English 206: Modern Scene in American Literature

Fall 1997 / Section 90

Scott Stankey

Office: Humanities 131

E-mail: scott.stankey@anokaramsey.edu

Phone: 763-433-1396 (voice mail)

Hours: MTRF 10-11, W 6-6:30, and by appt.

Course Description

In this section of English 206, we will study some fiction--both short stories and novels--that has been written in America since 1970.  If we assume that literature is representative of the time and place in which it is written, we can study “contemporary America” by studying its fiction.  We will seek to discover the main topics and themes of contemporary American fiction and examine how different authors treat these topics and themes.  We will also seek to discover how American history and society have helped shape contemporary fiction.  Finally, we will try to determine what “vision” contemporary writers have of America and what values and morals are explored in contemporary American fiction.  Thus, this course will introduce you to a wide variety of authors writing fiction in America since 1970, increase your understanding and appreciation of contemporary fiction, and strengthen your analytical reading, thinking, and writing abilities.

Course Objectives

At the conclusion of this course, you should be able to:

• demonstrate an understanding of the elements of fiction, such as character, conflict, point of view, plot, setting, style, theme, and tone.
• demonstrate an understanding of literary devices used in fiction, such as allegory, symbolism, metaphor, simile, irony, and satire.
• recognize how various authors use these literary elements and devices in specific short stories and novels.
• interpret short stories and novels, and support interpretations with specific evidence from the short stories and novels.
• evaluate several different short stories and novels in terms of treatment of topics, literary quality, and style.
• select and apply a critical approach (biographical, feminist, historical, psychological, reader-response, social, etc.) to analyze, interpret, and evaluate selected short stories and novels.
• demonstrate an understanding of the ways in which literature helps us understand ourselves, other people, and the world around us.

Required Texts

• Hassler, Jon.  Staggerford (1977).
• Kennedy, William.  Ironweed (1983).
• Smiley, Jane.  A Thousand Acres (1991).
• Woolf, Tobias, ed.  The Vintage Book of Contemporary American Short Stories (1994).

Requirements and Evaluation

Reading Quizzes (10%):  There will be a short (10 point) quiz each week on the assigned readings.  The quizzes will be objective and will focus on literary elements and facts from the short stories and novels.  The quizzes cannot, under any circumstances, be made up if you are absent.

Response Papers (20%):  For each class session, you will write a short paper responding to a set of questions about the short stories and novels.  These papers are designed to get you thinking and writing about the short stories or novels before class so that class discussions can be intellectually stimulating and enjoyable.  If you are absent, you may not turn in the paper that is due for that class session.  This is the case even if you know in advance that you must miss a class; the papers become meaningful only after the class session because you will add to them during class.

Midterm Exam (30%):  The midterm exam will primarily cover the short stories we have read; it may also contain some questions about the elements of fiction.  The exam may be a combination of identification, short answer, and short essay questions.  More information about the midterm exam will be given in class on W 10/15.  The exam cannot be made up if you are absent.

Final Exam (30%):  The final exam will primarily cover the novels we have read.  It may be similar in format to the midterm exam, and it may contain one or more essay questions which will ask you to make connections between the short stories and novels we have read and to synthesize your learning for the course.  More information about the final exam will be given in class on W 12/03.  The exam cannot be made up if you are absent.

Participation (10%):  I will assign a “blanket” grade for each person based on the following criteria:

• A = person is prepared for each class discussion, has read all material prior to class, offers thoughtful and insightful comments and questions, and encourages class discussions.
• B = person is prepared for each class discussion, has read all material prior to class, and offers appropriate comments and questions.
• C = person is prepared for each class discussion and offers an occasional comment relating to the discussion.
• D = person is occasionally unprepared for class discussions and/or does not enter class discussions.
• F = person is rarely prepared, offers nothing, and breathes air.

Policies

Attendance:  Since small- and large-group discussions are an important part of this class, attendance at all class meetings is required.  Missing even one class can affect your Reading Quizzes and Response Notes grades.  If you miss more than two weeks (6 hours) of class, you will receive No Credit for the course.  Exceptions to this policy (e.g. incompletes) will be made only in the event of a documented medical emergency, and it is your responsibility to notify me as soon as possible if this is the case.

Incompletes:  Incompletes will only be granted to students who have had a documented medical emergency during the quarter which has caused them to miss more than one class session.  These students must have completed three-fourths of the work for the course with an average grade of “C” or better and must demonstrate the ability and willingness to complete the work before the midterm of the following quarter.

Conferences:  Please see me during my office hours or schedule an appointment with me if you have questions or problems at any time during the quarter.  I am here to help.

Plagiarism:  Knowingly presenting another person’s ideas or writing as your own without appropriate citation will result in an “F” for the course and notification of the appropriate college officials.

Schedule

Note:  All readings are due on the dates indicated.  Response notes are due whenever readings are assigned.

W 09/17

Syllabus, Notecards, Introductions, Introductory Lecture on Elements of Fiction

W 09/24

VBCASS:

• Oates, “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?”
• Beattie, “A Vintage Thunderbird”
• Carver, “Cathedral”

W 10/01

VBCASS:

• Bly, “Talk of Heroes”
• Ford, “Rock Springs”
• Braverman, “Tall Tales from the Mekong Delta”

W 10/08

VBCASS:

• Tan, “Rules of the Game”
• O’Brien, “The Things They Carried”
• Johnson, “Emergency”

W 10/15

VBCASS:

• T.B.A.
• T.B.A.
• T.B.A.

W 10/22

Midterm Exam / Short Stories

W 10/29

Staggerford: Friday-Monday (pp. 1-156)

W 11/05

Staggerford:  Tuesday-Epilogue (pp. 157-294)

W 11/12

Ironweed: Ch. I-IV (pp. 1-116)

W 11/19

Ironweed:  Ch. V-VII (pp. 117-227)

W 11/26

A Thousand Acres: Ch. 1-23 (pp. 1-184)

W 12/03

A Thousand Acres: Ch. 24-Epilogue (pp. 185-371)

W 12/10

Final Exam / Novels

Note:

This syllabus and schedule are subject to change as needed.  Changes will be announced in class.