English 105-12: Introduction to Narrative
9:30-10:45 TR; MHRA 1215
Instructor: Ms. S. Scudder
Email Address: s_scudde@uncg.edu
Office: MHRA 3112F
Office Hours: TBA
Course Description
Catalog Description: Critical reading and analysis of American and British novels, short stories, and
narrative poems. Attention to historical, cultural, and literary backgrounds as appropriate.
GE Core: GLT
About this Section: The focus of this course is on postcolonial literature. We will be examining how
narratives work through the lens of very specific social, historical, and political contexts. While our
focus will be on narrative structure, we will also examine the contexts in which these texts were
created, the possible motivations for creating these texts, and how authorship can function in a
politicized context.
Student Learning Goals
1) Identify and understand varied characteristics of literature;
2) Apply techniques of literary analysis to texts;
3) Use literary study to develop skills in careful reading and clear writing;
4) Demonstrate understanding of the diverse social and historical contexts in which literary texts
have been written and interpreted.
Required Texts:
Sidhwa, Bapsi. Cracking India. Minneapolis: Milkweed Editions, 1991. ISBN 0-915943-56-5
Prince, Mary. The History of Mary Prince: A West Indian Slave. Ann Arbor: The University of Michigan
Press, 1997. ISBN 0-472-08410-0
Kincaid, Jamaica. Lucy. New York: Farrar Straus Giroux, 1990. ISBN 0-374-52735-0
Lahiri, Jhumpa. Interpreter of Maladies. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1999. ISBN 0-395-92720-X
Abbott, H. Porter. The Cambridge Introduction to Narrative. New York: Cambridge University Press,
2009. ISBN 978-0-521-71515-7
Classroom Expectations:
Absolutely no cell phones should be visible at any time during class. If your phone rings, or if you are
caught texting, you will automatically lose participation points for the day. No exceptions.
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Any inappropriate or disrespectful actions or speech towards any of your classmates or myself will not
be tolerated. If your behavior is disruptive or disrespectful you will be given a warning before you are
asked to leave the classroom. If the behavior is repeated, you will be referred to another faculty
member for further disciplinary action, up to and including your removal from the course. I expect
mutual respect and tolerance of everyone regardless of race, gender expression, sexual orientation,
ethnicity, national origin, age, and physical ability. I hold both myself and you to this standard, across
the board.
Given the often sensitive nature of the theme I have selected for this course, respectful and courteous
speech and behavior will be especially important. Please keep in mind that you can disagree with
someone’s point of view without attacking them personally. These are the very strategies and modes of
discourse we will be examining as part of this class, so please practice that not only in your writing, but
in class discussions as well.
Participation, Attendance, Absences:
You are to read all assigned material and bring written work with you to class, in hard copy format.
Since this is a discussion-based class, you are expected to make every effort to attend each class
meeting. If you miss two classes, your final grade will be lowered by half a letter grade. If you miss four
classes, you will automatically fail the course. I do not distinguish between excused and unexcused
absences, so therefore, please use your absences wisely. If you have a true extenuating circumstance,
please see the information about how to contact the Dean of Students further down this page.
Students are by state law allowed two excused absences due to religious holidays. These absences do
not count toward the total maximums allowed above. If a student plans to miss class due to a religious
holiday, he or she must notify me at least 48 hours prior to the absence.
Though I generally discourage the use of laptops in the classroom because I think they can be
distracting, if you prefer to use a laptop in class, it may be used only to take notes pertaining to our class
or to view documents on our Blackboard website. Any student who uses a laptop for any non-classroom
activity during class time will not be allowed to use a laptop in class again. To be perfectly clear: one
violation means no laptop use for the remainder of the semester.
Learning Support:
Disability Services: Students with documentation of special needs should speak to me about
accommodations as soon as possible. You must first register with the Office of Disability Services on
campus before such accommodations can be made. The office is located on the second floor of the
Elliott University Center (EUC) in Suite 215, and the office is open 8am to 5pm, Monday - Friday.
Telephone: 334-5440; e-mail: ods@uncg.edu.
The Writing Center: The purpose of the Writing Center is to enhance the confidence and competence of
student writers by providing free, individual assistance at any stage of any writing project. Staff
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consultants are experienced writers and alert readers, prepared to offer feedback and suggestions on
drafts of papers, help students find answers to their questions about writing, and provide one-on-one
instruction as needed. Located in the Moore Humanities and Research Building, room 3211.
Appointments are not necessary; consultations are provided on a first-come, first-serve basis.
The Learning Assistance Center: offers free services to the entire UNCG undergraduate community and
is located in McIver Hall, rooms 101-104, and 150. For help with study skills, contact Erin Farrior,
Academic Skills specialist. Telephone: 334-3878; e-mail: lac@uncg.edu.
