Introduction to Literature (EN 4914) Spring 2015

Stephen Smith, Instructor

Stephen Smith 1800 Poplar Estates Parkway Germantown, TN 38138 (901) 751-3038 (Office) ssmith@mabts.edu

COURSE DESCRIPTION: This course offers an intensive study of major texts of literary heritage, with an emphasis on their historical and cultural contexts as well as their influence on society. Extended Description: This course will examine a variety of literary genres, including short stories, poetry, drama/plays, and novels. COURSE OBJECTIVES: 1. Explore and understand various literary genres. 2. Explore and understand literary devices. 3. Explore and understand an author’s intentions. 4. Employ analytical thinking in all aspects of literature. 5. Compare, contrast, and discuss literary readings. 6. Employ effective writing to demonstrate analytical thinking. General Education Outcomes: 1. Able to analyze and think critically. 2. Able to speak and write clearly and effectively.

Demonstrated by 1. Clear focus, organization, and development of verbal discussion and analysis of texts. 2. Clear focus, organization, and development of written assignments. 3. Use of appropriate writing style. 4. Effective use of sources and/or knowledge of subject matter.

1. Edit for organization using principles of effective organization. 2. Understand the production process and the editor’s responsibilities throughout the

process. 3. Know resources for editors, including style manuals, professional organizations and

periodicals, and publications on writing and editing.

2

QEP (Professional Practices) Outcomes: 1. Demonstrate the ability to write a brief research paper. 2. Demonstrate the ability to prepare an oral/visual presentation and engage an audience. 3. Demonstrate the ability to engage in argumentation through dialectic and rhetoric. 4. Demonstrate the ability to meet deadlines and adequately satisfy course requirements. REQUIRED TEXTS: Short Stories (Most if not all of these titles appear online for free) • “Young Goodman Brown” by Nathaniel Hawthorne • “Rip Van Winkle” by Washington Irving • “The Devil and Tom Walker” by Washington Irving • "The Devil and Daniel Webster" by Stephen Vincent Benet • "The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County" by Mark Twain • "The Ransom of Red Chief" by O. Henry Poetry • Sonnet 18 by William Shakespeare • “Rime of the Ancient Mariner” by Samuel Taylor Coleridge • “Kubla Kahn: Or a Vision in a Dream” by Samuel Taylor Coleridge • “The Landlord’s Tale: Paul Revere’s Ride” by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow • “The Naming of Cats” by T. S. Elliot • “The Rum Tum Tugger” by T. S. Elliot • “The Charge of the Light Brigade” by Alfred Lord Tennyson • “The Road Not Taken” by Robert Frost • “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening” by Robert Frost Drama/Plays • Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare • Cyrano de Bergerac by Edmond Rostand (I will be using the translation by Lowell Blair) • The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde The Bible • The Book of Ecclesiastes Novels • The Scarlet Pimpernel by Baroness Orczy • The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis • The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien Miscellaneous • The Myth of Sisyphus • “The Myth of Sisyphus” (from The Myth of Sisyphus) by Albert Camus (I will email a PDF

of this work) • Additional assignments and handouts as determined by the instructor.

3

BOOK REVIEW BOOKS: Choose one of the following texts:

• The Screwtape Letters by C. S. Lewis • The Red Badge of Courage by Stephen Crane • Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck • Silas Marner by George Eliot

REQUIRED MATERIALS: • Microsoft Word or compatible word processing program • Printer (analytical papers, quizzes, book reviews, and final papers must be submitted at the

beginning of class; equipment failure on part of the Seminary library will not be accepted as an excuse for failing to submit assignments)

• Internet access for research • MABTS email account COURSE REQUIREMENTS:

1. Analytical Papers [5 Papers (20%)] 2. Quizzes [5 Quizzes (20%)] 3. Book Review (15%) 4. Research Paper (20%) 5. Final Presentation [Slideshow and Information Handout (15%)] 6. Daily Reading Assignments (10%): Students are responsible to maintain and follow the

reading checklist distributed in class. Completion of the daily reading assignment is necessary before each class.

Notes: The student is expected to bring the required reading assignments to each class.

