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English 120 DD
Introduction to Literary Studies - Spring 2018
Subjectivity and Authorship: Inner/Outer Perspectives & The Unreliable Narrator
Tuesday/Thursday 2:40-4:10 in WP704

Professor: Jill Walter

E-mail & Phone: jwalter@pointpark.edu, 412-523-3798. Please feel free to text or email me with
questions, comments, or concerns.
Office Hours: By appointment. I am available to meet with students at a mutually convenient time and
place.
Office Location: Adjunct Faculty Office, 711 Lawrence Hall
Main Literary Arts Office: 706 Lawrence Hall, Kris Julian, Secretary (412) 392-8068

Catalog Course Description: ENGL 120 will introduce students to the fundamentals of literary studies,
including terms, definitions, and reading strategies. Students will learn to read and analyze multiple
genres, including short narrative, poetry, and drama, with attention to such concepts as subjectivity and
authorship, literary period, and use of language. Students will produce a close reading, an essay that
integrates secondary sources, and a more extensive literary analysis paper. All guidelines will be
discussed in class. Prerequisite: ENGL 101

Required Texts:
Bennett, Alan. The History Boys. Faber and Faber. 2006.
Conrad, Joseph. Heart of Darkness and The Secret Sharer. Signet Classics, 2008.
Homer. The Odyssey. Trans. Robert Fagles. Penguin, 1996.
Lewis, C.S. Till We Have Faces. Harcourt Brace & Co., 1980.
Shakespeare, William. The Tempest. Signet Classic, 1998
Course Objectives:
Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to:

 Define literary terminology (characterization, point-of-view, imagery, metaphor, simile, etc.), and
describe the principles that guide the study of literary language.
 Apply those literary terms to selected passages of literature (close reading) in oral formats
(presentations, class discussions).
 Apply those terms to select passages of literature (close reading) in written formats (formal and
informal writing assignments).
 Describe and explain literary context.
 Analyze primary texts and present analytical literary arguments in writing.
 Respond to and integrate credible secondary sources in support of written arguments.

Methods of Instruction: Discussion, lecture, small group workshops, conferences, in-class exercises, and
film.

Graded Assignments and Values:

1. *Take-Home Exam (The Odyssey) = 20%
2. *Short Story/Poetry Exam = 20%
3. *Short Literary Analysis (Poetry or Short Story) (2-3 pages) = 10%
4. *Critical Secondary Source Essay (Till We Have Faces) (5-7 pages) = 20%
5. *Drama Review (3-4 pages) = 10%
6. *Final Exam (TWHF & Drama) = 20%
*Students must submit all major assignments in order to pass ENGL 120.
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Grading Scale
A letter grade system of A to F will be used, including pluses and minuses. Individual writing
assignments will be evaluated by your professor; final grades will be calculated using this scale.

Undergraduate Program Grading Scale

Letter Grade Points Quality Points
A 94-100 4.0
A- 90-93 3.75
B+ 87-89 3.25
B 84-86 3.0
B- 80-83 2.75
C+ 77-79 2.25
C 73-76 2.0
C- 70-72 1.75
D 60-69 1.0
F 59 and below 0.0

Classroom Code of Conduct: Students have joined this class because they want to learn, earn credits,
and ultimately earn a degree. So please observe guidelines for civil, courteous behavior among instructors
and students. Please do not come to class late, leave class early, eat or sleep during class, use profanity,
talk while others are talking, or engage in any other behavior that distracts students and interferes with the
learning process. Please do not text or use the Internet while in class; it is extremely distracting.
Any of these disruptions may result in dismissal from the course in addition to affecting your overall
course grade.

Attendance: Regardless of absences, you are responsible for being prepared for all in-class assigned text
readings and all course deadlines (reading questions, analyses, and exams). If you are absent when
handouts are distributed, please see another student about obtaining copies. You may also download
handouts and assignments from Blackboard. Students who miss more than 6 classes will most likely
receive a failing grade. Students who miss more than 2 classes in a row will most likely receive a
failing grade. However, after your 4th absence, your final class percentage will be lowered 2 points
per absence for a total of 4 points. The only absence that is considered “excused” is when another
mandatory school function requires your attendance, such as a sporting event or performance, during class
time. If you have to miss class for a school-related event, you must provide me documentation in
advance in order for the absence to be excused. I will take extenuating circumstances (illness, family
emergencies, etc.) into account in a manner that is fair, reasonable, and consistent.

