HACETTEPE UNIVERSITY

Faculty of Letters
Department of English Language and Literature
SYLLABUS
IED 281(01) The Short Story
2021-2022 Fall Semester
Assist. Prof. Dr. Aslı Değirmenci Altın
E-mail: aslidegirmenci01@gmail.com
Class Hours: Tuesday 09.00-11.50
Method: Distance learning through evdekal.hacettepe.edu.tr website (moodle platform) and synchronous
live classes using Zoom
Permanent Zoom Link for Live Classes: https://zoom.us/j/91431180400

Aim: The objective in the intensive study of many representative texts will be to develop student awareness
of the short story as a literary genre. At the beginning of the course, relevant literary terms will be
explained and exemplified in detail. Then, the origins of the short story will be examined and its
development into a modern genre will be illustrated through the works of late 19 th century American,
French and Russian forerunners. The core of the course will constitute of twentieth century English short
story writers and their works. In addition, stories from different parts of the world will be included for
comparative purposes. The thematic, technical and stylistic contribution of each writer will be thoroughly
analysed. Students will be expected to develop a critical appreciation of the short story as a modern genre.

Course Outline:
Week 1 (Sept 28): General introduction to the syllabus and class. Rules for online classs.
Week 2 (Oct 5): Introduction to short story as a genre, analysing a short story, components of short
story. Edgar Allan Poe “The Cask of Amontillado”
Week 3 (Oct 12): Guy de Maupassant “The Necklace”
Week 4 (Oct 19): Anton Chekhov, “The Lady with the Dog”
Week 5 (Oct 26): Kate Chopin “The Story of an Hour”
Ernest Hemingway “Hills Like White Elephants”
Week 6 (Nov 2): James Joyce “Araby”
Virginia Woolf “Kew Gardens”
Week 7 (Nov 9): William Faulkner “A Rose for Emily”
Week 8 (Nov 16): MIDTERM EXAM
Week 9 (Nov 23): John Cheever “The Swimmer”
Week 10 (Nov 30): Octavia Butler “Bloodchild”
Week 11 (Dec 7): Angela Carter “The Company of Wolves”
Week 12 (Dec 14): Gabriel Garcia Marquez “A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings
Week 13 (Dec 21): Margaret Atwood “Happy Endings”
Ursula Le Guin “The Ones Who Walk away from Omelas”
Week 14 (Dec 28): Hanif Kureishi “My Son the Fanatic”

There might be changes to the course outline.

IV. Method of Instruction: The course will begin with short introductory lectures which will later on be
followed by a close study of the short stories through critical discussions in the class room.

V. Requirements: Full attendance is unconditionally required. More than 11 hours of absence will
result in F1. The students are expected to read the stories in advance.
It is also extremely important and the student’s responsibility to check moodle platform for
announcements, assignments, and readings.
VI. Assessments: There will be one midterm examination (%50) and a final exam (%50). In grading the
exam papers %25 of the total mark will be taken off for grammar mistakes and writing errors.
VII. Sources: All stories will be shared in the moodle platform weekly.
Rules for online class:
Since this class will be taught online via Zoom, it is extremely important that each student make sure they
have access to a computer with stable internet connection and a web-cam. Students will be required to open
their cameras at times for attendance and for the entire duration of online exams. Each week, we will have
three 40-minute zoom meetings, with 15 minute-breaks between them. So, our schedule will be:
09.00-09.40: 1st session
09.55-10.35: 2nd session
10.50-11.30: 3rd session

A few things to remember while attending a Zoom class:

 Be on time. The instructor will accept students to the class on time. The late comers will be
accepted 10 minutes later. Those who are later than 10 minutes won’t be accepted into the
classroom.
 It is student’s responsibility to write in the chat “present” for all sessions. The instructor will save
chats from each session and this will be proof of your attendance or lack thereof.
 Sign in to zoom meeting with your first name and last name. Otherwise, you will be considered
absent from those sessions.
 Either keep your camera open for the duration of class, or make your avatar a recent photo of
yourself.