Hanrahan
ENGL 360
Spring 2015
English 360-01: Literature, Gender, and Sexuality (3 credits)
Instructor: Dr. Heidi Hanrahan; hhanraha@shepherd.edu
Office Hours: MF 2:00-5:00; and by appointment
Office Info: Knutti 201C; ph. 876-5250
Course Website: http://webpages.shepherd.edu/hhanraha/courses/eng360/eng360s15.htm
Course Meeting Time and Location: MWF 11:10-12:00; Knutti 202
“‘Oh, Jake,’ Brett said, ‘we could have had such a damned good time together.’…‘Yes,’ I said. ‘Isn’t it pretty to think so?’”
Ernest Hemingway, The Sun Also Rises
“It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of good fortune, must be in want of a wife.”
Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice
“‘Well, women are used to worrying over trifles.’” Susan Glaspell, Trifles
“She felt as if a mist had been lifted from her eyes, enabling her to look upon and comprehend the significance of life, that
monster made up of beauty and brutality.” Kate Chopin, The Awakening
Course Summary and Learning Goals:
English 360 takes as its subject “literature, gender, and sexuality,” a huge and complicated topic, especially
given that the very definitions of “literature,” “gender,” and “sexuality” are problematic, contested, and fluid. As
such, this course resists any notion of a comprehensive “survey” of literature about sexuality and gender.
Instead, examining a variety of texts by writers from the eighteenth through the twenty-first century, we will
discuss how conceptions of gender, sex, and sexuality shape and are shaped by literature. We will take on
questions of individualism, art, family, romance, marriage, class, race, politics, and power, focusing not only on
important discussions about oppression and suffering, but also resistance, strength, creativity, experimentation,
and innovation by both male and female writers. This course meets LEAP Goal 1 (Knowledge of Human
Cultures and the Physical and Natural World) and LEAP Goal 2 (Intellectual and Practical Skills throughout the
Curriculum).
Essential skills and outcomes to be acquired through the course include:
1) an ability to render close textual analysis and close reading of works of literature;
2) an ability to synthesize information from multiple texts;
3) an ability to express clear, cogent ideas;
4) an ability to render thoughtful and well-written essays, with thesis, textual support, and analysis;
5) the cultivation of aesthetic and critical judgments about literature;
6) an understanding of the philosophic, critical, and cultural ideas surrounding literature about sex, sexuality,
and gender.
Texts:
Austen, Jane. Pride and Prejudice. New York: Norton, 2001. Print. ISBN: 978-0-393-97604-5
Bechdel, Alison. Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic. New York: Mariner Books, 2006. Print.
ISBN: 978-9-618-87171-1
Chopin, Kate. The Awakening. New York: Dover, 1993. Print. ISBN: 0-486-27786-0
Diaz, Junot. The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao. New York: Riverhead Books, 2007. Print.
ISBN: 978-1-59448-329-5
Hemingway, Ernest. The Sun Also Rises. New York: Scribner, 2006. Print. ISBN: 978-0-7432-9733-2
Other texts available on Sakai under “Resources.” Please make sure you have access to a printer and/or money
on your Rambler to print out pages in a computer lab. You must have copies of all texts and bring them to class.
Hanrahan
ENGL 360
Spring 2015
Course Requirements:
1. Reading Assignments: We will do quite a bit of reading in this class, so it is important to keep up with class
assignments and take the time to read carefully and thoroughly.
2. Blog Posts: Each of you will be responsible for regular postings and comments on our class blog. We’ll talk
more about the requirements for these posts and comments in class. You can find the blog here:
http://engl360spring2015.blogspot.com/. Be sure to read my first two posts to understand the requirements of
this important part of your work this semester.
3. Critical Essay: You will write one 8-10 page critical analysis essay using at least five outside sources. You
will also complete a formal paper proposal and will not be able to move forward with your essay until that
proposal is approved. Specific information about this paper can be found on a separate sheet.
4. Discussion Questions/Reading Quizzes: At the beginning of each class meeting, your preparation for class
will be assessed either by (very simple) reading quizzes or handing in two typed discussion questions. You’ll
know in advance which to prepare for.
5. Final Exam: You will complete a final exam designed to evaluate your ability to synthesize the materials and
discuss them in an intelligent, coherent, and creative matter.
Other Items to Note:
Attendance: You MUST attend your classes regularly and engage in the requirements for each class; otherwise,
your financial aid may be revoked either partially or in full. This would result in an amount due by you to the
University immediately. Please refer to shepherd.edu/faoweb for more details. In this class, attendance is crucial
and missed class time cannot be made up. Therefore, you are allowed THREE absences. I will not distinguish
between types of absences and you need not show me doctor’s notes, etc. The only “excused” absences are those
for school-sponsored trips and events. Any more than three absences will reduce your grade by one third a letter
grade. More than three absences and you will fail the class. Additionally, being late to class is rude and
disruptive. Don’t do it. If you are more than 10 minutes late to class twice, that will count as one
absence. Finally, if you miss class it is your responsibility to contact me or a classmate to find out what you
have missed before the next class meeting. An absence is not an excuse for being unprepared for the next class.
Inclement Weather/Class Cancelled Procedures: If class is cancelled, we will stay on schedule using the
Sakai discussion board. By noon on the day of the cancelled class, I will email you specific instructions for
participation, including the deadline by which your work is due. Failure to participate will result in a failing quiz
grade and an absence.
Cell phones: Put them away during class. If I see them on your desk, I’ll ask you to put them away. If I see you
using them at all, I’ll ask you to leave and mark you absent for the day.
