FALL 1998
ENG 600: INTRODUCTION TO GRADUATE STUDY
COURSE SYLLABUS
- Professor: Dr. Fidel Fajardo-Acosta
- Course: ENG 600, Call # 9212
- Class Time: Thursdays, 5:00-7:30 PM
- Classroom: Instructional Technology Classroom, Reinert Alumni Library
Building (UL), Room L02
- Course Dates: Thursday, August 27-Monday, December 14, 1998
- Office Hours: Tuesdays and Thursdays 11:00-12:00, 2:00-4:30 PM and
by appointment
- Office: Hitchcock Communication Arts Building (CA) Room 304A
- Office Telephone: (402) 280-2522
- e-mail: fajardo@creighton.edu
- WWW Home Page: http://mockingbird.creighton.edu/english/worldlit/fajardo.htm
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course constitutes a formal introduction to graduate study in the English
language and its literature. An important goal of the course is to introduce
students to the study of traditional, modern, and contemporary literary
criticism, its practical applications, and its consequences for reading
and writing. In addition to the ideas of selected critics from Plato and
Aristotle to Edward Said and Julia Kristeva, the course will survey major
twentieth-century intellectual movements such as Formalism, Structuralism,
American New Criticism, Poststructuralism, Reader-Oriented Theories, Gender
Studies, New Historicism, Cultural and Postcolonial Studies. Other important
aspects of the course involve consideration of the materials, techniques,
and tools of scholarly research--including printed sources as well as computers
and electronic media (Internet, World Wide Web, etc.). The class will be
conducted following the model of an advanced seminar where students work
on individual research projects under the guidance of the instructor. Class
time will be devoted to student presentations and discussion of the reading
materials, as well as training and guidance in the use of the necessary
technology.
TEXTS
Joseph Gibaldi, MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers,
Fourth Edition (Modern Language Association, 1995)
Raman Selden, Peter Widdowson & Peter Brooker, A Reader's Guide
to Contemporary Literary Theory, Fourth Edition (Prentice
Hall, 1997)
Hazard Adams, Critical Theory Since Plato, Revised Edition
(Harcourt Brace, Jovanovich, 1992)
COURSE REQUIREMENTS
1) Paper (40%)
Students in this course will be required to work through the several stages
(proposal + annotated bibliography, preliminary draft(s), oral presentation,
and final copy) of a major analytical/research paper project (20-25 pages).
The paper should attempt to offer an original contribution to the understanding
of an English or American literary text and demonstrate command of literary
criticism and the techniques of scholarship covered in the course. Notice
that the paper's thesis may be any issue connected to any aspect of a literary
text chosen by the student. Papers may offer personal interpretations based
on close, attentive reading of a specific and well-defined aspect of a literary
text. Such interpretations however must always be presented and discussed
in the context of the scholarship. Possible subjects for papers include
consideration of the significance of themes, situations, passages, images,
characters, symbols, motifs, language, structure, etc. of the chosen text(s).
Papers must provide evidence for all their claims in the form of extended
discussion and explanation of relevant textual and contextual features as
well as references to the work of other scholars. In addition to logical
thought, reading comprehension, and writing skill, papers should feature
independent thinking, originality, precise and detailed analysis, as well
as understanding of the complexities of meaning in literary texts. Papers
must show awareness and accurate use of primary and secondary sources, relevant
facts, historical information, cultural/intellectual backgrounds, different
interpretations, and literary terminology and concepts. Students must observe
the MLA guidelines in all their written work (see Gibaldi's MLA
Handbook for Writers of Research Papers).
Paper Development Stages
- Paper Proposal. Early in the term (see Schedule below), students
will submit to the instructor a 1-2 page formal proposal describing the
topic/thesis to be explored and developed in the paper. The proposal should
clearly define the paper's object of study, problems to be considered,
positions and hypotheses, possible implications/consequences of the analysis,
and theoretical/intellectual methods to be applied. Proposal should be
written in narrative, essay style; featuring full paragraphs and a coherent
organization, as well as logical sequencing and development of the arguments
(mere outlines or lists of ideas are not acceptable). The proposal should
make specific and accurate mention of relevant sources and related scholarly
work and the specific ways in which they will be used in the study.
