UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA

lit2000_syllabus-4.pdf

LIT2000 (03H1) INTRODUCTION TO LITERATURE

SYLLABUS

Fall, 2015

INSTRUCTOR INFORMATION:

Instructor	Benjamin Hebblethwaite
Office hours	Dauer 363, 6th period, Monday and Wednesday or by appointment
Phone	(352) 273-3762
E‑Mail	hebble@ufl.edu

 

COURSE INFORMATION:

Time	Period 5
Location	MWF CSE E121

 

COURSE PRE-REQUISITE: ENC 1101

 

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

This course examines the unique and changing role literature has played in individuals’ lives and in society. It is centered on three deceptively simple questions: What is literature? Why do we write literature? And why do we read literature? It introduces students to a range of literary genres, from different countries and historical periods.

 

Among the primary aims of this course is to help students develop the critical skill of analysis and interpretation. Students will also learn how formal and stylistic elements as well as historical context shape the meaning and significance of literature. By becoming more skillful readers of literature and its contexts, students become better readers of the worlds that literature addresses, develop their ability to decipher meaning from language, and better understand their own interactions with science, technology, media, commerce, and politics.

 

COURSE OBJECTIVES:

In addition to gaining a deeper appreciation of the expressive potential of language and the varieties of literature, students will develop a broader cultural literacy and an understanding of the changing definition and role of literature in society.

 

Therefore, by the conclusion of the course it is expected that students will be able to:

1. Demonstrate knowledge of the content of specific literary works and the structures and conventions of different literary genr
2. Produce original, critical readings of literary texts, using different methods of interpretation and analysis, while identifying and interpreting formal and genre-related elements in the texts.
3. Critically assess the variety of roles that literature has played historically and continues to play in the human e
4. Draw connections between literary texts and their biographical, historical, and cultural contexts of authorship and reading.

 

REQUIRED MATERIALS:

The required texts will be selected from the following:

• Shakespeare, The Merchant of Venice or Pirandello,
• Virgil, Aeneid, Book I, Homer, Odysseus, Book XIX
• Walt Whitman, “Song of Myself” and Song of Songs
• Flannery O’Connor, “A Good Man is Hard to Find” and Franz Kafka, “The Penal Colony”
• Camara Laye, The Dark Child
• S. Naipaul, Miguel Street
• Carlo Collodi, Pinocchio
• Montesquieu, Persian Letters
• Marianne Moore, “The Pangolin” and Elizabeth Bishop, “The Fish,” “Roosters,” and “Pink Dog”
• Jennine Capó Crucet, How to Leave Hialeah
• Marjane Satrapi, Persepolis

 

The following texts should be purchased at the University Bookstore, other Gainesville booksellers, ordered online, or checked out from the library, etc. A course pack is also required and can be purchased from Target Copy (1412 W University Ave).  

 

GRADE DISTRIBUTION:

Summary of grading

• Attendance & participation/in-class discussion (10%)
• 13 online comprehension quizzes for each unit with a reading assignment (20%)
• 1 Close Reading of a literary text or passage (15%)
• 1 Critical Analysis paper (25%)
• 2 take-home exams (15% each—30%)

 

 

1. Attendance & Participation (10%)

Attendance: Attendance is mandatory and will be assessed by class roll or sign-up sheet. Students will lose 1% from their final grade for every unexcused absence. Absences will be excused in accordance with UF policy. Acceptable reasons include illness, religious holidays, military obligation, and the twelve-day rule (https://catalog.ufl.edu/ugrad/current/regulations/info/attendance.aspx). Should you miss a class for any reason, you are responsible for informing yourself as to what was covered in class.

Participation: Students are expected to read and review the assigned readings before class. Each week will begin with a series of basic questions on the contents of the assigned readings. If students are unable to answer these questions, it will be assumed that they have not prepared the homework and will lose 1%. Consistent participation in class discussions, demonstrated knowledge of the assigned readings will also contribute to this portion of the final grade.

 

2. Unit quizzes in class or on e-learning on the Canvas website: 20%

Students are expected to read the assigned readings the night before they are presented in class. The unit quiz is designed to test student reading comprehension. In the case of Canvas quizzes, students will have a 24-hour period within which to complete the unit quiz. The quizzes will be true or false, multiple choice, matching, short answer and short essay. These quizzes cannot be made up except in the case of an excused absence.

        

3. Close Reading Assignment: 750 words, 15%

This assignment will test student skills in close reading of poetry, drama, or short fiction. Students will be expected to analyze a text carefully and develop an argument regarding the whole of the text through a close reading. No outside sources may be used for this assignment.

The Close Reading assignment is due during the 3th, 4th or 5th week of the semester depending on what group you are assigned to.

 

4. Critical Analysis Paper: 1,500 words, 25%

This assignment asks students to combine close reading skills with critical concepts or historical information introduced in one of the supplemental readings. The goal is for students to produce a strong conceptual argument supported by textual and contextual evidence.

