English 220: Introduction to Literature
Instructor: Karla Cordero
Office: AL- 276
Office hours: By appointment only
Email: corderorws100@gmail.com
Fall 2014
Days: T,TH
Time: 12:30-1:45
Room: NE-73
“Why does Literature matter? What do you read and why?”
Course Description:
This course will give you the tools needed to read, watch, and listen to literature through a range
of texts. Rather than focus on a particular theme, this course will explore various genres,
cultures, and periods of literature in order to examine the purpose of literature within the
culture of humanity and question what evokes human kind to create imaginative literature. We
will discuss techniques and major critical theories, though the focus will be on practical criticism
for the non-specialist. We will ask ourselves the questions: why read? and why write? We will
confront diverse readings and develop the means to engage in intelligent literary discussion and
analysis. Through this journey you will become a critical thinker, confident reader and writer,
while giving you the opportunity to invest in the power of these texts.
Course Objectives:
Analyze written, visual, and performed texts with insight and sensitivity to their diverse
cultural context and historical moments.
Describe various aesthetic and cultural value systems and the ways they are communicated in
literature.
Identify themes and issues in literary texts that are both personally and globally relevant.
Demonstrate the written ability to ask complex questions and formulate conclusions based on
both textual evidence and outside research.
Required Texts: (Text books available at the SDSU Books. Course Reader available across the
street from SDSU, Cal-Copy)
**Please bring the course reader and appropriate books to every class. Should one
of the texts not be needed, you will be informed in advance**
Course Reader English 220
The Bluest Eye, Toni Morrison
Ruined, Lyn Nottage
Stiches, David Small
The Sneetches, Dr. Seuss
 Additional reading assignments (as indicated in the Course Schedule) will be available on
Blackboard. Please be sure to print and bring to class.

(Other recommended sources for attaining the class reading list: Library, Circulation Desk, Amazon.com,
and BookFinder.com)
Assessment:
Participation/Attendance ( ex: in-class writing)
Quizzes
Weekly Responses
Midterm
Final Exam
10pts.
20pts.
20pts.
20pts.
30pts.
100pts.
Points will be equated to percentages (90-100=A, 88-89=B+, 80-87=B, 70-77=C,
68-69=D+, 60-67=D, <59=F
Course Requirements and Policies:
Participation:
Your learning depends on your presence and participation in class. Don’t just fill a seat! Make yourself an
active participant in class discussions and activities. Come to class having read the assigned readings
with an eagerness to indulge in conversation, questions, and in-class writing. Class participation includes
the responsibility to work together to create a space open to opinions and the feelings of others. There is
no such thing as a “stupid” or “wrong” question, observation, or comment.
Attendance:
WARNING: DO NOT MISS CLASS.
Lectures, discussions, and in-class writing assignments are vital components to passing this course. Inclass work cannot be made up. You will be allowed three absences. Anything past three absences will
result in a whole letter grade deduction. Excessive absences will result in a failing grade. IF YOU ARE
SEEN WITH ANY KIND OF ELECTRONIC DEVICE YOU WILL BE MARKED ABSENT.
In-class Writing/ Group Activities:
As part of your participation, we will begin each class with either a ten minute writing exercise
(individually or collaboratively) or group presentations on an assigned text. Writing exercises will be
collected as part of attendance. Group presentations will be 10-15 minutes long. Each group will have the
option to present the class with a quote, song, visual art, or video in relevance to an assigned reading.
These activities will lead class into lecture and discussion. Group presentation sign-ups will be available
on Blackboard. A member from each group will post their presentation on Blackboard the night before
class.
Quizzes:
Quizzes will be given weekly based upon the assigned readings. So be sure to read!
Weekly Reading Responses:
These assignments will be based on intellectual discussions about read text. These assignments will help
you prepare for the midterm and final paper. The prompt with be answered in a one page, double spaced
and typed (12pt font, 1” margins). The grades will be presented as follows: full credit (+2), half credit
(+1), and no credit (0). The prompt questions will be assigned in class before they are due.
Midterm Exam:
The midterm exam will be in the form of short essay. You will respond to prompt questions based on
assigned readings, lectures, and class discussions. Your midterm and final exam take place in-class, which
will require you to give a thorough response with analysis and refrain from regurgitating plot summary.
You will respond neatly and legibly to prompt questions in a Blue Book. Instructions to page length and
format will be announced on Blackboard. Please highlight or circle due dates on the schedule below.
