English 2300

English 2300-04

Practical Criticism:Research and Methodology

Fall 2008

TR 9:30-10:45. Humanities 205

Dr. Randy Hendricks

TLC 2223

678-839-4876

rhendric@westga.edu

Office Hours

TR 11:00-12:15, 2:00-3:15

Also by appointment.

Links to Assignments and Grading Criteria:

Kate Chopin's The Story of an Hour
First Paper Assignment
Second Paper Assignment
Third Paper Assignment
Research Paper Assignment
Grading Criteria

Quizzes and Exercises: Click Here

Course Objectives

To cultivate skills in reading, writing, and critical analysis appropriate for the advanced English major
To understand major critical approaches that are employed in the field of literary studies
To read, discuss, and analyze literary works using a variety of critical perspectives
To articulate how these perspective both inform and direct our understanding and appreciation of literature
To develop competence in literary analysis from at least three different critical perspectives.
To organize and complete a substantive research paper that demonstrate the ability to engage effectively in critical research and writing.

Relationship to Program Goals

This course directly supports learning outcomes for the B. A. in English, specifically outcomes A, D, E, F, and G as listed on page 195 of the 2002-2003 Undergraduate Catalog.

Required Texts

Bressler, Literary Criticism:An Introduction to Theory and Practice, Fourth Edition

Bronte, WutheringHeights, Case Studies in Literary Criticism.Second edition. Edited by Linda H. Peterson.(You must have this edition of the novel as we will use the secondary sources included.)

Recommended: Harmon & Holman, A Handbook to Literature: or a similar handbook

You must also have access to a writer’s handbook with information on MLA Style.

Course Requirements:

3 analytical papers (3-4 typed pages) 60%*
1 research paper (12-15 typed pages), including a prospectus, annotated bibliography, draft, and final documented paper that demonstrates clear knowledge of MLA style 30%*
final exam 10%*
presentation of one of the analytical papers to the class Included in bullet one above
homework (including reading of assigned material and written responses as assigned in preparation for class discussions, in which you will be expected to take part)
optional chapter quizzes/study guides will be available throughout the semester. You may use these to test your knowledge. They will provide useful preparation for the final exam.

*Percentage of final grade.

Some Policies, Expectations, and Other Important Information

Expectations: The professional relationship between an instructor and a student is not that of vendor and consumer. One does not buy learning the way one

buys a car, a sound system, or a hamburger. Tuition buys professional direction and assistance to your own study as well as a fair and careful assessment of

your progress. It never buys the right not to attend class, to fail to complete assigned work, or to practice a radical individualism that distracts the instructor

and classmates with impunity. By agreeing to teach the class, I agree to provide the direction, assistance, and assessment. By enrolling in the class, you have

created obligations for yourself. If you do not meet them, you will not succeed.

My basic assumption is that students are adults preparing to be professionals. They should understand that the way they conduct business has a direct

influence on their success in the class and other tangible if longer-term results (For example, you are not only completing the requirements for the courses you

are currently taking, you are developing professional relationships with your instructors, who will in due course serve as your primary references as you seek

admission to graduate schools, employment, or other types of professional or educational opportunities).

To be more specific, I expect students to come to each class meeting on time, prepared and ready to concentrate on the tasks at hand. I further expect

students to prepare all assignments with scrupulous attention to detail and directions by the stipulated deadlines. And I tolerate no unprofessional distractions

such as gum chewing, sleeping in class, using beepers or cell phones (either for incoming or outgoing calls). Students who create such distractions will leave the

class.

Deadline for Withdrawal: The deadline for withdrawing from any class with a grade of W is October 8. Students may withdraw from a class after that date only

in the case of hardship. Hardship withdrawals are determined in the office of the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, not by instructors or department

chairs. Students who are granted hardship withdrawals must withdraw from all their classes.

Compliance with Act regarding disabilities:

The instructor will make accommodations to meet special needs of students with documented disabilities. It is the responsibility of the student to inform the

instructor of any such need and to provide the appropriate documentation.

Department of English and Philosophy Plagiarism Policy

The Department of English and Philosophy defines plagiarism as taking personal credit for the words and ideas of others as they are presented in electronic,

print, and verbal sources. The Department expects that students will accurately credit sources in all assignments. Plagiarism is grounds for failing the course.

Other Policies

* Campus e-mail (myUWG) will be the official method for all communication by e-mail

* No extra credit will be allowed in this course

* Work done for another course may be accepted to satisfy requirements in this course, provided both instructors agree to accept such work. Students

should keep in mind, however, that the same work might be evaluated according to different criteria, given the different outcomes.

Schedule


Date	Reading Assignments Due and class activities	Homework, Notes and links
Aug 19	Introduction to course Read Chopin’s “The Story of an Hour”	Students should begin reading WutheringHeights
21	Bressler, Chaps 1-2
26	Bressler, Chap 3 & Keats, “On First Looking into Chapman’s Homer” (270)
28	Formalist interpretations of “The Story of an Hour”	Prepare written responses to the Questions for Analysis, Bressler (65)
Sept. 2	Bressler, Chap. 4 & Hawthorne’s “Rappaccini’s Daughter” (271).
4	Reader-Response interpretations of “The Story of an Hour”	Prepare written responses to the Questions for Analysis, Bressler (88-89)
9	Presentations in Class	First Analytical Essay Due
11	Bressler, Chap 5 & Frost’s “The Road Not Taken” (303)
16	Structuralist and Deconstructionist interpretations of “The Story of an Hour”	Prepare written responses to the Questions for Analysis, Bressler (129)
18	Bressler, Chap 6 & Poe’s “Ligeia” (303)
23	Psychoanalytic interpretations of “The Story of an Hour”	Prepare written responses to Questions for Analysis, Bressler (160)
25	Bressler, Chap 7 & Irving’s “Rip Van Winkle” (handout)
30	Feminist interpretations of “The Story of an Hour”	Prepare written responses to Questions for Analysis, Bressler (184)
Oct 2	Presentations	Second analytical Essay Due
7	Workshop on literary Research
9	Fall Break
14	Bressler, Chap 8 & Hawthorne’s “Young Goodman Brown” (293) Marxist interpretations of “The Story of an Hour”	Prepare written responses to the Questions for Analysis, Bressler (205)
16	Bressler, Chapter 9 & Owen’s “Dulce et Decorum Est”
21	Bressler, Chapter 10 & Kipling’s “At the End of the Passage”
23	Cultural and New Historicist interpretations of “The Story of an Hour”	Prepare written responses to the Questions for Analysis, Bressler (226, 260)
28	WutheringHeights: “A Critical History of Wuthering Heights” (333)
30	Psychoanalytic Criticism and Wuthering Heights” (348)
Nov. 4	WutheringHeights: “Feminist Criticism and WutheringHeights” (451)
6	No Class: Instructor away for a conference
11	“Marxist Criticism and WutheringHeights” (379) WutheringHeights: “Cultural Criticism and WutheringHeights” (411)
13	“Combining Perspectives on WutheringHeights” (478)
18	Presentations	Third Analytical Papers Due
20	No class. Work on Research Papers	Research Paper Prospectus Due
25	No class. Work on Research Papers
27	Thanksgiving: No Class.
Dec 2	In Class Critiques of Research Paper Drafts.	.Research Paper Annotated Bibliography Due
4		Research Paper Due by 5 p.m
11	Final Exam 8-10 a.m