About

Class syllabi

"No sooner do we come into this world than bits of us start to drop off." -- Gustave Flaubert

EN 290
Introduction to Language and Literature
12:45 PM, TR, Dana 21

Dr. Todd Comer
Email: proftod AT gmail DOT com (you must include "lang" in your subject)
Office hours: In Dana 6, by appointment:

Course Description and Objectives: The course catalog states, "An overview of topics related to the study of language and literary criticism. Emphasis is on the social elements of language and criticism, including topics in sociolinguistics and developments in literary criticism as they relate to class, ethnicity, and gender. Prerequisite: EN 111. Offered in alternate years."

EN 290 operates as a general introduction to literary theory and topics in sociolinguistics. While it is undoubtedly dangerous to define what is commonly termed "theory," I will hazard the following tentative definition: theory is that which allows us to more clearly and precisely think about our thinking. Got that?

Another way of saying the same thing is that this will be a class that complicates our thinking. Matters that seemed natural, simple, and foreclosed to continued consideration, will be reconsidered. Identity, narrative, sexuality, the Author, and reality will be complicated. If all of this seems rather abstract, that is because it is. We will attempt, however, to be as concrete as possible by bringing our theoretical discussion to bear on concrete cultural texts. While the reading will be hard going, our texts will generally be short. To spice up the class I have added films, comics, "kiddie lit," short stories, pop music, poetry, and anything else that could assist us in understanding some difficult issues, as well as augment our fun quotient.

What teaching style should you expect in this class?
It is important that you realize that not every class will be the same at college. Each professor's teaching style depend on the material he or she has to convey. In a science classroom, for example, you may encounter PowerPoint presentations. In my courses, my primary concern is to teach students how to analyze a text and construct arguments firmly grounded in a text. I am not teaching one specific argument; instead, think of me as teaching how to make an argument in general. This means that my classes may not "appear" to have a clear point as I am intent on engaging the entire class in a conversation that slowly produces an argument. Sometimes our classroom conversation will create a coherent point; other times, it may not. The process of discovery is, in many respects, the key. You must quickly learn how to take notes on these conversations because what often looks like mere conversation includes important ideas. Please stay engaged in your note-taking and in the classroom conversation.

MAJOR TEXTS

Note about texts: Literary and filmic texts represent the world and the world, to say the least, is often not a pretty picture. It is necessary, however, to take a long, hard look at personal, social, communal misery in order to understand and imagine a way out of what can often be termed unethical, if not tragic circumstances. That, at any rate, is my basic ethical justification as I read any text. If you are offended by a course text, it is your responsibility to approach me prior to the discussion of the text and request a substitute reading/viewing assignment.

Helpful Resources:

Bibliography of Texts Used to Prepare for EN 290:

Grades
Journal: 30
Mid-Term Essay: 25
Final Essay: 25
Participation: 10
Quizzes: 10

100-93 = A
92-90 = A-
89-87 = B+
86-83 = B
82-80 = B-
79-77 = C+
76-73 = C
72-70 = C-
69-67 = D+
66-63 = D
62-60 = D-
59-00 = F

Note about submissions: I have many students and this can easily lead to confusion. Please provide me with hard copies of your assignments on the day that they are due; do not trust me to keep track of email submissions, which I prefer not to receive. Secondly, do not turn your assignments in early or late (without good reason).

Journal: Rather than quizzes or minithemes, you will journal over each nonfiction text  that we read. Each journal entry will be due at the beginning of class on the day of our first discussion of the text(s). The complete semester journal will be due at the end of the semester. Full information may be found on the website (link); please read and follow the handout as you write and prepare your journals.

Quizzes: You will be quizzed, primarily, over the literary readings.

Exams: The mid-term and final exam will both be of the "take-home" variety.

Participation: Physical presence alone is not enough; you must come to work, not to watch. You must engage in conversation on class topics to receive any credit in this grade category. You must give your full attention to the demands of class discussions and collaboration. To make this as as concrete as possible: if you add only two comments to our conversation during the entire semester, you will earn a 0.0 in this grade category. If you talk fairly often (once a week at least), you will normally receive full credit. Participation also means the willingness to thoughtfully and respectfully discuss your own writing, that of your classmates, and any other class readings. You need not always agree with others' responses and evaluations (in fact, disagreement is often useful), but you must be willing to take everyone's opinion seriously and try to understand it on its own terms. Participation is not however solely in-class conversation. Participation may also include one-on-one conversation with your instructor, WebCT discussion, as well as your group participation.

Class Decorum: The following activities are inappropriate in any classroom: text messaging, talking off-topic, listening to music, not listening to others, carrying on separate class conversations, checking email, sleeping, and/or studying for a separate course. Such rude activities annoy your classmates and professors. Keep in mind that your professors love what they do. Rude behavior is particularly frustrating in that light. Your participation grade will be severely penalized for such activities.

Attendance Policy: Regular class attendance is required. You are allowed three absences; save them for illness, religious observances, funerals, court dates, job interviews. For each additional absence, your final grade will be lowered five points. Eight absences constitute immediate failure of the course. You must be present for the entire period (tardiness will count as half an absence). Should a medical or family emergency arise that will require your absence beyond four classes, please notify me as soon as possible. You will be expected to provide documentation from a physician or hospital and to make up missed work. If a conflict arises between your obligation to attend class and an obligation to the college community, it is your responsibility to see me in advance, to hand in all assignments on time, and to make up work missed during your absence. Consistent tardies will also count against your participation grade.

