M A I N * L I N K S


SUNY Fredonia
Division of Arts and Humanities
ENGL 106: The English Major--An Introduction
Fall 2008
Section 1: MWF 9-9:50, Thompson W231
Office: Fenton 265; MWF 1-2, Th 3-5, and by appointment; 673-3856
E-mail: simon@fredonia.edu, brucesimon18@yahoo.com
Web Page: www.fredonia.edu/department/english/simon/
ANGEL Space: https://angel.fredonia.edu/


About the Course Web Pages

This web site is designed to help you get as much out of this course as possible--you can use it to find out what assignments are due and when, how your work will be assessed, how to use the course ANGEL space, and how to use the world-wide web for research, among other things. Please get in the habit of checking back to these pages to keep track of changes to the syllabus and advice on assignments, as well as to surf the ever-expanding list of links to interesting web pages related to the course. And please contact me anytime (see above for my coordinates) if you have ideas about how to improve these pages or the course as a whole.

I. Course Description

An introduction to the major areas within and current approaches to literary studies, including literary history, issues of canon formation, and the multiple functions of literature and writing. This 1.5-credit seminar introduces new students--first-years, transfers, and students who have just declared the 323 major--to the goals, requirements, structure, components, and content of the English major at SUNY Fredonia. It is designed to open the many different fields of English studies to new majors and to help students develop a context for the courses they may have already have taken and will be taking throughout their career as English majors at Fredonia. Along the way, we will explore effective modes of library research, strategies for using secondary sources, and important terms and concepts that are fundamental to literary analysis. This is a required course for the English (323) major.

II. Rationale

In ENGL 106, as in most courses offered by the English Department, the goals of the professional programs are integrated with specific course and CCC goals. Achieving these goals (described in Section IV below) will require us to foster academic skills and intellectual habits of reading closely and carefully, thinking critically and creatively, listening actively and attentively, speaking thoughtfully and concisely, and writing clearly and analytically--skills and habits useful to everyone, but of particular importance to future teachers.

III. Textbooks. The textbooks adopted for this course are:

IV. Course Objectives and Outcomes

ENGL 106 is designed to prepare students for their future endeavors as English majors and beyond. Students will develop an understanding of the history, purposes, and domains of the discipline of English studies and of the current goals, requirements, structure, components, and content of the English major at SUNY Fredonia. To achieve these goals, students will

V. Instructional Methods and Activities

The methods used in the classroom will include lecture, in-class writing, guided discovery, open discussion, various kinds of cooperative group work, and other discussion-oriented activities.

VI. Evaluation and Grade Assignment

A. Methods

Attendance/Preparation/Participation (15%). Regular attendance and thoughtful participation in class are crucial to your enjoyment of and success in this course. If there is absolutely no way for you to avoid missing a class, you must contact me ahead of time or soon after your absence, preferably by email. Even more important than showing up on time, of course, is coming to class prepared and focused. I expect you to read what has been assigned for a given date at least once by the time we begin to discuss it in class. This is a discussion rather than a lecture course, after all; although I will provide some context and background for our reading, the bulk of class time will be spent in small- or large-group discussions and activities.

Your grade for this segment of the course will be based on a combination of your attendance, the quality of your participation in class and on the course ANGEL space (described below), and your preparation, effort, and improvement over the course of the semester. As there is no final exam in this course, think of my evaluation of your preparation/participation as a different but equally important method of assessing your overall performance in the course. Due to the importance of attendance and participation, more than two unexcused absences will hurt your preparation/participation grade and each non-emergency absence after the third will lower your final course grade by a full grade (e.g., with four such absences a B+ will become a C+; with six, it will become an F). Please see Section VIIIB, below, for definitions of excused and emergency absences.

Reading Responses (15%). The discussion board on our course ANGEL space will give you the chance to prepare for and extend our in-class discussions and, in so doing, develop your writing and critical thinking skills, demonstrate your engagement with the course material, and consider and respond to others' questions, ideas, experiences, and analyses. Here are some ways you can participate on it:


During the half-semester we'll be meeting, I will keep track of the timing, amount, and quality of your posts to the course discussion board, including the quality of the ensuing online discussions initiated by them. Your grade for this segment of the course will be determined by your total number of discussion board posts: 0-3 will earn you an F, 4-7 a D, 8-11 a C, 12-15 a B, and 16+ an A.

