- Learn methods for measuring the value of the American novel, especially in the 20th century. Learn about the intersection between appreciation, evaluation, and enjoyment.
- Explore how characters and situations in literature help us answer important questions:
- How do we define human excellence?
- In what ways do the standards of excellence shift and change?
- What sorts of conflict between values give rise to ethical crisis?
- For each work of literature we study, ask the following questions:
- What sorts of choices do characters or narrators make?
- What sorts of values do characters or narrators defend?
- What motivates them to make those choices or hold those beliefs?
- Where does their confidence come from?
- Ask questions about how literature explores conflict and crisis.
- Perceive how ethical complexity makes literature compelling and memorable.
- Explore how ethical themes in literature can help us know our own ethics.
- Look beyond the simple moral message that literature appears to teach--morals are not ethics, though ethical thinking helps us fashion morals.
- Contemplate the meaning of the following concept: responsible reading.
- Demonstrate the skills above in short writing assignments.
- Learn to use various literary terms to discuss the assigned works.
- Take reading notes to records the details of your experience reading.
- Texts include the following books, which are available in the bookstore:
Kate Chopin. The Awakening. 1899.
F. Scott Fitzgerald. The Great Gatsby. 1925.
Willa Cather. Death Comes for the Archbishop. 1927.
Flannery O'Connor. The Violent Bear It Away. 1960.
Cormac McCarthy. Blood Meridian. 1985.
Tim O'Brien. The Things They Carried. 1990.
- Access to the internet and a reading light
- A Google account in order to use Google Drive
- Several working pens and lots of notebook paper
- Reading. This course involves more reading than writing. To keep up, you should read diligently, repeatedly, and not all in one sitting. I hope that, with dedicated reading, you will find a new passion, even if you have no plans ever to study literature again.
- Grades. Your grade is calculated according to the following weighted scale:
Reading Portfolio
Discussions
Reading Notes
Quote Responses
up to 475 points
100 points
200 points
200 points
- Ask for help. If you are struggling or need help, tell me right away—we can meet for tutoring in my office. Please use extra time before class to ask me questions and seek help on assignments before they are due.
- Participation. All students should try to take an active, constructive part in discussion in class. The best way is to read and think about the assigned work well before class. Take reading notes, write down your honest reactions to what you are reading, and write down questions you want to ask or comments you want to make. If you would rather not speak during class, please turn in comments and questions that I can express for you. Even if you are shy (like me), you can always engage with the reading actively, on an intellectual level.
- Make-Up Work. Work for this class includes assignments done on your own time online as well as assignments you'll turn in during class. When you are absent or sick on a due date, you need proof of excuse to turn in missed work.
- Turning in work. All Quote Responses (typed) will be submitted through Google Drive. All discussions will occur during class time. Reading Notes (written on notebook paper) will be turned in at the beginning of each class. Do not use email to turn in work.
- Email. The official form of communication at UNG is email. This policy protects all of us in the exchange of information. If you need to contact me about anything, whether personal or class related, please use your UNG email account and my UNG email address. Check your email two or three times a day for updates. Check it every hour if you have emailed me a question.
- Disruptive behavior. I emphasize the importance of sensitivity and respect in and out of class between you and me and between you and your classmates. Refrain from gestures, attitudes, tones, and words that are meant to be base, insulting, or provocative. Please do not express disagreement with my policies, decisions, or academic help in front of other students; I am happy to field complaints privately during my office hours. You should, of course, disagree openly with any of my literary interpretations that you think are incomplete or misguided. I won't be angry at all; I will be quite pleased. If I disagree right back, don't get angry or feel embarrassed; just keep talking. Disagreement about literature is a sure sign of its value. One other rule: if you come to class, don't leave early unless you have checked with me before class begins. You may have bottled water in the classroom, but food is too distracting.
- Academic honesty. All work submitted to fulfill requirements of this class must meet UNG standards of academic honesty. Violations of these standards include receiving or giving assistance on any graded assignment without my permission (aka, cheating), fabricating evidence for use in an assignment (aka, lying), and using another person's words or thoughts in your assignment without giving that person credit (aka, plagiarism). Penalty for committing these acts could range from a zero on the assignment to an "F" in the course.
- Withdrawal. Remember that you cannot withdraw from a class simply by not coming anymore; rather, you must withdraw yourself through Banner Web before the midpoint.
- Disclaimer. This syllabus is subject to change to meet the needs of the course.