Attendance at the following is required at the following:

  • McMaster Symposium, Wed.,-Thurs.,March 30-31
One of the following:
  • DC Film Series Wednesday nights @ 7:30pm in Schomburg
  • Or: Anime Road Trip (BGSU Animarathon), Saturday, March 26
  • Or: Wednesday, February 16: "Mario and Murder: Video Games and Violence in American Culture," Stefan Hall; Wednesday, March 16: "Politely Correct: The Emotional Power of Words," Jerri Courtney

Academic dishonesty: Academic dishonesty is a serious violation of the integrity of the educational process and community. As the Defiance College Academic Integrity Policy states (see your student handbook), "All members of the DC community are expected to engage in their academic tasks with integrity and respect for others. A major part of the learning accomplished in college is the development of critical thinking skills, and these skills are only developed when each person's work reflects his or her own original thought.

Defiance College is committed to helping each student to understand and practice the highest degree of integrity in his or her academic work, and to take from that work the greatest intellectual and ethical benefit." Furthermore, "The basic rule for academic honesty is that a student's work should always be his or her own."

Plagiarism, a form of academic dishonesty, occurs when students use the ideas and/or language/wording of another without proper citation or quotation, irregardless of a student's intent. Students who recycle work from another course, passing it off as new work are also guilty of academic dishonesty. Students who commit academic dishonesty will fail the assignment, if not the course, and have their actions formally reported to the Academic Dean's Office.

A lengthier description of plagiarism can be found in your writer's handbook and on my web site. Please reference this page and/or talk with me if you have any doubts whatsoever about your use of sources.

Accomodation Policy for Students with Disabilities: Defiance College is committed to providing educational opportunities for qualified students with documented disabilities through the provision of reasonable accommodations, in compliance with the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Section 504).  The purpose of accommodations is to provide equal access to educational opportunities without altering essential elements of programs or courses.  All requests for accommodations are evaluated on an individual basis after review and evaluation of documentation.  It is the responsibility of the student to request necessary accommodations and the student should do so as early as possible, as some accommodations may require time to implement. 

Students with a documented physical, psychological, or learning disability must submit appropriate documentation to Defiance College’s Accessibility Services Coordinator, Lisa Marsalek, Assistant Dean of Students/Director of Career Development at Extension 2366 or lmarsalek@defiance.edu. Please refer to pages 20-21 of the Course Catalog for Defiance College’s Accommodations Policy for Students with Disabilities which includes the documentation required for accommodations (2010).  

Final Procedural Note: I make heavy use of email and the class site for announcements. You should check your email and the website daily.

Schedule: Readings are due on the day they are listed. Several online readings (poetry and short stories) are not listed. You will want to check the class site on a daily basis. In addition, the instructor reserves the right to alter the schedule and will notify students of any changes. Naturally, neither grading criteria nor major assignments are subject to change. Please note all of the online readings which are linked to. These are also required reading.

SCHEDULE

Module I: Authors, Readers, Narrative, and Ideology
Core questions:

"We accept the reality with which we are presented."
-- The Truman Show

Who creates this reality and why?

How does this reality control us?

What is narrative's relationship to reality?

Where is agency (in language?) to be found?

Week 1 1.10
Tuesday Pass out syllabus; introductions.
Thursday Read "Readers and reading" in Bennett. First journals are due today. See site for more information about journals

Week 2 1.17
Tuesday Read "The Author" in Bennett.
Thursday Read "The Text and the world" in Bennett.

Week 3 1.24
Tuesday Read James Joyce's long story, "the Dead" (link, just read the one short story)
Thursday Read "Narrative" in Bennett. Stop by Todd's office for feedback on journal at this time

Week 4 1.31
Tuesday  Read "Ideology" in Bennett, and Edgar Allan Poe's "The Purloined Letter" (link)
Thursday  Continue. 

Week 5 2.07
Tuesday Read "Figures and tropes" in Bennett.
Thursday Read first half of Watchmen.

Week 6 2.14
Tuesday Discuss
Thursday  Finish Watchmen. Introduce Midterm Essay

Week 7 2.21
Tuesday  Read "The postmodern" in Bennett. Discuss Watchmen. 
Thursday Discuss Watchmen. Rough draft of essay due. 

Week 8 2.28
Tuesday  Read "the End" in Bennett. Discuss Watchmen. 
Thursday  Midterm essay due.

Module II: Language and Society
Core questions:

What is language?

What is its nature?

What are the politics of language?

Week 9 3.14
Tuesday View American Tongues (or "Do You Speak American"); Read Chapter 10 in An Introduction to Language.
Thursday Discuss.  

Week 10 3.21
Tuesday   Read Chapter 11 in LANG.  Scatman John video.
Thursday Discuss.

Week 11 3.28
Tuesday Continue with Ch. 11. Read page 30-34 in LANG and read/print out "Free God language': fired parish worker's thesis" (no journal over this latter reading). Debate Sapir-Whorf. 
Thursday No Class. Attend McMaster Symposium.

Week 12 4.04
Tuesday Read Chapter 12 in LANG.
Thursday Read Chapter 12 in LANG.  Read Audre Lorde's "Transformation of Silence" (link)

Module III: Gender, Sex, and Feminism
Core questions:

There is no gender identity behind the expressions of gender. Identity is performatively constituted by the very 'expressions' that are said to be its results. -- Judith Butler

To what degree is identity performed, or inborn, natural?

How does patriarchal power operate?

Week 13 4.11
Tuesday  View TransAmerica (104 min.). Read "Sexual Difference" in Bennett.
Thursday View TransAmerica. Read "Desire" in Bennett.

Week 14 4.18
Tuesday  Discuss. Introduce Final Essay. Listen to Louis Armstrong's "I'm a Man, You're a Woman (link).
Thursday Discuss. Read "Queer" in Bennett.

Week 15 4.25
Tuesday  Read Marilyn Frye's "Oppression," from The Politics of Reality (print from link). Last day.  

Final Examinations ....Thursday-Wednesday, April 28-May 4: Journal Due. Essay Due. Evaluations.