Finally, language is playful. Many of us became English majors because we are intrigued by language. We even love it. (Imagine listening to a really great reading of your favorite work of literature.) In this course, we will be playing with language and looking at the way others play with language in literature and popular culture.

Assignments: Students should come to class prepared to discuss the assigned readings. You will gain much more from this class by discussing and debating the issues raised in the readings instead of waiting for me to lecture about them. Students will also be assigned exercises (I prefer to think of most of them as language games) to be completed in class or as homework. There will also be six tests and a comprehensive final exam drawn from the tests. Students will also keep a file of items that raise or illustrate language issues.

Grades will be weighted as follows:

Absences: Students with four unexcused absences will have their grade lowered one letter grade. If you miss class on a day you were scheduled to discuss another student's writing, return a copy of the student's text to him or her with marks and comments. If you must miss class and know in advance please contact me.

Academic honesty: "Since honesty in the classroom is required, cheating, plagiarism, or knowingly furnishing false information to the college constitutes a violation." Policy Guide II, B, C. In other words, the work you turn in should be your own.

Disabilities: Please let me know during the first week of class about any physical handicap or learning disability if you need special help or accommodation in order to do your best work.