Contemporary Women Writers

English 331, Summer 2010
Online Course
3 Credits, #12352

"School is tiny vacation."  — Gwendolyn Brooks, "The Coora Flower"

Welcome to English 331, "study of the language, images, themes, modes and genres in 20th century literature by women of various cultural, ethnic, and national backgrounds." 

This Spring's section will focus primarily (but not exclusively) on questions of 1) belief and nonbelief; 2) leaving, going, being at home; 3) the Self and the Other; and 4) bothness and inbetweeness.

Other questions.

Debra S. Golden ©

Voices from the Gaps

Voice of the Shuttle's Women's
Studies and Feminist Theory Links

Required Course Texts

Elizabeth Bishop, Geography III
Lisa Lewis, The Unbeliever
Fanny Howe, One Crossed Out
Fanny Howe, The Wedding Dress
Annie Proulx, Wyoming Stories
Joy Williams, Breaking and Entering
Joyce Carol Oates, Foxfire

  Other Necessities

• Frequent access to email.
  
• Ability to use Blackboard and the Web.
  
• A committment to fulfill reading and writing assignments in a timely manner, and to respond to peer and instructor communications in Blackboard.

Aims of this Course

1. You will gain a good appreciation of nine contemporary writers, responding both critically and creatively to their work.
2. You will come to understand some historic as well as recent questions asked about literature generally and literature by women specifically.
3. You will satisfactorily complete a critical essay, an open project, and quizzes on each author.
   

Primary Course Work

CRITICAL ESSAY (30 pts. or 30% of semester score)

Late in the term you will complete an essay on one of our assigned authors or readings. This will be an interpretive piece in which you develop your own thesis and then argue for that idea in about 5-8 pages. Part of your essay will involve putting your thesis in a critical context. I.e., you will research other critical work done on the author or work in question.

BLACKBOARD DISCUSSION BOARD

Reading Journal (40 pts. or 40% of semester score)

Writing is a form of thinking, and it's also a way to assist thinking. Reading journals are a great tool to help you absorb reading material, clarify questions your may have about that material, and even develop your own original insights into the authors we'll be reading.

You will have your own space on Blackboard which will function as your journal. This will be a place for free thinking, questions, and responses to writing prompts I'll be giving you. Click here for complete instructions.

Class Discussion (30 pts. or 30% of semester score)

We will engage in occasional "virtual discussions" via our Blackboard Discussion Board. We will talk back and forth with each other, in other words, using Blackboard threads and replies. Click here for complete instructions.

 

Final Grading Scale

88-100 points = A
76-87 = B
63-75 = C
50- 62 = D
Below 50 = F

Note: exceptionally weak or strong performance on your weekly work will be factored subjectively into your semester grade, especially in borderline cases.

Ground Rules

Respect and curiosity are keywords for this class. It's important that you come with an open mind, a willingness to test your own views and the views of others, and to think and feel actively about the readings. It's a discussion and reading-intensive course, so it's vital that you stay up on reading assignments and participate energetically. Other important tips: feel free at any time to argue with me or with your classmates, and be be ready for interesting, sometimes challenging group discussions and readings.

Late or Missed Course Work

 

Critical Essay

This is due no later than midnight on May 14th. Exceptions are only made with documented evidence of serious harship or illness.

Class Discussion

Each discussion will run from Sunday to Saturday. Entries made after Saturday, midnight, will not be counted.

A Note to English Majors

During their senior year, English majors generally enroll in the English Capstone course (Engl 467), during which they assemble a portfolio containing representative written work from NDSU English courses. The English Department evaluates these portfolios to assess its undergraduate programs, analyzing how student work meets departmental outcomes. In order to facilitate the preparation of senior portfolios, English majors are encouraged to save copies of their written work (in electronic and hard copy) each semester.

Departmental Outcomes

This course meets at least three English Dept. outcomes:

• Outcome 1: English majors will be able to write and speak effectively for a variety of purposes and audiences in a variety of genres and media. Outcome 2: English majors will be able to read (analyze, interpret, critique, evaluate) written and visual texts.
• Outcome 7: English majors will develop professionalism exhibited in such qualities as self-direction, cooperation, civility, reliability, and care in editing and presenting the final product.

University Statement on Academic Honesty

All work in this course must be completed in a manner consistent with NDSU University Senate Policy, Section 335: Code of Academic Responsibility and Conduct. http://www.ndsu.nodak.edu/policy/335.htm Note: any instances of deliberate plagiarism in English 331 will result in an F for the course.

Student Conduct

All interactions in this course including interactions by email, weblogs, discussion boards,or other online methods will be civil and students will demonstrate respect for one another. Student conduct at NDSU is governed by the Code of Student Behavior. See http://www.ndsu.edu/ndsu/vpsa/code/ for more information.

Americans with Disabilities Statement

Any students with disabilities or other special needs who need accommodations in this course are invited to share these concerns or requests with me as soon as possible.

Prepared by
Cindy Nichols

Last modified: 
June 19, 2010

NDSU Webmaster

Quotations near top of this page:

Gish Jen, Mona in the Promised Land, p. 247

Simone Weil qtd. by Fanny Howe in The Wedding Dress, p. 75.