English 2329: Introduction to Literary Studies (Dual Credit)
Instructor: Seth Pace
Office: Abilene High School, Room 134
Phone: 325.6477.1731, Ext. 7931
Email: [email protected]
Course Description: A sophomore literature course, which will examine poets and writers of
various genres from Victorian era to the present. Emphasis on critical reading, literary
theory, and historical context throughout the course will strengthen the student’s
analytical and writing skills.
Prerequisites: Proficiency requirement in composition.
Objectives: To gain knowledge of the craft of writing by exploring the works of gifted
storytellers in a broad spectrum of literary genres.
Assessment: Student learning will be assessed by quizzes, reading discussions, story and poetry
analysis, and editorial assistance with the award winning literary and artistic journal—
Gallimaufry.
Course Grade: The following grades will be averaged to determine the final course grade:
Quizzes and Short Responses from Readings
Class Discussions
Editorial Work on Journal
Writing Project: Rough Drafts, Peer Edits, Final
20%
15%
25%
40%
Grading Scale: 90-100 = A; 80-89 = B; 70-79 = C; 60-69 = D; 59 and below = F
Required Texts: Reading material will be provided by the teacher through emails, Google docs,
or in the form of handouts for classroom analysis.
Attendance Policy: AISD attendance policies will be followed for the class.
Weekly Assignments
Jan 5-8
Introduction to course. Read Vonnegut’s “Eight Rules for Writing”
Jan 11-15
Journal Goals. Write a seasonal poem or short short. Read Weidman’s
“My Father Sits in the Dark”
Jan 18-22
Style and Dialogue. Finish edits for contest. Read Hemingway’s “A Clean
Well-Lighted Place”
Jan 25-29
Deadline for Angelo State Contest. Horror and Psychological.
Read Jackson’s “The Lottery” and Lovecraft’s “In the Vault”
Feb 1-5
Mystery and Detective. Read Poe’s “Murders in the Rue Morgue” and
listen to several episodes of the radio show “Suspense”
Feb 8-12
Feminist Literature. Read Chopin’s “The Story of an Hour”, Gilman’s
“The Yellow Wallpaper”, and excerpts from Fisher’s “The
Gastronomical Me”
Feb 15-19
Writing Week and Peer Edits
Feb 22-26
Feminist and Post-Colonial Literature. Read excerpts from Markham’s
West with the Night, Drakulic’s How We Survived Communism and Even
Laughed, and Forster’s Passage to India
Feb 29-4
Trip to Angelo State Writer’s Conference. Texas Writers. Read
MacMurtry’s “Hang the Saddle on the Wall”
March 7-11
Finish Submissions and Peer Edits for the Gallimaufry
March 14-18
Spring Break!
March 21-25 Submission Deadline for Gallimaufry.
March 28-1
Modernism. Read “The Second Coming” by Yeats and “The Love Song
of J. Alfred Prufrock”
April 4-8
Postmodern. Read Ginsberg’s “Howl” and discuss the “Breaking of the
4th Wall” in literature and games
April 11-15
Finish the formatting and layouts of the literary journal.
April 18-22
Gallimaufry to Press. Changing views of story in the Electronic Age
April 26-29
Coffeehouse and Release Party for Gallimaufry!
May 2-6
Complete final project and peer edits
May 9-13
Finals