The Critical Analysis assignment is due during the 8^th, 9th and 10th week of the semester depending on what group you are assigned to.

These papers will be graded on a point scale of 1 to 10: 9-10, excellent; 8-8.9, good to very good; 7-7.9 average to good; 6-6.9, below average; below 6 is not a passing grade. All students, whatever their grade, will have the option to rewrite the essay.

 

5. 2 take-home exams (15% each—30%)

Method of assessment will be 2 in class, 50-minute exams (each exam is worth 15%, or together, 30% of the total grade). The exams will be comprised of short answer, multiple choice, true or false, matching, identification, and short essay questions based on readings, lectures and classroom discussion.

            Submitted exams will be assessed for evidence of collusion and copying.

 

CLASSROOM POLICIES:

• Makeup Policy: Except in the case of certified illness or other UF accepted excuse (https://catalog.ufl.edu/ugrad/current/regulations/info/attendance.aspx), there will be no make-up option for missed exams, quizzes or late assignments. Where possible, make-ups should be arranged by email or in person prior to the expected absence. In case of illness, student should contact instructor on his or her return to classes.
• Unexcused Absence Policy: Student will lose 1% from their final grade for each unexcused absence.
• Late Policy: A class roll will be available for students to sign at the front of the class before class begins. If a student is late, he or she will have to sign the "late roll sheet" after class. Such lateness distracts other students and the instructor and will affect the student’s final participation grade. Students will lose 0.5% from their final grade each time they arrive late.
• Cell phone policy: Students must turn cell phones to silent before coming to class. Each time a student’s cell phone rings or each time that a student texts during class, 1% will be deducted from that student’s final grade (i.e. the student will be marked as absent).
• Lap top policy: Students may use laptops to take notes or read electronic textbooks. Wifi must be disabled in class. Students who use the internet will be marked as absent and 1% will be deducted from the student’s final grade (i.e. the student will be marked as absent).

 

Grading Scale (& GPA equivalent):

A 100-93 (4.0)

A- 92-90 (3.67)

B+89-87 (3.33)

B 86-83 (3.0)

B- 82-80 (2.67)

C+ 79-77 (2.33)

C 76-73 (2.0)

C- 72-70 (1.67)

D+ 69-67(1.33)

D 63-66 (1.0)

D- 62-60 (0.67)

E 59- (0)

 

Note: There is no rounding up in this course. If you earn 92.99, your grade is A-

 

Note: A grade of C− is not a qualifying grade for major, minor, Gen Ed, or College Basic distribution credit. For further information on UF's Grading Policy, see: https://catalog.ufl.edu/ugrad/current/regulations/info/grades.aspx

http://www.isis.ufl.edu/minusgrades.html

 

Academic Honesty: Students are required to be honest in their coursework, may not use notes during quizzes or exams, and must properly cite all sources that they have consulted for their projects. Any act of academic dishonesty will be reported to the Dean of Students, and may result in failure of the assignment in question and/or the course. For University of Florida’s honor code, see http://www.dso.ufl.edu/sccr/honorcodes/honorcode.php

 

Accommodations for Students with Disabilities Students requesting classroom accommodation must first register with the Dean of Students Office. The Dean of Students Office will provide documentation to the student who must then provide this documentation to the Instructor when requesting accommodation. Contact the Disability Resources Center (http://www.dso.ufl.edu/drc/) for information about available resources for students with disabilities.

 

Counseling and Mental Health Resources: Students facing difficulties completing the course or who are in need of counseling or urgent help should call the on-campus Counseling and Wellness Center (352 392-1575; http://www.counseling.ufl.edu/cwc/).

 

Online Course Evaluation: Students are expected to provide feedback on the quality of instruction in this course based on 10 criteria. These evaluations are conducted online at https://evaluations.ufl.edu. Evaluations are typically open during the last two or three weeks of the semester (or days, in the case of the summer), but students will be given specific times when they are open. Summary results of these assessments are available to students at https://evaluations.ufl.edu.

 

CLASS SCHEDULE

Students should note that the schedule is a guideline and may change

 

 

UNIT   I –        WHAT IS LITERATURE?

