Dr.
Banash
129 Simpkins
Office Hours: T 1:00-3:00; W 2:00-5:00; TH
1:00-3:00
Mailbox: 122 Simpkins
d-banash@wiu.edu
Introduction: Literary theory is a vast body of philosophical approaches and critical reflections that attempt to explain how we make meaning. While all readers make meaning, very few readers understand just what material conditions, practices, philosophical assumptions, and historical forces inform the meaning they make. In part, our study of literary theory will make us more self-conscious of these aspects of our reading practices and the reading practices of others. Since literary theory is a vast field, this semester we will strive for depth by focusing on theories of narrative. Unlike figurative tropes that largely elude translation (as they say, poetry is exactly what is lost in a translation), narrative is transmissible from form to form (think of the novel become film become graphic novel, etc.). Though all those iterations, the form and function of the narrative remains a virtual and vital constant. Indeed, narrative structures not only imaginative literature but our identity, our shared history, and our deepest experiences of meaning and time. This semester, we will strive to understand narrative, name its distinct parts and functions, and survey key theories of it from the Ancients to the Postmodernists.
Required Texts: Available at the Union Bookstore. Note that the specific editions listed below are required.
The Arabian Nights, trans. Husain Haddawy (New York: Norton, 1990) isbn 978-0-393-33166-0
The Narrative Reader, ed. Martin McQuillan (New York: Routledge, 2000) isbn 0-415-20533-6
John Barth, Lost in the Funhouse (New York: Anchor, 1988) isbn 978-0385240871
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:
40% Reading Quizzes
20% Midterm Exam
20% Final Project
20% Final Exam
A base ten grading scale is used: 100-90=A; 89-80=B; 79-70=C; 69-60=D, and 59-0=F.
Attendance: This course emphasizes class participation and interaction. To do well, consistent attendance is crucial.
If you miss more than 3 classes during the semester, you will be penalized by having the total percentage of class you missed deducted from your final grade.
Coming to class without the required texts will be considered an absence.
Deadlines: The course schedule includes the deadlines for every assignment. 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.
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, 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. To that end, I will ask you to evaluate the class at the end of the semester.
Agreement: By remaining in this section of ENG 368, you agree to accept the policies articulated in this syllabus.
WIU brings you the following announcements: In accordance with University policy and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), academic accommodations may be made for any student who notifies the instructor of the need for an accommodation. It is imperative that you take the initiative to bring such needs to the instructor’s attention, as he/she is not legally permitted to inquire about such particular needs of students. Students who may require special assistance in emergency evacuations should contact the instructor as to the most appropriate procedures to follow in such an emergency. Contact Disability Support Services at 298-2515 for additional services.
It is the responsibility of the student to comply with the prerequisites/corequisites for a course that he/she plans to take. Instructors who place the appropriate information on the syllabus and emphasize it during the first three class periods may exclude a student from the class who does not meet the prerequisites/corequisites by sending a note to the student with a copy to the registrar within the first two weeks of the term.