The Art of Literature
ENGL 262G: Section 2
Monday, Wednesday and Friday 10:00-10:50
Instructor: Penelope MacDonald
Room: McCormack 02-0419
Email: Penelope.Macdonal001@umb.edu
Office: Wheatley 06-044
Office Hours: Wednesday 11:00-1:00; Friday 11:00-12:00 and by appointment
Course Description: In this course, we will explore and examine the world of literature—the
imagination as it finds creative expression in language. Why do we call some writing
“literature”? What makes us label something “art”? We will familiarize ourselves with literary
devices and terminology such as genre, narrative voice and diction, and understand how our
awareness of those elements contributes to our appreciation of what we read. You will learn to
talk and write about literature and be able to articulate your opinion of what is and is not literary,
what is and is not art, and why a piece of writing "works" for you and why it does not.
About the Intermediate Seminar Program: Intermediate Seminars offer students with 30 or
more credits the opportunity to work on essential university capabilities in small-sized courses
that are often thematic or problem-oriented and interdisciplinary in nature. Designed in part to
help students prepare for the Writing Proficiency Requirement, Intermediate Seminars put
special emphasis on critical reading, writing, and thinking. They focus on other essential
capabilities as appropriate to the course and might therefore include attention to library research
and information technology, collaborative learning, oral presentation, and academic selfassessment. Students who practiced reading, writing, and critical thinking in a First Year
Seminar at UMass Boston will practice them at a more advanced level in the Intermediate
Seminar.
Only ONE Intermediate Seminar may be taken for credit. If you have taken another G200level course in any department at UMB, you cannot receive credit for this one.
Prerequisites: English 101, English 102, First Year Seminar (or waiver), and 30 credits. The
First Year Seminar is automatically waived for students who enter UMB with 30 or more
transfer credits. Because these are intensive reading and writing courses, some students may
find it helpful to enroll in CRW 221 to further develop their skills with college-level writing
before taking an Intermediate Seminar. Discuss your situation with the instructor if you have
any questions about these prerequisites or your readiness for the work in this course.
The Writing Proficiency Requirement: Except for students in the College of Management, all
UMass Boston undergraduates complete the University’s Writing Proficiency Requirement
through the Writing Proficiency Evaluation (WPE). The Writing Proficiency Requirement is not
the same as the writing placement test you may have taken when you entered UMass Boston.
The WPE can be met through either an examination or a take-home essay submitted along with a
portfolio of papers written for UMB courses. See the WPR website,
http://www.umb.edu/academics/vpass/undergraduate_studies/writing_proficiency, for more
details about the exam and portfolio options and dates. Students who have not already satisfied
the WPR should arrange to take the exam or submit a portfolio shortly after completing this
course.
Support services for Intermediate Seminar students: The Academic Support Office offers
both individual tutoring and drop-in workshops for students who need help with the critical
reading, thinking and writing skills necessary for success in General Education courses such as
this
one.
More
information
is
available
online
(http://www.umb.edu/academics/vpass/academic_support/tutoring/rwssc) or at their Campus
Center office (CC1-1300).
The Ross Center for Disability Services (CCUL-0211) provides accommodations and
educational resources for students with demonstrated needs, as outlined on their website
(http://www.umb.edu/academics/vpass/disability/ ). Should you be eligible for these services,
you should contact the Ross Center right away so that their staff can help you identify
appropriate accommodations in this and other courses. Finally, if it appears that you might not
pass this Intermediate Seminar and if the instructor cannot figure out how to support your
success in the course, the instructor might inform one of the University advisers working with
the Student Referral Program. This strictly confidential program is part of an early warning
system designed to help students address personal and academic difficulties that may interfere
with their progress in the University.
Assessment of these courses: In addition to course evaluation forms that are routinely
administered at the end of each course at UMass Boston, Intermediate Seminar students are
asked to complete a self-assessment questionnaire addressing their progress as critical thinkers
and writers. Each term an assessment committee will look at randomly chosen student writing
from a small sample of Intermediate Seminars. Please save all your writing in this course so
that, if you are chosen, you will have your work available. The purpose of this evaluation is to
improve the program and to improve particular courses as necessary, not to evaluate individual
students. You may remove your name from your papers if you prefer to submit them
anonymously.
Student plagiarism and classroom behavior: Students are expected to abide by the
University’s Code of Student Conduct in all their classes at UMass Boston
(www.umb.edu/student_affairs/programs/judicial/csc.html). Plagiarism is a particularly serious
violation, as outlined in the Academic Honesty section of the code (section VI), and will not be
tolerated. Plagiarism is the unacknowledged use of another person’s work, research, ideas and/or
thoughts, and will not be tolerated in this class. The following all constitute plagiarism: Using a
document or part of a document written by another student; buying an essay or term paper from
one of the services that sell such documents; using a document published on the Web; having
someone else write as essay or term paper for you; or having someone so drastically edit your
work that it no longer your work. It is always essential to use quotation marks around any
words/phrases/sentences that are not yours, and to properly cite the source of the quotation or
information. Plagiarism will result in failure/and or dismissal from this course.
