Home

Schedule

Policies

Work

Assignments

Handouts

Library Resources

Online Resources

WebCT

Course Blog

Syllabus (.pdf)

Schedule (.pdf)

Essays

Essay 1: Choose any two theoretical positions and practical approaches from sections 2.3-2.10 (other than Practical Criticism) and apply them to any one work or section from a work (choose approaches from two different sections, i.e. don't choose both Cultural Materialism and New Historicism, but instead choose something like Cultural Materialism and Psychological Approaches, Formalism and Poststructuralism, or Feminism and New Criticism). Your purpose is to compare the insights the two methods provide. As you apply your two chosen methods, you will likely need to draw from various common topics (5-6 pages). Refer to section 4.2: "Frameworks and Checklists for Close Reading" (pp. 268-72), which can help you think about how to frame your response.

Unlike the short papers, your initial theoretical or practical readings of the text can more closely resemble the examples at the end of each section in The English Studies Book. You will, however, want to make sure those readings are coherent and that they include plenty of examples from the text you're analyzing.

Once you have written up your two readings, you'll want to discuss the similarities and differences between the two approaches. Did they lead you to focus on different aspects of the text? Did either approach lead you to different insights and ways of understanding the text? Was there any overlap in the kinds of questions you asked or in the issues you explored? Did the two approaches lead you to similar or different conclusions about the text? Did one seem easier than the other? Why do you think this was the case? Did one seem a better suited to the text you studied? If so, why do you think this is the case?

Ultimately, you'll want to shape your paper into an organized and well-supported essay that compares and contrasts the two approaches and what each revealed about the text you've analyzed.

(Due December 1 if you want the option of revision, and December 5 if you do not.)

Short Papers

Short Paper 1: Apply Practical or New Criticism to "Farmer Giles of Ham" (1 - 2 pages). You may find it easier to choose a passage or scene from the story and focus in on that. Do refer to section 4.2: "Frameworks and Checklists for Close Reading" (pp. 268-72), which can help you think about how to frame your response. Your goal is to use the approach of New Criticism to write a short, focused argument about the passage you select. (Due September 22.)

Short paper 2: Apply any Common Topic to Hogfather (2 pages). Do refer to section 4.2: "Frameworks and Checklists for Close Reading" (pp. 268-72), which can help you think about how to frame your response. Your goal is to use the Common Topic to help frame a short, focused argument about the text. (Due September 29.)

This syllabus is subject to change. Announcements will be made in class and to the course Web site. It is your responsibility to keep track of such changes.