English 217 Introduction to Critical Theory
Updated 6 January 2016
Spring Semester, 2016 MWF 10:15-11:20 AM
Instructor: Darby Lewes, Professor of English (Office D324)
Office: (570) 321-4114 Home: (570) 546-7521Email:
Course Information: English 217 is an introduction to literary criticism as a discipline, which provides training in writing critical papers and familiarization with major literary genres and critical schools of thought. Prerequisite: English 106 or consent of instructor.
Learning OutcomeStatement
Students will become accomplished close readers who can interpret literary texts with an awareness of varying perspectives with an awareness of current theoretical approaches to literary study. They will learn how language and genre shape meaning. They will gain a knowledge of literary terms and will learn to identify literary characteristics, themes, and approaches in a variety of literary texts. They will produce correct and effective professional-level academic writing, appropriately revised for content and edited for grammatical and stylistic clarity.
To do well in this class, you should
Attend class regularly.
Since class participation will make up a considerable portion of the final grade, students with more than three undocumented absences will receive deductions from their final grade: 4 absences, ½ letter grade deduction; 5 absences, 1 full letter deduction; 5 absences, 1 ½ letter grade deduction. Students with six or more undocumented absences will receive an “F” in the class. Excused (documented) absences must be made up with written exercises assigned by the professor.
Turn in all assigned work on time.
There are no late papers in this class: only timely papers and "F" papers. Extensions may be arranged, IN ADVANCE, if the situation warrants.
Turn in all assigned work on time.
Grade Distribution
4 Papers: 40 points each
9 Labs: 3 points each (excellent, satisfactory, unsatisfactory)
14 Workshops: 3 points each (attendance, critique, content/revision)
2 Theory Exams: 20 points each
Final Theory Exam: 40 points
Textbooks:
Parker, How to Interpret Literature (Oxford UP)
Course Outline and Assignments
Monday / REVIEW / Course Introduction/Close Reading
Wednesday / READING / Close Reading
Friday / DISCUSSION / "Porphyria’s Lover”
Week #218 January: Close Reading
Monday / READING / Close reading
Wednesday / LAB #1
Friday / WORKSHOP1 / Short essay #1
Week #325 January: Close Reading
Monday / READING / Close Reading
Wednesday / LAB# 2
Friday / WORKSHOP2 / Short essay #2
Week #41 February: Essay Construction Familiar Approaches
Monday / READING / Familiar Approaches
Wednesday / LAB #3 / Familiar Approaches
Friday / WORKSHOP3 / Short essay #3
Week #58 February: Essay Construction: Structuralism
Monday / READING / Structuralism
Wednesday / LAB #4
Friday / WORKSHOP4 / Short essay #4
Week #615 February: Essay Construction: Psychoanalysis
Monday / READING / Psychoanalysis
Wednesday / LAB #5
Friday / WORKSHOP5 / Short essay #5
Week #722 February: Feminism
Monday / READING / Feminism
Wednesday / LAB #6
Friday / WORKSHOP6 / Short essay #6
Week #8 29 February: Essay #1; Exam 1
Monday / WORKSHOP #7 / Final Essay # 1
Wednesday / THEORY EXAM / Exam #1 Familiar Approaches, Structuralism, Feminism
Friday / READING / Marxism
Week #9 7 March:SPRING BREAK
Week # 10 14 March: Marxism
Monday / LAB #7
Wednesday / WORKSHOP #8 / Short essay #7
Friday / READING / Queer Studies
Week #1121 March: Queer Studies
Monday / FILM / Brokeback Mountain
Wednesday / FILM/ FILM / Brokeback Mountain
Friday / NO CLASS / Good Friday
Week #12 28 March : Queer Studies
Monday / READING / Brokeback Mountain (short story)
Wednesday / LAB #8
Friday / WORKSHOP9 / Short essay #8
Week #134 April: Historicism
Monday / READING / Historicism
Wednesday / LAB #9
Friday / WORKSHOP #10 / Short essay #9
Week #1411 April: ESSAY #2; EXAM #2
Monday / WORKSHOP11 / Final Essay 2
Wednesday / WORKSHOP12 / Final Essay 2
Friday / EXAM #2
ESSAY #2 DUE / Marxism, Queer Studies, Historicism
Week #1518 April
Monday / EVALUATIONS / Class Evaluations
Wednesday / WORKSHOP13 / Final Essays 3 & 4
Friday / WORKSHOP14 / Final Essays 3 & 4
Week #16 28 April DATE TBA FINAL EXAM; ESSAY #4 DUE
Extra stuff
Study Partners
List the name, phone number, and e-mail address for a “study partner” here:
Name ______
phone number ______
email address ______.
Just in case you and your partner are absent on the same day, you should get a second partner as a backup.
Name______
phone number ______
email address______.
Academic Conduct
You are expected to altogether avoid any sort of academic misconduct. You must never seek to claim credit for the work or efforts of another without authorization or citation; submit a paper or assignment as your own work when a part or all of the paper or assignment is the work of another; or submit a paper or assignment that contains ideas or research of others without appropriately identifying the sources of those ideas. Doing so will result in an automatic grade of “F” in the class.
Classroom Environment
In addition to doing well on the exams and the papers, the best way to illustrate that you are an active, engaged, and interested student is by contributing regularly to class discussions. I do not want to lecture; I want you to participate actively in creating a learning environment in the class by constantly challenging each other and supporting each other's learning.
You should be prepared to speak often in class, to participate in class activities beyond simple note-taking. Classes will be conducted seminar-style, with much small group discussion and active participation in large group discussion being expected of each student. I do not merely want bodies in attendance; I expect to see prepared and thinking students. This means that you will bring the required materials and complete any assignments due for that particular day.
Reading and Writing
The reading load is relatively light—sometimes less than 30 pages per week—but it’s intense, and you may have to read it more than once to understand it fully. Budget at least two out-of-class hours per week on reading alone. Since you signed up for this course, I expect you to complete the readings listed on the syllabus before you come to class--not just by skimming the material but by actively and carefully reading each assignment. Take notes in the margin and look up unfamiliar words.
The writing component, on the other hand, is heavy. Expect to spend at least four out-of-class hours per week on writing alone. You will also do a lot of rewriting. It is not unusual for essays to have gone through three or four major revisions (not just tweaking and technical corrections, but actual re-visions of the entire paper) before they are submitted for a final grade.
STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES: Lycoming College provides academic support for students who officially disclose diagnosed learning, physical and psychological disabilities. If you have a diagnosed disability and would like to seek accommodations, please contact JillianeBolt-Michewicz, Assistant Dean of Academic Services / Director of the Academic Resource Center. Dean Bolt-Michewicz will help you arrange for appropriate academic accommodations. She can be reached by calling 570-321-4050, emailing , or visiting her office (Academic Resource Center, 3rd Floor of Snowden Library).