Final Paper:
At the end of the semester you will write a 5-7 page argument concerning at least two of the texts we have
studied. You will have the opportunity to construct your own argument or suggested prompts will be
available on Blackboard three weeks before the paper is due. If you choose to compose your own
argument you must get your thesis approved by the instructor.
Late Assignments:
All assignments must be submitted on their due dates. Assignments will not be accepted through via
email and I will not accept late work. If you plan to be absent the day an assignment is due, drop off your
work at my box in the English Department at the Arts and Letters building.
Plagiarism:
Plagiarism and cheating are serious academic offenses and will not be tolerated. Evidence of plagiarism
or other types of cheating will result in failure of the assignment and possibly the course. If a student is
caught plagiarizing, I will have to notify the Center for Student Rights and Responsibilities, which has its
own disciplinary procedures, including suspension and expulsion.
In-Class Policies:
Students should bring all required texts to class and be prepared to engage in thoughtful discussion.
Failing to bring course materials will result in a marked absence for the class session. Electronics will not
be allowed in class. If you have an emergency please take your phone call outside to avoid classroom
disruption.
Special Arrangements/ Support Services:
If you are a student with a disability and believe you will need accommodations for this class, it is your
responsibility to contact Student Disability Services at (619) 594-6473. To avoid any delay in the receipt
of your accommodations, you should contact Student Disability Services as soon as possible. Please note
that accommodations are not retroactive, and that accommodations based upon disability cannot be
provided until you have presented your instructor with an accommodation letter from Student Disability
Services. Your cooperation is appreciated.
Course Schedule:
* Note the following schedule has potential to change according to class management
All readings are to be completed on the day they are due.
CR= Course Reader
BB= Blackboard. Please print material and bring to class.
Week 1: Introduction to Literature and Literary Devices
Tues/Aug. 26
Introduction to course & syllabus
Thurs/Aug. 28
CR- Reading a Story (5-7, 13-16)
Point of View (25-29)
Character (75-76)
Setting (105-107)
Week 2: Identifying Literary Devices within a Short Story
Tues/Sept. 2
CR- Tone and Style (138-140)
Theme (173-174)
Symbol (189-191)
Mouse- Neil Gaiman (257-266)
Thurs/Sept. 4
CR- Cathedral- Raymond Carver (91-101)
Week 3: The Power of Short Fiction
Tues/Sept. 9
Group 1: Presentation
CR- Ysrael- Junot Diaz (3-20)
Thurs/Sept.11
Group 2: Presentation
CR- Blood-burning Moon- Jean Toomer
*DUE: Reading Response 1 (Choose a story)
Week 4: The Novel & A Look at Point of View: A Desire to be Beautiful and Beloved
Tues/Sept. 16
Group 3: Presentation
The Bluest Eye- Toni Morrison (3-50)
Thurs/Sept. 18
Group 4:Presentation
The Bluest Eye- Toni Morrison (51-100)
Week 5:
Tues/ Sept. 23
Group 5: Presentation
The Bluest Eye- Toni Morrison (101-150)
Thurs/ Sept. 25
Group 6: Presentation
The Bluest Eye- Toni Morrison (151-205)
*DUE: Reading Response 2 (The Bluest Eye)
Week 6: Graphic Novel/ Memoir: The Young Protagonist Speaks
Tues/ Sept. 30
CR- Comics as Literature? Reading Graphic Narrative (452-465)
What is a Memoir? (1-2)
Thurs/ Oct. 2
Group 7: Presentation
Stiches- David Smalls (Commentary & 9-125)
Week 7
Tues/ Oct. 7
Group 8: Presentation
Stiches- David Smalls (126-225)
Thurs/ Oct. 9
Group 9: Presentation
Stiches- David Smalls (226-325)
*DUE: Reading Response 3 (Stiches)
Week 8: Modes of Drama: Brothels, Brutality, and War