Email/Internet Access: Please activate your Shepherd email account as soon as possible and make sure you can
get onto the internet. Email is usually the best way to get into contact with me—and I will use your Shepherd
address. You will also find the course’s website and/or Sakai page helpful. If and when you do email me, please
consider the way you present yourself in your messages. Be sure to proofread your messages and make sure you
use both proper grammar and punctuation.
Conferences/Office Hours: Remember that I am available during my office hours (and alternative times, if
necessary) if you have questions about the course or your status in it.
Academic Honor: Each student in this course is expected to abide by the Shepherd University Academic
Integrity Procedures found in the Shepherd University Student Handbook
(http://www.shepherd.edu/students/studenthandbook.pdf). Plagiarism (passing someone else’s work off as your
Hanrahan
ENGL 360
Spring 2015
own or failing to correctly cite someone else’s work) and cheating will not be tolerated. All violations of the
Student Conduct Code will be reported. Some simple advice: if you have any questions or are unsure about
citing something, see me.
Turnitin: All students must upload their papers to turnitin.com before I will even begin to grade the hard copies
and papers will not be considered “handed in” until copies have been uploaded to the site. Before Friday,
January 23, please set up a user profile at turnitin.com by visiting www.turnitin.com and clicking on the “New
User” link in the upper right-hand corner. After the new user profile has been created, you must enroll in this
course using the following information:
Course ID: 8983668, Password: austen
The Academic Support Center: Please consider taking advantage of this great resource, located in the library.
You can (and should) schedule appointments with friendly and capable tutors in advance. Tutors can help you
at any stage of an assignment, from planning early drafts to revising final copies.
Disability Support Services: Disability Support Services (DSS) at Shepherd University facilitates equitable
access for every student who self-identifies as having one or more disabilities. Students requesting any disability
related accommodation should contact the Director of Disability Support Services in Gardiner room 24, or by
calling 304-876-5689. This includes students with disabilities who require academic accommodations, students
requesting specific housing accommodations for health-related reasons, and all other disability accommodations.
Accommodation letters from the DSS office must be provided to instructors in order to receive
accommodations. Accommodations are not retroactive; however, students decide which classes they will use
their approve accommodations. For further information please see:
http://www.shepherd.edu/mcssweb/dss/default.html
Grading Breakdown:
30%: Blog Postings
25%: Research Essay
20%: Final Exam
20%: Discussion Questions and Quizzes
5%: Paper Proposal
Course Schedule
M 1/12: Introduction to the course
W 1/14: Bradstreet, “The Author to Her Book;” Cavendish, “The Poetess’s Hasty Resolution,” “An Excuse for
So Much Writ upon My Verses” (Sakai)
F 1/16: Fern, “Mrs. Adolphus Smith Sporting the ‘Blue Stocking;’” King, “The Balcony” (Sakai)
M 1/19: No class—MLK Day
W 1/21: Glaspell, Trifles (Sakai)
F 1/23: Make sure you have enrolled at turnitin by today; Plath, “Metaphors;” Clifton, “Poem to My
Uterus,” “To My Last Period,” “homage to my hips,” “wishes for sons” (Sakai)
M 1/26: Hemingway, The Sun Also Rises, 1-71
W 1/28: The Sun Also Rises, 71-130
F 1/30: The Sun Also Rises, 131-191
M 2/2: The Sun Also Rises, 191-end
W 2/4: Austen, Pride and Prejudice, 1-51
F 2/6: Pride and Prejudice, 51-101
Hanrahan
ENGL 360
Spring 2015
M 2/9: Pride and Prejudice, 101-205
W 2/11: Pride and Prejudice, 208-end
F 2/13: Pride and Prejudice, closing discussion
M 2/16: Fern, “Hints to Young Wives,” “Thanksgiving Story,” “Critics,” “A Law More Nice Than Just,”
“Independence” (Sakai)
W 2/18: Freeman, “A New England Nun” (Sakai)
F 2/20: Freeman, “Two Friends” (Sakai)
M 2/23: Freeman, “Old Woman Magoun” (Sakai)
W 2/25: Jewett, “Martha’s Lady” (Sakai, divided into two files)
F 2/27: Far, “Mrs. Spring Fragrance” (Sakai)
M 3/2: Chopin, The Awakening, 1-45
W 3/4: The Awakening, 45-84
F 3/6: The Awakening, 84-end
M 3/9: The Awakening, closing discussion
W 3/11: Kingston, “No Name Woman” (Sakai)
F 3/13: Kenan, “The Foundations of the Earth” (Sakai)
M 3/16, W 3/18, & F 3/20: No class—Spring Break
M 3/23: Sedaris, “Go Carolina” (Sakai)
W 3/25: Bechdel, Fun Home: A Family Tragicomic, 1-54
F 3/27: Fun Home, 55-120
M 3/30: Fun Home, 121-end
W 4/1: Fun Home, closing discussion
F 4/3: Diaz, The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, 1-75; Critical Essay Proposals due
M 4/6: The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, 77-165
W 4/8: The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, 168-210
F 4/10: The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, 211-261
M 4/13: The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, 263-end
W 4/15: The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, closing discussion
F 4/17: No class—Spring Holiday (possible snow day make-up)
M 4/20: Workshop Research Essays in class
W 4/22: Review for Final Exam
F 4/24: Review for Final Exam; Critical Essays due in class and on turnitin.com
W 4/29: Final Exam (12:00-2:00)