ENGLISH 115 (ENGL 115)
INTRODUCTION TO LITERATURE
Professor Molly Chancey mchancey@smccme.edu
TEXTS:
Office 105 Preble Hall
Literature and its Writers, 6th ed., ed. Charters and Charters
The Maltese Falcon, by Dashiell Hammett
The Writer’s Reference Handbook, Hacker
COURSE REQUIREMENTS
The course includes three exams, two critical essays, and occasional pop quizzes. In
addition, students may choose one or all of three extra credit options: 1) submit an
original short story; 2) attend a play (college level or above) and submit a review; 3)
recite a poem before the class after approving the choice with the instructor.
GRADES
Three exams
15% each, total 45% of final grade
Two critical essays 15% each, total 30% of final grade
Quiz average
15%, with no make-ups
Class participation
10%; includes one off-campus event
Extra credit
3 points added to final average for A, 2
points for a B, 1 point for a C; no credit for D or F
***Late work receives a grade penalty of one letter.
***There are no make-ups on quizzes.
***There are no excused absences.
ATTENDANCE
Each absence affects your grade. Three consecutive or seven overall absences from the
class will result in administrative withdrawal, which assigns a grade of AF to the student
for the course. If you are absent from class, you are responsible for the work in that and
subsequent class meetings, on its due date.
NOTE
Use of electronic devices is not permitted in class except by permission of the instructor.
Please turn cellphones on vibrate.
COURSE OUTLINE Tuesday/Thursday
Tentative Schedule:
Note: Please exchange contact information with another student in case you miss class,
in order to see if the assignment has been altered. Please also regularly check your
SMCC email for my posting by 10 am on class days of any unexpected changes in the
schedule. Readings are due in the week in which they are listed. Dates refer to the
Mondays of the numbered weeks.
Week 1
Aug. 31
Introduction to the course
Introduction to short fiction
“The Elements of Fiction,” pp. 9-13, and “Plot and Pt. of View,” pp. 25-39
Week 2
Sept. 7
“The Juniper Tree” (handout)
“Young Goodman Brown,” pp. 260-272
Week 3
Sept. 14
“Desiree’s Baby” and “The Story of an Hour” pp. 169-177
“To Build a Fire,” pp. 386-398
Week 4
Sept. 21
“Battle Royal,” pp. 203-216
“Hills Like White Elephants,” pp. 272-277
Week 5
Sept. 28
“A Jury of Her Peers,” pp. 242-260
“Girl,” pp. 44-45
Week 6
Oct. 5
“The Things They Carried,” pp. 467-482
“Orientation,” pp. 46-50
Week 7
Oct. 12
Exam review
SHORT FICTION EXAM Thurs., Oct. 15
Week 8
Oct. 19
Introduction to poetry: pp. 669-680; 712; 725; 744-5; 791-2; 822
Anonymous ballads, pp. 748-751
FIRST CRITICAL ESSAY DUE Thurs., Oct. 22
Week 9
Oct. 26
Shakespeare, pp. 763-4; 772
Handout
Individual poem due Thurs., Oct. 29
Week 10
Nov. 2
Selected poems TBA
Week 11
Nov. 9
Selected poems TBA
Week 12
Nov. 16
Exam review
POETRY EXAM Thurs., Nov. 19
Week 13
Nov. 23
The Maltese Falcon, pp. 3-51
SECOND CRITICAL ESSAY DUE Tues., Nov. 24
No class Thurs.---Thanksgiving
Week 14
Nov. 30
The Maltese Falcon, pp. 52-100
The Maltese Falcon, pp. 101-150
Week 15
Dec. 7
The Maltese Falcon, pp. 151-end
Handout: The Simple Art of Murder
Report on off-campus poetry event Thurs., Dec. 10
Week 16
Dec. 14
Exam review
FINAL EXAM Thurs., Dec. 17