- Annotated Bibliography. Together with the proposal, students
will submit an annotated bibliography offering full bibliographical information
and summary/description of contents of at least ten recent (within the
last ten years) articles, books, or book chapters directly relevant
to the project defined in the proposal. Each entry should feature two distinct
fields corresponding to the required tasks, i.e. 1) bibliographical info,
2) description of contents. Entries in the bibliography should be as detailed
as possible but no longer than one typewritten page (250-350 words). Reference
works are not acceptable as entries for the annotated bibliography.
- Draft. Toward the middle of the term (see Schedule below), students
will submit a draft of the paper (10-15 pages). The instructor will return
the drafts with corrections and suggestions for revisions.
- Oral Presentation. Toward the end of the term (see Schedule
below), each student will make an oral presentation describing her/his
project to the class. All presentations will be followed by a question
and answer period. Suggestions and criticisms made at that time by the
instructor and other students should be taken into account n the final
revision of the paper.
- Final Copy. At the end of the term (see Schedule below), students
will submit the final copy of the paper (20-25 pages). The final version
of the paper should include the full text of the paper, a thorough list
of works cited (NOT an annotated bibliography), and all relevant foot-
or endnotes. No late papers, revisions, or other changes will be accepted
after the specified deadline.
2) Presentations (25%)
- Throughout the semester, students will take turns in making 15-30 minute
presentations on the various authors and critical texts covered in the
course. Students will be responsible for reading and researching the substance
and background of the assigned texts and presenting their findings to the
class. Presentations may cover any facts or issues relevant to the content,
history, authorship, cultural significance and/or analysis and interpretation
of the critical texts studied. In addition to reading the relevant materials
in the textbooks, students are expected to pursue relevant library research
in order to enrich their presentations. Also encouraged, whenever possible,
is the use of audiovisual materials (pictures, slides, videotapes, audio
recordings, multimedia computer presentations, etc.). Students requiring
special equipment (projectors, computers, etc.) must inform the instructor
in advance. In addition to presentations on the course materials, each
student will also make an oral presentation describing and reporting on
the nature and progress of her/his paper project (see Paper above). All
presentations will be followed by discussion and question/answer periods.
It is strongly encouraged that students use their personal research web
site during their presentations (see details below). All students will
display their completed web sites on the day of their last oral presentation.
3) Personal Research Web Site (25%)
- Each student will be required to create, develop, and maintain a personal
research web site featuring information on the research, presentations
and other work pursued by the student in the course. Students should post
there outlines, illustrations, references, and links to other resources
relevant to their work. It is strongly suggested that students use their
web site in conjunction with their presentations (a networked computer
and projector will be available to display web sites in the classroom).
Such pages may also feature any other items relevant to the student's interests
and/or activities. The web site will be evaluated on the basis of content,
organization, design, creativity, functionality, and effort. Students will
show their completed web sites in class on the same day of their last oral
presentation.
4) Other Performance (10%)
- Class participation, attendance, effort, attentiveness, preparation,
responsibility, and, in general, active and constructive involvement in
all aspects of the course will be graded by the instructor. Notice
that any student missing more than 30% of class time may, at the discretion
of the instructor, fail the course.
GRADING AND OTHER POLICIES
Deadlines: Make-ups/extensions for a missed deadline will only be given
in cases of documented serious illness or other valid, non-frivolous excuse
such as documented participation in official University sports or academic/service
events (it will be up to the instructors to determine and decide on the
acceptability of an excuse). Otherwise, students must meet all deadlines
specified in the syllabus.