Student Affairs / Dean of Students: If you have a serious illness, family death, or family emergency that
is affecting your ability to attend class or complete work in a timely manner, then you should notify your
instructors and contact the Student Affairs Office at (336) 334-5514 or at 141 Mossman right away.
Course Requirements and Grade Distribution:
Exams (final + midterm) 40%
Your midterm will cover chapters 1-6 of Intro to Narrative, as well as Mary Prince and Lucy. Your final
exam will be comprehensive.
Quizzes and Assignments 30%
You will have reading quizzes on a regular basis. You will also have periodic in-class and homework
assignments related to the readings.
Participation 30%
This does not include only speaking in class; participation includes arriving for class awake, alert,
attentive, and fully prepared for class. It includes engaging both verbally and through active listening.
This also includes arriving for class with the appropriate text for the day. If there are readings assigned
from Blackboard, you should print these and bring to class in hard-copy format.
Evaluation:
You will be graded on a standard 10-point scale (90-100% A; 80-89% B; 70-79% C; 60-69% D; below 60%
F); however you should be aware that in this class, work that is considered average will receive a C
grade. I consider B’s and A’s to be marks of work that is good or excellent; in other words, work that
goes beyond the basic requirements of the assignment.
Late and Missed Work:
The penalty for late assignments is one letter grade per day. After three days, you will receive a zero on
the assignment.
Academic Integrity:
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Academic integrity is founded upon and encompasses the following five values: honesty, trust, fairness,
respect, and responsibility. Violations include, for example, cheating, plagiarism, misuse of academic
resources, falsification, and facilitating academic dishonesty. If knowledge is to be gained and properly
evaluated, it must be pursued under conditions free from dishonesty. Deceit and misrepresentations are
incompatible with the fundamental activity of this academic institution and shall not be tolerated” (from
UNCG’s Academic Integrity Policy). To ensure that you understand the university’s policy on academic
integrity, review the guidelines and list of violations at <http://academicintegrity.uncg.edu>. I expect
you to abide by the Academic Integrity Policy.
Course Schedule:
Week One (Aug. 23-27)
Tuesday
Intro & Welcome
Thursday
Chapter 1: Intro to Narrative
Week Two (Aug. 30-Sept. 3)
Tuesday
Mary Prince 55-90
Thursday
Chapter 2: Intro to Narrative
Week Three (Sept. 6-10)
Tuesday
Mary Prince 90-125
Thursday
Chapter 3: Intro to Narrative
Week Four (Sept. 13-17)
Tuesday
Lucy: “Poor Visitor” & “Mariah”
Thursday
Chapter 4: Intro to Narrative
Week Five (Sept 20-24)
Tuesday
Lucy: “The Tongue” & “Cold Heart”
Thursday
Chapter 5: Intro to Narrative
Week Six (Sept. 27-Oct. 1)
Tuesday
Lucy: “Lucy”
Thursday
Chapter 6: Intro to Narrative; midterm review
Week Seven (Oct. 4-8)
Tuesday
Midterm Exam
Thursday
Chapter 7: Intro to Narrative; Cracking India, Chapters 1-6
Week Eight (Oct. 11-15)
Tuesday
Cracking India, Chapters 7-10
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Thursday
Chapter 8: Intro to Narrative
Week Nine (Oct. 18-22)
Tuesday
Cracking India, Chapters 11-16
Thursday
Chapter 9: Intro to Narrative
Week Ten (Oct. 25-29)
Tuesday
Cracking India, Chapters 17-23
Thursday
Chapter 10: Intro to Narrative
Week Eleven (Nov. 1-5)
Tuesday
Cracking India, Chapters 24-28
Thursday
Chapter 11: Intro to Narrative
Week Twelve (Nov. 8-12)
Tuesday
finish Cracking India
Thursday
Chapter 12: Intro to Narrative
Week Thirteen (Nov. 15-19)
Tuesday
Interpreter of Maladies: “A Temporary Matter” & When Mr. Pirzada Came to Dine”
Thursday
Chapter 13: Intro to Narrative
Interpreter of Maladies: “Interpreter of Maladies”
Week Fourteen (Nov. 24-26)
Tuesday
Interpreter of Maladies: “A Real Durwan” & “Sexy”
Thursday
NO CLASS – THANKSGIVING BREAK
Week Fifteen (Nov. 29-Dec. 3)
Tuesday
Interpreter of Maladies: “Mr. Sen’s” & “The Blessed House”
Thursday
Chapter 14: Intro to Narrative
Interpreter of Maladies: “The Treatment of Bibi Haldar” & “The Third and Final
Continent”
EXAM PERIOD
Thursday December 8th, 8-11 a.m.