Failure to do so may result in the student being considered absent for this class. Not completing the required reading assignment is not an excuse for failing to submit exercises on time. A lack of daily preparation for this class on the part of the student may be considered as an absence for that class in addition to a loss of daily grading. An excused absence still factors into the total number of absences.

FORMAT FOR ASSIGNMENTS: The instructor will decide upon the proper format for each assignment. This class will consider the Chicago Manual of Style (CMOS) as the ultimate style guide, but will also recognize Kate L. Turabian’s A Manual for Writers of Research Papers, Theses, and Dissertations (8th ed.) as the style guide of choice at Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary. CLASS ATTENDANCE: According to the Mid-America Baptist Theological 2014–15 Catalog:

4

Student Attendance Expected Students are expected to attend all scheduled class sessions. However, it is recognized that from time to time emergencies interrupt normal class attendance. Excused Absences An excused absence is one caused by: personal or family illness, death in the family, or death or other emergency on the church field or place of employment that requires the student’s presence. No other absence is considered excused. An excused absence still factors into the total number of absences.

Students have a maximum of nine absences during the course term. Three tardy marks are equal to one absence. Attendance is recorded each day. It is the responsibility of the student to contact the instructor prior to class or by the end of class time to inform the instructor of an excused absence. If no contact is made, the absence will be marked as unexcused.

LATE WORK: Due dates for assigned work are clearly noted on the course schedule. It is expected that the student will comply with those due dates. Work turned in late will incur a deduction of two points for each calendar day late. The student is responsible to deliver late papers to his or her instructor. After one calendar week (seven days), no late assignment will be accepted, resulting in a zero for that grade. No papers will be accepted after the last day of class. Note on Grace: Grace is mercy extended on assignments due to emergencies. Emergencies are

defined as illness of student or immediate family; death within the immediate family; a church emergency (as determined by the instructor). An emergency is not defined as skipping an assignment for this class to complete an assignment in another class.

CLASS CONDUCT: 1. Disruptive conduct is defined as conduct that may include, but is not limited to, intentional

interference with the normal classroom procedure or presentation of the instructor or other student(s) and/or interference with another student’s right to pursue coursework.

2. The instructor has ultimate control over classroom behavior and may eject from the classroom any student engaged in disruptive conduct.

3. All talking should stop when the bell rings. Students should be attentive to the prayer requests of other class members.

4. No one is to leave the classroom until the class ends unless it is an emergency. 5. Computers, cell phones, and other electronic devices may only be used for taking notes or

other class related activities. Surfing the Internet, texting, tweeting, etc., are not permitted. Students who abuse this policy will not be allowed to bring such devices to class.

6. Class is not dismissed until the professor dismisses the class (even after the bell rings). 7. Students should exhibit a Christ-like attitude and demeanor at all times.

5

After a warning, points will be deducted from the student’s grade for violation of any of the above rules. POLICY ON ACADEMIC HONESTY: This class will define academic misconduct as cheating, plagiarism, forgery, and falsification of work. The guiding principle of academic honesty is that the student’s submitted work is the personal intellectual property with accurate attributions to, and citations of, others' work where appropriate. Academic misconduct will result in failure on the assignment or other consequences as determined by the instructor and the seminary administration. Note: Plagiarism can be either intentional or unintentional; both types are considered as

academic dishonesty. MEETINGS WITH THE PROFESSOR: Unless otherwise stated, the professor is available to meet with students immediately before or after class. For appointments at other times, please call, email, or meet with the instructor before or after class to set up a meeting. STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES: Any student who may need class or test accommodations based on the impact of a disability is encouraged to speak with the instructor privately to discuss the student’s specific needs. GRADING SCALE: Grade point averages are determined on a 12-point grading system. The grade point value of each letter grade is: Letter Grade Number Quality Points

A 97–100 4.0 quality points per semester hour

A- 95–96 3.8 quality points per semester hour

B+ 93–94 3.5 quality points per semester hour

B 90–92 3.0 quality points per semester hour

B- 87–89 2.7 quality points per semester hour

C+ 84–86 2.3 quality points per semester hour

C 81–83 2.0 quality points per semester hour

C- 77–80 1.7 quality points per semester hour

D+ 75–76 1.3 quality points per semester hour

D 72–74 1.0 quality points per semester hour

D- 70–71 0.7 quality points per semester hour

F 69 and below 0.0 quality points per semester hour

6

The 12-point grading scale allows a student to graduate possibly with a perfect 4.0 average. A grade point average of 2.0, however, will constitute the lowest passing average to graduate. Anything below 2.0 will be the basis for probation/suspension purposes. COURSE SCHEDULE: Notes: Syllabus may change at the discretion of the instructor. All assigned readings, written assignments, papers, and presentations are to be completed and turned in before the start of class of the due date.

