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 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 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. Three 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 22: Introduction
January 24: Introduction: copy packet, The English Major, then and now
POLITICS AND THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE
Week 2
January 29: Copy packet, George Orwell, "Politics and the English
Language"
January 31: Copy packet, Amy Tan, "Mother Tongue"
Week 3
February 5: Copy packet,
Richard Rodriguez, "Speaking a Public Language,"
February 7: Colloquium question
day
Week 4
February 12:Copy
packet, Leslie Marmon Silko, "Language and Literature from a Pueblo Indian
Perspective"
OUTSIDE THE WHALE: LITERATURE AND SOCIETY
February 14: Copy packet, Salman Rushdie, "Outside the Whale"
Student Response: "Outside the Whale"
Week 5
February 19: Faculty Colloquium
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February 21: Charlotte Brontė, Jane Eyre; (Read to Chapter 8) Copy packet, Reading the Victorian Age (summary response)
Week 6
February 26: Charlotte Brontė,
Jane Eyre (Read to Chapter
20); copy packet, Carol Senf, "The Prison
House of Victorian Marriage" (summary response)
February 28: Oral Presentation:
Biographical Background on Charlotte Bronte
Charlotte Brontė, Jane Eyre
(read to Chapter 30)
Week 7
March 4: Charlotte Brontė, Jane
Eyre (read to end);
Copy handout, Eric Solomon, "Jane
Eyre, Fire and Water," (summary response)
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March 6: Mary Prince, History of Mary Prince; Copy handout, Harold Bloom, "Elegiac Conclusion," (summary response)
Student Response: "Elegiac Conclusion"
Week 8
March 11: Mary Prince, History
of Mary Prince
March 13: Oral Presentation: The Literary Canon
History of Mary Prince
Student
Response: Jane Eyre Vs. Mary
Prince
Student
Response: Jane Eyre and Mary Prince
Week 9
March 17-22: Spring break!
Week
10
March 25:
Colloquium question day
RHETORIC AND WRITING IN COLLEGE
March 27: Mike Rose, "The Politics of Remediation"
Student Response: "The Politics of Remediation"
Student Response: Jason Custer "The Politics of Remediation"
Week 11
April 1: Faculty Colloquium
April 3: Peter Elbow, "Being a Writer Vs. Being an Academic"
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Week 12
April 8:Donald
M. Murray, "Teaching Writing as a Process Not a Product"
April 10: John C. Brereton, ed., Introduction to The Origins of Composition Studies in the American College Oral Presentation: Composition Studies in America, a background
Week 13
April 15:Haswell and Haswell,
"Gendership and the Miswriting of Students"
April 17: Joseph M. Williams, "The Phenomenology of Error"
Oral Presentation: The Writing Program at Eastern
Week 14
April 22:Creative Writing Workshop
April 24: Creative Writing Workshop
Week 15
April 29: Catch-up Day
May 1: Oral Presentation: What Can I Do with an English Degree?
May 6: TBA
Final Exam Week
Final exam:
Tuesday, May 13th, 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."