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English
1006C-- Introduction to Literature
Instructor:
Alan Bourassa
Time: MWF 11:30 - 12:20
Office Hours: MW 12:30-1:30 and WF 10:30-11:30 and by appointment
(Office ECH 121 )
Tel: 474-1882
e-mail: bourasa1@nb.sympatico. ca
There is one thing
to know about literature. Everything else you will ever learn about
literature now and in the future is an offshoot of this one great piece
of knowledge, which is simply that literature is interesting.
If literature is not interesting to you, don't read it (and whatever
you do, DON'T take this class!). You're not ready for it yet if you
find it boring. Remember the old adage: "Interested people are
interesting people." I will let you draw your own conclusions about
bored people. In this course, we will read several works of fiction,
drama and poetry that all have only one thing in common: they are interesting.
They are interesting because they are about people, emotions, passions,
human weaknesses, strengths, relationships, the working of the mind,
the imagination. Have you ever had a problem? Done something you are
ashamed of? Done something you are proud of? Surpassed your expectations?
Had a fantasy? Used your imagination? Created something? Had a relationship?
Felt jealous? Wondered about your good or bad luck? Lost something or
someone important to you? If so, you are probably ready to read good
and interesting literature. If you find literature interesting, you
are on your way to understanding it. From contemporary Japanese novels
and stories to the Book of Job and Greek Tragedy, we will explore the
strange richness of the human experience and the diverse ways of telling
stories about it.
Reading List
Fall 2004
Asleep Banana Yoshimoto
The Professor of Desire Philip Roth
Wuthering Heights Emily Bronte
Poetry (Elizabeth Bishop; Thomas McGrath; Pablo Neruda; Theodore Roethke)
Short Stories (Italo Calvino; Haruki Murakami)
Winter 2005
English Romantic Poetry: An Anthology (Dover Thrift Editions)
Much Ado About Nothing Shakespeare
Antigone Sophocles
The Lais of Marie De France Marie de France
The Book of Job (class handout)
Fall 2004
WEEK 1 Sept. 9-10
Introduction
WEEK 2 Sept. 13-17 Poetry Thomas McGrath and Elizabeth Bishop
WEEK 3 Sept 20-24 Short Stories -- Calvino
WEEK 4 Sept. 27-Oct. 1 The Professor of Desire -- Roth
WEEK 5 Oct. 4-8 The Professor of Desire -- Roth
WEEK 6 Oct. 11-15 The Professor of Desire -- Roth
Oct 11 - No Classes Thanksgiving
WEEK 7 Oct. 18-22 Asleep -- Yoshimoto
Paper 1 Due
WEEK 8 Oct. 25-29
Asleep -- Yoshimoto
WEEK 9 Nov. 1-5 Poetry - Pablo Neruda and Theodore Roethke
WEEK 10 Nov. 8-12 Short Stories -- Murakami
Nov. 11 - No Classes Remembrance Day
Paper 2 Due
WEEK 11 Nov. 15-19
Wuthering Heights -- Bronte
WEEK 12 Nov. 22-26 Wuthering Heights -- Bronte
WEEK 13 Nov. 29-Dec. 3 Wuthering Heights -- Bronte
Winter 2005
WEEK 1 Jan. 3-7 English Romantic Poetry
WEEK 2 Jan. 10-14 English Romantic Poetry
WEEK 3 Jan. 17-21 Much Ado About Nothing -- Shakespeare
WEEK 4 Jan. 24-28 Much Ado About Nothing -- Shakespeare
WEEK 5 Jan. 31-Feb. 4 Much Ado About Nothing -- Shakespeare
Feb 4 Chancellor's Day. No classes.
WEEK 6 Feb. 7-11 Lais of Marie de France
WEEK 7 Feb. 14-18 Lais of Marie de France
WEEK 8 Feb. 21-25 Antigone -- Sophocles
WEEK 9 Feb. 28-March 4 Antigone -- Sophocles
WEEK 10 March 7-11 Mid-Term Break No Classes
WEEK 11 March 14-18 Antigone -- Sophocles
Final Paper Due
WEEK 12 March 21-25 Book of Job
March 25 - No Classes Good Friday
WEEK 13 March 28-April 1 Book of Job
March 28 - No Classes Easter Monday
WEEK 14 April 4-8 Book of Job
Assignments
and Evaluation
Your participation
grade will include not only attendance and participation in class, but
also in class assignments and participation in group work.
The papers are due at the beginning of class on the dates specified
(always the FIRST class of the week in which the paper is due. If the
first class is a Monday, the paper will be due Monday. If there is a
holiday then it would be due the first class of the week e.g. Wednesday).
Late papers will be marked down one grade per day (i.e. one day late
brings a B+ down to a B). If you have to hand a paper in late you must
tell me BEFORE the paper is due and we can negotiate. There are certain
good reasons for not handing in a paper: family problems, illness, going
out of town for school. There are certain reasons that won't fly: hangovers,
assignments for other classes, fatigue, just feeling like it. Just be
reasonable about handing in your assignments and I will be reasonable
if something unforeseen comes up.
You will be allowed four unexcused absences during the semester. After
that your final grade will be dropped one mark per extra absence (so
three extra unexcused absences drops you from B to C). Again, an unforeseen
crisis will excuse the absence. But if you miss several classes, even
with a legitimate reason, it will certainly reflect on your work and
therefore your grade.
Important
Note: Always keep extra copies of your papers, on floppy disk, and make
an extra hard copy of each assignment. I will be dealing with hundreds
of assignments this semester. One or two are bound to get misplaced,
so don't put yourself in an awkward position. Always have a backup.
The Secret to
the Participation Grade: 20% of your total grade is for participation.
This 20% is, in effect, a gift. It is very easy to get an A in participation:
just participate. Speak in every class. Make me remember you. If you
participate a lot, I will remember. If, at the end of the semester,
when I am giving you your participation grade, I remember that you spoke
in almost every class, and that you did in-class assignments enthusiastically,
you will be on your way to a strong grade in participation. If I remember
you speaking a fair amount, you will get a B-range grade. If you just
sat quietly -- even if you showed up for all the classes -- I would
give a C or lower. Just talk, ask questions, make comments, give an
opinion, argue, come for extra help and you will get a good grade in
participation. Simple as that. Take advantage of the boost this policy
can give to your grade.
Grading
Fall 2004
Quiz 1 2.5%
Quiz 2 2.5%
Quiz 3 2.5%
Quiz 4 2.5%
Paper 1 10%
Paper 2 20%
Participation 10%
Winter 2005
Quiz 1 2.5%
Quiz 2 2.5%
Quiz 3 2.5%
Quiz 4 2.5%
Final Paper 30%
Participation 10%
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