English 209: Introduction to Fiction
Professor Conrad
Spring 1999
TR 2:30-4 pm
156 St.
Office: 2035 Wescoe Hall
Office hours: Tuesday 1:30-2:20 and by appointment
Course Description
In this section of Introduction to Fiction, students will read works that center on individuals coping with systems of oppression.
Texts
- Bronte, Wuthering Heights
- Ellison, Invisible Man
- Joyce, Dubliners
- Morrison, Beloved
- And several short stories available at the Reserve Desk at Watson.
Online Resources
- Resources for Writers (Writing Consulting: Student Resources, KU)
- Information on KU Writers Roosts
- Strunk and White's Elements of Style handbook
- Jack Lynch's online Guide to Grammar and Usage
Requirements
Participation: 20%
Attendance will be taken in this course. More than 5 unexcused absences, counting from the first day of your enrollment in this course, will result in failure of this course. Work in other classes, away games, hangovers, vacations, and sniffles do not count as excused absences. If you are in doubt, ask me. Excused absences require either notification of me on or before class date (by e-mail, preferably, or by a message on my office voicemail), or official documentation shortly after the absence. Students will be allowed one unexcused absence; after that, the attendance portion of your participation grade (50%) will fall by one full letter grade. 50% of your participation grade will be based on in-class participation, including short writing assignments and group work.
Papers: 70%
You will be expected to write three papers; you will revise one of your papers. You will have the opportunity to write a fourth paper if you would like the opportunity to improve your paper grade. Attendance and participation in the writing group scheduled for March 11 is mandatory.
Paper topics will be available online as well as on paper; see below (under "Tentative Schedule of Readings") for due dates and topic links.
Quizzes: 10%
There will be no midterm or final for the course. I will give reading quizzes--generally unannounced.
Schedule
| Date | Reading |
|---|---|
| Jan 19 | Introduction |
| Jan 21 | Bronte, Wuthering Heights. |
| Jan 26 | Wuthering Heights. |
| Jan 28 | Wuthering Heights. Paper topic for Paper #1 handed out. |
| Feb 2 | Wuthering Heights. |
| Feb 4 | Reading day. |
| Evening: | Paul Muldoon, N. Irish poet, 8 pm, Malott Rm., Kansas Union. Highly recommended! |
| Feb 9 | McPherson, "A Loaf of Bread" (reserve); Paper #1 due. |
| Feb 11 | "A Loaf of Bread." |
| Feb 16 | Joyce, Dubliners ("The Sisters") |
| Feb 18 | Dubliners ("An Encounter," "Eveline," "Araby") Paper topic for Paper #2 handed out. |
| Feb 23 | Dubliners ("Two Gallants," "The Boarding House") |
| Feb 25 | Dubliners ("A Mother"). |
| Evening: | Maxine Clair, Kansas City writer (author of Rattlebone, a collection of short stories set in KC) reading from her new work Letters to Vergie, 8 pm, Pioneer Room, Burge Union. |
| Mar 2 | Dubliners ("The Dead"). |
| Mar 4 | catch-up. Draft of Paper #2 due: bring in four copies of your paper. |
| Mar 9 | Hurston, "The Gilded Six-Bits" (reserve). |
| Mar 11 | Writing Groups (REQUIRED!). |
| Mar 12 | Jimmy Santiago Baca, poet, reading and book signing, 4 pm, Alderson Auditorium, Kansas Union. |
| Mar 15 | Patricia Williams, "Toward a Theory of Grace," 8 pm, Woodruff Auditorium, Kansas Union. |
| Mar 16 | Ellison, Invisible Man (pp. 1-70). |
| Mar 18 | Invisible Man (pp. 70-108). Paper #2 due. |
| SPRING BREAK --read IM & get ahead! | |
| Mar 30 | Invisible Man ( for today, you should have finished reading through p. 260). Paper topics for Paper #3 handed out. No writing groups required for Paper #3; I recommend you see me and/or the writing consultants at Writers Roosts! |
| Apr 1 | Invisible Man. (through p. 333) |
| Apr 6 | CLASS CANCELLED--PROFESSOR IS SICK--Keep reading. |
| Apr 8 | Invisible Man. (through p. 535). Links to Marcus Garvey's writings, W.E.B. DuBois's writings, and information on Booker T. Washington. |
| Apr 13 | Invisible Man (you should be finished with the book by today). |
| Apr 15 | Morrison, Beloved. Paper #3 due. |
| Apr 20 | Beloved. Outrageous Acts/Everyday Rebellions assignment handed out. |
| Apr 22 | Beloved (through p. 170) |
| Apr 27 | Beloved. (through p. 218) |
| Apr 29 | Beloved (finish) |
| May 4 | Alvarez, "Daughter of Invention" (reserve). |
| May 6 | Last Day --Optional Paper #4 due. Outrageous Acts/Everyday Rebellions assignment due. |