English 105-02: Introduction to Narrative
Instructor: Mr. Andrew Pisano
Office: MHRA 3112-C
Email: ampisano@uncg.edu
Class Time: 10-10:50 MWF
Fall 2011
Office Hours: 9-9:50 MWF
Office Phone: 334-5837
Classroom: BRYN 204
Course Description
In this class, we will consider the ways in which a variety of individuals narrate their worlds. Rarely,
though, are these simple stories of events and tidy conclusions. Many of the texts we will be reading will
dwell on the ambivalences and tensions surrounding how one actually conceives of their inhabited
space—that is, one’s physical and psychological dwelling. Thus many of our readings will follow a
similar theme: that of crossing cultural and even spiritual borders. Our analysis of these texts will rely
foremost on H. Porter Abbott’s introductory theories on narratology. But we will also consider
historical/cultural contexts as well as traditional literary analysis to glean how these texts employ matters
of self-hood, cultural belonging, and cultural criticism.
Course Objectives:
- Identify and understand varied characteristics of literature
- Apply techniques of literary analysis to texts
- Use literary study to develop skills in careful reading, clear writing, and engaged discussion
- Demonstrate understanding of the diverse social and historical contexts in which literary texts have been
written and interpreted
Required Course Materials:
Abbott, H. Porter. The Cambridge Introduction to Narrative. New York: Cambridge UP, 2008. Print.
ISBN: 978-0521715157
Cather, Willa. My Antonia. 1918. New York: Barnes & Noble Classics, 2003. Print. ISBN: 9781593082024
Lawn, Beverly Ed. 40 Short Stories: A Portable Anthology. 3rd ed. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2009.
ISBN: 978-0312477103
Steinbeck, John. Cannery Row. 1945. Steinbeck Centennial Ed. New York: Penguin Books, 2002. Print.
ISBN: 978-0142000687
Thompson, Hunter S. Hell’s Angels: A Strange and Terrible Saga. 1966. New York: The Modern
Library Edition, 1999. Print. ISBN: 978-0679603313
Washington, Booker T. Up From Slavery. 1901. A Norton Critical Ed. Ed. William L. Andrews.
New York: WW Norton & Comp, 1996. Print. IBSN: 978-0393967258
**Access to Blackboard and a Printer**
Assignments
Midterm Exam 20%
- The midterm will cover terms and concepts from Abbot as well as analytical questions pertaining
to the assigned readings up to the date of the exam. The exam will consist of multiple choice, fill
in the blank, matching, and multiple short essays.
Final Exam 30%
- Will have a similar outline as the midterm. May be cumulative and will have an essay component.
Group Presentation 10%
- In groups of 4 or 5, you will be responsible for leading class discussion on your assigned day.
You should provide the class with a handout offering a brief summary of the readings and should
-
include 4-5 discussion questions. Each group should lead the class for a minimum of 10 minutes
following their presentation.
You will be graded as a group; however, if someone does not contribute equally, group members
may notify me prior to the presentation via email and that individual may be graded separately.
Creative/Interpretive Narrative Assignment 15%
- See Handout
Quizzes 10%
- 11 weekly in-class quizzes will be given to promote reading comprehension; 10/11 quizzes will
make up this percentage.
Film Blog Response 5%
- An equivalent single-spaced, typed response to the in-class film that addresses the narrativity of
the film using theories defined by assigned readings in Abbott’s Introduction to Narrative.
Participation 10%
- Even in larger classes, I take class participation very seriously. If you do not speak, your final
grade will suffer.
Attendance: In accordance with English department policy, you have four free absences. Each
subsequent absence will result in a half-letter grade reduction. If you miss eight classes, you automatically
fail the course. I do not differentiate between excused and unexcused absences. Should a crisis arise,
come talk to me or email me before you miss class(es). Also, get to class on time. I take attendance at the
beginning of class, so being late may result in you being marked absent.
Late Work: I do not give credit for late work, but I do accept early work. If you know you are going to
miss a class, turn in your work before it is due. Printing problems do not constitute an acceptable
excuse for you to turn in late work, so leave yourself plenty of time to print your work. There are
several pay print stations around campus, including Jackson Library and the University Writing Center;
be sure you have money on your card for printing.
Email: Email is the best way to reach me. You can reasonably expect responses from me within twentyfour hours, excluding university holidays. I do not accept work via email under any circumstances.
