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 to literature, 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

• Students will produce at least 3,000 words (including drafts, in-class writing, informal papers, and polished papers); 1,000 words of this total should be in polished papers which students have revised after receiving feedback and criticism. 
• Students will be introduced to the discourse forms appropriate to the discipline the course represents. 
• Students will write at least one paper integrating information from at least one source, employing the appropriate documentation style for the discipline represented by the course. 
• Students will draft, revise, and edit their formal written work. 
• Students will seek assistance from a Writing Tutor in the Writing Lab when needed and when referred by the instructor.

• Participation in class discussion and discussion leadership (15%). Extra participation credit will be awarded for documented Learning Center tutorial sessions.
• Two short analyses of the use of theory in published criticism (20%)
• Two long analyses applying theory in the analysis of literature (50%)
• Final examination demonstrating the ability to identify, explain, and apply theoretical concepts (15%)
• Optional attendance at film series and short analysis for extra credit (additional 5% total possible)

• Lentricchia, Frank and Thomas McLaughlin, eds. Critical Terms for Literary Study. 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

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.