Introduction to the Graduate Study of Literature

English 5013--001

Introduction to the Graduate Study of Literature

Fall 2009

Professor Norma E. Cantú

Wednesday 5:30-8:15 p.m. HSS 3.

Telephone: 210-458-5134
Fax 21-458-5366
e-mail:
Office: MB 2.306 D / Office Hours: W 2-5 p.m.
Generally, as GAR of the doctoral program I am in my office on a daily basis and you can arrange to see me by appointment.

I. Course Description:

Introduction to the premises, concepts, and methods of literary study, including literary history, terminology, bibliography and various critical and theoretical approaches to literature. Normally must be taken in the student’s first semester of graduate study (UTSA 2009-2011 Graduate Catalog 287).

II. Conceptual Framework:

This course is the required first course in the Master of Arts Degree Plan. As such I have designed it so as to introduce students seeking the master’s degree in English to the study of literature. I have taken the direction set forth by other professors who have taught the course and the comments from students who have taken the course and added my own pedagogical beliefs about graduate study to structure the learning environment around three main objectives as described below. We begin with the major questions that literary scholars have grappled with for centuries: What is literature? How do we study it? And why do we study it? In order for students to become scholars and serious students of literature, I believe they must be familiar with the history of our discipline; they must be able to contextualize critical approaches historically; situate texts within critical debates in the discipline; and finally, I believe we must all continue to engage literary texts informed by critical approaches to literature ever vigilant of the ways hegemonic discourse can silence marginal voices. Mainly,I have selected several texts that appear in the MA Reading list, supplemented by texts that inform the reading of such texts. Thus, the readings for the class will cover the gamut of literary genres represented in the list and we will place them in conversation with each other. In addition to the students coming to the study of literature from a disciplinary focus, I trust that participants in the class will arrive at their own answers to the questions raised by the class. A literary scholar is perforce a student of history, of culture, of the humanities in general and with the proper lens can see the study of literature as the study of life. So, I encourage engaged scholarship and will welcome student projects that work theory into praxis. Finally, we will use technology in innovative ways and set up a class blog, and each student will set up a Wiki page to upload work. We will also have a Wiki page for the class where final drafts of selected work can be uploaded for sharing with the professor and the class. We will use the Blackboard space for formal submission of assignments and for communications.

III. Goals and Objectives:

Participants will become familiar with the major approaches to literary study and engage in dialogue with fellow students around the literary texts and the critical essays read for the class. Participants will produce writings that exemplify the traditional academic genres, i.e. critical reviews, oral reports, poetry explications, a conference paper that can be developed into an article length paper, minutes, a précis, and a critical case study. Additionally, the main goal of the class is to provide beginning MA students with the tools for success in graduate school while experiencing firsthand the rigors of writing various modes of academic discourse.

The department of English at UTSA has identified specific objectives and goals for our MA program. Please consult with the Graduate Advisor of Record for the MA program, Dr. Woodson, about details and for information on your course of study.

IV. Instructional Activities:

Lectures will introduce themes, topics or general areas of discussion.

During the class, participants will engage in collaborative learning activities and will experience a variety of pedagogical approaches. Thi semester I am trying out a pedagogical frame, Sentipensante that Dr. Laura Rendon has explored in her book of the same name.

Participants will engage in various readings, web sites, and view videos as assigned.Individual and group presentations on readings outside of the general reading list will enhance the participants’ exposure to a number of critical approaches and perspectives.

Readings: the Schedule indicates when the Assigned Readings are due.

Required Assignments:

Minutes: Each student will “take the minutes” for one of the classes and read them at the next class meeting. The student must post the minutes on the WebCT or the class Wiki page for all participants to consult.

Roll Call exercises: At the beginning of each class, participants will be asked to write an answer to a question on a particular theme, topic or concept from the assigned readings for that day and occasionally they will be asked to provide an oral summary of their “answer.” The student in charge of Roll Call for the day will present an activity to the class that engages the days topic.

