Syllabus for ENG 210 -- Approaches to
Literature
Department of English,
Foreign Languages, Journalism
College of Liberal Arts and
Sciences
English 210-02 -- Approaches
to Literature: Monsters in Literature
Instructor: Dawn Terrick
Spring 2008
TTH 11:00-12:20
Murphy Hall 219
Office:
Office Phone: 816-271-4313
Office Hours: Tuesday and Thursday 1:00-3:00, Monday
11:00-12:00 and by appointment
Email: terrick@missouriwestern.edu
Required Texts:
Frankenstein,
Mary Shelley
Dracula by Bram Stoker (unabridged)
Goblin Market and Other Poems, Christina Rossetti
The Picture of Dorian Gray, Oscar Wilde
Lois the Witch,
Elizabeth Gaskell
Interview With the Vampire, Anne Rice
Ghost stories (on reserve in
the library)
“The Old Nurse’s Story” by Elizabeth Gaskell and
“John Charrington’s Wedding”
by E. Nesbit
* We will also be viewing
films. I may also supplement these texts
and films with poems and short stories that will be available on reserve in the
library or through handouts in class.
* This class consists of
extensive reading. In order to succeed
in this course, you must keep up with
the reading.
* It is vital to have a
folder and/or notebook to keep all notes/handouts/work.
Recommended Materials:
·A writing handbook or
style guide of your choice
·Computer disks/jump
drives for revising and saving work
Course Description:
ENG 210:
Approaches to Literature -- Monsters in Literature
In this course we will read a
variety of texts, from classical literature to contemporary popular literature,
and examine the role of the monster in these works. We will discover how the figure of the
monster, the evil, strange or grotesque figure, both reflects and affects the
culture in which it was written. What
can we learn about ourselves and our culture by analyzing this fiction? What does the monster represent or symbolize
to its author and to its readers? We
will read and discuss works ranging from Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein to Anne Rice’s Interview
With the Vampire.
Assignments will involve extensive reading, research, oral presentations
and papers that explore and analyze literature.
English 210 fulfills Category IV General Studies
requirement.
• “It is becoming
increasingly clear that the concept of evil is at one with the category of
Otherness itself: evil characterizes
whatever is radically different from me.
So from earliest times, the stranger from another time, the barbarian .
. . or in our own day, the avenger of cumulated resentments from some oppressed
class, or else that alien being – these are some of the figures in which the
fundamental identity of the representative of Evil and the Other are
visible. The point, however, is not that
in such figures the Other is feared because he is
evil; rather he is evil because he is Other, alien, different,
strange . . .” -Frederic
Jameson
• “The popular imagination is
far more likely to give birth to flamboyantly unrealistic characters . . . than
to ‘typical’ human beings.” -
Course Goals and Objectives:
Upon completion of English
210, you will have demonstrated the ability to:
1.
Recognize the
major characteristics of literary genres
2.
Discuss
literature, orally and in writing, with assurance
3.
Understand the
different ways in which literary theme may be treated in literature
In order to reach these goals
you will:
1.
Read poetry,
fiction, and drama
2.
Investigate
various methods of approaching and understanding literature
3.
Write papers on
literature
4.
Read a variety of
literary works in which a chosen theme is dominant
For common objectives/means
and institutional competencies for English 210, also refer to the English
department website at http://www.missouriwestern.edu/EFLJ/eng210.asp
Methods of Instruction:
Methods of instruction
include texts, lectures, class discussions (very important), group work, oral presentations by students, quizzes, examinations, and
informal and formal writing assignments.
Policies:
Attendance and Class
Preparation/Participation: In order to improve student learning and to achieve
compliance with federal financial aid policies, Western has a mandatory
attendance policy for all 100 and 200 level courses. A student will be
given an excused absence when acting as an official representative of the
university, provided the student gives prior written verification from the
faculty/staff supervisor of the event.
All other absences will be deemed unexcused unless you can provide a
valid, documented and unavoidable reason.
The maximum number of absences allowed before the midterm report, March
19, for this class is three (3).