Annotated Bibliographies (40%). I will provide detailed information on the two annotated bibliographies you will do this half-semester on the course web site at http://www.fredonia.edu/department/english/simon/emi3/ab.htm.

Your grade for this segment of the course will be determined by how well you meet the specific annotation expectations for each assignment, how well you apply and use MLA format, and how well your writing and formatting work (including diction, grammar, syntax, and punctuation).

Final Reflection/Learning Analysis (30%). I will provide detailed information on the five-to-seven-page final reflection on the course web site at http://www.fredonia.edu/department/english/simon/emi3/fr.htm.

B. Grading. All work during the semester will be graded on a letter basis (A=outstanding, B=good, C=average, D=bad, F=awful) and converted into a number for purposes of calculating final grades. I use the following conversion system (the number in parentheses is the "typical" or "normal" conversion, but any number in the range may be assigned to a given letter grade):

A+=97-100 (98); A=93-96.99 (95); A-=90-92.99 (91); B+=87-89.99 (88); B=83-86.99 (85); B-=80-82.99 (81); C+=77-79.99 (78); C=73-76.99 (75); C-=70-72.99 (71); D+=67-69.99 (68); D=63-66.99 (65); D-=60-62.99 (61); F=0-59.99 (55)

Your final grade is determined by converting the weighted numerical average of the above assignments into a letter grade, according to the above scale.

C. Portfolio. English majors should be aware of the English department's guidelines for ongoing portfolio submissions.

VII. Bibliography.

A. Contemporary References

B. Classic References

C. Key Journals



VIII. Course Schedule and Policies

A. Tentative Course Schedule. The following course schedule is subject to revision--please refer here regularly for updates to this schedule, notes on the texts, and suggestions for further reading.

The Goals of the Major


M 8/25 INTRODUCTIONS. People, Course, Goals, Units, Texts, Assignments.
W 8/27 GETTING STARTED: PATHS. before class: Find and read What Can I Do with an English Major and English Alumni. in class: be prepared to discuss career goals and paths.
F 8/29 GETTING STARTED: GOALS. before class: Find and read Goals and Mission. Also read Abrams and Harpham, "Criticism" (61-64) and Beiderwell and Wheeler, "Introduction to the Elements of Literature" and "Using Theory to Develop Critical Analysis" (xxvii-xxxii, 320-321). in class: discuss reactions to department goals, connect to your own career goals, and preview "Reading Week." after class: begin reading Rushdie's Haroun and the Sea of Stories at your own pace; begin researching ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY I.


M 9/1 NO CLASS: LABOR DAY.
W 9/3 READING: LITERATURE AND LANGUAGE. before class: Read Abrams and Harpham, "Form and Structure" (125-126), "Genres" (134-136), "Formalism" (126-129), "New Criticism" (216-218), "Structuralist Criticism" (346-349), "Discourse Analysis" (81-82), "Narrative and Narratology" (208-210), and "Semiotics" (324-326). Feel free to use relevant chapters from Beiderwell and Wheeler to flesh out any of these entries. in class: be prepared to discuss your questions about these terms and concepts and to try to apply them to your reading of Haroun and the Sea of Stories.
F 9/5 READING: READERS AND TEXTS. before class: Read Abrams and Harpham, "Distance and Involvement" (83-84), "Empathy and Sympathy" (94-95), "Affective Fallacy" (5-6), "Reader-Response Criticism" (299-302), and "Reception Theory" (305-306). Feel free to use relevant chapters from Beiderwell and Wheeler to flesh out any of these entries. in class: be prepared to discuss your questions about these terms and concepts and to try to apply them to your reading of Haroun and the Sea of Stories. after class: keep reading Rushdie's Haroun and the Sea of Stories at your own pace; keep researching ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY I.


M 9/8 READING: DISCOURSE AND CULTURE. before class: Read Abrams and Harpham, "Deconstruction" (69-75), "Poststructuralism" (279-284), "New Historicism" (218-225), "Cultural Studies" (65-67), and "Dialogic Criticism" (77-79). in class: be prepared to discuss your questions about these terms and concepts and to try to apply them to your reading of Haroun and the Sea of Stories.
W 9/10 READING: IDENTITY AND SOCIETY. before class: Read Abrams and Harpham, "Feminist Criticism" (110-116), "Gender Criticism" (132-134), "Queer Theory" (296-299), "Postcolonial Studies" (277-279), "Sociology of Literature" (334-335), "Ecocriticism" (87-91), and "Fiction and Truth" (116-118). in class: be prepared to discuss your questions about these terms and concepts and to try to apply them to your reading of Haroun and the Sea of Stories.
F 9/12 READING RUSHDIE. before class: Finish Haroun and the Sea of Stories and be prepared to discuss it in class. in class: what does Rushdie's novel have to teach us about reading? after class: finish researching ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY I.


