Week 1

Aug. 10

Studying Literature: Tools, Genres, Conventions

1: The Stories That Stories Tell: Close Reading

Reading

• Oscar Wilde, "The Nightingale and the Rose," The Happy Prince and Other Stories (1888; study guide)
• Oscar Wilde Biography, The European Graduate School
• Carolyn Burdett, "Aestheticism and Decadence," British Library
  

Aug. 15

Play: (7:30 p.m., Sodsai Pantoomkomol Center for Dramatic Arts) Trifles 

Week 2

Aug. 17

2: Language and Meaning in Fiction: Literary Conventions 

Reading

• Edgar Allan Poe, "The Tell-Tale Heart" (1843; study guide)
• Poe's Life: Who Is Edgar Allan Poe?, The Museum of Edgar Allan Poe
  

Aug. 19

3: Crafting a World: Techniques and Choices 

Reading

Week 3

Aug. 24

4: Fiction and Reality  

Reading

Aug. 26

5: Things and Meaning 

Reading

• Shirley Jackson, "The Lottery" (1948; study guide)
• Shirley Jackson (short bio)
• Jonathan Lethem, "Monstrous Acts and Little Murders," Salon (1997)
• Joyce Carol Oates, "The Library of America Interviews Joyce Carol Oates about Shirley Jackson" (2010; pdf file)
  

Week 4

Aug. 31

Reading Big and Small: Structure, Ideas, Practice

6: Text and Performance

Reading

Sep. 2

7: The Shape of an Idea

Reading

Week 5

Sep. 7

8: Inspiration and Execution  

Reading

• Susan Glaspell, Trifles (1916; study guide)

Sep. 9

9:  

Reading

• Vince LiCata and Ping Chong, Cocktail (2009; study guide)
• Douglas I. Sugano, "Ping Chong," Asian American Playwrights (2002)
• Vince LiCata and Ping Chong, "Artists' Statement" (pp. xxviii–xxx)
• Tamara Loos, "Introduction" (pp. ix–xxvii)
• Dangkamol Na Pombejra, Interview, Nangfahnirnam (2009)
  

Week 6

Sep. 14

10:  

Reading

• Vince LiCata and Ping Chong, Cocktail (2009; study guide)

Sep. 16

11:  

Reading

• Vince LiCata and Ping Chong, Cocktail (2009; study guide)

Week 7

Sep. 21

12:

Reading

Sep. 23

13:

Reading

Week 8

Sep. 28

*Test 1 (Midterm week: September 28–October 2, 2015)
 
(9:30–11:00 a.m., 30 points, in class) In test 1 you will be discussing short stories in two essays.

It is helpful to take a few minutes to plan an outline before writing your essays. Formulate a thoughtful thesis/argument in responding to the question that allows you to address effectively the requirements of the prompt. For each prompt, you do not need to answer every single question in the cluster in order and separately. The multiple questions are there to help you think about the topic. Cite specific acts, scenes, lines, or words in support of your argument. You will want to show us your critical and analytical skills: demonstrate that you have read closely and understood the material, that you can critically engage with that material, with discussion in class, and with the test question, that you can synthesize material and knowledge gained, and that you can write clear and effective prose. Give your essays a title if you like.