Tardiness: Late arrival in class distracts other students. A pattern of tardiness will result in reduction of
the final grade and can result in dismissal from the course. If you are tardy, it is your responsibility to
make sure your class attendance is recorded.
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Submission of Assignments: All documents must use MS Word. If an emailed file cannot be opened, it
will be considered late. All essays and exams must be typed and double-spaced on white paper. Use one-
inch margins and 12-point Times font. Always place your name, date, and the class (e.g., English 120)
at the top left-hand corner of the first page. Do not hand in assignments that are incomplete, not typed,
and not in the correct format as directed above. All other homework assignments must be typed.
Handwritten homework will not be accepted. Access to computers is available in computer labs furnished
by the University. If you leave an assignment in my mailbox in the Literary Arts Department, please tell
me as I do not check that mailbox daily.

Documentation: You will be required to annotate all external sources according to MLA format. For a
full discussion of MLA parenthetical notations and a Works Cited page, see Purdue OWL (on-line
resource) or consult the MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers, 8th Ed.

Copy Policy: Keep an electronic and hard copy of each paper or exam you submit. Upon request, you
may be asked to submit the electronic copy to SafeAssign on Blackboard; always submit the hard copy in
class. Emailed assignments will only be accepted in emergencies or when the student has made prior
arrangements.

Assignment Deadlines and Late Work: Unless you have contacted me prior to the assignment’s due
date with a logical rationale for requesting an extension (or, are officially excused from class by Student
Affairs), essays and take-home exams will be docked a half-letter grade for each calendar day they are
late. Emailed assignments will be accepted as long as you contact me ahead of time and receive my
approval. In this way you can submit a late paper in the evening or over the weekend and not lose
additional points. However, if a file cannot be opened, your paper will be considered late.

Academic Integrity and Plagiarism: Point Park University has a detailed policy regarding academic
integrity. Students in ENGL 250 are expected to be familiar with these guidelines, especially those
relating to the ethical use of source content and the presentation of new ideas in written texts. Please see
the current university catalog for further details about the policies on academic integrity:
http://www.pointpark.edu/StudentLife/StudentConduct/StudentPlannerHandbook/AcademicRegulations.

You can also consult Purdue Online Writing Lab’s guidelines for avoiding plagiarism
(https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/589/02/) and for proper MLA Citation Style
(https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/01/). If you consult external sources while writing
either of your analyses, you must document these sources. You are not to consult external sources
(including the Internet) for exams, both in-class exams and take-home exams. Violations of the
expectations for academic integrity have severe consequences. Any violations—even on “minor”
assignments—can lead to your failing the course or worse (a failing grade in the class is the catalog’s
minimum recommended penalty). Even first-time offenses can result in maximum penalties. Finally,
please be aware that instructors may use various means for checking on the integrity of a student’s work,
including submission to electronic search engines such as SafeAssign.

Students with Disabilities (ADA Accommodations): The University will continue to provide reasonable
accommodations for students with disabilities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act
(ADA) of 1990. All campus accommodations are coordinated through the Center for Student Success
located on the 5th floor of the West Penn Building. Students are responsible for contacting the Center for
specific information on the University’s ADA policy and the procedures for verifying disabilities and
requesting reasonable accommodations. ADA questions should be directed to the Coordinator of
Disability Services, Brad Thompson at 412-392-8077 or disabilities@pointpark.edu.
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Tutoring: The Center for Student Success provides support for students who seek tutoring in
undergraduate course work. In addition, students may receive assistance with effective study strategies,
such as organizing for study, exam preparation, and lecture note taking and annotation. Students may
schedule a regular weekly appointment or may schedule appointments as needed. If you would like to
request a tutor, please contact Natacia Owens at 412-392-8132 or tutoring@pointpark.edu or visit the
West Penn Building, fifth floor.

Getting More Help with Your Writing: Students are encouraged to seek guidance at all stages of the
writing process. Your instructor and classmates are good sources, but if you’d like more feedback than
they can provide, please contact Natacia Owens, Student Success Coordinator for Tutoring Services
regarding writing support from a professional consultant. Many of these consultants work as English
teachers here at Point Park, and can help with any stage of the writing process. To find out more about the
Drop-In schedule, call Natacia Owens at (412) 392-8132, email tutoring@pointpark.edu, or stop by the
Center for Student Success in West Penn (5th floor).
Occasionally, instructors will offer students a “referral” to Tutoring Services for writing help. This is
usually done so that students can address specific writing questions with their consultants. If you receive a
referral from your instructor, please follow up in two ways. First, make sure you check with your
instructor, if necessary, to clarify what he or she would like you to ask your writing consultant during
your session. Second, use the Drop-In services (or a series of Drop-In sessions) so that you can begin to
work on improving your writing.
If you know early in the term that you’d like to get ongoing support for your writing, you can contact Dr.
Kirstin Hanley, Director of the First-Year Composition program, and ask to be added to a one-credit
writing studio course, ENGL 148. This studio-based option is an opportunity for you to spend one hour
each week working with an English professor as part of a small group of writers. You will be able to get
answers to your specific questions as well as work on developing stronger skills as a group. This class is
graded on a Pass/No Credit basis and counts toward your graduation credits. For more details, contact Dr.
Hanley at khanley@pointpark.edu or (412) 392-8191.

