Dr Dean Taciuch
Spring 2005
George Mason University
Course Description
English 201 is an introduction to the analysis of literature in various genres, including fiction, poetry and drama. In this course, we will read and analyze one play, several short stories, a collection of poetry, one novel, and one mixed-genre work. Through readings, discussions, and writing assignments, this course aims to develop the interpretive skills necessary for literary analysis. Among the literary devices and techniques we will examine are figurative language, narrative point of view, plot structure, character development, and the relationship between structure and meaning.
Texts
David Mamet, Glengarry Glen Ross
William Carlos Williams, Selected
Poems
Flannery O'Connor, A Good Man is Hard to Find and Other Stories
William Gibson, Neuromancer
Jean Toomer, Cane
Assignments
Minor
The minor assignments in the class consist of regular reading responses (9 in total). The responses will be due at the start of class most Wednesdays; responses are not assigned if an essay is due that week. These responses should be approximately 2 doublespaced pages, and may be observations, interpretations, or questions about the readings assigned for that week. I will post specific questions and suggestions for the responses each week. The responses serve several purposes: they provide feedback for the class discussions; they are often starting points for the essays; and they make sure that everyone is keeping up with the readings.
Major
The major assignments for the course are four essays and a final exam.
The essays will be analytical essays, requiring no research beyond the course texts. In the essays, you will develop an interpretation of some aspect of one or more of the works from class, and support that interpretation with examples from the texts. Each essay should be approximately 4-5 doublespaced pages. The first essay will be on the Williams poems; the second on the Mamet play; the third on the O'Connor stories; and the fourth on one of the long works (either Gibson or Toomer). I will post specific questions and suggestions for each of the essays at least a week before they are due.
The final exam will be short answer and identification. It will be an open-book, in-class exam.
Grading
Essay 1: 15%
Essay 2: 15%
Essay 3: 15%
Essay 4: 20%
Responses: 15%
Exam: 20%
| A+ 100 | |
| A 95 | C+ 78 |
| A- 90 | C 75 |
| B+ 88 | C- 70 |
| B 85 | D 65 |
| B- 80 | F below 60 |
The University translates letter grades into 4-point GPA values:
| A+ 4.00 | B- 2.67 | C- 1.67 |
| A 4.00 | B 3.00 | D 1.00 |
| A- 3.67 | C+ 2.33 | F 0.00 |
| B+ 3.33 | C 2.00 |
Please note that A+ and A have equivalent point values.
Course Policies
Late Assignments
Late papers will lose one-half letter grade per day unless you make prior arrangements with me.
Revisions
The first three essays may be revised for a higher grade, but they must be substantially revised. You cannot lose a grade by revising, but a higher grade is not guaranteed. I have found that "B" papers (or higher) are often more difficult to revise, since serious revision requires thoroughly changing the essay's structure, and "B" papers usually have a fairly good structure. "C" papers (or lower) often respond more dramatically to revision, since the major changes they require are often more straightforward. I recommend revising "C" papers or lower only. If you plan to revise a "B" paper, please see me beforehand so we can discuss a revision strategy.
The final essay is due too late in the semester to allow for revisions. The reading responses generally cannot be revised. You will write 9 of these, so a poor grade on one can be made up with higher grades on the others. The exams, of course, may not be revised.
All revisions are due by April 29th.
Plagiarism
The GMU Honor code is available online. I will report suspected cases of plagiarism to the Honor Committee.
Schedule
This work is licensed under a Creative
Commons License.