• Writing
  • Writing Prose (handbook on college writing, Yale University; pdf file)
  • Sources and Citation (Dartmouth College; pdf file)
  • AP Lit & Comp: Writing technique (flashcard style review)
  • Writing Guide
• Reading Strategies
• A General Study Guide
• Reading Strategies and LIE
• S.O.A.P.S. Document Analysis
• PDIDLS
• Tone and Detailed Explanation of DIDLS
• Close Reading
• Close Reading Guide
• Getting an A on an English Paper: Close Reading
• How to Do a Close Reading
• Francine Prose, "Close Reading," The Atlantic (2006)
• Essay Exam Tips
• Writing Exam Essays
• Pointers for Taking Essay Tests
• Writing Essay Exams (pdf file)
• Essay Exam Preparation (pdf file)
• Review literary terms (more online quizzes; see if you can beat the set champions)
• Quiz for AP Literature, Poetry Terms - Introduction
• AP Literary Terms (Expanded)
• All Literary Devices
• Mrs. Harnden's AP Lit Review
• Sample Essay Exam Questions and Responses
  • Mary Oliver, "Crossing the Swamp," American Primitive (1978)
  • 2004 AP English Literature and Composition Free-Response Questions (pdf file)
  • 2004 AP English Literature and Composition Scoring Guidelines and Sample Student Essays (pdf file)
  • 2004 AP English Literature and Composition Scoring Commentary (pdf file)
  • Sample Midterm & Answers (the gothic experience)
  • Example of Strong Responses (Romantic literature)
  • Sample Midterm Questions (pdf file)
  • Sample Midterm Essay Response
• What Is Plagiarism
• Test 1
  
• Test 1 discussion 

Sep. 30

*Test 2 (Midterm week: September 28–October 2, 2015)
 
(8:00–9:30 a.m., 30 points, in class) This second test requires you to write two essays, one on Trifles and one on Cocktail in response to prompts given. Read the test instructions and questions carefully and make sure you understand and follow them. It is helpful to take a few minutes to plan an outline before writing your essay. Formulate a thoughtful thesis/argument in responding to the question that allows you to address effectively the requirements of the prompt. For each prompt, you do not need to answer every single question in the cluster in order and separately. The multiple questions are there to help you think about the topic. Cite specific acts, scenes, lines, or words in support of your argument. You will want to show us your critical and analytical skills: demonstrate that you have read closely and understood the material, that you can critically engage with that material, with discussion in class, and with the test question, that you can synthesize material and knowledge gained, and that you can write clear and effective prose. Give your essay a title if you like.

Week 9

Oct. 5

Reading and Writing: Academic Conversation

 
14: Love Story

Reading

• "Lord Randall" (c. 13th–15th century; study guide)
  
• The Ballad
• Ballad (description of the folk and literary ballad)
• Ballad (short description)
• Traditional Ballads (What is a ballad?, web resources)
  

Oct. 7

15: Love and Risk

Reading

Week 10

Oct. 12

16:

Reading

Oct. 14

17: Loving Art and Life

Reading

Week 11

Oct. 19

18:

Reading

• Louis Simpson, "The Battle" (1965; study guide)
• Louis Simpson Recalls the Battle of the Bulge, Operation Homecoming, National Endowment for the Arts (audio clip; 2:23 min.)
  
• The War (stories and memories of WWII)
  
• Robert Frost, "Nothing Gold Can Stay" (1923; study guide)
• Dana Gioia, "On Robert Frost's 'Nothing Gold Can Stay'" (2001)
• Robert Frost, "On Understanding Poetry" (transcript of 1955 talk at Middlebury College; Saying that "there's a good deal of sway in my poetry," Frost discusses understanding his and others' poems.)
  
• Gerard Quinn, "Frost's Synecdochic Allusions," Resources for American Literary Study 25.2 (1999; Chula network access)
• The Bible
• Genesis 2:8–25
  
• Genesis 3
  
• Allusion (brief definition with examples)
  

Oct. 21

19:

Reading

Week 12

Oct. 26

Narrative Long Form: A Forum of Ideas

20:

Reading

Oct. 28

21:

Reading

Week 13

Nov. 2

22:

Reading

Nov. 4

23: Language of the Human Psyche

Reading

Week 14

Nov. 9

24: Narrative Style and Technique

Reading

Nov. 11

25:

Reading

Week 15

Nov. 16

No class (CU Open House)

Nov. 18

Review

Reading

Week 16

Nov. 23

Presentations

Tentative schedule (download program)

1.  Victorian Humans
9:30–9:50 a.m.
Presiding: Ganchanit Kosolwatthana
Speakers:
1.  “Morality and Enjoyment: What It Means to Be Human,” Chertalay Suwanpanich
2.  “Duality, Multiplicity, Development,” Naruchon Kritsadasima
3.  “Title,” Suphapij Pinitniyom

