Fall 2011: English 105, Introduction to Narrative
Section 14 (T-Th 12:30-1:45pm)
School of Education 204
Instructor: Alan Benson
Email and IM: atbenson@uncg.edu
Phone (voicemail only): (336) 298-1732
Office: MHRA 3112A
Office Hours: 10-11 a.m. Tuesday and Thursday and by appointment
Course Description
This course examines the concept of narrative in a variety of texts written in English. We will analyze both the
formal techniques of narration and the social and historical contexts surrounding narrative production. In particular,
we will try to understand how narrative techniques can be employed as a means of cultural and social criticism.
Students will demonstrate their capacity to approach narratives critically through short response papers, class
discussion, and a midterm and final exam. Weekly reading quizzes will be given to assure that students read on
schedule, which is necessary to have productive and informed discussions. On average, students will read 20-25
pages from a textbook on narrative, along with 2-3 short stories or half of a novel per week.
Learning Goals
At the completion of this course, the student will be able to:
 Identify and understand varied characteristics of literature
 Apply techniques of literary analysis to texts
 Use literary study to develop skills in careful reading and clear writing
 Demonstrate understanding of the diverse social and historical contexts in which literary texts have been
written and interpreted.
Books
1.
2.
3.
4.
Abbott, H. Porter. The Cambridge Introduction to Narrative. 2nd ed. Cambridge UP, 2008. ISBN: 9780521715157
Mazzucchelli, David. Asterios Polyp. New York: Pantheon, 2009. ISBN: 978-0307377326.
McCloud, Scott. Understanding Comics: The Invisible Art. New York: Harper Perennial, 1993. ISBN: 9780060976255
Mitchell, David. Cloud Atlas: A Novel. New York: Random House, 2004. ISBN: 978-0375507250
Recommended Materials
1.
2.
3.
Graff, Gerald, Cathy Birkenstein, and Russel Durst. They Say/I Say: The Moves that Matter in Academic
Writing. New York: Norton, 2009. ISBN: 9780393931747
Hacker, Diana. A Writer's Reference with 2009 MLA and 2010 APA Updates. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s,
2010. ISBN: 0312450257
Flash drive for backup.
Blackboard: Readings and Assignments
You must download and print items marked (Bb) in the Course Schedule. These items are available on Blackboard.
Bring printed copies to class on the day they are due. It will be necessary to refer to the text so we can have engaged
and thoughtful discussions. All assignments, schedules, and course information will be posted to Blackboard. Check
there first if you miss class, lose a handout, or have questions about an assignment. Contact me if the information
you need is not on Blackboard and I will post it as quickly as possible.
Preparation
Come to class ready to discuss the day’s readings, your writing, or other topics. Also be prepared to work. Bring
your notebook, books, and any supplemental readings to every class unless advised otherwise. Failure to prepare
counts against you; if you do not keep up with assignments your grade will suffer.
ENG 105:14, Fall 2011, p 1
Written Work
All written work must follow MLA citation and formatting styles and be saved in Microsoft Word or OpenOffice
format (.doc, .docx, or .odt). Do not submit Microsoft Works (.wps) or Apple Pages (.pages) files; convert them to
Word or OpenOffice. Even though your papers for this class will be submitted online, you should follow the
required formatting rules: double-spaced, 12-point Times New Roman font, with one-inch margins. If I ask you to
submit hard copy, it must be stapled in the proper order. Do not come to class with loose pages and ask me if I have
a stapler. I do not have a stapler. Find a stapler before class. They’re everywhere.
Late Work
Does not exist in this class. Seriously, I don’t accept it. Blackboard time-stamps all submissions, so if it is one
second late, it will not be accepted. If you are having network problems, find a public terminal or use a friend’s
computer to submit it. If the assignment requires a hard copy, make arrangements to have a classmate or friend
deliver a paper copy to me before class begins.
It is your responsibility to ensure that your paper is saved in a state that I can open. Garbled files are your
problem, not mine. (Yes, I know about Corrupted-Files.com. Just don’t.)
Technology in Class
While reading and writing are often considered to be isolated endeavors, discussion is key to understanding texts
and sparking new ideas for writing. This classroom is an isolating technology-free zone: no cell phones, no iPods, no
headphones.
Use a notebook (not a notebook computer) for your notes. Multiple studies have shown that writing notes by hand
promotes retention more than typing notes. You may bring a laptop to class, but it should remain in your bag unless
you need to use it for writing or editing. When class starts, the laptops close—no exceptions.
General Rules and Guidelines
I really shouldn’t have to tell you these rules, but here goes:
 Respect. Part of your college education is learning to deal with people who have different backgrounds,
views, morals, politics, interests, and fan club memberships than your own. Disagreements are unavoidable,
but discussion will be polite. I do not tolerate any language that is sexist, racist, or homophobic. Everyone
is entitled to her or his own view, but we will not discuss issues using discriminatory language. I will treat
you as adults who have put some thought into your stances—even if I do not agree with them. I ask that
you extend the same courtesy to your fellow students and to me.
 Disrupting Class. Speak in turn. Stow all cell phones. No texting during class. Keep snacks within reason
(nothing really smelly, large, or preparation-intensive; leave the omelets and pizzas at home please).
 Tech Support. If you’re having problems with your computer, contact 6-TECH (6-tech.uncg.edu or 2568324) for support. “My computer crashed” or “my printer is out of ink” no excuse; the university provides
server space and printers all over campus.
Resources


The Writing Center: UNCG has an excellent Writing Center that can help you brainstorm paper ideas,
work on grammatical issues, and polish your writing. Please visit the Writing Center as often as you like.
Take both your work in progress and all documentation relating to the assignment (prompts, comments of
prior drafts, research notes) and plan to stay up to an hour. www.uncg.edu/eng/writingcenter/
The Speaking Center: The Speaking Center can help you practice your delivery, build confidence in your
speaking skills, improve your speechmaking, and design effective final project presentations. You must
make an appointment (two days in advance) to work with a Speaking Center consultant.
speakingcenter.uncg.edu
Disability Access
Students in university classrooms who have various disabilities (whether visible or not) are, of course, welcome, and
their rights protected under the Americans with Disabilities Act. However, it is imperative that students with
disabilities register with the Office of Disability Services (ods.dept.uncg.edu or 334-5440) and inform the instructor
of any special needs as early as possible so that the necessary arrangements or adjustments can be made.
ENG 105:14, Fall 2011, p 2
Course Requirements And Grade Distribution
15%
Quizzes: There will be 11 quizzes that you will take on Blackboard. Each quiz will be available for several
days, so I will not extend deadlines or allow make-ups. Quizzes will cover the current week’s material and
will be available until Thursday at 10 am. The lowest quiz grade will be dropped.
15%
Response Essays (2 @ 7.5% each): At the beginning of the semester you will sign up for dates when your
response papers will be due. These must be between 300-600 words and should identify key questions or
issues in the readings to help generate class discussion. I will ask you to read or discuss these papers in
class. They will be graded on the depth and quality of your thinking as well as conventions of good
academic writing.
The response essays must:
1. Contain a central idea. In other words, focus on one thing you found interesting in the text rather
than try to tackle the whole story.
2. Demonstrate your own original thinking about the text—NO SUMMARIES!
3. Cite the text using parenthetical MLA citations and a Works Cited page.
4. Raise questions or interpretive problems in a way that opens up class discussion. You can do this
in a variety of ways, including but not limited to:
o Connecting issues, themes, or problems to other texts we’ve read
o Connecting the text to relevant real-world examples
o Researching a little of the historical background
o Discussing which characters you identify with, which you don’t, and why
10 %
Participation: Students earning a high participation grade will do the following on a daily basis:
Read all materials for the day before coming to class.
Have readings in front of you and are following along.
Listen to classmates and instructor and take notes accordingly.
Frequently present their own ideas or ask questions in class.
Be prepared to speak competently about the material if called upon.
Finally, do not study or do homework for other classes during our class. You will be asked to leave.
15%
Midterm Exam: Exams will test students’ knowledge of course material and ability to articulate clear
responses about literature by using terms and concepts central to our study. The exam will consist of some
combination of short-answer, justified true/false, short essay, passage identification, and objective items.
20%
Final Exam: The final exam will be in a format similar to the midterm. It will be cumulative, covering all
the material from the beginning of the semester.
25%
Final Paper: In a 5 page (minimum) close reading essay, you will craft an argument that compares (and
contrasts) an intriguing element you observe in two novels. You can create an argument based on analysis
of narrative technique, characters, symbols, etc. Use your essay to explore how the novels employ these
devices and what critical implications you can present based on your exploration. Your essay should also
incorporate three relevant critical sources. Consider this an opportunity to join an academic conversation.
Although you will include an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion, avoid approaching this
essay as a five-paragraph essay. Academic writing has certain conventions that we will discuss, but it
allows for the development of original analysis and arguments, so the form remains somewhat fluid.
About two weeks before your paper is due, you will turn in a proposal that includes the following:
 A tentative thesis statement: essays evolve as we compose them, so this thesis will change
 A textual example from each of the two novels that support your thesis
 A brief annotated bibliography of three critical sources: for each source, include two or three
sentences that summarize the critic’s position and one or two sentences that demonstrate why this
source is relevant to your project
ENG 105:14, Fall 2011, p 3
Evaluation
Grades will be determined using the weights listed above. Final grades will be calculated as follows:
94 – 100%
80 – 82%
A
BD+ 67 – 69%
90 – 93%
77 – 79%
63 – 66%
AC+
D
73 – 76%
60-62%
B+ 87 – 89%
C
D83 – 86%
70 – 72%
59% or lower
B
CF
Attendance Policy
ONE to FOUR absences:
FIVE absences:
SIX absences:
SEVEN absences or more:
No penalty.
Penalty: 5% deducted from course grade.
Penalty: 10% deducted from course grade.
YOU MUST WITHDRAW, or fail the entire course.
You have four free absences to use when you need them, but these are not excused. IN FACT, NO
ABSENCE IS EXCUSED FOR ANY REASON UNLESS YOU FILE IT WITH THE DEAN OF
STUDENTS. If you have a serious illness, family death, or family emergency, contact the Dean’s
office at (336) 334-5514 or at 141 Mossman. Your grade WILL be dropped unless you have official
documentation from UNCG explaining your situation. Notes given to me from mom or the doctor do not
count. Finally, be advised there are NO exceptions to the attendance policy without official documentation
from UNCG administration.
Coming in late? Class starts at the time on your schedule. Tardiness means arriving after class starts, and
will adversely affect your participation grade. Three late arrivals to class equal one absence.
Academic Integrity
Academic integrity is founded upon and encompasses the following five values: honesty, trust, fairness,
respect, and responsibility. Violations include, for example, cheating, plagiarism, misuse of academic
resources, falsification, and facilitating academic dishonesty. If knowledge is to be gained and properly
evaluated, it must be pursued under conditions free from dishonesty. Deceit and misrepresentations are
incompatible with the fundamental activity of this academic institution and shall not be tolerated” (from
UNCG’s Academic Integrity Policy). To ensure that you understand the university’s policy on academic
integrity, review the guidelines and list of violations at <http://academicintegrity.uncg.edu>. I expect you
to abide by the Academic Integrity Policy.
I will submit all of your written work to SafeAssign, the anti-plagiarism tool built into Blackboard. All
verified cases of academic dishonesty (including cheating and plagiarism, the use of another’s text or ideas
without proper credit and citation) will be reported to the proper university officials. The results will not be
fun. The university will thoroughly investigate, which may result in any (or all) of the following: 1) failure
of the assignment, 2) failure of the course, and 3) expulsion from the University.
In my experience, most students who violate the Academic Integrity Policy do it because they’re stressed
and very busy, and see this as an “easy out” to being overworked. It’s not worth ending your college career
over, so please don’t try it.
ENG 105:14, Fall 2011, p 4
Course Calendar (subject to change)
Date
Tu
Th
8/23
8/25
Tu
8/30
Th
9/1
Tu
9/6
Th
9/8
Tu
9/13
Th
9/15
Tu
9/20
Th
9/22
Tu
9/27
Th
9/29
Tu
Th
10/4
10/6
Tu
Th
10/11
10/13
Reading Assignments
WEEK 1: What We Talk About When We Talk
About Narrative
Syllabus, course introduction
Abbot, Chapter 1
John Updike, “A&P” (Bb)
WEEK 2: Defining Narrative
Abbot, Chapter 2
Shirley Jackson, “The Lottery” (Bb)
McCloud, Chapter 1
Kurt Vonnegut, “EPICAC” and “2 B R 0 2 B” (Bb)
WEEK 3: The Borders of Narrative: Framing and
Paratexts
Abbot, Chapter 3
Donald Barthelme, “A Manual for Sons” (Bb)
McCloud, Chapter 2
Alice Walker, “Everyday Use” (Bb)
WEEK 4: Causation and Masterplots
Abbot, Chapter 4
Herman Melville, “Bartleby the Scrivener” (Bb)
McCloud, Chapter 3
Ambrose Bierce, “An Occurrence at Owl Creek
Bridge” (Bb)
WEEK 5: Closure
Abbot, Chapter 5
Raymond Carver, “Cathedral” (Bb)
McCloud, Chapter 4
Raymond Carver, “What We Talk About When We
Talk About Love” (Bb)
WEEK 6: Narration
Abbott, Chapter 6
Tillie Olsen, “I Stand Here Ironing” (Bb)
Lynda Barry, “Two Questions” (Bb)
McCloud, Chapter 5
James Tiptree Jr. “The Girl Who Was Plugged In”
(Bb)
WEEK 7: Midterm
Review for midterm exam
Exams/
Quizzes
Response Essays
(sign up for 2 dates)
Quiz 1 (Bb)
closes at 10am
1.
2.
Quiz 2 (Bb)
closes at 10am
1.
2.
1.
2.
Quiz 3 (Bb)
closes at 10am
1.
2.
3.
1.
2.
Quiz 4 (Bb)
closes at 10am
1.
2.
1.
2.
1.
2.
Quiz 5 (Bb)
closes at 10am
1.
2.
Midterm
WEEK 8: Fall Break
No class—Fall Break
McCloud, Chapter 6
James Baldwin, “Sonny’s Blues” (Bb)
ENG 105:14, Fall 2011, p 5
1.
2.
3.
Tu
10/18
Th
10/20
Tu
10/25
Th
10/27
Tu
11/1
Th
11/3
Tu
11/8
Th
11/10
WEEK 9: Character and Self
Abbott, Chapter 10
Flannery O’Conner, “A Good Man Is Hard to Find”
(Bb)
McCloud, Chapter 7
Langston Hughes, “Father and Son” (Bb)
WEEK 10: Narrative and Truth: Fiction vs.
Nonfiction
Abbott, Chapter 11
Asterios Polyp, first third
McCloud, Chapter 8
Asterios Polyp, second third
WEEK 11: Narrative Worlds
McCloud, Chapter 9
Asterios Polyp, third third
Abbott, Chapter 12
Jorge Luis Borges, “The Garden of Forking Paths”
(Bb)
WEEK 12: Narrative Worlds
Abbott, Chapter 9
Italo Calvino, “If on a Winter’s Night a Traveler”
(Bb)
Salman Rushdie, “On Italo Calvino’s ‘If on a Winter’s
Night a Traveller’” (Bb)
Mitchell, Cloud Atlas, ch. 1-2
Tu
11/15
WEEK 13: Narrative Contestation
Abbot, Chapter 13
Mitchell, Cloud Atlas, ch. 3-4
Th
11/17
Mitchell, Cloud Atlas, ch. 5-7
Tu
11/22
WEEK 14: Narrative Contestation continued
Mitchell, Cloud Atlas, ch. 8-9
Th
11/24
Tu
11/29
Th
12/1
Th
12/8
No class—Thanksgiving
WEEK 15: Narrative Contestation continued
Mitchell, Cloud Atlas, ch. 10-11
Quiz 6 (Bb)
closes at 10am
1.
2.
3.
1.
2.
3.
Quiz 7 (Bb)
closes at 10am
1.
2.
1.
2.
Quiz 8 (Bb)
closes at 10am
1.
2.
3.
1.
2.
1.
2.
Quiz 9 (Bb)
closes at 10am
Quiz 10 (Bb)
closes at 10am
1.
2.
3.
1.
2.
3.
1.
2.
3.
1.
2.
Quiz 11 (Bb)
closes at 10am
Final exam prep
WEEK 16: Final Exam
Final Exam Noon-3p.m.
You must take the exam at this time; I cannot give
exams at alternative times
ENG 105:14, Fall 2011, p 6
1.
2.