 

Aug. 24-28, MODULE 1 INTRODUCTION: The Borders of Literature

                        Reading:

• King, “I have a dream” speech Text and audio: http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/mlkihaveadream.htm
• “Introduction: What is literature?,” Terry Eagleton, Literary Theory: An Introduction (1983), 1-15

 

Aug. 31-Sept 4, MODULE 2 Drama

Reading:

• Shakespeare, The Merchant of Venice

 

Sept. 7-11, MODULE 3 Epic

            N.B. No class on Monday Sept. 7 in honor of Labor Day

Reading:

• Virgil, Aeneid, Book I (1)
• Homer, Odysseus, Book XIX (19)
• GROUP 1 CLOSE READING EXERCISE DUE ON FRIDAY (750 words)

 

 

Sept, 14-18, MODULE 4 Poetry

Reading:

• Walt Whitman, “Song of Myself”
• GROUP 2 CLOSE READING EXERCISE DUE ON FRIDAY (750 words)

 

Sept 21-25, MODULE 5 Short Story:

Reading:

• Flannery O’Connor, read the short stories: “A Good Man is Hard to Find” & "A Circle in the Fire"
• Franz Kafka, read the short story: “The Penal Colony”
• GROUP 3 CLOSE READING EXERCISE DUE ON FRIDAY (750 words)

 

Sept. 28-Oct. 2, MODULE 6

• TEST REVIEW ON MONDAY
• TEST 1 WILL TAKE PLACE ON WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 30 IN CLASS
• FRIDAY: Camara Laye, The Dark Child, chapters 1-3

 

UNIT   II –      WHY DO WE WRITE?

 

Oct. 5-9, MODULE 7 Self-Expression/Self-Construction:

Reading:

• Camara Laye, The Dark Child
• Monday: Chapters 4-6
• Wednesday: Chapters 7-9
• Friday: Chapters 10 - 12

 

Oct. 12-16, MODULE 8 World Making (Cosmopoiesis)

Reading:

• S. Naipaul, Miguel Street
• Monday, 1-2; Wednesay 3 & 15; Friday, 16-17
• GROUP 1 CLOSE READING EXERCISE DUE ON FRIDAY (1,500 words)

 

Oct. 19-23, MODULE 9 Shaping Citizens: Moral Instruction

Reading:

• Carlo Collodi, Pinocchio
• Monday, 1-12; Wednesday, 13-26; Friday, 27-36
• GROUP 2 CLOSE READING EXERCISE DUE ON FRIDAY (1,500 words)

 

UNIT   III        WHY DO WE READ?

 

Oct. 26-30, MODULE 10 Exploration & Discovery:

Reading:

• Montesquieu, Persian Letters
• Monday: 1, 3, 6, 8, 9, 10,
• Wednesday: 11, 12, 14, 24, 26, 27
• Friday: 29, 30, 59, 65, 78, 92, 97, 104
• GROUP 3 CLOSE READING EXERCISE DUE ON FRIDAY (1,500 words)

 

Nov. 2-6, MODULE 11, Exploration & Discovery continued...

• Montesquieu, Persian Letters
• Monday: 107, 132, 138, 141, 145, 147
• Wednesday: 149, 151, 153, 154, 155, 159, 161
• Friday: HOMECOMING, NO CLASS

 

Nov. 9-13, MODULE 12 Moving Beyond the Self

Reading:

• Monday: Poems:
• Marianne Moore, “The Pangolin” (click here) (http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/the-pangolin/)
• Elizabeth Bishop, “The Fish” (click here) (http://www.poets.org/poetsorg/poem/fish-2)
• “Roosters” (click here) (http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poem/177905)
• “Pink Dog” (click here) (http://www.poetryatlas.com/poetry/poem/2261/pink-dog.html)

 

• Wednesday: NO CLASS, VETERANS DAY

 

• Friday: Sacred literature, pt. 1
• Song of Songs (click here) http://www.devotions.net/bible/22songofsolomon.htm
• The Lord’s Prayer (click here) http://bible.oremus.org/?passage=Matthew+6

 

Nov. 16-20, MODULE 12 continued...         

      Monday, Sacred literature, pt. 2

• Al-Fatiha "The Opening" (Qur'an 1), Al-Ikhlas "Purity of Faith" (Qur'an 112), Daybreak "Al-Falaq" (Qur'an 113)
  ( See: http://quran.com )
• Selections from the Dhammapada

 

                        MODULE 13, Finding New Selves

 

            Reading: Jennine Capó Crucet, How to Leave Hialeah

• Wednesday: "Low Tide"; "How to leave Hialeah";
• Friday: "Men who punched me in the face"

 

Nov. 23-27, MODULE 14 New Ways of Seeing

Reading:

• Marjane Satrapi, Persepolis,
• Monday, pp. 1-50
• Wednesday and Friday, NO CLASS, THANKSGIVING

 

Nov. 30-Dec. 4, MODULE 15, New Ways of Seeing and conclusion: Where to now?

Reading:

• Marjane Satrapi, Persepolis
• Monday, 51-100
• Wednesday, 100 - end
• Friday: Does Great Literature Make Us Better? Gregory Currie. http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/06/01/does-great-literature-make-us-better/?_r=0

 

Dec. 6-9, MODULE 16          

• Monday: REVIEW
• Wednesday, TEST 2 WILL TAKE PLACE ON WEDNESDAY, DEC. 9 IN CLASS