Tragedy, Horror, and Alienation in Literature
ENG 2, Section S9
Spring 2010
Saturday 9:00-11:45am, 3146 Boylan Hall
Instructor: Christine Choi
Office: 2311 Boylan Hall
Office hours: Saturday 2:00-3:00pm
Sunday 11:45-12:45pm
(by appointment)
Email: ProfessorChoi@gmail.com
COURSE INTRODUCTION
Description
Welcome to English 2! This course aims to strengthen and sharpen your critical reading
and writing skills beyond the level achieved in English 1. Over the semester, we will
immerse ourselves in a series of novels that broach the themes of tragedy, horror, and
alienation in literature from different angles and perspectives. Focusing on what Umberto
Eco calls the intentio operis, the intention of the work, we will examine the language,
structures, frames, and plots, the characters and characterizations, the images and ideas,
those discussed and those implied, that make up the conceptual worlds of our assigned
texts in order to figure out what messages are being conveyed by their respective authors.
Some of the recurring themes we will encounter in our readings include: madness,
superstitions, the role of social pressures, gender oppression, the human condition,
isolation, dehumanization, destiny vs. free will, sexuality, Gothicism, the transformation
from child to adult, the quest for identity, the search for meaning in a meaningless
universe, cynicism, alienation, and so on.
Each class you will be assigned a reading or writing assignment (or both). You will be
expected to read each assignment carefully, preferably twice, so that you can participate
in class discussions. There will be quizzes given at the beginning of each class to ensure
that everyone is reading the material carefully and regularly. Please keep in mind that
active student participation is a significant portion of your grade and essential for the
successful completion of this course.
Objectives
Close attention will be paid to the development of critical and analytical writing skills,
and some classroom time will be devoted to the methodology of essay writing and
strategies for reading. By the end of the semester, you should become adept at writing,
reading, and thinking analytically; command a clear and effective prose style; and finally,
know how to use the resources of the library, compile a working bibliography and
outline, avoid plagiarism, and write a literary critical essay that incorporates secondary
sources (research). Towards this objective, students will develop their writing skills
through regularly assigned informal response exercises, 2 short expository essays, a
midterm exam, and a final research paper. There is no final exam in this class.
Tragedy, Horror, and Alienation in Literature
ENG 2, Section S9
Spring 2010
Saturday 9:00-11:45am, 3146 Boylan Hall
Instructor: Christine Choi
Office: 2311 Boylan Hall
Office hours: Saturday 2:00-3:00pm
Sunday 11:45-12:45pm
(by appointment)
Email: ProfessorChoi@gmail.com
REQUIREMENTS
Texts
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“The Black Cat,” Edgar Allan Poe
“The Yellow Wallpaper,” Charlotte Perkins Gilman
“Bartleby,” Herman Melville
Dracula, Bram Stoker (Bedford/St. Martin’s)
The Metamorphosis, Franz Kafka (Simon and Schuster)
David Copperfield, Charles Dickens (Penguin Classics)
The Catcher in the Rye, J.D. Salinger (Little, Brown and Company)
A Pocket Style Manual (5th ed.), Diana Hacker
Writing Assignments
Over the course of the semester, you’ll be expected to write informal responses based on
the assigned readings that you will share in class and then turn in to me. In addition, you
will be required to engage in more formal writing—2 short expository essays (4-5 pages),
and a research paper (6-8 pages)—which you will submit to me in hard copies.
You will have the opportunity to revise your 2 shorter essays. However, to earn a higher
grade, you must improve the quality of the essay on a conceptual as well as a mechanical
level. Rewritten essays that are simply line-edited for grammar and turned back in will
receive the same letter grade.
All essays must be typed or word processed, stapled and should follow basic MLA
guidelines for format and style: i.e., standard margins on all sides; double spaced lines
with indented paragraphs; Times New Roman 12 pt. font; and numbered pages. Make sure
you proofread all work before submitting it to me. If your work is incoherent, formatted
incorrectly and/or filled with spelling and grammatical errors, I will hand it back to you.
As an English 2 student, you’re expected to be able to write clearly and cohesively.
I will not accept handwritten or electronic submissions of essays. All late work is subject
to grade penalty. Under no conditions will I accept any work that is more than one week
late.
