Great Basin College
English 203: Introduction to Literary Study
Spring 2015
Instructor: Dr. Dale Griffith
Office: 101A
Office Phone: (775) 727-2008
E-mail: dale.griffith@gbcnv.edu or grifd2000@yahoo.com
Office Hours: Monday 1:30-2:30 pm, Tuesday 12:30-2:30 pm, Wednesday 7:00-8:00
pm, Thursday 10:00-11:00 am
And by appointment
________________________________________________________________________
Because of the expense of text-books, this class will rely on the Internet for most of our
sources. During the semester the teacher will also pass out to students referred articles on
the readings; these can be used as secondary source materials for the final term-paper.
The following includes the links to the texts and background information to the readings
that we shall go over this semester. Please access and copy. I would appreciate it if
students please place all of the readings in a binder for class use.
Reading sources for English 203:
For literary background:
http://www.huntel.net/rsweetland/literature/genre/fiction/ficElmnts.html
Apollo versus Dionysus: http://www.denisdutton.com/nietzsche.htm
Readings:
“The Epic of Gilgamesh”: http://www.aina.org/books/eog/eog.pdf
George Orwell, background information: http://www.online-literature.com/orwell/
George Orwell: “Politics and the English Language”:
http://www.mtholyoke.edu/acad/intrel/orwell46.htm
George Orwell: “Shooting an Elephant”: http://www.online-literature.com/orwell/887/
James Joyce, background information: http://www.online-literature.com/james_joyce/
James Joyce: “The Dead”: http://www.online-literature.com/james_joyce/958/
Flannery O’Connor, background information: http://kirjasto.sci.fi/flannery.htm
English 203 1
Flannery O’Connor: “A Late Encounter with the Enemy”:
https://foxhonorsenglish10.wikispaces.com/file/view/A_Late_Encounter_with_the_Enem
y.pdf
John Steinbeck, background information: http://www.kirjasto.sci.fi/johnstei.htm
John Steinbeck: “The Chrysanthemums”:
http://www.nbu.bg/webs/amb/american/4/steinbeck/chrysanthemums.htm
Stephen Crane, background information: http://www.online-literature.com/crane/
Stephen Crane: “The Open Boat”: http://www.online-literature.com/crane/2544/
Leo Tolstoy, background information: http://www.online-literature.com/tolstoy/
Leo Tolstoy: “The Death of Ivan Ilych”:
http://www.classicallibrary.org/tolstoy/ivan/index.htm
Other sources may be assigned during the semester.
________________________________________________________________________
Course Description: English 203 is a general education course that fulfills three (3)
credits of the humanities requirement. It is an introduction to the elements of fiction,
poetry, and drama used in the analysis of literature. It uses a variety of methods to
introduce students to literature and methods of literary analysis.
Prerequisites: ENG 102 or instructor's approval.
Course Objectives:






to learn to read short fiction, poetry and drama
to bring personal knowledge and experience to reading
to make connections between literature and the human experiences
to appreciate the variety of genres with their particular patterns and
to learn and use the terminology of explication of literature
to recognize the diversity and validity of responses to literature
Student Outcomes
Read actively and analytically according to
genre and difficulty of text
(Communication skills � Gen. Ed.)
Identify figurative language: symbols,
metaphor, similes.
English 203 2
Measurement of Outcomes
Discussions; questions contributed to
discussion board; timeline with significant
events
Class discussion; quizzes; mid-term and
final test
Identify a variety of meters and verse
Utilize knowledge of figurative language:
symbols, metaphors, similes
Interprets textual references in literary
works
Develop hypothesis, gather data, draw
conclusions, present conclusions in written
format (Gen. Ed. � Scientific
understanding)
Class discussion
Essays
Use computer technology competently
(Gen. Ed. � Technological understanding)
Posts to discussion boards; communicates
via e-mail; submits written assignments
through dropbox
Chart(s) posted to discussion board;
vocabulary lists, textual reference chart
Final essay, textual reference chart,
vocabulary list
Course Policies: Because English 203 is a hybrid course, we will be meeting via IAV
and online. The weeks that we do not meet IAV, you will be expected to contribute to
online discussions.
Please use MLA style for citation and format.
Course Grading