Brief Summaries: As assigned on the syllabus, participants will be responsible for FIVE summaries (one-page) of critical essays related to the required reading. Participants will upload the summary for all members of the class the date that they “present” their summaries.

Critical Reviews: TWO brief reviews (no more than 4 pages) of assigned essays (see syllabus for your last name next to the author of the essay). The readings will be from the Introduction toScholarship in the Modern Languages and Literatures, online articles, and from the Norton Anthologyof Theory and Criticism.Participants will be assigned readings the first week of class.You may appeal the Professor’s assignment by the 3rd week of classes.

Poetry Explication: After practicing as a group in outlining a poetry explication on a poem not on the reading list and a poem from the MA Reading list, participants will write an explication of at least two poems from the list as assigned. One of the explications will be done in class in lieu of a Midterm Examination. The other explication will be done as an outside assignment and posted for the class to read. One of the poems MUST be from the list of poets in the syllabus and on a poem that appears on the MA Reading List; the other poem is open—that is you may choose any poem by a British or U.S. poet.

Précis As they prepare to write their papers, participants must turn in a brief abstract that summarizes the “research question” and the critical approach used in the paper.

Conference length paper: 8-10 page paper on any of the readings from the required texts. The paper must follow the MLA Style and include a works cited page.

Article-length paper: 15-20 pages of that develops the ideas and arguments of the conference length paper and uses the readings form the second half of the class. Participants will schedule individual conferences as listed in the syllabus as part of the paper requirement.

Critical Case Study of a text from the MA reading list that has not been covered in the class but which will be part of the student’s individual list. The critical case study can be modeled on the “Case Studies in Critical Controversy” studied in the course. And will consist of at least 4 articles from different critical perspectives. The paper must be turned in with copies of the articles and a summary of the articles with an assessment of the critical debate that the articles address as a group.

Textbooks and Readings:

• Eagleton, Terry. Literary Theory and Introduction. 2nd or Anniversary Edition. Minneapolis, MN: University of Minnesota Press, 1996, 2008.
• Gibaldi, Joseph, Ed. Introduction to Scholarship in Moder Languages and Literatures. New York: Modern Languages of America, 1992.
• Leitch, Vincent B., General Editor. The Norton Anthology of Theory and Criticism. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, Inc.,2001.
• Melville, HermanSelections from Moby Dick
• Naslund, Sena Jeter. Ahab’s Wife, or the Star-Gazer. New York, Harper Collins, 2000.
• Rawles, Nancy. My Jim
• Sir Gawain and the Green Knight(various texts online:
• Twain, Mark. Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Thomas Cooley, Ed. 3rd Edition. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, Inc.,1999.

• Numerous poems from the MA Reading List
• Anzaldúa Gloria, Borderlands/La Frontera. San Francisco, CA: Aunt Lute Press, 1987

V. Policies

Grading Policies: Grades will be contingent on the completion of the various competencies at the usual level (90-100%=A; 80-89=B; 70-79=C; 60-69=D; 59 or below= F). A maximum of 3 BONUS points will be added to the final average for additional participation in relevant extra-curricular events such as attendance at conferences, talks, readings, etc. as approved by the Professor. The Attendance at Extra-Curricular Event Form must be turnedno later thanONE WEEK AFTER attending the event. Events that are part of the required course content will not count. Plan your schedule accordingly.

ACTIVITY POSSIBLE POINTS

POINTS AWARDED

Roll Call 3

Brief Summaries (5 X 2 points each)10

Critical Reviews (2 X 8 points) 16

Poetry Explications (2 X 5 points) 10

Précis (2 X 2 points) 4

Conference length paper15

An article-length paper20

Critical Case Study20

Minutes 2

TOTAL:100 points

Maximum Extra points 3

VI. Other Policies

• Cellular phones must be turned off during class.
• No late papers or presentations will be accepted without prior approval of the professor.LATE ASSIGNMENTS WILL BE PENALIZED ONE LETTER GRADE, SO IF THE GRADE EARNED IS A “B” THE ENTERED GRADE WILL BE A “C” FOR A LATE ASSIGNMENT.
• Students must connect to Web CT and the class blog by the second scheduled class meeting. Everyone must be on Wiki by the third class meeting.
• All work presented in class or turned in must be a student's own wok. Plagiarism or any other form of academic misconduct will be dealt with in accordance with the guidelines laid down by the University's published rules and regulations; such conduct could result in the student’s dismissal and/or receiving a failing grade for the course.
• If you have a learning disability requiring special arrangements for completing assignments, please let me know as soon as possible so we can make the proper arrangements.