Date Reading Assignment

(Due day of class) Class Discussion/Activity (Be prepared to discuss) Assignment(s) Due

Tuesday 01/20/15

Syllabus/Class Overview Thesis Statements

Sign statement of understanding Begin reading log

Wednesday 01/21/15

What is Literature? Why Study Literature?

Thursday 01/22/15

“Casey at the Bat” Analytical Papers “Casey at the Bat”

Tuesday 01/27/15

“Young Goodman Brown”

The Short Story Folktales “Young Goodman Brown”

Quiz #1

Wednesday 01/28/15

“Rip Van Winkle” “Rip Van Winkle”

Thursday 01/29/15

“The Devil and Tom Walker”

“The Devil and Tom Walker”

Tuesday 02/03/15

"The Devil and Daniel Webster"

"The Devil and Daniel Webster"

Analytical Paper #1

Wednesday 02/04/15

"The Ransom of Red Chief"

"The Ransom of Red Chief"

Thursday 02/05/15

"The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County"

"The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County"

Tuesday 02/10/15

“The Naming of Cats” by T. S. Elliot “The Rum Tum Tugger” by T. S. Elliot

Poetry “The Naming of Cats” by T. S. Elliot “The Rum Tum Tugger” by T. S. Elliot

Quiz #2

Wednesday 02/11/15

Sonnet 18 by William Shakespeare

Sonnet 18 by William Shakespeare

Thursday 02/12/15

“Rime of the Ancient Mariner” by Samuel Taylor Coleridge

“Rime of the Ancient Mariner” by Samuel Taylor Coleridge

Research Thesis Statement

Continued…

7

Date Reading Assignment

(Due day of class) Class Discussion/Activity (Be prepared to discuss) Assignment(s) Due

Tuesday 02/17/15

“The Landlord’s Tale: Paul Revere’s Ride” by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

“The Landlord’s Tale: Paul Revere’s Ride” by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Analytical Paper #2

Wednesday 02/18/15

“The Charge of the Light Brigade” by Alfred Lord Tennyson

“The Charge of the Light Brigade” by Alfred Lord Tennyson

Thursday 02/19/15

“The Road Not Taken” by Robert Frost “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening” by Robert Frost

“The Road Not Taken” by Robert Frost “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening” by Robert Frost

Tuesday 02/24/15

The Book of Ecclesiastes

The Book of Ecclesiastes Quiz #3

Wednesday 02/25/15

The Myth of Sisyphus The Myth of Sisyphus

Thursday 02/26/15

“The Myth of Sisyphus” by Albert Camus

“The Myth of Sisyphus”

Tuesday 03/03/15

Book Reviews Analytical Paper #3

Wednesday 03/04/15

Elevator Pitch (Research Project)

Thursday 03/05/15

Paper Discussion: be prepared to discuss your research during this class.

Spring Break, March 7–24, 2014 Tuesday 03/24/15

The Play

Wednesday 03/25/15

Twelfth Night Twelfth Night Quiz #4

Thursday 03/26/15

Twelfth Night Twelfth Night

Tuesday 03/31/15

Twelfth Night Twelfth Night

Wednesday 04/01/15

Cyrano de Bergerac Cyrano de Bergerac Analytical Paper #4

Thursday 04/02/15

Cyrano de Bergerac Cyrano de Bergerac

Tuesday 04/07/15

Cyrano de Bergerac Cyrano de Bergerac

Wednesday 04/08/15

The Importance of Being Earnest

The Importance of Being Earnest

Quiz #5

Continued…

8

Date Reading Assignment

(Due day of class) Class Discussion/Activity (Be prepared to discuss) Assignment(s) Due

Thursday 04/09/15

The Importance of Being Earnest

The Importance of Being Earnest

Book Review

Tuesday 04/14/15

The Importance of Being Earnest

The Importance of Being Earnest

Wednesday 04/15//15

Paper Discussion: be prepared to discuss your research during this class.

