Kalamazoo Valley Community College
Class Assignment Schedule
Fall 2005
It is the function of art to renew our perception. What we are familiar with we cease to see.
The writer shakes up a familiar scene, and, as if by magic, we see a new meaning in it.
— Anais Nin
Course Number:
English 214
Room:
7120
Section:
10727
Course Title:
Literary Interpretation
Meeting Times:
Mondays/Wednesdays – 11:00 a.m. - 12:40 p.m.
Instructor:
Jane E. Geschwendt
Office:
TTC 7355
Office Phone:
TTC 269 488-4270 (has voice mail)
E-mail:
jgeschwendt@kvcc.edu
Office Hours:
TTC
Credit Hours:
M/W 10:00 – 11:00 a.m.
T/R 1:00 – 2:00 p.m.
F 12:00 – 1:00 p.m.
4 This class transfers for English credit to Western Michigan University
and other colleges and universities.
Required Text
Beaty, Jerome. The Norton Introduction to Literature 8th ed. New York: W.W. Norton & Co., 2002.
Wilson, August. Fences. New York: Plume, 1986.
Albee, Edward. American Dream/Zoo Story, New York: Penquin Plume, 1997.
Prerequisites
English 110 or instructor’s permission.
Course Description: This course is an introduction to the formal study of literary genre and
themes. Through class discussions and analytical writings, students will develop an appreciation
of literature, a knowledge of literary terms and approaches, and critical thinking and writing
skills.
Welcome to “Lit. Interp.” This course assignment schedule is a guideline for us to follow. I'm
very pleased to be here and look forward to a great semester with you.
Learning Objective #1
Experience and enjoy some wonderful literature in our time together and learn how to examine
each piece's characteristics.
Upon successful completion of this course, students will also demonstrate the following
competencies:
1.
Analyze elements of plot in literature
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2.
Analyze the importance of setting in literature
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3.
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Write an essay depicting how theme is the culmination of the events within the plot
Essay will contain a clear thesis
Essay will support the thesis with direct quotes from the text
Essay will show documentation for quoted material
Essay will be of 500 words in length, computer generated
Distinguish the author's style through use of elements of literature
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6.
Make a verbal character judgment about a character in the story
Support your judgment with ideas verbalized by the character
Support your judgment with actions performed by the character
Support your judgment with attitudes verbalized about your character by
other characters in the story
Support your judgment with physical attributes of the character
Write an essay examining a character from a piece of assigned literature
Analyze characteristics of theme in literature
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5.
Sketch a picture of a scene imagined with visual details as described in the text
 The sketch will bear script from the story supporting your interpretation
 The sketch will be presented to the class with a verbal explanation for your
picture with textual support provided
Write an essay analyzing how setting influences theme in a piece of literature
 Essay interprets the symbolism behind a specific detail to setting
 Essay explains the significance of this scene to interpreting the meaning
of the story
 Essay will be computer generated, of about 500 words in length
 Essay will be supported with documentation from the text
Analyze characterization in literature
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4.
Retell the plot of an assigned piece of literature
Provide main action within the story
Provide enough details to make the story distinguishable from other stories
Diagram a plot map
Identify the elements of plot on the map
Align the events of the story with the elements of plot
Do an oral, team critique of characteristics unique to author's style
The oral team critique will identify word choices unique to given author
The oral team critique will identify sentence structure unique to given author
The oral team critique will identify plot structure common to a given author
The oral team critique will identify character development unique to given author
Synthesize elements of literature to create whole
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Do oral analysis of parts of literary pieces to create total effect of theme
 Identify the plot elements of a piece of literature
 Make a character judgment with support
 Recognize the impact of the elements of setting
 Deduce a theme for a piece of literature from the combination of its
parts with documented textual support
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7.
Analyze the narrator's point of view in literature
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8.
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Speak using literary terminology with accuracy
Demonstrate an understanding of the meaning of language used by authors
Characterize genres studied
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13.
Identify origin of allusion
Identify symbolism intended by comparison
Expand vocabulary through reading and class discussion
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12.
Create a list of experiences—common to modern life—from which one make
conclusions
Point out use of literary allusion
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11.
Bring in a cultural artifact that holds meaning beyond itself
You will present artifact to class for them to determine the meaning within a given
culture
Note symbolism within classical literature
You will relate classical symbolism to identify modern usage
Support inference in literature
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10.
Interpret orally the impact of the narrator's point of view of upon characterization in
literature
Analyze characterization from a point of view different from the narrator's
Report orally to the class your interpretation
Examine universal symbolism in literature
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9.
