th 2/5 Literary Analysis: Read Eagleton, mid 26-46 T 2/10 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 all activities. Literary Analysis Lecture: “Peer-Reviewed” Essays and Read Eagleton 79-middle 92 Scholarship; What is the M.L.A.?! Lecture: English Studies Historically Th 2/12 Literary Analysis: Read Eagleton, mid 92-109 Lecture: Structuralist Theory T 2/17 Lecture: Post-Structuralist Theory Literary Analysis: Read Eagleton, 110-30 Th 2/19 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 website, & 1 lecture w/ a strong essay introduction info. on (not by) Terry Eagleton, using correct M.L.A. standards of citation T 2/24 Literary Analysis: Read Eagleton, 131-68 Th 2/26 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) T 3/3 Literary Analysis: Read Eagleton, 169-208 Lecture: “Political Criticism” Th 3/5 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 T 3/10 Prepare a 2-min lesson on your problem area; begin reviewing for midterm exam Presentations continued; review for midterm exam Th 3/12 Review for midterm exam Midterm exam T 3/17 Great Expectations, 23-125 Lecture: Victorian Historical Context Th 3/19 Great Expectations, 125-72 Discussion: Great Expectations T 3/24 Great Expectations, 172-268 Lecture: Dickens’s Life and Work Th 3/26 Great Expectations, 268-302 Discussion: Great Expectations Spring Break: Read, read, read! T 4/7 Finish reading Great Expectations, 384-441; prepare to debate Great Expectations Debate Great Expectations Th 4/9 Great Expectations and Psychoanalytic Criticism: read 463-501 Lecture: A Psychoanalytic Approach to Great Expectations T 4/14 Great Expectations and Deconstruction and Cultural Criticism: read 502-26 + 592-623 Lecture: A Deconstructivist and Cultural Approaches to Great Expectations Th 4/16 White Teeth, sections 1: “Archie” (1-102) Lecture: Black British Culture/Writing T 4/21 White Teeth, section 2: “Samad” (105-217) Lecture: Zadie Smith Th 4/23 White Teeth, section 3: “Irie” (221-339) Lecture:Multiculturalism &White Teeth T 4/28 Finish White Teeth - section 4: “Magid, Millat, and Marcus” (343-448) + choose topic for your research essay Lecture: Genetics & White Teeth Th 4/30 Finish White Teeth; begin intro. to essay Debate White Teeth T 5/5 Finish draft of essay intro., make 5 copies; find two peer-reviewed essays, photocopy Writing workshop on intro.s: bring 5 copies; bring in peer-reviewed essays Th 5/7 Work on final essay; plan to bring WT and GE to class Review for final exam; bring WT and GE to class T 5/12 Study for final exam 10:30-12:30: EXAM; ESSAY DUE