Student Conduct and Academic Honesty: All students in the class
are expected to observe the University's guidelines on student conduct as
described in Creighton University's Student Handbook (see "Code of
Conduct," and especially the section on "Academic Misconduct"
dealing with problems of plagiarism, cheating, etc.). Plagiarism-- the unacknowledged
use of outside help and sources (books, articles, other student papers or
ideas, etc.)--will result in failing the assignment and/or the entire course.
Grading: All assignments and relevant aspects of a student's performance
will be graded on a 100-point scale, where 90-100=A (Outstanding), 80-89=B
(Very Good/Satisfactory), 70-79=C (Marginally Satisfactory), 60-69=D (Not
satisfactory), 0-59=F (Failing). Early stages of the paper (proposal, bibliography,
draft, etc.) will be evaluated with the preliminary marks S-, S, S+ for
different degrees of satisfactoriness of the work (where S- corresponds
approximately to the 0-79 range, S to 80-89, and S+ to 90-100). The final
version of the paper will be assessed a grade on the standard 0-100 scale
as described above. Please note that, in general, graduate students should
have a B (80-89) or higher average in order to maintain good standing in
the program. The course grade will be calculated according to the following
formula:
| Paper |
40% |
| Presentations |
25% |
| Personal Research Web Site |
25% |
| Other Performance |
10% |
| Total |
100% |
CLASS SCHEDULE
Students should come to every class having done the reading assigned
and prepared to present and discuss the relevant issues, pose questions,
offer answers, and actively participate in all aspects of the class discussion.
Thu Aug 27
- General introduction to library research and electronic research tools
(MLA bibliography on-line and printed sources, Internet research tools,
library catalogues on line, Web Browsers, etc). Read Chapter 1, "Research
and Writing" (pp. 1-40) in Gibaldi's MLA Handbook for Writers of
Research Papers
Thu Sep 03
- Literary Criticism in Antiquity: Plato, Aristotle (read selections in Adams anthology)
Thu Sep 10
- Literary Criticism in the Middle Ages: Augustine,
Aquinas (read selections in Adams anthology)
Thu Sep 17
- Literary Criticism in the Renaissance: Sidney,
Bacon (read selections in Adams anthology)
Thu Sep 24
- Literary Criticism in the Neoclassical Age: Pope,
Johnson (read selections in Adams anthology)
Thu Oct 01
- Literary Criticism in the Age of Romanticism: Schlegel,
Coleridge (read selections in Adams anthology).
PROPOSAL AND ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY DUE.
Thu Oct 08
- Foundations of Modern Critical Theory: Marx, Nietzsche, Freud (read
selections in Adams anthology)
Thu Oct 15
- Moral Formalism and New Criticism. Reader's Guide's "Introduction"
and "New Criticism, Moral Formalism, and F. R. Leavis"; read
also Arnold, Eliot selections in Adams anthology.
Thu Oct 22
Thu Oct 29
- Russsian Formalism and Structuralism. Reader's Guide's "Russian
Formalism" and "Structuralist Theories"; read also Saussure,
Barthes selections in Adams anthology. PAPER DRAFT DUE.
Thu Nov 05
- Poststructuralism and Reader Oriented Criticism. Reader's Guide's "Poststructuralist
Theories" and "Reader-Oriented Theories"; read also Derrida,
Lacan selections in Adams anthology.
Thu Nov 12
- Ira Sadoff, Poetry Reading, 7:30 PM, Rigge Science 120
Thu Nov 19
- Political Criticism. Reader's Guide's "Marxist Theories,"
"Feminist Theories" and "Postmodernist and Postcolonialist
Theories"; read also Said, Kristeva in Adams anthology.
Thu Nov 26
Thu Dec 03
- STUDENT PROJECT AND WEB SITE PRESENTATIONS
Thu Dec 10
- STUDENT PROJECT AND WEB SITE PRESENTATIONS. Conclusion. Evaluations
(bring a #2 pencil).
Mon Dec 14
- PAPERS DUE IN INSTRUCTOR'S OFFICE OR MAILBOX BY 12:00 NOON