Write an essay showing how the elements of literature balance to create
a finished work
Your essay will demonstrate the interdependence of the four elements of
literature in a finished work
 Essay will show documentation for required quoted material
 The essay will be 500 words in length, computer generated
Identify characteristics of given genre
Recognize similarities between genre and literature at hand
Explicate literacy pieces in oral and written performance
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Recognize events in literature parallel to elements of literature
Create thesis to coincide with event in literature
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Grading Criteria
Participation
30 classes @ 10 points daily
300 points
Quizzes
8 (best) @ 20 points
160 points
Minor Compositions
2 @ 75 points
150 points
Major Compositions
2 @ 150 points
300 points
Poetry Portfolio
@ 100
100 points
Oral Explication
@ 100
100 points
Author Biography
@ 25
25 points
Response Journals
8 weeks of entries @ 10
80 points
Total
1215 points
Grading Scale
Grade
Percent
Points
4.0
90%
1098 - 1215
3.5
85%
1032 - 1092
3.0
80%
972 - 1031
2.5
75%
911 - 971
2.0
70%
850 - 910
1.5
65%
789 - 849
1.0
60%
729 - 788
Participation Points
Full participation points can be earned only for being in attendance the entire class period and
contributing in a positive manner. Participation points cannot be made up. Students who arrive
after attendance is taken (up to 15 minutes, after which you are absent) will receive 5 points
(instead of 10) and are still expected to participate fully in the day's activities. Points are also
deducted for leaving early or at unscheduled times.
Assignments
Response journals must be handed in as you enter class and will not be accepted late.
Quizzes cannot be made up and must be taken only in class (lowest score will be thrown out).
Absence from class does not excuse you from due dates. Call me if you miss a class to be
updated on assignments. I will accept only compositions and oral explications late and then at
reduced credit.
Assumption
All work will be original and written for this class. I will follow college procedures for
plagiarized work.
All assignments will be completed on time.
Final copies of essays will be typed or computer generated.
Participation will be demonstrated with a positive attitude and your best effort.
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This is not a correspondence course. Please arrange your work and personal schedule to
assure your attendance at every class is for its entirety.
Please do not bring children to class.
Disclaimer
This course requirement sheet should not be considered a contract between KVCC and any
student, nor between the instructor and any student. I reserve the right to make changes in
course content or instructional techniques without notice or obligation.
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Literary Interpretation Fall 2004
(Unless otherwise specified, please have selections read before arriving to class.)
Aug. 22
"No One's a Mystery" p. 5, Elizabeth Tallent
Point of View "Hills Like White Elephants" p. 75, Hemingway
Unreliable narrator- "Why I Live at the P.O." p. 107, Eudora Welty
Week 2
Aug. 29
Setting
"Lady with Dog", Chekhov, p. 182
"The Jewelry" p. 8, Irony, Guy de Maupassant
Elements of Literature,
"Sanchez", Richard Dokey p. 159
Assigned reading- "Understanding Text" (in drama) pp. 1359-1367
Q1, J1
Week 3
Sept. 7
"Death of Salesman", Arthur Miller, p. 1935 (read in class)
Play
Assign minor essay, due on ___________
Q2, J2, Handout "Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?"
Sept. 12
Theme "Good Climate, Friendly Inhabitants", Nadine Gordimer, p. 245
E Pluribus Unum
Discuss "Salesman", "Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?"
Joyce Carol Oates
Q3, J3
Week 5
Sept. 19
Symbolism
"Odour of Chrysanthemums", D.H. Lawrence, p. 345,
"Blind Man" p. 359, "Rocking Horse Winner" p. 373
Q4, J4 “Cathedral” p. 771
Week 6
Sept. 26
American Dream, Edward Albee, in class
Assign major essay, Due upon ___________
Week 7
Oct. 3
"A Rose for Emily", William Faulkner, pp. 531-572
"Barn Burning" pp. 601-618
Q5, J5 Handout
Oct. 10
"Love Medicine" p. 302
"American Horse" (copies) Louise Erdrich
"Red Convertible" (copies) Louise Erdrich
Q6, J6, Assign Poetry Portfolio, due upon __________
Week 1
Week 4
Week 8
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Week 9
Oct. 17
Poetry (to be announced)
Portfolio 100 points
Week 10
Oct. 24
Fences (in class) August Wilson
Oct. 31
"The Open Boat", Stephan Crane, p. 320
"The Most Dangerous Game", Richard Connell, pp. 583-601
ZOO Story, Edward Albee, (in class)
Play
Hand out copies "Sweat", Zora Neale Hurston
Q 7, J7, Assign minor essay, due upon ___________
Nov. 7
"Girl", Jamaica Kincaid, p. 476
"Gorilla, My Love", Toni Cade Bambera, p. 447
"Sweat", Zora Neal Hurston
Q 8, J8
Nov. 14
"A Good Man is Hard to Find", Flannery O'Connor, pp. 390-444
"A Hunger Artist", Franz Kafka, p. 207
Turn in to instructor your story choice for oral explication (with text
of appropriate length if from outside source).
Q 9, J 9, Major essay assigned, due upon ___________
Week 14
Nov. 21
Instructor will hand out (assigned) reading list of literary selections
to be used for oral explications. Time may be designated for
reading and group work.
Week 15
Nov. 28
Oral explications
Week 16
Dec. 5
Oral explications
Week 17
Dec. 12
Consultation or continued oral explications. (I will also
accommodate private explications with reduced credit at this time.
Week 11
Week 12
Week 13
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Journal Page
Date _________________________________________________________ (pull off schedule)
Author ______________________________________________________________________
Work _______________________________________________________________________
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Journal Page
Date _________________________________________________________ (pull off schedule)
Author ______________________________________________________________________
Work _______________________________________________________________________
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