Course credit
3 credit hours
Course description
Understanding and appreciation of the basic forms of literature through close reading of literary texts, including works originally written in English.
Delivery
This course is available in a web-based format, utilizing web pages and WebCT, a computer conferencing program. WebCT requires Internet access and a web browser — no additional software is required. Students may need access to someone who can assist with computer set-up.
This course is available in a print-based format. Mail completed assignments to the GIS Office. We will forward them to the instructor for grading.
Prerequisites
UNI students: No credit if prior credit in 620:015 or 620:034.
May not be taken for credit toward any English major or minor.
Instructor
Bill Koch, Instructor
Evaluation
13 assignments
Overview
Welcome to Introduction to Literature. I hope that for whatever reason you are taking this course that you will find something valuable in it. These days many people are put off by the term “literature.” It seems to smack of elitism, and boring reading material. I certainly don’t want to convey that attitude in this course. I hope the readings for this course, at least some of them, will provide you with new perceptions of daily events in our lives, because a fundamental purpose of literature — poems, stories, plays — has been to enlarge our perspective on the great and small experiences of life.
Another distinctive feature of this course and its textbook is the emphasis put on writing. An important way to develop one’s understanding about a story or poem is to write about it, either identifying certain stylistic features or reflecting on its meaning. In either case, you can expect the mere writing down of preliminary answers to bring you to new insight into the literary text.
Course Organization
While you will complete 13 writing assignments, there are no exams, though later assignments are built on earlier ones. Some assignments are brief. Most of them will consist of two sections—first, short responses to specific works, and then a longer (2 – 3 pages) essay dealing with a more general concern.
My approach to interpretation is that while everyone has their own way of looking at a text, their interpretation must still find support within the text. You will be asked to argue a certain answer to a work’s meaning or “theme,” and while that answer will be personal, your evidence for its validity must come from the text. Do not assume that all interpretations are equally valid.
Assignment Mechanics
Use a standard font such as Times New Roman and 12 point letter size. I’d rather not have you use a cursive style font. Double-space all your writing.
I assume that the student has competent college-level writing skills. Assignments will be graded on writing style as well as content and if a student’s writing reveals deficient writing ability, I’ll recommend that student delay taking this course until those skills have improved.
Grading
Each of the 13 assignments will be worth 100 points, for a total of 1300 points.
Final letter grades will be assigned accordingly:
If a student’s assignments show improvement over the duration of the course, the final grade will be more than the total of points earned. That is, I expect that a student’s ability to read texts and analyze them will improve as he or she progresses through course, and such improvement will be rewarded.
Academic Ethics
I assume that you are submitting your own work. Feel free to consult with others about particular questions of understanding or meaning, but you must do your own research, writing and editing. Please contact me if you have any questions about this course and its activities. Naturally, work judged not to be the student’s own may jeopardize his or her standing in this course.
Textbook(s)
Schilb, John and John Clifford. Making Literature Matter: An Anthology for Readers And Writers. 2nd ed. Boston: Bedford/St. Martins, 2003.
Texts are available from the vendor of your choice or
University Book and Supply
1009 West 23rd Street, Cedar Falls, IA 50613
Phone: 319-266-7581 or 800-728-7581
Fax: 319-277-1266
E-mail: bookstore@panthersupply.com
To enroll
ONLINE
GIS enrollment information
IN PERSON
UNI Continuing Education
2637 Hudson Road (corner of 27th St. and Hudson Rd.)
Cedar Falls, IA 50614-0223
Campus map (Look for Building 31)
For more information
Cindy Klodt, Guided Independent Study
UNI Continuing Education
319-273-2123 or 800-772-1746
ContinuingEd@uni.edu