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|  | | | | Course Syllabus | | Introduction to Literature- English Lit 1001 W, 4 Credits
College in the Schools
Lindsay M. Peifer
651-632-6000- Ext. 4030
email: lindsay.peifer@spps.org
Course Description:
English 1001 is an introductory level University of Minnesota course
and is offered to high school seniors in the top 30% of their
class. At Central this class is called "Introduction to Modern
Fiction." Students read 8-10 stimulating works of modern fiction,
ranging from the traditional to the experimental. Through
intensive, close reading of a range of literary works, students will
understand diverse experiences, languages, and forms, and genres.
They will also find it necessary to understand knowledge in various
fields (history, art, literature, music, politics, philosophy) and
social practices (gender, race, sexuality, and class, and more) in
order to understand the basic “facts” of literary works. These
are discoveries which they will make through the guidance of the
instructor, the other students, and themselves. If the course is
successful for students, they will have participated actively in
personal reading (assigned and “discovered”), class lectures
(listening), class discussions, small discussions (with other students,
or with the instructor), asking questions, and analyzing the works
closely. In the end they will gain an awareness of themselves,
other cultures, other individuals; they will gain an awareness of
themselves, other cultures, other individuals; they will gain an
ability to think critically and to express themselves orally and in
writing; they will gain aesthetic sensitivity; they will acquire or
further develop their intellectual curiosity, and perhaps be challenged
by the remarkable range of knowledge available through literature.
Students will discuss literary form, interpretation, and theory as well
as the contexts and issues raised by the books. Writing and
discussion will be used as methods of exploration and learning.
Students will keep reading notebooks and write several short
papers. All students will be expected to attend regularly and to
be active discussion participants. Because this is a college
course, students will have more freedom and more responsibility for
their own learning than is usual in a high school class.
Enrollment is limited.
Course texts to be selected from the following:
The Awakening by Kate Chopin
Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad
The Dubliners by James Joyce
A Grain of Wheat by Ngugi wa Thiongo
Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston
Going After Cacciato by Tim O'Brien
Sula or Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison
As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner
Green Grass, Running Water by Thomas King
Memories of a Woman Warrior by Maxine Hong Kingston
Dreaming in Cuban by Cristina Garcia
Servants of the Map by Andrea Barrett
The God of Small Things by Arundati Roy
Course Objectives:
• To develop and practice analytical discussion skills
• To improve reading, writing and thinking skills
• To increase awareness of experiences different from one's own and to seek understanding
• To learn to build connections between literary works and between the works and
• the real world
• To learn actively in a rigorous and stimulating experience
Teaching Philosophy:
“Books are not made to be believed, but to be subjected to
inquiry. When we consider a book, we mustn’t ask ourselves what
it says but what it means…” Umberto Eco, The Name of the Rose.
For me, in questioning what a book means, discovering the underlying
and often universal truths found within the pages, is where truth in
ourselves and our connections to other lives. If one can
look inside the pages to find different perceptions from our own, it is
in putting these pieces together that true learning through literature
can begin. How can we find answers for ourselves through other
people’s lives and experiences? We can only do this if we care to
discover their perceptions, their rights, their truths, their faults
and see how it relates to our own world, our own vision of
truth. This discovery can only begin if one is engaged in
the literature and in the world itself. One must ask questions
and seek to find answers to those questions—and yet be comfortable in
not finding the “right” answer. This is what is beautiful about
literature and even when narrations seem vague, characters seem
confused, lines of truth and lies are blurred—and maybe because of all
of these things and not despite them—can one see the universal truth
that can be learned from every story.
Class Format:
This class will meet three days a week, usually on Tuesdays,
Wednesdays, and Thursdays. Schedule will occasionally be changed
to accommodate senior class activities and teacher professional
days. Weekly schedule will be posted in the room. We will meet in
full class discussion most days with occasional small group
activities. Sometimes we will do activities that involve journal
writing so please bring your journal to class regularly. On free days
you are welcome to work in the classroom, the library, or any other
approved study area. Please be responsible about this.
Class Work:
We will be addressing a different book every two weeks. You are
responsible for finishing the assigned reading on time. I do not
allow students who have not done the reading to remain in class. It is
a demanding schedule, but not an unworkable one. Use your time
wisely. You will also be responsible for the various secondary
materials distributed for each book. These are valuable
background material. Since this is a University course, there are
university level expectations associated with it. Generally, this
means that you should spend approximately two hours outside of class
for every hour of class.
You will respond to the books in two ways:
1) Discussion
The success of this class will be largely determined by the quality of
the discussions. While I will serve as facilitator and give some
background information, the discussions will be directed by the
class. You will be expected to finish all reading on time and to
contribute actively. Active listening is also part of a good
discussion, so pay attention to what others are saying and build on
it. If you are naturally a bit reticent, give some thought while
you are reading to questions and issues you might bring up. If
you are usually the first one to raise your hand, hold back a bit once
in a while and see what others have to say. A good discussion is
always a cooperative effort. Good attendance is critical.