Thursday 04/16/15

The Novel

Tuesday 04/21/15

The Scarlet Pimpernel The Scarlet Pimpernel Analytical Paper #5

Wednesday 04/22/15

The Scarlet Pimpernel The Scarlet Pimpernel

Thursday 04/23/15

The Scarlet Pimpernel The Scarlet Pimpernel

Tuesday 04/28/15

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe Final Presentations

Wednesday 04/29/15

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe

Thursday 04/30/15

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe

Tuesday 05/05/15

In-Class Peer Review No excused absences

Wednesday 05/06/15

In-Class Peer Review

Thursday 05/07/15

In-Class Peer Review

Tuesday 05/12/15

The Hobbit The Hobbit Final Paper (No Exceptions)

Wednesday 05/13/15

The Hobbit The Hobbit

Thursday 05/14/15

The Hobbit The Hobbit Reading Checklist

Monday 05/18/15

Final Presentation PowerPoints and Handouts

Tuesday 05/19/15

Final Presentations

9

Analytical Papers (20%) The student will submit five one- to two-page double-spaced paper based on the weekly reading assignments or a topic otherwise assigned by the instructor. This assignment is to be typed using 12-point Times New Roman or Cambria font and must be submitted in printed form only (no electronic files). These papers are to be a brief critical analysis of the assigned readings or topics, not a summary of the readings. The student is to engage the text, not merely summarize or paraphrase the material. Quizzes (20%) The student will complete a brief quiz on the week’s assigned readings for a total of five quizzes for the semester. Book Review (15%) The student will submit a two- to three-page review of an assigned out-of-class reading for a book review, which is due Thursday, April 9, 2015. Research Paper (20%) The student will conduct a semester-long research project, culminating in a ten-page paper (not counting works cited) concerning a topic of his or her choosing as it relates to literature or the literary tradition. Format and all citations should follow the Turabian style guide. The final paper is due Tuesday, May 12, 2015. Final Presentation [Slideshow and Information Handout (15%)] Using his or her research paper as a source, the student will offer a five-minute PowerPoint presentation (and accompanying handout) of the research project. The final presentation slideshow and handout are due Monday, May18, 2015. The final presentation is Tuesday, May 19, 2014. Daily Readings Daily readings (before and during the scheduled class meeting) are necessary to complete this course. The student must sign and turn in the daily reading sheet (part of this syllabus) on Thursday, May 14, 2015, as his or her testimony that the assigned readings are indeed completed.

• Honesty and Integrity: As MABTS students, the administration assumes you are saved and have been called by God into ministry, missions, Christian education, or counseling; therefore, the administration assumes you will be obedient and honest regarding reading assignments (and, for that matter, homework and exams). However, if a student decides to be less than truthful on this form (or any work in this class), the student should exam himself or herself: are you truly saved, are you really called, or are you in a right relationship with the Lord? If dishonesty is discovered, grading for the entire coursework will result in a zero and academic discipline (possibly and probably expulsion).

10

READING CHECKLIST

Date Reading Assignment Topic % 01/20/15 Syllabus/Class Overview Begin reading log _____ 01/21/15 _____ 01/22/15 “Casey at the Bat” “Casey at the Bat” _____ 01/27/15 “Young Goodman Brown” “Young Goodman Brown” _____ 01/28/15 “Rip Van Winkle” “Rip Van Winkle” _____ 01/29/15 “The Devil and Tom Walker” “The Devil and Tom Walker” _____ 02/03/15 "The Devil and Daniel Webster" "The Devil and Daniel Webster" _____ 02/04/15 "The Ransom of Red Chief" "The Ransom of Red Chief" _____ 02/05/15 "The Celebrated Jumping Frog of

Calaveras County" "The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County" _____

02/10/15 “The Naming of Cats” “The Rum Tum Tugger”

