Living Literature: An Introduction to Fiction, Poetry, and Drama. Ed. John C. Brereton. New York: Pearson Longman, 2008. ISBN: 0321088999

Shelley, Mary Wollstonecraft, Bram Stoker, and Robert Louis Stevenson. Frankenstein, Dracula, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Introduction by Stephen King. New York: Signet Classic/Mass Market Paperback, 1978. ISBN: 0451523636

Conrad, Joseph, and Rudyard Kipling. Heart of Darkness, The Man Who Would Be King, and other Works on Empire. Ed. David Damrosch. New York: Pearson Longman, 2007. ISBN: 03213634678

Harmon, William. A Handbook to Literature. New York: Prentice Hall, 2005. ISBN-10: 0131344420 top

Introduction to Literature is a course which is meant to expose you to a breadth of English literature in a relatively short period of time. On our journey, we will encounter a variety of genres from a variety of literary periods and cultures, and we will spend some time with each and every one of them: poetry, the short story, drama, and the novel. In addition to reading some of the most important pieces of literary culture, we will also attempt to include as many other forms of media in our exploration as possible. We will listen to audio recordings, and we will watch movies whenever possible and appropriate. It is our goal this semester to encounter literature in its various forms, to engage with its varieties, and to respond to them critically.

Since the primary focus this semester will lie on fostering a professional environment in which we can read, discuss, and write about literature freely and competently, you are strongly encouraged to bring in whatever visual aids or stories you might have discovered in preparation for class discussion or an oral report. In addition to regular participation in class discussion, you are also expected to research the literature we read and present your findings to the class. Short paper assignments, class discussion, and group presentations will be the most important tools of literary exploration this semester. top

At the end of this course you should be able to:

• Read, comprehend, and respond to literature in a confident and competent manner.
• Write reflective, interpretive, and critical essays about a variety of literary genres.
• Identify, utilize, and criticize various critical/theoretical approaches to literature.
• Contextualize and historicize texts from a variety of literary periods. top

Group Presentation 15%
Each student will work in small groups and prepare a 20 min. group presentation on one or several critical articles about one of the primary texts we are studying as a class. This presentation will account for 15% of your final grade. top

Two reflective papers 20%
Each of these reflective papers (2-4 pages each; see daily schedule for due dates) will account for 10% of your final grade for a total 20%. top

Two exams 30%
One at midterm and one during finals week, these tests (see daily schedule for exact dates) will, respectively, account for 10% and 20% of your final grade. top

Final project 25%
Each student will work in small groups to read one of the selected supplemental novels that we will not cover as a class (see handout for more details). Students will read and discuss the novel they have chosen and will complete both an individual paper component (2-4 pages) and a group presentation component (20 min. presentation). This project will account for 25% of your final grade for the course. top

Participation 10%

Active class participation (i.e. this includes pop quizzes, discussion prompts, and short written responses to the assigned reading) will account for the remaining 10% of your final grade. top

Read these guidelines carefully and ask me for clarifications if you experience problems understanding one or several of these policies. Your success in English 102 is dependent upon your complete comprehension of all guidelines and policies.

• All assigned readings need to be completed before class in preparation for class discussion, pop quizzes and short in-class reaction papers on the reading material. All assignments must be typed and proofread.

• No late assignments will be accepted; please plan accordingly.Remember, it is your responsibility to stay in contact with me and to ask me for help if you are experiencing difficulties following the course material or completing work on time.

• Timely attendance in class is a requirement for all students enrolled in English 102. Two late arrivals will count as one absence. Students with four absences will earn an F for the course. Excused absences are still absences, so please keep careful tabs on your attendance.

 Note: By staying in this class, you are showing your acceptance of and compliance with these guidelines and policies. top

You are responsible for finding out what you missed on the days you were absent, and this should not take place by asking me at the beginning of the next class period. Call, e-mail, or swing by my office prior to our next meeting as a class. Alternatively, gather the names, phone numbers, and E-mail addresses of at least two other students (preferably four) you can contact to find out what happened in class. I suggest that you record this information below, so you will have it handy when you need it. top

Name: ________________________        Name: ________________________   Name: ________________________
Phone: ________________________        Phone: ________________________   Phone: ________________________

E-mail:  ________________________    E-mail:________________________   E-mail:_________________________

Robinson 202: My door is always open. If you have questions about assignment instructions or expectations please come and see me. I can guarantee you that I will be in my office during my scheduled office hours, but I am in my office quite a bit outside of office hours as well. I encourage you to stop by and talk with me.

My E-mail account: The quickest way to contact me outside of class is through E-mail. I check my E-mail account frequently, and both my home and my office computer are connected to the Internet at all times. I promise to try to get back to you within 24 hour of your message if at all possible.

A Note on E-mail Etiquette: I am more than happy to answer questions and discuss research topics via E-mail. I do trust, however, that all e-mails will be written in a respectful, professional tone and that they will be proofread before they are sent. Remember please that this is a university level English course and that your writing needs to reflect that.

Note: Students with disabilities need to come see me and arrange accommodations during the first week of class. top

Plagiarism is grounds for failing an assignment and the course, and all incidents of plagiarism will be reported to the Department Chair, the Dean, and the Academic Vice President. Save drafts, notes, and outlines for all of your written and oral assignments. You are expected to provide evidence of significant invention and revision for all work produced for English 102; be prepared to do so, and keep track of your work notes. top

You will need to complete all of the reading by the day it is listed on the syllabus, announced in class, and/or posted on the website. As in all classes, the schedule will occasionally need to be shifted to accommodate class discussion. Changes will be announced in class and/or posted on the course website www.wsu.edu/~vtheile/engl102-2. Be sure to check the website regularly and contact your classmates when you miss class. It is your responsibility to keep track of reading assignments and scheduling updates. top