M 9/15 WRITING: AUTHORS AND AUTHORSHIP. before class: Read Beiderwell and Wheeler, Ch. 17 (310-318), Abrams and Harpham, "Intentional Fallacy" (157), "Author and Authorship" (18-21), "Interpretation and Hermeneutics" (158-162), "Rhetorical Criticism" (312-313), "Phenomenology and Criticism" (260-263), "Text and Writing (Ecriture)" (364-365), "Point of View" (271-276), and "Persona, Tone, and Voice" (257-260). in class: what do these terms and concepts have to teach us about our own writing?
W 9/17 WRITING: PROCESS AND PRODUCT. before class: Read Gibaldi, Ch. 1 (46-63), familiarize yourself with Beyond Normal: Making Your Writing Devilishly Good (available in the Resources Area of the course ANGEL space) and Gibaldi, Ch. 3 and 4 (77-138); in class: GUEST APPEARANCE: Scott Johnston, English Department, SUNY Fredonia. Be prepared to discuss different modes and purposes of writing with him.
Th 9/18 ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY I due by 11:30 pm in the discussion forum of the course ANGEL space (attach as .rtf or .doc document, please).
F 9/19 WRITING: ARGUMENTATION. in class: Meet in Fenton 168. GUEST APPEARANCE: David Kaplin, English Department, SUNY Fredonia. Be ready to participate in his Argumentative Writing course (ENGL 399). after class: begin researching ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY II.


M 9/22 CRITICAL THINKING/RESEARCH: READING. before class: Read Beiderwell and Wheeler, Ch. 14 and 18 (266-267, 331-355), Gibaldi, Ch. 1-2 (1-45, 65-75). in class: GUEST APPEARANCE: Birger Vanwesenbeeck, English Department, SUNY Fredonia. Be prepared to ask him questions about how he connects reading with critical thinking and research.
W 9/24 CRITICAL THINKING/RESEARCH: WRITING. before class: Skim Gibaldi, Ch. 5-6 (139-260). in class: GUEST APPEARANCE: James Stevens, English Department, SUNY Fredonia. Be prepared to ask him questions about how he connects research and writing. after class: for extra credit, you may attend the Maytum Convocation Keynote Address by Marian Wright Edelman, 3:30 pm, King Concert Hall and post your response to it on the Discussion Forum.
F 9/26 CRITICAL THINKING/RESEARCH: LIBRARY. in class: Meet in Reed Library, by the Circulation Desk. GUEST APPEARANCE: Dawn Eckenrode, Reed Library, SUNY Fredonia. Be ready for her "Amazing Race" activity. after class: keep researching ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY II.

The Structure of the Major


M 9/29 REQUIREMENTS: WORLD LITERATURE CORE. before class: Review the requirements of the English (323) major at Fredonia and the English department course offerings in the Undergraduate Catalog 2007-2009 (bring to class); read Ted Steinberg, "A World Literature Core" (available in the Lessons area of the course ANGEL space). in class: GUEST APPEARANCE: Ted Steinberg, English Department, SUNY Fredonia. Be prepared to ask him about the relationship between our goals and our requirements, their rationales, and our world literature core (ENGL 205/207/209/211).
W 10/1 REQUIREMENTS: CRITICISM AND THEORY. before class: Read Abrams and Harpham, "Theories and Movements in Recent Criticism" (368). in class: GUEST APPEARANCE: Jan McVicker, English Department, SUNY Fredonia. Be prepared to ask her about the relationship between our goals and our requirements, their rationales, and ENGL 345 and our other criticism and theory courses.
F 10/3 REQUIREMENTS: SENIOR SEMINAR. in class: GUEST APPEARANCE: Adrienne McCormick, English Department, SUNY Fredonia. Be prepared to ask her about the relationship between our goals and our requirements, their rationales, and Senior Seminar. after class: keep researching ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY II.


