ENG 210 Approaches to Literature

Literature of the American South

Syllabus • Spring 2001

Dr. Kenneth L. Rosenauer

The textbook required for this course is The South in Perspective: An Anthology of Southern Literature, by Edward Francisco, Robert Vaughan, and Linda Francisco. It should be available at both the campus bookstore and Passport Books, located across Mitchell Avenue from the campus.

Approaches to Literature (ENG 210) is a sophomore-level literature course that introduces you to excellent works of literature selected to follow a theme or genre — in this case, the literature of the American South. The course is designed to develop your ability to read, evaluate, and respond to this literature through oral discussion and written reports. English 210 fulfills Category IV General Studies requirements. All English 210 sections provide practice in reading poetry, prose fiction, and drama.

Upon satisfactory completion of this course you should be able to:

(1) Recognize the major characteristics of literary genres

(2) Discuss literature, orally and in writing, with assurance

(3) Appreciate literary works which are encountered

(4) Understand the different ways in which literary theme may treated in literature

To reach these goals, you are expected to:

(1) Read poetry, fiction, and drama.

(2) Investigate various methods of approaching and understanding literature.

(3) Write papers, including themes and essay examinations.

(4) Read a variety of literary works in which a chosen theme is dominant.

You will be required to complete three literary reports during the term, the first worth 50 points and the other two worth 300 points each. All must be typed, double spaced, with these desktop publishing settings: font — New Century Schoolbook or comparable, size — 12 pt., leading (spacing) — 24 pt., margins — 1 inch all around.

The 50-point paper is a 2- to 3-page response to Gone with the Wind, in which you detail how the film has helped you understand The South by relating it to several of the themes we discuss at the beginning of the semester.

You may select any of the following for your two 300-point reports (make sure we have finished discussing the chosen work first), but each assignment, running 4 to 6 pages, may be done only once:

You are expected to be fully prepared to discuss each work in class. This will require a thorough understanding of the readings and a willingness to offer your perspectives. Each of you will keep a tally sheet for each class period, wherein you will track the number of contributions you make to discussions as well as a brief reference to those contributions. Participation is worth 100 points.

Reading Journal

You are expected to keep an extensive notebook of your personal insights and notes gathered during and following your reading of each work and in-class notes of lectures and discussions. While textbook marginal notations are commonplace, those will not be graded. Due at final exam period and graded for completeness, the journal must be clearly marked and will be worth 50 points.

One 200-point examination will be given at the end of the term, covering the works we have studied and our class discussions. At the beginning of the semester, you will receive a list of sample questions similar to those you will find on the final exam.

Very simply, you are expected to be in class each day we meet. Unexcused absences will be reflected in class participation and reading journal grades. Also, late assignments are not accepted.

Points will be earned for the following items:

Three reports 650 points

Class participation 100 points

Reading journal 50 points

One exam 200 points

TOTAL 1000 points

The letter grade equivalents are:

A 90-100% 900-1000 points D 60-69% 600-699 points

B 80- 89% 800-899 points F Below 60% Below 600 points

C 70- 79% 700-799 points

Office hours are Tuesdays and Thursdays, 8 a.m. to 10 a.m., and by appointment. My office number is JGM 309-N until sometime in February; after that it will be SS/C202E.

Office Phone: 271-4323, Home Phone: 387-8213. Leave messages if I am not available to answer the phone; that’s why I’ve got the answering machines.

E-mail: My e-mail address is <klr9015@griffon.mwsc.edu>. You are welcome to write me about questions or concerns you may have about the course. My Web site is located at <http://www.missouriwestern.edu/~klr9015/rosenauer_main.html>. There you will find pertinent course materials.

You are expected to do your own reading and writing for this course. Submitting someone else’s work (including plagiarism through misleading documentation) will earn a zero for the assignment grade. Serious infractions may be turned over to the dean of students for disciplinary action.

If you are disabled, whether the disability is apparent or not, and concerned that your disability may interfere with your completion of course requirements above, please notify me during the first two days of classes so that we might discuss appropriate alternatives.