Course Information Overview
- "The Short story . .. cannot wander. It is essential art," --William Trevor
- "A book [or story] must be the axe for the frozen sea within us." --Franz Kafka
- Maintaining a Respectful Learning Environment: if any of these readings are not to your liking, feel free to take another course. These readings will stand throughout the semester so challenge yourself to interrogate them and LEARN from them!
- Eng. 364 # 14833
- Thursday 4-645PM
- JR 304
- Listserve: classfa19.14833-c@csun.edu. NOTE: To minimize the potential of list receiving spam, it has been configured as "closed" lists. Consequently, you will need to use your respective CSUN email address to communicate with this list, rather than sending from a Yahoo or Hotmail account, or it will bounce.
Course Prerequisites
Completion of the lower-division writing requirement and upper division standing. Not allowed for credit in the English major and minor.
Course Description
Preparatory: Completion of lower-division writing requirement and upper-division standing. Not for credit in the English major or minor. Study of the short story, beginning with careful examination of some classics in the genre, followed by analysis of more contemporary works. Critical writing required. (Available for General Education, Arts and Humanities).
This course will focus on the genre of the short story, from its inception in the early 19th century to modern times. We will look at how basic literary modes and techniques function in the pieces that we read. We will explore how factors such as, close reading, discussion, literary analysis, and critical writing, impact our understanding and appreciation of this genre.
CSUN's GE Upper Division Writing Policy states that all upper-division required GE courses be designated writing-intensive. In each such course, students will be required to complete writing assignments totaling a minimum of 2,500 words.
This course requires intensive reading and writing as well as engaged participation in classroom projects and discussions. You will be learning as much from each other as you will from the textbooks, your research, and the instructor; the success of the class depends on your active participation. Your attendance and participation are required. Late arrivals and early departures will impact your course grade. (See My Classroom Policies above.)
Requirements
Essays- All must be submitted via Canvas in a timely manner for credit.
English 364 is an upper division general education course in the genre of the short story! In this discussion-based virtual classroom, we will study a variety of stories with varying themes, written at different periods of time, and authored by a diverse group of writers. The goal of our course is to appreciate the short story as a genre of literature and to enhance students' analytical reading and writing skills.
10% Participation and Attendance
15% Journal and Quizzes
15% Canvas Responses
10% Presentations
30% Analytical Essays (2--15% each)
20% Final Essay
100%
LRC visits are strongly recommended for each analytical essay this semester.
Extra Credit will be given with proof of attendance for each essay!
Learning Resource Writing Center click here!
The writing center is located in the Oviatt Library 3rd floor east wing and graduate students or instructor are available to assist you with various steps in the writing process such as brainstorming, revising and editing. You may call for an appointment: (818) 677-2033. You can also attend on a walk-in basis.
Learning Resource Writing Center click here!
LRC visits are strongly recommended for all essays this semester.
Extra Credit will be given with proof of attendance for each essay!
The writing center is located in the Oviatt Library 3rd floor east wing and graduate students or instructor are available to assist you with various steps in the writing process such as brainstorming, revising and editing. You may call for an appointment: (818) 677-2033. You can also attend on a walk-in basis.
Presentation: 10%
PRESENTATIONS of 15 minutes in length (present 10 min leave time for questions 5 min) --by selected groups of 1-2 students in charge of presenting an assigned short story. See Projects above.
ONLINE Canvas discussion: 15% On-line tasks such as postings on our class Canvas or listserve assignments on email are to be completed as assigned.
Reagin Journals/Quizzes: 15%
Journals-a short piece of writing. For this class, unless otherwise indicated, out-of-class journals should be min.1 page or 250, typed, double spaced, 12-point font, and will be accepted only on the assigned due date. Journal responses to assigned readings should indicate active engagement with the assigned text rather than summary. You should always be prepared to discuss your journal in class even if you have uploaded it in Canvas.
Journals should follow the conventions of Standard Written English and adhere to MLA style and should have a clear position with logical explanation and support. Missed Journals can not be made up.
QUIZZES--
Unannounced quizzes on the readings are always a possibility, especially if the readings are not being kept up with by classmembers. Come to class prepared to discuss the assigned readings and you will be prepared for all quizzes. Quizzes missed due to absence cannot be made up. No quiz grades will be dropped.
CLASS PARTICIPATION 10 % will also be based on:
Since a significant part of this class will be based on active student participation in class discussion, and/or assigned presentations, it is essential that students attend class regularly, ask questions, and offer their impressions, ideas and opinions for classroom dialogue. In order to participate effectively, students must come prepared.
1. PRESENTATION RESPONSES--In class written responses to oral presentations.
2. You are assessed on how you interact with your peers and me in class discussion, individual presentations, email, Canvas posts, and group work of any kind.
3. Reading Assignments--You are expected to do all conscientiously and in a timely fashion.The reading assignments are to be done by the day due. "I have not been able to purchase my textbook yet" is NOT an acceptible excuse. You are required to participate in the discussions and you cannot do so if you have not read the assignment. In order to earn full participation credit, students will need to participate every time class meets.
4. Assignments are due on the date stated on the syllabus either prior to, or during the class period. A computer problem is not an excuse for a late paper; campus labs are open late into the night (and if hard copy required then Kinko's is open 24 hours). Do your work early in the week so that you're not late to class because you're still printing/downloading/uploading. Keep extra copies of hard copies, or duplicate flash drives or CDs, OR better yet, email your papers to yourself.
5. Make sure your name, my name, our course & session number, and the date, per MLA header format, with 1 inch margins all around, left justified, is on "everything" you turn in.
6. You are responsible for obtaining assignments when you miss class either from accessing them from our course syllabus page OR asking your classmates for a copy of any missed class lecture notes. I am not a delivery service.