Syllabus

SYLLABUS

Instructor: Assist. Prof. Dr. ErtuÄŸrul Koç

 Course Code and Name: ELL 316 Theory and Practice of Literary Criticism (3 0 3)

Course Description:

Enhancement of the principal lines of critical theories that have dominated the scene from 1920’s to the present covering an intensive survey of literary theories and modes of criticism through close reading and discussion of texts by major authors in British and American Literatures.

Objectives: This 3-credit course is designed for advanced undergraduate and graduate literature majors. Based in large measure on peer evaluation and collaborative learning, the course seeks to reconcile the theoretical, objective analysis of literature and the subjective reponse to literature by providing you with the necessary instruments of reference--namely, the constituent elements of poetry, prose, and drama--and model texts and essays illustrating recent trends in literary theory and analysis.

The course aims to study and determine the quality of literature and literary theory in their ability to convey the traditional literary values of form, meaning, and symbolism, and the applicable value of literary theory as an interpretive mode of criticism that probes how we read, make sense of experience, and produce meaning.

In the process, the course seeks the heightened appreciation of literary texts and theories, their intellectual, moral, and aesthetic features, the relationships amongs stylistic devices, central motifs, organic structure, and effectiveness in revealing and communicating the author's and reader's purpose and motivation and imagination and psychology.

Course Policies

The policies that follow may seem rather complicated, but the overall effect is this: if you are not conscientious, do not come to class regularly, and do not turn your work in on time, you will not do well in the course.

Absence Policy. Active participation is essential in this course, so I expect you to be in class each time we meet. If you miss more than 8 hours, you will lose a letter grade for each class you miss after this. If you miss 12 hours, you will not pass the course. In addition, the only absences I excuse are absences for official. If you are required to miss class for an event, the program you are a part of will provide you with a letter of excuse. If you skip three classes and then get sick for three more, you are out of luck -so avoid missing class whenever possible. Also- please note that being absent DOES NOT excuse you from turning in work and it DOES NOT excuse you from learning the material covered.

Lateness Policy. If you are more than five minutes late, I will count you absent. It is disruptive to the class to have students trickling in late and on most days we will have enough to cover that delays and disruptions early in the class pose a significant problem. In other words, please arrive on time.

Class Presence Policy. When you are in class, I expect you to be mentally present. If you are caught sleeping, text messaging, listening to mp3 players, reading the newspaper, completing homework assignments, etc, you will be marked as absent. When you participate in such activities, you are not only unable to participate in class activities, but you distract those around you. Also, once class begins, I expect you to remain in class until the class is dismissed. If you must leave to use the bathroom, I certainly will not object, but if you develop repeatedly dismiss yourself, it will affect your class participation grade. Also, all cellular phones, pagers, etc. should be turned off. This is a matter of common etiquette.

Late Daily Work. Daily work cannot be turned in late. If you must miss class, or if you know ahead of time that you are going to be absent, speak to me about turning your work in early, not when you return.

Late Paper Policy. It is crucial to turn your formal assignment drafts in on time. For each calendar day that a formal assignment is late, excluding weekend and official school holidays, you will lose ten percent from that assignment’s point weight. I will not accept a formal assignment draft more than one week after its original deadline unless you and I have made written arrangements PRIOR TO the original deadline about turning the paper in late.