Thus, when you have four (4) you will be reported to the Registrar’s
Office, who will automatically withdraw you from this class. The Financial Aid Office will reduce
financial aid as appropriate. If
you know of any circumstances likely to make this policy difficult for you this
semester, you may wish to consult with your advisor to review your
options. If you violate the attendance
policy after the midterm mark, your grade will likely be affected. If you miss a class session, you are
responsible for all material covered and assignments given during your absence. All out-of-class assignments are due at the
beginning of the class period. Students
are expected to attend every scheduled class meeting. Also, arriving to class late is
disruptive. As a result, chronic
lateness will likely affect your final grade.
Students are also expected to come prepared to every class meeting and
participate in class discussion for this is the only way we can all share
ideas, ask questions and learn.
Late Work: All assignments are due at the beginning of
the class period on the due date. If you are not in class on the due date you
are still responsible for submitting your assignment on time. Oral
presentations must be presented on the due date – no exceptions. Late
quizzes and in-class writing assignments will not be accepted. In regard to your writing assignments, each
student is allowed one late writing assignment (and only one late writing
assignment) and this must be discussed with the instructor. I will not
accept/grade any other late writing assignments. This is important because you must complete,
turn in and receive a grade for all assignments in order to pass this
class. In other words, a second late
paper will result in failure of the course.
Students with
Disabilities: Any student in this course
who has a disability that prevents the fullest expressions of abilities should
contact Missouri Western's special needs coordinator, Michael Ritter, for
possible certification of special needs and expert recommendations for
assistance. You should also contact me
personally as soon as possible so that we can discuss class requirements.
Grading: Your final grade will be based upon two
formal writing assignments, an oral presentation, midterm and final
examinations, various in-class exercises and quizzes, class preparation and
participation. Please remember that
smaller assignments and class participation are very important and do affect
your grade.
• Formal Writing Assignments (**Discuss option to
revise)
Literary
Analysis #1: 100 points
Creative
Writing #2: 100 points
• Oral Presentation:
100 points
• Midterm and Final Examination: 100 points each (total 200 points)
• In-Class Quizzes:
100 points
Academic Honesty Policy: Academic honesty is required in all academic
endeavors. Violations of academic
honesty include any instance of plagiarism, cheating, seeking credit for
another’s work, falsifying documents or academic records or any other
fraudulent classroom activity. Cheating
and plagiarism are not acceptable. You
will receive a grade of F (0 points) for any paper/assignment/exam that shows
evidence of cheating and/or plagiarism.
You have the burden of proving that a paper/assignment/exam showing
evidence of cheating and/or plagiarism has been in fact written by you. You should keep thorough evidence of your
writing processes for all papers so that you can meet this burden of
proof. If you plagiarize a paper, you
forfeit the right to revise that paper; if you cheat on an exam, you will not
be allowed to retake the exam. Violations
of academic honesty will be reported to the Provost or the designated
representative on the Academic Honesty Violation Report Forms. Please see the Student Handbook and Calendar
on page 21 for specific activities identified as violations of this policy and
the student due process procedure. This
handbook is also available online at
http://www.missouriwestern.edu/handbook/index.pdf.
Civility and
Cooperation:
Please note that you must
complete all major assignments in order to pass this course. In addition, it is vital that you keep up
with all reading assignments. All drafts
and final papers for this course must be word-processed. It is also important to save all work on
disks, keeping back-ups if necessary.
Please feel free to come see
me if you have any problems or questions. I believe communication is very important
between an instructor and her students and, as a result, I will make myself
available to you for any reason.
ENG 210 Assignment Schedule
Please note that this is a tentative schedule and
changes can be made.