Offensive and insulting behavior undermines the sense of community that the
Intermediate Seminars strive to build. Class discussion and group projects can be productive only
in a climate of respect for the opinions and beliefs of all. A healthy exchange about issues may
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include disagreement about ideas, but it must not demean the character or background of the
individuals holding those ideas.
Required Texts: For classroom purposes, you must have the exact edition that is in the
bookstore. If you purchase your books online, make sure the edition has the same ISBN number
as listed below.
The Norton Introduction to Literature: Shorter Eleventh Edition (ISBN: 978-0-39391339-2)
The Road by Cormac McCarthy; Vintage Edition (ISBN: 978-0-307-27792-3)
*You will occasionally be asked to print outside materials off of our course wiki page
and bring the printout to class. You are also required to bring any text we are working on
that day to class. (You must bring in a printed copy or electronic copy in order to receive
participation credit for class that day.)
Course Grade Determination:
Paper 1: 10%
Paper 2 (including workshop, rough draft, & conference): 25%
Paper 3 (including rough draft): 15%
Final Presentation: 15%
Weekly Assignments: 15%
Participation/Attendance: 20%
Email and Meeting: I will be using WISER to send out class information and documents. Make
sure you check your UMB account every day. (You may forward your UMB email to an email
account of your choice.) I am always happy to discuss your work with you both inside and
outside of class. If you are unable to meet with me during my office hours, feel free to make an
appointment. You are also welcome to email me with any questions about assignments or
anything else happening in the course. I can reply to timely, not last-minute, messages.
Course Wiki: This course also has its own wiki page. Each of you will receive an invitation to
the course wiki, please follow the link and join the wiki: http://engl262gmacdonald.wikispaces.umb.edu The wiki page will be a space for class news and updates,
assignments will be posted to the wiki, copies of class handouts can be found on the wiki page,
and there will also be outside readings that your must print and bring to class.
Attendance: Attending class and arriving on time is crucial to your success in this course and to
the success of the course in general. You may not miss more than 4 class sessions and pass the
course. Missing more than 4 classes will negatively impact your grade. Two “tardies” will
become an absence. Any student who misses more than six classes by the April 10th withdrawal
deadline will be recommended to drop the course. This policy is taken seriously and you are
required to make up all work you missed in order to receive credit.
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Participation: English discussions rely on your thoughts, ideas, and interpretations; participation
is imperative. Come prepared to participate by reading the assigned materials and also by
completing your weekly assignment.
Weekly Assignments: At least once a week you will be asked to turn in a written assignment.
These assignments will focus on the reading for class or class discussion. You must come to
class in order to receive the written assignment and many written assignments will be completed
in class. These assignments will vary, (i.e. quick writes, reading logs, dialectical journals,
presentations, workshops, etc.), according to the materials we are covering in class each week.
Submissions of Assignments: All assignments are due at the beginning of class unless otherwise
noted. Written assignments are due in hard copy format, in class (emailed papers will not be
accepted). Rough drafts cannot be turned in late because you cannot make up peer reviews or
conferences. A paper received after class is considered late and will be marked off one full letter
grade. A full letter deduction will accrue for each day the paper is late after it’s due.
Formal Papers: In addition to the weekly assignments, your formal papers are the best way to
demonstrate what you have learned about literature and to showcase your ability to express your
thoughts clearly and cohesively through written language. There will be three papers, in addition
to a final project, and all of these papers combined make up half of your final grade.
Final Presentation: A formal assignment explanation will be handed out toward the end of the
semester. These final projects will allow you to creatively express your individual understanding
of literature and literary studies, which will be worth 15% of your final grade. As we get closer
to the end of the semester you will receive a handout that will contain the specifics of your final
project assignment and presentation.
A Final Note on the Intermediate Seminar: Supervising the Intermediate Seminar Art of
Literature courses is Dr. Alex Mueller, Assistant Professor of English. Please expect occasional
visits from Dr. Mueller, as well as other Intermediate Seminar Instructors.
Class Schedule
*Subject to change at instructor’s discretion*
*All readings are due the day they are listed*
UNIT ONE: WHY LITERATURE?
Week One: Introduction, Syllabus and Student Assessment
Jan.
27:
Syllabus, Introductions, Activity
29:
Flannery O’Connor, “A Good Man is Hard to Find” (Pages 422-433/wiki)
31:
Chapter 1: Plot (Pages 82-89)
Margaret Atwood, “Happy Endings” (wiki)
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Week Two: Literary Elements—Plot and Point of View
Feb.