Special Grading Circumstances:

Withdraw (W) Grade: The instructor cannot give the W (withdraw) grade without submission of a
paper form signed by the student, who must also secure the signature of his or her department faculty
advisor. The last date for withdrawal from this course is Monday, 28 November, 2016.

Incomplete (I) Grade: A student who does not complete a course by the end of the term may request
and may be granted, at the instructor’s discretion, an "I" (Incomplete). Generally an “I” grade will be
given if the student has been unable to complete all course requirements as a result of circumstances
beyond the student’s control (death in family, illness, etc.) Students in ENGL 120 DD must have
completed 2/3 of the course work (including two exams and two written assignments (analysis & critical
source paper), in order to be eligible for an “I” grade, and they must have a class average of 75% or
better. The "I" in a given course must be completed within a period of time set by the instructor, usually
by the mid-point of the following semester. A specific date will be agreed upon by the student and
instructor. This time period should not exceed one year from the end of the semester in which the course
was taken. Certain conditions may dictate exceptions to this policy. An Incomplete Grade Request Form
detailing the conditions under which the "I" is permitted must be signed by both the student and the
instructor. If the agreed upon conditions are not fulfilled, the "I" grade will be changed to the grade
stipulated in section V of the Incomplete Grade Request Form. The student is responsible for contacting
the instructor and ensuring that all expectations in regard to removal of an "I" grade and the completion of
a change of grade form are met. The instructor will complete the change of grade form when all
expectations are met.
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Fire Drills/Emergency Evacuations:

Should a fire alarm occur during the class hours, please leave the classroom in an orderly manner and
evacuate the building through the appropriate exit. Procedures and additional responses to other
emergencies are set forth in the Public Safety section of the University website, and any questions can be
addressed at the University Public Safety department.

Important Dates:

1/8 First day for traditional classes

1/15 No Classes, MLK Day
1/16 Final Day to Drop/Add & Withdraw Completely to receive 100% tuition
1/23 Final Day to Withdraw Completely and Receive 50% Reduction of Tuition, Non-
Accelerated Only
1/24 Roster Confirmations Due
2/19 Final Day for Automatic “W”
2/24 - 3/2 Spring Break
4/2 Final day to Withdraw from ANY course (automatic “F” after this date)
4/23 Final Day of Class
4/24 - 4/27 Final Exam Week

Final Points of Note:

Additional course-related policies and documents are available on your ENGL 120 Blackboard site.
These include Point Park’s University Mission, Pennsylvania’s Department of Education Objectives,
Measurement of these Objectives, The Core Curriculum, and its Core Outcomes, and information
regarding Information Literacy Competency Standards for Higher Education.

I will send e-mail to your Point Park address only. You will be responsible for checking your Point
Park e-mail and Blackboard for messages. Also, there are course materials and announcements for this
class that will be available via our course site on the Blackboard system. You are responsible for checking
both. If you experience difficulties with BB or your Point Park e-mail account, please contact the
computer help desk at 412-392-3494.

If, during the course of the semester, you experience problems of a personal, psychological, and/or
emotional nature, please do not suffer in silence. There are a number of resources on campus to help
students negotiate such issues in their lives. I can direct you to these resources as well as offer
suggestions as to the best course of action for you regarding this course.
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Calendar
This calendar is subject to change.
Changes will always benefit students and their learning process.
Students must mark all changes.

Text readings & questions and specific essay topics will be given on separate handouts.
All handouts can also be found on Blackboard.

