LITERATURE 350-102 FICTION NJIT



LITERATURE 350-121 FICTION NJIT

Summer 2002

Instructor: Dr. Oguine

Class Meetings: MWR - 06:00PM-09:00PM RM KUPF 104 - 7/8/02-8/8/02

Office: Cullimore 332 - Phone # 973 596-6302

Office Hours: Wednesday - 05:00-06:00PM (By appointment)

Web Site: www-ec.njit.edu/~oguine / E-mail: oguine@adm.njit.edu

Course Objectives:

This course will help students develop a greater appreciation of cultural, thematic

and aesthetic representations in fiction, both classic and contemporary, from different

countries. Students will also improve their critical thinking skills by making concrete

observations, interpreting facts, evaluating details, using meaningful connections and

materials in comparative and contrasting analysis of fiction. They will practice

organizing literary writing in MLA style with a clear thesis, according to their lines of

argument, rather than the chronological events in the literature studied. Throughout the

course, works of fiction will be presented from psychological, sociological, and

philosophical perspectives.

Required Texts:

Oguine, Ike. A Squatter's Tale. Oxford: Heinemann, 2000.

Steel, Danielle. The Ring. New York: Delacorte Press, 1980.

A course packet containing selections from Literature, The Story and Its Writer,

Short Fiction Classic and Contemporary and The Ring is available at "Affordable Copies," 49 Halsey Street, Newark.

Course Requirements:

A Squatter’s Tale is available at NJIT Bookstore and should be purchased immediately

to be used for reading and writing assignments, in-class summaries and tests. Students

must aim at 100% attendance and punctuality, and must read before each class scheduled reading in the syllabus. In addition, there will be films to be used as references in writing, discussions and presentations. Class presentations, demonstrating critical literary analysis, will be used for self-evaluation. Students will also write two referenced papers, 5-7 pages in MLA style, typed double-spaced, in addition to a final examination essay. Papers must be submitted in class on the due dates. Late papers and missed class assignments will be marked one grade down, so regular attendance is absolutely necessary.

Final Grade Percentages:

Attendance / Individual report 20% / Two papers 20% / Class presentations 20% / In-class assignments / Home work 20% / Final examination 20%.

2

SYLLABUS

Week I: July 8, 10 & 11

Introduction to the course and texts - Course packet - "The Elements of

Fiction" 1554 / Margaret Atwood’s “Happy Endings” 496 / Danielle Steel’s The

Ring – Book One – Kassandra and the film version / Focus: “A Thin Line Between

Fiction and Reality” on Pipeline Message Board Discussion.

Week II: July 15, 17 & 18

Compare the literary techniques, especially the plot patterns in Margaret Atwood's

"Happy Endings" 496 with the following: Book Two – Ariana – Berlin, Book Three

- Ariana – New York and Book Four – Noel / The remaining film version / Text

and film compared.

Week III: July 22, 24 &25

A Squatter's Tale by Ike Oguine / The text as a satire - Individual presentation of

assigned chapters with the focus on satirical representations on universality of

human suffering, war atrocities, immigration problems, endurance of cultural

diversity, economic, social and political corruptions world wide, and

exploitation of women / Film: Coming to America / Paper I due in class July 25.

Week IV: July 29, 31 & Aug. 1

Differences and Similarities in themes and stylistic devices between A Squatter's

Tale and The Ring / References to the literary terms in Glossary – Course packet /

Group work on the differences and similarities between the texts and films,

focusing on narrative techniques: flashback, in medias res, reversal, epiphany,

irony, sarcasm, symbolism and stream of consciousness.

Week V: Aug. 5, 7 & 8

Cultural differences of the major characters in The Ring and A Squatter’s Tale.

Group discussions on students' responses, on Pipeline Message Board,

to issues raised in these texts that are reminiscent of the state of affairs

in the United States after September 11 / Paper II due in class Aug. 5 /

Revision for final examination and Group or individual presentation Aug. 7.

In-class final examination / Revised and best essays due in class Aug 8.

................
................

In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.

Google Online Preview   Download