MURANG’A UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY

DEPARTMENT OF HUMANITIES

CEL 102: CRITICAL WRITING IN LITERATURE

SEMESTER: JANUARY – APRIL 2024
Lecturer: John Auna Samuel. Phone: 0725213729 Email: jskauna@gmail.com

COURSE OUTLINE
Credit Hours: 3

Content
Critical reading, figurative language as a vehicle of literary communication, the relationship
between all aspects making up a text (Organic Unity), Developing an argument from a text
(Critical response), tense in textual criticism, Referencing, Intertextuality, building a credible
response, Technical aspects of literary writing: Quoting, Paraphrasing, In-text citation, page
numbers in quotation, Indented quotations, Use of APA, MLA

Expected learning outcomes:

By the end of the course, the learner should be able to:

(i) Develop capacity to think and express thought clearly and fully
(ii) Develop ideas, draw conclusions, exemplify them and support them with details and connect
everything in a coherent manner
(iii) Produce sharpened, focused expression of thought and study
(iv) Improve perceptions and increase critical faculties for academic practice and procedure
(v) Develop the right critical and presentation skills
(vi) Become a good critical writer

Mode of Delivery

Teaching /Learning methodologies:

Lectures and tutorials; Group discussions; presentations; individual assignment
Instructional materials and Equipment
Course Assessment:
Examination – 60%
Continuous Assessment Tests (CATS) – 40%
Total – 100%

Course Structure
WEE TOPIC SUB TOPICS
K
1 Introduction to literature Literary work; nature of literature;
types of literature (prose fiction, poetry,
drama, non-fiction prose); functions of
literature and definition of key words.

2 Active and reflective reading Guidelines for critical reading; critical

3 Developing ideas for critical writing
4.
Interpretation and response to essay questions
5 Essay writing
6 Use of appropriate critical terms and
concepts/secondary sources
7 Relevant contexts and textual reference
8 Writing about character
9 Writing about point of view
10 Writing about plot and structure
questions for reading prose; critical
questions for reading poetry; critical
questions for reading plays.
Discovering ideas (“brainstorming”);
questions; discovering ideas about
historical period and background.
Describe the social and economic
conditions depicted in the text.
Different types of essay questions;
analyzing the essay question;
intertextuality and the structure of an
essay.
The central idea or argument; writing
the First draft; paragraphing and
developing an outline.
Substantiating one’s interpretation;
citing terms and concepts; secondary
sources
Reference to contextual information
and use of close/detailed textual
reference.
Questions to discover ideas about
character; writing about character; and
outline of an essay about character.
1st person; 2nd person; 3rd person;
Beginning and organizing the essay.
Exposition; complication; crisis; climax
and resolution
11 Writing about setting and stylistic features Background/setting; organization of the
essay; writing about figures of speech;
an essay on symbolism and allusions.
12 Writing a research essay Topic selection; setting up a
bibliography; taking notes and
paraphrasing; use of quotation marks’

13 Documenting the work/Revision Bibliography; refer to works

parenthetically; footnotes and endnotes
formats; proofreading checklist.
Revision

14 EXAMINATIONS

REFERENCES

1. Edgar V. Roberts. Writing About Literature. Tenth Edition. Prentice Hall. New
Jersey. 2003.
2. Laurie G. Kirszner and Stephen R. Mandell. Literature: Reading, Reacting, Writing.
Compact Fourth Edition. Heinle and Heinle. 2000
3. Roberta Markman, Peter T. Markman and Marie L. Waddell. 10 Steps in Writing the
Research Paper. Sixth Edition. Barrons.2001.
4. L. Sue Baugh. How to Write Term Papers and Reports. 2nd Edition. VGM Career
horizons. Chicago. 1997.
5. Thomas S Kane. The Oxford Essential Guide to Writing. Berkley Books, New York.
2000.
6. William Strunk Jr and E.B. White. The elements of Style. 4th Edition. Longman New
York. 2000.
7. Joseph Gilbaldi. MLA Handbook for writers of Research Papers. 16th Edition: The
Modern Language Association of America, New York. 2003.
8. American Psychological Association. Publication Manual of the American
Psychological Association. 5th Edition, 2001.