Presentations
There are 2 required presentations. The first will happen sometime throughout the
semester (on whichever date you sign up for) and will be on the text that is to be
discussed that day. You will prepare in advance a brief presentation on any variation of
the following: a piece of criticism written about the text and your assessment of it,
historical background on the author and text that you feel is relevant to understanding the
reading, an analysis of particular quotes or passages that speak to the intentio operis of
Tragedy, Horror, and Alienation in Literature
ENG 2, Section S9
Spring 2010
Saturday 9:00-11:45am, 3146 Boylan Hall
Instructor: Christine Choi
Office: 2311 Boylan Hall
Office hours: Saturday 2:00-3:00pm
Sunday 11:45-12:45pm
(by appointment)
Email: ProfessorChoi@gmail.com
the work, and so on. These presentations are meant to initiate the discussion for that day.
Hence, you must finish with an observation that can be opened to a larger debate.
The second presentation will be a group presentation to be delivered on the final day of
class.
Grade Breakdown
(1) Essays 30% (2 @ 15% each)
(2) Participation, Quizzes, Informal Writing Assignments 15%
(3) Midterm 15%
(3) Presentations 10% (2 @ 5% each)
(4) Research Paper (annotated bibliography & outline 10%; paper 20%)
POLICIES
Absences
Attendance is recorded at the beginning of every class. More than 2 absences will
constitute an automatic failure of the course. I repeat: more than 2 absences will
constitute an automatic failure of the course. This includes both excused and unexcused
absences. If you are absent, you are fully responsible for any work missed. You must
contact another classmate, not me, for this missing work. Being absent is not an excuse
for late papers or missed in-class work. Walking out before class is over or extreme
lateness (i.e., coming in 5 minutes before class is over) both constitute as an absence.
Lateness
Two unexcused late arrivals or early departures are equivalent to one absence. Anyone
who comes to class more than 15 minutes late is marked absent.
Etiquette
Listen and be respectful of others. Turn your cell phones completely off (not on vibrate)
before entering class. Also, please use the bathroom prior to coming to class. I do not
look kindly on students who get up and leave the classroom while class is in session, as it
disrupts the lesson. Students caught text messaging, reading non-related class materials,
sleeping, or anything else along these lines (all of which are extremely obvious from
where I am standing) will be penalized in their class participation grade.
Preparation
Class participation is judged on how students engage the text, each other, and the
professor. Students are expected to complete the required reading for any given session
and to come to class prepared to participate. A high participation grade can be earned by
coming to class consistently and on time, contributing consistently to class discussion,
and participating in in-class activities, including peer review. Make sure you have a
notebook to write in and something with which to write. Take notes because our
Tragedy, Horror, and Alienation in Literature
ENG 2, Section S9
Spring 2010
Saturday 9:00-11:45am, 3146 Boylan Hall
Instructor: Christine Choi
Office: 2311 Boylan Hall
Office hours: Saturday 2:00-3:00pm
Sunday 11:45-12:45pm
(by appointment)
Email: ProfessorChoi@gmail.com
discussions will aid in your understanding of the texts and, thus, your performance in
essay writing and on the midterm exam. Last but not least, complete all the work for the
course on time. The due dates for assignments are indicated on the “Schedule of Classes”
(to be distributed) and are collected at the beginning of class.
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is a serious offense. Plagiarism, as defined by the MLA Handbook for Writers
of Research Papers, is the “act of using another person’s ideas, or expressions in your
writing without acknowledging the source. To plagiarize is to give the impression that
you have written, or thought something that you have in fact borrowed from someone
else.” Having someone heavily edit your work is also considered plagiarism. If the idea
and/or writing is not your own, you need to document it. If you are not sure and cannot
ask me, document the source to be safe. Plagiarism is theft and will result in an automatic
F in the course, no exceptions.
RESOURCES
Office Hours
I expect to speak with you all frequently and encourage you to utilize my office hours to
ask me questions, voice any concerns, receive consultation on your writing, ask for help,
etc. Please schedule an appointment with me in advance so that I know you are coming.
Do not wait until an assignment is due before telling me you’re having trouble with it. It
is your responsibility to speak to me about any issues you are having. Every student
should meet with me at least once over the semester.
The Learning Center
The Learning Center (1300 Boylan) provides free peer tutoring in writing by trained
students. Help may be obtained in prewriting, outlining, mechanics of writing,
proofreading, revising, or developing a format for any paper. You may attend weekly or
on a drop-in basis. I strongly encourage that you take advantage of this service and well
before the due date of a writing assignment.