SYLLABUS
ENG 153: Introduction to Women Authors
Section 201, Summer Session 2006
Instructor: Barbara PostemaTu & Th 5:00-8:50
E-mail: c212 Wells Hall
Mailbox: 211 Morrill Hall
Telephone (for messages only): 355-7570
Office hours: Tu & Th 10:00-12:00 in the Library Cyber Café.
Course Description:
Over the semester we will cover texts by women from various racial, socio-economic and historical backgrounds, in a number of different genres and media, including fiction, poetry, film and comics. In relation to our readings and viewings we will discuss women's choices of subject matter and style and women's redefinition of literary genres.
Required Texts:
Octavia E. Butler, Kindred
Susan Cahill, Women Write: A Mosaic of Women’s Voices in Fiction, Poetry, Memoir and Essay
Susan Power, Roofwalker
Mary Shelley, Frankenstein
Additional readings and films will be provided by the instructor over the course of the semester.
Class Preparation:
Much of your learning in this class comes from our in-class discussion of readings and films. Our ability to discuss the texts hinges on your having read them. Reading assignments have been broken down into reasonable chunks to enable you to do a close reading, take notes on the text, and be prepared to participate in class work. Many of our meetings will involve writing prompts and discussions of various aspects of the texts. An inability to participate due to being unprepared will not only be reflected in the points you receive on your in-class essays but also in your class participation grade.
Attendance:
Regular attendance is required to do well in this course. I will excuse you for 2 absences, to use at your discretion (illness, funerals, court dates etc). Upon your second absence in the class I will send a written warning to your MSU e-mail. Each absence after your second will result in a .5 drop in your grade (i.e., from a 4.0 to a 3.5, 3.0 to a 2.5, etc.). A seventh absence will automatically result in a failing grade for the course. Talk to me in advance if you have compelling reasons for being unable to attend a class.
Course Requirements:
In-class writing:
Each class will incorporate in-class writing on a question or questions relevant to the assigned reading for the day. The reader-response writing not only insures you are prepared for the day’s reading, but helps us to have a starting point for class discussion. Other exercises, including group work, will also go towards this grade.
Essays:
You will be writing 2 formal essays and taking one essay exam. Your first essay will be due on July 25th. Your second essay will be due on August 8th. We will do in-class brainstorming and other preparation towards your essays, including discussion of sources and draft workshops. All these parts of the writing process (proposal, draft and peer review, as well as the paper itself) will be reflected in your grade.
Late essays will be penalized by a .25 reduction (on a 4.0 scale) for each additional late day after the due date. Late essays will not be accepted after 4 days. Plagiarism will result in a failing grade. See note on academic honesty below. This issue will also be addressed in class, and you can see the University policy on Academic Dishonesty.
Essay Exam:
On the last day of classes (August 17th) you will write an exam essay during class time. We will be discussing the broad topic the essay will cover in previous classes, but you will not see the precise subject until the time of the exam.
Grading:
10% Participation
15% Reader-Response writing, in-class assignments
25% Essay #1
30% Essay #2
20% Essay Exam
Your essays will be evaluated on the following criteria:
4.0Superior work that has a strong, clear thesis, is well organized, and develops an insightful argument about the text with grace, precision, and force. Paper follows writing conventions and is free of mechanical errors.
3.5 Very good work that has a clear thesis, develops an effective argument about the text, and is relatively free of mechanical and usage errors. Issues in development, organization or conceptualization interfere with a smooth reading of the essay.
3.0 Good work that develops a coherent argument about the text but shows problems in thesis, organization, and/or conceptualization. Writing is above average but may be weakened by mechanical or usage errors, clichéd language, imprecise diction, and the like.
2.5Average or above average work whose thesis is insufficiently focused, too dependent on plot summary, or both. Writing is acceptable but may be weakened by mechanical or usage errors, clichéd language, imprecise diction and the like.
2.0 Acceptable work that lacks a coherent thesis, relies on plot summary, or both. Writing is likely weakened by mechanical or usage errors, clichéd language, imprecise diction, and the like.
1.0-1.5Work meets minimum standards but lacks a thesis, and/or organization. Writing is marred by confused purpose, lack of organization, imprecise diction, and frequent errors of grammar, spelling and punctuation.
0.0 Writing does not meet minimum standards and/or fails to address the assignment.
More specific criteria and requirements will be discussed for each individual assignment.
Unless otherwise specified, papers will be formatted according to MLA style conventions.
Academic Honesty:
The object of this course is that you improve your critical thinking skills as well as your writing. In order to achieve this, it is imperative that you do your own writing and thinking. The unacknowledged use of other people’s work, in terms of words or ideas does little to enhance your learning, makes it impossible for me to judge your development, and, most importantly, constitutes academic dishonesty. As this is an extremely important issue, we will discuss plagiarism and other forms of academic dishonesty in more detail in class, and you can also get more information on the university website.
The instructor reserves the right to make alterations and additions to the readings as necessary during the semester.
Schedule:
Second Summer Session 2006
Week 1:
July 6ThIntroductions, syllabus, initial writing assignment
Week 2:
July 11 TuReading: Mary Shelley, Frankenstein Letters and Chapters 1-7
Viewing: Sense and Sensibility
13 ThReading: Mary Wollstonecraft, from A Vindication of the Rights of
Women; Sarah Grimké, “Legal Disabilities of Women” (Angel)
Paper #1 assignment handed out and discussed
Week 3:
July 18 TuReading: Frankenstein Chapters 8-17
Viewing: TBA
20 ThReading: Angela Carter, “Sugar Daddy”;
Lorrie Moore, “You’re Ugly, Too”
Workshop for paper #1
Week 4:
July 25 TuReading: Frankenstein Chapter 18-24 and Letters
Viewing: Bride of Frankenstein
Paper #1 due
27 ThReading: Susan Power, Roofwalker: “Roofwalker,” “Angry Fish” and
“Stone Women”
Paper #2 assignment handed out and discussed
Week 5:
August 1 TuReading: Roofwalker: “Watermelon Seeds,” “Indian Princess,” “Museum
Indians” and “Reunion”
Viewing: My Name is Kahentiiosta
3 ThReading: Octavia Butler, Kindred pages 9-96
Workshop for paper #2
Week 6:
Aug. 8 TuReading: Leslie Marmon Silko, “Lullaby”
Sandra Cisneros, “Woman Hollering Creek”
Viewing: TBA
Paper #2 due
10 ThReading: Kindred pages 96-188
Essay exam topics discussed
Week 7:
Aug. 15 TuReading: Kindred pages 189-264
Viewing: The Watermelon Woman
17 ThWrap-up, Evaluations