3:
Chapter 2: Narration and Point of View (Pages 160-164)
Jamaica Kincaid, “Girl” (Pages 170-171)
John Updike, “A & P” (Pages 148-153)
Add/Drop ends
5:
T.C. Boyle, “Greasy Lake” (wiki)
7:
Chapter 3: Character (Pages 180-186)
William Faulkner, “A Rose for Emily” (Pages 514-523)
Toni Morrison, “Recitatif” (Pages 200-214))
Handout for Paper #1
Week Three: Literary Elements—Character and Setting
10:
Chapter 4: Setting (Pages 245-250)
Ambrose Bierce, “An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge” (Pages 551-557)
Amy Tan, “A Pair of Tickets” (Pages 263-277))
12:
Chapter 5: Symbol and Figurative Language (Pages 285-290)
Ernest Hemingway, “Hills Like White Elephants”(Pages 590-594)
James Joyce, “Araby” (Pages 153-158)
14:
Chapter 6: Theme (Pages 334-338)
Gabriel Garcia Marquez, “A Very Old Man…” (Pages 356-361)
Week Four: Literary Elements—Symbol and Theme
17:
President’s Day—No School!
19:
Herman Melville, “Bartleby, the Scrivener…” (Pages 622-648)
UNIT TWO: HOW DO WE READ LITERATURE?
21:
Read The Road (Pages 3-37)
Week Five: The Road
24:
Read The Road (Pages 38-69)
Paper #1 Due
26:
Read The Road (Pages 70-106)
28:
Read The Road (Pages 107-137)
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Week Six: The Road
March 3:
Read The Road (Pages 138-175)
5:
Read The Road (Pages 176-204)
7:
Read The Road (Pages 205-233)
Group Assignments for Criticism and Theory (wiki)
Week Seven: The Road
10:
Read The Road (Pages 234-262)
12:
Read The Road (Pages 263-287/Complete)
Critical Essays (wiki)
Handout for Paper #2
Handouts for Criticism/Theory Workshop and Presentation
14:
Criticism and Theory Workshop
Week Eight: Spring Vacation!
Week Nine: Presentations, Workshops and Conferences
24:
Criticism and Theory Presentations
26:
Workshop Papers
Draft of Paper #2 Due
28:
Workshop Papers
UNIT THREEE: HOW DOES LITERATURE READ US?
Week Ten: Conferences, Dramatic Literature and A Streetcar Named Desire
31:
April 2:
4:
Conferences (MANDATORY)
Conferences (MANDATORY)
“Reading Drama”, (Pages 1122-1124)
“Elements of Drama”, (Pages 1180-1189)
Read, A Streetcar Named Desire (Scenes 1-3, Pages 1777-1802)
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Week Eleven: A Streetcar Named Desire and Antigone
7:
Read, Streetcar (Scenes 4-7, Pages 1802-1824)
Paper #2 Due
9:
Read, Streetcar (Scenes 8-11/Complete, Pages 1824-1843)
10: Course Withdrawal; Pass/Fail Deadline
11:
Cultural Context Readings (wiki)_
Week Twelve: Antigone and Paper Workshops
14:
Read, Antigone (Pages 1565-1580 Lines 1-636)
Handout for Paper #3
16:
Read, Antigone (Pages 1756-1776/Complete)
18:
Cultural Context Discussion and Readings
UNIT FOUR: WHAT ARE THE ARTS OF LITERATURE?
Week Thirteen: Drama Wrap-Up and Poetry Introductions
21:
Workshop Papers
Draft of Paper #3 Due
23:
Introduction to Poetry: Harold Bloom (wiki)
25:
Gwendolyn Brooks, “We Real Cool” (Page 720)
Theodore Roethke, “My Papa’s Waltz” (Page 791)
William Carlos Williams, “The Red Wheelbarrow” (Page 796)
Paper #3 Due
Week Fourteen: More Poetry
May
28:
Edgar Allen Poe, “The Raven” (Pages 838-841)
Robert Frost, “The Road Not Taken” (Page 1091)
Final Presentation Handout
30:
John Donne, “The Flea” (Page 738)
Andrew Marvell, “To His Coy Mistress” (Page 739)
William Shakespeare, “Spring” (Page 848)
2:
Seamus Heaney, “Digging” (Page 1093)
Wallace Stevens, “Anecdote of the Jar” (Page 1102)
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Jimmy Santiago Baca, “Green Chile” (Pages 783-784)
Week Fifteen: Poetry Wrap-Up
5:
Walt Whitman, “I Hear America Singing” (Page 865)
Langston Hughes, “I, Too” (Page 1021)
Pat Mora, “La Migra” (Page 974)
7:
Tupac Shakur, “Dear Mama” (wiki)
Neil Diamond, “America” (wiki)
Cloud Nothings, “Wasted Days” (wiki)
9:
Presentations
Week Sixteen: Course Wrap-Up and Final Presentations
12:
Presentations
14:
Presentations
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