Respondent 1: Wasinee Pabuprapap
Respondent 2: Nuntiya Lilitaporn
Respondent 3: Intira Pooncharoen

2.  Victorian Conditions
9:50–10:10 a.m.
Presiding: Vivanya Kanchanaviroj
Speakers:
1.  “Deformity,” Vatcharit Chantajinda
2.  “Insanity,” Phummiphat Suwanananjarern
3.  “Impurity,” Panuwat Baikeawon

Respondent 1: Wisamon Maleeratana
Respondent 2: Nadsajee Parnujed
Respondent 3: Suphapij Pinitniyom

3.  Rules
10:10–10:30 a.m.
Presiding: Pakawinee Siraprapathum
Speakers:
1.  “Breaking Nature,” Kanrawee Luangsakul
2.  “Respecting Rules,” Thanaporn Chaisaklert
3.  “Title,” Parima Kosakarn

Respondent 1: Vivanya Kanchanaviroj
Respondent 2: Vatcharit Chantajinda
Respondent 3: Chertalay Suwanpanich

4.  Life and Death Secrets
10:30–10:50 a.m.
Presiding: Achara Souvakon
Speakers:
1.  “Obscurity and Concealment,” Chayabhorn Surawadee
2.  “Title,” Teesuwan Pitipakorn
3.  “Hyding Secrets,” Nadsajee Parnujed

Respondent 1: Thanaporn Chaisaklert
Respondent 2: Panuwat Baikeawon
Respondent 3: Ganchanit Kosolwatthana

*Reading response 3 due (2 pp.)

• Writing in College
  
• Writing Prose (handbook on college writing, Yale University; pdf file)
• Sources and Citation (Dartmouth College; pdf file)
• Writing about Literature
  
• Getting an A on an English Paper: Close Reading

Nov. 25

Presentations

Tentative schedule (download program)

5.  Theme Potluck Breakfast
8:00–9:25 a.m.
Theme potluck breakfast hosted by section 5. You are welcome to bring themed breakfast foods inspired by our course reading list to eat and share with friends Wednesday morning. For example, you might bring Nightingale blood for your classmates to drink with tell-tale heart cookies and Mrs. Wright's bread and cherry preserves. Or, a bunch of you might co-host a cocktail, snow cones, or Dr. Jekyll's drug to celebrate a really transformative end for our session. I'll provide cups, plates, forks, knives and napkins.
 

6.  Strange Imagery in Jekyll and Hyde
8:00–8:25 a.m.
Presiding: Phummiphat Suwanananjarern
Speakers:
1.  “The Importance of Images in Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde,” Wasinee Pabuprapap
2.  “Title,” Wisamon Maleeratana

3.  “The Value of Doors,” Orrachat Nasatith

Respondent 1: Naruchon Kritsadasima
Respondent 2: Teesuwan Pitipakorn

Respondent 3: Achara Souvakon
 
7. Changing Places
8:30–8:55 a.m.
Presiding: Chayabhorn Surawadee
Speakers:
1.  “Night and Day,” Pakawinee Siraprapathum
2.  “Setting Up Hyde,” Nuntiya Lilitaporn

3.  “Emotion and Identity,” Ganchanit Kosolwatthana

Respondent 1: Parima Kosakarn
Respondent 2: Phummiphat Suwanananjarern

Respondent 3: Kanrawee Luangsakul
 
8. Curious Relationships
9:00–9:25 a.m.
Presiding: Nadsajee Panujed
Speakers:
1.  “Friendships,” Achara Souvakon
2.  “‘Two which is truly one,’” Intira Pooncharoen

3.  “Hidden or Open Bonds,” Vivanya Kanchanaviroj

Respondent 1: Orrachat Nasatith
Respondent 2: Chayabhorn Surawadee

Respondent 3: Pakawinee Siraprapathum

Week 17

Nov. 30

Final Exam (8:30–11:30 a.m.)