Great Basin College
English 203: Introduction to Literary Study
Spring 2011
Class meets the following dates: Feb: 1/15; Mar: 1/15; Apr: 4/19; May: 3
Instructor: Dr. Dale Griffith
Office: 101A
Office Phone: (775) 727-2008
E-mail: daleg@gwmail.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
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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:
Plato: “The Allegory of the Cave”: http://webspace.ship.edu/cgboer/platoscave.html
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
Flannery O’Connor: “A Good Man is Hard to Find”:
http://pegasus.cc.ucf.edu/~surette/goodman.html
John Steinbeck, background information: http://www.kirjasto.sci.fi/johnstei.htm
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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 will be assigned during the semester.
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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:
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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.
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
Class discussion
Essays
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Chart(s) posted to discussion board;
vocabulary lists, textual reference chart
Final essay, textual reference chart,
conclusions, present conclusions in written
format (Gen. Ed. � Scientific
understanding)
vocabulary list
Use computer technology competently
(Gen. Ed. � Technological understanding)
Posts to discussion boards; communicates
via e-mail; submits written assignments
through dropbox
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
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Mid-term consisting of short essays and identification questions - (25% of grade)
Final consisting of short essays and identification questions - (25% of grade)
Term paper due last week of class. Three to five pages on topic to be discussed
and assigned in class – (50% 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. 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
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
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the ADA Officer (Julie Byrnes) in Elko at 775.753.2271 to request timely and
appropriate accommodations.
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:
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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.
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:
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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:
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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.
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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.
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