|
BLOG
During the first week of class, create a blog devoted to literary theory. NOTE: Your blog is important! You’ll have all of your work, including weekly reflections, posted on your blog; your classmates will read your blog as will scholars from across the world. Since this is your personal blog, it will be tempting to write informally, as if you’re chatting to a friend. All of your work, however, must meet high academic standards including a formal tone. But feel free to be creative; experiment with new media. When you create your blog, be sure to do the following:
1. Email me your blog address
2. Include your preferred email address on your blog
3. Title your blog
4. Weekly reflections @100 - 250 words (e.g., apply the week's reading to a brief analysis of, say, a YouTube clip)
5. Include all assignments
DISCUSSION GROUPS
Early in the semester, form discussion groups devoted to one of our primary texts (The Woman Warrior, The Jungle, Equus, and The Elephant Man) and its respective theoretical context (e.g., post-colonial theory). Exchange email addresses with your groupmates and try to meet or correspond outside class (there should be opportunities to workshop presentations during class). When it is your group's turn to lead a discussion (not lecture), be sure to do the following:
1. Design a classroom activity
2. Consider alternative media choices
(e.g., YouTube clip)
3. Include a 250-word reflection on your blog where you state in explicit terms how you contributed to your group's presentation
MIDTERM PAPER
This five-page essay assignment (@1250 words) asks that you further craft any of the theoretical work done up to midterm. Your essay is argumentative in nature and requires that you put forth a thesis, a claim that could take your reader beyond the primary text at hand (e.g., Equus). To ensure that your essay considers the breadth of scholarly conversation surrounding your topic, you're also asked to create a five-text annotated bibliography of essays and/or books on theory not covered in class. Here, then, are your requirements:
1. Five-page essay plus Works Cited (MLA style)
2. Five-text Annotated Bibliography (essays and/or books on theory not covered in class)
3. Paper version for class review
4.
Blog version
FINAL PAPER
Your final, ten-page paper (@2500 words) asks that you apply any of the theory discussed during the semester to another major work of fiction, in this instance, a novel, play, or film. You will want to reference the theoretical work already done for the semester, including the analyses of our primary texts.
With this essay assignment, I am most interested to see how you weave in our previous theoretical work with an analysis of a text of your choosing. The best essays will consider the larger implications of a particular theoretical analysis and present a substantial body of secondary sources. Your requirements are the following:
1. Ten-page essay plus Works Cited (MLA style)
2. In-class workshopping
3. Blog Version
GRADES
I grade holistically. Your assignments will receive comments, suggestions, and a grade range, e.g., "A-/B+". Your final grade will come at the semester's end, once your work is assessed in its entirety. Please feel free to come by my office, email, or phone me if you have concerns at any time during the semester. NOTE: it is most important that you check your email throughout the semester.
ATTENDANCE
This class is a workshop of peers and attendance is absolutely necessary. Please do not come late to class since repeated late arrivals will count as a full absence.
NOTE: You cannot pass this course if you miss more than two classes, miss an assignment, or plagiarize.
ACADEMIC HONESTY
You must be scrupulously honest in documenting the work that you have drawn from others. Like other institutions, CSUN maintains a strict academic honesty policy. Plagiarism is illegal and dishonest. All cases of academic dishonesty must be reported to the Dean, who may suspend or permanently dismiss you from CSUN. You will receive a course grade of F if you plagiarize in our class.
|