M 10/6 COMPONENTS: PERIOD COURSES. before class: Read Abrams and Harpham, "Periods of American Literature" (245-250) and "Periods of English Literature" (250-257). in class: GUEST APPEARANCE: Kirstin Hanley, English Department, SUNY Fredonia. Be prepared to ask her about the relationship between our goals and our requirements, their rationales, and our period courses.
W 10/8 COMPONENTS: AUTHOR COURSES. before class: Read Abrams and Harpham, "Author and Authorship" (18-21), and "Influence and the Anxiety of Influence" (155-156). in class: GUEST APPEARANCE: Iclal Vanwesenbeeck, English Department, SUNY Fredonia. Be prepared to ask her about the relationship between our goals and our requirements, their rationales, and our author courses. after class: keep researching ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY II.
F 10/10 FALL BREAK: NO CLASS.


M 10/13 COMPONENTS: ELECTIVES. in class: GUEST APPEARANCE: Saundra Liggins, English Department, SUNY Fredonia.
W 10/15 COMPONENTS: ELECTIVES. in class: GUEST APPEARANCES: Shannon McRae and Dustin Parsons, English Department, SUNY Fredonia.
F 10/17 CONTENT: CANONS. before class: Read Beiderwell and Wheeler, Ch. 17 (318-325), Abrams and Harpham, "Canon of Literature" (38-41) and "Humanism" (144-148). in class: GUEST APPEARANCE: Emily VanDette, English Department, SUNY Fredonia. after class: finish researching ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY II.


M 10/20 CONTENT: RUSHDIE. before class: Reread Haroun and the Sea of Stories and be prepared to discuss it in class. in class: what does Rushdie's novel have to teach us about literature and the humanities?
W 10/22 CONTENT: MULTICULTURALISM. in class: GUEST APPEARANCE: En-Shu Robin Liao, English Department, SUNY Fredonia.
F 10/24 WRAPPING UP: Looking Back, Course Evaluations. after class: ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY II due by 11:30 pm in the discussion forum of the course ANGEL space (attach as .rtf or .doc document, please).


Th 10/30 LEARNING ANALYSIS due by 11:30 pm in the LA Drop Box in the Lessons area of the course ANGEL space.

B. Class Policies

1. Attendance. As stated in Section VI above, barring emergencies each absence after the third will lower your final course grade by a full grade. Be aware that absences due to emergencies are the only absences that will not be counted toward your total for the semester. Emergencies include but are not limited to death in the family, hospitalization or serious illness, and natural disasters; scheduled and unavoidable school-sponsored events (games, meets, performances, etc.) are also counted as emergencies for the purpose of this attendance policy. Besides emergencies, the only other absences that won't affect your participation/preparation grade are excused absences. Please notify the instructor over email, in advance if possible and, if not, as soon after the absence as possible, if you wish an absence to be considered as an emergency or excused absence; the decision will be made at the instructor's discretion.

2. Online Participation. Please familiarize yourself with the college's "Computer and Network Usage Policy" (Undergraduate Catalog 2007-2009, pp. 240-248) and check with your instructor first before posting something to the course ANGEL space that is not directly related to the course.

3. Late Assignments. Online posts that are not well-timed with the course material and fail to spark other students' interest and responses will not count the same as well-timed posts or posts that do inspire further discussion. Late critical essays will not be accepted or graded. Only students who ask for an extension at least two days before the due date of any written project will be granted an extension.

4. Plagiarism and Academic Integrity. To plagiarize is "to steal and pass off as one's own the ideas or words of another" (Webster's Seventh New Collegiate Dictionary). SUNY Fredonia strongly condemns plagiarism and takes severe action against those who plagiarize. Disciplinary action may extend to suspension from privileges or expulsion from college. Please familiarize yourself with the college's "Academic Integrity Policy" (Undergraduate Catalog 2007-2009, pp. 236-239, see also p. 222) and check with your instructor if you have any questions about it.

5. Cell Phones. Please turn them off before you enter the class. If you forget and yours rings, I'll be holding it the rest of the class.


M A I N * L I N K S



ENGL 106: The English Major--An Introduction, Fall 2008
Created: 8/27/08 8:00 am
Last modified: 10/22/08 8:32 am
Webmaster: Bruce Simon, Associate Professor of English, SUNY Fredonia
Feel free to explore the Spring 2008 and Spring 2006 versions of this course.