During the semester discussion questions will be posted on webcampus. Students
MUST participate in all discussions. Contributions to the discussion must be wellthought out and rely on primary source materials, for the most part. The teacher
will review and comment on discussions. Contributions will be graded – 40% of
grade
Term paper due last week of class. Three to five pages on topic to be discussed
and assigned in class – (60% of grade)
Term Paper: The term paper is the most important part of the grade in this class. The
paper must be between three and five pages in length. The term paper MUST follow
proper MLA formatting, any essay not properly formatted and cited, with a works cited
page, will not be accepted. We will be doing an overview of formatting rules before the
term paper is due. To refresh memories please see, and actually making a copy would not
be a bad idea the following link: For MLA formatting:
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/01/
The College uses a grade system which awards +’s and –‘s and gives a W until the 13th
week of class, after which an F will be given. A failing student must formally withdraw
before the Friday of the 13th week to avoid earning an F for the course. According to the
policy established by the College, to receive and Incomplete, a student must have
English 203 3
completed at least ¾ of the course with a grade of C or better, but be unable to complete
the class for good cause.
Policy of Academic Integrity: If ideas are borrowed and used in written essays, the
source must be given credit. Internet sources are subject to documentation as well as
careful evaluation. Such practices will help you avoid plagiarism, a violation of the
standards of intellectual honesty. Students who violate such standards are subject to
punishment, ranging from failing a class to dismissal from the institution.
ADA Statement: GBC supports providing equal access for students with disabilities. An
advisor is available to discuss appropriate accommodations with students. Please contact
the ADA Officer (Julie Byrnes) in Elko at 775.753.2271 to request timely and
appropriate accommodations.
Campus Security: GBC is committed to the safety of our students and has a duty to
promote awareness and prevention programs for violence on campus under the Jeanne
Clery Act as well as the Campus SaVE (Sexual Violence Elimination Act) and VAWA
(Violence Against Women Act), which are amendments to Clery. Acts of violence
include, but are not limited to, sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and
stalking. Acts of violence can occur on the physical campus or centers of GBC in
addition to field placement sites, clinical practice settings, and other places where college
or class activities occur. As well, the online environment at GBC is considered a GBC
site. If you experience any incidence where your safety has been threatened or violated,
or if you feel threatened or harassed, immediately report this to me, any center director,
faculty, or staff member, or directly to the Director of Environmental Health, Safety &
Security (775.753.2115) or the Vice President for Student Services (775.753.2282).
Attendance: Because of recent problems with students not attending classes and still
demanding the right to do make-up work the instructor will withdraw students after SIX
absences (Per the College catalog page 51), unless there are truly, documented,
extenuating circumstances.
Learner Outcomes: General Education and English 203
1. Communication Skills: Written Communication
Students who complete general education courses will demonstrate the ability to use
written communication skills in the following ways:




Choose essay/paper format appropriate to audience and purpose.
Choose diction and style appropriate to audience and purpose.
Integrate evidence, examples, and details to support the central idea or thesis
of the text.
Develop coherent and effective paragraphs.
English 203 4

Use standard edited English and the documentation style appropriate to the
discipline.
Accessing Information: Students who complete General Education courses will
demonstrate the ability to access information:




Collect information from electronic, print and live sources
Evaluate the validity of the information
Organize information into usable format
Document sources of information
Reading Skills: Students who complete General Education courses will:







Adjust reading speed according to genre, difficulty of text, and reading purpose.
Recognize functions of various selections of text, i.e. offering evidence to support
a point
Identify the purpose of the author as presented in a text
Summarize and /or paraphrase main points
Define vocabulary
Identify and explain cultural codes in texts
Create new text which integrates and synthesizes pre-existing knowledge and
knowledge gained from reading in the writing of new texts (papers, essays, and
the like)
2. Critical Thinking
Quantitative Ability: Identify problems that require critical, empirical proof.
Reasoning and Independent Thought: Evaluate strengths and weaknesses of multiple
sources in synthesis exercises and to identify connections between the theses they are
developing and those of their sources.
Scientific Understanding: Apply the scientific method to problem solving and
understanding, and to utilize the results to make predictions and analyze the implications
and consequences.
2. Technological Understanding
Use basic computer technology competently in current applications.
English 203 5