English 105-16: Introduction to Narrative
9:30-10:45 TR; Graham 424
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 masterplots in popular fiction and canonical
literature. We will use the Narrative theory presented in our two central academic texts as a
framework for examining paired texts in which the same masterplot functions.
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:
Brontë, Emily. Wuthering Heights. Any edition.
Meyer, Stephenie. Twilight. New York: Little, Brown and Company, 2005. ISBN 0-316-01584-9
Rice, Anne. Interview With the Vampire. New York: Ballantine Books, 1976. ISBN 0-345-33766-2
Shelley, Mary. Frankenstein, The Original 1818 Text, 2nd Ed. Eds. D.L. MacDonald & Kathleen Scherf.
Ontario: Broadside Literary Texts, 1999. ISBN 1-55111-308-2
Simon, Richard Keller. Trash Culture: Popular Culture and the Great Tradition. Berkeley: U of CA Press,
1999. ISBN 0-520-21647-4
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.
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
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.
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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:
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
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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 (Jan. 9-13)
Tuesday
Intro & Welcome
Thursday
Chapter 4: Intro to Narrative
Week Two (Jan. 16-20)
Tuesday
Twilight Chapters 1-12
Thursday
Chapter 2: Intro to Narrative; excerpts from Paradise Lost (Bb)
Week Three (Jan. 23-27)
Tuesday
Twilight Chapters 13-Epilogue
Thursday
Chapter 3: Intro to Narrative
Week Four (Jan. 30-Feb. 3)
Tuesday
Wuthering Heights Chapters 1-12
Thursday
Chapter 1: Intro to Narrative
Week Five (Feb. 6-10)
Tuesday
Wuthering Heights Chapters 13-24
Thursday
Chapter 5: Intro to Narrative
Week Six (Feb. 13-17)
Tuesday
Wuthering Heights Chapters 25-end
Thursday
Chapter 6: Intro to Narrative; midterm review
Week Seven (Feb. 20-24)
Tuesday
Midterm Exam
Thursday
Chapter 7: Intro to Narrative; Trash Culture
Week Eight (Feb. 27-March 2)
Tuesday
Frankenstein
Thursday
Chapter 8: Intro to Narrative
Week Nine (March 5-9)
Tuesday
Frankenstein
Thursday
Chapter 9: Intro to Narrative
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Week Ten (March 12-16)
Tuesday
Frankenstein
Thursday
Chapter 10: Intro to Narrative
Week Eleven (March 19-23)
Tuesday
Frankenstein
Thursday
Chapter 11: Intro to Narrative
Week Twelve (March 26-30)
Tuesday
Frankenstein
Thursday
Chapter 12: Intro to Narrative
Week Thirteen (April 2-6)
Tuesday
Interview with the Vampire Part I
Thursday
Chapter 13: Intro to Narrative
Week Fourteen (April 9-13)
Tuesday
Interview with the Vampire Part II
Thursday
Week Fifteen (April 16-20)
Tuesday
Interview with the Vampire Part III & IV
Thursday
Chapter 14: Intro to Narrative
Week Sixteen (April 23-27)
Tuesday
Thursday
EXAM PERIOD
Tuesday, May 1, Noon-3 p.m.