Electronics: Turn cell phones and mp3 players off before class begins. Laptops may be used in class only
by students having a special need for purposes of note-taking or other classroom activities. Students with
such a need should make specific arrangements with me.
MLA Citation and Format: I expect you to cite all material you use in your work. Both in-text citations
and references must be in MLA format. I also expect you to use MLA formatting for papers: 1” margins,
double-spaced, 12 pt. Times New Roman font. For a good guide to this formatting style, go to “Useful
Links” on our Blackboard site and click on, sensibly enough, “MLA Paper Formatting and Citation.”
Hint: With the exception of the addition of the ISBN, the course novels are already in MLA reference
format.
University Writing Center: This free service exists solely to help you become a better writer. Take
papers at any stage of completion for a one-on-one consultation. Ask consultants to send me an email
about your session. The Writing Center is located in MHRA 3211. No appointment is necessary.
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. If I find
evidence of plagiarism, I will judge what is best for the situation, from a very stern reprimand to giving
you an F for the semester.
Accommodations: Students with documentation of special needs should arrange to see me about
accommodations as soon as possible. If you believe you could benefit from such accommodations, you
must first register with the Office of Disability Services on campus before such accommodations can be
made. The office is located on the second floor of the Elliott University Center (EUC) in Suite 215, and
the office is open 8am to 5pm, Monday - Friday. Telephone: 334-5440; e-mail: ods@uncg.edu.
Calendar
Note: I reserve the right to alter the syllabus at any time during the semester.
Defining Narrative, Narrating Life
Mon 8/22: Introductions; Syllabus
Wed 8/24: Abbott chapter 1
Fri 8/26: Abbott chapter 2
The Borders of Narrative
Mon 8/29: Abbott chapter 3
Wed 8/31: Melville “Bartleby, the Scrivener”
Fri 9/2: Gilman “The Yellow Wallpaper,” Chopin “The Story of an Hour”
Mon 9/5: NO CLASS/Labor Day
Wed 9/7: Hemingway “Hills like White Elephants”
Fri 9/9: Bambara “The Lesson”
Narrating the Self
Mon 9/12: Abbott Chapter 6
Wed 9/14: Abbott chapter 10
Fri 9/16: Washington Up from Slavery chap 1-5
Mon 9/19: Washington chap 6-12
Wed 9/21: Washington chap 13-15
Fri 9/23: Washington chap 16-end
Narration
Mon 9/26: *Review Abbott chapters 3 & 10,* Cather My Antonia Intro (p.3)-chap 10
Wed 9/28: Cather chap 11-19 (end of Book I)
Fri 9/30: Cather (Book II)
Mon 10/3: Cather (Book III-end)
Wed 10/5: Welty “A Worn Path”
Fri 10/7: Lawrence “The Rocking-Horse Winner”
Mon 10/10: NO CLASS/FALL BREAK
Wed 10/12: Faulkner “Barn Burning”
Fri 10/14: Baldwin “Sonny’s Blues”
Mon 10/17: O’Brien “The Things They Carried”
Wed 10/19: Review
Fri 10/21: Midterm
Narrative of Film
Mon 10/24 Film
Wed 10/26: Film
Fri 10/28: Film
Blog Response Due by 11pm
Narrative Worlds
Mon 10/31: Abbott chapter 12
Wed 11/2: Carver “Cathedral”
Fri 11/4: Hawthorne “Young Goodman Brown,” O’Conner “A Good Man is Hard to Find”
Creative/Interpretive Narrative Assignment DUE
Mon 11/7: Steinbeck Cannery Row chap 1-12
Wed 11/9: Steinbeck chap 13-18
Fri 11/11: Steinbeck chap 19-end
Narrative and Truth
Mon 11/14: Abbott chapter 11, Thompson Hell’s Angels Intro-p.66
Wed 11/16: Thompson p.67-124
Fri 11/18: Thompson p.125- 198
Mon 11/21: Thompson (The Dope Cabala… to End)
Wed 11/23: NO CLASS
Fri 11/25: NO CLASS
Narrative Borders of Truth
Mon 11/28: *Review Abbott chapters 3 and 11,* Ellison “Battle Royal”
Wed 11/30: Alexie “What You Pawn I Will Redeem”
Fri 12/2: TBA
Mon 12/5: Review (Last day of class)
Wed 12/7: FINAL (12pm-3pm)