VII. SCHEDULE

Aug 26--Week 1--Introductions

*Minutes: Cantú

Introductions (participants, professor)

Lecture: Coming to Literature

Key Questions: What is Literature? What is literary study? What is interpretation? What is theory?

Activity: Hopes and Expectations: Constructing a Syllabus and Agenda

Surviving Graduate School

Break

GUEST SPEAKER: Tara Schmidt, JPL Library

Sep 2--Week 2—What Is It and Why and How Do We Do It?

*Minutes: Rosie

Roll Call--Cantú

GUEST SPEAKER: The MA Program in English at UTSA – Dr. Linda Woodson

Readings:

• Terry Eagleton, “Introduction: What is Literature”(handout posted Blackboard PDF) and “Chapter 1, “The Rise of English,” From Literary Theory: An Introduction inThe Norton Anthology of Theory and Criticism, pp 2240-2249.
• “Introduction,” The Norton Anthology of Theory and Criticism, pp 1-28.
• Activity: Mental Maps/Color Jacuzzi

Sep 9--Week 3—Language and Linguistics

*Minutes: Laurel

Roll Call--Macey

Lecture: The Communication Model and Systems of Communication

Readings:

• “Introduction.” A Course in General Linguistics, F. De Saussure in The Norton Anthology of Theory and Criticism, pp 956-976.
• From Introduction to Scholarship

--Finegan, “Linguistics”pp 3-27 (Macey)

--Baron, “Language Culture and Society” pp 28-52 (Durapau)

--Kramsch pp 53-76 --

• In Class Writing: A Linguistic Autobiography
• GUEST SPEAKER: Dr. Bridget Drinka

Sep 16--Week 4—Learning/Teaching to Write

*Minutes: Diana

Roll Call--Jason

• Lecture: The Teacher of Writing and Society
• Readings:
• Langston Hughes “Theme Essay for English B” (posted on Blackboard)
• Victor Villanueva, “On the Rhetoric and Precedents of Racism” (posted on Blackboard) (Mejía)
• From Introduction to Scholarship

-Lunsford pp77-100 (Heyer)

• Activity: In Class Writing--A Memorable Writing Class/Experience

Sep 23--Week 5—From Oral Traditions to Literary Classics/Textual Scholarship

*Minutes: Macey

Roll Call--Jennifer

• Sir Gawain and the Green Knightsee the web site: and read the modern translation by Nielson and also look at the other versions found on the web site links.
• From Introduction to Scholarship

D.C. Greetham (Treviño)

Marshall pp 158-182 (Villarreal)

SIGN UP FOR READING GROUPS: George Washington Gómez and Caballero

Sep 30--Week 6—Poetry

*Minutes: Tina

Roll Call--Jessie

• Readings:
• “Explication,” numerous web sites and other resources (handout posted on Blackboard)
• Selections from various poets: Donne, Whitman, Wheatley, Bradstreet, Blake, Burns, Wordsworth, Dickinson, Frost, Yeats, Eliot, Hughes,
• From Norton:
• E.D. Hirsch, Jr (Pope)
• T. S. Eliot (1088-1105)
• Barthes, “The Death of the Author” 1466-1470 (Mejía)

• From Introduction to Scholarship

Scholes (Stith)

• #1 BRIEF SUMMARIES ON CRITICAL ARTICLES ON A POET DUE (SEE ASSIGMENT SHEET)