You will not be able to contribute significantly if you are absent a
lot.
2) Reading Notebook
You will be expected to make 4-5 journal entries per book in your
reading notebook. Each entry should be dated. You should make one
entry before reading or at the beginning of your reading and continue
to make entries as you read. Length of entries is not as
important as the quality of idea, although I do expect something
substantial for each. You will usually be given one required
journal and I will provide some journal ideas for each book as well.
Things I will be looking for:
• Depth of thought and evidence of reflection
• Originality--not just saying what each person in the class would say- moving
beyond the obvious
• Insight--writing about parts of the book not addressed in class
• Growth-- changing your mind through writing or going to another level of under-
standing through your writing; showing some insight into your own perceptions
• Relating the book to life outside the book and/or to your personal life. Be careful
with this one- don't lose the focus of the issue
• Use of the text for support of ideas
Those of you who are interested in creative writing may want to
experiment with some of your journal entries. I am also
comfortable with visual interpretation of ideas if that interests
you. Please provide a short rationale if you choose either of
these options.
Although journal writing is designed to be a more informal exercise, I
do expect good grammar and spelling and legible penmanship in all
journal entries. If you wish for some formal input on your
writing, I will be glad to provide that occasionally on request.
I will read journals once per book. Journals will be due no later
than the Thursday after we have finished a book. I expect all
journals for each book to be completed before you start the next
ones. I prefer to have journals turned in during school hours,
but I will occasionally accept email journals in emergency or illness
situations. Please advise me if you need to do this. I do
not accept late journals.
Other Class work:
The majority of your writing will be in your journals. I will
also assign a few short papers during the semester that will take the
place of some journals. We will also be doing some group projects
that involve creative interpretation of the books. Both of these
options will be dependent on the books chosen for the semester and you
will be given specific directions for each.
Class Atmosphere and Conduct Expectations:
This class, like all classes at Central, has a culture influenced by
our diverse student population and the different values we may
hold. Students also learn in different ways. This class will
address these issues by providing learning experiences that
acknowledges these different learning styles and by providing a
classroom atmosphere that is open and nonjudgmental. Points of
view may be actively argued but the speakers are to be respected as
essentially fair-minded individuals working to enlarge their thinking
about ideas and people. We cannot be blamed for the
misinformation we have learned, but we will be held responsible for
repeating misinformation after we have learned otherwise. We each
have an obligation to combat actively the myths and stereotypes about
our own groups and other groups so we can break down the walls that
prohibit group cooperation and group gain.
Students are responsible for complying with the University of Minnesota
Student Conduct Code and that of the Saint Paul Public Schools.
Attendance Policy:
The University of Minnesota's attendance policy is very clear: four
absences will result in a lowered grade; eight absences will result in
a loss of credit.
Disabilities Services:
It is the policy of the University of Minnesota and the Saint Paul
Public Schools to provide on a flexible and individualized basis,
reasonable accommodations to students who have documented disability
conditions that may affect their ability to participate in course
activities or to meet course requirements. If this is an issue
that affects you please notify me. Students with disabilities are
encouraged to contact Disability Services as well to discuss their
individual needs for accommodations. Disability Services is located in
Suite #180 McNamara Alumni Center, 200 Oak Street. Staff can be reached
by calling 612/626-1333 voice or TTY. For further information, visit
their web site: http://ds.umn.edu/
Sexual Harassment:
Definition: “Sexual Harassment means unwelcome sexual advances,
requests for sexual favors and/or other verbal or physical conduct of a
sexual nature…” The ¨University of Minnesota and the Saint Paul Public
schools strictly prohibit sexual harassment by or towards a member of
the University community and require appropriate reporting and
investigation of such resorts. The definition and policy of the
University of Minnesota can be seen in its entirely at
http://www.1umn.edu.regents./policies/humanresources/SexHarrassment.pdf.
The policy of the Saint Paul Public Schools is in your student handbook.
Scholastic Dishonesty:
Students are responsible for maintaining scholastic honesty in their
work at all times. Students engaged in scholastic dishonesty will
be penalized and their name may be reported to University of Minnesota
Student Judicial Affairs. In addition, students will be
responsible for adhering to the code of scholastic honesty outlined by
Central High School.
The University 's College of Liberal Arts defines scholastic dishonesty
as "any act that violates the rights of another student with respect to
academic work or that involves misrepresentation of a student's own
work. Scholastic dishonesty includes (but is not limited to)
cheating on assignments or examinations, plagiarizing (misrepresenting
as one’s own anything done by another), submitting the same or
substantially similar papers (or creative work) for more than one
course without the consent of all instructors concerned, depriving
another of necessary course materials, and sabotaging another's
work." Scholastic dishonesty also includes fabrication, cheating
and academic misconduct. Academic Dishonesty in any portion of
the academic work for a course is grounds for course failure and may
result in reporting to the Student Judicial Affairs Office. For
more information, visit http://advisingtools.class.umn.edu/Multimedia/
Open the link to the CLA Student Handbook. Scholastic
dishonesty defined at:
http://advisingtools.class.umn.edu/cgep/studentconduct.html
CIS Field Days:
College in the Schools Field Day events are opportunities to become
acquainted with the University of Minnesota Twin Cities Campus, meet
your fellow CIS classmates from the greater metropolitan area, and use
the expertise and experience you have gained in the U of M, TC course.
