English 202 Introduction
to English Studies
| Spring
Term 2008 |
Office
Hours:
|
Required
Materials
Charlotte Brontė, Jane Eyre (Broadview)
Mary Prince, History of Mary
Prince (Michigan)
Copy packet
Course
Description
Introduction to English Studies
is designed to do two things.
First and foremost it is designed
to help you make sense of the field of college English study (and Eastern's
English major) in the 21st century. Though English may seem like a field
of study that's been around since time immemorial (everybody has had to read
Shakespeare in college since the seventeenth century, right?) this is not
the case. English Study has a relatively short and contested history;
and its rationale, purpose, and content has changed quite dramatically
during its lifetime. English Study continues to be built on a foundation
of (mostly polite) debate, argument, and controversy, and this course will
allow you to "peel back the curtain" and join the conversation in
English Studies, at Eastern and beyond.
Second, the course is designed to introduce you to the particular specialties and approaches of the English Department at Eastern, and you will have a chance to learn about your professors, their approaches to English, and their teaching specialties.
This course is required of all English majors, but not limited to them. If you are are just thinking about being an English major, this course might be of interest.
Course
Requirements
Reading Response
papers 40%
Summary Response
papers 10%
Participation 10%
Oral Research
presentation 15%
Colloquium
project 10%
Final exam 15%
Reading
Response Papers 40%
Response
One
Response
Two
Response
Three
Response
Four
Summary
Response Papers 10%
Summary
Response
There are four Reading Response papers, one due about every three weeks. About every three weeks you will receive a response question handout with questions taken from the upcoming reading assignments. You are to respond to any one days questions from the list. Response questions must be typed, double-spaced and turned in on the day that you have selected. For example, answers to questions from March 8th's reading must be turned in class on that day.
There are also two Summary Response papers. Response questions must be typed, double-spaced and turned in on the day that you have selected. For example, a summary of March 10th's reading must be turned in on that day.
Papers are due in class on the assigned date. Late papers will be subject to a reduction in grade. If you feel you have a good reason for requiring an extension, please come talk to me about it beforehand. However, after-due date extensions, except in the case of emergencies, will be difficult to obtain.
Oral Research Presentation
At some point early in the semester I will divide the class into four or five
groups. Each group will then be given the task of putting together an oral
presentation. There are several throughout the semester. Each presentation
will be devoted on a specific topic. (See the Calendar for specific topics)
Each presentation should be at least 15 minutes (and last no more than 20
minutes) and must include at least one handout to be given to the class as
a whole. In addition you must provide me with a bibliography of your research
materials in MLA format. Beyond the handout and the bibliography, the materials
and format of the presentations are only limited by the group's imagination
and may include use of a variety of media
Exams
There will be a cumulative final
exam
Participation
Regular attendance of classes
is absolutely expected for this course. Four or more unexcused absences will
lower your participation grade significantly.
Avoid plagiarism (stealing the words or ideas of another) like the plague. In this class acts of plagiarism incur a zero and could also result in course failure or even dismissal from the university.
Disclaimer: I reserve the right to change the syllabus and assigned readings (with plenty of advanced warning)
Calendar
Week 1
January 23: Introduction
January 25: Introduction: copy packet, The English Major, then and now
POLITICS AND THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE
Week 2
January 28: Copy packet, George Orwell, "Politics and the English
Language"
January 30: Copy packet, Amy Tan, "Mother Tongue"
February 1: Copy packet, Amy Tan, "Mother Tongue"
Week 3
February 4: Copy packet,
Richard Rodriguez, "Speaking a Public Language"
February 6: Copy packet, Leslie Marmon Silko, "Language and Literature from a Pueblo Indian Perspective"
February 8: Copy
packet, Leslie Marmon Silko, "Language and Literature from a Pueblo Indian
Perspective"
OUTSIDE THE WHALE: LITERATURE AND SOCIETY
Week 4
February 11:
February 13:
February 15: Holiday
Week 5
February 18: Holiday
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February 20: Colloquium question day
February 22 Copy packet, Salman Rushdie, "Outside the Whale"
Student Response: "Outside the Whale"
Week 6
February 25: Faculty Colloquium
February 27: Charlotte Brontė, Jane Eyre; (Read to Chapter 8) Copy packet, Reading the Victorian Age (summary response)
February 29: Charlotte Brontė, Jane Eyre
Week 7
March 3: (Read to Chapter
20); copy packet, Carol Senf, "The Prison
House of Victorian Marriage" (summary response)
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March 5:
Oral Presentation:
Biographical Background on Charlotte Bronte
Charlotte
Brontė, Jane Eyre
March 7: Charlotte Brontė, Jane Eyre (read to Chapter 30)
Week 8
March 10: Charlotte
Brontė, Jane Eyre
March 12: Charlotte Brontė, Jane Eyre (read to end); Copy handout, Eric Solomon, "Jane Eyre, Fire and Water," (summary response)
March 14: Oral Presentation: The Literary Canon
Copy handout, Harold Bloom, "Elegiac Conclusion," (summary response)
Student Response: "Elegiac Conclusion"
Week 9
March 17-21: Spring break!
Week
10
March 24:
History of Mary Prince
Student
Response: Jane Eyre Vs. Mary
Prince
Student
Response, Erika Barber: Jane Eyre and Mary Prince
March 26: History of Mary Prince
March 28: Colloquium question day
Week 11
March 31:
History of Mary Prince
RHETORIC AND WRITING IN COLLEGE
April 2: Faculty Colloquium
April 4: Mike Rose, "The Politics of Remediation"
Student Response: "The Politics of Remediation"
Week
12
April 7: Oral
Presentation: Composition Studies in America, a
background
John C. Brereton, ed., Introduction to The Origins of Composition Studies in the American College
April 9: Peter Elbow, "Being a Writer vs. Being an Academic"
April 11: Peter Elbow, "Being a Writer vs. Being an Academic"
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Week 13
April 14: Oral
Presentation: The Writing Program at Eastern
Haswell and Haswell, "Gendership and the Miswriting of Students"
April 16: Haswell and Haswell, "Gendership and the Miswriting of Students"
April 18: Donald M. Murray, "Teaching Writing as a Process Not a Product"
Week 14
April 21: No class
April 23: English major questions day
April 25: Joseph M. Williams, "The Phenomenology of Error"
Week 15
April 28: Creative Writing Workshop
April 30: Joseph M. Williams, "The Phenomenology of Error"
May 2: Catch-up day
May 5: What Can I Do with an English Degree?
May 7: TBA
Final Exam Week
Final exam:
Wednesday,
May 14th, 9:00-11:00
"If you are a student with a
disability and believe you will need accommodations for this class, it is your
responsibility to contact the Office of Disability Services at (860)
465-5573. To avoid any delay in the receipt of accommodations, you should
contact the Office of Disability Services as soon as possible. Please
understand that I cannot provide accommodations based upon disability until I
have received an accommodation letter from the Office of Disability
Services. Your cooperation is appreciated."