English 110-04: Reading Literature
Rust and Renewal
Spring 2016: TuTh 1:30-2:45 (221 Oddfellows)
Instructor: Dr. Michael CrowleyOffice: 213 Oddfellows
Hours:M: 9:00-10:30; Tu: 9:30-10:30, 2:50-3:20;Email:
W: 9:00-10:30, 3:00-3:30; Th: 9:30-10:30Phone: 332-2882
(and by appointment)
Required Texts:
Black Girl/White Girl, Joyce Carol Oates (2006)
Radio Golf, August Wilson (2007)
American Rust, Philipp Meyer (2009)
The Bedford Glossary of Critical and Literary Terms, 3rd edition
A Writer’s Reference, Diana Hacker and Nancy Sommers (7th ed.)
Additional readings available as handouts or on Sakai
Grade Distribution:
Essay 112.5%
Essay 217.5
Essay 322.5
Informal Writing15 (Sakai postings, peer reviews, quizzes)
Participation 10 (discussion, group tasks, informal presentations, attendance)
Final Exam22.5
Course Goals:
●To master basic terms of literary study;
●To utilize close reading as a primary skill of literary analysis;
●To introduce other interpretive methods that build upon the principle of close reading;
●To recognize the conventions of different genres;
●To develop interpretive arguments both in writing and discussion;
●To understand the significance of historically underrepresented perspectives and traditions.
Requirements:
Beginning the first week of class, you are required to post reading responses on the Sakai discussion forum. Topics for these postings will be distributed in class and posted on Sakai. Responses should be approximately 250-450 words in length. Use these responses to explore ideas that you would be interested in writing on for a longer paper; also focus on incorporating the various literary terms and concepts that we will be discussing in class. Your reading responses can refer to or even directly respond to postings by your classmates.
Announced and unannounced quizzes may be given occasionally to insure that assignments are being read attentively. Quizzes cannot be made up if you miss them due to absence or lateness; however, your lowest quiz grade will be dropped. Quizzes will be factored into the informal writing part of the grade distribution.
Participation will be measured by attendance, preparation, and contributions to classroom discussion. More than three unexcused absences will affect your final grade in the class, lowering it by 1/3 of a letter grade (from B to B-, for example) for every two additional unexcused absences. Excused absences require documentation. If you arrive late, you will have been counted as absent; be sure to notify me of your presence after class. After three times late, each instance will be counted as an absence. Use of a cellphone in class (including texting) detracts from one’s participation grade.
Occasionally, I may require short writing assignments in class; in addition, different groups (or possibly individuals) will be assigned to lead informal discussions on specific topics over the course of the semester. The best way to be prepared for these occasions is to keep up with the reading.
The final exam will consist of two parts—identifications and an essay. Both sections will cover works from the entire semester.
All students are expected to be familiar with and to abide by the College’s policies on Academic Honesty. As required by the Honor Code, any work that makes unacknowledged use of the work of others will be reported to the Honor Committee.
Late work will be penalized 1/3 of a letter grade for each day late (not each class meeting). If you anticipate having difficulty meeting a deadline, discuss the matter with me at least one class meeting before the deadline.
Access: Students with disabilities who believe they may need accommodations in this class are encouraged to contact Disability Services at (814) 332-2898. Disability Services is part of the Learning Commons and is located in Pelletier Library. Please do this as soon as possible to ensure that accommodations are implemented in a timely fashion.
Availability:I will be in my office (203 Oddfellows) at a variety of times if you have any questions or concerns about class: M-9:00-10:30; Tu-9:30-10:30, 2:50-3:20; W-9:00-10:30, 3:00-3:30; Th-9:30-10:30. If these times are inconvenient for you, let me know and we can arrange another. I am also available through email; I usually check my email at some point every day and should usually be able to get back to you within 24 hours. My office phone is not always a good way to reach me (unless it’s during office hours).
Tentative Schedule of Readings:
Come to class having read the assignment for that day and ready to discuss it intelligently; also be sure to always have a hard copy of the work in question with you in class—you’ll need it. The course syllabus provides a general plan for the semester; deviations will undoubtedly be necessary. I will announce any changes in class, so be sure to keep track and ask questions if you miss anything.
As you do the reading for this class, consider these words from one of the leading American poets of the 1800s:
Books are to be call’d for, and supplied, on the assumption that the process of reading is not a half-sleep, but, in highest sense, an exercise, a gymnast’s struggle; that the reader is to do something for himself, must be on the alert, must himself or herself construct indeed the poem, argument, history, metaphysical essay—the text furnishing the hints, the clue, the start or frame-work.
—Walt Whitman, Democratic Vistas (1871)
Jan. 19Intro to class
Philip Larkin (1922-85): “This Be the Verse” (1973), handout
Theodore Roethke (1908-63): “My Papa’s Waltz” (1948), handout
21Robert Browning (1812-89): “My Last Duchess,” handout
Alfred, Lord Tennyson (1809-92): “Ulysses,” handout
26Toni Morrison (1931- ): “Recitatif” (1983), handout
28Morrison continued
Joyce Carol Oates (1938- ): Black Girl/White Girl (2006), Part I (1-45)
Feb.2Oates: 46-156
4Oates: 157-90
9Oates: 191-272
11Oates continued
Email me draft of first paragraph
16Writing Workshop
Bring hard copy of completed draft to class
18Peer review
Bring hard copy of revised draft to class
Sun.21Essay 1 Due: upload final draft to Sakai; bring a hard copy to class on Tuesday
23Poetry handout: sonnets
25Poetry handout: Emily Dickinson (1830-86), various poems
Mar.1Poetry handout: modernism
3Poetry handout: Stevie Smith (1902-71), various poems
8August Wilson (1945-2005): Radio Golf (2007), Act 1
10Wilson: Act 2
15Wilson continued
17TBA
Spring Break
29Writing Workshop
31Peer Review
Sun.3Essay 2 Due: upload final draft to Sakai by 5:00; bring a hard copy to class on Tuesday
Apr.5Gator Day
7David Giffels (1964- ): excerpts from The Hard Way on Purpose (2014), handout
Poetry: poems about work (handout)
12Poetry: poems about work (handout)
Philipp Meyer (1974- ): American Rust (2009), 1-115
14Meyer continued: 116-53
19Meyer continued: 116-53
21Meyer continued: 116-53
26Meyer continued: 116-53
28Writing Workshop: bring hard copy of rough draft
May3Review for Final Exam
Final Exam
English 110-04: Exam Group K
Tuesday, May 10, 2:00-5:00 PM