English 206 Syllabus

English 206: Applied Literary Criticism
3 credits
Fall 2003--MTR 2-2:50--LH 155

Instructor:
Nancy Knowles
Office: Loso 146--(541) 962-3795
E-mail: nknowles@eou.edu
Course home page: http://www2.eou.edu/~nknowles/fall2003/engl206f03.html
Office hours: M 4-5, F 2-4, and by appointment

Catalog Description: Study of selected critical approaches toliterature, with emphasis on writing critiques of literary works.

Prerequisites: WR 121 or 131, and any 100-level English course.

Learning Outcomes (Upon successful completion of this course,students should be able to...):

Understand literary theory as occurring in all literary interpretation
Identify, explain, and apply theoretical concepts orally and in writing

Means of Assessment:

Participation in class discussion and discussionleadership (15%). Extra participation credit will be awarded for documentedLearning Center tutorial sessions.
Two short analyses of theuse of theory in published criticism (20%)
Two long analyses applyingtheory in the analysis of literature (50%)
Final examination demonstrating theability to identify, explain, and apply theoretical concepts (15%)
Optional attendance at film seriesand short analysis for extra credit (additional 5% total possible)

Required Texts:

Lentricchia, Frank and Thomas McLaughlin, eds. Critical Terms for LiteraryStudy. 2nd ed. U of Chicago P, 1995.
Morrison, Toni. Paradise. New York: Knopf, 1998.
Printed versions of other readings available on reserve or online
Style manual including MLA format or access to online MLA materials at:http://webster.commnet.edu/mla/index.shtml

Grading information,rules, and guidelines common to all my syllabi

Schedule:

Date	Discussion	Assignments Due
Week 1 9/29M	Course introduction
9/30T	Introduction to literary theory
10/2R	Discuss Paradise	Paradise "Ruby," "Mavis," and "Grace" sections due

Week 2 10/6M	Representation: what is artistic representation?	In Lentricchia "Representation"
10/7T	Interpretation: what do we do when we read a text?	In Lentricchia "Interpretation" Extra credit: attend film series(ZH 142 7-10 PM) and write short analysis
10/9R	Discuss Paradise	Paradise "Seneca," "Divine," and "Patricia" sections due

Week 3 10/13M	Writing: how does art ("text") represent ideas?	In Lentricchia "Writing" Complete Paradise
10/14T	Structure: why is the structure of a text important to interpretation?	In Lentricchia "Structure"
10/16R	Narrative: what are the effects of narrative structure?	In Lentricchia "Narrative"

Week 4 10/20M	Figurative Language: what are the effects of figurative language?	In Lentricchia "Figurative Language" Read Paradise criticism #1 and bring copy to class
10/21T	Author: should knowledge about the author influence interpretation?	In Lentricchia "Author" Extra credit: attend film series(ZH 142 7-10 PM) and write short analysis
10/23R	Intention: should the author's intention affect interpretation?	In Lentricchia "Intention" Submit short analysis #1

Week 5 10/27M	Response Groups	Bring 3 copies of long analysis #1
10/28T	Unconscious: can meaning be unconscious (not intended)?	In Lentricchia "Unconscious"
10/30R	Performance: how is interpretation like performance?	In Lentricchia "Performance"

Week 6 11/3M	Value/Evaluation: how should readers value literature?	Submit revised long analysis #1 In Lentricchia "Value/Evaluation"
11/4T	Canon: what are the values/problems with the canon?	In Lentricchia "Canon" Extra credit: attend film series(ZH 142 7-10 PM) and write short analysis
11/6R	Popular Culture: how does popular culture resist the canon?	In Lentricchia "Popular Culture"

Week 7 11/10M	Ethics: should ethics influence interpretation and/or evaluation?	In Lentricchia "Ethics"
11/11T	Rhetoric: how is art rhetorical?	In Lentricchia "Rhetoric"
11/13R	Culture: how does culture relate to art?	In Lentricchia "Culture"

Week 8 11/17M	How does gender affect interpretation?	In Lentricchia "Gender" Read Paradise criticism #2
11/18T	How does race affect interpretation?	In Lentricchia "Race" Submit short analysis #2 Extra credit: attend film series(ZH 142 7-10 PM) and write short analysis
11/20R	No class

Week 9 11/24M	Response Groups	Bring 3 copies of long analysis #2
11/25T	How does class affect interpretation?	In Lentricchia "Class"
11/27R	No class: Thanksgiving Holiday

Week 10 12/1M	How does ideology affect interpretation?	Submit revised long analysis #2 In Lentricchia "Ideology"
12/2T	How do imperialism and nationalism affect interpretation?	In Lentricchia "Imperialism/Nationalism" Extra credit: attend film series(ZH 142 7-10 PM) and write short analysis
12/4R	Course Evaluations

TBA	Final Examination

Last update 9/03.