Tues/ Oct. 14
Group 10: Presentation
CR- Reading a Play (807-808)
The Modes of Drama (828-830)
Ruined- Lynn Nottage (Introduction & 1-30)
Thurs/ Oct. 16
Group11: Presentation
Ruined- Lynn Nottage (31-65)
Week 9:
Tues/ Oct. 21
Group 12: Presentation
Ruined- Lynn Nottage (66-102)
*DUE: Reading Response 4 (Ruined)
Thurs/ Oct. 23
Preparation for Midterm/Collaborative Thinking
Group work/ discuss prompts
CR- Writing an Essay Exam (1462-1466)
Week 10: Mid-term/ Introduction to Poetry as Artistic Expression: Elements and Form
Tues/ Oct. 28
MID-TERM: Bring Blue Book (Be on time)
Thurs/ Oct. 30
Group 13: Presentation
CR- Reading Poetry (409-414)
Listening to Voice (423-424,430-431)
Imagery (482-484)
Figures of Speech (500-504,508-511)
Communion- Jeanann Verlee
San Diego Zoological Society- Chris Baron
The day after the first time…- Rachel McKibbens
Week 11: Poetry, Form, & Terminology: Haiku, Sonnet, Prose, Experimental
Tues/ Nov. 4
Group Presentation: 14
CR- Closed Form (569-575)
Open Form (586-590, 593, 595, 597)
The Miscarriage: A Sunday Funny- Douglas Kearney
*DUE: Reading Response 5 (Voice, Imagery, Figures of Speech)
Thurs/ Nov. 6 Poetry as Identity and Symbol
Group 15: Presentation
CR- Poetry and Personal Identity (634-644)
Symbol (604-609)
True That- Patricia Smith
Andrew -Andrea Gibson
BB- (Print and bring to class) Blue Bird- Charles Bukowski
BB- (Print and bring to class) Buffet Etiquette- Hieu Minh Nguyen
Week 12: Oral Story Telling
Tues/ Nov. 11
NO CLASS- Veterans Day
Thurs/ Nov. 13
Group 16: Presentation
CR- Oral Tradition of Story Telling
Digging the Roots of Spoken Word Poetry (3-14)
Guest Speakers (Come to class with questions)
*DUE: Reading Response 6 (Identity, Form, Symbol: Discuss)
*DUE: Final Paper Topics (thesis, topic sentences, evidence, quotes)
Week 13: Flash/Micro Fiction & Children’s Literature
Tues/ Nov. 18
Group 17: Presentation
CR- Stone Belly Girl- Jamie Grander
Kennedy in the Barrio- Judith Ortiz Cofer
Sleeping- Katharine Weber
Currents- Hannah Bottom
Thurs/ Nov. 20
Group 18: Presentation
The Sneetches- Dr. Seuss
*DUE: Reading Response 7 (Write a Micro Fiction)
Week 14: Workshop Final Paper
Tues/ Nov.25:
*DUE: Reading Response 8 (Sneetches)
*DUE: Final Paper Rough Draft (Bring 2 copies)
Thurs/ Nov. 27
NO CLASSES, THANKSGIVING BREAK
Week 15: Film as Literature
Tues/ Dec. 2
Group 19: Presentation (Explore film as literature)
FILM/ Group Work
Thurs/ Dec. 4
FILM/ Group Work
POT LUCK
*Due: Reading Response 9 (First half of film discussion)
Week 16: Final Paper/ Guest Speakers
Tues/ Dec. 9
*DUE: FINAL PAPER
*DUE: Signed Contracts
*DUE: Reading Response 10 (Class Reflection)
Guest Speakers, “Why Literature Matters Showcase”
(Time TBA/ evening SAVE THE DATE)
Syllabus Grade Contract
ENG: 220: Introduction to Literature
Instructor: Karla Cordero
Fall 2014
I [print name] _______________________________________________ have read the syllabus for the
above named class in its entirety and fully understand the policies and expectations.
GRADE CHART
*Fill out the chart below throughout the semester to keep track of your points.
*On the last day of class you will sign this sheet and return it to your instructor as part of your
grade contract.
Signature:__________________________________________________
Assessment:
Participation/ Attendance
Quizzes:
Quiz 1
Quiz 2
Quiz 3
Quiz 4
Quiz 5
Quiz 6
Quiz 7
Quiz 8
Quiz 9
Quiz 10
Reading Responses:
RR 1
RR 2
RR 3
RR 4
RR 5
RR 6
RR 7
RR 8
RR 9
RR 10
Midterm:
Final Paper:
Total Points:
Points:
Your Score:
10 pts # of Absences:
10 quizzes x 2 pt each = 20pts
Score:
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Score:
10 RR x 2 pts each = 20pts
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20pts Score:
30pts Score: Instructor will fill this
part out.
100 pts Score: