ENG130: Introduction to Literature
Credit Hours:
3
Contact Hours:
This is a 3-credit course, offered in accelerated format. This means that 16 weeks of
material is covered in 8 weeks. The exact number of hours per week that you can
expect to spend on each course will vary based upon the weekly coursework, as
well as your study style and preferences. You should plan to spend 10-25 hours per
week in each course reading material, interacting on the discussion boards, writing
papers, completing projects, and doing research.
Faculty Information
Name:
Phone:
CSU-GC Email:
Virtual Office Hours:
Course Description and Outcomes
This course provides the study of both traditional and contemporary literary works in four major genres: short
fiction, the novel, poetry, and drama. You will examine literary elements such as character, plot, theme, setting,
and symbolism, thus furthering the understanding and appreciation of the literary work. You will also read short
works in their anthology textbook, as well as a longer work, Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe, culminating in a
research literary analysis paper as a final portfolio project.
Additionally, this course provides the study of literature within an international context. The literature chosen
for this course represents some of the best work throughout the globe, as one would expect from a college
campus that is global. CSU-Global has students from all over the world, so the literature in this course is
representatively global as well. In other words, you will be reading works of literature not only from United
States’ writers but also writers from other counties.
Fulfills a general education Arts and Humanities requirement, not an approved Colorado gtPathways course.
Course Learning Outcomes:
1. Analyze and critically evaluate the four major literary genres – short fiction, poetry, drama, and the
novel through the construction of written arguments.
2. Analyze the literary canon and conventional themes in literature.
3. Identify the conventional elements of fiction, poetry, and drama and discuss how these elements have
developed throughout the history of the genres.
4. Analyze fiction, poetry, and drama by examining the conventional literary elements to understand the
relationship between form and content.
5. Analyze the conventional elements of literature within an international perspective.
Participation & Attendance
Prompt and consistent attendance in your online courses is essential for your success at CSU-Global Campus.
Failure to verify your attendance within the first 7 days of this course may result in your withdrawal. If for some
reason you would like to drop a course, please contact your advisor.
Online classes have deadlines, assignments, and participation requirements just like on-campus classes. Budget
your time carefully and keep an open line of communication with your instructor. If you are having technical
problems, problems with your assignments, or other problems that are impeding your progress, let your
instructor know as soon as possible.
Course Materials
Required:
Kirszner, L. G., &Mandell, S. R. (2012).Compact Literature: Reading, reacting, writing (8th ed.). Boston,
MA: Wadsworth Cengage Learning. ISBN 13: 9781111839017
Achebe, C. (1994). Things fall apart. New York, NY: Anchor Books. ISBN-13: 9780385474542
NOTE: All non-textbook required readings and materials necessary to complete assignments, discussions, and/or
supplemental or required exercises will be provided within the course itself. Please read through each course
module carefully.
Course Schedule
Due Dates
The Academic Week at CSU-Global begins on Monday and ends the following Sunday.
 Discussion Boards: The original post must be completed by Thursday at 11:59 p.m. MT and Peer
Responses posted by Sunday 11:59 p.m. MT. Late posts may not be awarded points.
 Mastery Exercises: Students may access and retake mastery exercises through the last day of class until
they achieve the scores they desire.
 Critical Thinking Activities: Assignments are due Sunday at 11:59 p.m. MT.
Week #
Readings
Assignments
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Chapter 1 in Compact literature
Chapter 9 in Compact literature
APA & Formatting Academic Papers – See tutorial in Module Content
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Discussion Board (25)
Mastery Exercises (10)
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Chapters 2& 12in Compact literature
Chapter 3 (pp. 39-41 only) in Compact literature
“A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings” by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
in Chapter 21 in Compact literature
Chapter 13 (pp. 200-207 only) in Compact literature
Chapter 15 (pp. 265-269& pp. 274-282 only) in Compact literature
Chapter 16 – Point of View (pp. 305-314& pp. 331-343 only) in
Compact literature
1980 film clip of “Barn burning” starring Tommy Lee Jones (see
Module Content)
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Discussion Board (25)
Mastery Exercises (10)
Critical Thinking (115)
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Discussion Board (25)
Mastery Exercises (10)
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Chapter 14 (pp. 230-239 only) in Compact literature
Chapter 17 (pp. 351-357) in Compact literature
Chapter 20 (pp. 573-580) in Compact literature
Chapter 3 (pp. 51-54 only) in Compact literature
Read any one (1) short story in Chapter 21 in Compact literature to
use for your character analysis paper.
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Discussion Board (25)
Mastery Exercises (20)
Critical Thinking (120)
5
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Chapter 5 in Compact literature
Chapter 6 (pp. 83-92 only) in Compact literature
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Discussion Board (25)
Mastery Exercises (10)
Chapter 22 in Compact literature
Chapter 23 (pp. 664-669 only) in Compact literature
Chapter 27 (pp.760-767 only) in Compact literature
Chapter 28 (pp. 797-817 only) in Compact literature
Chapter 33Poetry for further reading: Choose a few poems that
interest you and that you think might make good subjects for your
poetry explication. You will choose one poem to analyze for your
poetry explication paper.
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Discussion Board (25)
Mastery Exercises (10)
Critical Thinking (115)
6
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Chapter 34 in Compact literature
Classical interpretation of Chekhov's The Brute:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2r4eLGQbaaY
Modern Interpretation of:
http://www.youtubeup.com/video/h4FPQpiV4VA/The-Brute.html
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Discussion Board (25)
Mastery Exercises (10)
Chapter 2 (pp. 27-38 only) in Compact literature
Chapter 6 in Compact literature
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Discussion Board (25)
Mastery Exercises (20)
Portfolio Assignment
(350)
1
2
3
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4
7
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8
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Assignment Details
This course includes the following assignments/projects:
Week 1
Portfolio Milestone:
A Portfolio Project is due at the end of Module 8. Review the Portfolio Project Description on the Week 8
Assignments page and the Portfolio Project Rubric, which can be accessed on the Course Information page.
While there are no portfolio project deliverables due this week, begin reading Chinua Achebe’s novel Things Fall
Apart and have it completed by the beginning of Module 5. Additionally, view the final portfolio required
outcomes in Modules 5 and 8. In Module 5, an outline of your research paper for Things Fall Apart and a working
reference page of 3-5 sources are due. In Module 8, the entire research project is due, including a title page, the
final paper, and a final reference page. Understand the portfolio project requirements and ask for clarification
where necessary.
It is recommended that while reading Things Fall Apart, students consult the Chinua Achebe: Things Fall Apart
Study Guide at http://www.wsu.edu/~brians/anglophone/achebe.html.
Week 2
Critical Thinking: Reader-response Paper (115 Points)
Read “A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings” by Gabriel Garcia Marquez (in the course textbook). Reflect and
respond to the story in a 750-1000-word reader-response essay. Remember that reader-response essays are less
formal than other types of academic writing. You may use the personal pronoun “I” and may write about whatever
strikes you from the story. You may also choose to write from one of the following prompts:
1.
2.
3.
4.
Explain how good and evil co-exist in this story, and which one you think wins out in the end. Use specific
lines of text from the story to support your assertion.
Was the old man with the enormous wings truly an angel? Why or why not? Use specific lines of text
from the story to support your assertion.
Gabriel Garcia Marquez is said to have fathered the genre of “magical realism” with this story. What parts
of the story felt magical to you and what parts felt real? How do they work together to convey the overall
message of the story? Use specific lines of text from the story to support your assertion.
Does the fact that Marquez is a South American writer have any influence on the developments of this
story? Does its international setting have any impact on the reader’s potential understanding of the story?
For a successful paper:
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Have a strong thesis statement at the end of your introduction paragraph.
Use a “hook” in the introduction paragraph to grab your readers’ attentions.
Use specific textual support from the short story in the body of your paper.
Finish with a strong conclusion that summarizes your main points, restates the thesis in some way, and
possibly returns to the initial “hook”.
Proofread for errors in spelling, grammar and writing mechanics. Vary sentence structure and sentence
length to add interest.
Use APA when citing the text; include a reference page citation at the end of the paper for the short story
in the anthology. See the tutorial in Module 1 or consult the Graduate APA Resources (used for this class)
found on the “Library” tab in Blackboard.
Follow CSU-GC Graduate APA guidelines with regard to font style, size, margins and spacing.
If you have questions about citing in APA, contact the CSU-Global Librarian at library@csuglobal.org
Portfolio Milestone:
While there are no portfolio project deliverables due this week, continue reading Chinua Achebe’s novel Things
Fall Apart and have it completed by the beginning of Module 5.
Week 3
Portfolio Milestone:
There are no portfolio project deliverables due this week; continue reading Chinua Achebe’s novel Things Fall
Apart and have it completed by the beginning of Module 5.
Week 4
Critical Thinking: Character Analysis Paper (120 points)
Now that you have observed the attributes of the characters in the short stories “A&P” and “Greasy Lake,” write a
character-analysis essay in which you analyze one major or minor character from any short story in Chapter 20:
“Fiction for further reading.” Use specific language from chapters 14 and 17 when crafting your analysis. What
“type” of character are you analyzing? How are language and the style/tone of the story used to formulate the
character? Is the story reflective of the character, or the character of the story? How would a reader from another
country or culture potential draw different conclusions about the characters in these stories?
Your response should be 750-1000 words.
For a successful paper:
 Have a strong thesis statement at the end of your introduction paragraph.
 Use a “hook” in the introduction paragraph to grab your readers’ attentions.
 Use specific textual support from the short story in the body of your paper.
 Finish with a strong conclusion that summarizes your main points, restates the thesis in some way, and
possibly returns to the initial “hook.”
 Proofread for errors in spelling, grammar and writing mechanics. Vary sentence structure and sentence
length to add interest.
 Use APA when citing the text; include a reference page citation at the end of the paper for the short story
in the anthology. See the tutorial in Module 1 or consult the Graduate APA Resources (used for this class)
found on the “Library” tab in Blackboard.
 Follow CSU-GC Graduate APA guidelines with regard to font style, size, margins and spacing.
 If you have questions about citing in APA, contact the CSU-Global Librarian at library@csuglobal.org
Portfolio Milestone:
There are no portfolio project deliverables due this week; continue reading Chinua Achebe’s novel Things Fall
Apart and have it completed by the beginning of Module 5.
Week 5
Portfolio Milestone:
Research Paper Outline & Reference Page Rough Draft
The portfolio project is a 5-7 page research paper (approximately 1,500-1,750 words) designed to require you to
expand your knowledge and capabilities through combining knowledge and application of content with your own
interpretation and judgment. For the final portfolio project, you will write a research paper about Chinua Achebe’s
Things Fall Apart, supplementing your own interpretation with information from 3-5 other sources. The final
research paper is due in Module 8. Again, remember that your interpretation of this novel should reflect an
international perspective (see more details on the Week 5 Assignments page).
This week, in Module 5, the outline of the paper and your working rough draft of your reference page are due.
Refer to the lecture material and the information below for more information on constructing these documents.
Outline:
 Submit a topic outline or a sentence outline.
 Demonstrate a clear thesis and organization for the paper.
 Include specific details to support the sub-points of the thesis.
Reference Page:
 Use CSU-Global APA formatting for each citation.
 Remember to alphabetize the entries, A-Z.
 Double-space within and between entries.
 Format using hanging indents, see the screenshot linked on the Week 5 Assignments page for details
o First line of each entry must be flush with left-hand margin.
o Indent 2nd and subsequent lines of each entry one tab or five spaces.
Week 6
Critical Thinking: Poetry Explication (115 points)
Choose one of the poems from your readings in Chapter 33: “Poetry for Further Reading” and compose a written
explication of that poem. Your explication should be 750-1000 words, analyzing one or more of the poem's
elements (see readings from chapters 27 and 28 for specific elements). Your explication is not a summary of what
the poem is about. Nor are you expected to unravel the poem’s “meaning.” Rather, you are explaining how the
poet used a particular poetic element, and you are analyzing how that element affects the rest of the poem.
When writing your explication:
 Choose a poem that is adequately profound to sustain a detailed analysis.
 Include a thesis statement that states the element you are analyzing and why.
 Follow a systematic writing pattern by analyzing the element on which you are focusing line by line or
stanza by stanza.
 Provide textual examples (words, phrases, and lines) from the poem to illustrate your analytical
statements. Cite your sources using CSU-GC APA formatting. See the tutorial in Module 1 for an
explanation on how to do this.
 See http://writingcenter.unc.edu/handouts/poetry-explications/and
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/615/1/for a detailed example of a poetry explication.
Week 7
Portfolio Milestone:
Continue working on the rough draft of your research paper. Your final paper, with title page and references page,
will be due Week 8.
Week 8
Portfolio Assignment (350 points)
The portfolio project is designed to require you to expand your knowledge and capabilities through combining
knowledge and application of content with your own interpretation and judgment. For the final portfolio project,
you will write a research paper about Chinua Achebe’s Things Fall Apart, supplementing your own interpretation
with information from three to five other sources. Again, remember that your interpretation of this novel should
reflect an international perspective. Information about planning your research paper and conducting your research
can be found in the lecture material for Module 5. The portfolio project is due in Week 8.
Research paper requirements:
 1,500-1,750 words (5-7 pages)
 Minimum of three sources (excluding the novel) – must be credible, authored sources; anonymous
Websites or sites like Wikipedia are not acceptable as one of your three main sources.
 Double-spaced, Times New Roman, 12-pt font.
 Title Page: for an explanation of how to formulate a title page in APA, see this link:
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/01/(scroll down to “Title Page”).
 Insert page numbers in the top right hand corner.
 Include a Reference Page.
 Use correct CSU-Global APA formatting in the paper and on the reference page.
 Submit final portfolio project no later than 11:59 p.m. on Sunday of Module 8, the final day of the course.
Your final paper will be graded not only based on content but also based upon the quality of your writing, syntax,
and grammar. Please be sure to pay special attention to the quality of your written work. It is highly recommended
that you closely proofread your assignment prior to submission. In addition, you are again expected to provide
support for your arguments based upon both the required and recommended readings for the course, as well as to
incorporate any relevant points culled from the discussion boards. Review the Portfolio Rubric, located in Course
Information.
Course Policies
Late Work
Students are permitted a 7 day grace period during which they may submit a Critical Thinking assignment after
the original due date without penalty. Papers submitted between 8 and 14 days after the original due date will
be accepted with a potential 10 percent reduction in grade for late submission. Papers submitted 15 or more
days beyond the original due date may not be accepted unless prior arrangements have been made with the
instructor. No Portfolios will be accepted late and no assignments will be accepted after the last day of class
unless a student has requested an incomplete grade in accordance with the Incomplete Policy.
Course Grading
20% Discussion Participation
10% Mastery Exercises
35% Critical Thinking Activities
35% Final Portfolio Paper
Grading Scale and Policies
A
95.0 – 100
A-
90.0 – 94.9
B+
86.7 – 89.9
B
83.3 – 86.6
B-
80.0 – 83.2
C+
75.0 – 79.9
C
70.0 – 74.9
D
60.0 – 69.9
F
59.9 or below
FN*
Failure for Nonparticipation
I**
Incomplete
FN* Students who have completed less than 60% of the graded assignments will be issued a grade of FN. Grades of FN may impact
financial aid or military benefits.
I** Students must request an Incomplete through their course instructor. The faculty member will provide the student with the Request
for Incomplete Grade form, which must be signed by the student and approved by the faculty member prior to the faculty member
submitting to the Office of the Registrar. Incompletes cannot include unsubmitted assignments from the first six (6) weeks of the class as
defined by the late policy and may only be awarded to students that have completed 60% of the graded coursework with a passing
grade. Incomplete forms must be on file with the Office of the Registrar no later than Thursday of the final week of class.
Academic Integrity
Students must assume responsibility for maintaining honesty in all work submitted for credit and in any other
work designated by the instructor of the course. Academic dishonesty includes cheating, fabrication, facilitating
academic dishonesty, plagiarism, reusing your own work, re-purposing your own work, unauthorized possession
of academic materials, unauthorized collaboration. The Library provides information on how students can avoid
plagiarism by understanding what it is and how to use Library and internet resources.
Citing Sources with APA Style
All students are expected to follow the CSU-Global Guide to Writing and APA Requirements when citing in APA
(based on the APA Style Manual, 6th edition). For details on CSU-Global APA style, please review the APA
resources within the CSU-Global Library under the “APA Guide & Resources” link. A link to this document should
also be provided within most assignment descriptions on your course’s Assignments page.
Netiquette
Respect the diversity of options among the instructor and classmates and engage with them in a courteous,
respectful and professional inner. All posts and classroom communication must be conducted in a professional
and respectful manner in accordance with the student code of conduct. Think before you push the Send button.
Did you say just what you meant? How will the person on the other end read the words?
Maintain an environment free of harassment, stalking, threats, abuse, insults or humiliation toward the
instructor and classmates. This includes, but is not limited to demeaning written or oral comments of an ethnic,
religious, age, disability, sexist (or sexual orientation), or racist nature; and the unwanted sexual advances or
intimidations by email, or on discussion boards and other postings within or connected to the online classroom.
If you have concerns about something that has been said, please let your instructor know.
Institutional Policies
Refer to the Academic Catalog for comprehensive documentation of CSU-Global institutional policies.