“The best moments in reading are when you come across something—a thought, a feeling, a
way of looking at things—which you had thought special and particular to you. Now here it is,
set down by someone else, a person you have never met, someone even who is long dead.
And it is as if a hand has come out and taken yours.”
–Hector from The History Boys

Homework/What to be What is Due/

Date Lesson or Topic Working on for Homework to be
Upcoming Classes Submitted
Class introductions Read The Odyssey
Handouts: (books 1-4)
 Questionnaire/Contract
 Syllabus Answer Background
 Grading Standards Questions to
 Literary Elements The Odyssey
 Scope of the Class, Subjective
Jan 9
Literature, & Narrator Bias
 Hand Out Introductory Literature
Questions
 Hand Out Background Questions: The
Odyssey

Introductory Lecture: Why Literature?

The Epic, Greek Mythology, and The Odyssey Read The Odyssey Background questions
Jan 11
Background (books 1-4) to The Odyssey due
The Odyssey (books 1-4) Read The Odyssey
Jan 16
(books 5-7)
The Odyssey (books 5-7) Finish The Odyssey
Jan 18
(books 8-10)
The Odyssey (books 8-10) The Odyssey
Jan 23
(books 11-13)
The Odyssey (books 11-13) The Odyssey
Jan 25
(books 14-20)
The Odyssey (books 14-20) The Odyssey
Jan 30
(books 21-24)
Homework/What to be What is Due/
Date Lesson or Topic Working on for Homework to be
Upcoming Classes Submitted
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The Odyssey (books 21-24 & review) Exam #1: Take-Home

Exam on The Odyssey
Assign Take-Home Exam
Feb 1 Read & Answer Qs:
“The Yellow Wallpaper”
“The Tell-Tale Heart”

Exam #1: Take-Home

Exam on The Odyssey
No Class
Feb 6 Read & Answer Qs:
“The Yellow Wallpaper”
“The Tell-Tale Heart”

Unreliable Narrators in Short Story & Poetry Read & Answer Qs: Exam #1: Take-Home
The Crazy Narrator: “The Whore’s Child” Exam on The Odyssey
The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari (1920, silent film) “The Gardener”
Feb 8 “The Yellow Wallpaper” “The Snows of Reading Questions
“The Tell-Tale Heart” Kilimanjaro”
“An Occurrence at Owl
Selected Poetry Creek Bridge”
The Blind Narrator: Read & Answer Qs: Reading Questions
“The Whore’s Child” The Secret Sharer
“The Gardener” “The Fall of the House
of Usher”
Feb 13 The Escaping Narrator: “Once More to the
“The Snows of Kilimanjaro” Lake”
“An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge” “Happy Endings”
“The Story”
Selected Poetry
The Doppelgänger Narrator: Short Story/Poetry Reading Questions
The Secret Sharer Analysis
“The Fall of the House of Usher”
“Once More to the Lake” Study for Exam #2

The “Meta” Narrator:

Feb 15 “Happy Endings”
“The Story”

Selected Poetry

Assign Short Story/Poetry Analysis

Homework/What to be What is Due/

Date Lesson or Topic Working on for Homework to be
Upcoming Classes Submitted
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Catch Up Day Short Story/Poetry

Analysis
Feb 20
Study for Exam #2
Exam #2: Unreliable Narrators in Short Story Short Story/Poetry
Feb 22
and Poetry Analysis
Short Story/Poetry
Feb 27
Springbreak Analysis
&
Mar 1
Read TWHF
Till We Have Faces Part I, Chapters 1-7 Short Story/Poetry
Mar 6
Analysis
Till We Have Faces Part I, Chapters 8 - 15 Read TWHF Due: Short Story/Poetry
Mar 8
Analysis
Mar 13 Till We Have Faces Part I, Chapters 16- 21 Read TWHF
Till We Have Faces Part 2 Essay on TWHF
Mar 15
Assign Essay on Till We Have Faces (using
secondary critical sources)
Catch-Up Day Essay on TWHF
Mar 20
Read The Tempest
The Tempest Act I Essay on TWHF
Mar 22
Read The Tempest
The Tempest Act II Essay on TWHF
Mar 27
Read The Tempest
The Tempest Act III Essay on TWHF
Mar 29
Read The Tempest
Apr 2 Final Day to Withdraw
The Tempest Act IV Essay on TWHF

Assign Drama Review Drama Review—The

Apr 3
Tempest

Read The History Boys

Catch-Up Day Drama Review Essay on TWHF Due
Apr 5
Read The History Boys
The History Boys (film) Drama Review
Apr 10
Read The History Boys
Apr 12 The History Boys (film) Drama Review
Apr 17 Discuss The History Boys Drama Review Due
Review for Final Exam Study for Exam #3:Final
Apr 19
Exam
Finals Exam #3: Final Exam
Week