Oct 8--Week 7--Drama

No class: We will attend the production of King Lear

ONLINE DISCUSSION OF KEY QUESTIONS—If not on Blackboard, Wiki

Oct 14--Week 8– Drama –

MID TERM -- POETRY EXPLICATION IN CLASS

*Minutes: Jesse

Roll Call:--Bryan

Lecture: From Pastorelas to Performance Art

Readings:

• From Norton
• Williams pp 1565- 157 (Pope)
• From Introduction to Scholarship

Culler pp 201-235 (Jarnagin)

Gunn pp 239-261 (Boshoff)

Oct 21--Week 9– Anzaldúa and Border Studies

*Minutes: Mayan

Roll Call--Rosie

• Readings:
• Gloria Anzaldúa, Borderlands/La Frontera
• Film: Altar, Paola Zaccaria
• Guest Speaker: Paola Zaccaria
• #2 BRIEF SUMMARIES OF CRITICAL ARTICLES DUE (SEE ASSIGNMENT)

Oct 28--Week 10-- Twain and Rawles

*Minutes: Chuck

Roll Call—Laurel and Tina

• Lecture: Feminist Fictions and Non-Fictions: Narrative and Storytelling

• Readings: Huckleberry Finn and My Jim
• From Introduction to Scholarship
• Schor pp. 262-287 (Barki)
• From Norton:
• Wolf pp. 1017-1025 (Carrasco)
• Foucault pp 1615-1615-1635 “What is an Author?” (Jarnagin)

GUEST LECTURE: CAROLINA NUNEZ PUENTE

Draft of Conference Length Paper Due to Editors/Readers/Professor

Nov 4--Week 11—

*Minutes: Bryan

Roll Call: Diana

• Readings: Huckleberry Finn and My Jim
• From Introduction to Scholarship
• Gates (Heyer)

• From Norton:
• Hurston pp1144-1162 (Treviño)
• Gates pp2421-2432 (Hinojosa)

• Huckleberry Finn and My Jim
• #3 BRIEF SUMMARIES DUE (SEE ASSIGNMENT SHEET)

Nov 11--Week 12—

Final DraftConference Length Paper Due to Professor

*Minutes:Madison

Roll Call—Mayan and Julie

• Reading: Moby Dick and Ahab’s Wife
• Critical Essays ( TBA--Handouts on Wiki or Blackboard as PDF)
• From Norton
• Bahktin pp 1186-1220 (Barki)
• From Introduction to Scholarship
• Bathrick (Stith)
• #4 BRIEF SUMMARIES DUE (SEE ASSIGNMENT SHEET)

Nov 18--Week 13—Historical Fictions of the Border

*Minutes: Jason

Roll Call—Madison and Chuck

• A New Literary History of America
• 1836, Norma Cantú (to be posted on Blackboard)

• Reading: George Washington Gómezand Caballero
• READNG GROUPS WILL PRESENT AND LEAD DISCUSSION

From Introduction to Scholarship

oGunn Allen (Freudensprung)

Draft of Article long paper due to reader/editor/professor (bring 3 copies to class)

Nov 25--Week 14 (ONLINE MEETING—RESPOND TO CLASS POSTING)

Dec 2 Week 15

*Minutes: Jennifer

Roll Call--Macey

• Reading: Moraga, C. Loving in the War Years
• From Norton:
• Sedgwick 2432-2445 (Boshoff)
• Johnson pp 2299-2314 (Carrasco)
• Introduction to Telling to Live: Latina Feminist Testimonios (PDF posted on Wiki)
• #5 BRIEF SUMMARIES OF CRITICAL ARTICLES DUE (SEE ASSIGNMENT SHEET)

Dec 8 Week 16

• From Introduction to Scholarship—
• Graff—ENTIRE CLASS

Article Length Paper Due.

FINAL EXAMINATION DAY--CONCLUSIONS

*Indicates the date when the student TAKES notes. The minutes will be read the next class meeting, making sure that there is a connection to that day’s agenda. The minutes serve as a segue between the classes. I find that this helps classes that meet once a week be more coherent and unified.

ALL WRITTEN ASSIGNMENTS MUST BE SUBMITTED TO BLACKBOARD ON THE DUE DATE.