Section 001, 11:00-12:15, Simpkins 214
Dr. Banash
217 Simpkins
Office Hours:
M-TH 11:00-12:00 or by appointment
Mailbox: 124 Simpkins
d-banash@wiu.edu
Introduction:
“Would you rather be a lover, or a creator, of funhouses?” John Barth
uses this metaphor to imagine the differences between reading a story and
writing one. After all, with its scares and amusements, the funhouse is
designed to thrill and arouse those who pass through it. Lovers of funhouses
don’t think about how they are designed and constructed to produce those
excitements—if they did so, wouldn’t the funhouse have failed them? But on the
other hand, might lovers of funhouses show their affection by thinking, “How
was that made?”
The formal study of
literature poses much the same paradox. As readers of a story or a poem, much
of our pleasure is produced unconsciously, and we often read as if in a dream
or some pleasurable trance produced by the text. But the study of literature
demands that we wake from our dreams and examine the mechanics that make the
literary experience possible. To use Barth’s terminology, we must both enjoy
literature and understand the hidden mechanics that produce such powerful
effects in us.
Our goal is to become
readers who are something like lucid dreamers, able to indulge in the pleasures
of reading, of loving literature, but also able to speak as critics, calling
upon more sophisticated explanations for the dreams of literature and their
effects on readers and others in the world.
ENG 299 begins with the
assumption that students of literature are distinguished from ordinary readers
by a profound self-consciousness. To wake ourselves from our dreams, we will
develop a critical vocabulary that allows us to precisely describe how people
read, write, and interpret works of literature. We will immerse ourselves in
the theory of literature, develop a conscious grasp of form, and learn to use a
rhetorical vocabulary to describe tropes and figures, forms and genres.
Throughout the semester we will read and write critically and above all
intensely. The overarching goal of this course is to transform your experiences
of reading and writing, perhaps forever.
As we become readers and
critics, we will take pleasure in our own writing, as well as that of others.
While learning the foundational skill of English studies—close reading and
effective interpretation—we will also develop the clear and graceful prose
expected of English majors. Our attention will move from words, to sentences,
to paragraphs, to essays, as we practice the craft of revision every week. We
will do all of this together, working through our discoveries, questions, and
frustrations in stimulating class discussions.
Required texts and materials: Please purchase all of the required texts and materials as soon as possible. With the exception of the electronic reserve and web readings, all texts are available at the WIU bookstore. Specific editions are required; if you wish to purchase texts online or at other bookstores, use the ISBN number given.
·
Karl
Marx and Friedrich Engels, et al, The Communist Manifesto and Other Revolutionary
Writings, Dover Thrift ( 978-0486424651)
· MLA Handbook, MLA, 8th ed. (978-1603292627)
· Sharon Olds, Satan Says, University of Pennsylvania (0822953145)
· J. D. Salinger, The Catcher in the Rye, Little Brown (978-0316769488)
· William Shakespeare, The Sonnets. Putnam/Penguin Signet (0-140-71453-7)
· Mary Tatar, The Classic Fairy Tales, Norton Critical, (9780393972771)
·
Steve
Tomasula, IN&OZ, U of Chicago P, (978-0226807447)
Assignments and grading: Assignments will include reading the required texts on time and consistent, active participation in class discussions. Your grade will be determined by using the following scale:
Summary and Close Reading Paper 1...............100 points
Summary and Close Reading Paper 2...............100 points
Summary and Close Reading Paper 3...............100 points
Summary and Close Reading Paper 4...............100 points
Trope Analysis Cards............................................100 points
Theoretical Application Paper............................100 points
Reading Quizzes......................................................200 points
Research
Paper.......................................................200 points
_________________________________________________________________
Total Points …...........................................................1,000
points
Note that 70% of your grade is comprised of formal writing assignments. In
general, you can expect to submit at least two pages of formal, polished
writing each week. Class participation, includes completing the daily readings,
being on time to class with your books and other materials, taking an active
and conspicuous part in discussion, and contributing to group work and other
activities.
U Grades and other revision: During the first half of the semester only, any paper which does not meet minimum standards for style or content may be given a grade of unsatisfactory (U) and returned to you with directions for correction and resubmission. If you receive a U on a paper, you have two weeks to turn in the revision unless an earlier due date is indicated on the calendar. You can revise any paper due during the first 12 weeks for a better grade, but, unless otherwise directed by your professor, you must follow these directions:
· You must meet with your professor individually to state your intention to revise, discuss the comments on the paper, and make a plan for revising it. This meeting must happen within seven days from the time your receive the first grade.
