Indiana University
English L202 - Literary Interpretation
Spring 2014
Instructor: Mrs. Isaacs
Contact Information
Email: aisaacs2@shenry.k12.in.us
School Phone: 987-7988
Goals of the Course:
1. To become familiar with basic elements of literature, especially those distinctly
characteristic of poetry, short fiction, the novel, and drama.
2. To become familiar with basic elements of arguing about literature, including issues,
claims, evidence, audience, and warrants.
3. To appreciate the usefulness of comparing literary works with one another.
4. To grow aware of the multiple contexts in which a literary work may be placed.
Basic Structure of the Course:
Unit One: Practice in close reading, with a focus on first-person poems.
Unit Two: Comparing works in the same genre - specifically, fictional texts about journeys, including
several short stories, and a novel (Life of Pi).
Unit Three: Considering other contexts in which literary works can be placed; the historical/cultural
worlds of the work’s reception as well as production; published comments on the work, and the
adaptations of it.
Required Book Purchases:
Schilb and Clifford, eds, Making Literature Matter (4 ed.)
Khaled Hosseini, The Kite Runner
Required Writing:
1. Three major papers, including submission of first drafts. Type and double-space each. For Paper 1,
which must be at least three pages, you will analyze a first-person poem that you will choose from a set.
For Paper 2, which must be at least five pages, you will analyze a work about a journey by comparing it
with another such work. For Paper 3, which is to be at least five pages, you will analyze a work by
placing it in a context.
2. Two to Five Micro themes. Each is to be at least two typed, double-spaced pages and will address a
particular question about our readings.
3. Five brief quizzes. If you simply do the required reading, you will do well on these.
4. Final examination. Comprising short and long essays, this will cover the course.
Revising the major papers is important in this course. You will get feedback from peers and from me.
When drafts are due, bring TWO copies of yours, which must be complete. I will not grade the final
version of a paper until I see a complete first draft. When you turn in the final version, include the
first draft with my comments.
I expect all writing to be submitted in class on the day it is due! Ordinarily, no paper (major or micro;
rough or final) will be accepted late. If illness or some other emergency interferes with your ability to turn
in a paper on time, contact me immediately. Do not email papers to me or leave them in my mailbox
or on my desk!
Policies on Attendance, Participation, and Plagiarism
1. Much of your work will consist of talking with others in class about the assigned readings and writings.
Thus, this is not a course which you can miss or somehow “make up” work you have missed.
2. Come to every class on time; always bring any text that is to be discussed; always have the reading
and writing assignments for the day completed! If you are late or unprepared, I reserve the right to mark
you absent.
3. In order to be successful in an Advance College Project (ACP) course, students will need to present
work that meets an academic standard expected of a university student. Understanding academic
integrity is critical for both instructors and students. Plagiarism is a violation of another person’s
academic integrity.
4. This course will adhere to the Indiana University Code of Student Ethics, which states:
A student must not adopt or reproduce ideas, words, or statements of another
person without an appropriate acknowledgment. A student must give due credit
to the originality of others and acknowledge an indebtedness whenever he or she
th
does any of the following:
A. Quotes another person’s actual words, either oral or written;
B. Paraphrases another person’s words, either oral or written;
C. Uses another person’s idea, opinion, or theory, or
D. Borrows facts, statistics, or other illustrative material, unless the
information is common knowledge.
If I find you have committed academic dishonesty on a writing assignment, you will get no points
for it. Ordinarily, academic dishonesty on a major paper or the final exam will result in an F for the
term. I will report any academic dishonesty to the administration with the possibility of a letter
being filed through Tri High School and IU Bloomington.
Determining Your Final Grade:
Possible total points: 1000
I will convert your actual score to a letter grade based on the current grading scale:
90 - 100 = A Range
80 - 89 = B Range
70 - 79 = C Range
60 - 69 = D Range
59 or below = F
First major paper = 100 points
Second = 200 points
Third = 250 points
Two to Five micro themes: 20 pts. each
Five quizzes: 20 pts. each
Final Exam: 250 pts.
Syllabus
Unit One - Close Reading / First-Person Poems
Introduction to the Course
Sher, “The Man in the Well” – (will be provided)
Making Literature Matter: Chapters 2-4 (Discuss content as students delve into poems)
“Issues” Handout
Wright, “Lying in a Hammock” - 3
Orozco, “Orientation” - 34
Kincaid, “Girl” – 39
Kumin, “Woodchucks” - 825
Wright, “Flight” – (will be provided)
Micro 1:
Bishop, “The Fish” - 830
Lawrence, “Snake” – (will be provided)
Micro 2: Possible poems Fort, Clifton, Hayden, and Roethke
Forsche, “The Colonel” - 1155
Alexie, “Capital Punishment” - 1162
Heaney, “Punishment” - 1156
Browning, “My Last Duchess” - 1168
Spera, “My Ex-Husband” - 1171
Quiz 1
First draft of Major Paper 1 Due - Bring TWO copies
Peer Revising/ Conferencing
Final Version Major Paper 1 Due
Unit Two - Genres
Introduction - Discussion of Genres
Making Literature Matter - Chapter 5
Short Stories
Quiz 2: Wolff, “The Rich Brother” – 305
Bambara, “The Lesson” (1148)
Micro 3: Welty, “A Worn Path”(1139)
Quiz 3: O’Connor, “A Good Man is Hard to Find” (1249) and O‘ Brien, “The Things
They Carried” (798)
Novel
Khaled Hosseini, The Kite Runner
Quiz 4 over novel
Micro 4: The Kite Runner
First Draft Major Paper 2 Due - Bring TWO copies
Peer Revision / Conferences
Final Draft Due Major Paper 2
Unit Three: Considering Other Contexts
Drama
Hansberry, “A Raisin in the Sun” - 433
Quiz 5
Short Story
Dubus, “Killings” – 1175
Micro 5: “Killings”
Film
In the Bedroom
First Draft Major Paper 3 Due - Bring TWO copies
Peer Revising/ Editing / Conferences
Final Draft of Major Paper 3 Due
Review for Final
Final Exam: Essay which incorporates skills acquired over the course of the semester. You will
be analyzing both a poem and a short story.