ENG 2012-U05 & U06 . Approaches to Literature. Fall 2016.

UNIT PLAN SYLLABUS.

Instructor: Linda Neuer.

This unit plan syllabus is open to modification.

Unit One—Fiction
M—A22 Introduction to Course.
W—A24 Culture, Conflict, and Lack of Communication. Achebe: “Dead Men’s Path.” Lahiri:
“Interpreter of Maladies.” Journal Exercise 1: Michael Obi and Mr. Das are oblivious to which
aspects of the cultural settings in their stories?
F—A26 The Historical Background of “The Tell-Tale Heart.” Madness and Murder in Poe’s
Unreliable First-Person Narrator. Depression, Hemingway and the Objective Narrator in “A Clean,
Well-Lighted Place.” Journal Ex. 2: How do the historical, biographical, and psychological references
provide different perspectives on analyzing the two stories?

M—A29 The Transformative Quest in Mahfouz and Cortázar: Mahfouz’s “Zaabbalawi” and
Cortázar’s “Axolotl.” Journal Ex. 3: How does the genre of Magical Realism reform the archetypal
quest of the two narrators in contemporary society?
W—A31 Conformity and Individualism: Alvarez: “Snow.” Tan: “Two Kinds.” Journal Ex.4:
Compare how each young narrator defines success differently.
F—S02 -- Quoting, Paraphrasing, or Summarizing. Focus on Effective Support of Main Points:
When to Summarize, Paraphrase, or Quote? Journal Ex.5: Write a “Quotation Sandwich” with
your introduction and response to the quote as the bread and a brief quote of four lines or less as
the filling for the sandwich.

M—S05 No Class. Labor Day.

W—S07 Fiction Topic & Thesis Peer Reviews & Class Discussion.
F—S09 Fiction Analysis Conferences

M—S12 Group 1 Fiction Analysis Draft Workshop.

W—S14 Group 2 Fiction Analysis Draft Workshop
F—S16 Group 3 Fiction Analysis Draft Workshop

Unit Two—Poetry
M—S19 Fiction Analysis Due. Elements of Poetry. Tone: Hayden: “Those Winter Sundays.”
Poe: “Annabel Lee.” Figures of Speech. Metaphor and Simile: Hughes: “Harlem.” Plath:
“Metaphors.” Irony: Owen: “Dulce et Decorum Est.” Robinson: “Richard Cory.” Personification:
Ortiz: “Speaking.” Blake: “The Tyger.” Glück: “The Wild Iris.” Journal Ex. 6: How do the literary
elements enhance the themes in two of these poems? Add brief quotes to support your main points.
W—S21 Poetic Forms. The Sonnet as Argument: Shakespeare’s Sonnet 116: “Let me not to the
marriage of true minds” and Sonnet 130: “My mistress’ eyes are nothing like the sun.” Millay: “Love
Is Not All.” Keats: “When I Have Fears That I May Cease to Be.” Ballad: Anonymous: “The
Unquiet Grave.” Anonymous: “Sir Patrick Spens.” Randall: “The Ballad of Birmingham.”
F—S23 Dramatic Monologue: Browning: “My Last Duchess.” Villanelle: Thomas: “Do Not Go
Gentle into That Good Night.” Free Verse: Whitman: “When I Heard the Learn’d Astronomer.”
Journal Ex. 7: In two of these poems, discuss how the forms help support the claims or themes of
the work. Add brief quotes to support your main points.
M—S26 Review of Poetic Elements and Sample Topics.

Unit Three—Drama
W—S28 Historical Contexts and Introduction to the Jacobean tragedy, The Duchess of Malfi.
F—S30 Webster: The Duchess of Malfi, Act I: Opening Dramatic Stucture, Conflict, & Significance.

M—O03 Webster: The Duchess of Malfi, Act II with Peer Analysis Presentation of its Dramatic
Structure, Conflict, & Significance within the play.
W—O05 Webster: The Duchess of Malfi, Act III with Peer Analysis Presentation of its Dramatic
Structure, Conflict, & Significance within the play.
F—O07 Webster: The Duchess of Malfi, Act IV with Peer Analysis Presentation of its Dramatic
Structure, Conflict, & Significance within the play.

M—O10 Webster: The Duchess of Malfi, Act V with Peer Analysis Presentation of its Dramatic
Structure, Conflict, & Significance within the play.
W—O12 Poetry and/or Drama Topic & Thesis Peer Reviews & Class Discussion.
F—O14 Poetry and Drama Conferences.

M—O17 Group 1 Poetry and/or Drama Analysis Draft Workshop.

W—O19 Group 2 Poetry and/or Drama Analysis Draft Workshop
F—O21 Group 3 Poetry and/or Drama Analysis Draft Workshop

Unit Four—The Research Paper

M—O24 Poetry and/or Drama Analysis Due. Review of Selected Critical Approaches:
Formalist, Biographical, Psychological, Cultural, Gender, Historical. Journal Exercise 8: Which
critical approach intrigues you the most? Which one would you find most helpful in your analysis of
a work of literature?
W—O26 Sample Annotated Bibliographies and Research Papers
F—O28 Research Topic & Thesis Peer Reviews & Class Discussion

M—O31 Bibliography Conferences.

W—N02 Bibliography Conferences.
F—N04 Bibliography Conferences.

M—N07 Annotated Bibliography Due. From Bibliography to Research Paper. Journal Ex. 9:
Give three questions you have encountered in this project. Share your responses with the class.
W—N09 Journals 1-9 Due.
F—N11 No Class. Veterans’ Day.

M—N14 Group 1 Research Paper Draft Workshop.

W—N16 Group 2 Research Paper Draft Workshop.
F—N18 Group 3 Research Paper Draft Workshop.

M—N21 Editing Conferences.

W—N23 & F—N25 Give Thanks! Our Class Cancelled!
M—N28 Research Paper Due. Begin Research Presentations.
W—N30 Continue Research Presentations
F—D02 Finish Research Presentations.