C LIT 240 G: Writing in Comparative Literature
Worlds Turned Upside Down
Spring 2015
T TH 11:30 – 1:20, SMITH 307
Instructor: Slaven Svetinović
Email: [email protected]
Office: Padelford B-524
Office Hours: TBA
Course Website: https://canvas.uw.edu/courses/963507/
Course Description:
The goal of C LIT 240 is to hone your individual writing skills while giving you the opportunity
to grow as a critical reader. To this end, we will examine an eclectic selection of texts using the
theme of upheaval as a starting point for comparison and composition. Thus, our texts feature
settings that are drastically transformed and “turned upside down” by various forces, whether
supernatural, historical, or social. Among other things, we will explore how literary works
address issues of crisis and social change by “defamiliarizing” everyday experience or depicting
alternate realities.
In addition to reading and discussing literary texts, we will also work on developing strategies to
help you improve your writing. Each class session will feature a composition component in the
form of a writing workshop organized around a particular topic, such as constructing a claim,
paragraph structure, revision, etc. Since this is a writing-intensive class, be prepared to write
every week. The best way to improve your writing is to read widely and critically and to write
often.
Course Materials:
The Metamorphosis & Other Stories, by Franz Kafka (Schocken Kafka Library edition)
The Master & Margarita, by Mikhail Bulgakov (Trans. by Burgin & Tiernan O’Connor)
Never Let Me Go, by Kazuo Ishiguro
(These are available at the UW bookstore under C LIT 240 G)
Additional readings will be available electronically via Canvas.
Course Requirements:
Participation: Attendance, participation in class discussions and peer editing will count toward
the participation grade. If you are not able to attend a class, please let me know in advance.
Reading Responses: Every week – except for the weeks when the midterm and final papers are
due - you will be required to write a short response (around 250 words; maximum one doublespaced page) to the assigned reading for that week. You may write about any number of topics
related to the text such as setting, plot, theme, or about your reading experience more generally –
something that particularly struck you, any questions you may have, etc. The only requirement is
C LIT 240 G, Spring 2015
Course Syllabus
Svetinovic 2
that you provide specific textual evidence, either by quoting from the text or referring to
specific scenes or situations. These responses are meant to help you generate ideas for papers
and make you examine the assigned texts more closely. There will be a total of six (6) reading
responses.
Essays: You will be required to write two longer papers: a midterm essay (4-5 pages) and a
final essay (5-6 pages). You will have a chance to revise both the midterm and final paper
before submitting them to be graded. I will send out essay prompts to the course mailing list at
least a week in advance; I will also post them on the Canvas course page.
IMPORTANT: All written assignments must be typed, double-spaced, in 12-point font with
1-inch margins. They must also follow MLA guidelines.
Both papers and reading responses have to be submitted in hard copy at the beginning of
the class period they are due. If you are not able to attend class when an assignment is due, you
may send your work to me by email. Late papers will generally not be accepted. In case of an
emergency, please email me and I will try to arrange an extension. Also, please make sure to
check your UW email account and the Canvas course page regularly for any announcements or
changes to the syllabus.
Method of Evaluation:
Class participation: 20 %
6 Reading Responses: 30 %
Midterm Paper: 20%
Final Paper: 30%
Academic Honesty:
Plagiarism, or academic dishonesty, is presenting someone else's ideas or writing as your own. In
your writing for this class, you are encouraged to refer to other people's thoughts and writing--as
long as you cite them. As a matter of policy, any student found to have plagiarized any piece of
writing in this class will be immediately reported to the College of Arts and Sciences for review.
For more information, please see: http://depts.washington.edu/pswrite/plag.html
Writing & Tutoring Resources:
-Odegaard Writing and Research Center provides writing and research assistance from trained
writing tutors at all stages of the writing process: http://depts.washington.edu/owrc
-Center for Learning and Undergraduate Enrichment (CLUE) provides writing assistance:
http://depts.washington.edu/aspuw/develop/writing-center
-Purdue Online Writing Lab (OWL) for writing tips and citation guidelines:
https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/
C LIT 240 G, Spring 2015
Course Syllabus
Svetinovic 3
COURSE SCHEDULE (subject to change):
Week 1
3/31
Course Overview; Introductions
4/2
V. Nabokov “Good Readers and Good Writers”; G. Orwell, “Why I Write”
(in PDF on Canvas)
Week 2
4/7
4/9
Week 3
4/14
4/16
Week 4
4/21
4/23
Week 5
4/28
Kafka, The Metamorphosis, Parts 1 & 2
Reading Response #1 Due
Kafka, The Metamorphosis, Part 3; V. Shklovsky, excerpt from “Art as
Device.” (PDF on Canvas)
Bulgakov, The Master and Margarita, Chapters 1-7
Reading Response #2 Due
Bulgakov, The Master and Margarita, Chapters 8-13
Bulgakov, The Master and Margarita, Chapters 14-20
Reading Response #3 Due
Bulgakov, The Master and Margarita, Chapters 21-24
Bulgakov, The Master and Margarita, Chapters 25 - End
Reading Response #4 Due
4/30
TBD
Week 6
5/5
Good Bye Lenin! (2003) In-Class Screening
5/7
Week 7
5/12
5/14
Good Bye Lenin! Discussion
Midterm Paper Rough Draft Due
Ishiguro, Never Let Me Go, Chapters 1-5
Ishiguro, Never Let Me Go, Chapters 6-9
Revised Draft of Midterm Paper Due
C LIT 240 G, Spring 2015
Course Syllabus
Week 8
5/19
5/21
Week 9
5/26
Svetinovic 4
Ishiguro, Never Let Me Go, Chapters 10-17
Reading Response #5 Due
Ishiguro, Never Let Me Go, Chapters 18-20
Ishiguro, Never Let Me Go, Chapters 21-End
Reading Response #6 Due
5/28
Never Let Me Go (2010) - Film Screening and Discussion
Week 10
6/2
Final Paper Rough Draft Due
6/4
Course Wrap-Up
Revised Draft of Final Paper Due Thursday, 6/11, by 5 p.m. via Catalyst Dropbox.