·
Though
you can write multiple revisions to try for the best grade possible, all
revisions of any paper must be completed within three weeks from the time you
received the original grade.
Attendance: This course emphasizes class participation and interaction. To do well, consistent attendance is crucial.
· You can miss 4 classes without penalty. Every subsequent absence will deduct 25 points from your final grade.
· Coming to class without printed copies of the required texts will be considered an absence and you may be asked to leave class.
· Texts including our primary books, electronic reserve readings, and web readings must be printed on paper. You cannot read these on any digital device and be considered present in class. Coming to class without printed copies on paper will result in an absence for the day and you may be asked to leave class.
·
Cellphones must be turned off during class. If your cellphone rings in class, it will result in an absence for
the day. Anyone texting or otherwise using a cellphone
in class will be asked to leave and will receive an absence for the day.
Deadlines: The course schedule includes the
deadlines for every assignment. All papers are due in class, printed on paper.
If for some reason you have to miss class on the day an assignment is due, make
arrangements with another class member to turn in the printed hard copy of your
work on time for you. Deadlines are not negotiable, and late work will not be
accepted. If you find yourself in the hands of angry gods, speak to me as soon
as possible.
Workshop drafts: For almost every paper, you will
be required to create a workshop draft. If you do not submit a complete draft
that meets the minimum length of the paper in class on the day of a workshop,
the highest grade you can receive for the final draft will be a C.
Participation and conduct: The success of this course
depends not only on individual assignments, but also on the class working
together. In order to create a productive and challenging class we must treat
one another with respect at all times. A productive and interesting class
emerges through our conflicts, disagreements, and debates, but in order to learn
from one another we must always work within an ethic of care and mutual
respect.
Academic honesty: Ethical use of others’ ideas is a
critical part of English studies. Plagiarism (use of another’s ideas, data, and
statements with little or no acknowledgment), collusion (unauthorized or
undocumented collaboration), or re-submission (presenting an assignment
previously completed for course credit) are not
permissible. If you are unsure how to document sources or quote another writer,
and your question isn’t answered by your MLA Handbook, please ask me.
Academic dishonesty will result in a zero for the assignment in question,
possibly a failing grade for the entire class, and will be reported in
accordance with WIU’s Academic Dishonesty Policy.
Students with differences: I would like to hear from anyone
who has a difference that may require some modification in seating, testing, or
other class requirements so that appropriate arrangements may be made. Please
speak with me after class or make an appointment. See below for an official
announcement from WIU on this topic.
Problems: If you experience any
difficulties or frustrations with any aspect of the course, I urge you to speak
with me either during office hours or by appointment. I always shape courses
through student suggestions.
Extra-Credit: Throughout the semester, there
will be many opportunities for extra-credit. These include attending lectures,
conferences, creative writing events, and much more. They will be announced
throughout the semester, beginning right now: email your professor a photograph
of Special Agent Dale Cooper before our second class meeting and receive 10
points. All our other extra-credit opportunities will be announced via email
with specific instructions, dates, and times.
Agreement: By remaining in this section of
ENG 299, you agree to accept the policies articulated in this syllabus.
WIU brings you the following
announcements:
Students with disabilities: In accordance with University values and disability
law, students with disabilities may request academic accommodations where there
are aspects of a course that result in barriers to inclusion or accurate
assessment of achievement. To file an official request for disability-related
accommodations, please contact the Disability Resource Center at 309-298-2512,
disability@wiu.edu or in 143 Memorial Hall. Please notify the instructor as
soon as possible to ensure that this course is accessible to you in a timely
manner.
University values, Title
IX, and other federal and state laws prohibit sex discrimination, including
sexual assault/misconduct, dating/domestic violence, and stalking. If you, or
someone you know, has been the victim of any of these
offenses, we encourage you to report this to the Title IX Coordinator at
309-298-1977 or anonymously online at:
http://www.wiu.edu/equal_opportunity_and_access/request_form/index.php. If you
disclose an incident to a faculty member, the faculty member must notify the
Title IX Coordinator. The complete Title IX policy is available at:
http://www.wiu.edu/vpas/policies/titleIX.php.
Web address for student
rights and responsibilities: http://www.wiu.edu/provost/students.php
Web address for Academic Integrity Policy: http://www.wiu.edu/policies/acintegrity.php