LITERATURE 350-102
FICTION
NJIT
Spring 2002
Instructor: Dr. Oguine
Class Meetings: R - 06:00PM-09:05PM RM TIER 104
Office: Cullimore 331-3 Phone # 973 596-6302
Office Hours: R - 05:00-06:00PM / F - 08:30-11:30AM (By appointment)
Web Site: www_ec.njit.edu/~oguine / E-mail: oguine@adm.njit.edu
Course Objectives:
This course will help students develop a greater appreciation of cultural, thematic
and aesthetic representations in fiction, both classic and contemporary, from different
countries. Students will also improve their critical thinking skills by making concrete
observations, interpreting facts, evaluating details, using meaningful connections and
materials in comparative and contrasting analysis of fiction. They will practice
organizing literary writing in MLA style with a clear thesis, according to their lines of
argument, rather than the chronological events in the literature studied. Throughout the
course, works of fiction will be presented from psychological, sociological, and
philosophical perspectives.
Required Texts:
Oguine, Ike. A Squatter's Tale. Oxford: Heinemann, 2000.
A course packet containing selections from Literature, The Story and Its Writer, and
Short Fiction Classic and Contemporary is available at "Affordable Copies," 49
Halsey Street, Newark.
A students' choice text will be selected in class after reviewing the synopsis of each
suggested fiction text.
Course Requirements:
The required texts are available at NJIT Bookstore and should be purchased immediately
to be used for reading and writing assignments, in-class summaries and tests. Students
must aim at 100% attendance and punctuality, and must read before each class
scheduled reading in the syllabus. In addition, there will be handouts and films to be
used as references in their writing, discussions and presentations. A group presentation,
demonstrating collaborative efforts, will be used for self-evaluation. Students will also
write two referenced papers, 5-7 pages in MLA style, typed double-spaced, and
a final examination essay. Papers must be submitted in class on the due dates.
Late papers and missed class assignments will be marked one grade down, so
regular attendance is absolutely necessary.
Final Grade Percentages:
Attendance / Participation / Individual report 20% / Two papers 20% / Group
presentation 10% / Team work 10% / Class assignments 20% / Final
examination 20%.
2
SYLLABUS
Weeks I & II: Jan. 24 & 31
Introduction to the course and texts - Handouts / Course packet -"What is a
Short Story?" 3 / "A Brief History of the Short Story" 1545 / "The Elements of
Fiction" 1554 / "Writing About Short Stories" 1566. / Film: Royal Weddings.
Group work on "The Pleasures of Fiction" 1-3 both text and film.
Weeks III, IV & V: Feb 7, 14 & 21
Practice the literary techniques with Margaret Atwood's "Happy Endings" 496,
Chinua Achebe's "Marriage Is a Private Affair" 253, and "The Kiss" by Julia
Alverez 488 from the course packet / Debate on the theme of marriage and
parental control, emphasizing the style of writing of these authors and their
handling of the universal theme of love / Films: Love Chronicles.
Weeks VI, VII & VIII: Feb. 28, Mar. 7 & 14
A Squatter's Tale by Ike Oguine - Individual presentation of assigned chapters
on universality of human suffering, endurance of cultural diversity, economic,
social and political corruptions world wide, and exploitation of women /
Group
paper editing in class Feb 28 / The final copy due in class Mar. 7. Film:
Mississippi Masala
Weeks IX, X & XI: (Mar. 18-24 Spring Recess) 28 & Apr. 4
Students' choice text - Differences and Similarities in themes and stylistic devices
between the text and A Squatter's Tale / "The Man Who Was Almost a Man"
by Richard Wright 1364 contrasts and compares with Terry Kay's The Runaway /
Group work on the differences and similarities between the texts and films,
focusing on narrative techniques: flashback, in medias res, reversal, epiphany
and stream of consciousness / Peer-editing of drafts of individual referenced
paper Mar 28. Film: The Runaway.
Weeks XII, XIII & XIV: Apr. 11, 18 & 25
"The Death of a Civil Servant" by Anton Chekhov 210, "Patriotism" by Yukio
Mishima 726, and Ernest Hemingway's "Soldier's Home" 350 explore the themes
of life and death and the inevitability of both in very profound ways, depicting the
cultural differences of the characters. Group discussions on students' responses
to issues raised in these texts that are reminiscent of the state of affairs
in the United States after September 11 / Individual referenced paper due in
class Apr. 18 / Revision for final examination and Group presentation Apr. 25.
Weeks XV & XVI: May 2 & 8
Final examination / Revised essays and best essays due in class May 2 /
May 2 - Last Day of Classes / May 8 -Reading Day.