Academic Requirements and Grading Components:
• Your grade will be comprised of 50% for discussion and 50% for journal work and other writing.
• The grade you receive in a CIS course is recorded
on a University of Minnesota transcript and automatically becomes part
of your permanent U of M academic record. You will also receive a grade
on your Central transcript. Traditional grades (A-F) will be used
to indicate academic performance. Pluses and minuses are used
with the exception of A+ and D-.
• You must think of your grade in terms of the
quality of your work as well as the quantity. Letter grades will
indicate the following information and be comprised of the below
components.
A Achievement outstanding relative to the level
necessary to meet course requirements (no grade of A+ should be
submitted; A, 4 grade points; A-, 3.67 grade points). An
A.indicates significant growth throughout the course, frequent
demonstration of initiative, and an excellent grasp of course
content. It also indicates that the student has demonstrated a
level of writing/critical analysis skill that exceeds expectations and
surpasses most other students. A student receiving an "A" grade
will have completed all required work in a manner that is consistently
excellent.
B Achievement significantly above the level necessary
to meet course requirements (B+, 3.33 grade points; B, 3 grade points;
B-, 2.67 grade points). A B indicates significant growth throughout the
course and an above average grasp of course content. It also
indicates that the student has demonstrated a level of writing
/critical analysis skill that meets or exceeds course
expectations. A student receiving a "B" grade will have completed
all required work in a manner that is consistently above average.
C Achievement meeting the basic course requirements
in every respect (C+, 2.33 grade points; C, 2 grade points; C-, 1.67
grade points).A C indicates some growth throughout the course and an
average grasp of course content. It also indicates that the
student has demonstrated a level of writing/
critical analysis skill that meets course expectations. A student
receiving a "C" grade will have completed all required work in a manner
that is consistently satisfactory.
D Achievement worthy of credit even though it does
not fully meet the basic course requirements in every respect (D+, 1.33
grade points; D, 1 grade point; no grade of D- should be submitted).A D
indicates little or no growth throughout the course and a below average
grasp of course content. It also indicates that the student has
demonstrated a level of writing/critical analysis that meet s course
expectations. A student receiving a "D" grade will have completed all
required work in a manner that is consistently below average. A
"D" grade is a passing grade and the student will receive credit but it
is not considered to be acceptable performance.
F An F indicates either no growth/improvement throughout the course and/or a
failure to complete the required amount of work in a manner that is satisfactory. (0 grade points).
Quantity of Work per Credit
The University prescribes the quantity of work needed to earn a credit
as three hours per credit per week. A student should be expected
to spend about 12 hours a week including class time on a 4-credit
course.
University of Minnesota Twin Cities: Academic Policies:
The following are key excerpts from U of M academic policies.
Enrolled students are responsible for knowing and following the
complete policies which can be found by accessing the links provided
below. College in the Schools offers courses from numerous
academic departments housed in several different U of M colleges;
college and/or departmental policies may add variation to some of the
guidelines listed below.
Student Integrity (Excerpt from the College of Liberal Arts Student Handbook):
As a new member of the University community, it is important to be
aware of what is expected of you and what you can expect of the
University. This information is designed to clarify the values and
actions of an academic community.
The Five Fundamental Values: Honesty, Trust, Fairness, Respect, and Responsibility.
An academic community of integrity advances the quest for truth and
knowledge by requiring intellectual and personal honesty in learning,
teaching, research, and service.
For descriptions see: http://www.class.umn.edu/
Student Conduct Code:
Subd. 1. Policy Statement. It is the policy of the University
of Minnesota (University) that certain minimum standards of
conduct are necessary to safeguard the rights, opportunities, and
welfare of students, faculty, staff and guests of the University
community and to assure protection of the interests of the University
as it seeks to carry our its mission.
The University requires a community free from violence, threats, and
intimidation; protective of free inquiry; respectful of the rights of
others; open to change; supportive of democratic and lawful procedures;
and dedicated to a rational and orderly approach to the resolution of
conflict.
Students who engage in behavior that disrupts the learning environment
for others may be subject to disciplinary action under the code.
The College of Continuing Education reserves the right to cancel
current or future registration for such students.
Students are responsible for complying with the University of
Minnesota’s Student Conduct Code, which is available in the college
student affairs office and Student Judicial Affairs (612.624.6073) and
on the Web at http://www.sja.umn.edu/conduct.html
I look forward to a productive and exciting semester. If you have any questions, please email me.
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CIS_syllabus.pdf
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