What absolutely, positively must be Done
Course Requirements
Please note that for all writing assignments, prompts can be found on our course webpage.
Attendance and Participation (20%)
Attendance and participation are absolutely vital for this course. Much of our work will take place in lecture and discussion, and the material therein will be necessary for the midterm and final exams.
Journal (20%)
You will be required to keep a reading journal of questions or interesting ideas you encounter. Plan on devoting 20-30 minutes per week to the journal (figure the equivalent of approximately 400-500 words, with variations for style). We will use them as prompts for classroom discussion and for in-class activities, so you should keep them with you every class period. You will submit the journal once prior to the midterm and once after the midterm. The full journal will be submitted 3 weeks before the end of the semester.
The journal is to help you develop your thoughts relating to the course themes, and to ask questions and make remarks about what you encounter in the text. You are welcome to get creative in your journal, and in fact, should plan on it. While some entries should be straight-forward literary analyses of the text, other entries may take alternative forms, including mimicry, rewriting, personal connections, responses to political and social issues encountered, poetry, etc.
The journal should help you develop your understanding of the course problematics, issues in literature, and should provide a basis for studying for your midterm and final exams and projects.
Journals will receive grades based on depth of responses. A “C” journal will demonstrate that you did the reading, but may only summarize the material. A “B” journal will develop a line of questioning and an analytical relationship with the text at hand. An “A” journal demonstrates the qualities of a “B” journal along with creative engagement and outside research.
For more information, see the “Journal” page on our course website.
Midterm Essay (20%)
Your midterm essay will be a traditional literary analysis. I will provide a selection of topics, and you will produce a 2000 word paper analyzing a book or short story we examined in class, using skills we will develop in lecture, discussion, and the journals.
Final Project (20%)
Your final project will be a website devoted to one of the conflicts we explored this term.
Final Essay (20%)
Your final essay will be a traditional literary analysis. I will provide a selection of topics, and you will produce a 4000+ word paper analyzing a book or short story we examined in class, using skills we will develop in lecture, discussion, and the journals.
Attendance and Participation (20%)
Attendance and participation are absolutely vital for this course. Much of our work will take place in lecture and discussion, and the material therein will be necessary for the midterm and final exams.
- You may miss up to 4 classes, but upon the 5th absence, you will lose 1/3 of a letter grade, and upon the 6th absence, you will start losing a full letter grade per absence. Two incidents of tardiness or sleeping in class count as an absence. Upon the 8th absence, you automatically fail.
- Your voice is essential to class. You will be required to keep a weekly journal, explained below, to help you prepare for discussion, and you will be expected to contribute meaningfully to discussion at least once per week.
- You will also be required to lead at least two discussions during the semester.
- Completion of all reading assignments on time. There will be at least five unannounced reading quizzes over the semester to confirm that you have done the reading. More quizzes may be applied if discussion flags.
- Some in-class writing, generally to build ideas from journals towards a formal assignment.
- You are required to meet with me at least once during the semester, but you are welcome in my office hours at any time.
Journal (20%)
You will be required to keep a reading journal of questions or interesting ideas you encounter. Plan on devoting 20-30 minutes per week to the journal (figure the equivalent of approximately 400-500 words, with variations for style). We will use them as prompts for classroom discussion and for in-class activities, so you should keep them with you every class period. You will submit the journal once prior to the midterm and once after the midterm. The full journal will be submitted 3 weeks before the end of the semester.
The journal is to help you develop your thoughts relating to the course themes, and to ask questions and make remarks about what you encounter in the text. You are welcome to get creative in your journal, and in fact, should plan on it. While some entries should be straight-forward literary analyses of the text, other entries may take alternative forms, including mimicry, rewriting, personal connections, responses to political and social issues encountered, poetry, etc.
The journal should help you develop your understanding of the course problematics, issues in literature, and should provide a basis for studying for your midterm and final exams and projects.
Journals will receive grades based on depth of responses. A “C” journal will demonstrate that you did the reading, but may only summarize the material. A “B” journal will develop a line of questioning and an analytical relationship with the text at hand. An “A” journal demonstrates the qualities of a “B” journal along with creative engagement and outside research.
For more information, see the “Journal” page on our course website.
Midterm Essay (20%)
Your midterm essay will be a traditional literary analysis. I will provide a selection of topics, and you will produce a 2000 word paper analyzing a book or short story we examined in class, using skills we will develop in lecture, discussion, and the journals.
Final Project (20%)
Your final project will be a website devoted to one of the conflicts we explored this term.
Final Essay (20%)
Your final essay will be a traditional literary analysis. I will provide a selection of topics, and you will produce a 4000+ word paper analyzing a book or short story we examined in class, using skills we will develop in lecture, discussion, and the journals.