“The Naming of Cats” “The Rum Tum Tugger” _____

02/11/15 Sonnet 18 Sonnet 18 _____ 02/12/15 “Rime of the Ancient Mariner” “Rime of the Ancient Mariner” _____ 02/17/15 “The Landlord’s Tale: Paul Revere’s

Ride” “The Landlord’s Tale: Paul Revere’s Ride” _____

02/18/15 “The Charge of the Light Brigade” “The Charge of the Light Brigade” _____

02/19/15 “The Road Not Taken” “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening”

“The Road Not Taken” “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening” _____

02/24/15 The Book of Ecclesiastes The Book of Ecclesiastes _____ 02/25/15 The Myth of Sisyphus (Mythology) The Myth of Sisyphus _____ 02/26/15 “The Myth of Sisyphus” (Camus) “The Myth of Sisyphus” _____ 03/25/15 Twelfth Night Twelfth Night _____ 03/26/15 Twelfth Night Twelfth Night _____ 03/31/15 Twelfth Night Twelfth Night _____ 04/01/15 Cyrano de Bergerac Cyrano de Bergerac _____ 04/02/15 Cyrano de Bergerac Cyrano de Bergerac _____ 04/07/15 Cyrano de Bergerac Cyrano de Bergerac _____ 04/08/15 The Importance of Being Earnest The Importance of Being

Earnest _____ 04/21/15 The Scarlet Pimpernel The Scarlet Pimpernel _____ 04/28/15 The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe The Lion, the Witch, and the

Wardrobe _____ 05/12/15 The Hobbit The Hobbit _____

11

READING CHECKLIST VERIFICATION I, ___________________________________________, have completed _______ percent of the (Print first and last name.) (Total) reading assignments as indicated on this page. Student signature: _______________________________________________________________

(Sign and return this page to the instructor at the last class meeting.)

12

SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY

Booth, Wayne C. The Rhetoric of Fiction. 2nd ed. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1983.

Bevington, David. The Complete Works of Shakespeare. 4th ed. New York: Longman, 1997. Buell, Lawrence. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow: Selected Poems. New York: Penguin Books,

1988. Charter, Ann, and Samuel Charter. Literature and Its Writers. 6th ed. Boston: Bedford/St.

Martin’s, 2013. Damrosch, David, and Kevin J. Dettmar. The Longman Anthology of British Literature. Vol. 2.

New York: Pearson Longman, 2006. Eagleton, Terry. How to Read Literature. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 2013.

Eliot, T. S. Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats. New York: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 1989. Foss, Sonja K. Rhetorical Criticism: Exploration and Practice. 4th ed. Long Grove, Ill:

Waveland Press, 2009. Frost, Robert. Frost: Collected Poems, Prose, & Plays. 9th ed. New York: Library of America,

1995. Fraser, Russell A., and Norman Rabkin. Drama of the English Renaissance. Vol. I and II. New

York: Macmillan, 1976. Greenblatt, Stephen, and M. H. Abrams. The Norton Anthology of English Literature: The

Romantic Period. Volume D. 8th ed. New York: W.W. Norton, 2006. ———. The Norton Anthology of English Literature: The Victorian Period. Volume E. 8th ed.

New York: W.W. Norton, 2006. Johnson-Sheehan, Richard, and Charles Paine. Writing Today. 2nd ed. Boston: Pearson, 2013.

Lunsford, Andrea A. Writing Matters: Rhetoric in Public and Private Lives. Athens, GA: University of Georgia Press, 2007.

Litz, A. Walton. Major American Short Stories. Revised Edition. New York: Oxford University Press, 1980.

Lunsford, Andrea A. Writing Matters: Rhetoric in Public and Private Lives. Athens, GA: University of Georgia Press, 2007.

Woodard, Roger D., ed. The Cambridge Companion to Greek Mythology. New York: Cambridge University Press, 2007.

13

STATEMENT OF UNDERSTANDING AND AGREEMENT I, ___________________________________________, have read this syllabus for EN 4914 (Print first and last name.) (Introduction to Literature) and understand its content and purpose. In addition, I understand the institution and instructor’s definition of and policy regarding plagiarism. I agree to the terms and conditions of this syllabus. Student signature: _______________________________________________________________

(Sign and return this page to the instructor.)