Week One
Jan 15: Introduction to course;
Review syllabus
HW:
Read introduction to Frankenstein
pp 19-24/25
Jan. 17: Discussion of literature,
literary criticism and the figure of the monster;
Oral presentation assignments
HW:
Begin Frankenstein: Read through chapter 9
Week Two
Jan. 22: Begin
discussion of Frankenstein: Discuss both the first part of the novel and
issues and events that may affect our reading of the novel and the figure of
the monster
HW: Read through chapter 20, up to chapter 21of Frankenstein
Jan. 24: Discuss
Frankenstein (Chapter 14);Watch video clip; overheads on Gothic text
HW:
Be prepared to discuss Frankenstein
in class on Tuesday
Week Three
Jan. 29: Discuss
Frankenstein; In-class reading and
discussion; Watch video clip
HW: Finish reading Frankenstein
Jan. 31: Conclude
discussion of Frankenstein (and start of movie)
HW:
Read the poem of “Goblin Market” and begin
reading Dracula (*This is important
because this novel is long; if you follow the assignment schedule for reading
assignments and read approximately 60 pages in each sitting, you will be right
on track).
Week Four
Feb. 5: Oral
presentation #1 due as introduction to “Goblin Market”; Discuss “Goblin
Market”
HW: Read ghost
story on reserve in library
Feb. 7: Begin
discussion on how to write a literary analysis; Distribute and discuss
Literary Analysis Assignment; Discuss the Victorian ghost story and story
read for homework
HW: **Continue reading Dracula
Week Five
Feb. 12: *Oral
presentation #2 due as introduction to Dracula; introduction to
novel and video/movie clip
In-class
readings of other ghost stories
HW: Continue reading Dracula
Feb. 14: Discussion
of Dracula (be sure to have read up to page 139); video clip
HW: Continue reading Dracula
Week Six
Feb.190: Discuss
Dracula (be sure to have read up to page 258)
HW: Finish reading Dracula
Feb. 21: Conclude
discussion of Dracula; video clip
Week Seven
Feb. 26: Literary Analysis Due This
Week (can turn in today or Thursday); Watch movie
Feb. 28: Literary Analysis Due! (can turn in no later than today); Finish watching movie;
**Review for Midterm– distribute study guide
HW: Study for midterm!
(continued)
Week Eight
Mar. 4: Midterm Examination
HW: Read pp
1-52 of Dorian Gray
Mar. 6: Oral
presentation #3 due as introduction to The Picture of Dorian Gray;
Begin discussion of Dorian Gray; video clip
HW: Finish reading Dorian Gray for March 18!
Week Nine Spring
Break!
Week Ten
Mar. 18: Conclude
discussion of Dorian Gray
HW: Begin reading Lois the Witch: Read the Foreword
and Chapter One (pp vii-21)
Mar. 20: Oral
presentation #4 due; Begin discussion of Lois the Witch (watch video?)
HW: Read Chapter Two (pp 22-48)
Week Eleven
Mar. 25: Discuss
Lois the Witch
HW: Finish reading Lois the Witch -- Read Chapter Three (pp 49-89)
Mar. 27: Discuss
Lois the Witch; In-class video;
Distribute and discuss Paper Assignment
HW: Begin reading Interview With The Vampire
Note: March 28 is last day to withdraw from class
Week Twelve
Apr.1: Watch
movie
HW: Read Interview
With the Vampire up to at least page 95 (go ahead
if possible)
Apr. 3: Conclude
movie; Oral presentation #5 due; Begin discussion of Interview With the
Vampire
HW: Read Interview
With the Vampire pp 95-147
Week Thirteen
Apr. 8: Discuss
Interview With
the Vampire
HW: Read Interview
With the Vampire pp 147-200
Apr. 10: Discuss
Interview With The
Vampire; Discussion of the vampire in popular culture; watch video
(vampires)
HW:
Read Interview With
the Vampire pp 200-250
Week Fourteen
Apr. 15: Watch
video (vampires); Discuss Paper #2
HW: Finish reading Interview With the Vampire
Apr. 17: Conclude
discussion of Interview With the Vampire
Week Fifteen
Apr. 22: Watch
movie; distribute study guide
HW: Complete literary analysis
Apr. 24: Last
day of class; Review for final examination; Conclude movie; Paper Due!
HW: Study for final examination!
Final Examination Week: April 30-May 6
Final
examination for this class is mandatory.
Date/time will be announced in class and a study guide will be
distributed.